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In the afternath of the shooting in Las Vegas that killed 58 and wounded 489, Bishop Frank J. Beard issued a pastoral statement urging prayer for all those involved:
"Our nation has once again been interrupted by tragedy. As people that are intertwined and have multiple connections we are all affected. We are all concerned for the many that have been affected by this recent act of violence. As the details continue to unfold regarding this shooting at a peaceful Las Vegas festival, we are stunned and shocked.
"Our hearts go out to the victims, their loved ones and to the people, both local and global, that are a part of the Las Vegas community.
"We are reminded that in this and every situation the church of Jesus Christ has been called to be a beacon of hope and light. My prayer is that as we respond to this recent tragedy and others that may occur around us that we will be conduits of God's love and grace to all.
"This tragic event reminds us that we live in a world that is broken and in disrepair. We need the presence of believers everywhere to demonstrate the love that is the trademark of our faith community. Now, more than ever, we need the ongoing ministry of the church as we grieve with and mourn with others.
"Please join me in praying for all those that are hurting.
"'Lord, in your mercy hear our prayers!
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Bishop urges churches to hold prayer walks Nov. 18
Pointing to Jesus' command that the church was to be a House of Prayer and urging us to get outside the walls of the church, Bishop Beard is asking churches to engage their communities through prayer walks.
Bishop Beard offers some suggestions in an article in the October issue of
The Current and
additional prayer resources are posted on the IGRC website.
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Global Migration Sunday shines light on a crisis
Global Migration Sunday will be held Dec. 3, the first Sunday of Advent. The offering will go to the denomination's
Global Migration Advance (#3022144), a fund set up in 2014 for donors to designate gifts specifically to support work that alleviates the suffering of migrants. To date, more than $1.4 million has been donated to the fund, assisting more than 46,000 migrants.
Thomas Kemper, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, said the mission of Global Migration Sunday is threefold: Learn, pray and respond. When United Methodist churches around the world come together to raise awareness, pray and support migration ministries through their gifts, he said, they are providing a moment of unity for the whole church.
Read more...
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Midwest Mission Distribution Center readies shipment to Puerto Rico
The Midwest Mission Distribution Center is working toward aiding the more than 3 million people in Puerto Rico who are in need after Hurricane Maria struck.
The Center is collecting goods and basic necessities that they will send to the island.
Much of the country is still without power after the storm rolled through a few weeks ago.
Warehouse Supervisor Brad Walton says many of the U.S. citizens are asking for flashlights and batteries.
"I think it will be a challenge as we go because it's not like we can help today and it's done," Walton said. "It's going to be an ongoing thing. So, if this is just the very beginning."
Walton says the distribution center is expecting to load up their first shipment sometime next week.
UMCOR approves emergency grant, commits to long-term recovery
UMCOR - United Methodist Committee On Relief
approved a $10,000 emergency grant to the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. With 65% of Puerto Rico's grocery stores open, the church can use the funds to purchase food and supplies locally for distribution to those in need.
UMCOR anticipates approving additional funding to the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico to support relief and recovery efforts. UMCOR expects the recovery process in Puerto
Rico to be a multiyear effort and will be there alongside our partners for the long haul.
IGRC disaster response offerings for September
IGRC Director of Administrative Services and Conference Treasurer Rick Van Giesen announced this week that IGRC churches gave UMCOR offerings for September totaling $265,334.03.
In addition, offerings to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center were roughly $13,000 in September.
These totals do not include amounts directly given to UMCOR nor does it include the imputed value of flood buckets assembled by churches.
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Disaster response training events scheduled
Peoria Bethel UMC has announced an early response training event for Nov. 4. Many of the requests from the Texas, Rio Grande and Florida conferences will be requesting persons that are trained early responders so getting trained will position you for opportunities to assist hands-on with disaster response.
A recertification for early responders who need to renew will be Nov. 10 at Fairbury UMC in the Vermilion River District.
Register online by Nov. 3...
An early response training for new early responders will be Nov. 11 at Fairbury UMC.
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Disaster Response Quick Links
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Our Conference, Our Kids resources available in District offices
Promotional materials to assist in your raising of funds for the Our Conference, Our Kids campaign are now available in District offices. Plan now for your year-end giving approach by getting the four-color brochures. Request a number equal to your average worship attendance so everyone can get one.
IGRC Communications has also prepared a DVD-ROM that has a music video suitable as an offertory as well as two promotional segments explaining the campaign which can be used in the weeks leading up to a special offering. The DVD-ROM, when played in a computer, also has closed captioning of the three video segments as well as PDF masters of the brochures and a bulletin insert that can be reproduced and printed.
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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...
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UMC, Episcopal Church move toward full communion
The Episcopal-United Methodist Dialogue Committee, which is working on establishing a full communion relationship between the two denominatio
ns, held a joint Eucharist Wednesday, in Simpson Memorial Chapel at the United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C.
Ohio West Area Resident Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, who is The United Methodist Church co-chair, presided at the table while his Episcopalian counterpart Bishop C. Franklin Brookhart, who leads the Diocese of Montana in The Episcopal Church, was the preacher.
The service marked the end of a three-day Dialogue Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. as the dialogue between The Episcopal Church and The United Methodist Church continues toward full communion relationship.
Full Communion does not mean merger. Full communion does mean each denomination recognize the other's credentialing and may (at their discretion) share ministries and leadership across denominational lines.
The UMC already has such an agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The Episcopal Church in America is the denomination that spun off from the Anglican Church in England -- the denomination of which John Wesley was a part his entire life.
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Sincerely,
Paul E. Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
217-529-2848
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