News

Sand bagging volunteers sought in Southern Illinois

Sand-bagging volunteers are being sought for Southern Illinois.   Please  call ahead to one of the following numbers to ensure a need and your safety before going to sand-bag: Rep. Brandon Phelps office 618-253-4189  Red Cross Little Egypt Network 800-272-2984   In addition, churches that are looking for a couple of resources may want to take a look at the following bulletin insert and a litany for flooding disasters that can be incorporated into a worship...

Death of Pastor's Cousin Leads St. Joseph UMC to Joplin

The Rev. Mark Harris, senior pastor of St. Joseph United Methodist Church, had made all the arrangements to take a mission team from the church to Manhattan, Kan., to do repair work on the campus of Kansas State University. And then, less than a month before the trip was planned, an EF5, multi-vortex tornado roared through Joplin, Missouri, cutting a one by six mile swath of utter destruction. The storm killed 159 people, including Sally Moulton, Rev. Harris’ first cousin. Sally was...

MacMurray College President Appeals to IGRC for Assistance

The following letter was issued by Dr. Colleen Hester, President of MacMurray College in Jacksonville on July 25, 2011: Dear Friends of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church, It is with sadness and urgency that I share the news of recent, devastating flooding at MacMurray College. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, I ask for your prayers and for your support. The MacMurray family has a strong history of support from our United Methodist...

MacMurray College seeks donations to repair flood damage

JACKSONVILLE -- While a boil order has been lifted in this community, officials at MacMurray College are reaching out soliciting donations to make repairs sustained by the June 17-18 floods. Persons wishing to make donations to the MacMurray College Flood Relief Fund can do so online by visiting the college website, clicking on the Give Back to Mac button and noting the MacMurray College Flood Relief Fund as your designation. Donations may also be mailed to: MacMurray College, Office...

Assessing the Damage

MARION – Southern Illinois has begun the recovery phase in the aftermath of flooding throughout the region in late April and May, disaster response officials reported in a May 16 briefing in Marion. Bishop Gregory V. Palmer spent three days in the region May 15-17, surveying the damage, offering words of comfort and support and engaging with Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials on the response.   “I believe the Apostle Paul was Wesleyan in that he...

Girard UMC Gives Thanks After the Storm

GIRARD – The Easter service at Girard UMC had a different feeling April 23. Five days after an EF-3 tornado – winds of 136 to 165 mph – struck portions of Girard, members of the congregation said the destruction and disruption of lives still weigh heavily on their minds. The storm damaged 22 structures and destroyed five homes.   During the April 24 service, several members spoke out, saying they were thankful there had been no deaths and that the damage wasn’t...

Disaster Response Training slated

Two disaster response training events have been scheduled in preparation for tornado season this spring. Pekin First UMC will host the first training on Saturday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is available online until March 7. Trainers for the session at Pekin are Ken Miner and Steve Schoeffel. Bonfield Evangelical UMC will host the second training session on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is available online until March 28. Trainers for the session is...

Mission trip opportunities, UM Volunteers in Mission response

Rev. Matt Henson of Living the Adventure Ministries has made several trips to Haiti and has four trips scheduled for 2011: “On my most recent trip to Haiti, we went up to an overlook area above Port au Prince. The bird’s eye view was very moving, as our group could see the destruction and need for many workers,” Henson said. “We found ourselves pointing to tent cities, homes without roofs, and homes that were in great need of repair. The overlook gave me an opportunity...

Haiti Response Plan approved for three additional years

      STAMFORD, Conn. -- Declaring the six month Haiti Response Plan pilot project a success, the Board of Directors of UMCOR approved a grant of $3,094,500 to continue to field and host volunteer teams to address the humanitarian needs and priority projects of the Eglise Methodiste de Haiti (EMH). The project was approved and affirmed by the Board of Directors of the General Board of Global Ministries at the October 2010 board meeting. The three-year proposal was presented...