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Covenant Keepers 2017 registration open
Online registration is now open for Covenant Keepers 2017 which will be Jan. 30-31 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in East Peoria.
Cost for registration
is $30 per person and includes a Monday noon luncheon.
The theme for this event is: CK2017: Keepers of the Covenant.
Keynote speakers for the event are
Dr. Jay Carter and Dr. Sandra Whitacre Herron.
Read more and register online...
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Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation slated
The 2017 Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation will be April 23-28 at Lake Williamson Christian Center in Carlinville.
The Academy is a program of Upper Room Ministries, providing an opportunity for clergy and laity to tune their hearts toward God through a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, learning and reflection. Each day includes teachings by gifted spiritual leaders to deepen our walk with God, periods of silence, morning and evening prayer, Eucharist, and an opportunity to share with and encourage one another.
Registration through March 6 is $675 which includes tuition, room and board plus all supplies for the week. After March 6, the cost rises to $700 through April 3. Rooms are single occupancy with private baths. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration.
Continuing education credit is available for participants who commit to full-time participation.
Read more and register online...
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Certified Lay Minister training Dec. 2 and 3
Friday is the deadline for Certified Lay Ministry training to be held Dec. 2-3 at Vandalia First UMC.
Module 1:
Call and Covenant for Ministry will be offered from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Cost for the training is $50. Rev. David Kueker will be the course instructor.
For more information,
contact Cheryl Cain by email or phoning 618-322-5246, or Ava Williams by email or by calling 217-563-7439.
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Extension School offerings for the Spring term
Dec. 10 is the deadline to register for the February-March classes in the IGRC Course of Study Extension School for part-time local pastors.
Among the classes which will meet Feb. 3-4 and March 3-4 are:
- COS 122: Theological Heritage: Introduction
- COS 322: Theological Heritage III: Medieval and Reformation
- COS 524: Theological Reflection: The Practice of Ministry
Read more and register online...
Feb. 10 is the deadline to register for the April-May classes. These classes will meet April 7-8 and May 5-6. The classes offered in this term are:
- COS 123: Formation and Discipleship
- COS 223: Worship and Sacraments
Read more and register online...
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Deaf, Hard of Hearing ministry grant funds available
Do you have someone in your church who is interested in taking American Sign Language classes in order to provide ASL interpretation in churches? OR does your church have an idea for ministry with Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or Late Deafened people that needs a little boost getting off the ground?
Then the IGRC Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministry would like to help you out!
The committee now has a form and procedure for requesting grant monies for just these types of situations.
For more information or to request an application, please contact: Bunny Wolfe (bwolfe@igrc.org), Rev. Jean Hembrough - Committee Co-Chair (jeanh@jaxcentenary.org), or Carrie Grieme - Committee Co-Chair (carrieemoore@yahoo.com). We very much look forward to partnering with you to expand the ministries with Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Late Deafened people within our Conference!
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Ross to lead Wesley Heritage Tour in July 2017
In 2015, Dr. Roger Ross, directing pastor of Springfield First UMC, had the joy of tracing the life and times of Methodism's founder, John Wesley. In July 2017, he is planning a return visit.
Through Educational Opportunities Tours, Ross will lead a group as they journey through England and discover the roots of the early Church and the
history-changing ministry of John Wesley.
Visit London, Oxford, the ancient Roman cities of York and Bath, the Old Rectory in Epworth where John Wesley grew up, and much more. This nine-day guided tour will leave from either St. Louis or Chicago on July 11, and return on July 19.
Cost is $3,896 which includes international airfare, first class hotels, daily buffet breakfast and dinner, entrance fees, professional tour guides, and deluxe motorcoaches.
Register early and save! If registered by Dec
. 11, 2016,
save $50. By Jan
. 11, 2017,
save $25.
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Confirmation retreats at East Bay, Little Grassy camps
Confirmation retreats for middle school and junior high students from sixth to eighth grades are being offered at East Bay and Little Grassy camps in February.
The East Bay retreat will be taught by Keith Michaels Feb. 10-12, and the Little Grassy retreat will be led by Ed Hoke and Christine Cunningham Feb. 24-26.
Confirmands will be discussing such questions as:
- What does it mean to be a member of a church?
- What are YOUR responsibilities?
- What expectations come with confirmation?
Material from Credo will give an opportunity for your students to grow as they learn.
Retreats are designed to complement, not replace the confirmation classes at the local church.
Register early for your first choice of camp. Retreats will start at 7 p.m. Friday and end after worship by 11 a.m. Sunday.
Cost for the retreat is $100 per person for two nights. One adult must attend with each group of five or fewer youth.
Read more...
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Harvest Ministry Teams seeks intern spring 2017
Harvest Ministry Teams, based in Troy, IL is seeking an Spring Semester Intern for worship and conference ministry. The internship begins in mid January and concludes in July. Potential experiences through the internship include ministry through worship at Harvest events, conference planning and execution, summer team planning and worship leadership in the local church on a regular basis.
Read more...
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Light Kids Conference in three locations
Harvest Ministry Teams will host three Light Kids Conferences for children in first through fifth grade and their ministry leaders.
The conference will be at Washington Crossroads UMC on March 4; Troy UMC on March 25 and Marion Aldersgate on April 1.
The one-day event includes music, Bible Buzz, MERGE Recreation, entertainment, snacks, lunch and worship times centered around the theme RESCUED!
Read more...
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Volunteers needed at Laketown Ministries Resale Shop
Laketown Ministries Resale Shop, a Conference Advance Special affiliated with Springfield Cotton Hill United Methodist Church, is in urgent need of volunteers.
The Resale shop is a ministry of Laketown Ministries which serves the poor and disadvantaged people in Springfield and is located in Patriot Plaza. Volunteer Shifts usually last about 4 hours or less with two volunteers per shift.
The Resale Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
With the upcoming holidays, the Resale Shop needs to expand its hours but is having difficulty staffing the existing hours of operation.
Volunteers who could work just one day a month could make a big differnce. For more information, call 217-679-5006 (Resale Shop) or Kirk Yenerall, store manager at 217-891-6475.
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Altar items sought for Sunset Home Apartment chapel
Altar items are being sought for complete the furnishing of the Sunset Home Apartment chapel. Items needed: pair of candlesticks and holders, altar Bible, altar clothes (church season type) and communion set (prefer tray for cups) with platter.
Sunset Home Apartments, located at 8th and Broadway in Quincy, is the residential apartment complex for independent senior living.
Any congregations that might have altar items to disburse or a congregation that may have extra items not being used, this is an opportunity for the ministry to continue.
Contact Dixie Croxton by email or by calling 217-667-2395.
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Save the Dates!
Covenant Keepers 2017: Jan. 30-31, Holiday Inn Convention Center, East Peoria. More details to follow early next week, including online registration. Keynote speakers will be Dr. Jay Carter and Dr. Sandra Herron. Clergy can also get their photos taken for the 2017 Clergy Directory while there.
UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat: Feb. 24-25, Illiopolis UMC. Reservation deadline: Feb. 3. More details to follow.
Personal Care Retreat: April 21-22, Our Lady of the Snows Shrine. More details to follow.
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Sincerely,
Paul Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
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