Events and Resources for LCMS Churches and Church Workers in Northern Illinois - February 15, 2016 
Please use in your church bulletin
Salam Christian Fellowship Celebration Dinner
You are invited to celebrate Pastor Hesham Chehab's eight years of ministry to Middle Easterners and honor the volunteers and donors who have helped to make Salam Christian Fellowship possible. The celebration will be held Saturday, February 20, 6:30 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 950 Hart Road, Batavia. Please RSVP via email to Mona or call 630-432-0340.
Please use in your church bulletin
Hymnfest
All are invited to St. Andrews' annual Hymnfest, which will be held on Sunday, February 21.  Prelude begins at 3:30 p.m. and the festival starts at 4 p.m.  Hymnfest features congregational singing of special hymn arrangements interspersed with inspirational readings from a variety of Christian writers. It is led by church and school choirs, brass, handbells, instrumentalists, soloists, piano, and St. Andrews' wonderful Dobson organ. St. Andrews Lutheran Church is located at 260 N. Northwest Hwy., Park Ridge, 847-823-6656.
DCE Conference
The DCE program at Concordia University Nebraska is hosting the 2016 Heartland DCE Conference May 19-21. DCEs and other parish professionals who are interested in enhancing the intentionality and effectiveness of Christian education in the church are invited to attend. Keynote speakers include Dr. Thom Rainer, Thom and Joani Schultz, and Dr. Phil Schwadel.  Registration is $100.  Visit cune.edu/heartlandDCE for more information.
Please use in your church bulletin
Lutheran Singles Association Biennial Conference
Lutherans Singles Association (LCMS) is holding their biennial conference at Bethel Lutheran Church, 325 E Queenswood Road, Morton, Illinois, June 24-26, with guest speaker Chad Bird. Come and meet single adults from all over the country. Registration is due June 1, and there is a group rate at Quality Inn, 115 E. Ashland, Morton, IL, 309-266-8310. Email Linda Gerbitz or call 262-336-6631. Print flyer
Registration is Open for Vocatio
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is hosting their annual Vocatio program, June 25-30, for high school students (grades 9-12 for fall 2016). This six-day program encourages and equips young men and women to consider their vocation as Christians. This event includes a Concordia University System college fair, presentations, servant event in Perry County, and more. For information visit csl.edu/admissions.
Save the Date: Reformation 2017 -- Discover.  Explore.  Celebrate.
The entire district is invited to come together on the campus of Concordia University Chicago for a Northern Illinois District observance of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation on  Saturday, October 28, 2017. Pastors, congregations, schools, church leaders, children, parents and grandparents all can participate in the day-long celebration. Online registration will be available beginning September 2016 (yes, a year in advance). Join fellow Lutherans and friends in marking the seminal event of our Church and one of the most important movements in human history. Watch for more information.
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Take Heart Scholarship
The Take Heart Scholarship from Lutheran Church Extension Fund was developed for high school seniors who will be advancing to their next level of higher education, offering up to three awards of $3,000, $1,000 and $500. There are only a few requirements:
  • You must be an LCEF investor. (To become an investor under the age of 19, invest in LCEF's Young Investors Club. If you're the age of 19, invest in LCEF's StewardAccount®.)
  • You must be a high school graduating senior.
  • You must intend to be enrolled in or be accepted by a vocational/technical school, community college or four-year college/university as a full-time student.
Complete an application and essay by April 6. For information and to apply, visit wc.lcef.org/scholarship.

For information on LCEF,  contact Vanda Toner at 708-223-3117 or Vanda.Toner@lcef.org.  Print flyer  February 2016 Rates 
Please use in your church bulletin
Position Available: Organist
St. John's Lutheran Church, 401 S. St. John's Road, Woodstock, IL is seeking a church organist. St. John's conducts liturgical services using traditional and modern hymns. Responsible for worship services, weddings, directing the choir and other duties. Interested candidates may apply by submitting their resume to Sheila Beu. Call 815-388-5159 with any questions.

LCEF Internships
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) announces its Summer Internship Program for summer 2016. The program will provide an opportunity for college students to explore career paths and gain valuable work experience in many areas of LCEF. Learn more at lcef.org/internship.
VBS Program Available from Lutheran Heritage Foundation
"River of Life" is a VBS program from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation with a week-long curriculum highlighting five favorite Bible stories. The curriculum also enables children to "experience" five mission locations where LHF is working. $125 to purchase; preview at lhfmissions.org/riveroflife. Call LHF at 800-554-0723 for more information.
Deadline For Allocating Thrivent Choice Dollars
Eligible members have until March 31, 2016, to allocate their Thrivent Choice Dollars earned in 2015. Remember that you have the opportunity to direct your dollars for the NID mission funds. Visit Thrivent.com and select the Northern Illinois District LCMS.
LCMS Statistical Report Due February 29
By now your should have received information from the LCMS Office of Rosters and Statistics regarding completion of your congregation's 2015 statistical report and lay leaders form. This information is to be completed and filed by February 29, 2016. On their behalf, we are requesting that you provide this information to them as soon as possible. Please take care of this important duty. The information is helpful to both the district and Synod. (If there is information you do not have you should still submit what you can.)
Taxes and Ministers
The 2015 Taxes and Ministers manual from LCMS is a resource on tax issues for ordained and commissioned ministers. Click the highlighted text above to download; if you have trouble accessing, request a PDF via email, office@ni.lcms.org.
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.
When Jesus Appears...In The Word!
Spiritual wellbeing is easier than easy.  Falling off a log requires climbing the log, but spiritual  wellbeing is nothing more than welcoming the Lord Jesus and enjoying the blessing of His transforming work in my life. The pressure to perform is off. The drive to achieve has nothing to do with it. Read more
How Often Should Your Ministry Communicate?
Perhaps as you plan around all your communication channels, your ministry and organization are constantly asking - to what frequency should we be communicating? Of course, the right answer for your organization depends on many factors, your audience, the relationship you have with the people, their expectations, etc... Yet perhaps you need some averages to use as benchmarks and to start the discussion. Here are the most popular communication frequencies, according to the 2016 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report.
  • Twitter Updates: Multiple times a day
  • Facebook Updates: At least once a day
  • Email Appeals: Quarterly
  • Email Newsletters: Monthly
  • Direct Mail Appeals: Twice a Year
  • Direct Mail Newsletters: Quarterly, assuming you send one. A third of nonprofits won't send one at all.
Source: ministrybestpractices.com
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


LCMS Northern Illinois District, 2301 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162
Phone 888-708-LCMS          Email
nidnews.org          ni.lcms.org

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