This Week's IGRC Events-full

IGRC Events-full

January 7, 2019

Prayer team initiates Conference Prayer line

If you are involved in any prayer ministry for the Lord, the IGRC prayer team THANKS you for being faithful.

I am hopeful that all is going well as we continue to be in prayers for our conference, our church, and ourselves.

The IGRC.Prayer Team has started a Conference Prayer line that meets every Sunday at 7 p.m. This conference Prayer line consists of five minutes devotion, prayer requests, testimonies and prayers. The call number and access code are as follows:

Conference number: (218)895-0912

Access code: 339523

Let us meet around the throne of Grace.

Aletha Weatherall

IGRC Prayer Team Coordinator

Prayer, reading the Bible together challenge

All of us have made New Year's resolutions ranging from losing 15-30 unhealthy pounds, starting a new exercise program, giving up habits that do not benefit us and incorporating those things that help us live a more fulfilling life.

It is fascinating that people will go a great length to make New Year's resolution-getting rid of food the temp their cravings, buying exercise equipment and signing up for a gym membership.

I've wondered when individuals are resolving if they ever considered making a "Spiritual Resolution."

Have we ever considered resolving to pray daily for our church and all of our leaders?

Have we ever considered being more proactive in praying for our neighbors and all who may be going through the storms of life?

As the I.G.R.C Prayer Coordinator, I would like to challenge everyone to look at this yearly resolution tradition from another perspective.

Let’s make a “Spiritual resolution” by joining me in pausing for a minute and reciting the Lord’s Prayer daily and reading the Bible together this coming year.

-- Choose the Bible translations that speak to you and make your experience engaging and exciting

-- Invite others to join you on this journey

Tips on Praying and reading the Bible daily:

1. Start praying by reciting the Lord’s Prayer Today.

2. Set aside a schedule and stick to it.

3. Start reading a few passages from the Bible as you enrich your prayer life.

4. Apply God’s Word to your life.

5. Live victoriously!

It is my prayer and hopes that everyone will take up this challenge of "Spiritual Resolution" and let us make 2019 a year of breakthrough, healing, and restoration.

Grace and Peace

Aletha Weatherall

IGRC Prayer Team Coordinator

January

Sunday

Human Relations Day offering

Your generous gift to the Human Relations Day special offering empowers a host of humble heroes who believe everyone has the right to realize their potential as human beings in relationship with one another.

Through this special offering of the United Methodist Church —generally celebrated in January on the Sunday before the national observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday — you offer a lasting solution. You bring permanent justice through systemic change and community development. You bring wholeness and economic opportunity to strengthen those those who have no hope.

The majority of this special offering benefits neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, empowering those closest to the need to do the most good. A significant portion supports community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services, raising awareness of problems like poverty and homelessness, human trafficking, immigration and environmental justice. Your giving gives hope to at-risk teens, through ministries like the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program, positioning young men and women for success as they find their way forward once again.

January

18-19

Friday-Saturday

Children's Ministry Leaders' Retreat

A children's ministry leaders' retreat will be held at Little Grassy Camp Jan. 18-19, from 4 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The retreat is designed as a time of spiritual renewal, networking, and resourcing for adults who serve as leaders in children's ministry (Sunday School, Children's Church, VBS, midweek programs, after-school programs, etc.). It will include times of worship, prayer, and reflection, as well as times of large and small group conversation, informational presentations, and fun.

Presentation topics will include recruiting, equipping, and retaining volunteers; equipping families to practice their faith at home; and how the conference camping ministry supports and interacts with your local church children's ministries.

You will return home with some tips and tools to put to work right away.

Cost is $120 for a single room or $75 for a shared room. These fees cover lodging (in rooms with bunk beds and their own bathroom), meals, and all materials.

Scholarships are available to help with the cost of a shared room, and may be requested by completing the "Workshop/Conference Grant Application" at https://www.igrc.org/cesundaygrantapps.

For those unable to attend on Friday, the "Saturday-Only" rate is $25. Saturday-only participants will miss at least one workshop, worship, and fellowship time, so participants are encouraged to participate in the entire retreat.

Registration deadline is Jan. 10.

January

28-29

Monday-Tuesday

Covenant Keepers 2019

Registration is now live for Covenant Keepers 2019 which will be Jan. 28-29 at the Regency Conference Center in O'Fallon.

Speakers for the eveng will be the Rev. Dr. Mark Rutland and the Rev. Dr. Joy J. Moore.

February

15-16

Friday-Saturday

Opening to God Retreat

The second Opening to God retreat will be at Little Grassy Camp Feb. 15-16.

Online registration opened Nov. 1 and continues through Feb. 1.

The purpose of this retreat is to provide immersion experiences to help lay and clergy explore spiritual disciplines they may have never tried before or that they would like to know more about in a safe to explore environment. Each small group session includes both lecture and practice time to actually try the practice featured in the session.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Senior High NOW Retreat

March 1-3, 2019

Lake Williamson Christian Conference Center

Carlinville

$140 per person

READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD FORMS

March

Saturday

Mission Day at Cunningham Home

Cunningham Children’s Home will host its annual Mission Day on Saturday, March 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mission Day offers a first-hand look at the mission and programs offered at Cunningham. Participants learn what happens daily to help the vulnerable and hurting youth that Cunningham serves, the importance of faith for healing, the involvement of United Methodists in Cunningham’s mission, and how to put their prayers, presence, gifts, and service into action.

Complete the registration form and mail it, along with $5.00/person, no later than Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Adult leaders of your class/group are encouraged to attend. Space is limited for this special day retreat so registration forms and fees must be received before we can hold spaces for your group. Contact Taylor Tureskis with questions.

April/May

28-3

Sunday-Friday

Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation

The 2019 Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation will be April 28-May 3 at King’s House Retreat and Renewal Center in Belleville.

The theme for the 2019 Academy is “Peace”-ing Together a Broken World. Faculty speakers are Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Dr. Amy Oden. For more information, visit www.igrc.org/fiveday.

The Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation, is a program of Upper Room® Ministries, for clergy and laity which provides a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, Eucharist, learning and reflection, in the context of Christian community. Faculty speakers this year are: Bishop Hee Soo Jung, and Dr. Amy Oden.

May

19-21

Sunday-Tuesday

Self-Care Retreat

The Office of Pastoral Care and Counseling's annual Self-Care Retreat will be May 19-21 at Lake Williamson Christian Retreat Center in Carlinville.

The two-night, 3 day retreat will center on four immersion prayer experiences off clergy and/or clergy spouses the opportunity to explore spiritual disciplines that attendees either haven't tried or would like to know more about.

Registration includes four tiers based upon rooming requests. There is also a commuter rate for those living nearby.

The link to online registration will be available soon.

Applicants sought for IGRC scholarship

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry is offering a scholarship opportunity for undergraduate students during 2019-2020 school year.

Applicants must be members of a United Methodist Church in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference 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 2019-2020 school year to help pay for their undergraduate tuition. The scholarships awarded will be a minimum of $500.

Applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm on March 1, 2019. If you have any questions, contact Christy Blickensderfer or Amy Shreve .

Please note: There is no way to save this application in process. Once you have submitted your application you will not be able to review or edit it. It is recommended to review the entire application process before beginning.

Intern applicants sought

Applications are being accepted for the 2019-20 Intern Program.

Prospective interns, mentors, and host churches/ministries will find application materials and a handbook to answer most of your questions at www.igrc.org/interns. Priority deadline is Jan. 15. Final deadline is March 1.

Online trainings help foster a culture of call

Foster a sense of purpose and call in your young people with the $45 online class “ Culture of the Call: Congregational Life ”. Every person is called to serve God in their own unique way. Any layperson or clergyperson from your church can enroll in the $45 online class and learn practical ideas for creating a call-friendly culture in your own church. Learn what other churches are doing, share your own experiences, and make connections with area camps and campus ministries.

Or, be a mentor to young people and learn how to have conversations with them about faith and calling in the “ Timothy Circle Mentor Training ” online course, also $45. Never fear -- you don’t have to have all the answers. Simply being a listening ear and a sounding board with years of life experience can mean the world to a young person in your church or community.

Both courses are a part of the Timothy Circle program, which brings all parts of the church together to support young Christians hear and follow God’s voice, and are available at www.beadisciple.com/timothy

Harvest Ministry Team events

Fire-Up Senior High Conference

Fire-Up Sr. High Conference will be held at Troy UMC Feb. 22-24.Students in grades 9-12 are invited.

Bill Stanley will be preaching, Harvest will be leading worship and we will gathering with students to pray for the next generation, call students to Jesus and invite students to follow God’s call on their lives!

For more information contact Tim Price, 618-667-6241.

An all-new College Track has been added to Fire-Up this year. College students (18-23) will attend worship times and most meal times, but will mainly have a separate schedule including small groups, community times and mission projects.