THIS WEEK!

Shoebox Christmas - Drop off BEFORE next Monday!
    Spirit Lake Ministry, Tree of Life Ministry, and some individual churches are preparing to reach over 6,000 children with Christmas shoeboxes. This is an opportunity for you to reflect the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ into our communities by ensuring that no child feels forgotten on Christmas morning.
     Each year, people like you pack shoebox gifts according to these guidelines and bring them to a collection site. Then, volunteers collect your shoebox gifts from these sites around our Dakotas Conference and get them ready to distribute. Your shoeboxes need to be at the nearest collection site by November 16 to arrive in time for distribution at the many schools across the Dakotas. Your gifts make a huge difference!

 LUKE-ACTS 2025 - Reflections & Resources

November Breakthrough Prayer
    God of the long road and the hard testimony, be our anchor. Break through despair and delay with your promise and your peace. When we feel shipwrecked, remind us that the gospel is never bound. When we face trial, give us words to speak with grace and truth. Use even the broken pieces to carry your Church forward. May we trust you with the whole journey—beginning to end. In the strong name of Christ. Amen.

Luke-Acts Reading 
     As when the Ephesian silversmiths rioted (cf. Acts 19:30), Paul didn’t want to run, but asked to speak to the angry crowd. The Roman commander, with his soldiers at hand, let him do it. He did not win the crowd over. Was it worth having a chance to “plant seeds” in people’s minds, even if he did not convince them on the spot? Paul fought the faith before he accepted it. Might that have played a part in his wish to speak even to angry enemies? Additional Resource:  Bound for Rome

CONNECTOR'S CORNER

Meaghan Wharton, Connector for Justice & Advocacy
    As we enter this season of gratitude, we’re reminded of the abundance God provides and the call to share that abundance with others. The 2025 Thanksgiving Offering invites us to express God’s love in tangible ways—through generosity, service, and connection with our neighbors. Following Bishop Lanette Plambeck’s invitation, I encourage you to partner with local organizations working to end hunger, offer support, and meet basic human needs. Together, our shared generosity can bring hope and transformation to our communities.
    Did you know?

• 100% of the counties and congressional districts in North and South Dakota are home to people facing hunger.
• 1 in 5 children in South Dakota face hunger.
• In North Dakota, 1 in 10 people live below the poverty line.
• Unlike other states with warmer climates, the Dakotas’ unforgiving weather hides the degree to which homelessness, poverty and hunger exist.

Want to partner with an organization doing good in your community but don’t know where to start? Here’s a simple guide to help you take your next step:

1. Find Your Focus – What issue moves your heart? Food insecurity, healthcare access, or another local need?
2. Locate Local Partners – Search by cause and ZIP code on websites like Charity Navigator or Guidestar to find nonprofits near you.
3. Give or Volunteer – Donate household or food items, offer your time, or give financially. (Pro tip: ask what’s needed before buying!)
4. Report Back – Share your impact using our form.

You can also participate in our shared, connectional effort by giving through the Dakotas Conference Thanksgiving Offering. This year, your gifts will support Feeding South Dakota and the Great Plains Food Bank. You may share your gifts online through the Dakotas Conference website or by mail (1331 W. University Ave., P.O. Box 460, Mitchell, SD 57301).
    Each act of generosity—no matter how small—is a reflection of God’s love at work through you.
    If you’d like help identifying local partners or planning your participation, please don’t hesitate to reach out (justice.advocacy.connector@dakotasumc.org)

RESOURCES

“Building Your Church’s Online Presence Webinar” - Wednesday, Nov 12, 1 PM CT/ Noon MT
    Whether your church has a full website or none at all, there are simple ways to create a meaningful online presence. This webinar is designed for United Methodist churches and ministries looking to improve or establish how they’re represented online. Join experts from the General Council on Finance and Administration and United Methodist Communications as we walk through four key options—from leveraging the UMC’s Find-A-Church tool and using Facebook as your primary site, to partnering with third-party church platforms or building on platforms like Wix or WordPress. Join us to discover which option fits your church’s needs, tech comfort level, and budget. Register here. 

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

Safer People, Stronger Church: Practicing Trauma-Informed Leadership | Tuesday, Nov. 18 @ 6:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. MT
    As faith communities, we are called to nurture healing and hope. Many of us are still learning how trauma affects people, congregational culture, and the systems that support ministry. This webinar offers laity and clergy descriptive language, ideas, and options so each congregation can discern its own path toward being more trauma-informed. Click here for more information and to register.

Clergy Time Off for 2026
    Plan now for long-term renewal leave in 2026. Taking time off for intentional growth, rest, and renewal is a provision for clergy found in the Book of Discipline, paragraph 351. The long-term renewal leave (Formational and Spiritual Growth Leave, BOD 351.3) provides an opportunity for clergy to request up to six months off with the approval of the SPRC, conference superintendent, and the Renewal Review Team. Clergy, if you are planning for this intentional time away, take action now and review the process. SPRC members looking for ways to support your clergy, discuss this opportunity with them now. The deadline for the 2026 long-term renewal leave is Dec. 1, 2025 (applies to leaves to be taken after June 1, 2026). Long-Term Renewal Overview/Guidelines, Long-term Renewal Application, Long-term Renewal Formational Plan, Pastoral Coverage Grant. 

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. 

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
    Administrative Assistant | Dell Rapids UMC, Dell Rapids, SD
    Part-time Campus Ministry Director | First UMC, Brookings, SD
    Part-time Coordinator of Children’s Ministries | First UMC, Yankton, SD