News & Updates

December 9, 2021

The NIC Board of Ordained Ministry Recruitment Team is working to highlight God’s persistent calling of all servants to lives of holiness and ministry, and some servants to the set-apart ministry of the ordained.

This year they're highlighting the season of Epiphany and offering resources that could be used in worship on January 2 or 9. Clergy are encouraged to share your own call story, reflecting on the call of Mary, Elizabeth, John the Baptist and the Magi, or the joyful response of the shepherds to the angels’ proclamation and their experience of the good news of Christmas.

If you would like to review liturgical resources (prayer, call to worship, Scripture, song), or need a video resource that could be played during live or virtual worship, please reply to srpastor@fumcbelvidere.com.

For more information, visit umcnic.org/dayofcall2022.

The Discipleship Task Force is seeking 12 people from across the conference to participate in a 4 session book discussion pilot starting in early January. The pilot group will be reading and discussing Kneeling with Giants by Gary Neal Hansen. After the pilot, there will be a conference-wide NIC Book Club reading this same book. The intention is to deepen our prayer lives and our faith journey, as well as make connections and friendships with other United Methodists around the conference in-person or via Zoom.

Visit www.umcnic.org/Discipleship/NICBookClub for more information on the book.

If you are interested in participating in the pilot, please email Amania Drane, NIC Strategic Initiatives Project Manager at adrane@umcnic.org by Wednesday, 12/22.

December/January Reporter Available

Avoid the holiday bustle, and read the December/January Reporter now online! It is in the mail but delivery may be delayed competing with all those Christmas cards and packages!

In his monthly column, Bishop John L. Hopkins brings you Christmas greetings and hopes for 2022 as he continues as NIC's Interim Bishop. Also, read more about one Chicago church that received a more than million-dollar grant to help restore its historic building. Find out more about the recent North Central Jurisdictional Special Conference held virtually Nov. 10 and 11. Plus, learn how you can get involved in a new Discipleship Task Force Book Club.

Download it now!

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2021 Conference Journal

The Journal of the 182nd Northern Illinois Annual Conference held July 16 -17 and Oct. 1 - 2 is now available to purchase online through Amazon.com.

The cost of the paperback is $14.

A free downloadable pdf is available on the conference website at umcnic.org/journal.

Are you looking to help Refugees?

The Afghan Refugee Resettlement Reimbursement program will reimburse up to $1,000 per local United Methodist church in the United States that is in a sponsorship relationship with Church World Service. Expenses eligible for reimbursement must fit the following criteria:

Pre-arrival support, such as: setting up/furnishing an apartment; providing a culturally appropriate welcome meal; welcoming a family at the airport.
Post-arrival support: assisting in English Language Learners (ELL) tutoring; providing transportation to medical appointments; assisting with grocery shopping or community navigation; mentorship.
Providing other financial support to a newly arrived Afghan family to help them adjust to life in the U.S.

Find full details, including application forms here.

Resources for the Local Church

Advent and Christmas Planning Resources - from UMC Discipleship
Human Relations Day (Sunday, January 16) - Worship resources, pew cards, social media images, children's resources, videos and more
Martin Luther King, Jr Day (Monday, January 17) - Social Media Images
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.

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Rev. Brian Gilbert

Prairie South District Superintendent

bgilbert@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 782

Leola Tucker

Administrative Assistant

ltucker@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 733

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