The United Methodist Church
Northern Illinois Conference
e-News
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Greetings!
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Welcome to the NIC e-News. This newsletter is published every Thursday morning at 10 a.m.
Can we do anything to help you? If you or your church have any communication needs, please contact Matt at mkuzma@umcnic.org.
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In Step With the Bishop
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Upcoming events:
March 21 - Clergy Summit: Sycamore UMC 9-3 PM
March 22 - Carol Stream: St. Andrew Preaching - Worship @ 9:30 and Sunday School Dialogue @ 11:00 AM
March 23 - DeKalb District Cluster Visit - Mendota Cluster All Day - Evening Gathering @ Earlville UMC 7 PM
March 24 - Rockford District Cluster Visit - East Winnebago Boone Cluster - Evening Gathering @ TBA 7 PM
March 25 - Elgin District Cluster Visit - Elgin Cluster - Evening Gathering @ TBA 7 PM
March 28 - Conference UMM
Lenten Breakfast and Worship - Hosted at Villa Park: Calvary Breakfast
@ 8:00 AM and Worship @ 9:00 AM
March 29 - Chicago: West Ridge/Indo Pac Preaching - @ 11:00 AM |
Event Postponed
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Urban Convocation 2009 has been postponed. Dates will be rescheduled and released shortly.
To register, or for more information,
please call the Elgin NIC Office at 847-931-0710 or email Natarsha Gardner at ngardner@umcnic.org.
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| Kathy Motes Memorial Service
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Memorial services for Kathy Motes and the Wiley-Motes family will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Living Faith UMC, 414 N Mcaree Rd., Waukegan.
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Women's History Month
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March is Women's History Month. We welcome any essays, stories, or other creative work about the important women in the life and history of your churches. The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women offers bulletin
covers, inserts, and resources to be used during the month of March,
2009. Women: Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet |
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UMW Lobby Day in Springfield April 2
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Join women from the Northern Illinois Conference, the
Illinois Great Rivers Conference and the Illinois Church
Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems (ILCAAAP) for a Legislative Day on Thursday, April 2, at the State Capitol in Springfield.
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Annual Conference - Constitutional Amendments
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The 170th Northern Illinois Annual Conference is June 7-9 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL. It will be here before we know it!
This year, we will be voting on several amendments to our Constitution. Check out the Annual Conference Page for more information about these important amendments!
Constitutional Amendments must be ratified by two-thirds of the Annual Conferences in order to take effect. They must be voted up or down by the Annual Conferences; they may not be amended.
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40 days and 40 nights...
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Forty days from today is April 21. How is your church planning ahead?
March - Women's History Month
March 22 - One Great Hour of Sharing
April 12 - Easter Sunday
Some ideas for planning for Easter from Dist. Superintendent Rev. James Preston:
1. Make sure all special Lenten services and offerings can be found WITH TIMES AND DATES on your website and newsletter. Consider highlighting one event on your voicemail. Always have worship times on your voicemail.
2. Consider a clean up of entrances and foyers so that guests encounter clean and welcoming spaces as they enter. Add flowers or plants...possibly purple cloth and a cross on a table. All of these efforts make guests feel more welcome.
3. Consider an online email each week to guests and members with scripture, devotion, and prayer ideas. It is an easy way to help people grow in Christ during this season. Guests appreciate the connection.
4. Start announcing your EASTER services now! Place a banner with times outside or on your sign. Make sure those times are on your web site and other places.
5. Consider a Lenten insert in your bulletin that highlights all of your activities and features scripture readings for the week.
UM Communications also has 50 ideas for under $500 that local churches can use to attract people so they can breeze through our open doors on Easter Sunday.
If you have tips or tricks for worship planning as we approach Lent and Easter, please share them: mkuzma@umcnic.org.
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Outdoor Ministries Update
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Our Outdoor and Retreat Ministries are an inexpensive way for your church to have a great time this spring. Have you booked a trip for your spring or summer confirmation class yet?
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Share your photos and stories!
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The month of March is Heifer Project month at Antioch UMC. Each Sunday
an animal visitor has helped tell the story at Children's time. Here
Toto is the first Heifer, Faith, to be shipped to Puerto Rico.
Add photos of your church events or anything else to our Flickr group! When making the Reporter, we often have space for extra pictures. Add a photo with caption, and you could find your work on the website or Reporter.
Please submit tips, stories, sermons, lyrics and testimonials. Anywhere from 50-700 words is great. Longer pieces are fine, but will probably only run on the web. We especially want to hear stories about new faith communities, revitalizing our church, and working together.
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Town and Rural Grants Available
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Churches in towns under 10,000 population may be eligible for grants. Is yours?
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Pancake Breakfast of the Week
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 Rockford District UM Men Pancake Breakfast Saturday, March 14, Grace UMC, 3555 McFarland Rd, Rockford 8:00 am Gathering, 8:30 am Breakfast, 9:15 Worship
with Keynote Rev. Jim Bell
Cost $8.00 Adults - Pastors Free!
Please call the church to make your reservations: (815) 637-4561 P.S. - Check out this new website from actor Rainn Wilson of "The Office" -- Soul Pancake! |
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