2021 Thanksgiving Offering | Feeding the Dakotas 
   The 2021 Bishop's Thanksgiving Offering is "Feeding the Dakotas." Bishop Laurie Haller invites all congregations to prayerfully consider a gift to help fight hunger throughout North and South Dakota. Your gifts will be distributed to Feeding South Dakota, Great Plains Food Bank (ND), and local hunger ministries. Bishop Laurie writes, "Jesus instructs us to 'Let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven' (Matthew 5:16)." The 2021 Thanksgiving Offering provides the opportunity for us to be light and living hope for those crying out for love, compassion, justice, and grace in their lives."

UMC Student Day | November 28, 2021
    Gifts to UMC Student Day fund scholarship programs for promising United Methodist students. This includes programs like the Rev. Dr. Karen Layman Gift of Hope Scholarship. It is a scholarship designated for undergraduates with at least three years of membership in The United Methodist Church. Click here to access resources for UMC Student Day.

Sites and Sounds of the Season | Share with us
    Are you getting ready to decorate? Do you have special Christmas tradition at your church? Please share it with us. Advent will soon be upon us, and that means the sights and sounds of holiday decorations, cherubs, and nativities are all around us. Now it's easy to share your advent photos and short videos with the rest of the Dakotas Conference folks online. Please share your best photos from your church's events to us by e-mail. A post or tag @DakotasUMC in facebook works, too.   #DakotasSightsandSounds

COMING UP

A Very Dakotas Christmas 2021 | Available December 20
     The Dakotas Conference Cabinet is preparing an online worship service, "A Very Dakotas Christmas 2021," for congregations to use December 26 or on another day. The service will be available on December 20. Clergy will receive an e-mail notification that the service is ready for download. This service will be casual, with United Methodists across North and South Dakota leading the worship. We invite you to enjoy worship at home from the homes of others!

Discernment Retreat | Jan. 8 & Feb. 5 
    Are you wondering if God is calling you? Then, attend the Discernment Retreat on January 8, 2022, and February 5, 2022, at Spearfish UMC or on Zoom. The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church. It explores: personal spiritual gifts, servant leadership, each leader's role in developing future leaders, the importance of consistent spiritual practices, the core ministries of leading, caring, and communicating, and much more. Register here. 

Winter Connection | January 28-29 
Winter Connection is an annual event for high school and middle school youth that takes place in Bismarck, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls this winter. This is an opportunity for youth to gather, share, worship, and serve others. Each year there is a focus on a particular theme and scripture along with a unique and important component of service. Our theme for 2022 is "Gather Round/Bring it in," and our scripture is Luke 5:1.

Bible Land Exploration | Departing February 1, 2022
    Join Bishop Laurie and Rev. Gary Haller along with others from the Dakotas  and Iowa Annual Conferences on an 11-day Bible Land Exploration, starting at $3,996 from Bismarck and Fargo, ND or Rapid City and Sioux Falls, SD departing on February 1, 2022. Journey to places such as Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Temple Mount, Garden of Gethsemane, Jericho, Bethlehem, Galilee, and much more!

Best of Italy and the Oberammergau Passion Play | Departing on August 15, 2022
    Join Bishop Laurie and Rev. Gary Haller along with others from the Dakotas and Iowa Annual Conferences for 12 days in Germany, Austria, and Italy. You'll explore Innsbruck, have the opportunity to see the Oberammergau Passion Play and spend time in Venice, Florence, Assisi, and Rome. Pricing starts at $5946  from Bismarck, Fargo, ND,  Rapid City, SD, or Sioux Falls, SD departing on August 15, 2022.

RESOURCES 

Giving Tuesday | November 30, 2021 
    Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on November 30, 2021, and every day.  Consider giving to any of these Dakotas Conference missions or ministries: Solar Oven Partners, Tree of Life, Bakken Oil Rush Ministry in Watford City, Out in Faith in Williston, and Spirit Lake Ministry Center. 

2021 Journal | Available online and for download
     The 2021 Journal of the Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is now available online and for download. The Journal includes the business for the 28th Session of the Dakotas Annual Conference, held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and virtually.  If you prefer to order a printed copy ($13.93/ea. plus shipping and handling), please click here. 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS | View all Ads 

Jamestown First UMC | Director of Discipleship
    This position at Jamestown First UMC, in Jamestown, ND, will assist the Senior Pastor and the Education Committee in developing and implementing special projects and formation events. They will also coordinate Christian Education and recruit and supervise teachers and volunteers, and more. See the complete posting for this full-time position here.

Good Samaritan Society | Spiritual Care Consultant position  
The Good Samaritan Society has a full-time position opening at their national campus in Sioux Falls, SD. The role is Senior Spiritual Care Consultant and is open to persons who are ordained, licensed and/or credentialed for professional ministry. Please see the posting here or e-mail Christine Ask at the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society for complete information.