THIS WEEK

Fresh Expressions coaching call | July 25 6:30 p.m.
    Join this coaching session for Fresh Expressions practitioners and their teams. Participants will learn from each other as they process the loving first journey together. Participants will share stories, ideas and get support from others. Michael Beck will facilitate these calls. Learn more. 

Impact Fargo: Taking God Seriously | July 28-Aug. 2
    Youth from across Dakotas are invited to a mission event in Fargo, N.D. IMPACT Fargo 2024: Taking God Seriously, is happening July 28-Aug. 2, 2024. Get the details.

Enneagram Clergy Cohort - Continuing Ed (Virtual) | Starts July 30 
   Rev. Lindsey B. Freeman and Rev. Kori Robins are excited to offer an Enneagram and  Relationships Cohort tailored for clergy. This cohort runs from July 30 to August 20, via virtual meetings on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. EDT. 5-7 p.m. CDT. We will explore how your Enneagram type impacts your professional, personal, and spiritual relationships. The course has been approved for CEUs (.5), and the cost is $200. In addition to the four virtual group sessions, participants will receive two one-on-one sessions and all resource materials for personal review. Register here.

COMING UP

Breakthrough Ministry Grants | Due July 31
    Breakthrough Ministry Grant applications are due July 31. Grants are offered to United Methodist churches and related organizations from the Dakotas Methodist Foundation and Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church.  Grants are awarded quarterly as seed money to launch new ministries or expand an existing ministry. Learn more about Breakthrough Ministry Grants.

Virtual Mission u | Aug. 8-10
    Virtual Mission u will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2024, Friday, August 9, 2024 , from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Central Time, and Saturday, August 10, 2024, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Get the details and register.

Dakotas-Minnesota UM Clergy Women's Retreat | Aug. 11-13 
    Join clergywomen from across the Dakotas-Minnesota Area at Lake Poinsett for a retreat. The topic and theme is Lyrical Faith: Discovering God in the Music of Peter Mayer. View the details.

EarthKeepers training | Apply by Aug. 14
    Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training and incubator program that provides a collaborative space for United Methodists to develop and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, antiracism, community organizing, and project planning. All participants plan a project during the training. A EarthKeepers training events will be held Oct. 3-6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Applications are Due by August 14, 2024.

Required Quadrennial Clergy Training: Becoming Whole and Holy Leaders | Aug 26-27
 Appointed clergy and assigned laity serving in pastoral roles in the Dakotas Annual Conference will be attending BEcoming Whole and Holy Leaders —How our healthy boundaries and ethics move us to wholeness and holiness! This is a required quadrennial gathering in Pierre, S.D., on August 26-27, 2024. Registerter here.

Financial Leadership for Churches | Fall 2024
    Consider the Financial Leadership for Churches program Garrett Evangelical Seminary offers for pastors and church leaders, which will be offered online this fall. The cost is $450 (covering all participants).  Information can be found here. Should a church have difficulty paying the fee, financial ministry grants are available to provide matching funds (for this program $225 with the church providing $225). Contact Diane Owen, Area Director of Clergy Well-being, at diane.owen@dkmnareaumc.org.

Investing in Leaders Resource Grant (Student Debt Reduction) | Apply by Sept. 1
    The 2024 application period has been extended until Sept. 1, 2024. First-time applicants are considered first. Demonstration of completing personal financial education and working with a financial loan repayment counselor (at least one session) are both required. If you need more information about connecting with a student loan repayment counselor, please get in touch with Area Director of Clergy Well-Being Diane Owen at diane.owen@dkmnareaumc.org. Learn more.

Leadership Institute 2024 | Sept. 25-27
    Remember the incredible energy of last year's Leadership Institute? Want to find out what everyone's talking about? Experience the spirit of connection and growth at this year's conference, September 25-27, 2024. Registration now. Get the details.

RESOURCES

Find back-to-school resources
    Summer will be over soon, which means children will be headed back to school. Help prepare students in your church/community for another school year with prayers, encouragement and celebrations. Find the right resources and plan your back-to-school outreach now.

NCJ Resources | Thank you Dakotas!
    Our Dakotas Conference is part of a region of annual conferences stretching from Ohio to the Dakotas, called the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ). We converge every four years to elect and assign our bishops, worship, learn, and hear amazing preaching. The NCJ Conference just wrapped-up in Sioux Falls, and the delegates and bishops were inspired by our Dakotas hospitality. We shared our love for Jesus through service, music, event coordination, and communication. Our NCJ web page has many wonderful resources for you and your church. There are workshop presentations, guest speaker videos, and much more. See what God can do through our United Methodist connection!

Bishop's 2024 Advent Study | The Christmas Letters
    Bishop Lanette Plambeck will lead a virtual Advent study, on Tuesday evenings, November 26 through December. In The Christmas Letters, Magrey deVega invites you to hear about the miracle of Christ’s birth from those who first told the story. Read more.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS | View all Ads

Jobs Available
    We're hiring! Take a look at the job announcements across the Dakotas Conference. Get the details on jobs available at these Conference churches and organizations.

Worship and Technology Director | Watertown First UMC
    First UMC in Watertown, South Dakota has an opening for a full-time Worship and Technology Director. Access a job description here. Questions and inquiries can be directed to Rev. Sara McManus at seniorpastor@watertownfirst.church. 

Accompanist | Ben Clare UMC
    Ben Clare UMC near Valley Springs, S.D., is looking for a musical accompaniment for the 9 a.m. traditional service and special services. The music includes, but is not limited to, hymns, prelude and postlude, offertory, and special music. If interested, please email your resume to Pastor Krista Ducker.  Get more details here.