Around the Conference August 7
Week of Praying Our Way Forward
Bishop Bruce R. Ough invites all United Methodists in the Dakotas to join him in Praying our Way Forward. The denomination-wide Praying Our Way Forward initiative launched on New Year’s Day 2017 with 75 weeks of focused prayer for The United Methodist Church. Each annual conference will take one week to have intentional prayer for the mission of The United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and for the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. The effort began in the North Carolina Conference, and will wrap up in the West Angola Episcopal area in June 2018. The Dakota's Conference's week of prayer will be August 20-26, 2017.
Here are ways that you can participate:
Sign up for dedicated times to prayer. Sign up here
Submit a prayer to be shared on social media and the conference website.
Pray for members of the Commission on a Way Forward by name. Details here
Yoga Retreat in the Black Hills
Calling all yogis! Come and enjoy beautiful Storm Mountain Center at a Yoga Retreat on Sept. 22-24, 2017. Led by Colleen McKirdy, Registered Yoga Teacher, we will explore yoga poses and breathing, meditation, devotions, and prayer. Also, we will learn about yoga history and types, chakras, chanting, and body benefits. Hiking, games, and other activities will be included. No yoga experience necessary, just open hearts & minds!
Registration is from 4:00-5:00 pm on Friday, Sept. 22, and we will conclude after lunch on Sunday, Sept. 24. Cost is $130 for two nights lodging in Gist Lodge and six meals. Contact Colleen McKirdy via e-mail to register by Sept. 8.
Camp and Retreat Ministries seeks a project manager for marketing and outreach
The Camp and Retreat Ministries of Dakotas and Minnesota Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church are seeking a dedicated individual to help further the mission of area Camp and Retreat ministry through marketing, promotions, and volunteer engagement. This is a full-time, exempt position located in Mitchell, SD with an anticipated start date in late August or early September 2017. The full job description can be found here.
To apply, send a letter of interest along with a resume and salary requirements to: Keith Shew, Dakotas-Minnesota Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries, 122 W Franklin Ave, #400, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Contact Keith Shew by e-mail, or call 612.230.6130. Application materials accepted through Wednesday, August 9.
Breakthrough Prayer workshop
Do you believe prayer makes a difference? How do you know that it does? These are just two of questions that participants attending the Breakthrough Prayer Initiative training will ponder.
The six-hour training take place at seven UMConnect sites: Bismarck, Fargo and Jamestown in North Dakota, and Aberdeen, Mitchell, Rapid City and Sioux Falls in South Dakota on Sunday, August 27 at 1:30-6 p.m. CDT.
Click here for more information. Click here to register.
Lay Speaking and Preaching Retreat
The second annual Lay Speaking and Preaching Retreat will be August 25-27 at Lake Poinsett Camp. The retreat starts at 6:30 p.m. on August 25 and ends around 8:30 a.m. CDT on August, 27. The retreat is open to all who are interested in gaining experience, receiving feedback and practicing speaking and preaching in a safe and nurturing environment. Consider inviting someone you know of who may interested in the event.
This is also a great opportunity for those seeking to renew their Lay Speaking status or to become a Certified Lay Speaker. Attending this retreat counts as advanced course credits for those looking to maintain their certification.
Click here to register.
Young Adult ministry grants application available
Young adult ministry grants will be made to qualifying applicants from around the Dakotas Conference. The office of Leadership Development will be accepting applications until November 1st, 2017. If you have questions about this program for strengthening our conference's young adults in ministry, please contact Taya Swanson by e-mail, or by calling (605) 996-7796.
To download an application, click here for a Word document — click here for a PDF.
