** 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 appointment announcements, sympathy notices and weekly eNews) | |
|
Laity Convocation 2024
Join the Board of Laity in Learning to Have Courageous and Respectful Conversations.
Saturday, February 10
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
lunch options available
Belvidere: First UMC
610 Bonus Ave, Belvidere
Cost:
- $15 per person
- $25 per person, with boxed lunch
-
Walk-ins welcome, but registration preferred. (Lunches are being pre-ordered based on registration. Walk-ins are encouraged to bring a lunch and stay to enjoy longer conversations.)
Come listen to the speakers and join in the breakout groups as we learn how to be in conversation with others.
Click here to learn more and register.
| |
|
Thursday, February 8
Freeport: Faith UMC*
(1440 Walnut, Freeport, IL)
*Note location change
Please join Bishop Dan Schwerin for a day of reflection and conversation on your district.
- Clergy will gather for fellowship at 9:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 10 a.m. and concluding with lunch. (Registration needed.)
- Laity will gather for an evening conversation from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (Registration is not needed.)
You are encouraged to join in the gathering for our district, but should the one planned for our district not work for you, any gathering can be attended.
Find all the details here.
| |
|
Sunday, June 16 - Tuesday, June 18
Special Observances and Sessions
More Annual Conference details here.
Lay and Clergy input needed for AC Childcare
The annual conference committee is exploring different childcare arrangements, including the possibility of offering on-site care. Those who need childcare (lay and clergy) should complete a short survey so that the committee knows parents’ preferences. Responses are due on Jan. 31. Take the survey.
Looking to serve?
The Nominations Committee is working on the slate of those interested in serving on committees. They invite lay and clergy to express their interest in serving in different administrative and programmatic committees to fill out the nominating form with your committee of interest. For more information and to fill out the Nominating Form, please click here.
| |
|
Rural Ministry Conference Invitation
Wartburg Theological Seminary is inviting United Methodists to their 43rd annual Rural Ministry Conference will be held on March 3-5 at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Dubuque, IA. The theme for this year’s conference is The Creation Groans, the Creation Waits, the Creation Hopes, the Creation Sings: Congregations Responding to Climate Change. The keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Schifferdecker from Luther Seminary. In addition, there will be several breakout sessions discussing climate change at the congregational level. Read more.
| |
HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE | |
|
It’s official: Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Conferences will start sharing a bishop on Sept. 1. The North Central Jurisdiction, meeting online in a special session on Jan. 23, passed two motions: to form a new episcopal area composed of Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Conferences and to form another composed of East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences. Read more.
| |
Sat., March 2, 2024
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hope UMC
2506 Caton Farm Road, Joliet
Read more.
| | | |
|
Find new devotionals and studies for Lent
Ash Wednesday is right around the corner. During Lent, Christians prepare to celebrate the miracle of Easter through prayer, fasting and other spiritual disciplines. Abingdon Press and The Upper Room have new Lenten studies and resources available.
Click here to learn more.
| |
|
In 2024, join the GBCS in celebrating the momentous 100-year history of the United Methodist Building and the people called Methodists. Each month, They will highlight notable days offering glimpses into the momentous 100-year history of Methodists walking along side ecumenical partners living their faith through social witness. Read more.
| |
|
It is time to update the Lay Leadership Portal
The new year often means new people serving in leadership positions at your church Please access the NIC Portal to our database to be sure that we have the correct names and contact information for your key church leaders. (Click here for a list of Leadership chairs we use.) To access the Northern Illinois Conference Lay Leadership Portal, click here. Contact David W. Quinn dquinn@umcnic.org if you need access assistance. For instructions on how to update leadership portal, click here. If you have any other questions, please contact your District Administrative Assistant, Leola Tucker ltucker@umcnic.org.
| |
|
NIC Property Insurance Certificates Available
The Lay Leadership portal serves as the source to retrieve the 2024 Certificates of Insurance. Instructions for accessing the insurance documents on the portal are available here. There are two certificates (property and liability) for each church building (church/parsonage/garage/annex/shed). Certificates are also included for leased copiers, bank loan/mortgages, daycares inclusive of an auto id card(s), if applicable. Contact Debbie Rogers drogers@umcnic.org for assistance accessing the portal. Contact Dwayne Jackson, Director of Ministry Protection & Ministry Protection djackson@umcnic.org, with questions and/or changes. Additional information on the NIC Property & Casualty Insurance program is available on the conference website under Risk Management.
| |
Statistical reports due
It’s that time of year again when each local church gathers its attendance, program, and financial records and submits its statistical report to the Conference. The NIC office uses the statistics you report to asses how your church is doing, to report to the larger denomination, and to calculate apportionments for your church. It’s very important that we have accurate, up-to-date information. 2023 statistics can be entered at stats.gcfa.org. The deadline is February 29, 2024. For resources and more information, click here. If you have questions, contact David W. Quinn at dquinn@umcnic.org. Click here to get started.
| |
|
NIC Prayer Network Monthly Zoom Meetings
The NIC Prayer Network is an entryway for joining in common prayer for the ministries of the Northern Illinois Conference. NIC Prayer Network team meets every month on the 2nd Thursday at 10:00 AM to pray for the churches, pastors and ministries of Northern Illinois. The next meeting is Thursday, February 8, at 10:00 a.m. All are invited to join. No preparation is necessary; just log in. The Zoom link is available here. Meeting ID: 813 9510 9144, Passcode: 459872. You can also call 312-626-6799.
If you’d like to pray but have other appointments at that time, email Katherine Howell at howellkvh@gmail.com and request the agenda or add to the agenda. Also, pray along each week for clergy, churches, leaders, and NIC Advances by visiting the Prayer Network website.
| |
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.
| | | |
Copyright © 2024 Northern Illinois Conference | |
|
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.
| |
Keep Up To Date With All Conference Events
in the Weekly Email!
If you would like to receive the weekly Conference eNews and other important announcements, including sympathy notices and appointment announcements, please sign up online or click the Update Profile button at the bottom of this email.
NOTE - Clicking UNSUBSCRIBE below means you will be unsubscribing from ALL Constant Contact emails from the NIC (Appointment Announcements, Sympathy Notices, etc). If you want to stop receiving one newsletter, please click "Update Profile" below.
| |
|
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!
| | | | |
