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Change the World event (May 17-18) reaches five-year milestone Register now for free resourcesEarth Day - April 22Game Changers SummitWebinar - April 24 -7:30pmlearn more about using technology to improve people's futures. Click here for more information 
Covenant is a 24-week, video-based Bible study encouraging dialogue and conversation. It's divided into three, eight-week modules designed to fit around your schedule. Click here for more details.
Teaching Partners
The University of Chicago's Master of Divinity Program (UChicago MDiv) currently has three openings for Teaching Partners for the Arts of Ministry course sequence. Click here for more information. Arthur Landwehr
Sermon Collection
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Rev. Arthur Landwehr
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The United Library at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the compilation and digital publication of the Arthur Landwehr Sermon Collection.
The Rev. Dr. Arthur J. Landwehr II, a distinguished alum and life trustee of Garrett-Evangelical, was an incredible preacher, ecumenist, and author who spent the majority of his ministerial career serving congregations in the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Click here for more information. 
Golden Cross Sunday
is observed in the month of May in honor of older adults in your congregations. Click here for more information on how to order special offering envelopes.
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Outdoor Retreat Ministries News
Register for Spring Confirmation Retreats at Reynoldswood and Wesley Woods this April!
Not too early to start thinking of Summer Camp either!
Click herefor info and registration.
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175th Annual Conference Online Registration opens April 14
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- Register online at www.umcnic.org/AC2014
- Cost is $61 through May 8.
- Cost increases to $80 on May 9.
- The mail-in registration form will be available for download on April 14 from www.umcnic.org/AC2014 or contact your District Administrator to make arrangements to receive it.
Other Important Dates:
- Hotel Reservations at Pheasant Run can be made through May 7.
- Display Table applications due May 16.
- Opening Worship June 8 - 3pm.
- Ordination June 10 - 7pm.
For other updates and information on the 175th Annual Conference - June 8-10 visit www.umcnic.org/AC2014. The site will continually be updated as information becomes available.
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Missionary Tshala Mwengo Dies in Bus Accident
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Tshala Mwenga and Betty Tshala shared stories of their mission work in Zambia at
the 2012 Northern Illinois Annual Conference.
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Yesterday, the General Board of Global Ministries shared the sad news that Tshala Mwengo passed away. Tshala and his wife, Betty, had served at the Mujilla Falls Agricultural Project in Northwestern Zambia. He last itinerated in the Northern Illinois Conference in 2012.
According to the Rev. Michael Mann, Associate Director of Mission and Advocacy, at least 17 congregations supported him over the past 3 years, including First Arlington Heights, Welsey Aurora, the United Church of Sandwich, and Faith Freeport.
Rev. Mann met Tshala at General Conference and writes, "I was impressed with his commitment to ministry. He and his wife even lived apart from their two children for some time in order to build a ministry of sustainable development and to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The work they nurtured will endure." Read the full story...
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Urban Summit II - May 17
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Bishop Dyck welcomes participants to the first Urban Summit on May 18, 2013.
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Bishop Dyck invites all United Methodists in the City of Chicago and throughout the annual conference to come together for the 2nd Chicago Urban Summit on May 17, 2014, 8:30am - 12:30pm at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School at 211 S. Laflin, Chicago (just down the street from the episcopal residence).
Our 2nd Urban Summit will focus on "Healthy Partnerships." We will explore what makes for any healthy partnership and then in our "Action Labs," we will hear about healthy partnerships with government organizations, police, schools, and other churches (especially Chicagoland and beyond) as well as partnerships with funding sources. Click here for more information and to learn more...
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Imagine No Malaria - Music to fight Malaria
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 World Malaria Day Concert
As a celebration please join the conference for concert on April 27 from 3-4:30 pm at Barrington UMC to sing, dance and listen to music to mark World Malaria Day and our fundraising success.
Headlining our concert will be Bassel & the Supernaturals (http://basselmusic.com) a Chicago based jazz-fusion ensemble led by Syrian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Bassel Al-Madani.
"Bassel Al-Madani doesn't want audiences to just have a good time getting down at shows. He wants fans to leave Bassel & the Supernaturals shows with a sense of connection and, perhaps, new political awareness. The 25-year-old bandleader of the contemplative indie-funk ensemble is first-generation Syrian-American and has been using the band's shows and releases to benefit humanitarian efforts in war-torn Syria." - Jessica Hopper (Chicago Tribune)
Tickets to the show are $10 (in advance or at the door) and we will announce the total money raised by the conference to date at the event.
Invite your church to this event by downloading and posting this flyer.
Find more information at www.umcnic.org/imaginenomalaria as the date approaches.
Speak out to save lives!
Did you know the US Government donates 1/3 of all the money to fight malaria globally? We are a generous country, but our voices are needed to keep that generosity going.
The Steering Committee of the NIC Imagine No Malaria campaign is looking for volunteers with interest and/or experience in advocating with IL members of Congress for the health of mothers and children. If you want to be part of a dynamic advocacy team, please contact:
Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger INM Field Coordinator c: 847-431-4880
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Update on the Red Door Fund
Just one year ago, at a special session of the Annual Conference, we as the Annual Conference, voted to assist churches in our conference who were having trouble re-financing or repaying church mortgages whose rate of interest was onerous. The Fund has approved mortgage refinancing to 26 churches in the Conference, totaling approximately $21.68 million.The good news is that this refinancing will save those churches, as a group, $371,073.72 this year in interest and principal payments.
Read the full story.
Clean Slate Petition
Join the movement to make sure every youth has a fair shot at success in Illinois. The NIC Board of Church and Society encourages you to sign a petition to support the Clean Slate Initiative (HB4084 and SB978) that will break down the barriers to opportunity by requiring the state to automatically clear certain juvenile arrest records every year. Click here to learn more.
Creative Ministries Grant Applications
The NIC Program Council is now accepting applications for the 2014 Creative Ministries Grants. They are due May 1. Click here for the applications form.
Annual Conference Kit Challenge
This year's collection will benefit the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in their efforts to assemble "layette" kits which are provided to parents to welcome a new child into this world. This witness testifies to the sacred worth of every child. Click here to see your District's challenge.
Spanish as a Second Language Summer Camp
All ages are invited to participate in a one-day intergenerational experience
we are calling Spanish Camp. It brings together those who have little or no prior experience of the Spanish language, anyone who's already taken the SSL course and Spanish speaking congregations as they together celebrate and learn. The day will be held on June 28 at Barrington First United
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(click on title for more information)
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