Category: Uncategorized
SPRC / DS meetings
There are now 114 charges/circuits in the Greater Southwest District! SCHEDULE In order for District Superintendent Dean Prentiss to meet with every SPRC this year, Zoom meetings will take place during the weekday with circuits meeting together. Pastors are not required to attend this meeting but are welcome. Review the schedule. If your date/time will not work… Continue Reading SPRC / DS meetings
2026 Branch Church Conferences
As part of our continued commitment to connection, Branches will gather together for our annual Church Conferences. All of the congregations in a Branch will meet in the same sanctuary, voting on their individual church business while also celebrating shared ministry. This practice strengthens our identity as one body in Christ and reminds us that we are never… Continue Reading 2026 Branch Church Conferences
2026 District Ministry Shares Balance
Thank you to all the churches that have already paid their entire District Ministry Shares for 2026! Here are the balances due as of August 1, 2026. If you have questions, please contact Sara Wolfsen. ALBION: FIRST – ALLEGAN – ALLENDALE: VALLEY CHURCH – ALMENA – AUGUSTA: FELLOWSHIP 191.00 BANGOR: SIMPSON – BARRY COUNTY: WOODLAND… Continue Reading 2026 District Ministry Shares Balance
A Summer of Learning, Community, and Faith at Semilla
This summer at Semilla, things were busy! We had two interns join us to discover what church is all about. These two young ladies learned so much about Semilla and The United Methodist Church—not only from Sunday morning services, but throughout the week as well. We held our English as a Second Language (ESL) classes… Continue Reading A Summer of Learning, Community, and Faith at Semilla
2026 Branches
Branch 1 ALLENDALE: VALLEY CHURCHBURNIPS UMCCOOPERSVILLE: FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCHDORR: CROSSWIND COMMUNITY UMCGEORGETOWN UMCGRAND HAVEN: CHURCH OF THE DUNESGRANDVILLE UMCHOLLAND: FIRST UMCMARNE UMCWAYLAND UMC Branch 2 BYRON CENTER UMCCOURTLAND-OAKFIELD UMCGRAND RAPIDS: ALDERSGATE UMCGRAND RAPIDS: FIRST UMCGRAND RAPIDS: LA NUEVA ESPERANZA UMCGRAND RAPIDS: NORTHLAWN UMCGRAND RAPIDS: SAINT PAUL’S UMCGRAND RAPIDS: SOUTH UMCGRAND RAPIDS: TRINITY UMCGRAND RAPIDS: VIETNAMESE… Continue Reading 2026 Branches
District Leadership Opportunities
God calls us to work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The Greater Southwest District is seeking representative leadership with different ages, backgrounds, and experiences from all twelve District Branches. Anyone that feels called to serve is invited to complete the District Leadership Application. District ABAR Team… Continue Reading District Leadership Opportunities
Branches: Growing Together in Christ
Introduction The Branch model in the Greater Southwest District is a simple but powerful invitation: United Methodist churches that share geography are encouraged to share life, prayer, and ministry. Branches are not committees, obligations, or requirements. They are relationships—rooted in Christ, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, and bearing fruit for the transformation of the world.… Continue Reading Branches: Growing Together in Christ
Semilla celebrates a year of blessing
Semilla celebrates this year of blessing to the ministry in the Greater Southwest District, made possible by the support of finances and volunteer donations of churches of the district. The challenges and adversities that the Hispanic/Latinx and migrant community face during these difficult times couldn’t stop the ministry and the advance of the gospel and… Continue Reading Semilla celebrates a year of blessing
Building Beloved Community
~Rev. Dean N. Prentiss, District Superintendent Many of you have shared with me ways you are caring for one another and those in your community. These are difficult times. It can be challenging to think about the world through a lens of faith, especially when we are so often pulled apart by politics or world… Continue Reading Building Beloved Community
Sowing Seeds, Sewing Hope
~Pastor Miriam Peralta At Semilla, our sewing classes have always been about more than just mastering a stitch or following a pattern. We believe that every skill we gain is a gift meant to be shared, that everyone has something to be blessed. Now in our third cycle of offering this class, that mission of “giving… Continue Reading Sowing Seeds, Sewing Hope