Skip to Main Content

Prairie South Lay Academy Fall 2024

Location: LaMoille Community UMC, 73 North Main Street, LaMoille

2024 Fall Lay Academy Banners

Saturdays, October 12 & 19
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

LaMoille Community United Methodist Church,
73 North Main Street, LaMoille

Cost $40
Includes box light breakfast.
Youth may participate at no cost if accompanied by an adult.

Online Registration


Class Options: (one course per academy)

  1. For the Common Good (Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts) 
    This course will help participants identify their gifts, abilities, and sense of calling to learn how to connect them with their church.
    Book: For the Common Good: Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts by Christine Harman
    Instructor: Clifford Peddicord
  2. Leading Worship
    This course focuses on the ministry of the lay servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group or congregational worship.
    Book: Worshiping with United Methodists (Revised) by Hoyt Hickman
    Instructor: Alex Wilson
  3. Leading Public Prayer 

    This course will help the participant grow in confidence and skill in public prayer and enhance their prayer life.
    Book: Shaping the Prayers of the People: The Art of Intercession by Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher
    Instructor: Dennis Yocum

  4. Preaching

    This course helps participants who are called to preach in the pastor's absence enhance their skill. 
    Book:From Pew to Pulpit  by Clifton F.  Guthrie
    Instructor: Marcia Peddicord

All books may be purchased at your favorite bookseller.
All class times must be attended to receive course credit.

Download the Flyer

QUESTIONS? Marcia Peddicord (815) 579-5938 marcia.peddicord@gmail.com


Lay Academies are being offered in other districts. You are welcome to attend the academy that works for your needs.

News & Announcements

Beumc Hashtag Graphic Blk Bg

Announcing the #BeUMC Awards

The Northern Illinois Annual Conference, with United Methodist Communications, is excited to launch the #BeUMC Awards! Celebrate laypeople, clergy, and congregations who love boldly, serve joyfully…

Practicing Hope Booklet Cover Only

Practicing Hope: A Shared Resource for the Year of Practicing Hope

"A Year of Practicing Hope" is a new devotional created for 2026 in the Northern Illinois–Wisconsin Area. Featuring Scripture, reflections, and prayer, the boo…

D Schwerinwdp2026fl

Signs of Unity: Shared Prayer and Shared Care for the Earth

Leaders of fourteen church bodies in the Chicago area who came together on Jan. 24 for the World Day of Prayer put faith into practice by urging the federal governmen…

020 En Reaction Federal Violence Ikoma Motzko 690px

Why I Am Going to Minneapolis for a Clergy Action

A call went out this week for clergy to come to Minneapolis and protest what is taking place in the Twin Cities. I have given it a great deal of consideration and decided that…

Print