THIS WEEK!

SAVE THE DATE!
     The 2026 Dakotas Annual Conference will be held in Bismarck, N.D., June 5-7, 2026. The plenary gatherings will be held at Legacy UMC on Friday and Saturday and the Celebration of Life in Ministry service will be Sunday morning at McCabe UMC. Can’t wait to see you there!

Lay Academy - Sign up TODAY!
     Are you or a lay person you know feeling called to grow in knowledge and skill around planning, preparing and leading the spoken parts of worship, including the sermon? Apply to be part of the next Lay Academy Training. June 20 - 22, 2025 at Open Heart UMC in Rapid City, S.D. The event will begin at 1pm MT/2 pm CT on Friday and will end after everyone has completed worship and debriefed on Sunday. Registration (including recommendation from your pastor) is due by June 13th. If you are interested in attending but unable to travel to Rapid City, a Zoom option may be available. Contact Rebecca Trefz for more information.
     There is no fee to sign up, however, accommodations are up to the individual student to arrange.  Some meals will be provided.  

We Want to Hear from You!
     This year we tried something new – the Celebration of Life in Ministry on a Sunday morning with resources for churches across the Dakotas to worship along with us! If your church utilized these resources in any way, we want to hear from you so we can make improvements for next year. Please take a moment to fill out this survey.

LUKE-ACTS 2025 - Reflections & Resources

Luke-Acts Reading 
     As we reflect upon the other persons present at the death of Jesus, we witness the ways in which Jesus impacts the life and faith of different people. One criminal mocks Jesus, the other asks to be remembered. The centurion - a Gentile - says, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Joseph of Arimathea steps forward to care for Jesus’ body, even when others have fled. Which of these responses to you resonate with as you reflect upon your own journey with Christ? Additional Resource: Article about Joseph of Arimethea

RESOURCES

Cultivating Racial Resilience
     Methodist Theological School in Ohio is offering a 1.5 year immersive anti-racism training experience called Cultivating Racial Resilience, supported by the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow initiative. This training helps individuals develop an anti-racist conscience and act as change agents within their institutions to help them develop an anti-racist ethos. Our unique approach utilizes compassion-based contemplative practices as the foundational lens through which we interpret the impact that racialization has on our bodies and worldview. From this foundation, we teach participants key critical race theories so that they can authentically and sustainably create and implement an anti-racist project within their communities.
     Ministry leaders (lay and clergy) are invited to join the second cohort. The experience is offered at no cost to participants, on-campus housing and meals are provided, and travel expenses are covered for attendees within the United States. We will accept 9 to 15 applicants for this second cohort. Full details are on the MTSO website. The deadline for application is July 6.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

Join upcoming mission teams to the Dominican Republic
    Julia Jones from Pierre First UMC is leading two mission trips to the Dominican Republic. There are still openings on each team!
Church Camp Construction Trip: September 12-20 (sign up ASAP as plane tickets will be purchased soon!)
Medical Mission trip: November 7-15. Cost is expected to be around $2800.
Participants must be 18+ or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Team members will also need a valid passport and be willing to procure and use the anti-malarial medication of your physician's choice. Call or text Julia Jones (605-280-2670) for more information or to sign up.

Clergy Wellness Allowance
    Clergy can apply for up to $500 to support efforts to improve their physical health. The funds must be used for a specific resource or experience. All clergy are encouraged to apply now that the priority consideration period has ended. 

Investing in Leaders Resource Grant
    Clergy, apply by September 1, 2025 for this grant of up to $5,000 to pay down educational debt. Renewal applications are also available for those who have already received this grant.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS | View all Ads

Jobs Available
    We're hiring! The following positions are open across the Dakotas Conference. Find out more information on our Conference website.
    Administrative Assistant & Event Planner | Dakotas & Minnesota United Methodist Foundations
    Summer Staff | Dakotas UM Camps