Resources for Reporting Back to Your Church

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2021 conference highlights to share with your church

Videos

Videos shown at Annual Conference:

• Jesus Made A Way: In and through you, the Holy Spirit has broken through in miraculous ways over the past year despite the pandemic. Here’s a look at some of what you've made possible.
• 2021 Missional Report: A look at what your apportioned dollars have made possible and how the Minnesota Conference staff have pivoted and walked alongside churches over the challenging past year.
• Honoring 2021 Retirees: The 2021 Minnesota Annual Conference retirement class shares reflections as its members prepare for a new chapter ahead.
• 2020-2021 Bloopers: These bloopers were submitted by churches across Minnesota to provide some levity after the tumultuous past year.
• Soul Care During a Pandemic: Every night for more than a year, a group of laity and clergy have gathered via Zoom to ask one another: How is it with your soul?
• Creative Ministry: Vineyard UMC, Hutchinson: Rev. Jim Hein shares how the church reached new families through engaging online videos.
• Creative Ministry: Faith UMC, West St. Paul: Rev. Marianne Ozanne talks about the church’s monthly supply parades and other creative ministries.
• Creative Ministry: Community UMC, Monticello: Rev. Carrie Binnie and other church members talk about designing a COVID-safe stations of the cross experience.
• Creative Ministry: First UMC, Redwood Falls: Rev. Randy Koppen shares about the church’s expanded partnership with an elementary school.

Videos of key moments in Annual Conference:

• 2021 Episcopal Address: 'Winter and Road Construction': Bishop Bard talked about roadmaps and, drawing on Mark 7: 24-30, he shared four lessons for the work of the church and our work as the Minnesota Conference.
• Rev. Rachel Billups teaching session: Billups’ presentation focused on practices for navigating challenging conversations and the importance of telling our Jesus stories as we seek to disciple others.
• Q&A with Rev. Rachel Billups: After her teaching session, Rev. Billups answered questions from attendees.
• Rev. Rob Kopp sermon: Rev. Kopp of Bemidji UMC was this year's conference preacher. His sermon is “Joining Jesus in Making Our Way: With, Beyond, and Through Our Temporary Abilities.”
• Remembering the Saints: Clergy and clergy spouses who died in the last year were lifted up in remembrance.
• Journey Toward Vitality Map Exercise: Rev. Cynthia Williams and Jody Thone guided participants of Annual Conference through an exercise based on this map.

Photos

You can download high-resolution versions of any of these photographs. In any of the albums listed below, click on the photo you want, then hit the down arrow in the lower-right corner of the page.

• June 22, Day 1: Service of Ordination and Commissioning and opening business session
• June 23, Day 2: Small groups at three host sites (Park Avenue UMC in Minneapolis, Cross Winds UMC in Maple Grove, and Common Ground: A UM Community in Cambridge), morning worship, and a Journey Toward Vitality map presentation
• June 24, Day 3: Worship and plenary session, shot at The Grove in Woodbury

Conference News

• Conference approves racial justice resolution: The resolution calls on dismantling racism, opposing white supremacy, and advocating for racial justice.
• Bishop’s Episcopal Address: ‘Winter and Road Construction’: Bishop Bard talked about roadmaps and, drawing on Mark 7: 24-30, he shared four lessons for the work of the church and our work as the Minnesota Conference.
• Rev. Rachel Billups: The way through hard conversations and a new season of discipleship: Billups shared practices for being peacemakers and talked about why and how to tell our Jesus stories as we seek to disciple others.
• 5 clergy recognized, celebrated for milestones in ministry: In a moving ordination and commissioning service that hundreds of people attended online, five clergy were recognized for taking a new step in ministry.
• Laity Session: Breaking through gridlock: Laity learned three ways to move difficult conversations forward and deepen relationships.

Additional Resources

• Articles: Read all the articles about key news and events during annual conference.
• Annual Conference logo: Download the “Jesus. Waymaker.” annual conference logo, in black and white versions.
• Annual Conference PowerPoint template
• Breakthrough prayer card: View and download a sheet containing this year’s breakthrough prayer that Bishop Bard encourages all Minnesota United Methodists to pray throughout the next year: Color version / Black-and-white version