Chicago Central District Newsletter | Issue 124: August 30, 2019

"
After three days they found Jesus in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
" (Luke 2:46)

Early on in the 
MULTIPLYNAZ 
writing project, we wanted to make sure the books in this series would be used, not just read. This required us to always think of a pastor's cohort, small group, Sunday School class or mid-week gathering where people would come together to pray, read scripture and keep learning by discussing book ideas from the 
MULTIPLYNAZ 
series. This led us to always keep the learning pattern of Jesus in mind as we wrote.  

We know little about the preparation years of Jesus between his birth (Luke 2:1-20) and the beginning of his ministry (Luke 3:21-22). We know Jesus went to Egypt when he was young for a short time (Matthew 2:13-15) and then returned to Nazareth where he grew up (Matthew 2:19-22). This is where we get the name for our church, the Church of 

the Nazarene 
(Matthew 2:23). 

The only other recorded childhood incidents we know about Jesus was that every year he attended the Festival of the Passover in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41). Being raised in a devout Jewish home, there were multiple times Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When a Jewish boy turned twelve, he became a "son of the law," taking on the full obligations of what it meant to be a Jewish young man.

We don't know everything that happened to Jesus at this Passover Festival when he was twelve, but we do know it was a BIG event with lots of relatives and friends. There were ceremonies, priests reading portions of the law in Hebrew and probably as a twelve-year old, Jesus participated. There would have been a challenge to practice what he knew to be right, to be obedient to his parents, to be kind to his brothers and sisters, to help those in need and to be faithful to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

After the festival was over, Jesus' parents thought he was with all of their relatives and friends as the group started home to Nazareth and they traveled a whole day without seeing him. Once they started looking for Jesus among the relatives and didn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem (Luke 2:42-45). Three days later they found Jesus doing two things - he was "sitting among the teachers, 

1) 
listening 
to them and 

2) 
asking them questions
" (Luke 2:46).  

This is the learning pattern of Jesus - to listen and to ask questions. Jesus practiced listening and asking questions throughout his life. We will always get the right answer to any problem we face in the church if we follow his example and simply learn to ask the right question. 
Thanks to each of you for being Christ in Action. We have great days ahead on the CCD - you are loved.

Dr. Larry McKain, Superintendent

Chicago Central District

Church of the Nazarene

PRETEEN MISSION TRIP

The preteens on the Chicago Central District are invited to on our Preteen Mission Trip, October 11-13, 2019, at the Salvation Army Church in Kankakee. All fifth and sixth graders are eligible to participate. The trip will begin on Friday evening at 7p and finish after lunch on Sunday afternoon. The cost is $40 per person and registration is due by September 25.

We are in need of adults to attend, along with the preteens. An online registration form can be found here. Payment should be handled through the local church. Please help us spread the word and mark your calendar! We are excited about this opportunity for our preteens! Please contact Pastor Hannah Jones-Nelson with any questions.

BIBLE QUIZZING

I t's time to start Children's Quizzing! Genesis materials can be ordered from www.thefoundrypublishing.com Questions? Contact Nancy Peeler .

2019-2020 Genesis Children's Quiz Schedule:

November 16: Dig Sites 1-10 | Location TBD (12 weeks from now!)

Feb. 22: Dig Sites 11-20 | Manteno

March 7: Zone Dig Sites 1-20 | Kankakee First

April 4: District Quiz Dig Sites 1-20 | Kankakee Westbrook

DISTRICT WORK AND WITNESS TRIP

Join friends from around our Chicago Central District on this amazing Work & Witness trip to Nairobi, Kenya. We will be working at Africa Nazarene University to help them update all of their classrooms in celebration of their 25 ^th Anniversary of the university.

Our trip will be from May 10 - May 20, 2020. The cost is $2,000. All project funds are being supplied by the CCD NMI district council. Please contact Lynne Utter at [email protected] or Ralph Goodwin at [email protected] for more information.

WELCOME BABY FLORES

Congratulations to Mario and Makenzie Flores, pastors of our Community Cup church, on the birth of Leo Phillip. He was born on Friday, August 23 weighing 9 lbs. 8 oz. and measuring 22 inches long!! Proud grandparents are Phil and Denise Anderson!

LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY EVENT

DEPUTATION SERVICE AVAILABLE SERVICES

Below are some opportunities for upcoming deputation services on the district. Email Denise Anderson at [email protected] or call 815-370-4318 with any questions!

Phil and Denise Anderson (serving at Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center, Cactus TX - replacing Rolf and Debbie Kleinfeld who had to cancel their tour)

Available dates:

Monday - Friday PM Sept 16-20

Dan and Melody Anderson (serving in Uganda)

Available dates:

Monday Oct 21
Tuesday Oct 22
Saturday Oct 26
Sunday Oct. 27
Monday Oct 28
Tuesday Oct 29

Tim and Michelle Eby (Africa region) who will be here and available to speak on

Available dates:

Monday Sept 23rd
Tuesday Sept 24th

Check out missionaries available in 2020 on the NMI website. Go to ccdnmi.org and click on Deputation Schedule to see the 4 missionaries and their availability.

TEEN QUIZZING

The annual teen quizzing kick-off is approaching! Quizzing is an excellent opportunity for teens to hide God's word in their hearts and also to develop relationships with other teens from their church and district. The curriculum is a great tool - it functions as a built-in Bible study!

If you have teens from your church who would like to participate, consider pairing with another church from our district to create a team. Check out this Teen Quizzing promo video here and contact district teen quizzing director, Ron Marklund, for more information.

ISRAEL TRIP

The Mundelein Church is leading a trip to Israel, and there are limited spaces available. It is an 8 day trip from June 8-15, 2020, and the cost is $2,700. This cost includes everything, including airfare. If you are interested, contact Pastor Doug Ward at [email protected] , and he will email the complete itinerary and any other information you may want.

UPCOMING DATES

Mark your calendar!

October 11 - 13 | District Preteen Mission Trip
September 5-6 | Theological Leadership Conference at ONU
Thursday, September 12 | District Mission Strategy Team
Thursday, October 3 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, November 2 | Cultivate at Kankakee First
Thursday, November 7 | District Mission Strategy Team
November 15-16 | Ministerial Self-Discovery Weekend
Saturday, November 16 | Children's Bible Quiz, Location TBA
Thursday, December 5 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Thursday, January 2 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, January 4, 2020 | South/Southwest Mission Area Dinner
Saturday, January 11, 2020 | Board of Ministry Training Day
Saturday, January 18, 2020 | North/Northwest Mission Area Breakfast
Saturday, January 25, 2020 | Central Mission Area Dinner
Saturday, February 1, 2020 | Ordination Interviews
Thursday, February 6, 2020 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, February 15, 2020 | Southern Mission Area Breakfast
Saturday, February 22, 2020 | Chicago Mission Area Breakfast
Saturday, February 22, 2020 | Children's Bible Quiz, Manteno
Thursday, March 5 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, March 7, 2020 | District Advisory Board Meeting
Saturday, March 7, 2020 | Children's Bible Quiz, Kankakee First
Saturday, March 28, 2020 | NMI Convention
Thursday, April 2 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, April 4, 2020 | Children's Bible Quiz, Kankakee Westbrook
April 17 - 18, 2020 | District Assembly
Thursday, May 7 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
May 10 - 20 | District Work and Witness Trip, Nairobi, Kenya
July 9-12 | Kids Camp, ONU

DS VISITS

The beginning of the new academic year at Olivet Nazarene University is always an exciting time. We enjoyed watching students stream into Centennial Chapel for the opening chapel is a special time, including an inspirational challenge by Dr. John Bowling.

We were privileged to attend the faculty and staff dinner, enjoying the company of Ken and Teresa Garner of our Manteno church.

Last Sunday, we participated in the celebration of the 96-year history and legacy of Joliet First Church. Please pray for Brad and Janelle Thompson and their team as they officially launch The Table in the new location on Sunday, September 22nd.

PRAYER REQUESTS AND CELEBRATIONS

Your prayers are appreciated for Robyn Luttrell. Her heart-related epileptic seizures continue and the ocular ones, affecting her eyes, cause much pain.

Your continued prayers are appreciated for strength and full recovery from Bill Wiggins's recent stroke.

Please pray for Pastor Andrew Twibell. He recently found out his brain cancer has returned. Please pray for strength as he begins treatment.

We would love to hear any prayer requests or celebrations from our district pastors to include in our weekly communications. Please email us so we can lift each other up!

UPCOMING LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY EVENTS

September

Mon, Sept 9 - Joliet Crystal Lawns 6:30 - 8:15 pm

Sun., Sept. 15 - Oak Lawn First - 6:00 - 8:00 pm

October

November

Sun., Nov. 3 - Oak Lawn First 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Mon, Nov 11 - Joliet Crystal Lawns 6:30 - 8:15 pm

December

Please send us dates for your upcoming 2019 Leadership Community gatherings - we would like to promote those in our newsletter!

If there is any way we can serve you better, please let us know!