Current , Which Will Be a Part (1997-2001)
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The News of Illinois Grueat Rivers Conrference of Trhe UnitedeMethodist Chnurch t Volume 14, NumbeCr 8 www.igrc.org April 2010 Passionate worship Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise is the theme By Paul Black Australia – an amalgamation of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational SPRINGFIELD – Persons attend - Churches – the third largest denomi - ing the 2010 Annual Conference nation in the country. will notice a number of changes Rayson’s first pastoral role was being implemented over previous in the regional town of Port years. Lincoln, South Australia… Reminders At the same time, a number where Steven Spielberg filmed I of things will remain the same, the underwater scenes of the Housing: Members of the annual including the Morning Manna movie Jaws. He also served as conference are responsible for securing worship on Thursday, Friday Chaplain/Pastor to the local their own housing during the confer - and Saturday mornings. High School of 900 students and ence. Materials with a list of motels with The annual conference theme is 60 staff. From Port Lincoln, reserved blocks of rooms have been Passionate Worship: Love in Rayson took an appointment to the mailed to the lay member to annual con - Wonder, Love and Praise, which is capital city of South Australia ference and pastors several weeks ago. taken from the last verse of the (Adelaide), where he served in two In order to reserve a room at the Charles Wesley hymn, Love Divine, parishes – Marion and Seacliff. prices quoted, reservations must be All Loves Excelling . With a passion for music infusing his made by May 2. The logo, which was designed by pastoral ministry, and increasing time If there has been a change in who will video production manager Suzy Burns, away from his churches accepting invita - be attending, contact your District draws on all three aspects of worship – tions to preach and sing elsewhere, he Superintendent so this information can wonder, love and praise – in silhouetted stepped out of fulltime pastoral ministry in be corrected in advance of annual con - ference. figures that are set on a background of the Seminary, 1997). He is a member of the 2000 and started Mike Rayson International I cross and a radiating heart. North American Academy of Liturgy Ministries, which is partnered with Memorial service: Persons who have Conference speaker (2009), the Consultation on Common Compassion International. The ministry served as lay members to annual confer - Rev. Taylor Burton- Texts (2005), and Prior for the organization runs under a 13-member board ence who died within the past year are Edwards, Director of CyberChapter of the Order of Saint Luke of directors and a constant prayer team that also remembered at the Memorial Worship Resources for (1996). has members spanning six countries. Service. Submit names of lay members the General Board of He is married to The Rev. Dr. Grace In 2005, Rayson and his family relocat - to Conference Lay Leader Rhonda Discipleship of The Burton-Edwards, an Episcopal Priest in the ed their ministry to the other side of the Whitaker at Whitakers@ mchsi.com or United Methodist Diocese of Indianapolis, Associate Rector world, just outside of Nashville. He is a by mail at 1264 Hickory Dr., Neoga, IL 62447 or by phone at 217-895-3962. Church, will be the of Trinity Episcopal Church in regular worship leader and preacher at the I conference speaker. Indianapolis, and Chaplain at its compan - Upper Room, and was also invited to min - Pre-Conference Workbook: All An elder in the ion ministry, St. Richard's School. ister last year in the world famous Central clergy and lay members should receive Rev. Burton- North Indiana Worship leader Methodist Meeting Hall in London. a packet in April of reports and resolu - Edwards Conference of The Evangelist Mike He has ministered with such people as tions to be acted upon by the annual conference session. United Methodist Church, Burton- Rayson will be leading Anne Graham Lotz—daughter of leg - I Edwards was Director of Community worship during the endary Christian Evangelist “Billy Displays: A group officially recog - Impact with United Way of Madison 2010 Annual Confer- Graham;” Rev Dr Len Sweet—author and nized by and/or related to the United County (Anderson, Ind.) 2002-2005; asso - ence, Bishop Gregory theologian; and has shared the musical Methodist Church that has secured dis - ciate pastor of First United Methodist V. Palmer announced. stage with Darlene Zschech—composer of play space will be able to set up in Church (Anderson, Ind.) 1998-2002; and Rayson, of Pleasant the song Shout To the Lord . Exhibit Hall D on Wednesday, June 2 pastor of Tyner UMC (1995-1998), Worship services from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. View, Tenn., is a I Wawaka UMC (1994-1995) and Waldron native of Australia and Attendees of the 2009 annual conference Promotion of events: All promotion Mike Rayson Baptist Church (American Baptist, 1991- no stranger to the Illinois warmly received the morning devotional of special meals and special guests will 1993). He served as Chair of the North Great Rivers Conference, as he has minis - period with Bishop Gregory V. Palmer be done through the pre-conference edi - Indiana Conference Board of Discipleship tered in a number of local congregations called Morning Manna and those periods tion of The Current , which will be a part (1997-2001). He has also taught at and most recently, served as worship will be a part of the Thursday, Friday and of the May 2010 issue. This will take the Anderson University (Peace Studies) and leader for Covenant Keepers 2009. Saturday morning schedules. place of flyers and brochures prepared Ivy Tech State College (Gerontology). After completing his education in tiny Conference will open on Wednesday independently. His academic work has focused heavily rural Australian schools, Rayson went on evening with the Memorial Service as the Materials for The Current will be on history (BA, Kenyon College 1985), to a career in the media. After hosting conference remembers those who have edited by The Current editors. Deadline historical theology/liturgy (M.Div. number 1 rated radio programs in rural, entered the Church Triumphant in the past for copy is Friday, April 2. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary regional and metropolitan markets and year. Holy Communion will be celebrated Materials can be sent to Paul Black, 1990), and the intersection of peacemaking writing many national radio commercial by Bishop Palmer. Director of Communication Ministries and liturgical studies (MA in Peace campaigns, he heeded God’s call, and went An all-conference dinner which will fea - by email at [email protected] or by mail - Studies, Associated Mennonite Biblical on to ministry with the Uniting Church of See Passionate worship on page 20 … See Reminders on page 20 … Page 2 Illinois Great Rivers Conference — The Current April 2010 News from the Episcopal Office Resurrection: to forgive and to be forgiven Appointments programs of spiritual lessons, mentoring and supervising recreational events while Dear friends in Jesus Christ: In consultation with the Cabinet of the building personal relationships with indi - I greet you in the strong name of Jesus as we finish the Lenten Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Bishop viduals. Contact the church at 618-532- journey and prepare for the feast of Easter. Gregory V. Palmer appoints the follow - 7361 or Rev Gordon at 618-332-9494. I am hunching that a good many of you have used these days of ing pastors: Lent to give yourself over to the practicing of some new discipline R. Bruce Weiman to Living Faith, Deaths through either abstinence or doing. Across the last several years LaMoine River District, effective July 1. Marian Olsen , widow of the Rev. there has been a renewed interest in the church about the ways in Tom Corum to Champaign: First, John Arnold Olsen, died March 13. She which we are formed in Christ Jesus. In the nineties Dorothy Bass Iroquois River District, effective July 1. and her husband served churches in the edited an important book entitled Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Brian Manigold to appointment Troy, New England and Central Illinois Bishop Palmer Life for a Searching People . A few years ago Bishop Robert beyond the local church, Veterans’ Conferences, retiring from Decatur First Schnase blessed the church with Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. (I commend Administration – Illiana Health Care UMC in 1981. Expressions of sympathy both of these books to you for you reading and re-reading). Systems, Danville, Vermilion River may be sent to a daughter, Judy Allen, Craig Dykstra says "Christian practices are not activities we do to make something District, effective March 1. 1364 Deep Run Road, Naperville, IL spiritual happen in our lives. Nor are they duties we undertake to be obedient to God. David Poland to Colusa and 60540. Rather, they are patterns of communal action that create openings in our lives where Appanoose Yoked, Spoon River District, Rev. Kenneth “Doc” Bissey retired the grace, mercy, and presence of God may be made known to us. They are places where effective March 1. pastor, died March 9. Rev. Bissey pas - the power of God is experienced. In the end, these are not ultimately our practices but Dan Seibert to Monticello, Sangamon tored churches in the former Southern forms of participation in the practice of God." I would add that the practices are both River District, effective July 1. Charge realignments Illinois Conference, retiring in 1983. personal and communal but never private. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to During these Lenten days I have been thinking a great deal about the practice of for - Bruce S.