Rev. Jeanne Sortland, who serves the United Methodist congregations at Kensal and Wimbledon, North Dakota participated in Emergence: What's next?. Dakotas Conference file photo.

“It was wonderful to walk away with several weeks of sermons and worship planning,” says Rev. Jeanne Sortland, who serves the United Methodist congregations in Kensal and Wimbledon, North Dakota. “It was excellent!”

Eighteen participants gathered at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota, and by video connection to spend a day praying, studying scripture, discussing, and creating a sermon series that will address some of our hopes for our church.

The leaders for the day included Rev. Kermit Culver, who shared the elements of an effective, emergent church. Moving from the convergent time of the 1950s and 1960s through the divergent times in which the church now exists, we must begin to answer the question—what’s next? What will emerge from the new thing that God is seeking to birth through our United Methodist Church? Read more here. 

Jason Moore, of Midnight Oil Productions, discussed the elements of effective, creative worship. Culver shared this about Midnight Oil Productions, “Jason Moore is one of the most passionate, knowledgeable, and humble leaders in the area of worship I have ever met. He teamed with us a year ago for a preaching and worship conference and was overwhelmingly and positively received. He jumped into our “What’s Next” Sermon Series Planning workshop just last week and again hit it out of the park. His knowledge is vast, his wisdom is profound, his presentation is inspiring, his style is engaging, and his love is evident.”

Jason Moore, Midnight Oil Productions, participated via video connection in the Emergence event. Join Jason in February at Lake Pointsett. Photo courtesy of Jason Moore's Facebook page.

Rev. Brandon Vetter, who is the lead pastor at Legacy UMC in Bismarck and Rev. Jenny Hallenbeck Orr, who is the lead pastor at McCabe UMC in Bismarck, lead small group planning for the participants throughout the day.  

“The ‘What’s Next’ event was a huge success. We had 16 folks attend from Mitchell to Langdon, and two participants joined via video. Jenny and Brandon did an outstanding job,” Culver says. 

Participants left the day-long event with a sermon series that includes series title, individual sermon titles, texts, illustrations, the main point, and preaching ideas. Graphics will be created and shared.

“I am serving part-time without any staff. I never have this caliber of sermons on my own. It was a day that was healing for my spirit. There was a lot of energy, synergy, and camaraderie,” Sortland says.

Deb Kjerstad, director of leadership development for the Dakotas Conference, invites clergy and lay leaders to Lake Poinsett February 11-12. “Jason Moore from Midnight Oil will lead our Clergy Leadership Academy in February,” says Kjerstad. “We are excited to have him!”

Vetter could not agree more, “Jason is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about worship design and planning. His ability to find visual metaphors allows people to see Sunday’s worship every day in regular, ordinary images and objects. Jason helps people grow closer to Jesus every day in his worship design.”

Get the details for the February workshops here.