IGRC Events-full

December 9, 2024

Register for

Covenant Keepers 2025

Registration is now open for Covenant Keepers 2025, which will be held Monday, Feb. 24 - Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Regency Convention Center in O'Fallon. This is scheduled as an in-person event. 

The theme for this year's event is From Grief to Hope, based upon Psalm 30:11-2 and Lamentations 3:21-22.

The agenda will be from 10 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Monday and from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday.  

The presenters will be Bishops David Alan Bard and Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai.

Price: $50 (includes lunch on Feb. 24). Individuals are responsible for overnight accommodations. Rooms are available at the Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis/Shiloh/O'Fallon, and the Hampton Inn O'Fallon. There will be no on-site registration. Registration deadline: Feb. 16.

Bishop Kennetha hosting Advent Study online

You're invited to Migration, Immigration and Beloved Community

All societies are being impacted by global migration, which is surging because of oppression, climate change, and conflict. We know that those who choose to move are in search of survival and a better life. Yet, tragically, immigrants in the U.S. are being demonized, causing some to fear for their safety. 

Join us this Advent for a three-week videoconference study focused on global migration, immigration, and beloved community. We will engage the Bible and our Social Principles as we think and pray about our call to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

We will learn about the Great Migration, the largest internal migration in U.S. history. During the Great Migration, more than six million African Americans moved from the South to northern, midwestern, and western states to escape racial terror and oppression. This study will present that history through poetry by some of our greatest American poets and through the artwork of acclaimed African American artist Jacob Lawrence.

Join Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai and Iowa and Illinois Methodists on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. Central.

Register for Course of Study classes in Spring 2025

Dates and courses for the 2025 Course of Study Extension School have been announced.

The February-March 2025 term will meet Feb. 7-8 and March 7-8. Registration deadline is Jan. 7, 2025. The April-May 2025 term will meet April 4-5 and May 2-3. Registration deadline is Feb. 7, 2025.

Classes being offered for the February-March term are:

• COS 121 -- Bible I taught by Rev. Angie Lee
• COS 223 -- Worship and Sacraments taught by Rev. Dr. Shalom Renner
• COS 524 -- Theological Reflection on the Practice of Ministry taught by Rev. Dr. Tom Goodell

Classes being offered for the April-May term are:

• COS 123 -- Discipleship and Formation taught by Rev. Dr. Beth Fender
• COS 322 -- Theological Heritage III: Medieval and Reformation taught by Rev. Dennis Powers

All students must take COS 121 and COS 122 before any other classes.

Tuition payments made by check need to be received no later than one week after your registration submission. Your registration will not be considered complete until payment is received. Likewise, the permission form (Download the COS Permission Form...) needs to be routed and submitted prior to the start of class. We appreciate your attention to these matters.

The Extension Course of Study is basically for part-time pastors and exists to provide quality theological training and equipping for ministry. It is administered by the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. For more information, visit the Course of Study website at: www.igrc.org/cos, or contact the Director, Rev. Nancy Wilson at pastornancywilson@gmail.com 

Advent study on nativities and creches

A study on creches and nativity sets will be offered at Springfield: Jerom UMC, 1570 Reed Ave. during the season of Advent. Each session will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the following evenings in the church's fellowship hall:

The study is based on many programs presented over several years at Friends of the Creche Conventions.  Some of the programs influenced additions to the collection.  The remaining sessions are:

Dec. 11:  Around the World in 80 Nativities.  Local art forms, local dress, local buildings, local animals.

Dec. 18:  Artistic Interpretations.  Many artists have had insights into the Christmas story and created sets telling the story a little differently than you might have experienced.

For more information on this four-part study, contact Hope Wright, who will be study facilitator.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Community Labryrinth Walk

A Candlelight Christmas Eve Community Labyrinth Walk to celebrate the winter solstice/Christmas Eve will be hosted by Danville St. James UMC Dec. 24, from 8 to 9 p.m., following the church's 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service in the sanctuary.

The labyrinth is accessible to all and is located west of the church on Walnut St. with plenty of parking adjacent to the Community Labyrinth.

Year-end local church remittances

2024 apportionment remittances must be received by (not postmarked by) Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, to be credited to 2024. All 2024 remittances received after Jan. 8 will be entered in 2025 as a prior year payment. 

If questions, please contact Laura Steinway at lsteinway@igrc.org or (217) 529-2395.

Pre-Retirement Seminar offered by Preachers' Aid Society

Are you ready for Retirement? What do you need to plan for and consider? Can you financially or emotionally afford it? Where will you live? What will you do? What are the steps to proceed with in the process?

Preachers’ Aid Society and Benefit Fund can help you work through these questions and more at our annual Pre-Retirement Seminar which will be Jan. 27-28 at Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton. The seminar is for clergy and spouses who are 10 years or less from retiring.

Cost for the seminar is $75 per individual or $100 per couple. Lodging is available for $100, including tax but room reservations need to be made prior to Jan. 5.

Topics include the following:

• UM Pension Plan
• Health Insurance
• Taxes in Retirement
• Medicare/Medicaid
• Adjusting to Retirement
• Housing Options
• Identity Changes
• Relationship with Spouse
• Boundaries as Retired Clergy
• Relationship with Conference
• Rest and Relaxation
• Wills and Estate Planning

Persons who register by Jan. 10 will receive their personal pension projection, including individual conferencing for the projection and personal retirement concerns. Contact Keith Anderson or Carol Sims at (217) 529-3215 if you have any questions.

Registration can be completed by mail by downloading and completing the registration form and mailing it to PASBF P.O. Box 19207 Springfield, IL 62794-9207, or may be made online at the link below.

Job Opening

JOB OPENING FOR ORGANIST/PIANIST at Evangelical United Methodist Church in Washington, IL. Please go to https://evangelical.org/organist-opening to view requirements, responsibilities and how to apply for the position.

Applications sought from churches, candidates

for 2025 Intern Program

Applications are now open for the 2025 IGRC Intern Program.

Prospective interns, mentors, and host church representatives are welcome to visit www.igrc.org/interns for all the details and application links.

Priority deadline is Jan.15, and the final deadline is March 3.

Wesley Heritage Tour with the Krosts

Join Pastor Todd and Deaconess Christina Krost for the trip of a lifetime on a Wesley Heritage Tour Nov. 5-13, 2025!

Experience the best culture and history England has to offer with its beautiful countryside and magnificent cities. Most importantly, visit and learn first-hand about where the Methodist movement started in the 18th century led by brothers John and Charles Wesley.

Participants will tour Epworth, the Wesleys' home town; Oxford, where the young Wesley brothers began their ministries; the New Room and Charles Wesley’s grave in Bristol; Aldersgate, where their hearts were "strangely warmed”; and central London, where John and his mother, Susanna, are laid to rest. Bring a companion for a journey you will never forget! 

For information email Todd at todd.krost@gmail.com or visit:  https://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/he25a#eotours

The United Media Resource Center is located at Kumler Outreach Ministries in Springfield.

The UMRC is supported by and serves United Methodist churches in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, the Northern Illinois Conference, and the Great Plains Conference. Churches in the Iowa Conference are invited to become yearly members. Other denominational groups may e-mail umrc@igrc.org for information on obtaining a UMRC membership for their member churches by becoming a UMRC supporter.

No rental fees! Resources are mailed to IGRC, NIC, and GPC churches at no cost. Borrower pays to return items (or you can drop off items when the building is open). Borrower is responsible for replacement costs of damaged or lost resources.

Phone: 217-523-2269      Email: umrc@igrc.org

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