Correction to NIC eNews

Calling all Church Communicators

The annual meeting of the United Methodist Association of Communicators is in Chicago this year from Oct. 25-27 at the Palmer House. This is a great opportunity for anyone who works on church communications!

There are many great speakers and workshops. Bishop Sally Dyck will be leading worship and a roundtable on Fri. Oct. 25. Click here for information and to register.

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Disaster Class

A Connecting Neighbors class is scheduled for September 14, 9am-1pm, at WILMINGTON UMC - 401 E Kahler Rd, Wilmington 60481.

Cost: $20 includes manual and snacks. Space is limited. Call the church to register. 815.476.5474

Bishop Dyck calls for Prayers
for Peace in Syria

Please pray for peace and peaceful negotiations with Syria this weekend.

Pope Francis has called for a day of fasting and prayer on Saturday, September 7, but I would also encourage every local church to pray for peace on Sunday, September 8, in our worship services across the Northern Illinois Conference.

The use of chemical weapons against the people of Syria has created terrible suffering and a scary precedent but the dichotomy between military force and impunity is a false one, as pointed out by the General Board of Church and Society (see article listed below), and we need to pray and call for peaceful negotiations. Read on.

Alert: Conferences report scam targeting churches

At least half a dozen conferences from across the connection, including Northern Illinois, are reporting attempts to scam local churches, staff and committee members in their areas by people asking for money to help a relative in desperate need.

In several recent cases, someone convincingly claims to be an actual United Methodist bishop (typically Bishop Bledsoe, Bishop Holston or Bishop King). They ask to send them money through a pre-paid credit card.

Any communication from a United Methodist bishop would come directly from a conference office-and you would never be asked to send a pre-paid credit card anywhere. If you or your church receives a call from a purported bishop (or any other call that seems questionable), do not send money and please call the police and file an incident report.

Plumbline - Application deadline Today!

Deadline for Plumbline EXTENDED until today, September 5.

If you or a youth in your church is interested in going, please contact Rev. Michael Mann, mmann@umcnic.org or 847-931-0710, ext. 20.

Plumbline 2013 is a 4-day trip to New York City for high school youth in the NIC conference from Sunday, October 13 to Wednesday, October 16.

This year's theme is Immigration: stories, faith, future. We will look at the history and the stories surrounding people's migration to the U.S., including why this issue has come up at this time.

UMM Spiritual Congress

Join us at Williams Bay Wisconsin, September 13-15 for our 54th Spiritual Congress.

Annually the NICUMM have been sponsoring this event. All are welcome. This includes all clergy and all men of the United Methodist Church for a relaxing weekend in one of the most beautiful spots in America.

The guest speaker this year is dynamic speaker, author and teacher, David Murrow. Click here for registration and more information.

JFON Fundraiser Dinner September 15

Come celebrate the work of Justice for Our Neighbors (Northern Illinois) at our Second Annual Celebration Dinner! The Fundraiser Dinner will be held September 15, 2013, 5:00 pm at the European Chalet (5445 S.Harlem Ave., Chicago, IL 60638).

Tickets require a $50 donation. Register online today!

Because of a National JFON Grant, every individual grant given to JFON this year will be MATCHED. Your gift to the dinner can be doubled, up to a total of $10,000. In order to qualify, a gift must come from an individual and not from a congregation. This is so that JFON can follow-up with that person, creating a relationship that transforms.

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.

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.

Upcoming Healthy Discipleship Systems Weekend - October 4-5, 2013

The Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment invites ALL pastors, church staff, lay persons, and other interested parties to this two-day training. Pastor Junius Dotson (Saint Mark UMC, Wichita, KS) will lead seminars in developing healthy discipleship systems for vital Christians in vital churches.

The Healthy Discipleship Systems Weekend is October 4-5 at Crowne Plaza Hotel (2875 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, IL), Registration costs $70, but you can save $10 by registering before September 13. To register or receive more information, visit www.umcnic.org/discipleship or call Judy Siaba at (312) 346-9766, ext. 724.

We have a new Facebook page: Imagine No Malaria - Northern Illinois. Follow us for latest updates and resources! Click here.

For more information on the NIC Imagine No Malaria campaign contact:

Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, Field Coordinator - c:847-431-4880
e: rbrommelfanger@umcnic.org
visit www.umcnic.org/imaginenomalaria for online resources.

Spanish as a Second Language
Spanish Teachers Still Needed

Are you proficient in Spanish and have experience teaching? Then apply to become a Spanish as a Second Language teacher. Our teachers are given a curriculum to use and an orientation that can train them on teaching in the classroom. Come and share your gifts, inviting others to know their neighbors. A stipend is available to our teachers.

Download the application here

Classes

Want to learn Spanish? Classes are filling up for the fall session. Click here to register.

For a complete list of site locations, dates, times, forms and registration visit www.umcnic.org/ssl. Questions email ssl@umcnic.org.

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.
The deadline for the October Reporter is September 15, 2013.

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