Events and Resources for LCMS Churches and Church Workers in Northern Illinois - November 15, 2015
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#GivingTuesday
One day a year, December 1, #GivingTuesday inspires the nation to give for a charitable cause. As their promotion points out: There is Black Friday and Cyber Monday; then there is GivingTuesday. It's a time to focus less on ourselves and wholely on ways to help the many people and causes that serve others in our communities. 

This GivingTuesday, New Starts...New Believers is partnering to support Sanctuary Manhattan Lutheran Mission's efforts at Laraway School. Your gift will provide the money needed for a special Christmas-time outreach to families in this Preston Heights School where there is a high percentage of at-risk kids. The first $2,000 in gifts will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by New Starts...New Believers, doubling your gift's impact. Be certain to follow us and share our updates on Facebook.com/newstartsnewbelievers. Visit our webpage at ni.lcms.org/GivingTuesday for more information or to make your gift there.
Concordia Plan Services "Be Well" Sneak Preview
A Concordia Plans Services representative will be at the Northern Illinois District Office, 2301 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, Tuesday, November 17, at 6:30 p.m. to talk about enhancements to the Be Well ... Serve Well program and the new Vitality platform. This presentation is for both workers and employers. Spots are limited so make sure to sign-up today. Email Ronda Wilmot or call 708-223-3101. Print flyer
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Trent James Fundraiser Performance
Comedy Magician Trent James will be performing at St. Paul Lutheran School, 9035 Grant Avenue, Brookfield, Friday, November 20.  General Admission is $5, and tickets can be purchased on line at brownpapertickets.com, and search "Trent James."  Concessions will be available. Funds will be used for hygiene kit items to be distributed in Brookfield and surrounding communities to those in need. Call the school at 708-485-0650 with questions.
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CUC Free Hour-of-Code Tutorial
Hour of Code is an international initiative to promote computer science education by showing that anyone can learn the basics of computer coding. Concordia University Chicago invites people of all ages to campus (7400 Augusta St., River Forest, 60305) for the worldwide Hour of Code on Friday, December 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a free tutorial. All attendees must register online and can get complete information at gradschool.cuchicago.edu/code. Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Walther Concert in Westchester
Walther Christian Academy will give its Spirit of Christmas Concert at Faith Lutheran Church, 11124 Westchester Blvd., Westchester, on December 6 at 9 a.m. A light breakfast will be served following the service. Everyone is invited to attend. Contact 708-343-1030 for further information.
2016 Multi-ethnic Symposium
Registration is now open for the 2016 Multi-ethnic Symposium January 26 through 27, 2016, at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
The Multi-ethnic Symposium, with the theme "Communities of Hope: One Community in Christ," is held every two years and brings together Lutherans of various ethnicities from across the country for two days of workshops, discussions and worship. The symposium explores how the church should engage in ethnic ministry and what it means - and what it will take - to become a truly multi-ethnic church. Registration is $75 and includes Tuesday lunch and dinner, and Wednesday breakfast. On-campus housing is available for an additional fee. For more information visit csl.edu/resources/continuinged/multiethnic-symposium.
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2016 Illinois Essay Contest
Lutherans For Life is sponsoring an essay contest for students in grades 6 through 12. Students are asked to write a life-affirming essay based on the 2016 Conference theme Here We Stand and Ephesians 6:13. Any Lutheran student or student in a Lutheran school may participate. The Illinois state awards are 1st Place $100 (Grades 6 - 8) and 1st Place $100 (Grades 9 - 12). Entries first should be submitted digitally using Microsoft Word by February 29, 2016. Send State entries to: lakamps@gmail.com.  Print rules  Print Rubric for Assessment of the Life Essay
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Model Show and Swap Meet
St. John Lutheran Church, 7214 South Cass Avenue, Darien, invites you to see and swap on Saturday, January 16, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be operating model railroad layouts and over 60 vendor tables selling plastic model kits and model railroad-related items on two levels of a building. The family-friendly event will also offer food and raffle prizes. Admission is $5/adults (18 years and older) and $2/youth. Children under 12 and Scouts in uniform are free. Bring your unchurched friends! For more information, email events@sjlcdarien.org, call 630-969-7987, or visit www.sjlcdarien.org. Print flyer
Submit Applications for Aid with Church Worker Debt
The MinistryFocus Fund for pastors and professional church workers is specifically for called pastors and commissioned workers in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) who are overburdened by educational debt. Applications to receive a grant must be submitted by called workers no later than December 1, 2015. Application forms are at www.MinistryFocus.org. Grant decisions will be announced before Christmas.

Gifts to MinistryFocus prior to December 1, 2015, will be used to provide the grants to church workers in early 2016. Gifts to the organization (it's a 501c3) come from individuals, congregations, schools or other organizations. Learn more or donate at: www.MinistryFocus.org; 8601 Trinity Road, Cordova, TN 38018; or 480-528-5296.
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Position Available
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Schaumburg, 202 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, is looking for a customer service driven individual to join their church and school team. Must be willing to work full time with occasional Sunday morning and special event availability. Computer skills, clerical skills, organizational skills, flexibility and proper phone etiquette are required. For a full job description please contact Heather Collier at hcollier@stpeterlcms.org or call 847-885-3350.
RESOURCES* - In Touch with a Changing World
*The following resources are for information and not intended to endorse any idea or practice. Hopefully they will help us understand more of what is going on around us. NID Rostered Church Workers are invited to submit articles or resources for consideration.
Church News or Good News: What Kind Does Your Church Share Online?
What is your church trying to do online?

Is it trying to reach people with the Gospel or is it a platform for communicating church-related information?

There's a difference between the two and in order to be successful, you need to know which approach your church is aiming for.

Take a look at your website (or Facebook Page) with a critical eye. Observe the approach you're actually taking at the moment. You can do this by looking at recently-posted items and counting how many are of the news/event/announcement variety and how many share aspects of the Gospel (overlap is possible).

The two approaches are different. It's not that one is right and the other wrong. Which approach does your church take with its website or Facebook Page?
Source internettoolboxforchurches.com
Finding a Lutheran Perspective of the Proverbs 31 Women
"I've been studying the word Excellent.  Interestingly enough, in my Biblical search of the word excellent, Proverbs 31 kept popping up.  Interesting because it's for a women's Bible study (convenient), and interesting because I avoid the passage at all costs." Read more from Grace Place Lutheran Wellness Ministries.
FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE
Church Workers:
All rostered and non-rostered church workers are asked to please update their NID contact information when there is a change of email, address, phone, etc., or if new in the district. 

Rostered workers need to do contact updates in three places:
1. District Office
2. Online on your SET or LEIF profile
3. Online on your LCMS Rosters and Statistics profile

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