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News & Updates

May 12, 2022

** 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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Concerned about The UMC? Join us at a Town Hall Meeting to talk about it.

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ! I write to you in this season of Easter as we are continually reminded that with God anything is possible!


This is Good News as we come to terms with the rapidly shifting landscape of Christianity. I think many of us have become resigned to the knowledge that the church does not look like it did 20 years ago or even 5 years ago. It is easy to become discouraged, especially when we keep looking to our past with expectation that our future should look the same. What the scriptures tell us is that in resurrection God does not promise the old life, but something new and unexpected. Slowly, as we emerge out of COVID, I am catching glimpses of the new things that are possible.


I would like to gather you all to gather for a Town Hall Meeting. I will spend some time talking about the changes that I see and offer some suggestions for where we can go from here. We will also have a time of questions. This definitely won’t be a time to wave a magic wand and make everything better, but rather an opportunity to begin charting a new course. I hope you can join me for this open meeting on Monday, May 23 at 6:30 pm.


Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86336625908?pwd=YU5QUVBqVmRyNzFoUkR4YllEaWRxdz09


Dial in: 312 626 6799

Meeting ID: 863 3662 5908

Passcode: 103787


Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Brittany Isaac

Lake North District Superintendent

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No cost to attend but please register here. For resources, click here.

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Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration

May 22


Heritage Sunday

May 22


Clergy Ministry Review Due

May 24


United Voices for Children Sunday

May 29


2022 NIC Annual Conference Registration Closes

**NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION**

May 29


2022 AC Pre-Conference Briefings

June 1 & 2


Pentecost

June 5


2022 Annual Conference

(See Full Schedule)

June 8-10


Peace with Justice Sunday

June 12  


Junteenth

June 19


Father's Day

June 19

2022 Bishop's Appeal for Ukraine Assistance

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The 2022 Northern Illinois Annual Conference Bishop's Appeal special offering will go toward Ukraine assistance. While immediate needs are great, we know the people of Ukraine will need assistance in the long term. For more details on fundraiser ideas and bringing your collective offering to Annual Conference, visit umcnic.org/Bishopsappeal2022.

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T-Shirt Sales

There's still time to buy a shirt or place a bulk order to help raise money for this year's Bishop's Appeal and support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.


Click here to order.

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. 

Annual Conference Needs Your Help

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AC Ushers Needed

As we gather in-person this June 8-10 for Annual Conference, ushers will once again be needed to help the event run smoothly. During the daily proceedings ushers often help with distribution of materials. Ushers are also needed to distribute worship programs at the Memorial Service (Wed. 6/8 1:30 pm), Retirement Service (Thurs. 6/9, 8:45 am), and Ordination (Friday, 6/10 1:30 pm). Ushers do not need to be present the entire day, shifts can be arranged. If you are able to volunteer some time, please contact Laura Lopez, LLopez@umcnic.org.


Last call for notification of Lay Members no longer with us for the Memorial Service

The Memorial Service Committee needs your help in collecting names and photos of AC lay members who have passed since July 2021. Lay members can be current or former representatives. Submission can be sent to communications@umcnic.org.


AC Mission Challenge

The NIC Board of Global Ministries is coordinating with the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) to organize its fill-the-truck collection drive for the most needed items at this time. The truck will be parked at the Schaumburg Convention Center on June 8 and 9 to take in your donations. Click here for items needed. Download flyer.

Annual Conference Registration
Annual Conference Updates
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Mission Links Highlight - UMCOR collaborating to relieve the suffering of Ukrainians

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the Arlene Campbell Foundation – a Texas-based humanitarian organization focused on Ukraine – and Ohio Health are collaborating to send 47,895 pounds of medical supplies and equipment worth $935,000.00 to three hospitals in Kyiv, Ukraine. AEC Parcel Services is handling transport of the supplies, which are being sent in three shipments.


The effort was put together by the Arlene Campbell Humanitarian Foundation, headquartered in North Zulch, Texas, which has links to health facilities in Ukraine. UMCOR is paying specific costs, including transportation, of approximately $160,000. Ohio Health, a not-for-profit, charitable, health care ministry of The United Methodist Church, donated the supplies through a medical surplus program. UMCOR put the foundation in touch with Ohio Health and coordinated with the United Nation’s Logistics Cluster to move the supplies into Ukraine from Poland through AEC Parcel, a private shipping company. Read more.

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Through the Mission Links giving, United Methodist congregations support the running of UMCOR. To support UMCOR’s continued efforts to offer immediate relief and long-term recovery for the war in Ukraine, make a gift to Advance #982450.

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Deerfield: Christ UMC Fair Trade Gift Boutique

Deerfield: Christ UMC is hosting a Fair Trade Boutique in cooperation with the Chicago Fair Trade event in celebration of World Fair Trade Day, Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 11am to 4 pm. 600 Deerfield Road Deerfield, Ill.


CUMC will be hosting several fair-trade vendors in our coffee lounge, with an array of products to sell including jewelry, candles, handbags and honey-infused skin lotions and creams! Click here for more info and the Facebook Event Page.

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Heritage Sunday, May 22

Heritage Sunday, (Aldersgate Day) calls the Church to remember the past by committing itself to the continuing call of God. This year's theme is “Splits, Separations, and Reconciliations.” From now through the remainder of the year, the General Commission on Archives and History (GCAH) will be producing and releasing a number of resources to help the denomination better understand the multifaceted and multi-faced history of the Methodist movement in a global context. Click to read more.

Clergy Ministry Review due date is May 24

Each year, it is helpful to church leadership and their clergy/pastors to take time to reflect on their goals and life together in the past year. The evaluation tool seeks to foster opportunities for dialogue, support, and accountability in order to enable growth and ministry for the congregational and pastoral team. It is available on the NIC website on the Clergy Life Forms Page under the heading, CLERGY MINISTRY REVIEW. Like last year, the Clergy Profile information questions are included to help keep the Conference database current and are on the clergy/pastor’s EM360 online form for simplicity. The deadline to complete the evaluation and update the Clergy Profile Sheet is May 24, 2022.

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Global Ministries Features Northern Illinois Conference Elder

Rev. Jin Kim, an elder in the Northern Illinois Conference, will be featured in the General Board of Global Ministries #StillInMission Episode 43. on on June 2 at 11 am CST. Register here. Rev. Jin Kim serves as the Coordinator of Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace with the World Council of Churches in Switzerland.Register here. You will have the opportunity to meet in a small group to hear a presentation from each missionary during the call. Registration is limited.

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The Northern Illinois Conference is offering 6 training options to help meet our goal of ensuring safe spaces in our churches.

The trainings are being offered both on-line via zoom and in-person.

The dates offered are:

  • Thursday, June 23 - 6:30 pm - Plainfield UMC
  • Wednesday, June 29 - 6:30 pm - Plainfield UMC
  • Saturday, July 16 - 1:00 pm - Des Plaines: First UMC
  • Saturday, July 30 - 10:00 am - Rockford: Christ UMC
  • Saturday, August 6 - 10:00 am - Rockford: Christ UMC
  • Saturday, August 10 - 1:00 pm - Des Plaines: First UMC

Find more information and register here.

**This free training is an alternate for those who cannot participate in other training options and does not include a background check.


Also, we have redone our NIC Safe Sanctuaries Website. Check out the site for videos, policies, FAQ, downloads and more resources. umcnic.org/safesanctuaries

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Speaker Series: Race, America, and the Church

The Northern Illinois Conference, in partnership with the Indiana Conference and other groups, is pleased to announce a 2022 Speaker Series.


The second event will be held June 23.


Unafraid: Stand up for Social Justice

Thursday, June 23, 2022, 12:00 -1:30 PM

via Zoom

Speakers: Rev. Derrek Belase, Rev. David Lagos-Fonseca, Rev. Dana Neuhasuer, Rev. Brian Tillman, & Rev. Kathy L. Williams Moderator: Rev. Pamela Pirtle

Representatives from different conferences discuss what the local church and their conferences are doing to address racism.

Register and Learn More

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Clergy Retreat Directory Created

As clergy navigate their ministry year, may they find comfort knowing that there are "sacred places apart" prepared for them. United Methodist camps and retreat centers across the country have created the Clergy Retreat Directory, as they continually strive to provide intentional, sacred spaces where the faithful can find rest and rejuvenation. The directory is a list of UM sites across the connection that offer free or reduced cost retreat space for United Methodist clergy. Check out the resource here.

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Resources for the Local Church


Rev. Brittany Isaac

Lake North District Superintendent

bisaac@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 785


Debra Rogers

Administrative Assistant

drogers@umcnic.org

630-465-2941

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