September 13, 2022
God's Got This
In this month's column, Bishop Farr talks about trusting God in the present moment. In some ways, we find ourselves in an unpredictable season in the United States, our churches, and the post-COVID-19 pandemic. Wait a day, and something else may change. These last two years have been spent planning something, only to replan or reimagine whatever you were initially trying to accomplish. The Missouri Annual Conference has lived in this same uncertainty. It’s like being in between seasons. Fall is coming, but not yet. Summer is leaving, but not yet. Read more here →
Upcoming Events
The local church is clearly at a critical crossroads within our culture. Far too many people are disengaging from the church and finding new ways to spend their time. Church leaders, we want to help you face this crisis by equipping you to engage people of all generations within your community. Join us for an in-person event on October 12-13 at Community UMC in Columbia. Together we’ll learn how to do healthy, cooperative, empowered ministry between laity and clergy in the local church. Learn more and register→
Other Upcoming Events
Upcoming Grant Deadlines
Featured Resources
Missouri Annual Conference Implicit Bias Course
“Implicit Bias: What We Don't Think We Think” is a resource for leaders and congregations who want to learn and teach about implicit bias, the unconscious bias we all experience. The learning engagements included in each section allow for individual work and group work. Each exercise is an invitation to the sacred journey of discovering with your church and community how God is leading you to use this material faithfully within your context. Any Missouri Conference lay member is invited to take the training for free. Learn more and register→
Good Neighbor Week 2022
10,000 Acts of Neighboring. You, along with your Missouri neighbors can participate by doing a simple Act of Neighboring September 28th – October 4th. All that you need to do is do a simple act of kindness in your neighborhood and register your act. From a soup potluck to inviting your neighbors to outdoor movie, the options are endless.
Three Things to Consider as You Seek To Reach Gen Z and the Current Climate of Our Students
Has your church attendance changed in the past few years? Perhaps it's COVID hesitation? Or Gen Z's lack of attachment to institutionalized religion? One of the overall biggest disruptors to church attendance and engagement is that Gen Z is so much different than any of the previous generations the church has tried to reach in the past. One of the major themes coming from parents, students and grandparents is simply that students aren’t as interested in what’s being offered at church anymore.
See the full resource library at www.moumethodist.org/resourcelibrary
