THIS WEEK

Pray with us | February 16-22
     Lord, help me not to lean on my own understanding but in everything acknowledge You so that You can direct my words, thoughts, and actions. We pray for all of God's people but especially these persons.

Surprise the World |  Week two Bless 
     Bishop Laurie Haller and the Dakotas Conference Cabinet invite you to join the 2021 Lenten Study, Surprise the World: 5 Habits of Highly Missional People by Michael Frost. This week we share Bless with a video message from Rev. Bob Ruedebush. All of the videos will be posted here to download or view. Small group study guides are posted here, as well as print copies of the messages. If you are looking for additional resources to supplement these, you can find more here.  View the message from Bishop Laurie Haller for Ash Wednesday and week one of the study here. 

Soul Fill-up | Wednesdays 8 a.m. mountain time, 9 a.m. central time
     Soul Fill-up is a mid-week time for church leaders to slow down. Let us pour into your soul and refill your cup during guided scripture reading, prayer, and meditation led by the spiritual directors of the Higher Ground program. There is nothing to do or prepare—just set this 30-40 minutes aside for yourself and join us! Click here to join, Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. central time, 8:00 a.m. mountain time.

Conversations across Dakotas  | February 18 
    Join us live this Thursday, February 18, at 11:30 a.m. mountain time, 12:30 p.m. central time, on the Dakotas Conference Facebook page for Conversations across Dakotas. Hear an update. We will be answering questions and having conversation about ministry in the Dakotas, including the work of the Strategy Team, our new Rural Ministry Initiative, and more.  If you miss us at that exact time, we will also feature the video conversation at 6:30 p.m. mountain time, 7:30 p.m. central time, and be ready to chat live on Facebook.  #jointheconversation.

COMING UP

Follow-up session to BOTH / AND webinar | February 23
    Jason Moore will answer questions and provide some additional tips and resources from the January webinar BOTH/AND:  Maximizing Hybrid Worship Experiences for Online and In-Person Audiences. View a recording of the January 14, 2021 webinar here. View the handbook from the January 14, 2021 webinar here. Register for this 90-minute session on Zoom. 

Mission Fellows | Applications due February 24
     Young adults, ages 20-30, can serve the church while addressing oppression and alleviating human suffering. Serve for two years in the U.S. alongside community organizations focused on public health, education, and poverty. The Dakotas Conference currently has two people serving as Mission Fellows. Lily Jones serves at the Surf Ministry in Northern Ireland. Natalie Buck is serving at Arch Street United Methodist Church of Philadelphia.

2020 Statistics | Due February 28 
     The Statistical Tables  provide meaningful information regarding the health of a local church. These tables are completed annually by February 28th and are reported on our website and in the Journal. Call 605-990-7004 or email statistician@dakotasumc.org if you would like further information. 

Elisha Intership | Apply by March 1, 2021
     Are you a college student interested in vocational ministry? The Elisha Project is an internship program that allows the opportunity for students to explore, discern their call, and discuss with mentors and peers, where God is calling them.  Students who have completed at least one year of college, completed the application process, and are selected by the Elisha committee will be assigned to a church and mentor. 

Breaking through Gridlock |  Conflict resolution workshop
    Did you miss the January and February sessions? Catch the sesssion on March 11. Whether you want to change the world in big ways, or just be able to have deeper relationships with people who don’t think like you, conversation is the key. And yet, especially these days, conversations quickly get stuck—entrenched into our own small worldviews, assured we are right in our thinking. "Breaking Through Gridlock: The Power of Conversation in a Polarized World," is a conflict resolution workshop, led by LeaderWise. Attend virtually on  March 11 and April 8, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.—1:30 p.m., central time, 10:00 a.m. —12:30 p.m., mountain time. Register here

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES

In our hearts | Brad Kiesey
     Brad Kiesey’s Celebration of Life service will be Wednesday, February 17. Click here to read the full obituary. Here is the link for the live service webcast (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85360893103). You may send cards to Bishop Deb Kiesey, 2 Oak Park Lane NE, Iowa City, IA 52240. Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 214 E. Jefferson, Iowa City, IA, 52245 or Iowa City Hospice, 1025 Wade Street, Iowa City, IA 52240.

Clergy record free music videos for Lenten season | Access here
    he Revs. Yohan Go and Juhee Lee of the New England Conference worked with musicians to record 47 songs and make them available on Google Drive for any church that needs music to use freely. To download the free hymns and special music, click here.  All of those songs are from United Methodist hymnals, so any church with a CCLI license can use them for its online worship without worrying about copyright.

Dismantling Racism | Lent devotions by our bishops
    Each week of Lent and every day of Holy Week, a United Methodist Bishop will offer a short devotion. The Council of Bishops invites the people of The United Methodist Church to a season of introspection and self-examination. Together this Lent, we will confess and fast from the sin of racism, discrimination, oppression and exclusion and feast on the beauty and blessing of the diversity of God’s Church.

The Road to Easter and other sustainable bytes |  Access Ministry Architects' resources
    Lent upon us. The journey to Easter begins. That journey and Easter will look different this year. How are you preparing for this season?  Ministry Architects shares several resources to help you including a free webinar, The Road to Easter, on February 18 at 12 p.m. mountain time, 1 p.m. central time; some ideas on how to celebrate Easter;  and The Sustainable Ministry podcast. 

Interfaith Federal Credit Union (formerly United Methodist Credit Union) offers PPP assistance | Details here
     Interfaith FCU is ready to assist you with your Paycheck Protection Program application and loan.  Find the details and resources here.  Did you know that any church or congregation members of the Dakotas conference is eligible to open an account with Interfaith? Contact Interfaith FCU here. 
 

2020 Journal published | Access here
    The 2020 Dakotas Conference Journal is now published. You can access the journal and view it online here. You can order print copies at this link. You can also download a PDF version here. 

DakYouth | 2021 activities
  The Dakotas Conference Council on Youth Ministries is happy to announce in-person events for 2021 including Youth Worker Academy in April 23-25, 2021,  at Storm Mountain; Leadership Training Camp, July 23-30, 2021, at Lake Poinsett; and DakYouth 2021, November 12-14, 2021, at Aberdeen.  Apply to become a member of CCYM, the team that plans and leads all of the DakYouth activiies! Applications are due May 2021. There are three parts to the application.  1) The application form can be completed online here. 2) Each application needs to have recommendations for the applicant details here. 3) Recorded video interviews are due by May 31, 2021; details here.

2021 Camping season | Register now
    Registration for the 2021 camping season is open at dakcamps.org. All registration and information for the 2021 camping season will be digital. There will be no printed camping brochure. You will also notice adjustments to the cancelation policy, but the incentives for campers and camperships are still in place.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asbury UMC | Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
    Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is currently accepting applications for a Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. The Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries develops, directs, and evaluates the youth/young adult education program with the goal of making disciples for the transformation of the world at Asbury United Methodist Church. This is a 20-hours per week position. A full job description can be found here: http://sfasbury.org/about-us/staff-openings. Please email a resume to info@sfasbury.org or mail it to the church at 2425 S Western Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105.

Yankton First UMC | Praise Team Leader
    The Praise Team Leader at First United Methodist Church in Yankton, SD will provide vocal and musical leadership to the Sunday morning contemporary worship service. This position will be responsible for the planning, preparation, and coordination of all aspects of music for the contemporary worship service. View a jog description and application details here.