If you don't have your Consultation Forms in
yet, please do so as soon as possible!
The deadline was December 1st and we're still missing quite a few.
Part of the Charge Conference paperwork was a form stating you had updated your officers in the new Portal system. Please go into your church dashboard in your leaders list and make those changes if you haven't already done so. Those new officers will need current contact info to receive apportionment statements and other MOAC correspondence. If you have any problems, please contact Teresa at the district office.
Please take note of the 2025-2026 SW District Timeline
below with dates for the upcoming months.
December 1 – Consultation Forms due - these are available in your portal
December 24 - January 1 – Conference/District Closed for Christmas/New Year’s Holidays
December 29 - Stats module open
January 7- Conference apportionment deadline (by 4 p.m.)
January 29 - Deadline for churches to enter stats
January 31 – Mentor Report Forms due
March 1 – Parsonage Inspection Forms due
March 23-24 - dCOM Interviews in person in Springfield
May 1 – Pastor Eval forms due
May/June – Pastor Evaluations with DS
June 5 - 7 – Annual Conference in St. Charles, MO
June 30 – Mentor Report Forms due
Aldrich United Methodist & Aldrich Christian Church: 100 years of Christmas unity
Sunday, December 7, the Aldrich United Methodist Church (AUM) and the Aldrich Christian Church will meet together for the 100th time to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.
AUM started in 1888 as a Sunday school and we their first building in 1890 with a members Bible in the cornerstone, and eventually (in the mid-20th century) the church relocated two miles out of town. The Christian church started in 1906 as the result of a revival in 1905 when they lost their original building due to the construction of Stockton Lake in the 1960s, they moved into what remained of Aldrich. In 1924 the two churches for unknown reasons, begin joining together for Christmas services, and they have every year since then, with the exception of one year during the COVID-19 pandemic, making 2025 the 100th joint Christmas service.
Whatever the reason for starting the tradition, AUM minister Reverend Dr. Ron McIntyre says one good reason to continue is when we as United Methodist attend to celebration such as a shared service with a local Christian church. We are living out the very heart of Christ’s prayer for unity among his followers (John 17:21).
Pastor Robert McGuinness of the Aldrich Christian church echoes the importance of unity and adds, “ We may not spend every Sunday morning together, but we have no hesitation, celebrating the birth of our savior, since this is where we start to learn who Jesus of Nazareth really is and why that matters to us as Christians he goes on to say that by coming together through the commonalities of their faith, it helps them to serve the community better. Because of that we know we can count on each other when more temporal and everyday ministry opportunities arise in our local community”.
So, the Aldrich churches, Aldrich, United Methodist, and Aldrich Christian Church together, our one thread in the larger tapestry of time, traced back before railroads, lakes, and denominations to a baby who was swallowed and laid in the manger 2000 years ago.
Advent Devotional from Bishop Farr
Advent is here! Bishop Farr shares a short devotional to mark the start of the season. View the Video →
Save the Date: Notes of Rest Retreat
Mark your calendars and make plans to join us April 30 – May 2, 2026, in St. Louis for a Notes of Rest Retreat with Julian Davis Reid. During this contemplative, music-infused time apart, participants will explore rest, reflection and renewal through Scripture and song. You can view the full retreat flow and schedule at this link. Registration opens on Jan. 20, 2026. Indicate interest and receive more information when it becomes available by completing this form: www.moumethodist.org/interest-form.
For more info on this amazing travel opportunity, click the following link. TRAVEL
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Update your Find-A-Church profile
Developed by United Methodist Communications, Find-A-Church is the official online directory of United Methodist churches. It is one of the most visited sections of UMC.org, averaging more than 1,000 page views a day and helps you to connect with busy people in your community on their terms, on their time, and in their comfort zone. It also serves as a companion to your church’s existing website — giving you twice the local visibility online. Use the link below for more information and to access your profile.
Update your Find-A-Church profile | ResourceUMC
