News & Updates

May 11, 2023

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Special Appointment Announcement

Grace and peace in the name of our Lord and Savior.

On this Lord’s Day, as we join in our communities of faith to praise God, pray, and grow in wisdom and strength, I am grateful for the clergy of the Northern Illinois Conference who lead their congregations into deeper discipleship through their witness and leadership.

I write today to announce the appointment of Rev. Jacques Conway to the Orland Park: Faith United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2023.

It is with gratitude that I give thanks for the wisdom and strength of our brother in Christ, Rev. Jacques Conway, who has served as the District Superintendent for the Lake South (former Chicago: Southern District) over the course of the past 7 years. Jacques was pressed into service in the fall of 2016 following the election of Bishop Tracy Malone. Jacques has served faithfully through a changing and challenging season.

I have had the blessing of serving with Rev. Conway only for a brief period of time, but I am grateful for his skills in discernment and care for the Lake South District during his time as superintendent and I will miss working with him on a daily basis.

Rev Conway previously served Chicago: Christ, Greater Englewood, Maywood: Neighborhood, and Chicago: St. Matthew. With the appointment to Orland Park: Faith, he brings his strong relational skills, mission heart, dynamic preaching, and passion for Christ to the good people of this church, which has a tremendous history and its own strong witness and dynamic mission focus.

May God be a blessing to Rev. Conway and may Rev. Conway be a blessing to the people of Faith UMC.

Walking in partnership with Christ,

Bishop Dan Schwerin

KAA's Becoming Me young artists gallery exhibit at the Chicago Temple

During May, eight young artists enrolled in the Becoming Me program have artwork on exhibit at the First UMC at the Chicago Temple in the gallery on the second floor. Becoming Me is Kids Above All program for youth on the South Side of Chicago.

Each piece is available for sale. They are priced at $25, with all proceeds going to the young artists. A reception will be held on May 21, Heritage Sunday, following the 11:00 am worship.

For questions about the program and the exhibit, email Deaconess Catherine Inserra at cinserra@kidsaboveall.org.

Please help us support rural communities in Sierra Leone. Proceeds will support hospital expenses and the purchase of a hospital vehicle.

Pan-African Rural Health and Social Services (PRHeSS) aids rural communities in Sierra Leone to: provide medical attention, maintain clean drinking water and sanitary living conditions, alleviate poverty, and promote healthful living through educational programs. PReSS is a UMC Mission Links Project Partner: Advance #3021290

To donate, or for more information on PReSS, visit: www.africanhopeanddignity.org or call/email Dr. Kormoi at 708-308-3064 | kormoi@yahoo.com

Congratulations Hartzell Memorial UMC!

They were one of 133 organizations that won Chicago Recovery Plan Grants. The $250,000 grant will help the church with climate projects. The grant program aims to boost sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Grace UMC in Logan Square was also a recipient of a grant. Read more here.

Ingleside-Whitfield UMC completes rennovations

Ingleside-Whitfield UMC, which traces its history back to over 100 years as a Methodist church, is oldest church still in existence in its community on the South Side of Chicago. Under the leadership of its long serving pastor, Rev Jacqueline Ford, the membership took on the task of restoring both the sanctuary and fellowship hall. They also plan to purchase a vacant home next to the church for parking and community green space.

Registration is open until May 28. Register and learn more here.
AC Legislation and Historical Documents are now posted online
Volunteer Opportunities - email Bri Wadlington, events@umcnic.org

More updates and details will be posted in the NIC eNews and on the website at umcnic.org/AC2023.

Disaffiliation Requests Are on Conference Agenda

Annual Conference session members will consider ten NIC congregations' requests to leave the UMC. While regretting these churches’ departure, Bishop Schwerin says that “it is our pledge to do this work with respect and grounding in our faith as we bless those who must set out on a new path, all to the glory of God.” Read more.

Bishop's Appeal for Migrant Needs

This year, the Bishop’s Appeal focuses on migrant needs. Your donations will help area organizations provide migrants with immediate needs like hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and food and longer-term needs like employment, housing, medical care, and legal assistance. Read more here.

The NIC Board of Global Ministries is collecting disaster relief kit items for Midwest Mission. Collect items from their list of most-needed items and bring them to the mission truck parked outside Annual Conference. Learn more here.

Apportionments allow us to do together what no church, district, or annual conference could do alone.

The General Commission on Archives and History serves the church through the ministry of memory, allowing United Methodists to learn from our past while envisioning our future. United Methodists support GCAH through the World Service Fund. Many resources and guidance are available to those capturing and preserving the history of their congregation and conference.

The United Methodist Church celebrates Heritage Sunday annually near Aldersgate Day (May 24). This year Heritage Sunday is May 21. The observance provides an opportunity for reflection on heritage, celebration of where the Church has been, how it understands itself as it shapes us today, and the meaning of Christian conferencing. The theme for Heritage Sunday 2023: “Local Church Histories: The Cornerstone of Our Faith.” Find worship resources and more here.

HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

At this quarter’s Anti-Racism Film Series, discover the rich history and culture of the multitude of Asian communities. The series guides participants into deeper awareness of race and ethnicity.

Lake South Location: Meal offerings listed after the location

Oak Lawn: First UMC, 10000 S, Central Oak Lawn IL 60453 (Filipino meal)

Other Conference Locations:

Elmhurst: First UMC, 232 S York St, Elmhurst, IL (A Sample of Asian Cuisine)
Evanston: Emmanuel UMC, 1417 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL (Indian meal)
Libertyville: UMC of Libertyville, 429 Brainerd Avenue, Libertyville, IL. 60048 (Indian meal)
Melrose Park: Cosmopolitan UMC, 1112 N 9th Ave, Melrose Park, IL (Filipino meal). Note: This event will be on Sat., 5/27, 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm.
North Central College, Larrance Academic Center, Heininger Auditorium, 309 School St, Naperville, IL (Seoul Taco: build your own taco bar (chicken & tofu)
Northbrook: Northbrook UMC, 1190 Western Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062 (Korean meal)
Rockford: Christ UMC, 4509 Highcrest Road, Rockford, IL (A Sample of Asian Cuisine)
Roselle: Roselle UMC, 206 S. Rush Street, Roselle, IL 60172
Steward: Steward UMC, 507 Main St, Steward IL (Korean meal)

For those unavailable to attend these events, you’re still welcome to participate in the comfort of your home. The presentation and panel discussion will start at approximately 6:45 pm and live on Zoom.

Before attending the event, it is recommended to watch the documentary Being Asian in America by Pew Research Center

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

Mindful tips for celebrating Mother's and Father's Day

From those who have experienced the loss of a parent to families struggling with infertility or distance from loved ones, it's crucial to be sensitive to these sensitivities and offer outreach opportunities to show that you care.Find 4 tips here.

Discipleship Ministries offers a Litany for Mother's Day that celebrates mothers in all forms, closing with thanks for the women who have served as influencers: "We thank you, Lord, for the women who have influenced our lives in so many ways. We pray that we will honor them in everything we do." Find the resource here.

Intentional Discipleship Team Quarterly Meeting

Are you working on an Intentional Discipleship System at your church? Would you like to connect with other church leaders who are working on IDS in their settings? The Intentional Discipleship Team (part of the NIC Discipleship Task Force) invites you to join their quarterly meeting. Next meeting: Tuesday, May 16 @ 10 AM. Contact Caleb Hong (pastorcaleb@faithumcop.org) for the ZOOM link.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time when we honor the history and contributions of members of this fastest-growing population in the United States. This is a diverse group of people with origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. In The United Methodist Church, we have an opportunity for a richer experience of worship and life as the people of God when we celebrate the voices of our Asian American and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters among us. Find worship resources and more here.

Active Shooter Online Training for Churches

Two web-based training modules on "Active Shooter: Run, Fight & Hide" and "Violence in the Workplace" are available. Participants may take the training individually or as a group. Interested churches: send an email to Dwayne Jackson, NIC director of risk management and ministry protection (insurance), and include church name, title of person presenting the request, and number of training assignments required. Contact Dwayne Jackson.

We have seen an increase in email scams from senders pretending to be the bishop or district superintendents. If you receive emails from the conference that are not from email addresses that end in @umcnic.org, these are NOT from the conference office. It is spam and fraudulent. To be clear, the conference will NOT contact you or solicit anything via generic email. All financial gifts must always be received through the conference's regular collections process. If you ever get an email or phone call that seems strange or odd, do not immediately click "respond." First, contact your district administrative assistant for verification.

NIC Prayer Network Monthly Zoom Meetings

The NIC Prayer Network is an entryway for joining in common prayer for the ministries of the Northern Illinois Conference. You’re welcome to join in praying for the upcoming events of our conference. The next meeting is Friday, May 12 at 10:00 am. All are invited to join. No preparation is necessary, just log in. The Zoom link is available here. Meeting ID: 897 7835 0821 Passcode: 152529

If you’d like to pray but have other appointments at that time, email us DiscipleshipTF@umcnic.org and request the agenda or add to the agenda. Also, pray along each week for clergy, churches, leaders, and NIC Advances by visiting the Prayer Network website.

Other Resources

#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, small groups, pastors, children, and individuals.

Rev. Jacques Conway

Lake South District Superintendent

jconway@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 783

Leola Tucker

Administrative Assistant

ltucker@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 733

Do you have news to share?

We are always looking for stories of what is happening in your church. We welcome articles from churches highlighting ministries, outreach, and missions that 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.

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