2015 Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
Agenda
June 4-6 | Fargo, North Dakota
Table of contents Welcome
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From the planning team
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Conference speaker Rev. Jorge Acevedo
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Wednesday Workshops
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Schedule: Wednesday, June 3
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Schedule: Thursday, June 4
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Schedule: Friday, June 5
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Schedule: Saturday, June 6
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Preachers
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Opening Worship Service
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Miracle Offering Worship Service
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Bapitismal Remembrance Worship Service 2015 Retirees
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Maps
19-20
Thank you Dawn Diehl, Rapid City, SD--Quilted artwork
Images and videos
The quilted banner and the podium banner on the plenary stage were created and designed by artist Dawn Diehl of Rapid City, South Dakota. Here is a description on the art:
Videos and video recordings from the 2015 Annual Conference can be viewed and downloaded on Vimeo:
Everything flows from the cross. The elongated colorful layers of fabric represent paths to follow when going on a mission. Some long, some short, some narrow and singular to one person, some wide and broad encompassing many people and purposes. The quilting flows along each pathway with motifs added to illustrate the ways our hands can be “unleashed� in mission.
vimeo.com Dakotas UMC Photos can be viewed and downloaded on Photo bucket: photobucket.com DakotasUM
The 2015 Annaul Confernence Communications / production team
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Matt Bader
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Jef Curfman
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Gail Johnson*
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Amanda Willis*
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Matt Britt
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Dakota Sound
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jlynn studios
*Minnesota UMC
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Aaron Cross
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Doreen Gosmire
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Christa Meland*
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Adam Cross
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Steve Hirsch
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David Stucke
Dakotas Annual Conference
Welcome to the 21st session of the Dakotas Annual Conference! “May you have more and more grace and peace through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” (II Peter 1:2). Char and I are eagerly anticipating how God will work through us to accomplish God’s purposes while we are gathered for holy conferencing here in Fargo. Our theme, God’s Vision, Our Mission – Unleashed, will focus our attention, resources and discipleship on healing a broken world – one of Jesus’ key missional imperatives. Rev. Jorge Acevedo, our conference teacher, will help us explore how we unleash our missional responses to fulfill God’s vision for a transformed world. God is calling us to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with our God. We will celebrate God’s justice and shalom through our Miracle Offering for Imagine No Malaria.
Gospel imperatives
Grow in love of God and neighbor
Reach new people
Heal a broken world
We will celebrate God’s extravagant grace as we launch our Thrive: Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow Initiative. We will celebrate those clergy and lay leaders who have shown us how to walk humbly with God. We will celebrate God’s anointing poured out on those being licensed, commissioned and ordained as clergy leaders. We will celebrate God’s leading in the many Holy Spirit breakthroughs that will be reported and experienced. We will be blessed by the joy of fellowship, the power of worship, the spirit of discernment and the presence of the Living God. And, we will be unleashed – unleashed to fulfill God’s vision of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Welcome to Annual Conference!
2016 Looking ahead: Join us for the 23rd Session of the Dakotas Annual Conference
June 9-11, 2016 at the Ramkota Inn in
Sioux Falls, South Dakota Bruce R. Ough Resident Bishop Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area
Social media: Throughout conference, news and updates will be shared on the Dakotas Conference Facebook and Twitter pages using hashtag #dakum. Please join the conversation!
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From the planning team Greetings from the conference session planning team! Welcome to this 22nd session of the Dakotas Annual Conference! Our gathering is a distinctive expression of our identity as United Methodists. More than just a meeting, our presence with one another is a means of God’s grace. We’re in the midst of renewal in the Dakotas and we are seeking to take the next faith-filled steps to live into God’s vision and be unleashed to fulfill our mission! These days in Fargo will, by God’s grace, be days that will have many kairos moments. This is God’s time and our time to be inspired through preaching and worship. We’re here to be equipped through the teaching presented. Yes, some of work may seem tedious, but it’s all part of a much greater effort. We want to be fruitful in our overall mission of making new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Besides all this, this is a great time of reunion through the joy of seeing each other face to face. So come expecting God’s grace to bless us in our work together. And to God be the glory throughout our Annual Conference session! Rev. Greg Kroger Chair, Sessions Committee
Welcome to this 22nd Session of the Dakotas Annual Conference! In the heart of the Red River Valley, we gather to see God’s Vision, Our Mission—Unleashed. As we worked as a team to plan this event, we constantly asked ourselves, “How can we support the local church by equipping and inspiring its leadership at this event?” We hope you will experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst over the next several days. More than that, however, we hope it will be a time in which your heart is encouraged, your mind is engaged and your spirit is empowered—that we might all be unleashed in our churches and communities, working together to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! Rev. Rebecca Grinager Trefz, Director of Ministries
We the clergy and laity representing United Methodist churches from across North and South Dakota have arrived in Fargo for the 22nd session of the Dakotas Annual Conference. On behalf of the churches that make up the Eastern Sunrise District, their clergy and laity, I welcome each of you. We pray that you will experience God’s blessing and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we worship, learn and do the business of the annual conference. God’s vision can be unleashed only if we accept our mission. We will hear inspired preaching, see examples of mission, taste the bread and the fruit of the vine, and be touched by God and one another. Why? So that we can return to our places of ministry ready to be unleashed to fulfill God’s vision as we embrace our mission. Marilyn Spurrell, Eastern Sunrise District Co-Superintendent
Sessions Action Team
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Rev. Greg Kroger, chair
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Rev. Amy Atkins, worship coordinator
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Bishop Bruce R. Ough
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Rev. Duane Coates, agenda coordinator
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Rev. Rebecca Trefz, director of ministries
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Rev. Dayne Zachrison, site coordinator
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Rev. Marilyn Spurrell, host district superintendent
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Rev. Theta Miller, host clergy member
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Jerry Bottger, associate conference lay leader
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Kay Braun, host lay member
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Bea Stucke, conference office
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Doreen Gosmire, conference communications coordinator
Dakotas Annual Conference
Conference speaker Rev. Jorge Acevedo
Rev. Jorge Acevedo says his greatest delight is connecting people to Jesus and the church. He is the lead pastor at Grace Church, a multi-site United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida that has three campuses and two more opening in July 2015. This church has grown its weekend worship attendance from 400 to more than 2,600 over the past 19 years. Grace Church is recognized as having one of the largest and most effective recovery ministries in America with more than 500 people involved each week. Prior to joining Grace Church, Jorge served at Christ Church United Methodist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; First United Methodist Church in Kissimmee, Florida; and Trinity Hill United Methodist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, where he was minister of youth and children. Jorge is a 1984 graduate of Asbury College, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in Bible. He is also a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary with a master of divinity degree. Jorge was ordained as a deacon in 1986 and as an elder in 1990. He was the 2001 recipient of the Denman Evangelism Award from the Florida Conference, and in 2007, he was named Asbury Theological Seminary’s Distinguished Alumni of the Year. In 2009, the Foundation for Evangelism named him the 2009 Distinguished Evangelist of the United Methodist Church. He has been a Jurisdictional Conference delegate five times and a General Conference delegate four times. Jorge serves on the Southeastern Jurisdiction and Florida Conference Episcopal Committees. Jorge authored Vital: Churches Changing Communities and the World (Abingdon Press, 2013), and he co-authored The Heart of Youth Ministry (Bristol House, 1989) and Sent: Giving the Gift of Hope at Christmas (Abingdon Press), which will be released in fall 2015. He has written for several publications as well. Born in Puerto Rico, Jorge moved with his family to the United States when he was four months old. He married Cheryl Montgomery in 1981. They have two sons and four grandchildren.
Wednesday Workshops
Telling Your God Story (Rev. Joseph Bishman, MCCI coach)—For many people, the word “evangelism” is a scary word. For some it’s because of bad experiences in the past; for others it simply feels intimidating. Come learn to tell your “God story” and equip your congregation to do the same. What We’re Learning—Lessons on Leadership, Hospitality, Discipleship and other Ministry areas from our MCCI churches. Come be inspired and challenged as these “students” of leadership share what they’ve been learning to help launch a new life cycle in their churches. Impacting Our Communities—How some Dakotas Churches are Extending Missional Impact—Come hear how some of our Dakotas churches are seeking to make a difference in their communities and bring the light of Christ in very tangible ways. Recovery as a Discipleship Tool—Led by Pastor Arlene Jackson, Grace UMC, Florida-a multi-campus United Methodist Church of the Cape Coral and Fort Myers area in Florida—with lead pastor Jorge Acevedo, our conference speaker. Arlene Jackson is the campus pastor at their Ft. Myers Central campus. Over the past six years, she has grown it from about 40 to over 300 in worship, reaching people on a recovery path as well as many on the margins.
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Wednesday, June 3 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
EVENING
AFTERNOON
MORNING
All day
KEY Regular events
Information/registration center open
Optional/special interest events
Atrium
Pre Conference Workshops and Meetings
9:00 a.m. Cabinet Mezzanine IV Board of Ordained Ministry Mezzanine I 10:00 a.m.
Archives and History
Mezzanine III
Noon to 1:15 p.m.
Historical Society Luncheon
Club III
1:00 p.m.
CCYM Mezzanine I
1:30 to 3 p.m. 2:45-3:30 p.m. 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
Equipping Workshops (see page 5 for desciptions) Telling your God Story Prairie Room What We’re Learning--Lessons from MCCI Frontier Room Impacting Our Communities Embassy A Recovery as a Dicipleship Tool Embassy B Rootbeer floats served by youth--fundraiser* Equipping Workshops (see page 5 for desciptions)
Telling your God story What We’re Learning--Lessons from MCCI Impacting Our Communities Recovery as a Discipleship Tool
Prairie Room Frontier Room Embassy A Embassy B
4:45 p.m. Dinner Break 5:30 p.m. Dakotas UM Foundation Mezzanine I CCFA Offsite 6:00 p.m. Solar Oven Partners Mezzanine III 7:00 p.m.
Celebration of Life in Ministry Rehearsal
Calvary UMC
New Member Orientation Frontier 7:30 p.m. Lay Servant Ministry Dessert Gathering Club III *Served by registration. A free will donation will be taken
Mission Festival All are invited! On Thursday evening, don’t miss the, Mission Festival from 6-8 p.m. in the Great Hall. Food, fellowship and fun abound. Roving reporters along with two famous (or infamous) lead reporters will interview live, nine Conference and United Methodists missions that have positively impacted the lives of many in significant ways.
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You’re encouraged to participate in several activities to raise funds for Imagine No Malaria including: Beat the Bishop Hoop Shoot Special Feature Event (Char Ough, Chair) Photo shoot with John Wesley or Bishop Ough Buzz Sting Protection Change War
Dakotas Annual Conference
Thursday, June 4 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
KEY Regular events
Information/registration center open
Optional/special interest events
Atrium
Childcare available (as reserved)
MORNING
6:00 to 9:30 a.m. Wellness Checks Room 102 Poolside All day Exhibits and displays Harvest Hall 8:30 a.m.
Opening Worship with Communion
Great Hall
10:15 a.m. Break Harvest Hall 10:30 a.m. Opening Plenary Great Hall
AFTERNOON
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch Clergy Spouse Luncheon Frontier Extension Ministry Luncheon Prairie Asbury Seminary Luncheon Mezzanine I & II Garrett Seminary Luncheon Mezzanine III Sioux Falls Seminary Luncheon Club III 1:00 p.m. Plenary Great Hall 2:15 p.m. Break Harvest Hall 2:30 p.m. Clergy Session Dakota Hall Laity Session Great Hall 4:30 p.m. Break Harvest Hall 4:45 p.m. Plenary Great Hall 5:45 p.m. Recess
EVENING
6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Mission Festival (hot appetizers, + more) Great Hall Hoop Shoot for No Malaria Photos with Bishop Ough or John Wesley On the spot reporting Feature event with Char Ough Change war Buzz Sting protection Locations--See map on Page 20
Poolside
Dakota
Mezzanine I
Club III
Prairie
Mezzanine II
Calvary UMC
Frontier
Mezzanine III
Off site
Harvest Hall
Mezzanine IV
Great Hall Atrium
Embassy A Embassy B
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MORNING
Friday , June 5
KEY Regular events
8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information/registration center open
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Childcare available (as reserved)
Optional/special interest events
Atrium
6:00-9:30 a.m. Wellness checks Room 102 Poolside All day Exhibits and Displays Harvest Hall 6:30 a.m.
United Methodist Men’s Breakfast
Poolside
United Methodist Women’s Breakfast
Poolside
AFTERNOON
8:00 a.m. Worship with Miracle Offering Great Hall Imagine No Malaria 9:00 a.m. 9:15 a.m.
Vote and Announcements Teaching Session I with Rev. Jorge Acevedo
10:45 a.m.
Break Harvest Hall
11:00 a.m.
Plenary Great Hall
Great Hall Great Hall
Noon Lunch Retired clergy luncheon Poolside Ordinand luncheon Embassy B
1:30 p.m.
Teaching session II with Rev. Jorge Acevedo
Great Hall
3:00 p.m. Break Harvest Hall
EVENING
3:15 p.m. Plenary Great Hall 5:00 p.m. Recess 7:00 p.m. Celebration of Life in Ministry Service
Calvary UMC**
Following the service *Reception for Honorees
Calvary UMC**
*Retirees, ordinands, comissionees, and all those being remembered will be honored in designated reception areas. **Calvary UMC is located at 4575 45th St. South, Fargo, ND 58104. See the map on page 19.
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Dakotas Annual Conference
Saturday, June 6 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Information/registration center open 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Childcare available (as reserved)
6:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Wellness checks
Room 102 Poolside
8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Exhibits and displays
Harvest Hall
8 to 9:15 a.m. Worship with fixing of appointments MORNING
Atrium
Great hall
9:15 a.m. Break Harvest Hall 9:30 a.m. Plenary Great Hall 11:00 a.m. Break Harvest Hall 11:15 Plenary Great Hall 11:45 a.m.
Closing Benediction
Locations--See map on page 20.
Club II
Dakota
Mezzanine I
Club III
Prairie
Mezzanine II
Calvary UMC
Frontier
Mezzanine III
Off site
Harvest Hall
Mezzanine IV
Great Hall
Great Hall Atrium Embassy A Embassy B
Dine out in Fargo and help raise funds for YOUTH 15 Show your nametag when you go. All venues are close by, pick up a map and detials at the registration desk. Restaurant Name Address Phone Number Donation Giant Panda (Chinese) 1331 Gateway Drive South 701-433-1639 20% Green Mill (full menu) 3340 13th Avenue South 701-298-8000 20% Osaka Sushi and Hibachi 1111 38th Street 701-282-3888 10% Acapulco (Mexican) 1150 36th Street South 701-238-4544 20% Chili's Grill and Bar 3902 13th Avenue South, West Acres Mall, 701-282-2669 15% TGI Fridays (full menu) 4100 13th Avenue South 701-281-3030 20% Dickey's Barbeque Pit 3402 13th Avenue South 701-232-1040 20% Olive Garden 4339 13th Avenue South 701-277-1241 * Santa Lucia (Italian and Greek) 1109 38th Street 701-281-8656 *
*giving a generous donation
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Preachers Reverend Kermit Culver Kermit was raised at Iroquois, South Dakota, graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University and Asbury Seminary. He has served the Dakotas Conference churches of Stickney and Rapid City First. Kermit also served as the campus minister at Dakota Wesleyan University. Rev. Culver is currently is the lead pastor at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota. He is married to Susan, a middle school art teacher. Kermit and Susan have two sons, Adam and Jordan, who live in Nashville, Tennessee. Rev. Culver will preach at the 8 a.m. Miracle Offering service on Friday, June 5.
Reverend Lou Whitmer Lou Whitmer began serving as a licensed local pastor in 2007 and will complete her Course of Study at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary this summer. She was appointed to Aberdeen North Highland UMC in 2013, after serving two years as the associate pastor for Mitchell First UMC and four years as pastor of the Kimball Protestant Parish. Lou chairs the Missional Impact Link of the Dakotas Annual Conference. Her favorite aspects of local ministry center around worship design, missions and youth. Lou was raised in Hettinger, ND and lived in Minot, ND for 30 years where she was an active layperson and musician at Vincent UMC. Pastor Lou will preach at the 8 a.m. worship service on Saturday, June 6. Bishop Bruce R. Ough Bishop Ough is the resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area. He began his service to the area on September 1, 2012. Previously he served the Ohio West Area, of The United Methodist Church, where he was the spiritual leader for nearly 200,000 United Methodists in more than 1,100 congregations in 58 Ohio counties. Prior to his election and consecration as a bishop in July 2000, Bishop Ough served as the senior pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, a 2,800-member congregation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is married to Charlene Ough. They are the parents of three sons and have 5 grandchildren. Bishop Ough will preach at the 8:30 a.m. opening worship service on Thursday, June 4 and at the 7 p.m. Celebration of Life in Ministry Service on Friday, June 5. 10
Dakotas Annual Conference
Opening worship Opening Worship Thursday, June 4 - 8:30 AM “Holy, Holy, Holy” Stephen Curtis Chapman
*GATHERING SONG WELCOME *CALL TO WORSHIP
*OPENING SONG “God’s Great Dance Floor” Chris Tomlin SCRIPTURE EPISCOPAL ADDRESS
“The Final Exam”
Matthew 25: 31-40 Bishop Bruce Ough
HOLY COMMUNION INVITATION CONFESSION AND PARDON *THE PEACE
All exchange signs and words of God’s peace and reconciliation.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING THE LORD’S PRAYER BREAKING OF THE BREAD SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP There will be six Communion serving stations throughout the room: two in the front, one on each side, and two in the back. When serving teams are in position, all are invited to go to their nearest station to receive the bread and the cup. Gluten-free elements will be available at the two stations on either side of the worship band. SONGS “Blessings” Laura Story “Amazed” Jarred Anderson “I Love You Lord,” Bart Millard and Pete Kipley “Word of God Speak” Mercy Me “Revelation Song” Jennie Lee Riddle “The Longing” All Sons and Daughters PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION *SONG “Forever” Kari Jobe *BENEDICTION *All who are able are invited to stand. Worship Leaders Preacher & Celebrant - Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Area Musicians - Faith United Methodist Church - Fargo, ND Communion Servers - Solar Oven Project A special thank you to the members of the Haiti Solar Oven Project for using solar oven bread pans to bake the bread used for Communion this service.
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Miracle Offering Malaria is preventable, but infects nearly 500 million people each year and kills more than one million of those who become infected. Ninety percent of deaths caused by malaria occur in Africa where the disease is a leading killer of children. Every 60 seconds a child dies from malaria. Children who are able to survive the disease are faced with physical and mental impairments, such as poor growth and development. Moreover, every day 25 million pregnant African women risk severe illness and harm to their unborn children from a malaria infection.Malaria contributes to low birth weight among newborn infants, one of the leading risk factors for infant mortality.
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A message from Bishop Ough: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has annointed me. He has sent me to peach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners, and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lords’ favor. Luke 4:18-19 These are the words Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah in his hometown synagogue following the 40 days he spent being tempted in the wilderness.
Fighting Malaria, a disease that is preventable. The Dakotas Conference is working hard to make a contribution to the fight. A Miracle Offering being collected here in Fargo, North Dakota will go to bring change and help end Malaria.
This is Jesus’ inaugural statement of his mission. “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.” And, it is Jesus’ “Great Call” to unleash God’s mission. As followers of Jesus, we are also annointed (baptized) to share Christ’s mission to preach good news to the poor, to liberate the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor – to heal a broken world.
Just $10 provides two full rounds of malaria medication. The Dakotas Conference has set a goal of $100,000, to be collected at the Miracle Offering during worship on June 5, 2015.
To heal a broken world is one of Jesus’ core missional imperatives. And, it is clearly related to Jesus’ other core mission imperatives to love God and neighbor and reach new people.
Unlike many other diseases that are awaiting a cure, malaria was eliminated in the U.S. in the 1950s. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to kill a person every 60 seconds. But there is hope! Imagine No Malaria is part of a global partnership and together with our partners our generation can beat malaria once and for all. Through Imagine No Malaria and the predecessor Nothing But Nets campaign we have cut the death rate from malaria in SubSaharan Africa in half! United Methodists with key partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have set out to raise $75,000 million to eliminate malaria. A goal we intend to reach by the 2016 General Conference. To date, we have raised just over $65M of our $75M goal. Together, we can eliminate malaria! I am asking that we set a goal of $100,000 for our 2015 Miracle Offering. This amount will insure the Dakotas Conference is a key partner in achieving our goal. Bruce R. Ough, resident bishop Dakotas-Minnesota Area UMC
Miracle Offering Service
Dakotas Annual Conference
Amendments
Miracle Offering Service Friday, June 5, 8:00 AM *GATHERING SONG
“Jesus Messiah” Chris Tomlin
WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP *OPENING SONG
“How Can I Keep from Singing” Chris Tomlin
SCRIPTURE SERMON
MIRACLE OFFERING
“The Regenerative Power of Dirt”
John 12:20-26 (NIV) Rev. Kermit Culver
BRING CHANGE: IMAGINE NO MALARIA
As we sing you are invited to bring your offerings forward. *SONGS “All the People Said Amen” Matt Maher “ Friend of God ” Phillips, Craig Dean “Build Your Kingdom Here” Rend CollectiVE “You Are My All in All” Chris Tomlin BLESSING AND DEDICATION BENEDICTION SONG
“Your Grace Finds Me” Matt Redman
*All who are able are invited to stand. Worship Leadership Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Area Preaching - Rev. Kermit Culver, Legacy United Methodist Church - Bismarck, ND Musicians - Faith United Methodist Church - Fargo, ND
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Baptismal Remembrance Service BAPTISMAL COVENANT SERVICE Saturday, June 6, 8:00 AM GATHERING SONG
“I Am Not Alone” Kari Jobe
WELCOME *SONG
“Free to Be Me” Francesca Battistelli
*OPENING PRAYER SCRIPTURE
SERMON
Mark 4: 1-9 (CEB)
“It’s OK to Fling” Rev. Lou Whitmer
BAPTISMAL REMEMBRANCE *SONGS
“Jesus Loves Me” Chris Tomlin “Sent Out in Jesus’ Name” Jorge Maldonado and Carmen Pena
FIXING OF APPOINTMENTS As each appointment is read the pastor is invited to come forward and remain until all new appointments are read from that district. APOSTOLIC CHARGE SENDING FORTH *SONG
“I Am” David Crowder Band
BENEDICTION *Indicates all who are able are invited to stand. SONG “10,000 Reasons” Matt Redman
*All who are able are invited to stand. Worship Leadership Celebrant - Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Area Preaching - Rev. Lou Whitmer, North Highland United Methodist Church- Aberdeen, SD Cabinet - Rev. Randy Cross, Prairie Hills District Superintendent
Rev. Keith Nelson, Sakakawea District Superintendent
Rev. Roger Spahr, Eastern Sunrise Co-District Superintendent
Rev. Marilyn Spurrell, Eastern Sunrise Co-District Superintendent
Rev. Roy Caudill, Glacial Lakes District Superintendent
Musicians - Faith United Methodist Church - Fargo, ND
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2015 Retirees Reverend Roy Caudill
God brought me out into a spacious place; The Lord rescued me because he delights in me. (Psalm 18:19) On March 8, 1959 I was baptized at the First Baptist Church of McKeesport, Pa. It was on that day I heard in my soul a call to ministry. I would delay responding for 28 years. Entering military service in 1966 my first duty assignment was Ellsworth AFB, SD. That move resulted in a deep love for the Dakotas. Twenty years of experience in the field of aircraft maintenance taught many skills that would be adaptable to work in the church. Retiring in 1986 from the United States Air Force I located to Sioux Falls and joined Asbury UMC. Responding to the one who called me so many years before, I began theological studies at Sioux Falls Seminary in 1987, and began serving churches across the Dakotas in 1988. Over time I learned that my roots actually went deep into Methodism as grandparents had come from the Methodist Church in Reagantown, PA. Now, a new call is upon my life, and to live out that call it means moving to retired status while remaining in Sioux Falls where I currently reside. I can’t thank enough Lazann, my wife of 40 years, and daughters Shiloh and Shalaine for all the sacrifices they made so that I could fulfill my calling. I will always be grateful to the God who called me, Jesus who saved me, the Dakotas Conference that ordained me, and this great church that loved me. My status with the conference is changing, but the call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world remains the same.
Dakotas Annual Conference
Reverend Dennis Gelhaus
Dennis Gelhaus graduated from St. Paul School of Theology in 1982. Reverend Gelhaus served the Dakotas Conference churches of Conde/Andover parish 1982-84, Huron First, associate, 1984-89. He took a sabbatical in 1989-1990. Dennis become Director of youth ministries at First United Methodist Church, Ft. Collins, Colorado. 1989-93. He created the Gellhaus Carehaus elderly care home in 1995 to the present. Gelhaus has been appointed in extension ministry to Gellhaus Carehaus 1996-present. He built, designed and a partner in Angelhaus assisted living home for elderly in 2000. Gelhuas will continue to merge Angelhaus with the Carehaus for memory care in the Aberdeen area. Married now 38 years to Robbie (Hollan) Gellhaus, who is finishing up her career as a lifelong educator –currently serving as elementary principal in Aberdeen. Dennis and Robbie have two sons: Stephen and Aaron Gellhaus; both living in Austin, Texas presently.
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Reverend Darwin Kopfmann
(I Peter 1: 3-9) reminds us of Christ offering us a new birth, a living hope, and a time for rejoicing despite having to suffer grief throughout all kinds of trials. Those who know my story, know that calling involved a multiple death tragedy in our family, my surviving an illness at a young age which my doctor claimed should have taken my life, and, folks constantly referring to the fact that Christ had a hold on my life. That he did! Becoming a true follower began with a flash-of-light experience in a hospital room at the age 12. I wish to thank the people of Alpena and Huron South Dakota in particular for recognizing the Holy Spirit at work in my life. Placing me in positions of leadership within the UM Church as a young adult, they moved me from being a follower of Christ, to one called to lead others into becoming devoted followers. With a love for music, I thank my former employers for the 20 wonderful years of serving the public as a Musical Instrument Repair Technician. This was a time in which I was blessed with opportunities to witness as well as serve the public. God blessed me with a wonderful Christian wife, whose qualities I recognized immediately when she was a mere 15yrs. old. Through years of mutually ministering together, it seemed only appropriate that Donna’s tombstone (and mine one day) should read … “Partners in Ministry”. God has seen fit to bless me with yet another wonderful Christian wife and partner in ministry: Terri claimed my first wife as one of her dear friends. God is truly amazing!
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So many people touched our lives when my wife and I were Central District Mission Secretaries, on the Board of Global Ministries, and deans or counselors at Lehr, Storm Mountain, and Lake Poinsett Camps. My DWU and NABS experiences were rewarding times for me and my family. Starting college at age 38 led to my children wanting to see my report card of course. I’m not sure if they were surprised or challenged by how well a simple country boy can do when he puts his mind to it, and/or, when the cause of Christ is at the forefront of one’s purpose. Sorting through years of photos, the faces of dear people are showing up from Iroquois, Esmond and Carpenter SD. – Ashley and Forbes ND. – Clear Lake and Gary SD. – Streeter, Medina and Tappen ND. – Wall and Wasta SD. – as well as those from my Laity days. The product of a German immigrant from Germany’s Black Forest, I will be praying that God will continually direct our lives while fully enjoying life in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Reverend Mary Lee Lint
“Do you think people will accept a female hillbilly as a pastor?” That was the question I asked a significant person in my life. His answer was, “They will accept you. Just be yourself.” Since early childhood I knew I wanted to work in the church with church people, but I never dreamed it would be as a pastor. I received my Bachelor of Music Education from Westminster Choir College and my Masters of Scacred Music from Northwestern University. The “sacred” part of that degree were courses at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. This is where I met Phil Lint. We were married in 1967 at my home Presbyterian Church in Beckley, West Virginia. I did not know much about the Dakotas, but since we moved to North Dakota in 1968 and then to South Dakota in 1998, I have met wonderful people and had new and interesting experiences. My call to ordained ministry came in a backward manner. In 1988, when our children, Peter, Jennifer and Paul were 16, 13, 10, I felt I should make more use of my degree, so I applied to then Mary college for a position to teach classes in church music. When I did not get that job, I realized God had something else in mind for me. I returned to G-ETS because I could finish my MDiv in 2 years because of the course I had already taken there. I came back to North Dakota and served the New Salem and Wilton Presbyterian churches for 8 years. We found it difficult when Phil had to attend the Methodist Conference meetings and I had to go to the Presbyterian meetings. Then in 1998 we were appointed to churches in South Dakota. I served United Methoidst churches at Onida and Agar, Olivet and Scotland, Wagner and Tyndall, before being appointed to Beach United Methodist in Howard
Dakotas Annual Conference
in 2008. They have all been amazing churches and I learned and have wonderful friends in each congregation and community. It has been a privelge to serve as a colleague and member of the Dakotas Conference. It is now time for me to able to go with Phil. Thank you for the privilege and God bless y’all.
Reverend Lee Gale
Reverend Lee Gale completed his undergraduate work at Kansas State and his received MDiv at North American Baptist University. He has served the Dakotas Conference churches of Brothersfield, Ben Clare, Rowena and Sioux Falls Hilltop in South Dakota. In North Dakota, Gale served the churches of Mohall-Sherwood-Lansford, Hillsboro, Grafton Federated-Minto-St. Thomas.
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Reverend Kenrad Pederson
Since my mother was Sunday School Superintendent, I was doubly condemned. Family lore has it that I answered the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” with “A singer like Elvis Presley or a minister like Reverend Harold Eastburn.” when I was a pre-schooler. I will happily share my rendition of “If You’re Looking for Trouble” to prove the validity of my subsequent choice. I have never seriously considered anything else. I have had the honor of being on staff at 17 United Methodist churches in Virginia, Washington, DC, and the Dakotas (and Minnesota) over the past 40 years. Doing my first five years of full-time ministry I had four bishops and five district superintendents! (I served two North Dakota and one Minnesota churches). The major influences on my faith walk have been my parents, Bishop A. James Armstrong, Wesley Acres Camp, a mission trip to Mississippi in1969, and many close friends. I have been encouraged in pursuing ministry by other United Methodist clergy and a variety of colleagues from other denominations. Throughout these 40 years I have treasured the opportunity to share Jesus Christ’s grace with those seeking to grow beyond a second grade understanding of the Christian faith. I am thankful for those who have graciously received my ministry, and frustrated by those who believed they knew more than I did about faith. Many of my most memorable exper iences have occurred at camp. I regret none of the time I have spent in local church ministry! My plans for the future are to discover what God still has in store for Mary and me.
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Reverend Thomas Petersen
I spent my early years growing up in the Sand Hills of Nebraska, where my Grandmother was instrumental in my faith development. When I was in the 4th grade, my father decided to return to the US Navy where he had served during World War II and we moved around the country frequently. While living in San Pedro, CA I attended First Methodist Church, and I went to a church camp in the Angeles Forest and while there felt a ‘pull.’ After returning to town I worked with our youth pastor, Rev Jim Rush and between us we felt that I had been feeling a call to ministry. As a junior in high school, facing another military move – I decided it could wait – plus it scared me a little. To avoid the draft and also to avoid Viet Nam, I enlisted in the US Navy and served in Viet Nam (see how well my plan worked) where other things happened that convinced me that I was indeed too great a sinner to be involved in ministry. I stayed in the Navy and served 26 years, which involved several moves to many different areas. Along the line I married, had children and we were involved in churches wherever we lived. Several pastors reinforced the feeling of a call on my life, but my military career seemed to take priority. After retiring from the Navy, we moved to South Dakota for a job and have stayed here since. I finally listened to that voice in my head and heart in the middle of the police parking area as I was getting off a patrol as a Deputy Sheriff. Seems strange to stand in the middle of a parking lot and look up and say “You want me to do what?” I’m sure the officers watching me thought I had lost it. That started the process of becoming a pastor. The journey has had some ups and downs, but has been a true blessing for me. We will be moving out of state (to Michigan). I do not know exactly what the future holds, but I know that part of it involves a home on a lake and I am sure that God will use me as needed for the glory of the kingdom.
Dakotas Annual Conference
2015 Map Important addresses: l
Holiday Inn 3803 13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103 Phone: (701) 282-2700
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Holiday Inn Express 1040 40th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 Phone: (701) 282-2000
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Calvary United Methodist Church 4575 45th St. South, Fargo, ND 58104 Phone: (701) 232-5650
Sponsors Special thanks to: l
Dakotas United Methodist Foundation for providing the thumbdrives with lots of information.
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Tyler Associates for providing treats
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Holiday Inn
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