News & Updates

August 11, 2022

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While our District Superintendent finishes out her time of renewal leave, I’m glad to offer a word of greeting from your Lake North District Shepherding Team. Along with my co-chair Chester Lacey, and our faithful and committed team, please know that we are praying for you and seeking to do our part to equip, encourage and empower you for ministry. ~Wendy Hardin Hermann

The Next Right Thing. It was one of the most critically acclaimed songs from the Disney musical Frozen 2, the sequel to the 2013 Academy Award Winning Frozen. The song, which you can view/listen to here is sung by Kristen Bell, who plays the character of Anna. In the scene in which this song is offered, Anna has just learned of the apparent death of her sister Elsa, and her dear friend Olaf, the loveable snowman. The lyrics, written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Richard Lopez, offer language that borders on the biblical. It’s no wonder, as the writers drew inspiration from the real life story of Frozen co-director Chris Beck, whose oldest child died tragically at age 23. Echoes of some of our most poignant Psalms (42, 13, 23) come to mind…

This grief has a gravity, it pulls me down

But a tiny voice whispers in my mind

You are lost, hope is gone

But you must go on

And do the next right thing

It has been said that this is “a song about what she (Anna) is going to do when she doesn't know what to do."

Most of us who are leaders today–pastors, lay leaders in local churches and communities–are also wrestling with knowing what to do right now… what IS the next right thing?

We're recognizing that the post-COVID church is very different from what came before. Some of us are crushed by the mental health crisis, experienced firsthand in people we love, or perhaps in ourselves. Many of us are reeling from an almost daily bombardment of disheartening news. We continue to bear witness to heartbreaking injustice and hateful division in our nation. In our beloved United Methodist Church, we know that BIG CHANGE is on the horizon, but the week to week ministry needs of our local congregations seem much more pressing.

Close to home in our own Lake North District, we grieve with the victims of the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park and with all of the churches and communities so closely touched by this tragedy. If you didn’t have a chance to read our Bishop’s prayerful response, you’ll find it here.

In the past few years, church leaders like us have been through a trial like no other. Perhaps you’ve heard that so much now, that you’ve become numb to the truth of it. It can be good to simply acknowledge what we’ve been through, collectively and individually–a “grief that weighs like gravity.”

With the weight of the world upon us, we will need to discern carefully what might be “the next right thing.” What will that look like for you and your faith community?

I hope and pray that our District Shepherding Team, along with other District Leadership Teams, can offer timely and relevant resources for you as you discern your next steps as a faith community.

The apostle Paul reminds us that when life is unsteady, and everything feels incomplete, we can still move forward in faith with these next steps: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (I Corinthians 13:13 The Message, by Eugene Peterson)

In other words, we can do “the next right thing.”

Every Blessing,

Wendy Hardin Hermann

for the Lake North District Shepherding Team

Volunteers in Mission Sunday

Any Sunday in July or August

Safe Sanctuary Trainings

August 20

Mission u

August 19

August 20

Christian Education Sunday

September 4

Labor Day

September 5

Renewable Energy Summit

September 10

CPRES Retreat

September 11-13

UMM Spiritual Congress

September 16-18

Fresh Expressions 2022

September 18-21

Race, America and the Church - Undenied

September 22

NIC Fall Youth Retreat

September 23-25

Lake North United Women in Faith

Virtual Annual Celebration

September 24

Pastor Appreciation Month

October

Apportionment Highlight - General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (World Service Fund)

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW), which has its offices located right here in Chicago and started in the Northern Illinois Conference, is funded through the World Service Fund portion of our apportionments.

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women is 50 years young! The agency’s work now spans the world and connects United Methodists to valuable resources that enable all levels of the church to champion the full inclusion of women in the denomination. Thanks to generous congregational support through the World Service Fund, GCSRW employs a small but mighty team dedicated to women’s full and equal participation in the life of The United Methodist Church. Over the past 50 years, the agency has accomplished much in terms of advocacy for women, but as data indicates, its work is far from complete.

Celebrating successes, commemorating a difficult journey and organizing future work, GCSRW staff and supporters remain committed to greater advocacy for women. Recognizing the challenges, the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women looks forward to the next 50 years, grounded with the enlivening hope that, together, we will fulfill our mission.

Since 1894, Kids Above All (formerly ChildServ) has placed the safety, well-being, and education of kids above everything else. Running through the summer, you can help ensure that the hundreds of kids in their care have the supplies they need to succeed this school year through the agency's annual backpack drive. Click for details.

Northern Illinois Conference offered these training options to help meet our goal of ensuring safe spaces in our churches.

Only one training left - both in person and on Zoom!

Saturday, August 20 - 1:00 pm - Des Plaines: First UMC

Find more information and register here.

**This free training is an alternative for those who cannot participate in other training options and does not include a background check.

Also, we have redone our NIC Safe Sanctuaries Website. Check out the site for videos, policies, FAQ, downloads and more resources.

Save the Date - Lake North

United Women in Faith

Virtual Annual Celebration

The New is Here!

Saturday September 24, 2022

9:30 a.m. - 11 :30 a.m.

Guest speaker: Valerie Clark, member of the Board of Directors of the United Women in Faith

Join us for worship, memorial service, fellowship and our business meeting.

Watch for further details

Mission u Summer 2022

August 19 & 20

United Women in Faith Northern Illinois Conference (formerly UMW) is offering classes for all ages. There are 4 locations for in person and will also offer a virtual option.

The adult curriculum, Who Can We Be Together, brings participants deeper into Jesus’ teachings to explore what it means to be in community.
The youth curriculum, Community in the Midst of Challenging Times, will help young people interpret scripture for today’s world, and deepen community connections through intergenerational dialogue.
Through transformative activities and spiritual practices, participants in the children’s curriculum, Our Growing Tree, will discover joy and empowerment in the scriptures and find support in their journeys of self-love and community building.

Find out more information here. Registration deadline is Aug. 17.

Online Via Zoom & In Person - Euclid Avenue UMC, 405 S Euclid Ave, Oak Park, IL

Free event with lunch included. More information here.

More information here.

CPRES (Clergy Peer Reflection & Engagement Series) was created for clergy. The premise is simple offer a brave space for clergy to have the difficult conversations about racism without fear of judgement, condemnation, and always in a spirit of understanding. The retreat (Sunday, September 11, 6:00 pm - Tuesday, September 13, 12:00 pm Noon) is designed to build a beloved community, willing to share from deep within their hearts. Participants will spend 3 days and two nights at the retreat, building community through worship, Eucharist, spiritual renewal, and holy conversations in small groups. Learn more and register here.

Speaker Series: Race, America, and the Church

The Northern Illinois Conference, in partnership with the Indiana Conference and other groups, is pleased to announce a 2022 Speaker Series.

The third event in this series will be held September 22.

Undenied: No Longer Willing to be Unheard

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Rev. Chebon Kernell shares insights and learning related to indigenous communities’ history, present work being done, and how we can be in solidarity as we prepare for the future.

In-person at Our Redeemer's in Schaumburg and online

Last Call!

The first NIC Book Club session Kneeling with Giants by Gary Neal Hansen is winding up. Dr. Hansen’s videos will only be available on the Discipleship Task Force website for a few more weeks.

If you haven’t seen them yet, please treat yourself and take time to see all four. Many have already gained invaluable tools for enhancing and enriching their prayer styles. You can access the recordings here .

Then, watch for our next NIC Book Club selection! Coming soon!

NIC Job Opening - Events Coordinator

We are currently seeking a qualified candidate to come join the NIC Program Area team as an Events Coordinator/Administrative Assistant.

The event planner is responsible for all events and registration offered at the conference and district level, either through planning or guidance for those who do the planning so that every event will have the same high quality of branding and execution. The event planner must have exceptional customer service skills and support capabilities with a passion for planning events. They must be able to work with staff teams and engage volunteer committees to accomplish the task.

This job is a hybrid, full-time position with flexible hours. Some weekend and evening work is required for event support. The position includes both Health Insurance upon hire (with wellness incentives) and Pension Benefits after a vesting period.

If you know someone who would be interested, click here for the job description and to apply.

Do you have news to share?

We are always looking for stories of what is happening in the local church. We welcome articles from churches highlighting ministries, outreach, and missions which tell the story of being vital Christians. Events considered should be of conference-wide appeal and United Methodist-related.

District eNews are sent out the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Please submit stories and events by end of business on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. Space is limited. Stories of fewer than 250 words are preferred. Submissions will be edited at the discretion of Communications staff. Information can be emailed to communications@umcnic.org.

Check out our Submit News page for more details.

Resources for the Local Church

Volunteers in Mission Sunday (Any Sunday in July or August) - Songs, Liturgy, Posters, Mission Moments, Sermon Starters, and more
Christian Education Sunday (September 4) -Tips for getting your christian education started and to continue it growing.
Labor Day (September 5) - Ways Churches can honor the weekend.
#BeUMC Resources -Tool Kits, Social Media Kits, Graphics, and more.
Social Media Shareables - Free graphics for social media for different events, months and ministries. (Through Outreach, log in is needed but resources are free)
UMC Giving Resources - Mission Moments, Special Sunday Info, Leader Kits, Pew Cards and more.
United Media Resource Center - Lending library of Christian materials for local churches - for small groups, pastors, children and individuals.

Rev. Brittany Isaac

Lake North District Superintendent

bisaac@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 785

Debra Rogers

Administrative Assistant

drogers@umcnic.org

630-465-2941

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