This Week's IGRC Events-full

IGRC Events-full

May 11, 2021

Registration for 2021 Annual Conference

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKBOOKS: Pre-Conference workbooks are posted on the IGRC website and available for download at the button below.

MIDWEST MISSION DISTRIBUTION CENTER COLLECTION: The Midwest Mission Center is conducting a collection through the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of its Most Needed Items May 20 through June 10.

Download the flyer below to see a list of needed items and then refer to the second page for when collections will be picked up.

MORNING PRAYER TIME: The IGRC Chapter of the Order of Saint Luke plans to offer online Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. on each of the two days of Annual Conference (June 11 and 12) via Zoom.

All are welcome to join. Those who are interested in participating are asked to register at https://igrc-reg.brtapp.com/MorningPrayer21 by June 9 to receive an email with the liturgy and login information.

Questions may be directed to Beth Fender at bfender@igrc.org. Additional information regarding the Order of Saint Luke is available at www.saint-luke.net

SPEAKERS: Bishop Sharma Lewis, episcopal leader of the Richmond Area (Virginia Annual Conference) will be preaching opening worship on Saturday at 10 a.m. Lewis was the preacher at Covenant Keepers 2021.

Rev. Mike Potts and his wife, Jamee, will preach the Memorial Service, which will air on Thursday, June 10, beginning at 7 p.m.

Rev. Judy Vidakovich, one of 25 retirees that comprise the Class of 2021, will preach the Retiree Recognition Service on Friday, June 11 at 7 p.m.

Both services’ broadcasts will premiere at those assigned times but playback will be possible on all broadcasts of the Annual Conference following their airings.

REGISTRATION: Registration for the 2021 Annual Conference is now open through June 1.

The theme for the 2021 Annual Conference is A Time to Heal, based upon Ecclesiastes 3

Participants will be able to join the Annual Conference session online from their homes or they may choose one of eight remote sites from which to view the sessions and participate. The remote locations for annual conference are as follows:

Marion Aldersgate UMC (Cache River District)
Belleville St. Matthew UMC (Mississippi River District)
Salem Grace UMC (Kaskaskia River District)
Champaign New Horizon UMC (Iroquois River District)
Bloomington Wesley UMC (Vermilion River DIstrict)
Pekin Grace UMC (Illinois River District)
Quincy Vermont Street UMC (LaMoine River District)
Galesburg First UMC (Spoon River District)

Utilizing the knowledge gained from the virtual 2020 Annual Conference, participants will be able to offer speeches for and against and ask questions during the plenary session, slated for Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. The Annual Conference will be using the Zoom platform, utilizing the polling feature for voting (the same as last year) and the Q & A feature for posting questions or asking for recognition to speak for or against the motion.

No amendments or changes to the legislation will be possible. However, the Sessions Committee will be holding Pre-Conference meetings to address both technological issues as well as answer questions on the legislation.

CLERGY AND LAITY SESSIONS: The clergy session will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 11 and the laity session will be the same day from 5 to 7 p.m.

ORDINATION AND COMMISSIONING: Ordination and Commissioning services will be a week later – on Saturday, June 19. Commissioning will be aired in the morning with Ordination in the afternoon. Bishop Frank J. Beard will preach both services, which will be held with limited seating for family at Champaign Faith UMC. It will be aired live via the webstream.

Persons will need to register in order to obtain credentials once the screening process is completed the first week of June. Because of needing secure access to the room, persons will register, been confirmed as voting members and receive two log-ins – one for either the clergy or laity session on Friday, and one for the joint plenary session on Saturday.

DOWNLOAD THE PRE-CONFERENCE WORKBOOK

DOWNLOAD THE MIDWEST MISSION DISTRIBUTION COLLECTION FLYER

CHANGE IN LAY MEMBER FORM

EQUALIZATION MEMBER FORM

ABSENTEE REQUEST FORM

Making a Good Move workshop

The playback video of Saturday's Making a Good Move workshop is now available online. Press the play button to begin watching or by clicking the link which will take you to the Conference's Vimeo page.

In addition, a showcase of small video clips from IGRC pastors who moved in 2020 are also available for your viewing. Some of these videos were used in the presentations while others are additional resources to assist in your transition.

DOWNLOAD MAKING A GOOD MOVE WORKBOOK

VIEW MAKING A GOOD MOVE VIDEO CLIPS SHOWCASE

Mission u 2021 registration open

Because of constraints forced by Covid-19, this year's United Methodist Women's Mission u will be virtual.

In an effort to make the studies as stress free as possible for the participants, the format will consist of three pre-recorded sessions to be viewed at your convenience between July 1 and the closing live session listed below. Each study will offer a choice of two times to attend a live, interactive (virtual) session to give participants opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion.

You can access the entire program from your own home or district to view the segments together if permitted by state gathering guidelines at the time. Check with your local or district president if you need to meet outside your home.

If you need additional information, please contact registrars Cinda or Stephen Pringle at 217-468-2265 or 217-412-4286. Text messages can be sent to 217-358-9987; or Mission u Dean Diane Goff at 618-383-1573.

DOWNLOAD FLYER

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Virtual lay servant classes available

The Sangamon River District Lay Servant Ministries is hosting virtual basic and advanced lay servant ministry classes that are open to all of the IGRC districts..

The Basic Lay Servant Ministry course will be offered on May 22 and June 5 (both sessions required) on the Zoom platform. Cost is $15 and deadline for registering is May 17. Cost is $15.

There is one remaining advanced course, which counts toward the Certified Lay Speaker track:

Leading Worship, June 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and June 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. on the Lifesize platform. Cost is $15 and deadline for registering is June 20.

Questions may be directed to Sangamon River District Director of Lay Servant Ministries Carol Conover or read more to obtain additional information

Festival of Quilts to be hybrid event June 4-5

Cunningham Children’s Home has announced that the 17^th Annual Festival of Quilts will be a hybrid (part-online, part in-person) event on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5.

For a suggested donation of $5 for admission,,the Festival of Quilts, Cunningham's signature fundraiser, features something for everyone:

Quilt Show with hundreds of hand and machine quilted pieces including contemporary designs as well as antique quilts on loan for the show
Quilt Auction featuring traditional and contemporary quilts and wall hangings
Gift Shop packed with generously donated handcrafted items
Bake Sale with homemade goodies and treats
Quilt Boutique with quilts, wall hangings, and table runners for purchase
Walking Tours of Cunningham’s Urbana campus to learn more about the mission and ministry of Cunningham Children’s Home
Featured speakers detailing their quilting expertise

Each year, Cunningham Children’s Home hosts its Festival of Quilts in the Spiritual Life Center on the Cunningham campus in Urbana. The Festival is Cunningham’s signature fundraiser and honors the tradition of the United Methodist Women, and the quilts they, and quilters from across Illinois, have donated for our kids since 1895.

To volunteer or to discuss becoming a sponsor, please contact Colleen Combes at 217.337.9058 or ccombes@cunninghamhome.org

Mediation skills training, refresher offered

Registration is now open for several events in June and beyond, so please encourage your friends and colleagues to take advantage of these opportunities for spiritual and professional growth:

Conflict Transformation Skills (June 3) helps church leaders deal more effectively with potentially destructive conflict. For details consult this CTS Brochure.
Leadership and Anxiety in the Church (June 9) helps church leaders examine their role as self-differentiated leaders and their ability to help calm the chronic anxiety that affects their congregations. For details consult this LAC Brochure.
Healthy Congregations (June 15) helps church leaders deal with the chronic anxiety that threatens to distract congregants from their God-given mission and purpose. For details consult this HC Brochure.
MSTI Refresher Course (June 12) is a one-day review for graduates of our Mediation Skills Training Institute.
Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (June 21-25) helps participants deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. For details consult this MSTI Brochure.

Groups rates are available for all of the above one-day workshops. Restrictions apply. Group organizers may wish to use this Registration Form to compile names and contact information for members of their group. For more information visit the newly-redesigned LMPC website at: https://lmpeacecenter.org/ or contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (630-627-0507 or Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org).

Click on the graphic above to learn more!

Click on the graphic above to register

Scholarships

Barber Education Trust scholarships

The Onarga UMC’s Barber Education Trust is accepting scholarship applications from students who are planning to pursue full-time Christian service.

Applications may be obtained by contacting the Barber Scholarship Committee at Onarga UMC by email at methodistof@att.net or by U.S. Mail at 109 E. Seminary Ave., Onarga, IL 60955-1240. Applications are due by May 31 with scholarships awarded by July 15.

Full-time Christian service includes those pursuing ordained ministry, Christian Education, youth ministry or other specialized ministries within the church. The fund is designed to give preference to those persons who are from the Iroquois West School District, or who were raised in the boundaries of the Iroquois River District.

Applicants are not required to be United Methodist; however, some preference will be given to those who are United Methodist Church.

Established in 1975, the Barber Education Trust has awarded 144 scholarships grants totaling $61,877 have been awarded. A minimum grant amount of $500 is given with each scholarship.