News & Updates

July 13, 2023

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Dear Friends,

Grace and peace be with you all!

I write this letter with a sense of deep humility and excitement as I take on this new role as your district superintendent. I’m humbled by the trust that Bishop Schwerin has placed in me. I’m grateful to follow Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Meyer’s wonderful leadership. It is truly an honor to serve alongside you in ministry.

I’m a fourth-generation Methodist on my father’s side. I grew up learning about Jesus’ love, first from our family worship services and then in the local churches. My ministry has been anchored in the passion for sharing God’s love. I pray that God will use my experiences in pastoral ministry, theological education, and missional engagements to serve you with love and dedication.

It was great meeting some of you during the annual conference. I eagerly look forward to visiting all the churches in our district and getting to know you personally. Together, we will seek God’s guidance in our journey of faith and ministry. Our shared commitment to mission and outreach will enable us to impact the lives of those in our community and beyond. I’m eager to build relationships with each of you, listen and learn from your experiences, and support and encourage you in your ministry.

I will begin clergy summer interviews this month. I look forward to spending time with each of our pastors. If you are a clergy and haven’t done it yet, please let me know more about you by filling out this form here.

I’m filled with gratitude for the warm welcome I have already received, and I’m eager to begin our journey together.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Dr. Hwa-Young Chong

Prairie North District Superintendent

Lastest Reporter full of Annual Conference updates

The July/August Reporter is now available online and heading to the post office for delivery.

Annual Conference updates are the highlight of the issue. Read and catch up on all you may have missed. Also, in this issue, read about how seven lay and three clergy Pilgrims see migrants' lives up close. Check out the issue online and read the news stories here.

Raise your voice for Children with UVC

For more than 30 years, United Voices for Children (UVC) has helped congregations serve Northern Illinois' most vulnerable populations through partnerships with Kids Above All, MYSI and Rosecrance. Through our collaborative giving effort, United Methodist congregations of all sizes have made a real difference in the lives of at-risk children, youth, and families.

Watch and share this video to help support children!

Celebrate United Voices for Children Sunday on July 30

Be a part of this important work by supporting UVC's Fifth Sunday Appeal on Sunday, July 30, a part of the Mission Links program. Click here for resources for the local church to inform your congregation and community. Click here to donate.

Apportionments Highlight - Discipleship Ministries

One of 13 international agencies of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries helps local church, district, and conference leaders fulfill the shared dream of making world-changing disciples. We support Discipleship Ministries through giving to the World Service Fund through apportionments.

Discipleship Ministries—based in Nashville, Tennessee—connects leaders with needed resourcing, training, consulting, and networking that support spiritual formation, new church development, revitalization of local churches, and materials for use.

Discipleship Ministries opportunities:

Find-A-Church Website - Church leaders and staff will love the brand-new Find-a-Church 2.0. It includes a new page design, driving directions via Google Maps, updated icons for key church features, revamped fully searchable items and the ability to upload videos directly from YouTube! It is one of the most visited sections of UMC.org, averaging more than 1,000 page views a day and helps you to connect with busy people in your community. Learn how to update your profile here.
Prayer Partner Project - Launching Fall 2023 - Do you pray? Do you want to grow as a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you want to have someone you can trust and with whom you can share? If you answered "yes," sign up for the Pilot Prayer Partner Project. Click here for more information.
Free and low-cost Resources - Discipleship Ministries has long provided resources in the many areas.
eLearning courses for clergy and laity - They provided a wealth of learning opportunities for all areas of discipleship. Check out a full list of online course offerings, including some that offer Continuing Education Units. Click here to learn more.
Worship Planning - There is a large selection of worship planning and preaching resources. Topics include lectionary preaching, sermon series, Special Sundays, music, seasonal information, and more. Access the resources here.
Equipping Leaders - Discipleship Ministries’ staff produces written and audiovisual resources to support the work of people and congregations. Visit the Equipping Leaders section of the website.
Prayer Practices for Disciples: Creating a Life with God provides some exercises to soothe the soul and others to challenge or even unsettle your spirit. But each will draw you closer to a loving God who longs to be in relationship with you. Download and enjoy this FREE resource.

NIC Discipleship Taskforce news and opportunities:

Fall NIC Book Club Registration Open Register now for this fall's groups that will be reading and discussing Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way, by retired UMC Bishop Kenneth L. Carder. Starting in September, groups will meet throughout the conference, via Zoom, in person, and hybrid for five to six weeks. Learn more, find a listing of group options, and register here.
What is your DNA? Disciple Nurturing Attitude is a new initiative that will provide opportunities for small group learning, engagement, prayer, and Biblical insight around your mental, physical, and nutritional health. If you are interested in volunteering on the planning team, please email Amania Drane at adrane@umcnic.org.
Prayer Network - Join the NIC Discipleship Taskforce in Prayer on the Prayer Network page. This guide unites conference members in praying for churches, pastors, district, and conference leadership, and Advance ministries. and provides a devotional for the month. Learn more here.
Discipleship Task Force is looking for a few good volunteers! We have leadership roles in a few areas of ministry for either laity or clergy: The NIC Prayer Network, NIC Prayer Team, and DNA. Please send an email to Rev Caleb Hong (pastorcalebhong@gmail.com) if interested.

HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

We need your photos!

We are looking to highlight Mission Trips and VBS Programs in the NIC district eNews later this summer. We need your photos! Please send any photos and short descriptions to lsmith@umcnic.org.

AAPI Clergywomen: Gathering Oct. 16-18

The Asian American and Pacific Islander Clergywomen Association will gather for its biennial conference Oct. 16-18 in Chicago under the theme “Rest and Renewal.” Scholarships for accommodation and travel are available. Learn more and register here by Sept 1. Questions? contact Alka Lyall or Ayla Samson.

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

Many Grant Options Available for Local Churches

Church and Society Grants The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is accepting applications for the 2023 grant funding cycle.The agency awards grants to United Methodist congregations and groups related to The United Methodist Church through the Ethnic Local Church, Human Relations Day, and Peace with Justice programs. Awards range from $2,000 to $5,000. Completed applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. Central Time on July 24. Read more.
Renewable Energy Grants for UWFaith Groups United Women in Faith groups can apply for grants to help local organizing campaigns advance just energy for all. Funding is available for work happening at the circle, unit, district, conference, and jurisdiction level. Collaborative projects with other organizations or groups are encouraged. Awards range from $100 to $3,000. First-round applications are reviewed July 24 and the second deadline is based on available funding. Read more.
North Central Jurisdiction Mission Grants The North Central Jurisdiction Mission Council is now accepting applications for mission grants. Requests should describe how this grant will benefit a ministry for the entire jurisdiction and how you intend to communicate this connection. Applications are due Sept. 1. Read more.
Midwest Methodist Foundation Creative Ministry Grants The foundation annually offers funding of $500 to $2,000 to churches and church-related organizations for new or expanded creative ministries. (A church-related organization is any organization within our conference area that partners with a local UM church and/or members of a UM congregation in our conference.) Applications are due Sept.15. Read more.
Grants Available to Help Strengthen the Ethnic Local Church Discipleship Ministries is pleased to offer the Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns (RELCC) Grant, which provides funding to support the ethnic local church through leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship, and spiritual formation as it engages in developing disciple-making systems inside the church walls and in the community. Applications are due Sept. 30. Read more.

Foundation Has a New Name: Midwest Methodist

The United Methodist Foundation of the Northern Illinois Conference is now the Midwest Methodist Foundation. The Foundation serves an increasingly diverse group of clients, and the new name recognizes the broader reach of the foundation since its inception in 1949. It’s still offering the same services. And it continues as a member of the National Association of United Methodist Foundations (NAUMF).

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.

Like Us on Facebook: Prairie North District

Rev. Hwa-Young Chong

Prairie North District Superintendent

hychong@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 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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