THIS WEEK

Pray with us | June 29-July 5
    Lord, I ask for your guidance today as I set out for better opportunities than yesterday. Do not let me stray from my path for You're my shepherd, oh Lord. Let Your staff prevent me from any error and let Your eyes watch over me and protect me from all danger. You're the only God and no matter is too big for You Lord. We pray for all of God's people but espcially these persons.

Pastoring in a Digital Parish Podcast | Wednesday
    United Methodist Communications is launching a new podcast called, Pastoring in the Digital Parish, produced and hosted by the Rev. Ryan Dunn. Dunn is Minister of Online Engagement for United Methodist Communications. The podcast launched on June 17, 2021 with five episodes and a new episode will release every Wednesday.

Soul Fill-up | Wednesdays 8 a.m. mountain time, 9 a.m. central time 
    Soul Fill-up is a mid-week time for church leaders to slow down. Let us pour into your soul and refill your cup during guided scripture reading, prayer, and meditation led by the Higher Ground program's spiritual directors. There is nothing to do or prepare—just set this 30-40 minutes aside for yourself and join us! Click here to join, Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. central time, 8:00 a.m. mountain time.

Happy Fourth of July | Office Closed 
    In observance of Independence Day the Dakotas Conference office will be closed July fifth. 

COMING UP

Mission u 2021 | Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom, July 15 - Jul 17, 2021
    The Mission u team made up of Deans, Cindy Yeager and Emma McKirdy-Wilsey, and Assistant Deans, Bonnie Ostenson and Connie Smith, along with our study leaders, Pastor Michelle Brennan of First UMC Jamestown, North Dakota, and Pastor Nancy Ellis of Faith UMC, St. Anthony, Minnesota, are looking forward to sharing a Zoom  Mission u experience with you. Pastor Michelle will be teaching based on the book, Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living into the Church’s Moral Witness Through Radical Discipleship by Darryl W. Stephens. Her Zoom class will be July 15-17, 2021. Zoom sessions will be held on Thursday, July 15, and Friday, July 16 at 7:15-9:00 p.m., CDT, and also on Saturday, July 17 at 10:00-11:45 a.m. CDT. The deadline for registration for this class is July 8th.

Breaktrough Ministry Grants | Applications due July 31
    Apply for a grant to reach the next person for Jesus. Breakthrough Ministry Grants include outreach ministries, church/school partnerships, young adult/campus ministries, and culture of call.  The next grant application deadline is July 31.  Get the application and instructions here. For questions about the application process, contact Diane Weller in the Foundation office.

Investing in Leaders Grant | Apply by August 1
     The Investing in Leaders Grant is part of the Financial Well-Being Initiative funded through a Lilly Endowment Grant. This $5,000 annual grant to reduce educational debt is open to all active clergy in the Dakotas-Minnesota Area. Applicants must complete a course of personal financial education.  Learn more about the grant by viewing the application.  Contact Diane Owen for more information and any questions.

Financial Foundations Webinar | August 9
    Join us August 9 at 7 p. m central time for a webinar titled "Quickbooks and Your Church." You’ll learn about how to customize settings and reports to make QuickBooks work better for your church. Pastors, treasurers, finance committee members, and anyone interested in stewardship and generosity in the church are welcome to join.

Mission u | Pushout, August 12-14, 2021
    The Mission u team made up of Deans, Cindy Yeager and Emma McKirdy-Wilsey, and Assistant Deans, Bonnie Ostenson and Connie Smith, along with our study leaders, Pastor Michelle Brennan of  First  UMC Jamestown, North Dakota, and Pastor Nancy Ellis of Faith UMC, St. Anthony, Minnesota, are looking forward to sharing a Zoom Mission u experience with you. Pastor Nancy will be teaching based on the book, Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique Morris.  Her Zoom class will be August 12-14, 2021. Zoom sessions will be held on Thursday, August 12, and Friday, August 13 at 7:15-9:00 p.m. CDT, and on Saturday, August 14, at  10:00-11:45 a.m. CDT.  Register by August 5th for this class.

RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rural church grants | $500 grants
  The United Methodist Rural Advocates are offering (10) Emerging /Impactful Ministry Awards to United Methodist  rural and town and country churches that are responding to specific needs in their communities. Applications must be filled out by a leader of the program and signed by the pastor and district superintendent and can be completed and returned electronically by October 15, 2021 or postmarked by the same date. Recipients of the awards will be notified by December 1, 2021. Apply here.

2021 Annual Conference |  Highlights to share
    The twenty-eighth session of the Dakotas Annual Conference was held June 11-12, 2021. On Friday, June 11, people gathered in-person at McCabe United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota, First United Methodist Church in Fargo, North Dakota, First United Methodist Church in Rapid City, South Dakota, and the Convention Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Saturday, June 12, participants joined in-person at the Sioux Falls Convention Center or virtually on their individual devices. More than 400 United Methodists from North and South Dakota experienced inspiring worship, meaningful learning, and conducted business. Here are some of the highlights.

Dakotas Conference Strategy Team | Values Workshop
  The Dakotas Strategy Team has developed a 4-hour workshop to assist churches in discovering and defining their core values. The workshop uses videos, personal refection, small group discussion, and large group conversation and consensus to help a congregation define their core values. This workshop is free and available to each congregation. A trained facilitator will come to the church to lead the workshop.  Details here

Summer of Kindness | Curriculum 
   The Summer of Kindness curriculum that ignites a playful spirit as we practice kindness. We've included six sections that help us understand kindness better. We will wonder together about Bible stories, offer a short prayer, play a fun game or activity, and then choose an act of kindness (or a few) from the Bingo Sheet! 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS | ADS

Canistota United | Pews Available
    The United Church of Canistota, in South Dakota, is transitioning the seating in their sanctuary from pews to cushioned chairs in July.  Consequently, they have 20+ pews available free of charge.  If any church or ministry is interested in the pews, please contact Jerry Bertelson by July 5th either via email at jerry.bertelson@gmail.com or by phone at 605-321-0388. 

Mitchell Downtown First | Family Ministries Coordinator
    Job description: In this full-time role, the Family Ministries Coordinator will oversee all discipleship ministries for birth through young adult; reach out to families both within the congregation as well as those in the surrounding community; and recruit, train and deploy volunteer discipleship staff for Children’s and Youth ministries. We are looking for someone who will consider this a ministry and not just a job. Access details

Dakotas Conference | Church Planter-New Congregation Developer
     The Dakotas Conference is seeking a planter/new congregation developer!   The opportunity exists in a college town in partnership with a center city UMC church that seeks to form a relevant new worship and discipleship community for young adults and new people.  Best applicants have entrepreneurial gifts, disciple making experience and an evangelistic heart.   For details, please contact ben.ingebretson@dkmnareaumc.org.

OTHER JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS |  VIEW ADS 
    Jobs available at Southern Hills, Canyon Lake, and Asbury UMC.