THIS WEEK

Pray with us | July 20-26
    Jesus, bless what you have given, Feed our souls with bread from heaven; Guide and lead us all the way, In all that we may do and say. Amen. We pray for all of God's people but especially these persons:

Saving Grace | Webinar July 20 or 26
   Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being  is a six-part study based on Wesleyan values that provides the tools you need to address the topics of saving, earning, giving, spending, and debt, along with helpful strategies for creating healthy relationships with money and possessions. To learn more about what Saving Grace can do for your church, sign up for the SAVING GRACE WEBINAR! Choose from Tuesday, July 20 or Monday, July 26, 2021, from 12:00 PM–4:00 PM (Central Time).

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 Higher Ground program's spiritual directors. 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. Soul Fill-up will not take place on  July 28,2021.

COMING UP

Breakthrough Ministry Grants | Applications due July 31
    Apply for a grant to reach the next person for Jesus. Breakthrough Ministry Grants include outreach ministries, church/school partnerships, young adult/campus ministries, and culture of call.  The next grant application deadline is July 31.  Get the application and instructions here. For questions about the application process, contact Diane Weller in the Foundation office.

Investing in Leaders Grant | Apply by August 1
     The Investing in Leaders Grant is part of the Financial Well-Being Initiative funded through a Lilly Endowment Grant. This $5,000 annual grant to reduce educational debt is open to all active clergy in the Dakotas-Minnesota Area. Applicants must complete a course of personal financial education.  Learn more about the grant by viewing the application.  Contact Diane Owen for more information and any questions.

Financial Foundations Webinar | August 9
    Join us August 9 at 7 p. m central time for a webinar titled "Quickbooks and Your Church." You’ll learn about how to customize settings and reports to make QuickBooks work better for your church. Pastors, treasurers, finance committee members, and anyone interested in stewardship and generosity in the church are welcome to join.

What You Really Need to Know about Housing Allownces | August 10
    This webinar from Discipleship Ministries of The UMC is for laity and clergy to better understand the clergy housing allowance. The time is now, not in February, to set up these allowances. Join the webinar August 10, 6:30 p.m., CDT. 

Mission u | Pushout, August 12-14, 2021
    The Mission u team made up of Deans, Cindy Yeager and Emma McKirdy-Wilsey, and Assistant Deans, Bonnie Ostenson and Connie Smith, along with our study leaders, Pastor Michelle Brennan of  First  UMC Jamestown, North Dakota, and Pastor Nancy Ellis of Faith UMC, St. Anthony, Minnesota, are looking forward to sharing a Zoom Mission u experience with you. Pastor Nancy will be teaching based on the book, Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique Morris.  Her Zoom class will be August 12-14, 2021. Zoom sessions will be held on Thursday, August 12, and Friday, August 13 at 7:15-9:00 p.m. CDT, and on Saturday, August 14, at  10:00-11:45 a.m. CDT.  Register by August 5th for this class.

RESOURCES 

Continuing UMC Task Force | Apply by August 15
    Bishop Laurie Haller is calling for nominations of people, both lay and clergy, to serve on the Dakotas Conference Continuing UMC Task Force. We envision that the task force will meet bi-weekly as we begin our work. The Continuing UMC Task Force will define the values and create a vision for the continuing United Methodist Church in the Dakotas. Self-nominations and nominations from others will be accepted through August 15, 2021.

UMCOR Kit Collection | Sept. 20-24
  The Dakotas Conference will be collecting UMCOR kits for health / hygiene and school supplies this fall(2021).  The collection sites are: Aberdeen First UMC, Bismarck Legacy UMC, Fargo First UMC,Rapid City Open Heart UMC, and the Dakotas Conference Office in Mitchell, South Dakota.The drop-off dates are September 20 - 24.  Please call ahead to your preferred location to inquire about office hours or to schedule a drop-off appointment. 

Explore United Methodist Photos 
    UM News has thousands of images from around the world of The United Methodist Church in action. These images are free to use for United Methodist organizations that provide an identifying credit. Click here to see the photos.

Tips for Re-Entering the Mission Field
  United Methodist Volunteers in Mission has developed an instructional video for churches and mission teams that are preparing to re-enter the mission field beyond their local communities. Due to varying COVID-19 protocols in different countries, domestic missions are recommended, but opportunities for international trips are available. 

JOBS | ADS | OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Pierre First UMC | Discipleship Coordinator
    Pierre First UMC is lookin for a Discipleship Coordinator provides opportunities for church and community members and their families to follow Jesus wherever we live, work, and play. This includes, but is not limited to developing, coordinating, and administering discipleship and mission opportunities as well as providing leadership and supervision of staff members and volunteers involved in these ministries. This is a full-time position. View a job description. Apply by contacting: tanya.lieberman@pierrefirstumc.org or call 605-220-2812

Pierre First UMC | Children and Youth Ministry Director
    First United Methodist Church in Pierre, South Dakota, has two job openings.  First UMC is seeking a Children and Youth Ministry Director. This is a 20-24 hour a week position to develop coordinate the church’s ministry with children, infants through 12th grade including Wednesday School and youth group.  View job description. Apply by contacting: tanya.lieberman@pierrefirstumc.org or call 605-220-2812

Mitchell Downtown First | Family Ministries Coordinator
    Job description: In this full-time role, the Family Ministries Coordinator will oversee all discipleship ministries for birth through young adult; reach out to families both within the congregation as well as those in the surrounding community; and recruit, train and deploy volunteer discipleship staff for Children’s and Youth ministries. We are looking for someone who will consider this a ministry and not just a job. Access details

Dakotas Conference | Church Planter-New Congregation Developer
     The Dakotas Conference is seeking a planter/new congregation developer!   The opportunity exists in a college town in partnership with a center city UMC church that seeks to form a relevant new worship and discipleship community for young adults and new people.  Best applicants have entrepreneurial gifts, disciple making experience and an evangelistic heart.   For details, please contact ben.ingebretson@dkmnareaumc.org.

OTHER JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS |  VIEW ADS 
    Jobs available at Southern Hills, Canyon Lake, and Asbury UMC. 

Non-Conference Event: New Day Conference | August 20-21
    This event is for all clergy and laity interested in hearing about the Global Methodist Church, the possibility of a conservative regional annual conference, and ways clergy and laity can prepare for the upcoming denominational separation. All clergy and laity  are welcome to attend regardless of where you may fall on the theological spectrum.  Get more details and register.