The people of Two Rivers United Methodist Church, which was organized in 1833 as the first Christian church in Rock Island County, will celebrate Reconciling Sunday in worship on June 25, at 9:30. This worship service will celebrate the passing of a welcome statement that affirms LGBTQ+ people and commemorate the church’s joining the Reconciling Ministries Network.
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Birdies for Camp Milan
By using Birdie #2399 – Two Rivers UMC Camp Milan Retreat Center you can direct your pledge to Camp Milan. If you have ever been a guest at Camp Milan, so you know what a special place it is. You also know that there are many ways that we can improve the quality of the facility and make sure that Camp Milan continues to thrive for years to come. You can donate online by CLICKING HERE.
Pledges received in the Birdies for Charity office before June 16 will be entered into a grand prize drawing. You can win a new Lexus! All pledges must be received by July 7.
After all the pledges are made, Birdies for Charity will then send us a check with all of the gifts with at least 5% added. So your $100 gift to Birdies will come to Camp Milan as $105. So please, consider supporting Camp Milan Meeting and Retreat Center, and call Brianna at 309-788-9384 to make a reservation for your next event.
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Vote on Reconciling Ministries June 11
After several months of conversations, presentations, writing, prayer, and polls, Two Rivers United Methodist Church is ready to decide if it will become a Reconciling Ministries Congregation, and if it will approve both the RMN welcome statement and the unique Two Rivers Church Welcome Statement.
There will be a congregational vote on Sunday, June 11 at 11:00 a.m. in Epworth Hall. If the vote approves joining RMN, there will be special Reconciling Sunday worship on June 25. People can vote by coming to the meeting on the 11th of June or by mailing in their ballots. Everyone who considers Two Rivers UMC their church home may vote. Youth who are able to have a reasonable conversation about LGBTQ+ inclusion with their parents are also eligible to vote.
Balots were included in the June edition of the Compass Newsletter. These were hand-numbered ballots with numbers that correspond to households. This will make the ballots anonymous unless there is a felt need to investigate the voting further. This will help ensure that there are not double ballots mailed in and that people in attendance at the June 11th meeting will not also mail in a ballot.
Joining the Reconciling Ministries Network would not alter the church’s relationship with the United Methodist Church. RMN is a network churches, congregations, small groups, classes, and individuals who believe in the full inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people and are dedicated to working toward a more inclusive denomination. Click here to learn more about RMN.
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The Open Table
On May 25 at 6:00 p.m., Two Rivers Church will share meal with meaning. The purpose of the dinner will be strengthen our community of faith and create a spirit of invitation and hospitality. The meal will be provded at no costs to all guests, and the dinner will include prayers, music, Biblical reflection, and Communion.
This is possible with an amazing partnership with QC Coffee and Pancake House. Members of Two Rivers Church and guests at our Saturday meal site are especially encouraged to be a part of this “Dinner Church,” but this is also a great chance for people to invite new people into a new way to experience worship and faith.
Based on the work of Christopher Grundy, and his book “Recovering Communion in a Violent World,” this will be a unique experience. Jesus ate with people much more than he attended “church” or went to worship. His ministry was done at the table. In resurrection, he was made known when he broke bread. This is how we “remember Jesus,” by breaking bread and sharing in the love and Kin-dom of God that he proclaimed.
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Songs That Inspire Concert
We will celebrate the Resurrection with a special concert performed by friends of Two Rivers Church on Sunday, April 16 at 2:00 p.m. This concert will take place in the afternoon, a few hours after our regular church service, allowing people have lunch and return with a friend for this amazing afternoon of music.
Each artist has chosen special “Songs that Inspire,” for their performance. There will be a variety of musical styles, instruments, and performances of voice, piano, and horn. Performers will be both amateurs and professionals, but all will be sincere in their love of music and God. “Songs that Inspire” promises to be a wonderful afternoon of music and joy.
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Conversations around LGBTQ inclusion
The United Methodist Church is in a season of great upheaval. The start of the Global Methodist Church and the disaffiliation of hundreds of United Methodism congregations has left our denomination in a state of uncertainty. It was decided in an informal meeting on Pentecost Sunday 2022 that Two Rivers Church would undergo a series of meetings and conversations with the intent of making a clear statement as a local congregation.
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