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Communicator's Corner_______________ Daylight Savings Time Ends  Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour this Sunday, Nov. 2!!!!
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Ebola Response
Central United Methodist Church,
8237 Kenton Ave., Skokie is holding a "Taste of Sierra Leone" - African Feast on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 5-9pm to raise money to purchase and send a TRU-D Robot, an $85,000 Ultraviolet light disinfecting remote machine, to help clean the contamination and stop the spread of the virus in the West African country.
Pan-African Rural Health and Social Services (PRHeSS) is trying to raise $7,000 to ship $1.5 million dollars worth of much-needed drugs donated by Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Sierra Leone. For more information on how you can help click here for full article. *********** Since June 2014, the General Board of Global Ministries' United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and Global Health unit have been working in collaboration on a global scale to coordinate an integrated approach in response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. Click here to read more and how you can help. Watch the news piece on ABC7 Chicago which aired last Friday.
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Job Opening NIC Database Coordinator
This role will interact collaboratively with all Conference departments and the Conference Secretary to effectively conduct Conference operations, oversee important multi-user database and produce annual journal. Job responsibilities also include receptionist duties at the Chicago Conference office.
Click here to learn more.
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NIC Urban Strategy Featured on Different Drummers
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Different Drummers: United Methodist Church's Urban Strategy
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Sympathy Notices
For death notifications of current lay members to annual conference, please click here for the policy from the Board of Laity.
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Easy2Give App
The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA), working in partnership with Vanco Services, LLC, has developed a convenient mobile-device app that will allow members and visitors to make donations to the church while they are in service or if they are away.
The app, called "Easy2Give", is now available as a free download for Android™ devices. An AppleŽ iOS version will be available by the end of the year.
Click here to learn more. ___________
You Shop. We Give 
Great, easy way to receive donations to your church!
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Wanna Borrow our Boots?
 If you've ever fantasized about doing a little international mission work, and/or running a bakery/pizzeria in Bolivia, we've got a great opportunity for two people to step into our shoes for five weeks in December/January when we fly home to Illinois. We'd spend a week or ten days with you, introducing you to our friends and neighbors as well as local vendors, walking you through routines such as how to catch precious water in the morning, how to bash open the front door, when and where to buy produce, and how transportation systems work. If this fascinating, gratifying, benefit-rich, salary-free opportunity to help us, the restaurant, and the mission appeals to you, please email us right away at jeffandeb@gmail.com. Thank you! Jeff & Deb - Mision Fronteras |
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Judicial Council Ruling
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At our regular session of annual conference in June 2014, there was legislation before the body, entitled " In Support of Marriage Equality." The legislation passed with an overwhelming majority. Following its passage, Rev. Scott Field requested a bishop's ruling on it. The wording of the legislation, the request for the ruling, my ruling, and the Judicial Council's decision can be found by clicking here: Judicial Council Decision 1284. The Judicial Council ruled at its next regular session in October 2014 that the ruling was reversed and therefore, "null, void, and of no effect." They determined that "it is not the duty of the presiding bishop to rule upon hypothetical questions which may be propounded, nor to answer requests for information which involve no legal matter."
It is "moot and hypothetical" and therefore I should have simply said that and not responded to it. Another technicality in the request for a ruling was that no specific provision within the Discipline was given and the Judicial Council insists on these citations. My ruling is "null, void, and of no effect" but the legislation stands as approved and a part of the Northern Illinois history of legislation on this subject matter.
Please understand that these rulings, the Judicial Council's decision and this explanation is about process/procedure and not about the content of the legislation.
~Bishop Sally Dyck
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Last week to Register - Accessibility Awareness Conference - Nov. 8
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 Barrington UMC, 98 Algonquin Rd., Barrington 8:30am- 3:30pm A must for every church! Let us gather together to learn new ways to provide access to God's house for all regardless of physical and/or mental challenges. Breakout Sessions, Vendor Displays and more. Please share this information with the laity in your church especially your Lay Leader and Trustees chairperson. Keynote speaker: Lynn Swedberg, consultant for UM Committee on Disability Ministries. Cost $25 includes box lunch. More information. Click here to register.
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Youth Summit in the City - Nov. 14
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 Youth from United Methodist Churches in Chicago and Chicagoland are gathering Friday, November 14 for a "Youth Summit in the City" at St. Mark UMC, 8441 S St Lawrence Ave, Chicago.
The event will feature a performance by the F.C.B.C Youth Drama Company. Activities planned will be designed to reflect the summit's theme of promoting peace and will include youth earning a "peace passport.
The evening kicks off at 5:30pm. Click here for details
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Second Anniversary of Super Storm Sandy - Help still needed
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Salem United Methodist Church in Barrington traveled to New Jersey for five days in June 2013 and worked on a home ˝ block from Raritan Bay, between NJ and NY, where 15 ft. surges devastated much of the shoreline and famous boardwalks.
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Two years ago today, Superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey. It changed the landscape, communities and lives forever. It was the second worst storm in U.S. history, affecting more than one million households. Today there are still thousands of homes yet to be repaired.
The United Methodists of Greater New Jersey with the support of United Methodists from around the world have created the most robust relief and recovery effort in the State of New Jersey.
40 homes are ready to be worked on today if we had more volunteers. We need more volunteers. To bring a group of volunteers to work with us contact Lisa at info@afuturewithhope.org. You can help us in our ongoing fundraising by contacting Carolyn at cconover@gnjumc.org.
Read more of Greater New Jersey Bishop John Schol's message on their relief efforts and how your church can help.
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National Hispanic Plan for the Northern Illinois Conference
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 Recently at a NIC National Hispanic Plan meeting, it was announced that we are going into a time of reconstruction of our Hispanic Plan. We have many programs and ways in which we are engaged in outreach but they need to be aligned in order to be more effective.
In the next few weeks, we will begin a process of assessment of what we are doing well, what our needs are as well as the opportunities and challenges we face. Listening teams will be going out to talk with young people, clergy, laity and entities within our annual conference as a part of this assessment process.
If you have ideas, thoughts, concerns, or a desire to contribute, please let Rev. Chris Pierson know so that he can be sure to connect you with those who will be holding the conversations. Contact him at cpierson@umcnic.org or 847-931-0710 ext. 15.
We hope to have a new plan to begin to implement by annual conference and then gather together for an Hispanic Summit in the fall of 2015.
~Bishop Sally Dyck
*En Espanol
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Latina/Latino Ministry Grants
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This grant opportunity is for Latina/Latino ministries in congregations in the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC). It is a one-time grant for 2014 ONLY. Awards will be made in December of 2014.
All applications must be received by 5 pm on November 15 at mmann@umcnic.org or (by mail) 217 Division Street, Elgin, IL 60120.
These grants are intended to support congregations engaging in ministries with Latinas and Latinos.
Awards will be based on those who demonstrate effective use of resources. Details regarding any proposed spending is of paramount importance. Results, collaboration, and opportunity for on-going ministry will also be key factors in this determination. Click here to download a pdf application or visit www.umcnic.org/grants for a .doc file.
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Acts of Repentance - Next Listening Session
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 Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
2121 Sheridan Rd.
Evanston, IL
Wednesday, November 19, 7pm in Room 205
Thursday, November 20, 11:15am - Worship in the Chapel of the Unnamed Faithful
Visit www.umcnic.org/nativeamerianministries for information and future dates as well as many resources for worship, prayer and study. |
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NIC Directory Orders
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We are in the process of finalizing the NIC Directory of Churches/Clergy/Laity. If you placed your order during Annual Conference Registration, expect your directory in the mail in the coming months. If you would still like to place an order, send $10 (checks payable to Northern Illinois Conference) to Susan Gieseler, Media Resources Director, 217 Division St., Elgin, IL 60120. Please note we cannot offer free copies to churches or pastors this year. Questions email Susan at sgieseler@umcnic.org or call 847-931-0710 ext. 17. |
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Apportionment Resources Online
Apportionments are one of the most significant ways in which we as United Methodists stay connected to each other and to the shared mission of The United Methodist Church. Through apportionment giving, United Methodists are able to do together what no individual, church, cluster, district, or conference could possibly do on their own. Click here for 5 Great Apportionment Resources for 2015 and to find your church's 2015 Apportionment calculation worksheet.
Institute for Congregational Development Special Guest
November 14-15, 2014
The Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment of the Northern Illinois Conference invites you to our "VITALITY For The 21st Century Church" workshop! This is for all pastors and laypersons interested in strengthening their congregations and reaching out to new people! Rev. Olu Brown of Impact Church in Atlanta, Georgia, is joining us! Two-days of teaching, training, and collaborating of the best practices for revitalizing and turning toward mission. Click here to register.
United Methodist Student Day calls the church to support students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. The offering provides scholarships for qualified United Methodist students. November 30 is set as this year's United Methodist Student Day, but your congregation may choose to celebrate on any Sunday during the year.To help promote this Special Giving Sunday, a collection of resources are available to download and use in your own church communications.
News from Reynoldswood - New Bottle Cap Collection
Sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church (Dixon), and supported by other local churches, Reynoldswood is collecting clean bottle caps, to be recycled to make 6' benches. Benches will be used throughout the camp. We have collected 100 lbs, and need at least 400 lbs per bench. A list of can be found on our website at www.reynoldswood.org. Please consider collecting these caps or making a cash donation to help us "be green" at Reynoldswood Christian Camp. For questions, or more information, please contact Eric Hoffman, Reynoldswood Site Director, at 815.284.6979 or director@reynoldswood.org.
Upcoming Events at Reynoldswood
Holiday Craft & Vendor Show, Saturday, November 15, 2014 - 10:00am-4:00pm (Serving Lunch & Refreshments). Holiday Tea, Saturday, December 6, 2014 - 2:00-3:30pm. For more information visit www.reynoldswood.org.
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