The Laity Events with Bishop Palmer will be informal meetings for the leadership of the local congregations - Lay Leader and Lay Member to Annual Conference, Chairs of Church Council, Trustees and S/PPRC,  Treasurers, Worship Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, UMYF Leadership, etc. 

Although we are targeting the Leadership, EVERYONE is welcome!  The point of the event is to build relationships between the Bishop and the local Laity to encourage and empower them to get off their pews and into the ministry of making disciples of Jesus Christ so that they can begin the transformation of their communities. 

The Bishop will have a beginning devotion and then talk to the Laity about the initiatives he announced at Annual Conference.  At the end of the evening, he'll have a brief question and answer period. 

9/22/2010         6:30-8:30 pm          Peoria Bethel UMC

9/26/2010         4:00-6:00 pm          Savoy UMC

Bishop Palmer is a very spirited, passionate and dynamic speaker – take this opportunity to get to know your new Bishop.

On Monday, September 13th Avanti’s will donate 20% of each guest check
 to Wesley’s Habitat for Humanity project.   This is good all day at
both locations and is good for dine in, carry out, or delivery service. 
Be sure to tell them that your meal is in support of
Wesley United Methodist Church/Habitat for Humanity.

Do all 8th grade students have to be confirmed?
What if I don't know if I want to be confirmed?
Can I come to youth group on Wednesdays if I'm not going to be confirmed?

Confirmation in the Methodist church is when a student publicly proclaims their faith as a Christian surrounded by their church family. At that point the student is an official member of the UM Church. At Wesley, to join our church as a student, we require that the student has gone through our confirmation class. We offer our 8th grade (and older) students the opportunity to study together for a year - what it means to be a Christian, what it means to be part of the UM Church, what it means to live my life for Christ every day in this world. At the end of the year, if the student feels ready to be confirmed they will be confirmed during a special service in front of our church family. If the student does not feel ready to be confirmed they can wait and take that step later when they feel ready. It is a choice that only the student can make for themselves.

8th grade students do not have to be confirmed.
8th grade students that want to be confirmed have to participate in the attendance requirements for confirmation.
If an 8th grader might want to be confirmed, they need to participate in the confirmation class - then decide at the end of the year if they are ready.

All 8th grade students should feel welcome to the 8th grade small group on Wednesdays, the 8th grade Sunday school class, and to all of the 8th grade retreats! We have lots of friends and students join us in 8th grade that are not part of the confirmation process.

If you have any questions about confirmation at Wesley, contact Stacy Ash.

October 15-17, 2010 (Friday-Sunday)
all junior high students ... you won't want to miss Jr High YAR!

CRASH
What Happens When Heaven & Earth Collide? 
featuring guest speaker: Mark Oestricher
worship band: Two Cent Offering (twocentoffering.com)

Jr High YAR is a retreat that happens every fall for junior high students. We will join 200 other students from other UM churches in our conference for a weekend of worship, great music, daily devotions, small groups, workshops that you get to pick!, fun & games.

COST: $60 ($73 if you want a t-shirt).
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: September 20

Sign up on the youth board, leave your (3) forms & fee in Stacy's church mailbox by September 20.

**Adults, we need you! We are required to provide 1 adult for every 7 wesley students.