** Note ** You are receiving the district eNews because your name is in our Lay Leadership Database as a leader in your local church. If you are no longer interested in receiving the District eNews, please click the Update Profile link at the bottom of the email. (Clicking UnSubscribe means you will not receive ANY emails from the conference including apportionment announcements, sympathy notices and weekly eNews) | |
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Things to Note:
- All phone extensions and email addresses will stay the same
- Apportionment & Health Insurance/Pension Checks will still be sent to the same address: Northern Illinois Conference, PO Box 5646, Carol Stream, IL 60197-5646
- Property Insurance Checks will be sent to a new address: PO Box 8246, Carol Stream IL 60197-8246
- United Methodist Foundation of the Northern Illinois Conference has a new address: 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250, Chicago, IL 60606
Any questions? View the announcement online here or contact David Quinn at dquinn@umcnic.org
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Mission Links Highlight - Accessibility Sunday - Nov 6
Special Sundays are a way for your church to join with other congregations across our connection to recognize specific kinds of ministries. They may involve receiving an offering, having a “minute for mission” about the day, or recognizing a ministry in your specific context.
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Does your congregation welcome individuals with disabilities? Are they involved in worship and other aspects of church life? Do they serve as greeters, ushers, liturgists, musicians and church committee members? Accessibility Sunday (NIC Fund #782),also known as Disability Awareness Sunday, calls United Methodists to celebrate the gifts and graces of people with disabilities and to include them fully in the congregation and the community. The Northern Illinois Conference as designated the First Sunday in November as the day we recognize this Special Sunday (November 6 this year). Donations to the Accessibility Sunday Fund (#782) supports the award of accessibility grants to local churches.
The Disability Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church has resources for worship available here.
NIC Accessibility Committee
Are you working to make your church more accessible to everyone? An inquiry form can be found here. There are grants that will become available. To stay up to date with the committee's work, follow their Facebook page here.
They are also working to grow our committee and would love any volunteers who are passionate about inclusive ministry. Please contact Violet Johnicker if you are interested. violetjohnicker@gmail.com / 847-651-4857.
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November Reporter Available Online
In one of his final columns, Bishop John L. Hopkins, who will return to retirement at the end of 2022, talks about "running the race, passing the baton," and his experience as the interim bishop for the Northern Illinois Conference these past two years.
Also, read how one suburban church is welcoming migrants who are being bused from Texas to Chicago.
November is Native American Heritage Month. Hear Rev. Glenn "Chebon" Kernell's story and witness as a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.
Plus, find out how United Methodists are responding in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Florida and much more... Read the November Reporter here
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HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE | |
Becoming the Beloved Community is a 4-hour workshop that conveys not only facts and essential knowledge about race and racism but also seeks to help us experience some of the harm and hurt racial prejudice has caused.
November 12, 2022
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Hinsdale UMC
945 S Garfield Ave, Hinsdale, IL
Cost $20
Learn More and Register for this event here.
Learn More about future events or how to host a workshop at your own church here.
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The Discipleship Task Force is delighted to announce the NIC’s second Tending to the Harvest fall conference-wide worship service based on Matthew 9:37, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.’”
Nov. 13 at 4 pm at Journey of Hope UMC, 37W040 Highland Ave., Elgin, IL.
Guest preacher: Rev. Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
The service will also be livestreamed.
Click here for more information and registration.
| The Discipleship Task Force is excited about the Fall NIC Book Club selection, Soul Reset by the late Junius Dotson! Rev Dotson spoke at one of our Laity Convocations and also led the Bible Study for our Annual Conference. Here Junius Dotson tells his story, and here is how this study works for congregations. Click here for details and to sign up today! | |
Join us at the Albany UMC (at 502 First Ave in Albany, IL) for the Town & Rural Festival on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 9 am - 12 noon with lunch included. Keagy and PACK grant recipients will present their ministries. All are welcome to attend.
More information and registration here.
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Saturday, December 3, 2022
The Center UMC
400 N Walnut Street, Itasca, Illinois 60143
Speaker: Dirk Elliott
Cost: $20
Register Online Here
Churches come in all forms of health: some are healthy and growing, others are maintaining the status quo, and some are declining. But they all have one thing in common – they want to be fruitful and healthy. One way this can happen is through partnerships or mergers. Attending the Vital Partnerships workshop will help you explore new ways your church might become healthier through a merger.
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October is Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month. It is a time to say “thank you” to the people who may be most visible as preachers and teachers, but who, in reality, are on-call 24/7 standing with congregants and others to offer spiritual and other support. Click here to find some ways for your congregation to show their appreciation. | |
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United Women in Faith Northern Illinois Conference Graduate Scholarship
Applications are open for this scholarship for a woman pursuing a related vocation within the church, whether it is in parish ministry, as a deaconess, in Christian Education, or in a related field. The applicant must be accepted by an accredited Graduate School and must reside within the Northern Illinois Conference. The deadline is Nov. 1. For more requirements and to apply, click here.
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2022 NIC Journal Available
The Journal of the 183rd Northern Illinois Annual Conference held June 8 - 10, 2022, is now published. A free downloadable pdf is available on the conference website at umcnic.org/journal. It is also available to purchase online through Amazon. The cost of the paperback is $14.
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Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the unique challenges Native people face, and share the ways in which tribal citizens conquer those challenges. Find worship resources here and here. | |
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Don’t miss discounted Advent resources!
Invite your community to worship with you this Advent with the help of customizable outreach resources. Choose from banners, signs, postcards, invitation cards, posters and more. All are available in a wide variety of designs, languages and messaging. Get up to $250 off these resources by using code UMCA22. This code is available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted, so don’t delay! (Free social media graphics always available)
Resources in English Resources in Spanish
Looking for a new study for your small group, congregation or family this Advent? Cokesbury, the retail arm of the United Methodist Publishing House, has put together an interactive comparison chart of its Advent studies so Christians can find the study that best fits their need. Learn more.
The Society of St. Andrew has also created an advent devotional for free. Find out more here.
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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.
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NIC Program Ministry Grants Now Open
Applications are being accepted for the NIC's three ministry grants, Social Reform, Congregational Development, and Creative Ministries. The deadline to apply is Nov. 14. To learn more about each grant and for an online application, click here.
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Resource Links
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Pastor Appreciation Month (October) - Ideas and starters for appreciating your pastor.
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United Voices for Children Sunday (October 30) - Information and videos to share with your congregation.
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Native American Heritage Month (November) - Prayers and worship resources.
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All Saints Day (November 1) - Prayers and liturgy resources
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Advent Resources (starts November 27) - Candle Lighting, Graphics, and more coming.
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#BeUMC Resources -Tool Kits, Social Media Kits, Graphics, and more.
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Social Media Shareables - Free graphics for social media for different events, months and ministries. (Through Outreach, log in is needed but resources are free)
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UMC Giving Resources - Mission Moments, Special Sunday Info, Leader Kits, Pew Cards and more.
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United Media Resource Center - Lending library of Christian materials for local churches - for small groups, pastors, children and individuals.
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Copyright © 2022 Northern Illinois Conference | |
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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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