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Retired clergy and spouses are being asked to join in a Prayer Vigil for active clergy and spouses during the 12 days of Christmas.
Organized through retired clergy groups, the vigil begins Christmas Day and runs through Jan. 5. The first and last days of the vigil will be all-Conference days with each district's retired clergy taking one of the remaining 10 days (in alphabetical order). The complete schedule is as follows:
- Dec. 25 -- Conference-wide prayer
- Dec. 26 -- Cache River District
- Dec. 27 -- Embarras River District
- Dec. 28 -- Illinois River District
- Dec. 29 -- Iroquois River District
- Dec. 30 -- Kaskaskia River District
- Dec. 31 -- LaMoine River District
- Jan. 1 -- Mississippi River District
- Jan. 2 -- Sangamon River District
- Jan. 3 -- Spoon River District
- Jan. 4 -- Vermilion River District
- Jan. 5 -- Conference-wide prayer
Organized through Preachers' Aid Society, the retirees would like every active clergy in our annual conference and other conferences know that they are being raised up in prayer for the whole period of the celebration of the 12 days and feel as if they each are receiving that hand of prayer on their shoulder during this time.
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Bishop issues call to prayer for Jan. 22-28
Bishop Frank J. Beard is asking that the Illinois Great Rivers Conference set aside the week of Jan. 22-28, 2017, as a Week of Prayer for the Way Forward Commission and its work.
The week selected is part of a church-wide call to prayer in 2017 and 2018 as the Commission moves forward its work. Bishops of the church have covenanted with one another to pray 15 minutes each day for the Commission. The second phase is involving each individual annual conference in prayer for a week.
Read more...
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Covenant Keepers set for Jan. 30-31
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.
Registration and more information can be found at:
www.igrc.org/CK2017. 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.
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Board of Pensions approves navigators to assist pastors
Recognizing the struggles some pastors are going through to find affordable healthcare, the Conference Board of Pensions is funding a Healthcare Navigation and advisory service. These folks are like Navigators on steroids.
One of our pastors agreed to be a test case, and the service helped him save around $10,000 in healthcare costs.
A letter will be going out to full-time pastors serving local churches tomorrow that has all the details. Right now, this service is only available to full-time pastors who are receiving the health insurance allowance. For more information, call Monte Chamberlain at Cost Stewardship: 317-409-2984. He will connect you to a company called Gravie.
If you are satisfied with your health insurance arrangement, there is no need to do anything.
There is no cost to the pastors for this service. The CBOP will pay the fee from leftover health insurance plan funds.
Gravie may be engaged directly at the website below or the toll-free number 800-501-2920, but it is a better idea to call Chamberlain at 317-409-2984.
Read more...
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Time to plan year-end giving
IGRC Foundation Executive Director Ted Frost writes about opportunities for charitable year-end giving.
"The end of the year is often a time of reflection about the past year and hopes for the New Year," Frost writes. "The end of the year reflection is a unique opportunity to see how our giving can be beneficial to us and to those in need."
Cash gifts are not the only means by which you can give.
Read more...
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Preachers' Aid Society Executive Director Keith Anderson shares about unexpected expenses.
"We all know life will not go exactly as planned. The unexpected will happen at the most inconvenient time. Murphy's Law always occurs when we are ill-prepared," he notes. "When making out your budget each month, know things will not go exactly as planned. These unexpected expenses will seem to come less frequently when you are prepared."
By making sure you have a fully funded emergency fund (3-6 months of non-discretionary expenses) along with another savings account, the minor and major unexpected expenses do not derail your financial plan.
Read more...
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Local church news
The
Fish and Loaves Ministry at Peoria First UMC recently celebrated its 22nd anniversary. Beginning as a feeding ministry, it has grown to include a free health clinic, a clothing pantry, a food take home table, worship service and a program for children and youth.
See photos...
Pontiac First UMC recently completed an upgrade to its church nursery. The $300,000 project was aimed with children and young families in mind.
Read more...
Savoy UMC, as part of its participation in the
Journey of 10x10, held a reverse offering, dispensing $7,000 with the charge of doing good in the community.
Read more...
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Annual Conference 2017 shortened by a half day
Bishop Frank J. Beard, in consultation with the Executive Team of the Annual Conference Sessions committee has announced that the 2017 Annual Conference will be held June 8-10 at the Peoria Civic Center.
Plans are to have the clergy and laity sessions begin at 10 a.m. Thursday with the opening worship set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon with the Service of Ordination and Commissioning being held on Saturday morning.
While the shorter agenda may not actually result in persons being able to reduce the number of lodging nights, it is an ongoing attempt at listening to attendees and trying to make the schedule easier for those who must take time off from their work to attend.
The Sessions Committee will be working on streamlining the agenda and further announcements will be made as plans unfold.
The 2017 theme is Let's Get Fired Up! and will focus on ministries to children.
Photos for the clergy directory will also be taken at the annual conference session as well as at Covenant Keepers Jan. 30-31 at the East Peoria Holiday Inn.
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Conference Center holiday schedule
The Conference Center will be closed for the Christmas holiday from Friday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 2. The center reopens on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
There will be no publication of
IGRC Events-full Dec. 19 and 26 with publication resuming on Tuesday, Jan. 3. There will be no issues of
The Current Week in Review Dec. 23 and 30, with production resuming on Jan. 6.
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Chuck discusses Advent Wreath in reprise
ADVENT WREATH. Four candles in a circle with a big one in the middle? Yep, take a moment and learn the basics about the advent wreath. And why is the pink candle...pink?
The award-winning
Chuck Knows Church, a production of Discipleship Ministries, is an online web series. Use each episode in worship, youth groups, fellowship groups, confirmation classes, worship teams, new member classes and late-night snack viewing!
Follow Chuck on his website:
www.ChuckKnowsChurch.com
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Sincerely,
Paul E. Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
217-529-2848
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