The United Methodist Church
Northern Illinois Conference
eNews
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Welcome to the April 1 NIC eNews. For comments or questions, please email communications@umcnic.org. It's Holy Thursday, so no fooling around here.
Some of the most visited links this week:
Upcoming Events
Annual Conference 2010
Latest Appointments and Retirements
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Holy Week - Get ready!
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By Matt Kuzma
Easter Sunday is not just the holiest day for our faith. It's a crucial one for our ministry of welcoming visitors. On Holy Thursday, Friday and Easter your church will receive more visitors than any other time during the year. Are you ready? Here are some last-minute ideas:
Send out an email to your entire list welcoming people this week and listing all of the available times to attend services. NOTE: Do not ask for volunteers in this email.
If you have multiple services on Easter, encourage regulars to attend at the times when the crowd is usually smaller, to make room for visitors at your most popular time.
Ask regulars and leaders to stick around for the most popular worship time to help as extra greeters in the sanctuary, front door, parking lot, etc.
Make extra bulletins and copies of visitor information brochures - every visitor needs to leave with something in their hand.
Count your attendance for all services! This will help you plan for next year.
Draft your follow up email or letter that goes to visitors so it can be sent by next Tuesday.
If you have other ideas for how to prepare, please share them on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/UMCNIC
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April Calendar
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Find all April Conference events on our website
April 03
Small Group Institute
VIM Training
April 06
United Methodist Men
Executive Meeting
April 10 - 11
Conference Academy for Faith Community Development
Develop: Module #8 - Listening & Living in God\'s Presence
April 13
Dialogue Dinner
UMCNIC-CIOGC Interfaith Dinner
April 15, 17, 20
Harvest 2020 Prayer Services
April 16 - 18
Bishop's Interfaith Bus Tour
April 17
Creation Care 2010
April 17
DeKalb Dist Spring Lay Academy
April 24
Small Group Institute
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Children learn meaning of Seder
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From Patsy Cook, First UMC Lansing  Our children celebrated a Seder meal and learned about how the ingredients of the meal tell the story of the Jews escape from bondage in Egypt. PASSOVER is celebrated by Jews. Christians celebrate it as the Last Supper since Jesus was following His Jewish tradition on the Seder. Seder is a Hebrew word meaning "order" or "arrangement." Our kids followed all of the rituals and tried each food learning its significance and what it symbolized. We learned "Baruch Attah Adonai Elohenu" as a Grace, meaning "Blessed are You, O Lord our God."
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Annual Conference 2010
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Hotel registration is now open, and event registration will be coming shortly. Click the link above or go to
http://www.umcnic.org/conference
for the latest news and information about the conference.
Please send information for Memorial ServiceIt is our tradition to celebrate the ministries of those Clergy members and Lay Members to Annual Conference who have passed away since our last session together. This Memorial Service will be celebrated on the second evening of Annual Conference. Please review your church records, and if any Clergy or Lay members to the Annual Conference have passed away, please send the following to Natarsha Gardner, ngardner@umcnic.org: Name, Local Church, Date of Death, Dates of service, Picture
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Chicago Theological Seminary - Ministerial and Lay Leadership Institute - April 13-14
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Do you wish for meaningful conversation about worship and the Church? Are you looking for an opportunity meet other pastors and church leaders? Do you want to hear excellent preaching and to take time to reflect on issues that matter for your life and for the Church?
Join us at this year's CTS Ministerial and Lay Leadership Institute on April 13 and April 14, 2010, for two days of keynotes, workshops, networking and fellowship.
On-line registration is available now at www.ctschicago.edu - register for both days or for one. Featured keynote speaker is The Rev. John Thomas, Senior Advisor to the CTS President and Visiting Professor of Church Ministries and the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, The Rev. Dr. Frank A. Thomas.
For any questions, please contact us at (773) 322-0245 or at development@ctschicago.edu.
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Pancake Breakfast of the Week
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1. Central UMC Skokie
Troop 72, hosted by Central UCM for more that 50 years, is holding their annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, May 1, at the church. Breakfast starts at 7:00 am, and ends at 12:30 p.m. All are welcome as long as you bring an appetite. Central UMC is at 8237 Kenton Avenue, Skokie, Illinois. Call the church office at 847-673-1311 for more details.
2. Worth
The annual Murder Mystery Dinner will be take place at
The UMC of Worth, 7100 West 112th Street, Worth
on Friday, April 30th and Saturday, May 1st at 6:45 PM.
A four-course meal and a four act play "VINTAGE MURDER"
will be yours for the low cost of $15.00 per ticket.
Call 708-448-6682 (to leave your message) now to make a reservation.
3. Minooka
"The 2010 Spring Brunch" - Please mark your calendars and come.
The proceeds benefit Youth Mission Projects. Join us for the delicious buffet with all the favorite items: Stuffed French toast, potatoes, ham, sausage, eggs, custom-made omelets, crepes, biscuits and gravy, homemade coffee cakes, pancakes, fresh fruit, and drinks.
Date: Sunday, April 18 Time: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. - in Annex
Cost: $9 - Adults Children (4-10) $5.00 (under 4 free)
ASP Youth truly appreciate your help. Thank You!
Please send your pancake breakfast or other meal to communications@umcnic.org with the subject line "Pancakes."
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