August 15, 2016
Hdr_IGRC Eventsfull



The 2016 College of Christian Life gets underway today at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria. Mike Slaughter, pastor of Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, will be the speaker. The theme for this year's event is Rethink Mission.

On-site registration is available and registration can be for a single day.

Download the College of Christian Life brochure...
Sunday School teacher training Aug. 20

Macomb Wesley UMC is hosting annual Sunday School teacher training, a.k.a. Christian Education Workshop on August 20th, Saturday, from 9am to noon. 

The presenter will be Rev. Beth Fender, a Christian Education and Spiritual Formation specialist in our conference. This year, we will learn about adult christian education in the local church setting. Lunch and light refreshments provided.
 
Registration fee is $10. Send check to: "Macomb Wesley UMC" 1212 W. Calhoun St. Macomb, IL, 61455 ATTN: CE Workshop
 
R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, Aug. 17 for meal count to [email protected], or call the church office at 309-833-2153.

MFSA/Reconciling Uniting Ministries retreat Aug. 26-27

The IGRC chapter of The Methodist Federation for Social Action/Reconciling Uniting Ministries of Illinois will be offering a retreat for all those who care about issues of peace, justice, and reconciliation on Aug.26-27 at Springfield Douglas Avenue UMC in Springfield.  

The theme of the retreat will be "Inclusiveness," with a Friday evening session at 6 p.m. on "Organizing our Witness." Saturday's schedule runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with sessions on "A Church for All Abilities," and "A Church for All Identities."  

Lunch is included in the $20 registration fee, with a Saturday-only option available.  Contact Judith Unger for more information at [email protected].
Contemporary Worship workshop at Normal Calvary 

A Contemporary Worship Workshop has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24 at Normal Calvary.

The workshop is offered by the Illinois Great Rivers Chapter of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. Registration is being handled through Peoria First UMC.
 
Bishop's Installation Service set for Sept. 11 at Springfield First UMC


The Installation Service for new Bishop Frank Beard will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at Springfield First UMC.

IGRC Communications is planning to stream the event live on the IGRC website. More details will follow as plans are finalized.
New Training Grants offered

The Office of Congregational Development is offering training grants for the remainder of 2016. The grants are being offered to church teams which include non-paid lay people. Grant monies are not limited to United Methodist sponsored workshops. 

Deadline for requests is Aug. 15.

O'Fallon First hosts 5K Walk/Run for Neighborhood House

Running 4 God logo
O'Fallon First UMC is sponsoring Running 4 God, a 5K Walk/Run for Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8:30 a.m.

Registration is $25 through Aug. 5 and can be done on the church's website. Race day registration will be conducted from 7 to 8 a.m. Persons who register before Aug. 5 will be given an event t-shirt. 

For more information, contact Stephanie Michael by email or by calling 618-803-2513
St. Matthew UMC hosting Gospels and Acts class this fall

Belleville St. Matthew UMC is partnering with Pilgrim Seminary to host a class with Dr. Robert Yarbrough, Professor of New Testament, Covenant Seminary. This cost of this course is only a freewill donation plus the cost of the textbook.  The class will be held this fall.

For more information, contact associate pastor Jon Carrell at 618-397-5994. 

Missionaries to itinerate in IGRC this fall

Jacques Umembudi
Jacques Umembudi

Priscilla Jaiah
Priscilla Jaiah 

General Board of Global Ministries missionaries Priscilla Jaiah and Jacques Umembudi will be itinerating in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference this fall

Jaiah, principal of the United Methodist School in Ganta, Liberia will be itinerating in Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Sept. 2-18. Umembudi, program director of Wings of Caring aviation ministry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be intinerating Oct. 24-Nov. 7.

Jaiah has a number of supporting churches and would like to visit many if not all of them. Her Sunday mornings are already scheduled, as are a few other times, but she needs visits through the week, even with small groups. Her calendar on the IGRC site will show where she is scheduled, giving churches an idea of when it would be convenient for her to visit them.

Umembudi is supported by six IGRC churches and will be open to additional engagements while in the IGRC.

Itineration calendars for both missionaries are posted on the IGRC website. Guidelines for hosting are also posted.
LION AND THE LAMB FESTIVAL
 
The Lion and Lamb Festival will be held at Camp Milan near the Quad Cities on Sept. 17.

The Lion and Lamb Festival is a community of people coming together to inspire and to be inspired by stories of peace, love, and justice. Musicians, artists, speakers, and people of faith are coming to the Quad Cities for a common cause. Come, and Wade in the Water of justice. Free Admission.

The event is partially funded with a Peace With Justice grant of the IGRC Board of Church and Society and donations can be made online
REACHING NEW PEOPLE WORKSHOPS
The Reaching New People workshop hosted by the Office of Congregational Development is scheduled in three locations this fall and  one next spring. Begin recruiting your team now for one of these sessions: 

Read more... 

Preachers' Aid Society pre-retirement seminar

Preachers' Aid Society will host a pre-retirement seminar Oct. 7-8 at the Marriott Pere Marquette Hotel in Peoria.

Topics include: UM pension plan, taxes in retirement, Medicare/Medicaid, housing options, adjusting to retirement, identity changes, boundaries as retired clergy, relationship with spouse, rest and relaxation, wills and estate planning..

Participants will receive a personal pension projection if registered by Sept. 23. 

Cost is $45 for an individual, $75 for couple. A special block rate of $95 per night has been arranged at the Pere Marquette.

Persons within 10 years of retirement are urged to attend.

Ignition Middle School Conference

Ignition Middle School Conference will be held at Troy UMC, Oct. 28-29.

Jamie Hudgins (pastor in North Georgia Conference) will be speaking at this discipleship event, Tim Price and Harvest Band will be leading worship and the special guest is Juggling Jeff. 

Ignition Conference begins at 7 p.m. Friday and concludes at 4 p.m. Saturday. 

The registration fee includes programming, recreation, entertainment, snacks and Saturday lunch. Groups are responsible for their own housing. 

For more information, visit the event website, www.ignitionconference.org, or email [email protected] or call 618-667-6241 ext 14. 
Sincerely,
Paul Black's signature
Paul Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
 
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