Welcome Rylee Hodges-Stone,
DuBois' New Program Director!
Rylee Hodges-Stone has joined the DuBois Center staff as our new Program Director! She began this work with us on September 8, 2021 after interviewing with the Acting Director of Outdoor Ministry, Hayley Elliott, and the Conference Minister, Rev. Shana Johnson. Rylee will oversee planning and implementing our year-round programs.
Rylee initially heard about camp from her home church, Zion UCC in New Baden, and started attending in the summer of 2006, as a half-week camper. She grew up going to summer camp every summer, while also attending retreats and festivals at DuBois Center. Rylee grew up in New Baden and recently graduated from the Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville with a degree in Biology and Chemistry. In Rylee’s free time, she goes boating, goes horseback riding, and hangs out with her family.
At the start of our 2021 season, Rylee was one of the heroes who stepped up to pull off our summer programming. In many of our camper evaluations, Rylee’s name was the one mentioned as the team member who impacted our campers the most.
Her vision for DuBois Center and gifts are truly wonderful, and we believe we will see the benefit of her ministry among us for many years to come! Rylee can be contacted at the DuBois Center Office or via email at program@duboiscenter.org.
ALL UCC authorized pastors
and delegates from each ISC congregation,
please mark your calendars and plan to attend
THE ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL
of John Pawloski
on Sunday, September 26 at 3 pm CST
on Zoom
St. John United Church of Christ
and Illinois South Conference of the United Church of Christ
Invite You to Attend the
INSTALLATION of
Rev. Jennifer Sowell Glover
as Pastor and Teacher of
St. John United Church of Christ
307 W Clay Street
Collinsville, Illinois
on Sunday, September 19, 2021
at 3 pm
Pastors are invited to participate. Please robe with red or rainbow stoles and gather at the church by 2:30 pm.
ISC Annual Meeting 2021 - Held virtually
A Time to Replenish ~ Jeremiah 31:25
Schedule for AM:
Sunday, Oct. 10 Liturgy provided for local churches to bless the work of Annual Meeting and provide a charge to the delegates.
Wednesday, Oct. 13 Afternoon workshops for clergy
Thursday, Oct. 14 Evening workshop(s) geared for lay but open to delegates, non-delegates, and clergy
Saturday, Oct. 16 Morning Business Meeting including anniversary celebrations of clergy and churches and a closing worship
Delegate registration details, team reports, and marketplace information will soon be available. Registration details will be sent to churches, ISC clergy, and Conference Council. Fee will be $25/person.

Mission Offering for
Annual Meeting 2021

The past year and a half have been a struggle in several ways for many of us. Covid and the Delta Variant, social isolation, and fear and anxiety over how to deal with the pandemic have hit us all, although perhaps in different ways. No matter what statistics you look at, the prevalence of mental health issues has increased, suicidal ideation has increased, there is still an unmet need for mental health treatment, people need mental health services, and there aren’t enough mental health providers. These issues know no boundaries when it comes to lay or clergy.

This year’s Annual Meeting offering will be going to the ISC Clergy Assistance Fund where funds will be used to aid and assist clergy. In 2021, this fund has been used heavily as clergy have needed counseling and spiritual direction services for themselves and their families. The use of these funds is granted and approved by the Conference Minister. The assistance provided to the clergy of ISC not only assists the clergy, but also provides a healthier church as our leaders get the care and support they need to care for their members. 

  • Prior to Annual Meeting, ask your Church Council to seek contributions from your congregation in support of the ISC Clergy Assistance Fund.
  • Write a check payable to Illinois South Conference.
  • In the memo line acknowledge Annual Meeting Offering or ISC Clergy Assistance Fund
  • Send the check to Illinois South Conference, 1312 Broadway, Highland, IL 62249.

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UCC Covenant Programs

The United Church of Christ has eight special "covenant" programs for all UCC churches to participate in. Now they are on on page, “Just World Covenants” web page.  Check out the page or into each of them listed here.

Changing Lives

Donate to
OCWM

Donate to
Friends of the Conference

Donate to
DuBois Center

Donate to
Ecuador Partnership

Donate to
Advent St. Nicholas
Church in Ecuador

Donate to
ISC Hunger/Food Action

Donate to
Disaster Ministries

Annual Meeting Workshops for All

October 13, Wednesday afternoon –workshops for clergy.

  • 1:00 pm - Beyond Chocolates and Bath Salts: Self Care for Pastors
    Presented by Donna Pupillo, RN and Executive Director of Deaconess Nurse Ministry
  • 2:30 pm - The Rainbow Connection: The Pastor's Role in Helping Congregations Become Inclusive
    Presented by Andy Lang, Executive Director of ONA Coalition

Read more

October 14, Thursday evening – workshops geared for lay but open to delegates, non-delegates, and clergy

  • 6:00 pm - Lifting the Shame: How Churches Can Break the Silence about Mental Health
    Presented by Dr. Sarah Lund, Director of Mental Health and Disabilities UCC
  • 7:00 pm - Reimagining Our Collective Missional Call
    Presented by Rev. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, Director of the Office of Professional Formation and Term Assistant Professor of Leadership and Formation at Iliff School of Theology

Read more

Updates from your Conference about the Coronavirus-19

Conference COVID-19 Update #22
Suggested Staff, Employee & Visitor Protocol and Checklist
Previous Updates & Articles

More Worship Resources & Links about COVID-19

Zoom Prayer and Lectionary Lunch Hour for Pastors
The Local Church Ministries team hosts a weekly Zoom Prayer and Lectionary Lunch Hour on Wednesdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm for all Illinois South Conference pastors. This is an opportunity for clergy in the Conference to get together for weekly prayer, support, and the sharing of preaching and worship ideas for the coming Sunday.  An email with Zoom link was sent to all pastors. The same link is used each week.