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Golden Cross Winners Offer Compassion to Seniors

NIC has recognized five exemplary leaders in senior services by granting them Golden Cross awards. Donations to Golden Cross Sunday offerings fund grants for deserving workers in senior-serving institutions to further their service among older adults. Chaplain Melanie Myatt, Jillian Price, Lana Pearson, Ashley Pinedo-Belmontes, and Jobert Dulay were honored. Read more.

Annual Conference 2024 Updates

Sunday, June 16 - Tuesday, June 18

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center

Volunteers Needed

We need ushers, plenary pages, legislative section leaders, greeters, secretarial pool members, and more to help annual conference session run smoothly and efficiently. Volunteer for the entire conference, one day, or even part of a day. No previous experience is necessary. Contact Bri Wadlington, Events Administrator, if you have questions. Interested? Complete this volunteer form.

Things to note:

• Registration: Voting members and guests should plan on registering on the Annual Conference website. Registration will open here on April 3. Registration includes Clergy Session or Laity Session, Pre-conference briefings and some meal options. The cost before April 29 is $115. The cost rises to $130 until May 29. There will be no on-site registration.
• Hotel rooms: The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel is holding a block of rooms for conference attendees at a special rate. The reservation deadline is May 25. Any remaining rooms will be released on May 26. Cost: $185 plus 11% tax per night. Call (888) 236-2427 (mention Northern Illinois Conference UMC) or reserve online.

Other action items:

• Submit legislation or historical documents.
• Request a video or media presentation.
• Sign up for a display table.
• Join the mass choir at Ordination & Commissioning.
• Apply for a childcare grant to defray costs of childcare arrangements.
• Submit names of passed lay members for the Memorial Service.

Mission Links Spotlight:

Native American Ministries Sunday, April 14

This Special Sunday is a denomination wide celebration designed to raise awareness and remind United Methodists of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our society. An offering is taken on this Special Sunday to support vital ministries and churches in the Native American communities. The offering allows The United Methodist Church to partner with existing native ministries to develop new programs on behalf of Native Americans. Learn more.

HOW TO GIVE: Write a check to your local church and write, “Native American Ministries Sunday offering” in the memo line. Churches can give through the NIC Apportionment process.

 HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

Experiencing Holy Week through art

Artists at West Market Street United Methodist Church were asked to depict the Stations of the Cross through various mediums. As they interpreted the Scriptures of Holy Week, these United Methodists found themselves experiencing Christ’s crucifixion ― and their own faith ― in new ways. United Methodist Communications has a video. Read more.

Rural Church Grant Deadlines Approaching

Are you a rural church that has a great ministry idea but you need some money to get it off the ground? Then, consider applying for a PACK Grant (Planned Act of Christian Kindness) or Keagy Grant. Deadline: March 31.

• PACK Grants are from $100-$500 for strategically reaching out and blessing the lives of your community neighbors. Examples of PACK grants include supporting teachers with school supplies for their classrooms, providing snacks and water at a local parade or treating first responders to pizza as a thank you.
• Keagy Grants are from $500-$3000. They are also typically community-facing ministries and can be used as seed money to start a new ministry or strengthen an existing ministry. Examples include a summer reading program for kids, a senior ministry with meals and entertainment and start-up funds for a teen ministry.

If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Libby Rutherford. 

Learn more and apply here.

Other grants available

• The Migrant Needs grant, funded by the 2023 Bishop’s Appeal, is offering funds for churches in ministry with migrants in your community. Priority will be given to proposals that directly assist individuals or families and include cost-sharing or additional sources of support, whether in-kind, volunteer hours, or financial contributions. Read more.

NIC Property Insurance News

• Review the 2024 letter that addresses property premium allocation, property insurance statements (posted monthly rather than quarterly), insurance packet, and property claim activity.
• 2024 Certificates of Insurance are available on the Lay Leadership Portal Instructions are available here. 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.

Rev. Brian Gilbert

Prairie South District Superintendent

bgilbert@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 782

Leola Tucker

Administrative Assistant

ltucker@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 733

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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