BISMARCK -- In 2009 Legacy United Methodist Church asked its members to consider having "Half a Christmas" - to set aside half of what they would normally spend on Christmas to help out a community agency which, as Rev. Kermit Culver says, does what Christians are called upon to do - feed, clothe and house those in need.

Each year it has had "Half a Christmas," Legacy upped its goal amount for its Christmas offering, which goes each year to Bismarck's Ruth Meiers Hospitality House, which serves people who are homeless.

In 2009, Legacy set an ambitious goal of $25,000, and when the Christmas offering was counted, found that members had topped it by giving $27,700.

In 2010, Legacy raised its goal to $28,000 and collected nearly $30,000.

This past Christmas, the bar was raised again, this time to $35,000.

When the giving was counted, Legacy found itself with $39,000 to be able to give to Ruth Meiers, Culver said.

by Karen Herzog, Bismarck Tribune 

Rev. Rod Gist. File photo.

Nine years ago, while I was a participant in a short-term mission from our church to Bolivia, the bishop of the Bolivian Methodist Church hosted us for a visit.

Back in the 1960s, First United Methodist Church of Sioux Falls had built a high school building at the American Institute, and the bishop was there to celebrate all of the contributions the graduates of that school had made to their country.

One of them asked the bishop: "I have noted how worshippers in the churches down here always seem so happy and full of joy when they sing and dance and worship. Most of them are so poor, I don't understand what they have to be so happy about. Why do you think that is?"

Bishop Bruce and Char Ough will be leading a Pre-Lenten Retreat for clergy and their spouses on February 4-6, 2013. This event will be held at the Best Western Ramkota Inn in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

The theme of the retreat is On the Way, and will focus on helping us prepare for our Lenten journey with Jesus "on the way" to the cross.

HOSPICE OF RED RIVER VALLEY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Hospice of the Red River Valley seeks individuals to join its volunteer team, specifically as companionship volunteers. 

BREMER GRANTS AVAILABLE 

Make a difference somewhere!  Bremer Family Mission Grants are available from the Dakotas UM Foundation.  Matching grants of $250 or $500 are to assist mission projects from local to global.  Feb. 1, 2013 is the deadline and forms are on the Foundation website (www.DakotasUMF.org ), click the Grants button.

Congress Approves Two-Year Retroactive IRA Charitable Rollover Extension

You can again give your Required Minimum Distribution directly to a charity! H.R. 8 also includes a two-year retroactive extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover provision that lapsed on December 31, 2011.  Specifically, the new law retroactively reinstates the Rollover for 2012 and allows any otherwise eligible gifts made after December 31, 2012 and before February 1, 2013 to be treated as a 2012 donation.  The IRA Charitable Rollover has been reinstated for all of 2013 and will now expire at the end of this year, on December 31, 2013.

Please contact Bruce Blumer (800-224-6552) or your own tax accountant for more information.

Sign up now for Walk to Emmaus

An Introduction to Walk to Emmaus, The Upper Room

Be a pilgrim at the next Dakotas Conference Walk to Emmaus! Print off the pilgrim registration form and mail the completed form to the registrar as directed.  Registrar is Deb Pearl, 545 Lawnridge Ave. NE, Huron, SD 57350.  Her phone number is 605-461-6252.

 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION