THIS WEEK

2023 Thanksgiving Offering | Report on pledges
    This year’s 2023 Thanksgiving Offering: Five and Two invites all of us to live out the story of Jesus taking five loves of bread and two fish to feed 5,000. Hear how Madison UMC and Open Heart UMC are living out the story in the video report found here. Share your story with us. 

SOP Countdown—1! #Giving Tuesday is November 28
    We are one week away from #Giving Tuesday—the day set aside for people around the world to focus on GIVING rather than GETTING. Solar Oven Partners (SOP) is GIVING a trivia question about GIVING THE GIFT of cooking with the sun.Trivia Question #4: Can you name the three workshop locations in South Dakota where volunteers make and assemble components of the solar ovens we distribute to families in need? Test your SOP smarts! Click here. 

UM Student Day | November 26
    100% of your UM Student Day donation goes to scholarships for students.Every year, GBHEM awards an  average of $5.5 million in financial aid to United Methodist students. Access resources for Student Day on November 26.

COMING UP

Advent Study | Heaven and Earth
    Bishop Lanette Plambeck is leading an Advent Study, Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation, by Will Willimon. Join the four week study on Tuesdays, beginning  November 28, at
7:30-8:15 p.m.  central time, on Zoom. Learn more. Register here.

Activate Day with Michael Beck | Dec. 2
    How is God calling you to reach and engage with your community? People aren’t filling our churches the way they once did. Fresh Expressions is about going out and forming communal life with Jesus in our everyday rhythms and spaces. Join Rev. Michael Beck on Dec. 2 for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area’s Fresh Expressions Activate Day, focused on equipping you with practical skills and tools to cultivate these new communities. The only requirement is to bring a team—and to watch the Imagine Day recording if you couldn’t be there in-person.  Watch Michael Beck's invitation video |  Learn more and register.

A Very Dakotas Christmas 2023 | Heaven and Nature Sing available Dec. 11
    Bishop Lanette Plambeck and the Dakotas Conference Cabinet present this gift of worship to you, "A Very Dakotas Christmas 2023." We celebrate the birth of the Christ-child with clergy, families, and scenes from United Methodists across the Dakotas Conference. The online service and resources will be available Dec. 11. Learn more.

Exploration 2024 | Register by Dec. 15
    Exploration, is being held in Orlando, Feb. 16-18. It is a gathering, hosted by The United Methodist Church, that creates sacred space for young adults, ages 18-26, to be in meaningful fellowship, passionate worship, theological reflection, and practical workshops as they discern God's call on their life, how ministry in and with The United Methodist Church might be a part of that call, and what faithful steps they can take in response. The Dakotas Conference has scholarships to cover the registration fee as well as offset some of the travel costs (depending on number of applicants.) If you are interested, please complete the application before December 15.

Saving Grace Clergy Financial Well-being | Register by Dec.15
    Start the new year by finding the peace that comes with being in control of finances instead of having them control you. Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being is a practical resource written for the Methodist family and rooted in a Wesleyan perspective. This 9-week session, Jan. 11- March 7, 2024, includes content on the unique aspects of clergy finances and will be led by Rod Stemme. Please register here by December 15th, or contact Diane Weller for more information.

Scripture Circles 2024 | Register by Dec.19
    Clergy, take time to discuss and savor the original language and context of scripture in these small group experiences through a combination of spiritual direction and deep bible study. Start 2024 with Scripture Circles multiple sessions are available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Get the details here.

Builders Club | Hettinger UMC
    We are so grateful for your continued support of the Builders Club and ask that you prayerfully consider a gift to support Hettinger UMC. They need to repair their roof over the Sunday School rooms.The gifts for this call will be received until December 31, 2023. Get the details.

Clergy Epiphany Gathering | Jan. 7-9
    Clergy save the date for the 2024 Epiphany Gathering on January 7-9, 2024. Join Jill and Michael Beck at the Dakotas Event Center in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It will be a Mardi Gras themed festival. A chance to celebrate being together as United Methodist clergy. We will gather with Bishop Lanette and the Dakotas Conference Cabinet on Sunday evening and end our time by noon on Tuesday.

Dynamite Prayer | Jan. 14-Feb. 10
    Ready to see what God can do when we come together in prayer and ask God’s Spirit to unleash in us? Begin 2024 by joining a breakthrough prayer movement across the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area! Join us from Jan. 14-Feb. 10 for our area-wide Dynamite Prayer initiative. Get the details.

SPRC Training | Feb. 22
    If you have new members in your Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), or have recently received a new pastor, or haven't been through a training in a while, join an online (Zoom) training on February 22, at 6:30-8:30 p.m.

RESOURCES

State of the Church report
    Reclaim. Revive. Renew. Take a look at how The United Methodist Church remains committed to its mission to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. #BeUMC Access the report. 

Bishops elect new leaders
    The United Methodist Council of Bishops has elected East Ohio Conference Bishop Tracy S. Malone as its next president. Malone, who will take the president’s gavel next spring, will be the first Black woman to lead the more than 110 active and retired United Methodist bishops in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. Read more.

Encounter God daily with #pictureAdvent
    Are you looking for a simple spiritual practice for Advent? Try #pictureAdvent, a daily devotional created by United Methodists to help you reflect on scripture through images, questions, and prayer. Follow #pictureAdvent on Facebook or click here to sign up to receive each day’s devotion by email.

GRANTS    

Hunger Grants | Apply by November 30
    Dakotas Conference Hunger Grants are meant to address hunger in your local communities through hunger programs. Grants up to $1,000 are being awarded to United Methodist Churches or United Methodist related organizations (can include church partnerships with local food ministries). Applications must be submitted by November 30, 2023 to be considered for a grant. Learn more.

Financial Ministry Grant |  Growing generous giver
    If you want to learn more about growing generous givers, starting a study such as Saving Grace, or providing a growth opportunity for key leaders, consider applying for a Financial Ministry Grant of up to $500 to fund your effort. Whatever your method for improving your church's financial health and embedding the value of generosity into your church culture, some financial support can jumpstart your efforts!  Apply for the Financial Ministry Grant using a simple application found here.

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.

Discipleship Ministries Coordinator | Evergreen UMC
    Evergreen UMC in Wahpeton, N.D., is hiring a Discipleship Ministries Coordinator. Evergreen UMC is looking for a high energy, enthusiastic individual who loves engaging with children, youth and young adults and also is super crazy about Jesus!! Please contact Pastor Kori Lehrkamp or the church office for more information.