Living the Adventure Ministries with Rev. Matt Henson
On July 1 Rev. Matt Henson along with his family began to fully live out their calling to an evangelistic ministry that “seeks to work for the transformation of the world through the awakening of the Church, evangelistic preaching, and Christian people putting their faith into action through Mission Experiences around the world.
He
seeks to work with camps, churches, and other Christian ministries to create environments where the Good News of Jesus Christ can be proclaimed and lived in a way that invites people to join the adventure of following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.” If you are planning a revial, retreat or other event where you will need an evangelist/speaker, please contact Living the Adventure Ministries at (618)830-6670 or
. Also, feel free to check out this ministry online ( www.livingtheadventure.net ).
ADVANCED LAY SPEAKING CLASS ON CHURCH CONFLICT PURPOSE: Dates: Sept 7th from 2-5pm
Certified advanced lay speakers are by definition active lay leaders in their congregations. If these leaders have a basic understanding of causes of conflict and healthy ways to respond to conflict, they can exert a calming and beneficial influence on their churches and thereby lower levels of conflict when it is present.
COST : $15 payable the first day of class. Click here for schedule
PLACE: Caseyville United Methodist Church , 119 W. Lincoln Ave , Caseyville , IL . The church is fully handicap accessible.
Register by sending an email with contact information to .
INFORMATION: David Kueker 618-520-5181 or Gary Mosimann 618-977-3941
CCN Telecast Recommended for IGRC Viewing Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:30 am – 11:30 am
RIGHT BRAIN LEADERSHIP: What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary
The church ought to be one of the most creative places on the planet. This is a core conviction of Mark Batterson, lead pastor of one of the 25 most innovative churches in America. Church leaders will learn how to break from routine in order to creatively and effectively engage with the culture around them.
Mark Batterson is lead pastor of National Community Church, Washington, D.C. and author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.
If you wish to view this satellite telecast, please call the contact number for any of the following participating churches in the Conference and reserve a seat:
Mississippi River District
• Trenton First UMC, 220 N. Main Street, Trenton, IL 62293-1206. Register with church office: 618-224-7364 or
• Waterloo Real Life UMC, 400 Park Street, Waterloo, IL 62298-1308. Register with church office: 618-939-1313 or
The Worship Conference Saturday, September 20, 2008 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Troy UMC
Featuring Lance Winkler, Director of Contemporary Worship, Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS
Worship leaders, worship directors, praise band members, children's ministry worship leaders,
audio / tech team, worship committees and all others involved in helping to make Sunday morning worship happen in the local church are invited to attend!
A WORKSHOP SPONSORED BY THE OLDER ADULT MINISTRIES TEAM OF THE ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS CONFERENCE
The Well For Youth Workers Tuesday, October 7 – 9:00 – 12:30 PM
at St. Matthew UMC, Belleville, IL
All area youth workers (volunteer and paid) are invited to gather for a time of equipping with Dr. Hal Hamilton, Director of the Youth and College Ministry Team at First UMC in Tulsa, OK.
During this three hour presentation, Hal will be sharing insights on the connection between youth ministry and family ministry and how to make the most impact in your local church.
Registration is required for this event and lunch will be served following the session. For more information and online registration, please go to:
http://www. harvestministryteams.com/the_ well/index.html .
You may also call Harvest at 618-667-6241 ext 414 to request a brochure or register over the phone.
Stewardship Empowerment, Saturday, November 22, 2008, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Our Lady of the Snows Shrine, Belleville, IL
Training event leader: Rev. Dr. Walter L. Kimbrough
$25 registration includes event fee, continental breakfast & lunch (5 or more from one congregation, $20 each)
Co-sponsored by Trinity UMC, East St. Louis & Mississippi River District,
For more information, or to register by phone or email, contact
Pastor Rose M. Booker-Jones, 618-274-2323, or
Click here for a flyer
IRS Increases Mileage Rates through Dec. 31, 2008
IR-2008-82, June 23, 2008
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008. Taxpayers may use the optional standard rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
The rate will increase to 58.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008. This is an increase of eight (8) cents from the 50.5 cent rate in effect for the first six months of 2008, as set forth in Rev. Proc. 2007-70 .
In recognition of recent gasoline price increases, the IRS made this special adjustment for the final months of 2008. The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.
"Rising gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. Given the increase in prices, the IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the real cost of operating an automobile," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman . "We want the reimbursement rate to be fair to taxpayers."
While gasoline is a significant factor in the mileage figure, other items enter into the calculation of mileage rates, such as depreciation and insurance and other fixed and variable costs.
The optional business standard mileage rate is used to compute the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business use in lieu of tracking actual costs. This rate is also used as a benchmark by the federal government and many businesses to reimburse their employees for mileage.
The new six-month rate for computing deductible medical or moving expenses will also increase by eight (8) cents to 27 cents a mile, up from 19 cents for the first six months of 2008. The rate for providing services for charitable organizations is set by statute, not the IRS, and remains at 14 cents a mile.
The new rates are contained in Announcement 2008-63 on the optional standard mileage rates.
Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.
Mileage Rate Changes
Purpose
Rates 1/1 through 6/30/08
Rates 7/1 through 12/31/08
Business
50.5
58.5
Medical/Moving
19
27
Charitable
14
14
Looking for a speaker - here are possibilities
Looking for someone who would like to speak at your church this year?
John and Colleen Eisenbergs are willing and available to come and share their
experiences as missionaries in Paraguay. If you want to check out their ministry go to: www.themissionsociety.org/people/eisenberg or call them at:
John 618-409-6429 or Colleen 618-610-7920.
Another guest speaker opportunity: Susan Meister, Domestic Disaster Response Correspondent for UMCOR, is a member of Signal Hill UMC in the Mississippi River District. She has been covering UMCOR emergency and long term disaster response thoughout the United States for two years. Before that, she served as Director of Missions/Outreach and Director of Communications in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Susan is available for presentations to IGRC congregations/meetings as her travel schedule permits. Email her at
Miscellaneous Announcements
Please give the Pastors that are new to our District a warm welcome: Carlyle/Huey/Beckemeyer - Keith A. Michaels
Collinsville - Mark Horn
Fairview Heights Christ Associate - Allen W. Miller
Granite City Dewey Ave/Good Shepherd - Samuel D. Anderson
Litchfield St. Timothy - James O. Tinzmann
St. Jacob - Pablo D. Marty
Samuel Anderson and Pablo Marty are Supply Pastors and are not living at the parsonages. If you can't reach them at church, you are welcome to try their home numbers. We will have a gathering to greet them in person in Sept.
