Dear Church Leader,
In May of 2023, members of the Lenape Nation rallied on the Pennsylvania State Capitol steps to urge legislators to grant them legal recognition as a tribe. Pennsylvania is the only eastern state without legal recognition for its indigenous people. Speakers at the rally shared stories of resilience and the struggle to freely express their culture. Their calls of “We are…Still here” symbolized the tribe’s desire to celebrate their culture freely and their determination to overcome historical neglect.
Native American Ministries Sunday is April 14, 2024. (You may also celebrate on a date that is most convenient for your congregation.) When you celebrate and give to Native American Ministries Sunday, you support ministries dedicated to uplifting Native Americans and sharing God’s promises of restoration to the community.
It is time to plan your Native American Ministries Sunday celebration. It’s only three weeks away! Bring your team together and begin formulating your plans. We’ve created resources to help you inspire your congregation to support this effort. Share the resources with your leaders and encourage their use.
- Download the 2024 Native American Ministries Sunday pastor and leader kit that includes social media graphics, videos, an offering talk, bulletin inserts, children’s resources and more.
- Use the 2023-2024 Special Sundays planning calendar located in the kit to schedule your Special Sunday promotions. Feel free to adjust the planning calendar to fit your congregation’s needs.
- Pastor and leader kit resources are also available in French, Spanish, and Korean—sermon starter, social media graphics, children’s resources, and more.
- Click here to order your printed offering envelopes or call 1-800-991-6011 to place your order.
- Select the person(s) to lead the celebration.
- Announce the celebration date to your congregation as soon as possible.
- Share information about how your members can give to the Native American Ministries Sunday offering:
- Give through our church’s online giving portal at ________; Designate “NAMS” in the memo section.
- Write a check to our local church; designate “NAMS” in the memo line and place it in the offering plate.
- Place a cash offering in the offering plate.
- Give online or set up monthly giving at UMC.org/SSGive.
- Customize the announcement copy and reminder below to fit your needs and share them with members of your congregation. You may also publish this information on your social media platform(s), websites, newsletters and other media your members rely on.
The Native American Ministries Sunday offering strengthens Native American ministries in annual conferences; Native American rural, urban, reservation ministries and communities relating to the General Board of Global Ministries. It also provides scholarships for Native American seminarians who attend United Methodist schools of theology and continuing education for pastors who attend Native American Ministries Course of Study classes that are distributed by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Fifty percent of the offering remains in the annual conference and is administered by the Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM).
Thank you for celebrating the gifts and contributions of Native Americans to The United Methodist Church and to our society,
THE CONNECTIONAL GIVING TEAM
ANNOUNCEMENT COPY OR EMAIL
Subject: Native American Ministries Sunday is three weeks away!
Scripture: “Remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love, and your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.” —1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, CEB
Pretext: Partner with Native American Ministries Sunday and declare divine love on April 14.
“Dear Friends,
The Native American Ministries Sunday celebration is on April 14. On this Special Sunday, we gather to celebrate the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to The United Methodist Church and to our society. When we celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday, we support tribes like the Lenape nation, who are rallying to gain legal recognition in the state of Pennsylvania.
Please place the date on your schedule and plan to participate in this service. This is an exciting time to celebrate our commitment to God and God’s people! If you know a Native American person, invite them to attend the service with you.
Your gifts to the Native American Ministries Sunday offering strengthen Native American ministries in annual conferences; Native American rural, urban, and reservation ministries and communities and provide scholarships for Native American seminarians.
How to give to Native American Ministries Sunday offering:
- Give through our church’s online giving portal at ________; Designate “NAMS” in the memo section.
- Write a check for the NAMS offering to our local church and place it in the offering plate; designate “NAMS” in the memo line.
- Give your cash offering in the offering plate.
- Give online or set up monthly giving at UMC.org/SSGive.
Let’s celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday and declare God’s divine love on April 14.
Thank you,
Pastor”