This Week's Issue of The Current Week in Review

September 1, 2017

There are many ways to become involved in disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Here are just a few ways.

UMCOR responds to Hurricane Harvey

Donations to UMCOR and flood buckets

Bishop Beard is asking each church take a special offering during the month of September for UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response Advance #901670.

Donations may be sent through the monthly church remittance form or checks may be made payable to IGRC with Advance #901679 Hurricane Harvey on the memo line and mailed to: Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Attention: Treasurer's Office, P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794.

UMCOR also has online giving available...

To donate toward the purchase of supplies for cleaning buckets (the cost per bucket is roughly $65):

Donate through IGRC Advance #6620 and designate for cleaning buckets.
Donate directly to Midwest Mission Distribution, 1022 New City Road, P.O. Box 56, Chatham, IL 62629

Donate online to Midwest Mission Distribution Center...

Assemble flood buckets

Donations centers are now established at Little Grassy Camp and East Bay Camp. Both IGRC campsites will receive cleaning bucket supplies Sept. 1-16. Items collected will be taken to Midwest Mission Distribution Center.

For more information contact Little Grassy Camp at 618-457-6030 or East Bay Camp at 309-365-7631. Items may also be delivered directly to Midwest Mission Distribution Center, 1022 New City Road, Chatham, IL 62629

Needed cleaning supplies:

Liquid Laundry Detergent (1-50 oz. bottle or 2-25oz. bottles

Liquid Household Cleaner (12 to 16 oz. bottle - no spray bottles)

Scouring Pads (NO stainless steel or pads with soap)

Cleaning Wipes (Handi wipes - No terry cleaning towels)

Dish Soap (16 to 28 oz. bottles)

Air Freshener (aerosol or pump)

Insect Repellent Spray (6 to 14 oz)

Long Handle Scrub Brush

Sponges (NO cellulose sponges due to mold issues)

Clothes Pins

Clothes Line (Cotton or Plastic 70 to 100 ft. in length)

Heavy Duty Trash Bags (33 to 45 gallon size)

Dust Masks

Dishwashing Gloves (sturdy for multiple uses)

Work Gloves (Cotton with leather palm or all leather)

Disaster response training events scheduled

Several training events to become certified as early responders as well as re-certification of those whose certifications are lapsing have been scheduled.

Additional training events and links to register will be posted on the IGRC Disaster Response page as they become available.

Sept. 15 ERT Recertification Class - Monticello UMC 6-10 p.m.

Sept. 16 ERT Class - Monticello UMC 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sept. 23 ERT Class - Fairfield UMC 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sept. 29-30 Disaster Response Mini Academy at East Bay Camp

Classes Offered:

ERT (Early Response Team Training)

ERT Recertification

Spiritual & Emotional Care Team Basic Training

Connecting Neighbors (Local Church Preparedness)

Volunteers in Mission Team Leader Training

Volunteer opportunities

Please do not self-deploy to volunteer.

There is now a request for ONLY ERT Trained Volunteers in the Rio Texas Conference. It will be up to 2 weeks before volunteers will be accepted in the Texas Conference.

To register an ERT team go to the following website: https://riotexas.org/ert-volunteer-team-registration

Once you have registered to take a volunteer team, please send the following information to Lori Owen at [email protected]:

Name of Team Leader
Team Leader Contact Information
Dates of Team
Location of Work Assignment
Specific Skills Requested
Are others invited to join this team?

For IGRC team information go to: http://www.igrc.org/missionopportunities?topic=Disaster%20Response

Book drive underway for Philippine pastors

A campaign across Illinois is underway to collect books for shipment to the Philippines.

Rev. Noah Panlilio of Malta UMC and Mr. Pong Javier of Cosmopolitan UMC in Melrose Park are leading the drive in the Northern Illinois Conference along with Superintendent Stephen Granadosin of the Spoon River District in the IGRC. This is a national campaign for the National Association of Filipino American United Methodists (NAFAUM).

Would you help give a gift that lasts?

Books will be shipped Oct. 15 for arrival in the Philippines by Dec. 15.

Click here for details and drop-off locations...


Click on cover to view September 2017 issue

The September 2017 issue of The Current should be arriving in the mail this weekend.

The issue's cover spread includes photos from the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse from Little Grassy Camp, the epicenter of the eclipse.

Bishop Beard also celebrates his first year as bishop and episcopal leader in the Illinois Area as well as giving a $5,000 gift to the Our Conference, Our Kids campaign.

As churches prepare for charge conference, this is a good time to review your church's free subscriptions to The Current. Visit: www.igrc.org/subscriptions Follow the prompts and use your church's six-digit GCFA number as password.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
217-529-2848

Illinois Great Rivers Conference
217-529-2040