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Communicator's CornerBishop calls for prayers and peaceful action as we await the Grand Jury Decision in Ferguson, MO.Bishop Dyck and NIC faith leaders held a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to talk about ways churches can "put legs to our prayers" around racism in our cities. Watch video of the press conference below.  | |
Bishop Dyck Press Conference on impending grand jury decision in Ferguson, MO
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Church mourns Ebola death of Sierra Leone surgeon
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Doctor says God called him to Sierra Leone - Dr. Martin Salia
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The Sierra Leone United Methodist Conference is in shock over the death of Dr. Martin Salia from Ebola. Salia, who was the chief medical officer and only surgeon at United Methodist Kissy Hospital, died after he was airlifted to the United States for treatment. "We are trying to come to terms with the reality of his death," said Bishop John K. Yambasu. "We never thought we would be losing one of our head doctors to Ebola." "He was everything to us," Yambasu said, adding Salia was one of only a very few surgeons in the country. Click here to read more. Kassig's parents remember their hostage son's desire to help
The United Methodist parents of Peter Kassig, the latest hostage executed by the Islamic State group, are remembering his dedication to assisting those who have suffered during Syria's civil war. Read the full story.
Sympathy Notices
For death notifications of current lay members to annual conference, please click here for the policy from the Board of Laity.
Giving Tuesday
The United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries announced that on Dec. 2, 2014, it will match up to $1 million in gifts made online to any project through The Advance as part of UMC #GivingTuesday. Click here to read more on some FAQ in case you were wondering how it works works with Rainbow Covenant/Imagine No Malaria. Order your 2015 InterFaith Calendar Today 
The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago's full-color, twelve-month, wall calendar is produced with the cooperative effort of 17 Religious Communities.Visit www.crlm.org to order
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President's Executive Action on Immigration
President Obama will address the nation tonight at 7pm to lay out the executive actions he's taking on immigration reform.
The Northern Illinois Conference has been working on a cooperative response with many ecumenical partners and congregations in anticipation of such an announcement. Leaders from our Chicago churches and our Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors program have been in direct contact with Bishop Sally Dyck regarding this effort.
The most immediate need is to advise members NOT to give money to anyone promising administrative relief (such as a work permit), as many fraudulent operations are already doing. There is not an expanded administrative relief program in place yet, and it will take months for it to be created. [Deferred Action for youth - commonly called DACA and DACA renewals ARE still in place for now.] The following advice can also be given:
1. Save money. There is no admin relief now and there is nothing to apply for. It will take months before a program is created.
2. Gather appropriate documents. This includes passports, birth certificates, ids, or matricula information.
3. Attend or host an information session, if needed. These information sessions will be held much later, as we learn more details about any program. They will be to assist applicants in filling out and submitting the forms. If your congregation would like to host an information session, look for a way to sign-up during Advent of this year (after Dec. 7).Click below for information on Immigration Fraud.
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Imagine No Malaria this Advent
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 The Advent season can be enhanced with Imagine No Malaria 2014 worship resources. The downloadable materials include a short video, sermon starters, hymn suggestions and children's messages. The five weeks of materials are centered on the themes of "Imagine Hope," "Imagine Peace," "Imagine Joy, "Imagine Love," all highlighted by the African hymn "I've Got The Light Of God In Me," from Cameroon. View the new VideoGet ResourcesImaginenomalaria.org/advent
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Now Available: Rainbow Covenant Advance Applications for 2015
 Applications are now on-line for ALL ministries wishing to be a Rainbow Covenant Advance in 2015. This is for ALL current and new ministries. A new Rainbow Covenant book will be created after this 2015 cycle is complete. Each ministry must fill out this form and return it to the e-mail indicated on the form.
Our United Methodist Church and our Conference has created a way that a nonprofit or a ministry involving several congregations can show its connectionalism by becoming what is called an "Advance." These Advances are numbers assigned to individual ministries that allow them to receive funds from a local congregation or even individual donors. A church or donor writes a check to the Northern Illinois Conference and puts that Advance number in the Memo line. For each gift given to the Advance, 100% goes to the intended ministry.
Click here for more information.
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Annual Election Period for Benefits ends Today!
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If you are active clergy or lay staff who participates in the Blue Cross coverage via HealthFlex, you have until midnight, November 20, 2014 to make annual elections for 2015. Please note - you do not have to re-enroll for Blue Cross medical benefits. If you are presently a participant, your insurance will continue as the new 2015 plan year starts. If you want to participate in the Medical or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) in 2015, you will have to determine your FSA elections during this Annual Election period. FSA elections do not carry over from one year to the next, so they must be made each year. Click here for more information or visit www.gboph.org. |
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NIC Directory Online Orders
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 The NIC Directory of Churches/Clergy/Laity is at the printer. We can take online orders until noon on Friday, Nov. 21. After that the cost will increase to $12 to cover additional mailing costs. If you would still like to place an order, you can pay by credit card online or send $10 (checks payable to Northern Illinois Conference) to Susan Gieseler, Media Resources Director, 217 Division St., Elgin, IL 60120.
Please note we are not providing free copies to churches or pastors this year, but the new directory is ready to download as a pdf for free at www.umcnic.org/directory.
Questions email Susan at sgieseler@umcnic.org or call 847-931-0710 ext. 17.
Place an order here.2014 Journal Now OnlineThe Journal is printed and ready to download on the NIC website. Click here. |
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Social-justice agency calls for eradicating circumstances that lead to crises such as Ebola
The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society has issued a call to the denomination to respond with faith-filled determination to prevent future recurrences of crises such as that caused by Ebola. The statement emphasizes that the underlying causes that enabled Ebola to move from a regional to a worldwide crisis must be eradicated. These include adequate medical resources, of course, but also improved infrastructure and relief on debt that burdens nations "to the detriment of being able to meet basic needs of their own citizens." Click here to read the full statement.
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.
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(click on title for more information)
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