logo
                                       December 20, 2012

Luke 1:35
And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy-the Son of God.
In This Issue
Grant Deadline
Prayers for Sandy Hook
MLK Celebration
Reclaim Christmas
Help Hurricane Sandy Victims
Apportionment Update
Peace Program
Winter Warming 2013
Winter u

Quick Link

Appointments and Retirements
 
eNews Archives

   

Like us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter  
Upcoming Events

December Local Church Events

NIC Board of Church & Society Grant Applications due - Dec. 30

Human Trafficking Awareness Day - Dec. 30

DeKalb District Lay Leadership Training - Jan. 5

 Martin Luther King Conference Wide Celebration -Jan. 20 - 4pm

UMW Winter Mission u information - Jan.18-20, 2013

 

Winter Warming - Jan. 19 

 

2013 Ethnic Young Adult Internship Program Application due Jan. 11  

 

Mission trip to the Philippines  Jan. 28-Feb. 8, 2013  

 

National Workshop on Christian Unity - April 8-13

Communicator's Corner

Planning for the 2013 United Methodist Special Sundays? Click here for new resources including children's sermons.

 

 

NIC Board of Church and Society Grants

The NIC Board of Church and Society is currently taking grant applications for its two different programs: Emerging Ministries Grants and Peace with Justice Grants.

The same application titled Universal Grant  is used to apply to both programs. All applications are due December 30, 2012. Click here to download the application.
Prayers for Sandy Hook Community
The Northern Illinois Conference continues to pray with all
 those touched by the shooting tragedy in Connecticut. 

 

Newtown United Methodist Church, which is within walking distance of Sandy Hook elementary school, served as a respite center for Red Cross first responders and opened its sanctuary for prayer. Two 7-year-olds from the congregation were among those killed in the rampage.

 

Other United Methodist churches and groups have responded to the tragedy by offering support. Click here to see headlines, useful links and resources related to school violence. 

Memorial of candles, flowers, stuffed animals, and cards for the children and 6 adults who died at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. An IAUMC photo by Arthur McClanahan
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

James Lawson
Rev. James Lawson
Conference wide celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013

Special guest speaker is Rev. James Lawson, Pastor Emeritus at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles and human rights leader.

Location:
Hartzell Memorial UMC
3330 S. King Dr., Chicago
4pm Gathering with light refreshments
5pm Worship Service
Reception to follow

Reclaim Christmas -
Spend Less and Give More
Take the pledge and Reclaim Christmas this year. Click here for resources and more information from Rethink Church.

Click here for UMCOR alternative giving opportunities. 

 

Relief and Donations still needed to help Hurricane Sandy victims  

Thousands of Hurricane Sandy survivors have seen the church in action during the last month.
Sushil Bhujbal
Help is still needed for victims of Hurricane Sandy. 

 

Please send new cleaning supply buckets or supplies for the buckets to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, IL. Contact Kathy Kraisa KKRAISA@umcor.org for more information.   

 

Keep the care going. Donations are low. Your contribution will help UMCOR to be with storm survivors over the long term of their recovery.  Please give to Hurricanes 2012, UMCOR Advance #3021787. 

Apportionment Update

by Merrie Bunt, Apportionments Administrator, mbunt@umcnic.org

I am thrilled to report that the churches of the Northern Illinois conference have given over $5.2 Million so far in 2012, about 5% more compared to 2011.

A big thanks to the 53 churches which have already paid 100% apportionments. The postmark deadline for 2012 apportionment money is January 15, 2013. Click here for list of churches which have paid 100%.

 

Peace Program
Jim Winkler

"Ideas for working for peace & justice"
Speaker: Jim Winkler 

WHEN:  Saturday, December 29, 
Program starts at 2pm
WHERE: Court Street UMC, 215 North Court Street, Rockford
 
Jim Winkler is the General Secretary of the United Methodist's Board of Church & Society and over the last 12 years has focused helping United Methodists work on justice and mercy; and implementation of the United Methodist churches' Social Principles.
 
This program free and open to the public, and is sponsored by Rockford Urban Ministries as a Holiday gift to our community. Call 815-964-7111 for more information.
Winter Warming 2013: A con­gress of Rec­on­cil­ing United Methodists

Bib­li­cal Obe­di­ence: The Higher Law of Love

Pre­sented by the North­ern Illi­nois Con­fer­ence Rec­on­cil­ing Min­istries Task Force  

Sat­ur­day, Jan­u­ary 19, 2013 from 2-7pm. 

Location: First United Methodist Church of Elmhurst
232 S. York Road, Elmhurst, IL
630-834-2440
www.umcelmhurst.org  

 

Click here www.winterwarming.com for more information and to register.

UMW Invites you to join Winter u
Haiti, Immigration, Poverty.  What do they have in common?  You guessed it.  They are studies offered during our winter event of Mission u (formerly School of Christian Mission).

So come one and come all.  From Friday evening, January 18, to lunch on Sunday, January 20, the United Methodist Women will convene for Mission u in beautiful, pastoral Camp Reynoldswood, Dixon, Illinois. Registration deadline Jan. 7, 2013. Click here for more info.

Join Our Mailing List!

Please send emails for the eNews or the Reporter to Anne Marie Gerhardt, Dir. of Communications at communications@umcnic.org.

All submissions for eNews must be received in writing no later than 4pm on Tuesday each week.