THIS WEEK!

Giving Tuesday: Support Dakotas UMC Alternative Christmas Market 
    The long lines, the busy traffic, the waiting for your online order to arrive or the hassle of having to return it—sometimes the rush of Christmas can make us forget the heart of the season: Love made real through the gift of God incarnate. Many of us know someone who has everything they need, someone who says, “Please, don’t buy me more stuff.” What if this Christmas, your gift didn’t fill a shelf—but filled a heart, answered a prayer, or left a lasting legacy? The Dakotas Conference invites you to celebrate through the Dakotas Alternative Christmas Market—a way to give the love of Christmas in tangible ways. Instead of another sweater or gadget, honor someone you love with a gift that changes lives through one of our Dakotas camps or mission ministries. Learn more about how to give here. 

A Child is Born worship resources
    Clergy from across the Dakotas have developed Worship resources (liturgies, children’s messages, graphics, etc) to accompany the 2025 Advent Study, "A Child is Born." They can be found on the Digital Resources page of our website.

Radical Methodism study with Bri Heida
    Dakotas Connector for Renewal, Bri Heida, will be offering a way to reconnect to our Methodist roots and a space to dream up ways to be a movement of love in a world that desperately needs one. Over the course of five weeks beginning in January, Bri will lead a discussion group over Zoom to engage in "Radicle Methodism", a study by Dr. Ashley Boggan (found on Amplify Media) that explores the beginnings of Methodism and how it took root in America. The group will explore the ways the movement took hold and grew, and ask what such a movement could look like in this time, here in this place. It will be an opportunity to imagine what can happen if we say yes to having our own hearts set afire, and how that could spread across the Dakotas and beyond.

The group will meet over five Wednesdays, roughly over the lunch hour:
    January 7, 11:30-12:30 MT/12:30-1:30 CT - Introduction
    January 14, 11:30-12:30 MT/12:30-1:30 CT - The Radicle and the Roots
    January 21, 11:30-12:30 MT/12:30-1:30 CT - The Rooted Connection
    January 28, 11:30-12:30 MT/12:30-1:30 CT - Connection to the Denomination, the Flowers and the Spoils
    February 4, 11:30-12:30 MT/12:30-1:30 CT - The UMC, A Call Back to Our Roots

To register, click here and enter your information. Details and materials will be sent out as we approach the first date in January.

If you're unable to join us, you can still do the study independently or with others in your church. All materials are accessible through Amplify Media. (If you haven't already signed up for your account through Amplify Dakotas, click here for instructions.)

LUKE-ACTS 2025 - Reflections & Resources

Luke-Acts Reading 
     When we read the letters of Paul and hear him speak about the spiritual fruit of peace - a peace that passes understanding - it's hard to imagine how he could have written those words when facing such trials. But that is the true power of love and peace over hate and violence. Additional resource: Inspiring Father Explains Paris Tragedy to Child

RESOURCES

Holiday Resources from UMC.org
    Joy to the world! Peace on Earth! Hark, the Herald Angels Sing! At this time of the year -- from Advent through Epiphany -- the world sings out with messages of hope, love, joy and peace. As we await the birth of the Christ Child, let us take time to share love with those around us, a reminder of the greatest gift, when Love came down. Check out these resources from UMC.org for Advent, Christmas, Blue Christmas, and Epiphany.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

Access 2025 SOP Alternative Giving Campaign Resources
        Nearly six in ten Americans say they would rather have a donation made on their behalf to their favorite charity than receive a gift for themselves. You’re probably part of that 60 percent. Please consider Solar Oven Partners, a mission of the Dakotas Conference, for alternative gift giving. Tell friends or family you’d like a donation to Solar Oven Partners for YOUR Christmas gift. Click here to access promotional materials and resources for the 2025 SOP Alternative Giving Campaign. You’re welcome to download and share these materials within your local church or online.

Coming Soon to Amplify Dakotas: "Great is Thy Faithfulness" sermon series
    We are creating a series of sermons based on the four “Greats” - The Great Commandment, The Great Commission, The Great Requirement, and The Great Proclamation. We will be providing sermons from Revs. Teresa Person, Bob Ruedebusch, Julie Gregg, and Kermit Culver as well as additional resources for worship and discipleship. These resources will be available on our Amplify platform as well as through our website by mid December to be used for a January series…or any time of year! If you haven’t signed up for a free Amplify account, you can’t do so here.

Stewardship and Generosity webinar | Thurs. Dec. 11 @ 6:30 p.m. CT
    Join us for the final part in the four part series: "Let's Talk Money". From electronic giving to endowments and legacy gifts, discover creative and practical tools to inspire generosity and build sustainable support. Participating churches may also be eligible for grants. Previous webinars in this series can be viewed here.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS | View all Ads

Jobs Available
    We're hiring! The following positions are open across the Dakotas Conference.
    Find more information on our Conference website.
    Administrative Assistant | Dakotas & Minnesota United Methodist Foundations
    Part-time Campus Ministry Director | First UMC, Brookings, SD