January 28 - A UMC Conversation: The Journey with Migrant, Immigrant, and Refugee Communities Zoom Webinar
January 31 - Year-End Stats Portal Closes
February 14 - MOAC Awards Submission Deadline
March 1 - Parsonage Inspections Due

Beyond Borders:

A Christian Response to Immigration Complexities

Bishop Farr, along with many of the Bishops of the South Central Jurisdiction, signed a letter inviting all United Methodists in the Jurisdiction to engage in respectful, empathetic conversations about immigration. Click here to read the letter →
 
In light of this, you're invited to a webinar on this topic at noon on Jan. 28. This webinar will provide an opportunity to deepen our understanding and engage in meaningful dialogue about these pressing issues. During this session, panelists will share their experiences welcoming and offering hospitality to migrant, immigrant and refugee communities. They will reflect on past efforts, current changes and future expectations, helping us to better comprehend the complexities of this journey. Click here to register to attend live or receive the recording →

 Year-End Stats Information

 The year-end stats portal for entry of 2024 local church statistics entry opens on Dec. 30, 2024, and closes on Jan. 31, 2025.

Again this year we'll be using GCFA's (General Council on Finance and Administration) AC Stats portal (This link is now active!). Since this portal is still new to us, we’ve created a video training available on our Absorb learning platform. This short training will orient you to the layout of the new statistics entry portal and its capabilities. You can access this training and additional related resources at this link.

Click Here for More Information and Resources → Spring Lay Education Classes Available Registration is now open for spring lay education classes. Both in-person and online options are available. Learn more at the links below: Feb. 15 - Class Meetings Course - In-Person in Springfield Feb. 15 - Ministry of All Believers - In-Person in Springfield Feb. 22 - Christian Leadership and Casting a Visioning - In-Person in Kirksville March 1 - Christian Leadership and Casting a Visioning - In-Person in Columbia Mondays in March - UMC Polity - Online via Zoom  Jump Start Workshop on Leveraging Your Gifts  We all know the feeling of being in the zone. What would your ministry look like if your work felt that way more often? Join us for our first Jump Start workshop of 2025 on Feb. 4. Together we’ll consider questions around leveraging our gifts, and the gifts of our ministry teams, for greater Kingdom impact. You’ll leave with practical advice and solutions that can be immediately implemented in your ministry context. Learn more and register at www.moumethodist.org/eventdetail/jump-start-leveraging-your-gifts-18792897 MOAC Awards Nominations Open MOAC Awards Submission Deadline - Feb. 14 Every year we celebrate and honor the ministry of churches and United Methodists across the state through the MOAC Awards. You’re invited to nominate an individual or church for their work in mission, discipleship, evangelism, or inclusiveness, justice and worth. Deadline is Feb. 14. Learn more at www.moumethodist.org/moac-awards How to Prepare Your Church for Freezing Temps When the temperature drops and winter takes hold, it's important to make sure your organization is prepared. Winter weather can cause problems for your facility and your vehicles. Even organizations in a warmer climate should be prepared for lower-than-average temperatures and know how to respond to freeze events. Click Here for Information & Resources →