September 11, 2017
Hdr_IGRC Eventsfull


UMCOR logo
Those who wish to support the work of UMCOR as it responds to this and other disasters in the US are encouraged to give to UMCOR's US Disaster Response Advance #901670. You may designate it for Hurricane Harvey.

Donate to UMCOR online...

In his pastoral letter, Bishop Frank J. Beard encouraged every IGRC congregation to become involved in the Hurricane Harvey effort by taking a special offering in September on the Sunday of its choice. If you are accepting the challenge of getting involved, you can report on your congregation's efforts by posting on the IGRC Facebook group thread from UMCOR.
Disaster Response training events

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference Disaster Response Mini-Academy will be Sept. 29-30, at East Bay Camp in Hudson. Classes being offered are as follows:
  • Early Response Team training
  • ERT re-certification
  • Connecting Neighbors (Local Church Preparedness)
  • Spiritual and Emotional Care Team basic training
  • Volunteer in Mission Team Leader training
For information, download this flyer. If you need more information, please contact Sara Brown, Chair of Disaster Response committee.

Register online by Sept. 20...

Monticello First UMC will host a re-certification of Early Responders on Friday, Sept. 15. Register online by Sept. 13...

Monticello UMC will host an  Early Response Team training on Saturday, Sept. 16. Register online by Sept. 13...

Fairfield First UMC will host an Early Response Team training event on Saturday, Sept. 23. Register online by Sept. 15...

The mission of an early response team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of disaster. It is a cooperative effort between the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. The team is neither a first response group of emergency workers nor a recovery, rebuild or repair team. Rather, it fills a specific need in the early days after a disaster to establish the presence of the church.
Fall seminar for clergy at Winchester UMC Sept. 18

David Greenhaw
Winchester UMC will host a fall clergy seminar on Monday, Sept. 18 with Dr. David Greenhaw, president and dean of Eden Theological School in Webster Groves, Mo.

Registration is $20 and checks may be made payable to Winchester UMC. For information: contact Rev. Robin Lyons by email or call 217-742-3610.

With so many changes happening in our current, North American culture, one issue for the Church remains: how do we maintain our relevancy as servants and disciples of Jesus Christ in the lives of those both within and outside the Community of Faith? Rev. Greenhaw will address in his presentations how Eden Theological School approaches theological education and how pastors are trained and prepared to serve the Church of Jesus Christ in the 21st Century.
Illinois River District hosts seminars with Bishop Farr

Bishop Bob Farr
The Illinois River District Leadership Team is bringing Bishop Robert Farr, author of 10 Prescriptions for a Healthy Church to the IGRC.  No registration is required and the Bishop will be making presentations at the following times and locations:
  • Tuesday Oct. 10, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Peoria First UMC -- for pastors and teams of lay people
  • Wednesday, Oct. 11, 8:30 a.m. to noon at Pekin First UMC -- for clergy
Barr is the episcopal leader of the Missouri Area of The United Methodist Church. 
Junior High Initiative registration is now open
 
Registration is now open for the Junior High Initiative (formerly Junior High YAR) which will be Oct. 6-8 at Lake Williamson Christian Retreat Center in Carlinville.
 
Information and the downloadable forms can be found on the IGRC website at:
http://www.igrc.org/jrhighinitiative. Cost for the entire weekend is $140. Adult volunteer/chaperones must complete the background check by Sept. 20.  
 
Elizabeth Poest
Elizabeth Bjorling Poest will be the speaker and Rev. Miguel Rios will be the worship leader.
 
Poest has been a full-time youth pastor for 15 years, in ministry with junior high students and pre-teens at a large multi-site church; children and youth at medium-sized suburban university congregation, and now at a smaller urban church in Chicago. Poest is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, wrote Wired Preteen Curriculum, speaks at camps, revivals, and conferences about getting dusty with Jesus, and this summer led a three-week theological camp for urban high schoolers. 
 
Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Rev. Rios graduated from the Methodist Seminary, John Wesley and is an ordained elder of the Methodist Church of Mexico. Rev. Rios has toured churches throughout Mexico and the United States, ministering and equipping worship teams as well as providing support for youth groups for at least 20 years. Currently, he is an associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church Peoria and Director of contemporary and bilingual worship services.
Pianist Drew Pace in concert at Normal First UMC

Concert pianist Drew Pace will present a lecture-concert featuring four of the Chopin Ballades on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. at Normal First UMC.

The concert is open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected during the concert.
Mariachi Night at Peoria First UMC

Back by popular demand, Music at First, Peoria First UMC's Music Series, presents Mariachi Monumental de Mexico and Mexican Dance Ensemble from Chicago. The two ensembles will be at the church as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month during the church's block part on Sunday, Oct. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m.

The event is free of charge and made possible through the First United Methodist Church Foundation. Attendees are urged to bring their own lawn chairs or blanket. Food will be available for purchased from local vendors.

For more information, visit the Music at First website or contact Doug Grogan by email or at 309-673-3641, ext. 117, for more information.
Walking with Jesus in the Wesleyan Spirit

The New Streams Team of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, in cooperation with the Illinois, Spoon and Vermilion River districts, is offering Walking with Jesus in the Wesleyan Spirit, a four-session course for both clergy and laity.

The course includes experiencingn a time of closer relationship with God through understanding and applying John Wesley's means of grace, and the broader Methodist heritage. The result will be a strengthened commitment to personal discipleship as you walk with Jesus.

Sessions will be held at Peoria Northwest UMC on Sept. 22-23, 2017; Nov. 18; Feb. 17 and March 24. While participants from the host districts (Spoon, Illinois, and Vermilion) are particularly encouraged to register, the series is open to all who wish to attend. Participants are expected to attend all four sessions, which will build on one another.

For further information, download the download the brochure or contact Beth Fender by email or by calling 217-529-2611.

Register online by Sept. 15...
Leadership and Anxiety in the Church seminar

The Kaskaskia and Mississippi River districts, in partnership with the IGRC Office of Congregational Development and in cooperation with the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, will host a Healthy Congregations Seminar on Friday, Sept. 22 at Mt. Vernon West Salem Trinity UMC, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The registration fee is $50 per person (includes manual and lunch), or $75 for a couple (sharing one manual; two lunches). The pre-registration deadline is Sept. 13, after which the 
registration fee is $75 per person or $100 per couple. Attendees may receive 0.5 CEU's for this event or 1.2 CEU's for attendance of both Friday and Saturday's events (see below).

Registration may be submitted by downloading a brochure and mailing the form from the brochure to the Kaskaskia River District Office, 1603 Salem Rd., Mount Vernon, IL 62864-2628. Make checks payable to Kaskaskia River District.

Contact the Kaskaskia River District office for group discounts, motels with group blocks and other questions about the event.  

Healthy Congregations seminar in Mt. Vernon


The Kaskaskia and Mississippi River districts, in partnership with the IGRC Office of Congregational Development and in cooperation with the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, will host a Healthy Congregations Seminar on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Mt. Vernon West Salem Trinity UMC, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The registration fee is $60 per person (includes manual and lunch), or $90 for a couple (sharing one manual; two lunches). The pre-registration deadline is Sept. 13, after which the
registration fee is $85 per person or $115 per couple. Attendees may receive 0.5 CEU's for this event or 1.2 CEU's for attendance of both Friday and Saturday's events (see above).

Registration may be submitted by downloading a brochure and mailing the form from the brochure to the Kaskaskia River District Office, 1603 Salem Rd., Mount Vernon, IL 62864-2628. Make checks payable to Kaskaskia River District.

Contact the Kaskaskia River District office for group discounts, motels with group blocks and other questions about the event.  
Spoon River DS installation service Sept. 23

The installation service for Spoon River District Superintendent Stephen Granadosin will be on Saturday, Sept. 23, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Galesburg First UMC. 
United Methodist Men Fall Rally

The Vermilion River District United Methodist Men will host a UMM Fall Rally on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kankakee Asbury UMC.

Speakers for the rally included Ken Hudgkins, president of the North Central Jurisdiction UMM and Jerry Motsigner, former IGRC UMM President.

Breakfast and a sloppy joe luncheon will be served. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Payment for ticket orders can be sent to: Bruce Richardson, 602 N. Maple, Herscher, IL 60941.

A freewill offering will be taken to offset travel costs for the speakers.
The Well seminar for local church youth and children's workers

Harvest Conferences logo
Registration is open for The Well, a seminar for local church youth workers and children's ministry workers. The event will be hosted in O'Fallon First UMC Oct. 5, and in Normal Christ Church Oct. 12.

The identical events begin run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., concluding with lunch. 

Topics are "The Emotionally Healthy Ministry Leader" and "More Than Enough Volunteers." Every participant receives five months of personalized follow up coaching (in partnership with Ministry Architects)!

Visit harvestconferences.org/thewell for more information, or contact Tim Price (tim@troyumc.org).

Ignition Middle School Conference

Duffy Robbins will be the speaker at Ignition Middle School Conference, hosted by Harvest Ministry and the Troy UMC on Oct. 27-28.
 
Youth Workers (paid or volunteer), parents, and/or pastors are encouraged to invite middle school students to join them in the event. They will love the worship times, seminars, speakers, recreation, snacks and meals, all designed to help middle school students grow in their faith and deepen their walk with Jesus.  
 
Renovate in two locales -- Arenzville and East Moline

Renovate Conference, a two-day discipleship event for students in sixth through 12th grades, will be held in two locations during the 2017-18 school year.

Mark your calendars and take a look at the registration information available online now.  On Nov. 10-11, Renovate will be held in the Jacksonville area at Arenzville UMC. Another identical version of the conference will be held at East Moline Christ UMC Feb. 9-10, 2018. 

The theme for this year's Renovate Conference is DO SOMETHING.  Harvest will be leading the music and sessions will be geared around calling to say yes to God's call on their lives, to follow Christ more deeply, and to put action to their faith! 

For more information, contact Tim Price at 618-667-6241 or visit the Renovate Conference webpage.
Exploration 2017 registration now open

Registration for Exploration, a three-day event for young adults age 18-26, is now open. This biennial event is designed to help attendees listen, discern, and respond to God's call to ordained ministry, as they explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church. Exploration is a program of the office of young adult discernment and enlistment at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).
 
This year's event will be held Nov. 3-5 in Portland, Oregon. Young adults who have a sense that God might be calling them to ordained ministry, who have wondered what ministry in The United Methodist Church is all about, who would like help sifting through issues involved in an ordained vocation, or who want to learn more about The United Methodist seminaries and theological schools should attend this event. Exploration is part of GBHEM's strategy to enable and resource leadership within the church.
 
Register or learn more...
Why Water Matters summit Nov. 16-18

Registration has begun for Why Water Matters, an ecumenical summit offering workshops, worship, and keynote presentations from United Methodist bishops, Native American activists, professors, and ecumenical faith leaders.  

The summit will be held Nov. 16-18,
Embassy Suites Airport, Minneapolis, Minn. Keynotes and presenters include Bishop Sally Dyck, Bishop Bruce Ough, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Dr. Randy Woodley, Lionel Little Eagle Pinn, John Hill, Rev. E. Michelle Ledder, Rev. Paul Perez and Laura Pfeffer.   
 
Why Water Matters was created in response to the crisis at Standing Rock, and further inspired by the continued need for faithful education and action for water justice.  This event has been planned by Native American clergy and laity, with the hopes of creating an inter-generational opportunity for solidarity and transformation.  The leadership team encourages each annual conference to bring a small group, including at least one young adult. From our conference, Bishop Frank Beard is attending and several church leaders. IGRC members registering for the event are encouraged to  contact Carol Lakota Eastin for IGRC team information.
 
Register before Oct. 15 for $195. A fter Oct. 15, registration increases to $225.  Registration includes Thursday dinner, Friday lunch and Friday dinner.   Hotel reservations can be made with group code WAS.  Limited scholarship funds are available. Priority is given to young adults, Native American attendees or other ethnic representatives.
Apply now to become a Global Mission Fellow
 
Applications are available online through Jan. 21, 2018, for young adults to become Global Mission Fellows. This program sends young adults aged 20 to 30 to serve throughout the world, where they can grow spiritually and combine faith with justice. 
 
This is a program of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.   
 
Missouri Conference, Path One webinars

The Missouri Conference and Path 1 invite you to participate in a monthly "LEARN + LEAD" webinar every third Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time.     
In this webinar series pastors, church planters, and lay leaders from churches of all sizes will share their stories of growth and provide tools that you can use in your congregation.
 
 
Sept. 19: Mission Possible (demographic and lifestyle insights for church growth and mission impact)

Oct. 17:
Maximizing the Holidays (effective outreach & generosity during the Advent and Christmas holiday seasons)

Nov. 21:
Maximizing the New Year (planning worship, outreach, stewardship and discipleship for a breakthrough 2018)

Dec.19
: Put a Bow on It (End of year wrap up, key questions for reflection, goal setting, self-care)

Can't attend? Check back at www.moumethodist.org/learnleadwebinars to view recordings of past webinars.
Sincerely,
Paul Black's signature
Paul Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
 
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