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March 22, 2012

Please send emails for the e-news or the Reporter to Anne Marie Gerhardt, Dir. of Communications at [email protected]. All submissions for e-news must be received, in writing no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday each week.

 

In This Issue
General Conference
Prayer Ministry for GC
Mortgage Survey
VIsit NCC
Health Care Changes
Creative Ministries Grants
ERT Training
Local Church Events

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Communicator's Corner


Change the World ++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Free Webinars:

 

Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30 PM CST: Keeping in Touch with God's Grace

 

Spiritual formation provides the foundation for effective leadership in classes and small groups. Explore a variety of means for deepening your relationship with God.  

Register at: www.gbod.org/adultseminars.

 

Register for What does a LAY LEADER do?

Thursday, March 29 6:30pm

Click here for registration

 

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UMCOR has a new website...check it out 


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Cokesbury Offer:


Upcoming Events -Click on event for more details
    
Free Rosecrance workshops offer strategies for families dealing with substance abuse - March 22 & 29

Youth & Adult Interfaith Bus Tour- March 24

Creativity and Divine Surprise Workshop- March 24

Prayer Breakfast -Pan-African Rural Health & Social Services - March 24

Immigration Workshop at Emmanuel UMC, Evanston - March 31

Unity Forum on Immigration and Incarceration - April 5

Marcy Newberry Spring Fashion Show- April 28



Come Send Off the
General Conference Delegation

General Conference 2012Mark your calendars!! Sending Forth Service for the Delegation to General Conference will be
Sunday, April 15
at First UMC in Elmhurst at 232 S. York Rd. (note location changed).

There will be a question and answer panel discussion at 3:00 pm, Worship at 4:00 pm, and a reception following. Come surround the Delegation in prayers as they head to Tampa!!

Making Prayer Mantels for
General Conference

Participants made dozens of prayer mantels for General Conference delegates and Bishops during 4 session last Friday and Saturday at Our Saviour's UMC in Schaumburg.



The prayer sessions were co-hosted by UMW and Outdoor Retreat Ministries and organized by the Upper Room which plans on giving 2000 mantels out at General Conference. The participants painted the silk scarves with various shades of blue dye to represent the sea, then covered them with coarse salt to activate the design and finally ironed them to heat set the dye.

The participants then prayed over the mantels before sending them off to General Conference. Read the full story>>
 
If
you could not attend, you can still join in the 50 days of Prayer by visitingThe Upper Room website at http://50daysofprayer.upperroom.org.

 

Church Mortgage Survey

The CCFA is exploring a means to reduce monthly mortgage payments of local churches.  We are undertaking a survey of NIC churches with mortgages to learn the principal balance, interest rate, and monthly payments.

Once we learn of these mortgages, we can then search for ways to improve the financial arrangements.  If you have this information, please follow this link and complete the survey.  Or please forward the link to the person in your local church who can complete the survey and assist us in completing this effort. 

 

United Methodist Visit Day at North Central College

March 30, 2012
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center,
Chicago Avenue and Ellsworth St.,
Naperville

Youth and their families, pastors, and youth leaders are invited to a special North Central College Visit Day which will include presentations about the College's academic and extracurricular programs, and scholarship opportunities as well as a tour of the College. 

For questions and if you plan to attend, please send an e-mail to Rev. Lynn Pries ([email protected] ) with the church name and names of participants. Click here for the schedule and to register.


Meeting on Health Care Changes
for Retirees

Retired Clergy are invited to come hear more about changes in the health care insurance.  Lonnie Chafin, conference treasurer, and a representative of Extend Health will be available for questions and answers at the Chicago Temple, Saturday, April 7, 2:00 pm.
 
Following the health care conversation you are invited to attend "Re-spiced: a Silk Road Cabaret" produced by the theater company at the Temple, Silk Road Rising.  Cost will be $24.00 for a group of 10 or more. Reduced fare parking is available at Franklin and Washington streets for $6.00 with a voucher from the theater.  If you are interested in attending the production at 4:00pm, please contact
Al Streyffeler, co-president, Retired Clergy Association, Northern Ill. Conf. ASAP email: [email protected] 
    
Creative Ministries Grant Deadline

The Northern Illinois Conference Program Council is accepting applications for Creative Ministries Grants to help fund new ministry projects in 2012.  Thanks to your apportionments, among the dozen grants doled out last year, Faith UMC Chicago planned to use its money for an after-school drop-in center and Grace Calvary UMC needed funds for a health and fitness ministry.

The forms are available on the NIC website, www.umcnic.org under "Resources" or by clicking here.

All applications must be submitted on or before
May 1, 2012. For more information contact: Rev. Christopher Pierson at [email protected] or 847-931-0732 ext. 15.


Northern Illinois Conference Attends
UMCOR Disaster Response Academy

Last week seven members of the Northern Illinois Conference responded to UMCOR's call to alleviate human suffering by "...providing practical proactive support to the most vulnerable survivors of chronic or temporary emergencies due to natural or civil causes" through their attendance at the North Central Jurisdiction's Disaster Response Academy.

The group was led by Reverend Christina Vosteen  (Courtland/Waterman) who is the Disaster Response Coordinator for the Northern Illinois Conference.  They attended classes taught by UMCOR instructors in everything from "Disaster 101" to "Caring for the Care Giver" to "Connecting Neighbors." Read the full story>>

Local Church Events 

Local church events are posted on the web

 

 

Rockford Urban Ministries' annual Good Friday Walk for Justice will begin at 9:00 am on Good Friday, April 6, from the parking lot of Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 412 N. Church Street. The walk is free and open to those who wish to walk and pray for the city. You can contact Rockford Urban Ministries  815-964-711, with any questions.  

 

 

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Read about March Events  

 

Read about April Events  

 

     




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