THIS WEEK

Pray with us | March 16-22
   Lord,  may we see you in all we do. All glory goes to you.  We pray for all of God's people especially, these persons. 

Surprise the World |  Week six Sent 
   In our 2021 Lenten study from the book, Surprise the World by Michael Frost, we walk through the acronym BELLS—Bless, Eat, Listen, Learn, Sent. This week Rev. Ben Ingebretson discusses what it means to be sent by God into the mission field. View the video and access resources. All of the videos are posted here to download or view. Small group study guides are posted here, as well as print copies of the messages. If you are looking for additional resources to supplement these, you can find more here.  View the message from Rev. Joel Winckler for chapter six, Learn, and access resources for week five of the study.

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.

DWU Stark Lecture —Race Relations and the Ministry of Reconciliation | March 18
    There is a lot of talk about race and the need to reconcile. What does that look  like in your local church? How can we create a ministry of reconciliation? Join Rev.  Dr. Shawn Moore serving Living Spirit United Methodist Church in Minneapolis as he presents reflections and conversations about race relations and reconciliation. Join the presentation on March 18, 2021,  at 7 p.m. virtually at this link. 

Celebrate Sheilah Kyburz's ministry | Submit by March 22
    You are invited to celebrate the ministry of Sheilah Kyburz, who will retire as the bishop's assistant for the Dakotas-Minnesota  Area of The United Methodist Church. She will retire at the end of March. Janet Beard will serve as her replacement. People wishing to celebrate Sheilah Kyburz’s ministry with memories or messages can do so in multiple ways.

COMING UP

Clergy Candidate Forum | March 23 
   Are you unsure of all the steps and what is next on your journey as a ministry candidate?   Here is your chance to ask questions and get answers! Join a Zoom call to visit with other candidates and Rev. Sara McManus, registrar for Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry,  on March 23, 2021, at 12 p.m. MDT,  1 p.m.  CDT.

REACH! MAKE MORE OF FALL 2021: Re-launching Post-Pandemic Public Worship with Purpose
     Join Rev. Ben Ingebretson on April 14, 2021, from 12 p.m. MDT, 1 p.m. CDT,  for a webinar to plan for your church to show radical hospitality and invitation to your community. Welcome Back Weekend training will provide a roadmap for your church to use as you prepare to engage new people in fall 2021!  Get the details and register here. 

Clergy Financial Well-Being Group #2 | Register now
    This new opportunity begins Thursday, April 15,  for eight weeks. Sessions will be held  for 90-minutes at 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.  CDT.  The leader and facilitator, Sarah Swantner, owner of Black Hills Integrative Counseling and Coaching, will lead you through an exploration of topics around cash flow, money mechanics, insurance and asset protection, wills and legacy planning, setting and adhering to financial goals and plans, money beliefs, money in relationships, financial alignment with personal values and life purpose, and ways to reduce financial stress and increase financial satisfaction. Swantner is a professional financial counselor(CFP) and has been working with our Area clergy in groups and individually over the last two years. Register now as space is limited. Contact Diane Owen with any questions.

Annual Conference 2021 | Call for resolutions, petitions, and award nominations
    The 28th session of the Dakotas Annual Conference will be June 11-12, 2021, in a hybrid format. Drawing on our collective values of Jesus, mission, and connection, the theme of this year's annual conference session is "Jesus Waymaker.” We will explore ways in which we need to step out of our comfort zone and follow the path to living like Jesus in ways beyond our imagination. Lay and clergy are invited to submit petitions and resolutions to be considered at the 2021 Annual Conference by March 31, 2021. The Dakotas Conference Cabinet also invites nominations for several awards that will be a part of the session by March 31, 2021. 

Nonprofit Church Leadership certificate program for clergy | Application process open
   Clergy may apply for this year-long online graduate certificate program through Dakota Wesleyan University to increase leadership competencies.  View summaries of the applied projects presented by the participating pastors in 2019 and 2020. Applicants will need to ask the leadership team of their church to complete this Endorsement of Participation. Learn more about the program by viewing the application.  Contact Diane Owen for more information and any questions.

RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Camp Sunday: Plan a special day set apart for your congregation to celebrate the ministry of camping together. Camp Sundays typically include camp style, themed worship with music, and testimonials on camps’ personal impact. In-person worship can consist of decorating the church in a camp theme, special snacks or meals, sharing information on registering, and getting local financial support—access 2021 Camp  Sunday resources.

GBHEM Presents Rick Steves “Travel as a Spiritual Act”
How do you meld your longing to travel with your aspiration for spiritual growth? In an exclusive conversation open to all, world-renowned travel expert and author Rick Steves will join the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) on Tuesday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. CDT for a live discussion on “Travel as a Spiritual Act.”  Register to participate Tuesday, March 23 at 8 p.m. CDT.

SCHOLARSHIPS

UMHEF scholarships | Deadline extended to March 19
    United Methodist students planning to attend a UM-related college, university, or seminary for the 2021-2022 academic year are encouraged to take this extra time to apply for the more than $2 million available in scholarship funds from UMHEF. Applications and supporting materials must be submitted online or postmarked by March 19. Applicants must be members of The United Methodist Church and planning to attend a United Methodist-related school, college, university, or seminary for the 2021-2022 school year. Get the details. 

Excellence in Leadership Scholarship | Apply by March 24
     The Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church and  Dakotas United Methodist Foundation is happy to partner with the General Board of Higher Education  and Ministry to offer matching dollars for this scholarship. This scholarship opportunity is designated for full-time students seeking a Master of Divinity degree and is enrolled at one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries or schools of theology.  Applications will be accepted through March 24, 2021; get the details here. If you have any questions, please contact Diane Weller.

Merit Scholarships | Apply by April 1
    The Dakotas Conference and Foundation support those entering their  call to ministry and invite seminary students to apply for a Merit Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded each year to seminary students showing exceptional promise or achievement in preparation for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church and connected to the Dakotas Conference. In previous years, close to $100,000 has been available for distribution. Scholarship amounts are dependent upon the number of applicants and funds available.  If you have any questions, please contact Diane Weller. Apply here. 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Asbury UMC | Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
    Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is currently accepting applications for a Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. The Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries develops, directs, and evaluates the youth/young adult education program with the goal of making disciples for the transformation of the world at Asbury United Methodist Church. This is a 20-hour per week position. A full job description can be found here: http://sfasbury.org/about-us/staff-openings. Please email a resume to info@sfasbury.org or mail it to the church at 2425 S Western Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105.

Yankton First UMC | Praise Team Leader
     At First United Methodist Church in Yankton, South Dakota, the Praise Team Leader will provide vocal and musical leadership to the Sunday morning contemporary worship service. This position will be responsible for the planning, preparing, and coordinating of all aspects of music for the contemporary worship service. View a job description and application details here. 

FOR SALE

    Copier for sale: The United Methodist Church in Plankinton, South Dakota, has a copier for sale. It is a Toshiba e studio 356. It does black and white copies and has duplexing. The copier is in good working condition and has a total print count of 235,000.  The asking price is  $300.00, including two new in the box,  toner cartridges.  Contact Terry at 605-299-6450 or Tara at 605-682-8912. Please leave a message.