Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church |
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Mondays @ Dakotas | April 18, 2011 |
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Dakotas Conference Communications would love to tell the story of how God is inspiring, energizing, transforming and calling your church to ministry. If you have a story to share, email Dakotas Conference Communications by clicking here by Thursday. Submissions received after Thursday will not be included in the newsletter. Please submit articles in Microsoft Word format. Articles should be no longer than 250 words. Be sure to include the author, any people involved and the time line for publication, up to two weeks.
Pictures always appreciated!
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Flooding: United Methodist Care
 | | North Dakota overland flooding April 10, 2011 |
ND and SD -- Record flooding is occurring across portions of North and South Dakota. Some rivers, lakes and streams are recording the highest levels ever seen, and overland flooding is a very real threat to many areas. Highways are underwater and dikes are threatening to breach. The following is a brief update of the areas most affected.
Lake Poinsett UM Camp
The dikes by the Sports Cabin were overrun with ice and water the cabin is flooded. The waves and ice are pushing up against Cabin 1. The bank is washing away at an extremely rapid pace and CAN NOT be stopped. The remaining ice on the lake is going to swing back and may do significantly more damage. The waves are just 15 feet away from Cabin 4 and if the water rises another 10 inches, this cabin will be flooded.
Red River / Sheyenne River and Devils Lake ND
Rain and snow... what a mess! More water will not help the Sheyenne River communities especially Valley City and Lisbon, N.D. As record inflows still approach Lake Ashtabula, there is now additional snowmelt runoff which will impact that basin through the coming week - with perhaps even more precipitation to come this week. The Red River appears to have crested at Oslo at around 38.11 feet, late on the 14th... but a very slow decline is expected there. Otherwise the crest on the Red continues to march northward towards Drayton and Pembina. Cooler temperatures have not slowed inflows into Devils Lake... the combined inflows are now above 7500cfs there. President Obama has declared a federal emergency for the counties of Ramsey, Cass, Barnes, Richland, Traill, Grand Forks, Pembina, Walsh and Ward in North Dakota.
Wesley Acres Camp on alert
Wesley Acres UMC camp is keeping watch as water will reach the very top of the Bald Hill Dam this week. The water's edge in camp has about 4-4.5 feet of elevation left before water would touch the Dining Hall. Current guestimates are that Wesley Acres will NOT sustain significant flood damage despite the high water.
United Methodist lend a helping hand
A group of sandbaggers from Fargo First went out to Valley City to help with sandbagging to Valley City, N.D. Fargo First and several of the other Fargo churches also are sending folks to Lisbon for sandbagging. United Methodists from Arthur, Casselton, Oakes, Milnor, Wyndmere, and Wahpeton are also sandbagging in Lisbon and Valley City. This is an important grass roots effort as members of Dakotas United Methodist churches are reaching out to rural areas and smaller towns.
Volunteers continue to support Lake Poinsett United Methodist Camp by sandbagging and moving equipment. The need is constantly changing as ice breaks up and wind forces the ice to shore.
Prayer and financial support is needed
Financial support is needed for flood relief efforts at Lake Poinsett Camp, Valley City, Lisbon, Kindred, ND, and other areas across North and South Dakota. Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey calls for a special offering , "I call on the people of The Dakotas Annual Conference to reach out in hope to the affected areas and offer support through a special offering to be taken this Sunday (Palm Sunday) or any time throughout the coming several weeks."
Prayers of support will provide hope to all of those fighting spring flooding. Lift up your prayers on this Facebook page.
Click here for information about North Dakota.
Click here for more information about South Dakota.
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Common Table Open Forum
The Common Table also reviewed plans for an Open Forum to be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 8 p.m. CST. The Open Forum is a time for any member of the Dakotas Conference to speak with the Common Table and ask questions. Members of the Common Table will be at Bismarck McCabe UMC. Bismarck McCabe will also host the School of Ministry May 2-4, 2011. If you are not able to be present at Bismarck McCabe UMC on May 3 you may join the Open Forum via DAVID (Dakotas Videoconferencing). Videoconferencing sites are available at Rapid City First UMC, Mitchell Conference Center, Sioux Falls Asbury UMC, Fargo Gathering, and Jamestown UMC. You must register to participate at a DAVID site by e-mailing Ray Baker by April 15. rbaker@mccabeumc.com |
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Yankton UMC youth cleanup
Yankton, S.D. --The KFC Youth Group at First United Methodist Church worked with several other teams and residents of Yankton to help "Keep Yankton Beautiful". Ten kids and 5 adults join in the Keep Yankton Beautiful cleanup day.
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Front row - Sam Gusso and Alex Weiseler. Next row: Kirsten May, Madeline Nooney, Madason Tessier, Cole Moderegger, & Dustin Gusso. Next row: Jane Gilmore, Amanda Gravholt, Suzanne Tessier, Garrett Adam, & Wyatt Adam. Last Row: Bob Thue and Greg Gusso. |
Submitted by Carla Hummel, Yankton UMC Youth Director |
In our hearts
Sympathy is extended to the family of the Gladys Kroger. Gladys is the mother of Rev. Gene Elder, retired, grandmother of Rev. Greg Kroger, Bishop's Assistant for Connectional Ministries, and great grandmother to Pastor Karl Kroger, Pierre Southeast UMC of the Dakotas Conference. Gladys passed away in Sioux Falls, S.D. on April 7, 2011. A full obituary can be viewed at the website of the website of the Dindot-Klussman Funeral Home .
Sympathy is extended to the family of Marlene "Molly" Fox. Molly is the mother of mother of Deb Whipkey, wife of Barry Whipkey pastor at Huron Riverview and Virgil, S.D. UMC. Molly Fox passed away April 8, 2011 in Sioux Falls, S.D. a full obituary can be viewed at the website of the Skroch Funeral Home.
Sympathy is extended to the family of Kathleen Bellamy. She served as Conference President of United Methodist Women, served on the Women's Division, and was a lay delegate to General Conference. Within the Annual Conference she held many leadership positions. Kathleen will be remembered for her creativity, her spiritual devotion, her strong leadership qualities, and as a fine friend. Kathleen Bellamy, 92, of Drayton, ND passed away at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, ND on April 8, 2011. Memorial Services were held on Wednesday, April 13th at Drayton UMC. |
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Jamestown teens make a difference
Jamestown, N.D. -- St. Paul's UM Women, Jamestown, ND, has always encouraged and mentored new circles and/or sub groups. These groups are given an opportunity to pursue their special interests. Approximately 10 years ago, a teen UMW group was organized at St. Paul's that met regularly. Most of these members have now left the area for college, work and are no longer teenagers. Last year Karen Aman, Membership, Nuture & Outreach Mission Coordinator, invited female teens from St. Paul's to meet and consider reorganizing a teen circle.
Four members agreed to be members of a teen UMW and to meet regularly. They named their group "Living H2O" and decided to have their main focus as doing "mission projects." The leader of the group, Beth Ann Erbele, approached the girls about the "Nothing But Nets" (a way to stop the spread of malaria) mission project idea. The girls were asked to pray about the project and to look up additional information on the internet. Living H2O agreed to raise funds for "Nothing But Nets" and decided to have a rummage sale. Publicity for the sale was designed including making posters, mission moments during the worship services and a shoe demonstration. One Sunday morning the girls in the Living H2O group lined the church's narthex and sanctuary with shoes. Each shoe represented one person who died from malaria during that morning's worship service.
Members of the church were asked to donate items for the rummage sale. Although parents and adults from the church assisted the teen group, the four circle members (Savannah Kramlich, Nichole Domke, Jennifer Nannenga and Kailey Alber) manned the sale. The sale netted $900.00 which was donated for treatment of malaria in Africa. The group indicated "that although you may be young, you can make a difference in other people's lives - even in third world countries."
Submitted by LaVina Kleese, St. Paul's UMW Unit President |
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Aberdeen Faith UMC gives to Japan
 | | Damage in Japan Photo by UMNews |
Aberdeen, S.D. -- In response to the earthquakes in Japan, Faith UMC's Administrative Board has decided to triple whatever offerings are received. Faith UMC will utilize mission endowment funds. For example, if a church member gives a $50.00 gift, $150 will be sent to UMCOR. Faith UMC has already collected $500.00 in offerings.
Faith also has other endowed funds, which enables payment of the full cost for people going to camps, children, teens, adults or families. Faith has been the recipient of many gifts over the years and is blessed to be able to share them with others.
Submitted by Jack Erickson, Pastor Faith UMC
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Funds dedicated in honor of Rev. Ed and Ginny Coates
 | | Gist Lodge. Photo by Scott Jensen |
Storm Mountain Center, S.D. -- Greetings to each of you! We wanted to share some very exciting and special news with each of you. In our continued efforts here at Storm Mountain Center to raise the funds needed for the completion of the Gist Lodge, a couple has come forward anonymously and given a gift of $12,500. They would like to honor the ministry that Rev Ed and Ginny Coates provided first here at the camp and in their many years of service in the Dakotas with various churches. The donator's vision is that one of the rooms in the Gist Lodge will be named to honor the Coates's. The donator's challenge to others is to match their gift to accomplish and reach the goal of the needed $25,000 to name the room. Ed served here at the camp as the very first camp manager. Ed and Ginny went on to serve churches in Presho, Vivian, Timber Lake, Isabel, Winner, Mitchell, Redfield, Ashton, Olerichs, Buffalo Gap, Oral, Smithwick and presently serving the new Prairieview church. Ginny has served in many positions with the United Methodist Women.
Gifts in any amount to honor Ed and Ginny may be sent to Storm Mountain Center, 23740 Storm Mountain Road, Rapid City, SD 57702 with "Coates Matching Gift" in the correspondence. Thank you for honoring the ministry of Ed and Ginny Coates and for your faith in the ministry here at Storm Mountain Center.
Scott Jensen , Director Storm Mountain Center
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Change the World May 14-15, 2011
Millions of United Methodist throughout the world will join together to volunteer and make a difference on May 14-15, 2011. Will you be one of them? You are invited to go outside the church and reach out to others.
Janelle Jones, Dakotas Conference Lay Leaders challenges each of us to be part of Change the World, "You can do something as an individual, as a small group, or church body. We all have a neighbor in need."
 | | Change The World Promo 2011 |
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Bishop's Laity Gathering coming in July
July 30 and 31,2011 -- Bishop's Laity Gathering will be held at two locations--Sioux Falls First UMC on Sat July 30, 10 am-4 pm CDT and Bismarck McCabe on Sun July 31, 2:30-8:30 pm CDT. SAVE THE DATE! Plan to bring a worship planning team of clergy and laity to work with Marcia McFee. Check out the Worship Design studio website that offers worship planning ideas. Watch for more details.
Janelle Jones, Conference Lay Leader
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No pre-conference meetings May 7, 2011
There will be no preconference meetings held on May 7, 2011. All documents and information needed for the Dakotas Conference Annual Session June 8-11, 2011 will be available on the website at www.dakotasumc.org .
Registration now open
Registration for Annual Conference 2011 is now open. Go to this link and you can register online. If you need assistance or have questions about registration for Annual Conference registration contact Sharon Blumer at 605-996-6552 or sharon.blumer@dakotasumc.org
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Dakotas Conference office closed Good Friday
The Dakotas Conference Office will be closed Friday, April 22, 2011 for Good Friday. The office will open again on Monday, April 25, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. CST.
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Calendar Contact Info
Click here to see the entire Dakotas Conference Calendar. If you have items you would like to add to the calendar contact Bonnie Carlson.
Mondays Contact Info
Doreen Gosmire
Associate Director of Communications
Dakotas Annual Conference Communications
605-966-6552 | |
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