News

God asks, 'Why Are You Here?'

PEORIA -- The question God asks each of us is, "Why are you here?"  Our answer is of eternal significance. Striking a jazzy, soulful mood with the story of the prophets Elijah and Elisha as a backdrop, the Rev. Melva Graham England, pastor of Galesburg First UMC, asked those in attendance, "Are we bold enough to pick up the mantle, ask for a double share and risk it all for Jesus Christ?" In recalling the Old Testament story, England observed,...

Special offering for New Hope Church in Liberia

The Wednesday evening offering, taken during the Memorial Service, will assist with the building of New Hope Church, also in Liberia. The congregation of New Hope UMC found themselves as refugees in the Monrovia area after fleeing their home areas for safety during the civil war. Because they wanted to worship in their own vernacular, the Bassa language, a small group of refugees began to meet regularly for worship services. The congregation soon outgrew the home in which they worshipped and...

God's Best: A Promise

Bishop Woodie White said he had a list of questions for God when he gets to heaven. "That's one of the reasons I want to go to heaven," White said during the Memorial Sermon that opened the 2011 Annual Conference. "I think of all those different tragedies ... accidents, Alzheimer's cancer... and I say, 'God is that the best you can do?'" And then, White said, "God says, 'Woodie, I anticipated your question and I thought I would answer before you asked: In my...

Passionate attitude of gratitude leads to passionate worship

Listen to the sermon  PEORIA – When Martin Luther was asked about the truest form of worship, he looked to the Parable of the Ten Lepers in Luke 17 as the best example.   “It has both an inward and outward focus,” recalled Dr. Karen Westerfield Tucker. “Inward in that it expressed love for the One who first loved use and makes us open to receive what God has for us. It is outward in that the extent of human love for God must well up in speech and...