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May 31, 2012
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Please send emails for the 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.
Deadline for the July Reporter is June 6.
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Missionaries Itineration
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Missionaries to Zambia,
Betty Tshala and Tshala Mwenga are itinerating in the Northern Illinois Conference from May 21- June 11.
Click here for the remainder of their schedule.
Contact: Emmy Lou John; 630-264-2892; emmyloujohn@yahoo.com for more information.
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Communicator's Corner
| Join the Twitterverse Conversation
United Methodist Communications counted more than 43,000 tweets with #gc2012!
The hashtag for the Northern Illinois Annual Conference will be #niac12.
If you'll be tweeting, please keep in mind our three simple rules: Do No Harm, Do good, Stay in Love with God.
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Many NIC Churches participated in the third annual Change the World weekend...read more>>
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Poetry written nearly 40 years ago by children in Israel and Palestine teach us still today about the dream for peace.
Watch this interview for Different Drummers with Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary professor Osvaldo Vena.
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Different Drummers: Still a Dream
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Casting Call
How well do you know the Bible?
The first ever game show created to test your knowledge of The Bible will make its television debut this August. GSN - the Game Show Network - is producing "The American Bible Challenge" which will be hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and will air in August.
And right now - THE SHOW IS LOOKING FOR CONTESTANTS who have a passion for The Bible and giving back to their community!!!!
"The American Bible Challenge" is criss-crossing America scouting potential players who want to win money for their favorite charity. Individual players or teams of up to three people who have competitive spirits, great personal testimonies, and of course know their Bible are encouraged to try out. ALL ARE WELCOME TO THE CASTING CALL.
Chicago
Saturday: June 2nd,
10AM - 6PM
AND
Sunday: June 3rd,
11AM - 5PM
Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn
1250 Roosevelt Rd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
To sign-up or for information:
http://tv.gsn.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/casting/
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Answer Prayers at AC NIC UMM Prayer Advocate, Wardell Boyd, invites you to experience Intercessory Prayer at Annual Conference. Sign up to answer the phone lines in teams of 2, for 1 hour intervals, 9-5 Sat. June 9. You do not have to be signed up for the Conference. Just come to the Topaz room at Pheasant Run either to watch or experience it for yourself. You will be fielding calls for prayer across the U.S. Contact Scott Brooks to sign up at bredyhescoming@gmail.com or (815) 739-9191 |
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Annual Conference - Less than a
week away!
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On-Line Registration for Annual Conference is now closed.Registrations will be accepted at Pheasant Run in the Lobby of the Mega Center beginning at 10 a.m. Wed., June 6.
All Meal Ticket Sales are now closed, and will not be available at Pheasant Run.Expect Delays
North Ave. (Rt. 64) is under construction from Rt. 59 to Pheasant Run and Powis Rd. is closed at North Ave.
Special Offerings Two special offerings will be taken at Annual Conference, The Ministerial Education Fund ("M.E.F.") is used for seminary scholarships, continuing education grants, and developing continuing education events. Click here to read more. The other offering will go toward the Moscow UM Theological Seminary which was established in 1995. Read more...
Sign up for HIV/AIDS Workshops The Northern Illinois Conference HIV Task Force will offer two HIV Ministry training workshops this year to make sure you are equipped to educate and reduce the risk of new infections in your congregations. The first workshop is July 14, 2012, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Hartzell UMC, 3330 South MLK Jr. Drive, Chicago. The second will be on November 17, 10:00 am-3:00 pm at Sycamore UMC, 160 Johnson Avenue, Sycamore. Task Force members will be available at this year's Annual Conference to register you and/or your representatives.
Click here to read the Bishop's Letter addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Legislation & Agenda
Both legislation and the daily schedule are now available on our website www.umcnic.org/AC2012. Click on Legislation. The agenda is subject to change.
*Submitting Documents at Annual Conference As the 2012 session of Annual Conference approaches, individuals and congregations may still submit documents for consideration this year. These documents, called "at conference documents," may be submitted through a specific process. Click here for the complete instructions.
Commissioning & Ordination Service The Commissioning and Ordination Service will take place on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mega Center, Pheasant Run Resort. Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., Presiding Bishop of the California-Nevada Annual Conference, will be our preacher and The Chapel Choir (Youth) from First UMC of Downers Grove will provide the special music. Click here for the letter of invitation to participate. Click here for the participation form. DEADLINE to confirm your participation - June 5, 2012
Schedule Blueprint for Wellness Screening Blueprint for Wellness screening is only going to be available at Annual Conference on Thursday, June 7, between 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. You must have an appointment, so please register by calling Shirley Burkhart at 312-346-9766 x120 to schedule a time.
Youth SessionYouth (Entering Grade 6 through High School) and Youth Leaders are invited to participate in the 2012 Youth Session of Annual Conference on Saturday, June 9 8:45am-1pm. Click here for more information.Collection DriveChurch World Service is collecting Hygiene Kits, School Kits, Baby Care Kits or Emergency Clean-Up Buckets at Annual Conference. The challenge is for each congregation to make at least 30 Kits! Look for the truck at Pheasant Run Wednesday, June 6 and Thursday, June 7.
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Seeds to Succeed - August 11, 2012
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Get involved in this one day conference wide back to school event on August 11, 2012.
If your church would like to coordinate and organize a service project to benefit a school in your community, fill out a registration form by clicking here and send it to Anne Marie Gerhardt at communications@umcnic.org. Some ideas include; painting or other repairs at a school, gardening, fixing up a playground, cleaning up the park, donating books etc. *First 25 churches to sign up will receive a free media kit which includes a yard sign, pencils and five t-shirts. Media kits can be picked up at the Seeds to Succeed display table at Annual Conference.
We will soon post projects on the event website at www.seedstosucceed.org and volunteers will be able to sign up for a project of their choice. Questions contact Anne Marie Gerhardt at 847-931-0710 ext. 14 or communications@umcnic.org. Bring a Backpack
Bring new, sturdy, gender neutral backpacks to the Seeds to Succeed display table at Annual Conference. We will distribute the donated backpacks at the Conference-wide Back to School event on August 11, 2012. |
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Fill out a Nominations Form
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If you're serving on a Northern Illinois Conference Committee, please fill out the 2012-2016 form today. The Nominations Committee needs everyone to fill out a *new* form - this includes those already serving and will continue on as well as new nominees. The form will help the committees gather the most up to date/correct contact information.
Questions? Please contact the new Nominations Committee Chair, Cerna Rand at nominations@umcnic.org.
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Nominations Sought for the 2012 Denman Evangelism Award
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Nominations are currently being sought for the 2012 Denman Evangelism Award. The award is presented annually to a United Methodist Lay and Clergy person in each Annual Conference for outstanding work in Christian Evangelism.
Those eligible for these prestigious awards are persons who are effective in developing true disciples of Jesus Christ!
You can learn more about the award and download nomination forms at
Send the completed form no later than June 1, 2012 to:
Denman Award
PO Box 168
Durand, IL 61024-0168
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Early Response Team Training
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June 1 from 8:30-5:00pm at First UMC Glen Ellyn, 424 Forrest, Glen Ellyn or June 2 at Cornerstone UMC, 41W170 Russell Rd., Elgin
Classes are taught by "authorized" UMCOR trainers, and team members are given ID badges as evidence of training. UMCOR Staff will teach us the why, when and how of responding to disasters in our local communities as well as elsewhere in the US and globally.
SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20. Click here for the registration form COST: $35.00 includes: notebook, lunch, t-shirt, and Safe Sanctuary background check. Contact Bruce Nelson at bruce@niccamp.org or 1-800-642-2267 for more information.
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Peace with Justice Sunday - June 3
|  Peace with Justice Sunday is June 3. Click here for more resources to begin planning your special Sunday offering. The annual conference keeps 50% of the receipts for Peace with Justice ministries in the conference. ( click here to see which NIC churches and organizations received grants this year.)The remaining 50% is used for Peace with Justice ministries that seek to create more just and peaceful communities. |
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Farewell Celebration for Chicago Northwestern District Supt.
James Preston
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Rev. James Preston
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June 10 @ 4 pm First UMC Evanston, 516 Church St. Evanston.
Everyone is welcome to join us for a Celebration of the Ministry of Chicago Northwestern District Superintendent, Rev. James Preston on Sunday, June 10 beginning at 4 p.m.
We will enjoy worship together, with Rev. Preston preaching and a time of giving thanks for his ministry among us. Following worship, please join us for a reception in Rev. Preston's honor. For directions and parking info see www.faithatfirst.com. For more information or to help plan this special event, please contact Rev. Wendy Hardin Hermann, wendy315@comcast.net or 773.593.1555 |
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Volunteer with Rockford Urban Ministries
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Volunteers from Kingswood UMC work on an
RUM mission project
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Rockford Urban Ministries has been inviting volunteer church groups to Rockford for the last ten years. This summer the work camps will be working on homes in the Coronado/Haskell neighborhood. This week RUM is hosting a group of eight volunteers from Union Church, of Hinsdale, Illinois. During the summer months, volunteer church crews from Minnesota (three), Ohio (four), and Pittsburgh, PA (two), as well as several more church groups from Illinois, will be doing repairs on low-income homes. Most of the work crews stay at Second Congregational Church, Centenial United Methodist Church (now on Broadway), and Court Street United Methodist Church. They provide their own food, use local recreation spots, and donate their time, energy and sometimes materials for the repairs. Most of the materials for the repairs are donations from area churches, and from Jeremiah Project, a consortium of downtown congregations. For more information, or to help with a contribution, people are invited to call 815-964-7111. Rockford Urban Ministries is celebrating 50 years in service to the community.
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