Photo by Rick Craig
In This Issue
Annual Conference Session Theme Announced
Webster UMC Wins Award
High Expectations Around Tampa
Groton UMC Provides Gifts
In our Hearts
Who are your General Conference Delegates?
Shoebox Christmas 2011 a Success
You are Invited to Winter Connection
Camping Promotional Video 2012
Pierre 2011 Flood
Prairieview UMC to Host Concernt
2012 Sidewalk Sunday School
Electronic Hymnal Needed
School of Ministry 2012
Laity Elections
March 2012 Mission Trip
 
Quick Links 

Dakotas Camps

Dakotas Foundation 

Dakotas Conference 

UMC  

 

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
 

Upcoming Events

 

 

 

Jan. 9- Feb. 13 -- Leading Worship 101 for Lay Leaders - January 9 - February 13, 2012 - Dan Benedict, Instructor at this link Leading Worship 101 will focus on basic worship leadership skills for lay persons ("liturgists" or "lay readers") who assist the pastor in leading Christian worship. If you currently help lead worship in your congregation or would like to prepare for such leadership, this course is for you.

____________________

 

Jan. 16-30 -- Biblical Storytelling I - January 16-30, 2012 - Beth Galbreath, Instructor at this link. This is a two-week introduction to the ancient-future art and spiritual discipline of telling the sacred stories of Scripture. Participants will learn to prepare, learn, and tell a Biblical text by heart (not "memory").

____________________

  

Jan. 17-March 2 -- Growing Spiritually through Daily Discipline - January 17 - March 2, 2012 - Debra Dickerson, Instructor at this link .Participants will be guided in discerning God's direction for their lives, practicing daily disciplines, and reaching out in love.

____________________

 

 

Jan. 23-26 -- Prayer: Holy Conversations with God, which will be led by Pat Hoerth, a trained spiritual director and a United Methodist deaconess with extensive experience in teaching, leading retreats, and spiritual formation.  The retreat will take place January 23-26, 2012 on Scarritt-Bennett's campus in Nashville, TN. Register: Online, download registration form or call (615) 340-7557.

____________________

 

Jan. 27-28, 2012 - Winter Connection (Overnight Event for Senior High Youth grades 9-12). A fellowship retreat for youth at which the CCYM elections will take place. January 27-28, 2012 at these regional locations: McCabe UMC in Bismarck, ND; Wesley Acres Camp by Dazey, ND; Storm Mountain Camp near Rapid City, SD and Asbury UMC in Sioux Falls, SD. For more information go to www.dakyouth.com

_______________________

 

Feb. 1 -- is the deadline to apply for a 2012 Ethnic Young Adult (EYA) Summer Internship in Washington, D.C. An application form can be obtained online at 2012 Ethnic Young Adult Internship. For more information, contact the Rev. Neal Christie, assistant general secretary, Education & Leadership Formation, General Board of Church & Society, 100 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002, (202) 488-5611, or via email to Cindy Heilman, or Jennifer Gillyard.

____________________

 

Feb. 11-- Debi Nixon, one of the executive directors at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas will be at The Faulkton United Church on Saturday, February 11, 2012. She will present a one-day workshop based on her book, Catch: Attracting and Connecting Visitors. If you have questions contact Bill Hoffman at revwilly3@gmail.com or click here for a brochure.

 

___________________

 

Feb. 17-19 -- The Rushmore Area Lay Ministry Team is offering Lay Ministry Courses and a RETREAT time with fellowship, rest, and fun in the Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota!  February 17, 18, 19, 2012, Storm Mountain Center, 23740 Storm Mountain Road, Rapid City, SD 57702. Click here for more information. 

  

____________________


Feb. 27-29 -- Creating Jazz Liturgy, a workshop for pastors, church musicians, worship planners, seminary students, and others interested in jazz as legitimate music for worship.  The workshop will take place February 27-29, 2012 on Scarritt-Bennett's campus in Nashville, TN. Register online here

____________________

 

March 4-6 -- Wartburg Theological Seminary's 31st Annual Rural Ministry Conference is being held on March 4th - 6th, 2012.  This year's focus is "Courage in a Caring Community."  The Rural Ministry Conference outreach is continuing to grow and has become an ecumenical conference for those working in small town and rural parishes throughout the Midwest. Participants can also view the information and register online at www.ruralministry.com

____________________ 

  

March 14-17 -- UMCOR Disaster Preparedness academy for the North Central Jurisdiction takes place March 14-17, at Koinonia Tetreat Center, 7768 Pilger Ave. N.W., South Haven, MN.  Learn more here


____________________

  

March 23-24 -- Turn-Around Bootcamp: Strategies for your Congregation Featuring Paul Nickerson, March 23-24, 2012,Faith United Methodist Church, 909 19th Ave. N., Fargo, ND 58102. Click here for a schedule and registration  information

__________________

 

April 12-15, 2012 - 2012 PAUMCS Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia. Download the Brochure . You may complete the registration (PDF-fillable) form by computer, but you'll still need to print it out and mail it with your payment. The brochure and registration form are also available on www.paumcs.org.


 _____________________

 

April 16-18 -- Dakotas School of Ministry will be held April 16-18 at Watertown Cornerstone. Guest speaker will be author of "I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church" and Church Coach, Paul Nixon. Watch for registration forms to be available soon.

____________________     

 

May 4-5, 2012 YOUTHworker Academy. Training from a qualified presenter from outside the Dakotas Conference. May 4-5, 2012, location TBA. For more information go to www.dakyouth.com

 _____________________

  

June 9-17, 2012 - Destination Motown, Come join us on a high school and adult oriented mission trip designed to serve others while working on economic disaster recovery work projects!! Mo-town Mission Experience partners with local agencies in the Joy-Southfield, Brightmoor, and Wyo-ming-Plymouth neighborhoods of Detroit, Michi-gan, to help share Christ's love as we work as His hands and feet in the community. Click here for more details.

 

____________________

 

 

July 22-28, 2012
-- Dakotas Conference Licensing School is going to be held at Living Waters Retreat Center at Lake Poinsett from July 22-28, 2012. Contact Jodi Cataldo, Dakotas Conference Director of Leadership Development at 605-996-6552 or Jodi.cataldo@dakotasumc.org for more information.
 ___________________

 

July 15-20 - Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries Institute, sponsored by GCFA, Nashville, Tennessee. The Institute provides outstanding advanced professional training and enrichment for United Methodist church secretaries from across the denomination. A participant who completes the program and meets the requirements set forth by the General Council on Finance and Administration is eligible to apply for certification as a Professional United Methodist Church Secretary. Click here for more information.

 

 

 

 
Mondays @ Dakotas
January 23, 2012
 

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.  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! 

 

 

Theme announced for annual conference

Mitchell, S.D. -- Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey announces the theme of the 2012 Annual Conference as "Get Up and Go". The 19th session of the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist church will be held Wednesday, June 6 through Saturday June 9, 2012 in Sioux Falls, SD.  The theme is based on Acts 8:26-40

 

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza... (Acts 8:6)

 

 

 

Guest teacher will be Rev. John Edgar. Rev. Edgar is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church for All People located in the inner city of Columbus, Ohio. This remarkable diverse congregation is comprised primarily of low-income persons. An ordained pastor for over 30 years, he has previously served as a district superintendent and dean of the cabinet in the West Ohio Conference. 

Webster UMC wins award

 

Webster, S.D. --The Webster Area Chamber of Commerce has selected The Webster United Methodist Church as the 2011 - Webster, South Dakota - Business of the Year.  This is the first time in the history of the community that a church has been selected as business of the year.  Please see the following video explaining the reasons why the chamber of commerce selected the church:  

Webster, South Dakota - 2011 Business of the Year
Webster, South Dakota - 2011 Business of the Year
Video taken and article submitted by Mark Tracy.

 

High Expectations will surround Tampa gathering

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Every four years United Methodists develop high expectations that delegates to the top legislative body of the denomination will set policies and approve resolutions to address specific challenges in the church and society. Those expectations are building as the 988 delegates and 4,000 volunteers and observers prepare for the 2012 General Conference, meeting April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla. Interpreter OnLine takes a look at what is shaping up.

For quick information and to see how many days are left until General Conference, visit the new Countdown to General Conference page.

Read full story and post a comment»

 

Groton UMC provides gifts for 19 families

 

 

 

Groton, S.D. --The Groton United Methodist Church sponsored a local Angel Tree for Christmas.  The wishes of 38 children in the community involving 19 families were fulfilled.  Missions chairperson Kay Brandt states, "This was a great mission project we have done in the past and will continue."

  

 

 

In our hearts

 

Prayers are requested for Rev. Jim Cissell and family. Jim had brain tumors removed. Jim moved to Rehab Hospital  in Rapid City on Thursday Jan 19th.  He is receiving PT, OT and Speech and then some time with activity.  He is making progress in all areas and is working hard in his rehabilitation. Jim and family members are grateful for all the prayers and words of encouragement.  There is a Caring Bridge site that persons can follow:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamescissell.  

 

  
 

 

Who are the delegates of General Conference?

There are 988 delegates to the 2012 General Conference. ... These delegates come from 5 U.S. jurisdictions as well as from groups of churches in Africa, Asia, and Europe that are known as "central conferences."

 

The Dakotas Conference has 2 delegates, 1 clergy and 1 lay.  The lay delegate is Janelle Jones, Spearfish UMC and Conference Lay Leader. Jodi Cataldo, Dakotas Conference Director of Leadership Development will serve as the alternate lay delegate to the 2012 General Conference. 

 

Rev. Rebecca Trez, Celebration UMC, Brandon, SD will serve as the Dakotas Conference clergy delegate. Rev. Greg Kroger, Bishops' Assistant for Connectional Ministries for the Dakotas Conference will serve as the alternate delegate for clergy of the Dakotas Conference. The complete list of delegates and much more information can be found on the website for the 2012 General Conference.

Shoebox Christmas 2011 great success

 

Shoebox Christmas 2011 was a great success. 4,562 gifts were delivered to five reservations in the Dakotas. The children of these reservations were very grateful for the gifts they received from the loving people from all across the United States. Mike Flowers, Co-Director of Spirit Lake Center states, "Libby and I would like to thank you for your support of this VERY worthwhile program."

 

Here is a thank you note from Social Services on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation.

 

I want to thank you and your group for once again for making some many families in our area happy and hopeful during this Christmas season.  I wish you could see the faces of the families that were helped when they came into our office to receive gifts for their children.

 

A grandfather, who just received custody of his four grandchildren and didn't have the money to buy them gifts as he receives a small disability check, was stunned when we offered him a gift for each one of his grandchildren.  He was so grateful that he sent a Christmas card to our office expressing his gratitude and offering prayers to all who helped him and his grandchildren.  He lives in a simple two-bedroom house, but he made room for his grandchildren, he sleeps on a small sofa in his little living room.  He says he doesn't mind because he loves his grandchildren and wants to keep them so they do not end up with strangers.  He prays every day for his son and his daughter in law both lost to drugs and alcohol to find strength and courage to find the path back to their children.  But until that happens he gladly accepts the responsibility to keep them safe and loved in his home.

 

Young women who were sanctioned from their Welfare and did not have any money to even purchase Pampers for their babies, came in and were grateful for the gifts they received.  They each took articles of clothing from the many bags that were donated for their children and themselves.  They were so thankful and many left with tears in their eyes and warm smiles, as they said "There are angels living among us. Tell them thank you for all that they have done."

 

The coats were brought to our elders at the retirement home.  So many of them live on fixed budgets and so many of them in need of warm coats.  We placed them on tables in the common area. People came out of their little apartments to see what was happening.  Many elders with smiles and gleaming eyes looked over the coats and selected one for themselves and for others who were in need of a warm coat this winter.  They thanked us as we left.

 

A young father came in who is a seasonal worker, had been taking care of his children and came in to ask for presents for his three young ones.  He told me that he was living in an old trailer but he had patched it up for the winter. He hadn't worked since the construction season was over and he was waiting for his unemployment check and he was worried it wouldn't make it in time for Christmas.  The mother of the children passed away last summer from cancer.  He told me that his mother helps him with his children, but they wanted a place of their own.  So he bought the old trailer house from a cousin and began fixing it up so it was warm before the children could come and live with him.  He was just getting started all over again. He was a victim of the Minot flood and lost his rental house.

 

All the shoebox gifts were given out.  Thank you for your generosity and all that you have done to lift some of the burden off our families during such a joyous time but also a time when people are in need.

 

May God Bless all of you.

 

Social Services Turtle Mountain Chippewa

You are invited to Mission to Minot:  A week of work and fellowship to help with flood recovery

 

Photo by Mike DeBose UN News Service.

The Mouse River (or Souris River as it is called in Canada, its country of origin) snakes through and around the city of Minot, ND.  While it appears tame, quiet, and even "mousy" now, it was anything but tame and "mousy" the spring and summer of 2011.  The Mouse River threatened Minot during the spring thaw in April and May and then following heavy rains in late June overflowed its banks at a record level, leaving total destruction of buildings, homes, schools, and lives in its path.  Over 4,000 homes were affected, many filled to the rafters with water that stood for weeks.

 

Can you imagine how overwhelming the cleanup and rebuilding must be for an individual or family? Picture yourself trying to do the repair work in your home, perhaps a couple of hours each evening or maybe on the weekends.  And while you are trying to repair your home (which you probably are not able to live in) you continue working at your job, caring for your family and/or spouse or parents.  You continue to attend your children's school and community activities (perhaps in a temporary location, too) and try to bring some normalcy back into your life.  Progress is slow and comes to a grinding halt at times leaving you wondering if you'll ever know what "normal" is again.   

 

In December the Dakotas Conference camping went to Minot and staff witnessed first-hand the strength and courage of the people in Minot. The camping staff spent two days doing reconstruction in a home in Minot.  The resiliency of the people in Minot is a real testimony to their faith. The cleanup and rebuilding will take years.

 

The Dakotas Camping and Youth Ministry in partnership with Camp Kingswood in the Minnesota Annual Conference is hosting four weeks of mission work in Minot this summer.  An all-inclusive $325 per person covers everything for one week.  You provide your transportation and meals while traveling to and home from Minot and transportation to the work sites.  Lodging and meals will be provided in the Burlington High School with anticipated work including demolition and construction, work at the Minot Zoo, work at parks in Minot, Burlington and the area. Lots of ministry of listening and caring is expected.  All levels and skills are needed including grocery shopping and cooking. 

 

Pray about how an intergenerational team from your church might help the Minot area while building new understanding and Christian Community in your church, too.  For complete details check the camping website at www.dakcamps.org and click on 2012 Mission to Minot or email becky.holten@dakcamps.org.  (605-990-7783). 

 

Submitted by Becky Holten, Dakotas Conference Director of Camping and Youth Ministries

 
Camping 2012
 
Dakotas Camps 2012 Promo 2. Use this video to promote camping registrations at your church.
Dakotas Camps 2012 Promo 2. Use this video to promote camping registrations at your church.
 

Pierre / Fort Pierre Flood needs still there

 

Prairieview UMC to host concert

 

 

2012 Sidewalk Sunday School

 

Children of the Harvest is now taking applications for the Sidewalk Sunday School program This program is designed to travel the Dakotas and bring a fast paced Vacation Bible School program to churches that wish to have a children's outreach in their community. Sidewalk Sunday School will run from the 1st week of June through the 1st week of August. Requests will be accepted until the 31st of March and the schedule will be completed by the 10th of April. Please contact Mike and Libby Flowers at Childharvest@msn.com if you would like to participate in Sidewalk Sunday School this year. 

Electronic hymnal needed

 

Ben Clare UMC near Sioux Fall is looking for a used electronic hymnal. If you have one please contact Pastor Ron Kramer at Ben Clare UMC-phone 605-271-0144. rskramer@sio.midco.net

 

 

Dakotas School of Ministry will be held April 16-18 at Watertown Cornerstone. Guest speaker will be author of "I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church" and Church Coach, Paul Nixon. Watch for registration forms to be available soon.
Laity elections

 

 

I will soon be completing 2 terms as Conference Lay Leader (CLL) thus it is time to elect a new Dakotas Conference Lay Leader. Election will also be held for Associate CLL and 4 district lay leaders and will take place at the laity session of Annual Conference, Wed June 6, 2012 in Sioux Falls. Please give thought and prayer for laity with the gifts to serve. Contact me for information about these lay leader positions, jljones@rushmore.com

 

by Janelle Jones, Conference Lay Leader

 

March 2012 mission trip opportunity 

 

 

Whether you are in this boat or might be someday, consider the following advice from Donna Fisher of Deadwood, SD and join our March 9-20, 2012 Haiti Solar Oven Mission Team. Donna writes the following in our upcoming newsletter.

 

Having prayed for and contributed to the Haiti Solar Oven Project for years, I said, I'll go someday but now is not the time. God decides the time, I guess, because it finally happened. I traveled to Haiti with the Nov. 5-15, 2011 team. What adventurous, hilarious, heart-breaking, brain-stretching fun! God moments abounded! My family physician and a mission trip veteran, warned me: "You'll come home with a whole in your heart!" He was right. To any of you reading this who've heard but resisted the call to build solar ovens with HSOP, just go!

 

For March 2012 trip details, please click here:

Mondays Contact Info Doreen Gosmire Associate Director of Communications 605-996-6552. 

 

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.