News & Updates

September 8, 2022

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MINISTRY CELEBRATIONS

Aldersgate UMC in Rockford hosts annual Corn Boil

The Aldersgate UMC Corn Boil returned on August 14th. For over 60 years this neighborhood tradition has been a staple in northwest Rockford, and it remains “Your Grandfather’s Corn Boil.” Four-hundred-dozen ears of corn were shucked and cleaned by Aldersgate UMC families spanning four generations for this year’s event. The corn is then boiled in large (and very heavy) cast iron pots that have been diligently maintained for over half a century.

Over the years, thousands have come to the Aldersgate grounds for all-you-can-eat corn dipped in hot, melted butter. Once seated, those thousands don’t have to get up as Aldersgate “Corn Kids” bring fresh ears of corn right to their plates. Okay, some people do have to get up for an extra napkin or two!

Proceeds from the Corn Boil over the years have gone to global, national and local missions. Proceeds have also gone to various church renovation and expansion projects.

We have been blessed to be able to provide this ministry to the Rockford community for all these years.

Watch the WIFR News Video here.

Faith UMC in Freeport started off the school year with their annual neighborhood Block party. A Hot Dog dinner was served to all who attended. There was fellowship, crafts, bouncy houses, popcorn, and snowcones for all. Free books, haircuts, and clothes were given to anyone in need.

Hooray! The produce from “The Learning Garden” is bountiful! Grace UMC in Rockford, in co-operation with the Rockford Public Schools, met weekly with children from The Grove at Keith Creek, a public housing development, to grow vegetables. In addition, a local chef taught the kids how to cook (and eat) the vegetables they helped grow. Love and blessings were plentiful for all who participated.

We would love to hear your stories and see your photos. Share with us by sending information and photos to LSmith@UMCNIC.org.

Help needed to welcome incoming Immigrants

Welcome the Stranger/Foreigner/Alien -- this is a theme throughout the Bible. We have an opportunity to do that for immigrant families and individuals who have recently arrived in the Chicago area on buses from Texas. Volunteers and donations are needed immediately.

Join us for an urgent Zoom meeting on Friday (9/9) at 12:00 Noon to get more information about this pressing need. (link here)

Meeting ID: 842 3931 7497

Passcode: 307759

Contact Pastor Jonathan Crail (jcrail@firstumc.net) with any questions.

Fall Annual Meeting of the United Women in Faith Prairie North District

Saturday, Sept 17, 2022

9:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Pecatonica UMC

Download the Flyer and Registration for more information.

Fresh Expressions makes space for leaders and pastors to use both traditional services as well as innovative forms of church to live out Christ’s mission. One does not replace the other, but rather creates a mutual benefit for both—a “mixed economy of church.”

Prairie North Event

Monday, September 19 - 9:00 am to Noon

Freeport: Harmony, 2600 W Pearl City Road, Freeport

Other Events

Sunday Worship Experience with Rev. Dr Beck - Sunday, September 18 at 9:30 am at Schaumburg: Our Saviour's, 701 E. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg, Ill. (847) 352-8181
Teaching Option - Sunday, September 18 at 2:00 - 5:00 pm at Schaumburg: Our Saviour's, 701 E. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg
Prairie South Teaching Option - Monday, September 19 - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Dixon: First, 202 S. Peoria Ave, Dixon
Lake South Teaching Option - Tuesday, September 20 - 9:00 am to Noon - Oak Lawn: First, 10000 Central Avenue, Oak Lawn
Prairie Central Teaching Option - Tuesday, September 20 - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Naperville: Grace, 300 E. Gartner Road, Naperville
Lake North Teaching Option - Wednesday, September 21 - 9:00 am to Noon - Park Ridge: First, 418 Touhy Ave, Park Ridge

at First UMC Freeport 503 N Lily Creek Road, Freeport Ill

Registration is $25.00

Box lunch (Saturday only), snacks, water and coffee will be provided

Books may be purchased at your favorite bookseller. More information here.

Rockford District Clergy Zoom Sept 21.png

Apportionment Highlight - Pastor leads by example with Apportionment Challenge

After attending Annual Conference, Pastor Hyo Sun Oh at Roselle UMC prayed and prayed and focused on how to resolve a budget deficit. The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA) presented how Apportionments are distributed to fund the ministry and mission of the Northern Illinois Conference and the General Church.They used pie charts to show how the seven funds are allocated. The presentation sounded like God talking to her, showing the answer to my prayers. She returned home ready to share the information and has been seeing great results.

Learn more about her process and story 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 the third event in the 2022 Speaker Series.

4-Hour Healing Workshop

Sat, Oct 8, 2022

9:00am - 1:00pm

St. Mark UMC, 8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL

The content of this 4-hour workshop is for people of Black African heritage and will:

Define racial trauma.
Discuss the significant impact that racial trauma has historically had and continues to have within the Black community including the UMC.
Discuss coping strategies that have been used within the Black community for healing our trauma.

Cost: $25 (includes lunch) Space is limited.

Registration and more info here.

at First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York Street Elmhurst, IL

Lecture is FREE. A catered dinner will be available for $12 with advance registration.

More information and tickets here.

World Communion Sunday is Oct. 2

Need downloadable resources to get your congregation ready for World Communion Sunday? Look no further! UMC Giving has assembled a collection of resources that you can download to promote this Special Sunday to your members before Sunday, Oct. 2.

Grant Applications Due

Applications are being accepted for three grant programs operated by United Methodist Church and Society. The deadline is Sept. 16 to apply for Ethnic Local Church, Human Relations Day and Peace with Justice grants, which range from $2,000 to $5,000.

Click here for more information.

The UM Foundation’s grants program annually offers funding of $500 – $2,000 to local churches and church-related organizations as they develop new or expanded creative ministries. Grant applications are due Sept. 15.

Click here for more information.

Church Conference Forms Available Online

2022 Church Conference materials, including the agenda, are available online at umcnic.org/churchconference. Please encourage your church leadership to begin working on gathering the information as soon as possible. The forms are designed for online submission and will look very similar to last year’s.

New devotion and prayer focus posted for September

Resources for the Local Church

Pastor Appreciation Month (October) - Ideas and starters for appreciating your pastor.
World Communion Sunday (October 2) - Worship resources, social media resources, communications and more.
United Voices for Children Sunday (October 30) - Information and videos to share with your congregation.
#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.

Like Us on Facebook: Prairie North District

Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer

Prairie North District Superintendent

fgrandon-mayer@umcnic.org

312 346 9766 Ext. 781

Debra Rogers

Administrative Assistant

drogers@umcnic.org

630-465-2941

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.

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