| November 17, 2011 |
Please send emails about e-news or the Reporter to Anne Marie Gerhardt, Dir. of Communications at communications@umcnic.org. All submissions for e-news must be received, in writing no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday each week. |
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Different Drummers: Christians in China
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Check out the latest video featuring Rev. Phil Blackwell from First UMC at the Chicago Temple and representatives from the China Christian Council.
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Different Drummers: China Bible Exhibit
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| Communicator's Corner |
Take a Journey with Your Family This Holiday Season The Journey App is now available for Android & iPhone.
Based on Adam Hamilton's The Journey series, which takes a unique look at the story of the birth of Jesus, The Journey Advent Calendar smartphone app introduces a unique way for families to engage their children in the celebration leading up to Christmas.
Cost: $2.99 Available on the App Store Available on the Android Market
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Check out a new resource from GBOD for teachers of preschool and elementary aged children - Our United Methodist Heritage.
This is a five lesson, activity-based resource. It may be just what teachers are looking for during that difficult planning time in January.
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United Methodist Student Day- Nov. 27
|  The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) celebrate that the Office of Loans and Scholarships will be awarding over 2,600 students a total of $5.3 million in award money for 2011! Nearly 75 students from the Northern Illinois Conference received scholarships! Click here to read the list. Of those awarded nearly 2,300 were under the age of 35, and over 500 are enrolled in seminary pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree. Thank you for your support in recognizing United Methodist Student Day, World Communion Sunday and Native American Sunday which help fund a portion of our loans and scholarships. The remaining funds for these awards come from gifts, annuities and endowments GBHEM has invested and administered for decades. Churchgoers can support these United Methodist college and university students with a special offering on United Methodist Student Day, set this year for Nov. 27.
Click here for more information.
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Welcome the Immigrant- Tonight
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Thursday, November 17 Hosted at Christ United Methodist Church 4509 Highcrest Rd., Rockford - Free and open to the public. 6pm starts with a simple, free-will offering supper (RSVP for supper: 815-964-7111). 7pm program - Josh Hoyt, director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. The Coalition works vigorously for citizenship for the undocumented, to protect civil liberties and a full integration of immigrants into the American Dream. |
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Safe Sanctuary Training in Spanish
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The Latino Hispanic Lay Academy, under the leadership of Rev. Martin Lee, is offering a FREE Safe Sanctuary Training in Spanish on Saturday, December 3. A background check is included.
The event is being held at the Crown Plaza, 2875 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Northbrook from 9am-11:45am.
Rev. Michael Mann, Associate Director of Mission and Advocacy will be the instructor for this training.
Interested individuals and congregations should contact
Rev. Mann at 847-932-0710 ext. 20 to make a reservation by December 1.
Additional Safe Sanctuary trainings are being planned for January 21, 2012 in Ashton and August 18, 2012 in Schaumburg.
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Tour the New Northern Illinois Food Bank Facility
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 If you would like to meet other folks committed to fighting hunger and see the new Northern Illinois Food Bank, please join staff and volunteers of Church World Service-Illinois for a special opportunity on Thursday, December 8. Come for a tour anytime between 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., and/or volunteer during a shortened shift from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The NIFB is always looking for volunteer groups of individuals age 14 and up. If you're curious about this, come give it a try on December 8! For more information, and to RSVP, please click here. Registration deadline is November 23.
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Rainbow Covenant Book Deadline
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 The application for the next edition of the Rainbow Covenant book is now available. If you would like to be considered as a part of the Rainbow Covenant book in 2013, please submit your application to Rev. Michael Mann.
Please see the criteria on the application as you let us know about your project. Click here to download the pdf version.
Applications are due January 31, 2012
Note: If you are currently in the Rainbow Covenant Book, that project will automatically renew for the next three years. Go to the website www.umcnic.org for a copy of the Rainbow Covenant book.
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Get on Board - Bishop's Youth Interfaith Bus Tour
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 Saturday, March 24th, 20128am-6pm
Bishop Hee Soo Jung invites all youth in our Conference on an interfaith journey designed for those in confirmation or youth group classes about interfaith relationships. We will visit at least three locations, covering Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. The tour will include discussions with local faith leaders whenever possible.
Cost: $20 per person (light breakfast, lunch, & dinner) Starting Location: Naperville Area
To register, please e-mail Rev. Michael Mann at mmann@umcnic.org. Include the size of the group and the ages of the youth. Also, chaperones from each group are welcome (ratio of 1:7 recommended), and each chaperone should be Safe Sanctuary certified. Chaperones will be asked to pay their own way.
Group sizes are not limited but we are limited to 53 persons.
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Board or Church & Society
Grant Deadline |
The Board of Church and Society offers two types of grants: Emerging Ministries grants, and Peace with Justice grants. There is one application form which can be used to apply for either grant. The application form can be found on the conference website under "Church & Society," or it can be requested from Grant applications are due by December 30, 2011. |
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40 Days of Prayer for HIV&AIDS
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 A free, downloadable resource from the General Board of Church & Society is available that offers 40 daily devotions leading up to World AIDS Day, typically Dec. 1.
Approximately 33 million people in the world are infected with HIV, and 2.2 million new infections are reported annually.
"40 Days of Prayer" offers a compilation of prayers, reflections and stories by members of the UM Global AIDS Fund Committee, the GBCS Board of Directors and persons living with or ministering to those with HIV & AIDS.
Click here for more info>>
Read more how your church can participate in World Aids Day from Dr. Irma Clark, NIC-HIV/AIDS Task force Ambassador click here>>
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Good Luck Marcy Newberry Youth Choir!
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The Marcy Newberry Youth Choir is one of five finalists to compete in the South Side Help Center: Voices for Change World Aids Day Youth Choir Competition on Friday, December 2. Congrats and good luck! |
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Help Keep Funding to Treat Malaria
|  Congress is considering legislation that may reduce the funding for preventing global diseases like malaria. Due to the efforts of campaigns like Imagine No Malaria, deaths from malaria have gone from one every thirty seconds to one every forty-five seconds. However, continuing the funding for these efforts is vital. A 9% decrease, as recommended by the House, would mean that 3.8 million people would not receive treatment for malaria. Given that the vast majority of malaria cases are children under the age of five, this would directly impact the world's poorest children. Let your voice be heard! Click this link to sign the petition to tell congress not to cut our government's support for vital global health funding. |
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Local Church Events
| Local church events are posted on the web.
Read about November Events Read about December Events |
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