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Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church
Secures $1 Million Grant for Local Churches
The Missouri Conference has received a $1,102,00 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish a program called Congregations in Action—Joining Hand and Heart.
Safe Gatherings Application Discount Ending
Are you Safe Gatherings certified? Sadly, local churches can be a dangerous place for vulnerable people. Do your part to protect others by becoming Safe Gatherings certified and helping those you serve with to get certified also. Until the end of the year, we’re offering half-off the application fee.
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Celebrate the Reason for the Season by viewing the Living Nativity at the First United Methodist Church, 627 Mill Street, New Madrid on December 15th, 16th, and 17th from 6-8 p.m. each evening.
All are welcome!
Jump Start Your Church’s Worship Experiences
Registration Closes January 9
How can we design worship experiences so compelling that no one wants to miss it? How do we create a worship design process that engages the gifts of the others? We’ll answer these questions and more at our first Jump Start workshop of 2024 on Jan. 16.
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Advent Resources
The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. Whether you are inviting the community to Christmas worship or promoting special events, this collection of information, outreach and liturgical resources will help make for a more meaningful Advent and Christmas season.
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Give the Gift of Camp
NextGen Camping Ministries is offering the opportunity to put a 2024 summer camp under the tree this Christmas. From now until Jan. 15, overnight camping experiences are available at a discounted rate. This will be the lowest price available for 2024 summer camp dates. Please note this discount doesn’t apply to day camping experiences.
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Southeast District Grants
The Southeast District is offering ministry grants to any United Methodist church or affiliated organization in the district boundaries.
• Priority will be given to organizations that have not previously received a grant.
• Priority will be given to Conference initiatives listed below.
- New Places for New People (NPNP) -New or growing Alpha programs.
- Next Generation Ministries - (birth-college age) New program that multiplies Next Gen Ministries in the local church.
- Raise up Missional Leaders – training or an experience to recruit, train or disciple missional leaders engaged in the congregation.
Details can be found in the Grant Application found here:
• Spring Grants are due by March 1st. All applicants will be notified by April 1st.
• Fall Grants are due by August 1st. All applicants will be notified by September 1st.
Sharefest Celebrations!
79 agencies received items from the Sharefest events. Those agencies serve over 48,000 Missourians each month.
Festival of Sharing Presentations
Festival would love to meet you! Schedule a presentation with your congregation, Sunday school class, or volunteer group either in person or virtually! Email [email protected] or call 573-474-3332.
Registration is Open for Exploration 2024
Exploration creates sacred space for young adults, ages 18-26, to be in meaningful fellowship, passionate worship, theological reflection, and practical workshops as they discern whether God’s call on their life is to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church and what faithful steps they can take in response. It will be February 16 – 18 in Orlando, Fla. For more information and to register go to https://www.explorecalling.org/exploration/.
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NEW ABSORB COURSES AVAILABLE
New classes are available on Absorb! Missouri Conference members, you can take Faith Sharing, Congregational Care and Strategic Ministry Planning for FREE, at your own pace, on our online learning platform.
 Implicit Bias Course
Free “What We Don’t Think We Think” Online Course
The Missouri Conference has partnered with the UMC General Commission on Race and Religion to create a Missouri-specific version of the course “What We Don't Think We Think.” Any Missouri Conference member – clergy or lay – is invited to take the training for free to learn about the unconscious bias we all experience.
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Conference Apportionment Deadline
The final date to submit 2023 apportionment payments is Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Any apportionment payment sent after December 31, 2023, will need to be sent with guaranteed delivery before 12:00 p.m. on January 9, 2024. You should also contact Lindsay Ready ([email protected] or (573) 397-5060) and notify her if you have sent payment after December 31. Payments may always be hand-delivered to the Columbia office during business hours. Any payments received after 12:00 p.m. on January 9, 2024, will not be credited to 2023 apportionments. For more information, visit www.moumethodist.org/apportionments.
