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Today is the final day to request a special meal for the 2017 Annual Conference, whi
ch will be June 8-10, at the Peoria Civic Center.
Today is also the last day for persons to submit all resolutions and items for the pre-conference workbook which will be sent to lay and clergy members in early April.
The Annual Conference schedule is still being finalized. However, the starting time for the Annual Conference will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 8, with clergy and laity sessions running simultaneously. Adjournment will be following Ordination and Commissioning service on Saturday, June 10, at noon.
The main page for the 2017 Annual Conference is: www.igrc.org/ac2017. Secondary pages are found to the right-hand menu area. Additional pages will be added as information becomes available.
Registration will open April 1. However, the following information is available now:
- Secretary's letter from Annual Conference Secretary Joy Caschetta. This letter along with an annual conference checklist will be arriving in the mail but you can view it online now.
- Annual Conference Checklist includes a list of deadlines, some of which have changed due to the shortened annual conference schedule.
- Hotel list of the Annual Conference block of rooms. Conferees are responsible for making their own reservations. Now is the best time to reserve your room. Rates are guaranteed through May 16, but rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Request for Special Meals. Due to the shortened schedule and workshops being scheduled over the noon hours on Thursday and Friday, groups may have to choose alternate times for their special meals. Requests need to be made by March 6.
- Request for Display Space. Setup and tear down times have been modified to conform to the new schedule. Requests need to be made by March 27.
- Information on submitting reports/resolutions. Provides a summary on the process for submitting items for consideration by the Annual Conference. Includes the deadlines, dates and responsibilities.
- Information on A/V and tech support. Information for presenters at the Annual Conference. Includes deadlines to ensure third-party items work with the equipment and those who seek help for creative assistance by IGRC Communications. Deadlines are strictly enforced! Plan early!
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Register for your clergy directory photo
Appointments are now being accepted on June 8-9 by LifeTouch for clergy to have a new photo taken for the 2017 Clergy Directory.
Persons can click on the photo to the right to be taken to the appointment page. Persons getting a photo taken will received a free 8 x 10 or wallet size photos. Photo badges can be obtained for $3.
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Registration now open for 2017 Bishop's Open
Registration is now open for the 2017 Bishop's Open which will be Friday, April 21, at the Edgewood Golf Club, near Auburn.
Lunch will be served at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. Dinner will follow the completion of the golf outing.
Register to play golf or purchase hole sponsorships at the $100, $500 and $1,000 levels.
Register online...
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VIM Mission Trip Training for leaders
Planning on leading a Mission Work Trip in the future? A training workshop for leaders will be held at the United Methodist Center, 5900 S. Second St., Springfield, IL, on April 1.
The training begins at 8 a.m. and will conclude by 4 p.m.
The $25 registration fee will include lunch and materials for the training. The workshop will be led by Dr. Alan Newhall, retired pastor and experienced work team leader, using materials developed by the North Central Jurisdiction VIM.
The morning will be spent on practical details of planning and carrying out a Mission Work Trip and the afternoon will focus on preparing team members for the experience."
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Three Reaching New People workshops scheduled
Three Reaching New People workshops, sponsored by the IGRC Office of Congregational Development, are currently scheduled this spring: March 11 at Kansas UMC; April 1 at Elmwood UMC and April 29 at Gibson City UMC.
Plan now to bring a team from your church.
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United Methodist Men's Rally March 25
The Vermilion River District United Methodist Men will host a Men's Rally on Saturday, March 25 at Kankakee Asbury UMC from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Speakers include Ken Hudgins, North Central Jurisdictional UMM President and former IGRC UMM President Jerry Motsinger. Included in the event is a sloppy joe luncheon for $5 with a freewill offering collected to pay the speakers' expenses.
For more information,
contact Steve West by email or phone 815-937-4036 by March 18.
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Scholarship information for students
The Illinois Great Rivers Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry is offering a scholarship opportunity for the 2017-2018 school year to any undergraduate.
Applicants must be members of a United Methodist Church for a minimum of one year. Scholarships awarded will be sent to the community college, college or university that the student will be attending during the 2017-2018 school year to help pay for their undergraduate tuition. The scholarships awarded will be a minimum of $500.
Application deadline for these scholarships is Friday, March 10.
Read more...
Seminary students that are preparing for a Master of Divinity for pulpit ministry may want to check out the Opal Dancey Fellowship. Students from any United Methodist seminary or Asbury Seminary are eligible.
Read more...
Women ministry students may also want to consider the Sondra Newman Scholarship offered by the Illinois Great Rivers Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women.
COSROW offers a scholarship for any woman who is 1) a certified candidate from IGRC 2) enrolled in seminary for degree or course of study 3) completed at least one semester of training 4) will also consider CPE training.
Read more...
Onarga UMC's Barber Education Trust is seeking applicants for its 2017-18 school year. Scholarships from the Trust are for persons seeking to become full-time workers in Christ's church. Scholarships are at a minimum $500. Full-time work includes those pursuing ordained ministry, Christian Education, youth ministry and other specialized ministries within the church.
Preference is given to those applicants within the Iroquois West School District, or raised in the boundaries of the Iroquois River District. Applicants may or may not be United Methodist although preference is given to United Methodist applicants.
Request an application by email at: methodistof@att.net or by contacting the Onarga UMC, 109 Seminary Ave., Onargo, IL 60955-1240. Application deadline is May 30 with scholarships awarded by July 15.
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Volunteers in Mission Training on April 1
Persons planning on leading a mission work trip in the future are encouraged to attend a training workshop on April 1 at the United Methodist Center in Springfield.
The training workshop for leaders will begin at 8 a.m. and end by 4 p.m. A registration fee of $25 per person will include training materials and lunch.
The workshop will be led by Dr. Alan Newhall, retired pastor and experience work team leader, using materials developed by the North Central Jurisdiction's Volunteers in Mission.
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Deaf and Hard of Hearing workshops available
Churches exploring how to reach the deaf, hard of hearing or late-deafened communities are invited to request a workshop from the Conference Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
A 90-minute, interactive workshop taught by Margaret Johnston, American Sign Language interpreter, will raise awareness, provide resources and an opportunity to answer questions.
The focus will be on developing faith and facilitating communication within the church.
To schedule your workshop, contact Johnston by email at: mrosejohnston@gmail.com
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Annual reports can now be filed online
EZRA -- the on-line tool for local churches to report their year-end statistics -- is now available. The Conference office will be sending out instructions and reminders, but if you want to get a jump on it, the website is:
http://ezra.gcfa.org
A link may also be found on the Conference website homepage and at
www.igrc.org/ezra
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.
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Fairview Heights Christ to host Large Church Initiative event
Fairview Heights Christ will be hosting the denomination's Large Church Initiative event,
Navigating Change, May 8-10.
Keynote speakers include Jon Acuff, Thom Rainer, Telley Gadson, Brad Kalajainen, Adam Weber, Ashley Cooper and Bishop Robert Schnase.
More information can be obtained from the event website as:
www.lc17.com.
A Facebook page has also been established for the event.
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Early discount deadline approaches for Five-Day
The early discount for the 2017 Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation is approaching. Register now to save.
Registration through today 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.
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.
Read more and register online...
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Women of Faith: A Day of New Beginnings
Springfield Kumler, Grace and Douglas Ave. UMC's are jointly hosting a spring women's conference, Women of Faith: A Day of New Beginnings on Saturday, May 6, at Douglas Ave. UMC.
Keynote speaker for the event will be Rev. Gifty Roberts-Smith. Presentations will also be made by Rev. Nancy Wilson and Rev. Sylvester and Aletha Weatherall. Topics will include a new beginning, forgiveness and healing. Special guest for the event will be Melissa Beard, wife of Bishop Frank J. Beard.
Registration and check-in will be from 8:30 to 9 a.m., with the conference running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $20 per person and includes both a continental breakfast and lunch.
Register by calling Kumler UMC at 217-523-2046 or by emailing: kumler2010@aol.com by April 26.
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PCC Self-Care Retreat April 21-22
The office of Pastoral Care and Counseling will host a Self-Care Retreat for IGRC clergy and/or spouses (ie: individual clergy, clergy groups, individual spouses, groups of spouses) April 21-22 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. Friday dinner is provided with event registration and Saturday breakfast is provided with Friday night hotel stay (rate is $75.85 before tax).
BOOM has authorized .8 CEU's for those wanting to attend all workshops beginning Friday at 3 p.m. through Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Otherwise attend the workshops you are interested in and enjoy the beautiful grounds at The Shrine or rejuvenate yourself as you see fit. We serve others best when we feed our soul.
Cost for the event is $25 per person. Register online before April 5 at: www.igrc.org/selfcare2017. Contact The Shrine for hotel reservations at 618-397-1162, 800.682.2879, or email hotel@snows.org, referencing that you are attending the IGRC PCC Self-Care Retreat.
Childcare will be available at a cost of $10 per family (not per child) and will be provided at Belleville St. Matthew UMC, just minutes from the Shrine. Parents must pick up and drop off children as no transportation will be provided. Childcare registration deadline is April 1 and reservations can be made at www.igrc.org/selfcare2017-childcare.
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Light Kids Conference in Troy, Marion
Harvest Ministry Teams will host two more Light Kids Conferences for children in first through fifth grade and their ministry leaders.
The conferences will be at 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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Beautiful U Conference April 22
Harvest Ministry Team will host its Beautiful U Girl's Conference for teen girls and their female ministry leaders on Saturday, April 22, at Troy UMC.
The conference, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., will include various speakers, workshops, crafts, worship and music aimed at helping girls recognize that true beauty comes from the heart in love with God.
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Early Response Training sessions set
Early Response Training in disaster response will be held in two locations in the upcoming weeks:
- Re-certification for those who have already completed Early Response training will be held on March 18 at Marion Aldersgate UMC.
- Early Response training for persons who have never been credentialed in Early Response will be at Eldorado First UMC on April 8.
Links for online registration to either of these events can be found on the IGRC Disaster Response page on the conference website.
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UMCOR Sunday March 26
When tornadoes strike in places like Louisiana and other parts of the United States and Syrian refugees flood Turkish border towns, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is there every time because of your gifts to UMCOR Sunday, formerly One Great Hour of Sharing.
We have prepared the
Keep your message brief, friendly, and to the point. If readers need to know more than you can fit here, add a link to an outside resource that covers the rest. Lastly, make sure the accompanying image matches the topic..
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Upcoming church finance webinars
The General Board of Discipleship is offering two upcoming webinars free to church leaders and clergy. There is no cost to participate in the seminars, which have been made possible through generous support of churches to the World Service Fund.
The Church Audit: You Can Do This!
Thursday, March 9
6:30 p.m. Central
PRESENTER: Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship and Connectional Ministries
Every congregation needs to do a church audit, but it doesn't have to be a big expense or an insurmountable obstacle. There is a great Local Church Audit Guide, available free for United Methodist churches that will take you through it step by step. Going through the process builds confidence among you financial leaders and projects transparency to your donors. Join us as we explore the tools that can make this process easier than you thought.
Offering Electronic Giving: What Are You Waiting For?
Thursday, May 11
6:30 p.m. Central
PRESENTER: Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship and Connectional Ministries
Electronic giving is not the future of charitable giving, it is the present reality. If your church is not offering this as an option for those who attend your church, you are missing out on generous giving. If there have been obstacles to making this option available to your church, we will talk about them in this webinar.
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Sincerely,
Paul Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
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