Quick Links
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5 Day Academy for Spiritual Formation Coming Up!
Only a few spots remain for the 5 day Academy for Spiritual Formation -
July 29-Aug. 3. Join the many who have already registered including several International participants.
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Bishop Sally Dyck appoints new Urban Ministry Coordinator, Rev. Robert Biekman and Conference Secretary for Global Ministries, Pastor Shirley Pulgar-Hughes... read more...
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Blog: Read why Bishop Sally Dyck is glad to be a United Methodist. Click here.
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Free Webinar
Thursday, July 25, 2013, 6:30pm
Is Your Church Ready for a Capital Funds Campaign?
Does your church have the need for capital improvements that can't be met with funds from your operating income?
Join us as GBOD's Executive Director of Fund Development, Scott Gilpin, offers key indicators for churches to determine whether they are ready to conduct a successful Capital Campaign. The webinar is free and you can register by clicking here.
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FEMA Assistance
- Deadline extended
Illinoisans affected by the April 16 to May 5 severe weather and who have not yet registered for federal disaster assistance now have until July 24 to call FEMA's toll-free registration line at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 to find out if they are eligible for disaster assistance. Read more on Illinois recovery efforts.
Multilingual phone operators are available. Choose Option 2 for Spanish and Option 3 for other languages.
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Tornado Relief
"tornadoes 2013" in the drop down menu.
*To make an immediate $10 donation to UMCOR, text the word RESPONSE to 80888.
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Outdoor & Retreat Ministries Summer Camp
There is still time to register for many camps from now through our last retreat August 9-11.
Come for a full week or check out the partial week camps. Limited financial assistance is still available.
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 | | Rev. Mike Slaughter |
Register today! Summer Summit on Stewardship with Rev. Mike Slaughter
Don't Let This Opportunity Pass You By!
On Saturday, July 20, you have the opportunity to spend a day with one of the most exciting and effective pastors in the church today. Seize this opportunity! This day can help each of us who are clergy and each of us who are laity be more effective as leaders of our congregations.
The live Summer Summit is at Faith UMC Orland Park. It's live streamed to Elgin, Rochelle, Zion, Naperville, Princeton, Freeport and Park Ridge.
Go to www.nicumf.org for more details and to register. If the registration fee is an issue for you, call Carolyn Cook at the Foundation office (312-346-9766). We don't want anyone to miss this because funds are too tight.
Join Bishop Sally Dyck at Faith UMC Orland Park on Saturday, July 20, at 8 am, as we welcome Rev. Mike Slaughter to the Northern IL Conference.
The opportunity is just around the corner!
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Summer Mission U - July 18-21
The weekend will offer fun, fellowship, interest groups and worship and will conclude with lunch on Sunday, July 21
Children ages 7-11 will learn about Janar from Baghdad and Deronda from Detroit. Leaving home; finding home teaches lessons on migration. Study leader is Catherine Inserra Petersen, Trinity UMC Wilmette.
CEU credit is available for Pastors and scholarships are available. Contact your UMW District President.
Click here for registration and details.
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Safe Sanctuaries Training
Registration Open
 Conference-wide Safe Sanctuaries Training
Saturday, August 24, from 9 am - 3 pm
at First UMC, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin.
Registration will begin at 8:30 am. Click here for more information and registration.
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Marseilles needs help
 Floodwater from the Illinois River damaged 200 homes in this small town 75 miles southwest of Chicago on April 18. Three months later, many of these houses still need repairs and cleanup, while a dozen will likely need to be torn down. Pastor Carolyn Lukasick of Maseilles UMC, heads the community's long-term recovery committee and is calling on volunteers to come in and help residents rebuild. Click here to read more. If you or your church would like to volunteer with flood relief in Marseilles, contact Pastor Lukasick by email PastorCarolynL@gmail.com or phone (847) 271-2733.
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AC2013 DVDs Available Soon
Videos from several key events and services will be available for purchase by mid-July. Cost is $5 per DVD plus $5 shipping and handling. (The $5 S & H will cover sending up to 10 DVDs in a single shipment.) Send your requests to, Susan Gieseler sgieseler@umcnic.org, indicating which DVD you want, and the number of copies. Retirees will be sent one free copy of the retirement service, and each person ordained or commissioned will receive a free copy of the Service of Ordination & Commissioning. Videos on DVD: Opening Worship including the Bishop's State of the Church Laity Session and worship Bible Study with Bill Mefford (both days on one DVD) Filipino Methodist Church Celebration Retirement Celebration Memorial Service Service of Commissioning and Ordination |
Conference Photo Directory Update: 
Thank you for saying "CHEESE!"
If you were unable to have your photograph taken at annual conference, you can schedule a photo shoot at a location near you. You can do this online by going to appt.lifetouch.com before July 20.
The second option is to email a high resolution digital photograph (jpeg) to pastordavid@graceumclakebluff.org by July 20. This option costs the conference $10 per photo. Along with your digital photograph, please include your name and indicate clergy or laity.
We hope to have the directories available and/or distributed by early September.
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Application deadline extended for ICD & Academy Classes of 2015
The Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment has extended the deadline for applying to the new Institute for Congregational Development (ICD) Class of 2015! This is your final opportunity to join a select group of pastors and lay persons who will train together for starting new churches and ministries for reaching religious "nones." Visit www.umcnic.org/ICD and apply to ICD by August 1! Are you interested in doing the same kind of ministry in a Hispanic/Latino setting? The Academy for Faith Community Development Class of 2015 has also extended its deadline. Visit www.umcnic.org/Academy and apply to the Conference Academy by August 1! For more information about ICD and the Conference Academy, contact Judy Siaba at 312-346-9766 ext. 724 or jsiaba@umcnic.org. Don't wait! Pray and act today!
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Disciple Bible/Outreach Training
August 24, 9am-4pm
The Illinois Great Rivers and Northern Illinois Conferences are pleased to announce the establishment of Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries of IL, Inc. DBOM recruits, trains and equips local church volunteers for ministry in the prisons, jails and youth development centers using DISCIPLE Bible Study materials. All DBOM prison volunteers must be trained and certified for this ministry. This training is the first to be offered through our brand-new Illinois affiliate. Click here for more information and to register.
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Register Now for Natural Church Development Training!
September 13-14, 2013
The Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment invites you to a unique training opportunity in Natural Church Development. NCD is a process that has been developed over the past 14 years to help all churches increase in health and vitality. Join us at this special event and learn how your church can benefit from the process.
Registration only costs $60, but you must register by September 6. Registration includes materials and lunch, but participants must make their own hotel arrangements. To register or receive more information, visit www.umcnic.org/NCD or call Judy Siaba at (312) 346-9766, ext. 724.
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Spanish as a Second Language
Registration begins July 29
Starting in October, you will have the opportunity to learn Spanish through a beginner level 6-week course starting this fall. On-line registration will open July 29. A $20 donation is requested for the whole course.
At least 5 sites will be available throughout the Conference to take a class. If your congregation would like to host a class, they will need to have a local host and help to identify a Spanish-proficient teacher. Get more details by e-mailing ssl@umcnic.org
For site locations, more information and registration visit www.umcnic.org/ssl.
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