Here is some News You Can Use
First Thursday
The following remarks are from a letter from Bishop Gregory V. Palmer to the conference:
During Annual Conference the Cabinet Address introduced you to First Thursday - an invitation for all United Methodists in the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference to join in a monthly day of prayer and fasting.
Thursday, July 1st is our first opportunity to engage this opportunity together. Here are a few things to know and keep in mind.
On the conference website you will find material on First Thursdays. There is a foundational piece call Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's), some reading resources and some suggested prayers specific to the theme for the month to get you going. There is also a Facebook page for First Thursdays.
Each month the Cabinet will suggest a theme for our praying together. The theme is not restrictive. You will have many matters that you will want to tend to in your personal and corporate prayers on First Thursdays. The theme is intended to give all of us one subject that we are praying about together.
July 1st puts us right on the eve of another recognition and celebration of American Independence Day. Therefore the theme for this First Thursday is praying for the nation. In preparing for this it was inspiring to identify the rich prayer resources available.
I look forward to joining you in seeking God's will and God's face through prayer. I remain
Your servant in Jesus Christ
Gregory Vaughn Palmer
Resident Bishop
Help Rebuild Haiti Help rebuild Haiti by donating new/gently used tools. Shovels, rekes, every kind of hammer, mortar & concrete tools, handsaws, wheel barrows, nail bars, wrecking bars, new nails and any manual hand tools will be accepted. Please attach a dollar bill to each tool donated to help pay for the shipping and distribution of the tools. This project is sponsored by the United Methodist Men. For more information you can go to this website: www.nicumm.org.
You may bring your donated tools to the church office any week day morning or you can place them on the benches located in the Atrium.
Thank you
In His Hands Orphan Outreach
In His Hands Orphan Outreach is a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to create orphan awareness, to help orphans be adopted into loving homes and to help orphans left behind. This volunteer organization is committed to helping children in the U.S. foster system and around the world. There are over 143 million orphans in the world today.
IN HIS HANDS is currently working to host 21 orphaned children from the Philippines for a 3 week stay with host families in the central Illinois area this July. These children are between the ages of 7 and 15. The purpose of the stay will be to find loving adoptive homes for all of the children. Statistically, once orphans turn 5 they only have a 5% chance of every being adopted. This is a blessing to be able to help change the lives of 21 children who would likely never have a family if they didn't get the chance to be part of the hosting program.
Coupon booklets are being sold for $20.00 to help finance the cost of bringing these children to the U.S. Coupons included are for Springfield, Athens and Pleasant Plains businesses. Any monies collected will help make this program possible. Please see or contact Helene Atkinson if you would like to purchase a coupon book or have questions. More information is also available at: www.inhishandsorphans.org.
Methodist Women's Reading Program
United Methodist Women are encouraged to grow in their faith and gain a greater understanding of mission, nurturing community and social action through the UMW Reading Program. A new list of books in each of these 4 categories is published each year and books read from the 2006 list through the current list may be credited in 2010. Persons who wish to participate in the Reading Program and report on the books they read are encouraged to reach minimum of one book from each category as well as reading the Response magazine during the year.
Books available for check-out are located on the counter to the right after entering the Church Library. Each book is labeled inside the cover with the year they were listed and the category. Just sign the notebook on the counter and note what you have checked out.
Some of the new books available--Check One Out!
Scared Spark
Where Mercy Fails--Darfur's Struggle to Survive
On The Way With Jesus
The Road of Lost Innocence
A Life-Shaping Prayer
Caring for Mother
A Credible Witness
Closing the Food Gap
Created on 05/29/2009 12:19 PM by RobertM
Updated on 06/29/2010 03:15 AM by RobertM
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