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Prairie North Lay Academy Fall 2025

Location: Rockford: Grace UMC, 3555 McFarland Rd., Rockford

2025 Fall Lay Academy Pn Banner

Saturday, Nov. 15, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and
Sunday, Nov. 16, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

All class times must be attended to receive course credit.

Rockford: Grace UMC
3555 McFarland Rd., Rockford

Online registration
Registration closes Nov. 10

Cost: 

  • $20 before or on Oct. 1
  • $25 before or on Nov. 10
    Cost includes lunch (Saturday only), snacks, water and coffee.

All books may be purchased at your favorite bookseller.


Classes:

  1. Basic Course: Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship.
    Book: Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course Participant's Guide by Sandy Zeigler Jackson & Brian Jackson.
  2. Leading in Worship: This course focuses on lay servants who regularly or occasionally lead a group or congregation in worship.
    Book: Worshiping with United Methodists (revised) by Hoyt Hickman
  3. Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (United Methodist Polity): This course gives participants an overview of the structure and organization of The United Methodist Church. A copy of the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline is recommended.
    Book: Polity, Practice, and the Mission of The United Methodist Church by Thomas Edward Frank
  4. Leading Missional Small Groups: This course teaches the Wesleyan way to form missional communities and congregations. It is based on the conviction that just as holiness of heart leads to holiness of life, it is communities of holy love that participate in God’s mission in the world.
    Book: Transforming Community, Participant’s Book by Henry H. Knight III and F. Douglas Powe, Jr.

For information, contact Pastor Brenda Morris or Kim Emery .

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