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Communicator's Corner
Camp News
Registration Opened Dec. 8 for Summer Camp 2015!
Check out the Dec/Jan Reporter pages 5-8 for a special Camps insert with all the listings for Reynoldswood and Wesley Woods.
Or click here to check it out online.
Imagine No Malaria This Advent
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. Immigration Executive Action Plan
Many congregations have been asking how they can help or where they can receive information about the Executive Action plan that was recently announced by President Obama. The first thing we always advise is to help those in your congregations avoid fraud. There is no Executive Action plan yet in place. The plans do not take effect until February (for one) or late May for another. Save money, as it will be needed for the applications when they are made available. Click here to read more.
Sympathy Notices
For death notifications of current lay members to annual conference, please click here for the policy from the Board of Laity.
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.
Different Drummers highlights
Chicago Southern Dist.
Youth Ministries | |
Different Drummers: United Methodist Church Chicago Southern District
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Ferguson United Methodist Pastor to speak at MLK Day Celebration
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Save the date: Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 at 5pm.
Location: St. Mark United Methodist Church in Chicago
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Rev. Johnson, who is also a father of a teenage son, has been leading the way working to bring peace in the community following the shooting death of Michael Brown. He and other area UM pastors have led prayer vigils, helped with cleanup, met with community leaders and comforted protesters.
"The ultimate concern is this: under no pretense does someone deserve to lose their life, and in this case to have innocence stripped," said Johnson in a recent UMNS article. "Innocence is not defined by court law but by the fact all life is sacred. In our faith tradition, that is enough to stand on." |
#Black Lives Matter
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Members of at least six Chicago United Methodist churches joined in a nonviolent protest on Sunday, Dec. 7 that included Holy Communion in the streets.
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In joint conversation in regards to recent unanswered injustices toward Black persons in America, nearly two dozen denominational leaders, including Bishop Sally Dyck, are asking members of their respective denominations to wear black to church on Sunday, December 14, 2014. They're calling on congregations to be in solidarity with the message that "Black Lives Matter." Moreover, they are asking pastors on that Sunday to have special prayer at the altar, asking God's presence and protection over the lives of our Black men. Read the full statement.Last Sunday, Holy Covenant, Berry, Urban Village Church, Broadway, First UMC at the Chicago Temple and Greater Englewood were some of the United Methodist Churches which took part in a city-wide witness against racial injustice, offering communion in the streets, blocking traffic and carrying signs reading "Black Lives Matter".
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2014 Apportionment Giving Update
By: Merrie Bunt
As of November 30, a total of 341 congregations, including 3 New Faith Communities, have contributed over $4.5 million through Apportionments and another $528,000 in second-mile, designated giving.
We are so grateful for every congregation's faithful generosity. Apportionment giving TRULY helps sustain the transformational ministries of the NIC and is a blessing to each and every community impacted by our work.
The postmark deadline for all 2014 contributions is January 10, 2015. To avoid delays in processing, we request checks be made payable to Northern Illinois Conference and mailed to P.O. Box 66883 Chicago, IL 60666-6883. We celebrate with those churches which have already contributed 100% of their Apportionments. Click here for the list.
Click here for information on the 2015 Apportionment Appeals Process from CCFA.
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Save the Date: Winter Warming Jan. 17
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 Saturday, January 17, 2015 2:00 - 8:00 pm First UMC Elmhurst 232 S. York Rd. Elmhurst, IL Cost: $15 for Adult $10 for Youth Schedule includes:
- Ferguson Forum: Faith and Confronting Justice - led by Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey
- Workshops
- Dinner
- Worship with Bishop Sally Dyck preaching
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Advent Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Season
| |  Have you been taking the daily Advent Quiz? UMC.org is hoping to make it both enlightening and entertaining! See how much you know about the traditions and symbols of the season by clicking on the daily questions here.
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NIC Church & Society Grants - Deadline Dec. 30, 2014
The Board of Church and Society administers two different grant programs. Emerging Ministries Grants are given to new programs which support one of four areas: Economic Justice, Reducing Community Violence, Environmental Improvement, and Immigration. Peace with Justice Grants are awarded to projects that focus on violence, suicide prevention, or domestic violence for example. The same application is used to apply to both programs. All applications are due December 30, 2014. To apply visit www.umcnic.org/grants to download the application.
Order of Elders Gathering - Jan. 13, 2015
Join the Order of Elders for Covenant Conversations with Bishop Sally Dyck. 9 am - 2:00 pm at Barrington UMC, 98 Algonquin Rd., Barrington, IL. RSVP at nicorderofelders@gmail.com. Continental breakfast and lunch provided Please note any dietary restrictions when responding. Questions may be directed to Dennis Langdon @ (312) 402-7577. We, among other things, as Elders are called... "to take a responsible place in the government of the Church" Together, with our Bishop, we can meet its challenges.
Next Listening session at Midwest SOARRING Foundation, 1 Hickory Lane Westchester, IL. Time TBD.
Rainbow Covenant Application Deadline - Jan. 31, 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. Click here for more information.
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