Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

For those clergy attending the memorial service of Rev. Dr. Bruce Robbins tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis, you are invited to robe (white stoles) and process for the service. https://www.minnesotaumc.org/obituary/rev-bruce-warren-robbins-18562702

Oven Partners in the Dakotas Conference of the UMC is seeking a new director to provide leadership in operations, recruit and manage volunteers, lead mission teams overseas and in the U.S., and work to expand and sustain the donor base. Do you know someone who would be a good fit for this role?

Job Opening – Director of Solar Oven Partners | Solar Oven Partners Solar Oven Partners (SOP) is seeking a candidate with the necessary skill set, gifts and graces to fill the Director's position. This vibrant internati ...

Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services in Minneapolis is welcoming nearly 1,000 refugees in 2024—almost twice as many as they worked with in 2023! This fall Refugee Services is looking for coats to provide to families for their first Minnesota winter. Now is a great time for congregations to start collecting new or lightly used child and adult coats. https://www.minnesotaumc.org/classifieddetail/mcc-refugee-services-seeking-winter-coats-18649022

The Minnesota Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) and The Grove United Methodist Church invite you to a prayerful experience. Visit the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and a Native American cemetery on Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn more and register: https://www.minnesotaumc.org/eventdetail/18622748?month=9&year=2024&day=1&display=m

During Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), many Hispanic/Latino people are remembering their traditions and celebrating their families’ countries of origin and their independences. It offers an opportunity for all church members to better understand their community and the families in it as the population becomes increasingly diverse. Today, 15% of the U.S. population is of Hispanic heritage, but less than 1% of United Methodist church members are Hispanic. ResourceUMC suggests five ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in congregations that are predominantly Anglo, African American, or another culture that is not Hispanic/Latino.

Five ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Hispanic Heritage Month is a time when all United Methodists in the United States can celebrate diversity and the positive contributions of their Hispanic/Latino brothers and sisters to their communities and congregations.

This fall, you’re invited to engage or re-engage in the Fresh Expressions movement. Monthly themes will allow people to learn about specific kinds of Fresh Expressions, explore best practices around listening deeply to our communities, and highlight exciting ministries across the area. Plug into this exciting initiative!

A new season for Fresh Expressions Learn about all the ways you can engage or re-engage in the Fresh Expressions movement!

Eden Prairie United Methodist Church is living out our value of being inclusive of all by hosting an adaptive VBS for kids with special needs!

Summer saw a special Vacation Bible School for kids with special needs - Eden Prairie Local News Eden Prairie United Methodist Church hosted its third year of Adaptive Bible Camp for children with social, communication, or sensory needs.

Earlier this year, Bishop Lanette Plambeck invited congregations and individuals to join her in supporting Emma Norton's Home + Healing Campaign for Restoring Waters. This supportive housing facility in St. Paul opened in April and provides stability, healing, and trauma-informed care for more than 60 women, individuals, and small families who have experienced homelessness. You can join her in taking the campaign to the finish line. As of August, the campaign had raised over $3.4 million, and four months remain to raise the final $350,000. https://www.minnesotaumc.org/newsdetail/emma-norton-restoring-waters-campaign-progress-update-and-call-to-action-18645108

Are you ready to engage or re-engage with Fresh Expressions? Share what’s working, what’s challenging, and what you are dreaming about every third Thursday of the month. These calls are open to all who are interested.

www.minnesotaumc.org Engage or re-engage with Fresh Expressions and participate in Third Thursdays! We will gather via zoom to share what’s working, what’s challenging, ...

Register for Laity Collaborative kickoff on Oct. 26! This is a brand new learning community focused on equipping laity and unleashing the Holy Spirit. After this opening kick-off event, you'll be able to access a virtual learning series and great resources. Have laity from your church signed up? Don’t let them miss out on this incredible opportunity to grow in their faith and embrace their call.
Learn more: https://www.minnesotaumc.org/newsdetail/the-laity-collaborative-18569837
Register: https://www.minnesotaumc.org/eventdetail/18569777?month=10&year=2024&day=1&display=m

The Laity Collaborative to equip, empower lay people The Laity Collaborative is a brand new collaborative learning community focused on equipping laity. Here's everything you need to know!

When you are always on the lookout for ways to put faith into action, opportunities to bless people are everywhere.

Lisa Peterson, a member of Community United Methodist Church - Monticello, MN, recently learned that her employer was getting rid of 350 extra boxes of brand-new, high-end clothing worth about $400,000 wholesale. Rather than letting the clothing be destroyed, Peterson coordinated a donation to her church so it could be given where it was most needed.

Rev. Ralph Holbrook estimates that over the past two weeks, more than 150 women and girls in need have come through the church fellowship hall to shop; each person was invited to select up to 25 items to take home. To avoid creating a “Black Friday moment,” the church spread the news by word of mouth and by calling local organizations to invite their clients. Those who received items were encouraged to personally invite others who they might know.

The congregation’s goal was simple: Show each recipient that she is loved.

Holbrook said, “In this opportunity for outreach, we were able to show love and value to the women in our community, many who have migrated from Central and South America and West Africa. We were also able to bless those who have been a part of the Monticello area for most of their life.”

Sixty of the 350 boxes of clothing went straight to two local organizations: Monticello Help Center and Becker Family Connection, and 14 went to a women’s shelter in St. Cloud. Additional clothing was distributed to organizations in Park Rapids, Cross Lake, and Brooklyn Center, and the church still hopes to distribute more boxes.

Volunteers from the church enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the recipients, and the response to the clothing distribution has been tremendous.

“For every person that volunteered, it was the great big smiles from those who received clothing that brought us joy,” said Holbrook.

This is back-to-school week for most children in Minnesota—and it’s a great time for churches to connect and partner with schools in their community, which Bishop Lanette Plambeck recently urged all Minnesota congregations to do. Messiah United Methodist Church in Plymouth has been doing just that for the past five years through a multi-faceted partnership with nearby Oakwood Elementary. Church members read to students throughout the school year, provide snacks for kids who are not able to bring them from home, collect and distribute winter gear, bring treats and cards for staff, and pray for students and teachers. https://www.minnesotaumc.org/newsdetail/messiah-umc-partners-with-local-school-18626930

This fall, engage or re-engage with the Fresh Expressions movement! There will be lots of ways to learn and get involved, from articles and weekly videos to monthly online gatherings where you can hear about existing fresh expressions and explore how you might start one. Stay tuned, and make plans to participate!

Bring youth from your church to Just One: Concert and Su***de Prevention Event for Youth on Oct. 2, 6:30-8 p.m. at Messiah UMC, Plymouth. This event featuring a hip-hop concert by Kaboose and speaker Sam Eaton is for youth in middle and high school, as well as parents and adults who work with youth.

www.minnesotaumc.org Wednesday, October 2 from 6:30-8 p.m. Messiah Church, Plymouth 17805 Co Rd 6, Plymouth, MN 55447 Just One is a collaborative, community-wide event ...

Finlayson United Methodist Church's su***de prevention group is providing a lifeline. Su***de rates in Minnesota are increasing much faster in rural areas as compared to urban and suburban communities. Last summer, Angela Hunt felt God nudging her to start a su***de prevention ministry within her church. Now members of the congregation and community meet at the church and connect with a state rural mental health specialist.

Finlayson UMC su***de prevention group provides lifeline for community On the third Thursday of every month, people gather at the church and connect with an experienced mental health specialist via Zoom.

We're looking back to all the moving worship music that was sung at Annual Conference this year. Check out "Undivided," sung by the Spirit of Hope UMC quartet!

Hymn: Undivided This is one of several videos of hymns sung at Annual Conference 2024. It is shared here so Minnesota churches can use it in worship. Feel free to download this…

Join us in wishing happy birthday to Bishop Lanette Po***ck Plambeck! We are grateful for your leadership, your faithfulness, your wisdom, and your dedication. We are blessed to have you walking alongside of us and leading us into a hopeful and vibrant future as Christ followers in the Wesleyan way.

Leave your birthday greeting in the comments!

🌟 Exciting times ahead for the Minnesota Conference! Our Extended Cabinet has been on a retreat this week, discussing key initiatives, aligning our programs, and discerning priorities for the coming year.
✨What’s new?
As presented by the Bishop’s Leadership Team at Annual Conference, we’re adding a full-time Cultivator of Strategy and Innovation to our team, along with several part-time strategists focused on multicultural ministry, next-generation ministry, and rural/town & country/suburban ministry. These positions will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Minnesota Conference.
💡 Got gifts in these areas?
Whether it’s you or someone in your church, stay tuned! We’ll be sharing more information on these roles and how to apply soon. This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of something transformative for our larger faith community.

Are you ready to actively address barriers to diversity and inclusion in your church and community? Register a team for The ABIDE Summit, a cohort-based learning series that will include four summits over the next nine months, starting with one Sept. 14. Learn more and sign up: https://tinyurl.com/abidefoundation

As a new school year begins, Bishop Lanette Po***ck Plambeck shares a pastoral letter, urging Dakotas and Minnesota United Methodists to actively engage in the education and formation of children in our communities and suggesting some ways in which to do that.

Bishop's back-to-school message Bishop Lanette urges Minnesota United Methodists to actively engage in the education and formation of children in our communities and suggests ways to do that.

The small city of Excelsior is divided in two by Highway 7. All the public parks are on the north side of town, with no safe way for children living on the south side to get to them. Excelsior United Methodist Church, also on the south side, decided to do something about it by building a community playground that has become a key gathering spot for the church’s neighbors.

New playground at Excelsior UMC connects neighbors The church worked with community partners to build a playground—the first one on the south side of Excelsior.

We're remembering all the incredible worship music from Annual Conference this year. We know this powerful rendition of "My Redeemer Lives" was a lot of people's favorite!

Hymn: "My Redeemer Lives" This is one of several videos of hymns sung at Annual Conference 2024. It is shared here so Minnesota churches can use it in worship. Please note that this hymn…

The Reconciling Ministries Network and Minnesota Methodists invite everyone to a celebration of the changes made at General Conference regarding LGBTQ people in The United Methodist Church. Come to First United Methodist Church of St. Cloud Region on Saturday, Aug. 24 for worship and fellowship!

Kudos to United Methodist Church of Le Sueur for giving away school supplies to children in its community. What a great way to share God's love with neighbors! What is your church doing to engage with families as the school year begins? Tell us in the comments!

Minnesota clergy, if you have educational debt, don't miss out on the opportunity to receive a grant of up to $5,000 to help you pay if off. The Investing in Leaders Resource Grant grant is made possible through the Office of Clergy Well-Being, and applications are being accepted through Sept. 1. Apply now: https://mnumc-reg.brtapp.com/2024InvestingInLeadersGrant

We're remembering all the beautiful music from Annual Conference 2024. Did you get to hear the mass choir sing "Fresh as the Morning" at our Celebration of Life as Clergy service? If not, listen to the recording:

Hymn: "Fresh as the Morning" This is one of several videos of hymns sung at Annual Conference 2024. It is shared here so Minnesota churches can use it in worship. Feel free to download this…

STORM Campers make a difference: Last month, 37 youth from five churches came together to serve others through STORM (Service to Others in Relational Ministry) Camp. They completed 22 jobs in three days: weeding, tree trimming, brush hauling, painting, and more The group also worshiped together each morning and evening. STORM Camp dates back to 1991, and this year’s campers stayed at Holy Trinity UMC in Prior Lake. Watch a recap video:

STORM 2024 Recap Video Thanks for a great few days SJXO, STORM Campers!

Every Thursday night all summer long, dozens of people gather outside the Clarissa UMC parsonage to build relationships and hear speakers share their perspectives on a variety of important topics. Rev. Kali Christensen started “Porch Ponderings” seven years ago with the simple goal of helping people get to know their neighbors. "These are conversations and exposure to who we’re living next to…It’s about loving God, loving your neighbor, and listening to what each other has to say,” she says.

‘Porch Ponderings’ builds relationships and reaches new people Every Thursday evening, community members gather to hear from various speakers and think about big topics in new ways.

Bring your family to Dianez Days at Life UMC in Eden Prairie this Saturday! Vietnamese storyteller Trần Thị Minh Phước will be presenting at this event. As a retired librarian and a 2023 Minnesota State Fair Blue Ribbon author, she will share her experiences and knowledge of Vietnamese culture.

Details: https://www.minnesotaumc.org/eventdetail/18386262?month=8&year=2024&day=1&display=m

Dianez Days at Life UMC in Eden Prairie is this Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.! Bring youth from your community for free food trucks, a bouncy house, and fun kindness activities. Learn more: https://www.minnesotaumc.org/eventdetail/dianez-days-18386262