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One of the features of the newly-designed website is the Online Registration button located just under the Quick Links section of the IGRC Homepage.
With one click, users can view all of the online registrations for all IGRC events that are currently open through the IGRC website.
In the past six years, the online website has processed more than $1 million worth of registrations. The Online Registration Page indicates the dates of upcoming events, a short description of the event and the registration deadline for the event. The event will disappear from the page once registration is closed.
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Covenant Keepers 2018 registration underway
Registration is now open for Covenant Keepers 2018 which will be Jan. 29-30 at the Regency Conference Center in O'Fallon.The theme for this year's event is
Fanning the Flames.
Cost is $40 per person and a block of rooms are available at a variety of motel venues.
Childcare will be available upon advanced request.
The event, which begins on Monday at noon and ends at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday will have the Revs. Rudy and Juanita Rasmus as keynote speakers.
The agenda has been fashioned to provide adequate time for fellowship with fellow clergy. Monday's activities include a luncheon at noon and concludes by 6 p.m. for dinner and a time to connect with others. Tuesday will include a continental breakfast. The agenda also includes both a time of teaching and a time for questions.
The praise band from Christ Church in Fairview Heights will be providing music.
Register online by Jan. 19...
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Registration open for Clergy Mentor training events
Registration is now open for clergy mentor training hosted by the IGRC Board of Ministry.
Clergy Mentors work with Local Pastors who have not completed the Course of Study and Provisional Members. This support during the first few years of appointive ministry is essential for the formation of our pastors.
Local Pastors who have completed the Course of Study, Associate Members, and Full Member Elders and Deacons are eligible to be trained and assigned as Clergy Mentors.
There is no cost to participants, but registration is required.
The following sessions are scheduled in the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia River, LaMoine, Illinois River, and Spoon River districts. Additional training sessions are being scheduled by the Mentor Coordination and Training team. Locations that we are considering include Decatur and Pontiac, but those are still unconfirmed at this time and will likely be scheduled for January or February 2018. All sessions are from 9 a.m. to noon.
- Nov. 14 -- Mt. Vernon West Salem Trinity UMC
- Nov. 16 -- Peoria Northwest UMC
- Nov. 28 -- Rushville UMC
- Jan. 16, 2018 -- Galesburg First UMC
Questions?
Contact Shane Smith
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Baby Fold, Spero host Festivals of Trees
The Baby Fold will be hosting its 24
th Annual Festival of Trees, which will be at the Interstate Center Nov. 17-19.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 19.
Special events include an Opening Day Breakfast Nov. 17 from 7 to 9 a.m.; Avanti's Family Night Nov. 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Breakfast with Santa Nov. 18 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; and Heart of Festival Luncheon Nov. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The tree auction closes at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19 with pickup by 4 p.m. that day.
Tickets for the Festival as well as the special events can be purchased online by visiting:
www.festoftrees.org. Proceeds held fund the various programs at the Baby Fold.
Spero Family Services is host to the 10th annual Festival of Trees this year, held at The Granada in Mt. Vernon Nov. 17-19. This event features Christmas trees that have been decorated and donated by local individuals, surrounding businesses and school classrooms - all displayed throughout the entire event.
Enjoy a sneak peek of all the trees at the 'Preview Party' on Thursday, November 16th from 5:30-8:00pm with a $5 donation at the door (18 and over). During this event, we will auction off a select group of trees to highest bidder, so don't miss the fun and get your chance to buy a tree early! Refreshments will be served.
FREE public viewing dates and times are: Friday, Nov. 17 from 4 to 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 18 from noon to 6 p.m. (featuring Cookies with Santa from noon to 2 p.m.) and Sunday, Nov. 19 from noon to 3 p.m.
Although a free public event, Festival of Trees have trees available for purchase through a silent auction. The highest bidder for each tree will be selected at the end of the festival. All proceeds raised from this event will benefit the mission-based programs at Spero, and the youth and families they serve.
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Opening to God spiritual disciplines retreat Feb. 2-3
Registration will begin Nov. 1 for Opening to God: A Retreat, a spiritual disciplines retreat Feb. 2-3 at East Bay Camp.
The purpose of the retreat is to provide an immersion experience to help lay and clergy explore spiritual disciplines they may have never tried before and/or about which they wish to know more. It will be planned so that a large group of people can participate with a number of different leaders.
Each small group session will be 1 1/2 hours long with a 45-minute presentation, 30 minute self-directed "practice" time on the discipline followed by 15 minutes of sharing and feedback. Exact timing is flexible as long as all three parts are included. Four small group sessions are scheduled during the retreat.
In addition, there will be a one-hour presentation period on topics for which it isn't possible to do "practice" time.
Cost is $75 for those staying at East Bay, $50 for commuters.
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Mandatory sexual ethics training at three sites in February
Quadrennial sexual ethics training will be at three sites in February. Registration is open for any of the sites. If you are serving a local congregation under assignment or appointment, you are required to have sexual ethics training every quadrennium.
Attendees have the option of selecting one of three sites at attend this required training:
- Feb. 6 -- Mt. Vernon West Salem Trinity UMC
- Feb. 7 -- Springfield First UMC
- Feb. 8 -- Peoria First UMC
All three sessions will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Becky Posey Williams from the The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women will be the trainer for the three events.
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United Methodist Student Day Nov. 26
Think about the young people in your congregation as you prepare to celebrate United Methodist Student Day on Nov. 26. By celebrating and promoting generosity on this Special Sunday of The United Methodist Church, you are wrapping your arms around tomorrow's Christian leaders.
Now is the time to share this message with your congregation and church leaders so that they, too, have the opportunity to ensure a brighter future for United Methodist students.
Download the United Methodist Student Day pastor's kit today for all the tools you need to celebrate on Nov. 26. You'll find sermon starters, social media images, e-books, videos and so much more to get your church excited about this special day.
To enhance your celebration, order leaflet offering envelopes and posters at www.umcgiving.org/ss or call 888-346-3862.
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Children's Ministry Leader's Retreat Jan. 19-20
Are you engaged in ministry with children? Are you looking for time away, new ideas, and fellowship with other children's ministry leaders?
The next 24-hour Children's Ministry Leaders' Retreat will be Jan. 19-20, 2018, at East Bay Camp.
Workshop leaders include Rev. Kim Stuby, Minister of Mission Expansion at East Bay; Rev. Jennie Edwards Bertrand, pastor of Hope Church in Bloomington and Director of the Wesley Foundation at ISU; and Rev. Beth Fender, IGRC Coordinator of Discipleship and New Streams.
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Registration open for Bishop's Wesleyan Heritage trip
Join Bishop Frank Beard and the 2017 and 2018 Ordination classes from the IGRC for a trip to the birthplace of Methodism. You don't want to miss this golden opportunity to experience and enjoy England.
Get a chance to learn and laugh with the Bishop as we explore our historical roots and retrace the life and legacy of the Wesley family and other significant contributors to the development of the Methodist movement. Travel to Epworth, Oxford, Bristol, London and several charming England villages as we explore our Wesleyan heritage.
This all-inclusive trip from
Oct. 23-31, 2018, begins in either St. Louis, Indianapolis, or Chicago. The tour includes roundtrip international airfare, first class hotel accommodations, daily breakfast buffet, dinner, deluxe motor-coach transportation, guided tours and sightseeing.
Travel with members from your church, small group, clergy covenant group, or come on your own. You will not regret this experience. The basic tour cost is $3,598.
Churches may want to consider blessing their pastor with this special opportunity to walk where Wesley walked. Participants are sure to be inspired and blessed.
Early registration has started and discounts are now available. Post-Tour extensions are available in London or in Ireland.
Start with a strong sentence that engages your readers and introduces them to the focus of your email. Keep it short and let the rest of the email cover the details.
Contact Educational Opportunities by email or call 1-800-247-0017. Mention Tour HE18 for Bishop Beard's tour.
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Renovate at East Moline Christ Feb. 9-10
Renovate Conference, a two-day discipleship event for students in sixth through 12th grades, will be at East Moline Christ UMC Feb. 9-10, 2018.
The theme for this year's Renovate Conference is DO SOMETHING. Harvest will be leading the music and sessions will be geared around calling to say yes to God's call on their lives, to follow Christ more deeply, and to put action to their faith!
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Apply now to become a Global Mission Fellow
Applications are available online through Jan. 21, 2018, for young adults to become Global Mission Fellows. This program sends young adults aged 20 to 30 to serve throughout the world, where they can grow spiritually and combine faith with justice.
This is a program of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.
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Missouri Conference, Path One webinars
The Missouri Conference and Path 1 invite you to participate in a monthly "LEARN + LEAD" webinar every third Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time.
In this webinar series pastors, church planters, and lay leaders from churches of all sizes will share their stories of growth and provide tools that you can use in your congregation.
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Sincerely,
Paul Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
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