Grace Shines Through Town and Rural Churches
Pastors and lay members from small-town and rural churches gathered at Grace UMC in Dixon for the annual Town and Rural Church Festival, themed “Glimpses of God’s Grace.” The event…
Saturday, May 8, 8 am to 12 noon
Saturday, May 22, 8 am to 12 noon
Sunday, May 23, 1 pm to 3 pm
Attendance at all three sessions is required.
Cost: $20
Students must purchase their own books.
Choose one of three classes offered:
PLANNING WORSHIP
Learn the basic pattern of United Methodist worship within the broader context of Christian worship. This class will cover:
Book "Worshipping with United Methodists" by Holt Hickman available on Cokesbury.com or Amazon. ISBN# 9780687335268
AGING & MINISTRY IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Learn how to build a ministry for older adults. While a popular perception is that the aged are needy and infirmed, the majority of older adults have plenty to give. Learn how to tap into their wisdom, energy, experience and talents. This class uses "Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century" by Richard Gentzler. Available at Cokesbury.com or Amazon. ISBN# 9780881775402
LEADING IN PRAYER
Praying in public can be daunting, but prayer is something one learns. This course on praying in public will help the participant grow in confidence and skill in public prayer and enrich their personal prayer life. This class uses "Shaping the Prayers of the People" by Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher, available from Cokesbury.com or Amazon. ISBN 13 # 9780802870971
Interested in the Lay Servant Basic Course? Please contact Pastor Leslie at jptmom8@gmail.com.
Pastors and lay members from small-town and rural churches gathered at Grace UMC in Dixon for the annual Town and Rural Church Festival, themed “Glimpses of God’s Grace.” The event…
In an effort to be more transparent, the Finance and Administration office is going to be consistently sharing where we are as a conference are in regards to the giving versus what is needed fo…
The Prairie Central District Shepherding Team is bringing Rev. Jim Ozier back to Northern Illinois for Culture Shift: Cultivating Healthy Congregations, a one-day experience focused on helping…
Rev. Donald C Keck, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Monday, October 27, 2025.