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December 2 - In this issue

  • Personnel Announcement
  • World AIDS Day - December 1
  • How to promote Advent and Christmas events
     
Moving on

Dear eNews Readers and Members of the Northern Illinois Conference:

This week, I submitted my resignation as Director of Communications. I am pursuing a new opportunity in digital marketing.

Over these two years, I have been honored to serve the churches and amazing people of this conference. I wish all of you well as you share the love of Jesus Christ with our neighborhoods, towns, cities and the world.

Throughout this transition, please send correspondence to [email protected] so our staff can answer you promptly. If you want to reach me personally, you can find me at [email protected]. The Personnel Committee will announce any open staff positions on the website and through the eNews when the time comes. Until then, all the best and a blessed Advent.

Matt Kuzma


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Coping with the holidays

The holiday season is often one of grief for people who have suffered loss. Anne C. Hampson offers this guide for coping.
(Sorry for last week's broken link!)

NIC 2010 Annual Conference Journal

The journal of the 2010 Annual Conference is finished and available as a three-part download on the homepage of our website. If you have questions, please contact Conference Secretary Rev. Lora Zink.

Upcoming Conference Events - join us!

December 16, Interfaith Vigil, Chicago Temple, 6 p.m.
The vigil, in honor of International Migrants Day, will include  leaders in numerous faith communities throughout Chicago, stories from leaders in Chicago's immigrant community, prayers and silence for affected immigrant individuals and families, and a group sharing of New Year's Resolutions around immigration in cooperation with the National Interfaith Immigration Coalition. Contact Lisl Heymans-Paul.

Au
gust 27, 2011, UM Foundation Stewardship Event
Funding your Church's Vision is the theme of the event, featuring Lovett H. Weems, Jr.,  Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Dr. Weems is a highly regarded consultant on church leadership who has some innovative and effective ideas about enhancing the resources your congregation has for ministry. 

NIC Summer Camp 2011 schedule released


Find details about the Summer 2011 programs at Wesley Woods and Camp Reynoldswood!



IC Young Adults: Making Connections and Making a Difference

By Tedd Steele

Young adults from around the conference recently gathered for food, conversation, and video games. A diverse group gathered at Dave and Busters. Truth be told, the dinner conversation was so compelling, they almost missed the games altogether.

We are following up this successful outing with a working lunch. Young adults are invited to First United Methodist Church in Arlington Heights on January 4, 2011 from noon to 2:00 pm. We will be talking about General Conference priorities and delegates. If you have concerns you would  like to see addressed in legislation, we want to hear from you. The conference committee on  young adult ministry will sponsor the event and provide lunch. Please RSVP by emailing  [email protected] or visiting http://www.facebook.com/NICyoungadultnetwork.


World AIDS Day - December 1

By Rev. Gregory Gross
Deacon, Clinical Manager, Center on Halsted

It has been nearly 30 years since the first documented case of what we now know as HIV/AIDS in the United States. While vast progress has been made since then, HIV/AIDS is the number one cause of death for young, heterosexual, African-American women. Recent studies show that 1 in 5 gay or bisexual men in Chicago are living with HIV. In the United States, HIV is now often seen as a chronic illness managed by daily medications and regular blood tests. In spite of this, persons living with HIV continue to face much discrimination and stigma.

Globally, we see an even bleaker picture. Last year when I was in Zimbabwe assisting Project Tariro, a program to support those living with HIV/AIDS, I learned that approximately 20-25% of the population is living with HIV (compared with 0.28% of Illinois). The average life expectancy has fallen to 34 years of age, and 3,000-4,000 people had been dying of AIDS a week.

Who is the face of HIV in Zimbabwe? At Old Mutare Mission, the person newly infected is often a girl between the ages of 9 & 18 who has been raped as there is still belief that if a person has sex with a virgin, they will be cured of HIV/AIDS.

The good news there is that for the first time people are beginning to live with HIV. Some
 medication has finally been made available, although far from enough. Thus, Project Tariro meaning "Hope" in the Shona Language) is a holistic support system for persons who are living, but with vast amounts of stigma. Thus, persons find community in which their physical,  emotional, and spiritual health are nurtured, and they are able to being to "live positively" with  HIV.

World AIDS Day is commemorated each year on Dec. 1. Each one of us can make a difference in creating an AIDS-free world, but it takes action and perseverance.  Let us continue to pray for those who are infected and affected by HIV. May God continue to bless us all as we continue this mission work for HIV/AIDS.

Resources for Local Churches
State of Illinois AIDS/HIV & STD Hotline (anonymous) at 1.800.243.2437 (English & Spanish)
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund - Special offering materials at this site
Friends of Project Tariro

World AIDS Day Events

Friday, December 3 at 11 a.m. featuring Rev. Dr. Cheryl Anderson
St. Mark UMC, 8441 S. St. Lawrecne, Chicago


Sunday, December 5 at 3 p.m. featuring Rev. Rae Lewis Thornton
Greenstone UMC, 11211 S. St. Lawrence, Chicago

HPSS opens new housing program for homeless men

By Matt KuzmaHPSS

On November 29, Humboldt Park Social Services (HPSS) opened a new bilingual facility for men in Chicago who are seeking a way to break the cycle of homelessness in their lives. HPSS partnered with foundations, local non-profits, Humboldt Park UMC and elected officials. Their efforts will give 22 homeless men medium-term relief and a foundation to help them rebuild their lives.

I was moved by the testimony given by one of the clients of the center, who found himself homeless because he was unemployed for only a few months. I hope you and your churches will consider ministry with the poor this holiday season. For more information about HPSS, visit http://www.hpsschanginglives.org/


Pancake Breakfast of the Week - Promotion tips!

Advent pancakes taste best of all. It's the anticipation.
With 400 churches and faith communities in our conference, there will be 400 ways that we will be celebrating Advent and Christmas this year. Since we can't begin to publicize all of the breakfasts, fairs, pageants, recitals and cantatas, here are some tips you can use to boost attendance at your important events.

1. Cancel other church meetings
To make sure that your regulars will attend, give them a break on your other committee meetings so they will make room for the Saturday night recital.

2. Let your fingers do the walking
This means the telephone, not email. Call people during business hours and invite them to attend.

3. Use your groups
Ask your group leaders (choir, small groups, UMW/UMM, circles, committees, Sunday School) to invite people in their circle.

4. Invite anyone who shares space in your church

If you host Boy Scouts, Jazzercise, AA, 4-H, a charter school, a theater company, or anyone else on your property, leave information for the group or personally invite people to come to your event.

Good luck planning! For questions or assistance, please email [email protected].


And now....Pancake Breakfast of the Week!

Christ UMC Algonquin
Bethlehem Market, Saturday December 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.


Children can experience and participate in what a marketplace might have been like during the time of Jesus. Crafts to make; food to taste; stories to hear and sites to see!


Aaron's Fudge, Jewelry Making, Weaving, Tax Collectors, Spice Mulling, Roman Soldiers, Leather Crafting, Nativity, Date/Nut Candy, Rope Braiding, Bread Baking
Dreidel games & songs

Join us! For more information, contact Judy Lantinen at [email protected]

Please send your pancake breakfast or other special event to [email protected] with the subject line "Pancakes."