Seeking Referrals for Contract Bookkeeper/Accountant
The Illinois Conference is beginning our search for a new bookkeeper/accountant. This is a part-time contract position with preference for Chicagoland based candidates and firms. Proficiency with ACS Financials is a must, along with full accounting experience. Familiarity with ADP Payroll and Realm is preferred but not required. Candidates do not need to be a CPA but must be comfortable with learning new software/programs. Any interested parties should contact Rev. Molly Carlson at mollycarlson@ilucc.org. We also welcome referrals to qualified and interested individuals or firms. |
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Conference Center Dedication
Pilgrim Park Camp
You are cordially invited to the dedication of the Frantzen Conference Center on Saturday, September 10th at 11:00 a.m. at Pilgrim Park Camp & Conference Center, located at 26449 1340 N Ave, Princeton, IL 61356. A casual luncheon will be served following the ceremony along with a chance to tour the beautiful grounds of Pilgrim Park. For us to plan accordingly for the luncheon, please RSVP by email (PilgrimParkCamp@ilucc.org) or phone (815-447-2390) no later than September 1st. Please make sure to mention if there are any dietary issues we should be aware of.
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2023 UCC Health/Benefit Plan Rate Changes
Pension Boards
The following premium rates will be effective January 1, 2023.
- UCC Non-Medicare Plan: 8.5% Increase (no change to co-pays and deductibles)
- UCC Pharmacy Plan: No change to co-pays
- UCC Medicare Advantage Plan: 5% Increase
- UCC Dental Plan: 4% Increase
- UCC Vision Plan: 10% Increase
- UCC Life and Disability Plan: No change
Churches/employers and individual plan participants will receive detailed information with applicable rates and enhancements for 2023. Contact the Director of Health Plan Operations, Frank Loiacono, with any questions at floiacono@pbucc.org or by phone at 212-729-2806.
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For nearly 100 years, our camps have helped to create spiritually uplifting experiences for countless people of every age. Call Tower Hill (269-426-3881) or Pilgrim Park (815-447-2390) today to schedule a time for you, your family, or your church to discover this transformative experience firsthand.
If you have the ability, please consider a donation to our General Fund to help keep our doors open for many seasons to come!
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Tower Hill Camp
September 23-25
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Pilgrim Park Camp
Sept 30 - Oct 1
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Tower Hill Camp
October 7-9
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Events and Training Opportunities |
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Active Shooter Preparedness Webinars
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
The Department of Homeland Security's CISA is hosting a 2-hr security webinar that is open to the public free of charge. If interested, please reference this registration form which includes several dates the webinar is available.
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Safety Solutions for Your Ministry
Thursday, September 15, 12-4 PM CST
UCC Insurance Board
This workshop is being offered at The City Club in Cleveland, but may also be viewed via live stream. A link will be provided upon registration. Click here to download the flyer, which includes the registration link. The speakers and presentations include:
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Patrick Shaw (CISA, SPSA Central Ohio District) - Active Shooter Awareness and Response
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Heather Kimmel (UCC General Counsel) - Trending Business Concerns for Ministries: What Churches Need to Know
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Christy Schiller (Praesidium VP of Consulting) - Abuse Prevention: Claims Lessons Learned
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Andrea Gauding, CPA (Insurance Board SVP & CFO) - Financial Controls and Considerations in a Virtual World
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Church Lighting 101
Tuesday, September 27, 6:00 PM CST
Practical Resources for Churches
In an era of declining membership and ever increasing electric bills, taking a look at your church building's lighting can save you some valuable money. For the average customer, lighting typically comprises 20 to 30% of the bill. However, in churches it can be as high as 50%. So there are some major opportunities to make improvements and reduce cost. Steve Jones has been relamping churches for over 20 years, and has a background in electrical engineering, safety, and lighting. He will be discussing how to identify inefficient lighting and how you can make changes yourself, or with a little bit of help, to reduce your costs and make your spaces more welcoming. Steve will be providing this information via free webinar on September 27 at 6:00 p.m. CST. Click here to register.
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Upcoming Boundary Training
Thursday, October 20, 9 AM-3 PM
The final Boundary Training offering from the Illinois Conference this year will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022 during Annual Celebration via Zoom. Registration is required. After you register, you will receive an email directly from Zoom with the information on how to join. You must be present for the full duration of the training in order to receive credit. This training will fulfill the requirements in all five Associations of the Illinois Conference and will be based on the Ordained Ministers Code. Registration is open to both active and retired ministers. Call the Conference office at 708-344-4470 with questions. Click here to register.
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Ordinations, Installations, Ecclesiastical Councils & More |
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Events in the Illinois Conference & Beyond |
Aug 27: CANCELLED - Clergy Boundary Awareness Training.
Sept 5: Labor Day. Conference office CLOSED.
Sept 14-15: Conference office CLOSED for Support Staff training.
Oct 11: Out & Faithful. A National Coming Out Day event. 7:00 p.m. at Elmhurst University. SAVE THE DATE!
Oct 19-22: Illinois Conference Annual Celebration. Registration will open in early September.
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Conference and Association Committee Meetings |
Sept 1: Prairie Committee on Ministry. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Sept 8: FVA Committee on Ministry. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Sept 8: CMA Church & Ministry. 12:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Sept 10: Outdoor Ministries Committee Meeting. 9:00 a.m. at Pilgrim Park.
Sept 13: Property Committee Meeting. 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Sept 19: CMA Council Meeting. 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Sept 20: FAB Committee Meeting. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Sept 20: Western Committee on Ministry. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Sept 24: Conference Council Meeting. 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Sept 26: Eastern Council Meeting. 6:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Sept 26: CMA Justice & Witness. 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Sept 28: Eastern Committee on Ministry. 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
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White Privilege: Let's Talk
Convergence
The United Church of Christ has released their curriculum, "White Privilege: Let’s talk. A Resource for Transformational Dialogue" and we at The Center for Progressive Renewal would like to extend an invitation to you to work through the curriculum on our online learning platform. We’ve developed an online course that includes an online discussion board and access to our webinar series from June 2016 that featured the authors of the curriculum, John Dorhauer, Traci Blackmon, DaVita McAllister, Stephen G. Ray, Jr. and John Paddock in conversation with CPR Founder and Director, Cameron Trimble. Click here to learn more and enroll.
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Stewardship as a Spiritual Practice
Convergence, Rev. Dr. Anna Hall
The 2022 Giving in Faith Report by Givelify found that giving was motivated strongly by religious conviction, the worship experience, and a desire to give back to their church. One distinction among Christians when compared to other Americans, Barna found, is their view of generosity as a response to Christ's love. In the end, giving in congregations is deeply rooted in personal and spiritual development. When you think about stewardship and inviting people to support your congregation's mission, have you also been thinking about how you can help them grow personally and spiritually? What creative approaches might shift the conversation in your congregation?
Some resources that might be helpful:
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A few years back, the book Free: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most, by Mark and Lisa Scandrette, changed the way my family looks at money.
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To go deeper into the theology of money, options include the book and video series called Materiality as Resistance, by Walter Brueggemann; and Divine Currency, by Devin Singh; as well as this reading list by Benjamin M. Friedman.
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To explore monetary policy from a liberation theology perspective, listen to this interview with Rev. Dr. Delman Coates and check out his organization, Our Money, which seeks to help people think about the public role and civil rights aspects of money and monetary theory.
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For a small group curriculum, take a look at Lazarus at the Gate, by Boston Faith and Justice Network; and Saving Grace, from Cokesbury.
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If you'd like to show some videos in your congregation and discuss them together, we had great conversations with a diverse slate of thought leaders at our Convergence Courageous Economy Summit last year, and you can still purchase access to that content.
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Advocate Aurora Health Care
Safely Reopening Our Doors Toolkit
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Recently Added Lay Employment Opportunities:
For more lay employment opportunity postings, click here.
Please let us know if you have a job opening you would like to share,
and also update us once the position is filled. Contact Sarah Lohrbach.
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Church Newsletter Request |
Please send us your newsletters so we can keep up with what's going on in your church.
Address for printed newsletters: Illinois Conference UCC, 1840 Westchester Blvd., Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154. Electronic newsletters: Please add Sarah Lohrbach at SarahLohrbach@ilucc.org to your church’s mailing list.
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THE ILLINOIS CONFERENCE UCC E-NEWSLETTER is published by the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1840 Westchester Blvd., Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154. The Rev. Molly Carlson, Conference Minister; Sarah Lohrbach, Editor. Copy may be sent to: SarahLohrbach@ilucc.org.
This communication is made possible by your contributions to
Our Church's Wider Mission
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Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ | (708) 344-4470
1840 Westchester Blvd., Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154
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