IGRC Events-full
December 4, 2017
Senior High NOW Initiative March 2-4ading The 2018 Senior High Initiative will be March 2-4, at Lake Williamson Christian Retreat Center in Carlinville.

Steve Braudt of Wilton, Iowa, will be the keynote speaker and Rev. Miguel Rios will be leading worship. Rev. Frank Beard will join the youth Sunday morning for worship.

Registration forms and background check forms for adult sponsors can be found on the NOW Initiative page below.
November 2017
January 2018
Various Dates
Clergy Mentor Training

Registration is now open for clergy mentor training hosted by the IGRC Board of Ministry.

Clergy Mentors work with Local Pastors who have not completed the Course of Study and Provisional Members. This support during the first few years of appointive ministry is essential for the formation of our pastors.  
 
Local Pastors who have completed the Course of Study, Associate Members, and Full Member Elders and Deacons are eligible to be trained and assigned as Clergy Mentors.   
 
There is no cost to participants, but registration is required.
January-February 2018
Various Dates
Understanding Islam

Alton Main Street UMC will host a four-week series on Understanding Islam. Sessions will be on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

  • Jan.18 - Islam 101 - including what is Islam and what are its tenets, what are the principal themes of the Quran, what are the various sects within Islam and how are they different?  The presenter will be a knowledgeable person who is Muslim.
  • Jan. 25 - Radicalizing Islam - how and why do people become radicalized and what can anyone do to address radicalization?
  • Feb. 1 - The Palestinian Question - this section will present arguments for and against a separate Palestinian country, and discuss the ramifications
  • Feb. 8 - "Why can't we just get along" - will address the topic which applies to all religions - what prevents humankind from accepting and working with one another across all cultures and religions?

Large groups of 10 or more are asked to notify the church (618-462-2495).
January
19-20
Friday-
Saturday
Children's Ministry Leaders' Retreat

Are you engaged in ministry witih children? Are you looking for time away, new ideas and fellowship with other children's ministry leaders?

Workshop leaders include Kim Stuby, Minister of Mission Expansion at East Bay; Rev. Jennie Edwards Bertrand, pastor of Bloomington Hope UMC and Director of the Wesley Foundation at Illinois State University; and Rev. Beth Fender, IGRC Coordinator of Discipleship and New Streams.
January
29-30
Monday-Tuesday
Covenant Keepers 2018

Online registration is underway for Covenant Keepers 2018 at the Regency Conference Center in O'Fallon. The Revs. Rudy and Juanita Rasmus will be the keynote speakers with the praise band from Christ Church in Fairview Heights leading the worship. Deadline for registration is Jan. 19.
February
2-3
Friday-Saturday
Opening to God: A Retreat

An immersion experience to help lay and clergy explore spiritual disciplines they may have never tried before and/or about which they wish to know more. It will be planned so that a large group of people can participate with a number of different leaders.
February
6-8
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Sexual Ethics Training

The mandatory quadrennial sexual ethics training will be held at three sites across the conference. Sites for the training are at Mt. Vernon West Salem Trinity UMC, Springfield First UMC and Peoria First UMC. This training is required for persons who are appointed or assigned to a local church
February
9-10
Friday-Saturday
Renovate Conference

A two-day discipleship event for students in sixth through 12th grades hosted by Harvest Ministry at East Moline Christ UMC.

For more information, contact Tim Price at 618-667-6241.
February
23-24
Friday-Saturday
UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat

The United Methodist Women's Spiritual Growth Retreat will be at Chatham UMC Feb. 23-24 from 6:30 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The theme for the retreat will be Healing, Laughter and Prayer. Keynote speaker will be Rev. Sylvester Weatherall, Sangamon River District Superintendent.

Registration deadline is Jan. 19.
February
23-25
Friday-Sunday
Fire Up Conference

A weekend focused on inviting high school students deeper in faith. Hosted by Troy UMC and Harvest Ministry Team. Speaker will be Tom Richter of Queens, N.Y.

For more information, call 618-541-8291.
March
1-3
Thursday-Saturday
Marriage and Ministry Retreat

In their 30 years of ministry in the Navy chaplaincy, Bob and Christy Phillips led numerous marriage retreats for couples (and single spouses where the partner could not be present).

The intense commitments and total claims of the military parallel the realities of marriage for those in ministry. This weekend marriage self-care retreat is the product of facing the challenges, realities and possibilities of being married and in ministry. The dates are Thursday, March 1, beginning with supper and concludes with lunch on Saturday, March 3.
The location is Elsah, nestled under the bluffs of the Mississippi River near Alton, and one of the few villages where all the homes are on the National Historic Registry. Participants will stay in two delightful B&B's located in the village.
The sessions are framed around the notion of 'underway replenishment,' a term describing how ships at sea are resupplied in order to go the distance in completing their mission. Pastors and spouses likewise need spiritual and emotional replenishment but find the demands of job and family often make it impossible to take extended time away to regroup.

Couples in any season of life are welcome, whether fresh in ministry or not-so-fresh. Clergy whose spouses cannot attend due to work or other commitments are encouraged to attend also; you may be asked to share a room with a colleague in the same situation.
March
3-10-
24
Various locations
The Light Kids Conference

Conference for kids first through fifth grades hosted by Harvest Ministry Team.

  • March 3 -- Washington Crossroads UMC
  • March 10 -- Marion Aldersgate UMC
  • March 24 -- Troy UMC

Begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m.
March
10
Saturday
Mission Day at Cunningham

Cunningham Children’s Home will host its annual Mission Day on Saturday, March 10, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mission Day offers a firsthand look at the mission and exemplary programs offered at Cunningham. Participants learn what happens daily to help the vulnerable and hurting youth that Cunningham serves, the importance of faith for healing, the involvement of United Methodists in Cunningham’s mission, and how to put their prayers, presence, gifts, and service into action. 

Download and complete the and mail it to Cunningham, along with $5 per person, no later than Wednesday, Feb. 28. Adult leaders of your class/group are encouraged to attend.

Space is limited for this special day retreat so registration forms and fees must be received before we can hold spaces for your group. Contact Ginger McKee at gmckee@cunninghamhome.org with questions.
May
8-10
Friday-Sunday
UMW Assembly 2018

United Methodist Women is currently the largest faith-based women's organization in the world and Assembly is the largest quadrennial gathering of that organization. At Assembly you viscerally feel “The Power of Bold” with the combined energy of 8,000 women through communal, face-to-face growth, action, celebration and inspiration.

Assembly 2018 will be in Columbus, Ohio. A Ubuntu Day of Service will precede the event's start on May 7.

At this point all United Methodist Women-reserved hotel rooms are being saved by your fellow conference presidents during the early registration cycle, so hotels may say they are booked. The Assembly Events Management team has called each conference president to assist in booking their rooms.
We will provide shuttling to any hotel block booked by conference presidents through the Assembly Events Management team for Assembly 2018. It is important to remind you to book hotel rooms through the conference room blocks your conference has reserved until Dec. 1. 
October
23-31
Tuesday-Sunday-Wednesday
Bishop's Wesley Heritage Trip

Join Bishop Frank Beard and the 2017 and 2018 Ordination classes from the IGRC for a trip to the birthplace of Methodism. You don't want to miss this golden opportunity to experience and enjoy England.

Get a chance to learn and laugh with the Bishop as we explore our historical roots and retrace the life and legacy of the Wesley family and other significant contributors to the development of the Methodist movement. Travel to Epworth, Oxford, Bristol, London and several charming England villages as we explore our Wesleyan heritage.

Mention Tour HE18 for Bishop Beard's tour
United Methodist Center Contact Information
USPS (U.S. Postal Service)
P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207
Office Phone: 217-529-2040
Email: info@igrc.org
UPS and FedEx deliveries only use the street address:
United Methodist Center
5900 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62711
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