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Bishop Frank J. Beard has announced that Spoon River District Superintendent Sylvester Weatherall is being appointed Superintendent of the Sangamon River District, effective July 1.
Beard, in making the announcement, said Weatherall was "the best missional fit for the needs of the Sangamon River District at this time." "With every appointment, we look to find the best possible match and in conversation with the District Committee on Superintendency, Sylvester's gifts and graces mesh very well," he said. "We will go through the same process in filling the vacancy left by this appointment in the Spoon River District as well as the LaMoine River District to ensure we address their missional needs as well."
Weatherall, who is in his fifth year of superintendency, succeeds the Rev. Dr. Terry Harter, who is retiring July 1. The move means that Beard will have two superintendent vacancies to fill - in the Spoon River District and the LaMoine River District, where the current superintendent and co-dean of the Cabinet, the Rev. C. Douglas Rorex, has announced his retirement July 1.
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Bishop offers a prayer for A Way Forward
In preparation for the Week of Prayer in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Bishop Beard offers the following prayer:
A PRAYER FOR THE ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS CONFERENCE
"God of grace and glory,
Thank you that we can depend upon you in this and every time of need. We rejoice in your goodness, faithfulness, and in the daily renewal of your mercy. We are reminded that you transform our darkness with the light of your glorious presence. We are encouraged when we remember all that you have brought us through.
We ask you now, O Lord, to lead and guide us in the task of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We pray that you grant to us the wisdom, discernment, and focus that is needed to achieve our mission. We pray that you enable us to navigate the distractions and pitfalls that would distract us from accomplishing your desire. We ask for your guidance and direction in traversing the tough terrain that we face as a denomination. We pray for assistance and sensitivity as we seek a Way Forward. Guide us with the light that radiates from your presence.
Please pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. Overshadow us with your divine presence and lead us into the future that will best serve you and advance the reign and rule of Christ. Send the gentle wind of your Holy Spirit to blow upon the embers of our hearts and keep us aflame for Jesus. Amen."
Bishop Frank J. Beard
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
The United Methodist Church
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Liberia UMW dedicate women's dormitory
Ahead of its annual gathering on Jan. 24-29, 2017, the United Methodist Women in Liberia dedicated a women's dormitory that will provide free housing for young women attending schools in and around Monrovia.
"This building is intended to help these girls acquire education without the complication of paying for lodging," said Pastor Rose Farhat. Helping the women with housing would allow them to focus on their education rather than worry about rent money, she said.
The leader of the women's ministries in Liberia, Farhat said the dormitory would house 40 women, most of whom are United Methodists, when it becomes operational in September 2017.
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IRS announces business mileage rates for 2017
The Internal Revenue Service Tuesday issued the 2017 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, down from 54 cents for 2016.
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Year-end reports available online
EZRA - the on-line tool for local churches to report their year-end statistics - is now available. One church has already submitted all three tables! We will be sending out instructions and reminders, but if you want to get a jump on it, the website is
http://ezra.gcfa.org
The username for your church is the six-digit number assigned to your church by GCFA (it is the same number found on your remittance reports from my office). The initial password is password. You will be prompted to change the password when you enter the system for the first time.
Deadline to submit your reports is March 31, 2017.
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Church offers special needs worship service
Highland Park UMC in Dallas offers a special 35-minute service called The Feast that is designed for people with autism, Down syndrome and other special needs. Participants are allowed to talk, clap, wave at others and walk around during the service without any backlash or side-eye glances.
Members with special needs also volunteer to read the scripture, supervise the collection plate and hand out communion during the weekly service.
"Seeing the church's commitment to the special needs community allows us to be comfortable," said one parent of a special needs child. "We don't feel there are funny stares. He's just a member of the church."
Read more from the Dallas Morning News...
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Sincerely,
Paul E. Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
217-529-2848
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