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PA/WA Joint Spring Meeting
Apr 20 @ 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Joint Prairie and Western Association Spring Meeting
Saturday, April 20, 2024
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Pilgrim Park Camp & Conference Center
26449 1340 N Ave, Princeton, IL 61356
The Members of the Prairie Association and Western Association are called to a Joint 2024 Spring Meeting. Members of the Eastern Association are also invited to attend. The theme for this years event is Stronger Together: Thriving Congregations in Small Towns and Rural Communities. Come join in fellowship and discover how our United Church of Christ congregations thrive and serve in small towns and rural settings across the Prairie and Western Associations.
The 2022 UCC Statistical Profile showed that sixty percent (60%) of UCC congregations serve in communities with a population of less than 25,000 people. In the Prairie and Western Associations, 45 congregations of the combined 61 serve communities of this size (73.7%), according to the Census Bureau.
Roberto Ochoa, UCC Minister for Ethnic Inclusion & Congregational Support for Rural & Small Churches, said in a recent United Church News article:
“Our United Church of Christ rural churches are one of the few places in America where people across the cultural spectrum are finding peace with each other. In worship and fellowship, being civil and caring for the sake of the Gospel in their communities is valued by church members who otherwise hold different political views.”
Feel the springtime welcome at Pilgrim Park as we come together to discern God’s call in the communities that we serve.
Agenda:
8:30 AM – Registration & Refreshments
9:00 AM – Opening Worship & Keynote
12:00 PM – Lunch
3:00 PM – Adjournment
Registration is $35 per person. Children 12 and under are free. This amount provides stewardship for the hospitality and lunch offered at Pilgrim Park. Please specify your dietary preference/needs during registration.
Guests for the day:
- Rev. Phiwa Langeni, Ambassador for Innovation & Engagement- UCC’s Center for Analytics, Research & Development, and Data (CARDD)
- A Welcome from the Small Town and Rural (STAR) Churches Coalition
Summer Camp Fun (Engagement Activities with our Youth)
- Led by Muriel Morley-Jahn, and the Pilgrim Park Camp Staff. An engaged time for youth ages 12 and younger. Share in the fun of camp, and discover all that Pilgrim Park will offer this summer.
- All are encouraged to bring your child with you to the meeting. Pre-registration is encouraged at no cost!
Registration is being done through Realm. You can pay online directly when registering (choose “Pay Now”) OR you can pay by check (choose “Pay In-Person”). If paying by check:
- Please make checks payable to “Illinois Conference UCC” and include “PA/WA Spring Meeting” in the memo line.
- Mail the check along with a copy of your registration to: Illinois Conference UCC, 1840 Westchester Blvd Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154.
- OR you can pay at the door on April 20th.
The deadline to pre-register is Sunday, April 14th.
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. You can register at the door, but meals will be at the discretion of the camp. If you have special dietary needs, preregistration is required in order to accommodate these needs.
IMPORTANT NOTE: YOU MUST CLICK THE “REGISTER” BUTTON AT THE END OF THE REGISTRATION PROCESS TO SUBMIT YOUR REGISTATION/PAYMENT.
It is best to complete the registration on a computer and not a mobile device. You will receive a confirmation via e-mail once you have registered. If you do not receive this email, then your registration has not gone through. If you need assistance registering, please contact the Conference Office (708-344-4470) and talk to Naomi or Sarah.