Events and Resources for LCMS Churches and Church Workers in Northern Illinois - March 15, 2016  
 

 
General Pastoral Conference Registration
Registration information has been distributed for the 2016 General Pastoral Conference, Tuesday, May 3, and Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at the Holiday Inn & William Tell Chicago SW, 6201 Joliet Road, Countryside.

Conference registrations are to be mailed in with payment by Monday, April 11, 2016, to the Conference Registrar, Rev. David E. Daniel, Zion Lutheran Church, 622 W. Jefferson St., Ottawa, IL 63150. Email Rev. Daniel or call 815-433-1408 with any questions.

All attendees are responsible for making their own room reservation at the Holiday Inn & William Tell Chicago SW, 6201 Joliet Road, Countryside. Please make your reservations by April 11, 2016, and use booking code GPC.

For complete and updated information, visit the Northern Illinois District's website at ni.lcms.org/notice/2016-general-pastoral-conference.

Print cover letter
Print registration form
Print schedule
Please use in your church bulletin
Agape Ringers Concert
St. John's Lutheran Church and School, 505 South Park Road, LaGrange, will host the Agape  Ringers - a premier handbell ensemble, Sunday, April 10, at 4 p.m. The concert is free to the public. A free-will offering will be taken. For more information, call St. John's at 708-354-1690, ext. 222, or visit www.sjlagrange.com.  Print bulletin insert   Print poster
Please use in your church bulletin
Garage Sale
Iglesia San Pablo, 555 E. Benton Street, Aurora, is holding its annual community garage sale on Friday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, April 16, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations are invited and may be dropped off April 11-15. Call 630-820-3450 if you need your donations picked up. For information, visit iglesiasanpabloaurora.org or call 630-820-3450. Print flyer
Please use in your church bulletin
"22" Monthly Meeting for Veterans and Active Duty Personnel
Kare-9 Military Ministry invites veterans and active duty members of the United States Armed Forces to "22," a monthly gathering of military members and their family members on the 22nd day of each month, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The monthly gatherings are held at Lutheran Church Charities - Hur Hall, 3020 Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook. There is NO CHARGE for military members or their families. You are asked to extend an invitation to other military members.

This month's gathering is on Tuesday, March 22. The speaker is Marine Sergeant Lucas Waldron, and free dinner is provided. Email to confirm your attendance and the number of people attending to 22@Kare9.org.
Please use in your church bulletin 
LWR Luncheon 
Friends of Lutheran World Relief (LWR) invites all to its 39th annual luncheon on Friday, April 22, at Avalon Banquets, 1905 E. Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village. Please print and post the attached poster giving reservation details.
CTS Fort Wayne Summer Musicians' Workshops
Church organists and pianists of all skill levels are invited to the summer Church Musician Workshops at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Basic Level Organists and Service Playing for Pianists will be offered June 20-24, with the Intermediate and Advanced Level Organists session taking place June 27 through July 1. More information on the sessions, instructors and registration is available at www.ctsfw.edu/MusicWorkshops.  Downloadable brochure
Please use in your church bulletin
Chicago Marathon - Phil's Friends Fundraiser
Phil's Friends is offering guaranteed entry into the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, October 9, 2016, for those that want to run in the marathon, avoid the lottery drawing for running spots, run specifically for Phil's Friends. Contact Lauren Coleman at laurenc@philsfriends.org or 224-653-8315 before April 1, 2016. Visit philsfriends.org/event/chicago-marathon for information.
Unclear? Unsure? Unsettled?
Everyone has an idea. Everyone has an expectation. And the community has so many needs. And "We've always done things this way."
The mission of the VisionPath Experience, from Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), is to provide clarity in ministry passion, alignment in ministry purpose and action in ministry processes that make known the love of Christ within church and community.

For information on LCEF,  contact Vanda Toner at 708-223-3117 or Vanda.Toner@lcef.org.  Print flyer    March 2016 Rates 
Please use in your church bulletin
Part-Time Position: Northern Illinois District - LCMS
The Northern Illinois District, 2301 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, is seeking to fill a part-time general office position. Monday thru Friday, with flexible hours. Please send resume to Ronda Wilmot. Print position description

Commissioned Workers Vacancies
Did you know that school and parish professional Northern Illinois District vacancies are updated regularly to our website at ni.lcms.org/vacancies? These Lutheran ministry vacancies have been reported to the LCMS Northern Illinois District office and are updated as vacancies are sent to us.
April 15 Deadline for NID Endowment Grant Applications
The deadline is April 15, 2016, for requests for grants. These are small grants. Eligible projects are those consistent with the goals of New Starts...New Believers of the district, its congregations and any of the corporations, associations and recognized service organizations that are listed in the current Lutheran Annual. Print application
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.
Keeping the Younger Version of Myself
Grace is a living and active part of many of our lives.  God offers it to each of us and the community of God is His very self.  It is so much a part of who He is, that we cannot know God and not know Grace. However, applying grace in our lives can be the bigger challenge. Read more 
Seven Keys to an Effective Church Social Media Strategy
These seven keys will help your church engage both members and guests on social media:
  1. Have a clearly designated point person
  2. Understand the differences in the channels
  3. Integrate social media into your current communications plan
  4. Monitor channels for feedback and respond
  5. Have a clearly defined goal for each channel
  6. Use tools for efficiency and analytics
  7. Promote the social media channels through traditional means when possible
Source: thomrainer.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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