THIS WEEK!

Preaching Institute | Oct. 7-9
    Faithful Preaching for Our Times is a homiletics conference that gathers pastors, theologians, scholars, and activists to explore just and liberative approaches to proclaiming the gospel. Together, we will examine how preaching can confront the forces that distort truth, suppress justice, and silence the vulnerable—while embodying a faith that resists, liberates, and restores in sustained ways. Through workshops, plenaries, and worship, this gathering invites preachers to engage their prophetic vocation with theological depth and bold imagination for the challenges of our time. Learn more and register here. 

Church/Charge Conference Materials
    Church/Charge Conference season is almost upon us. As you prepare to gather and give thanks for all that God had done in and through your church this past year and to look ahead to 2026, you can find necessary report forms and resources here. Contact your Superintendent if you have questions about schedule and agenda.

2025 Journal
    The 2025 Journal is ready!
    Access the free online version here.
    Order a printed copy here.

Shoebox Christmas - Dates and Locations
    Spirit Lake Ministry, Tree of Life Ministry, and some individual churches are preparing to reach over 6,000 children with Christmas shoeboxes, who might otherwise notreceive any Christmas gifts. Shoebox Christmas is an opportunity for you to reflect the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ into our communities this season by helping to ensure 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

Luke-Acts Reading 
     In verse 45, it talks about how the Jews were jealous because of the crowds response and the growing popularity of people who they saw as their opposition. It is easy to see this in others, but how can we be intentional about self reflection, monitoring our own jealousy toward others who seem to be getting more power or popularity than us —Especially when they’re seeming to be the opposition—so that our hearts aren’t hardened?

RESOURCES

World Communion Sunday
    Celebrating the sacrament of communion all around the world, offerings taken on this Special Sunday make it possible for scholars the world over to complete higher education in many different fields that allow them to give back to their churches and communities. For more information and resources that help congregations join the celebration, see World Communion Sunday webpage and view resources here.

Free Ministry Tools
    Running the day-to-day administration of a local church or ministry often stretches both time and budget. The UMC General Council on Finance and Administration has provided this article naming several high-quality free ministry (or nonprofit-discounted) tools available to help ministry leaders with design, accounting, presentations, communication, and overall administration.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

DakYouth | Oct. 10-12    DAKYOUTH is an annual youth event like no other and is for both middle school and high school youth in the Dakotas Conference. Youth gather from all around the conference to learn about leadership, discipleship, and service. This year’s theme, “Living For God,” is centered on Job 23:11, challenging and inspiring youth to walk faithfully in their everyday lives. Rev. Rachel Billups will bring powerful messages as the main speaker, and VOTA will lead an unforgettable time of worship. Register today and reserve your hotel rooms before they’re gone! View and share the promotional video. 

Relax, Refresh, Renew Women's Retreat | Oct. 24-26
    Join us for this year's Refresh, Relax, Renew Women’s Retreat, October 24th – 26th, at Storm Mountain Center. The theme is Sacred Sisterhood: Biblical Stories of Courage and Empowerment. Often in our everyday lives, we, as women, feel overwhelmed, overworked, unworthy, insecure, unappreciated fill in the blank. During this set-apart time, we will be introduced to sacred rhythms demonstrated by the matriarchs of our faith to helps us draw closer to the divine in our everyday lives. The retreat will include free time to hike or relax in the beauty of the Black Hills. You will be well-fed and pampered over this weekend intended to help you refresh, relax and renew your relationship with God and others. Register today!

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
    Part-time Coordinator of Children’s Ministries | First UMC, Yankton, SD
    Alumni Engagement Associate | Dakaota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD