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Communicator's Corner
....................... February Reporter
Did you get your February Reporter in the mail? There might have been some postal delays...if you did not receive it, please email
communications@umcnic.org
Youth Led Peace
Action Grants
Check out the latest Different Drummers on the NIC Urban Strategy's Youth Peace Summit
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Different Drummers: United Methodist Youth Summit
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Children & Intergenerational Ministries
Webinar Series
Creating and Nurturing an
Intergenerational Ministry
Tues., February 17, 2015
10:00am - 11:00am CDT
What is Intergenerational Ministry? What does it look like in your context? How do you create and/or nurture a faithful ministry that includes all people of all ages? Join Barbara Bruce, a well-known Christian Educator and author of several books including: Teaching Children Bible Basics, 7 Ways of Teaching the Bible to Children, and Our Spiritual Brain as we navigate the nuts and bolts of this essential and biblical ministry. Click here to register.
Y15<<Go On
Youth 2015, the national gathering for United Methodist Youth and Youth Leaders, is planned for June 24-28 in Orlando, FL
for ages 12-18. It only happens once every 4 years!
Click here fore more information.
VBS Showcase
Want to get your hands on those 2015 Vacation Bible School starter kits before you order? Cokesbury has one more scheduled VBS Showcase preview event in the Chicago area. Click here for details.
Join the Conversation
on Immigration
The General Commission on Religion and Race have launched a Vital Conversations Project. This February, GCORR's monthly Vital Conversations Project focuses its attention on how immigration and migration are changing our communities--and the intercultural competencies that are required to successfully navigate these changes. Each day there will be new resources, commentaries and stories. Click here to follow and join the conversation.
United Methodist Women National Seminar 2015 to be held in Chicago
July 29-August 2
Interrupting Indifference: Jesus, Justice and Joy
Want to participate and learn how to make a difference? United Methodist Women will sponsor 25 women for this event. To apply for one of these sponsorships, apply online today, deadline is February 13, 2015. General registration will begin in March.
Camp News
Registration Open 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.
Spring Confirmation Retreat Dates
@ Reynoldswood
March 27-28 or
April 24-25
@ Wesley Woods
March 13-14 OR April 17-18.
Click here to get started.
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| | Click on above image for Imagine No Malaria Lenten Resources and click here for more resources and devotionals.
Read Bishop Dyck's Message for Lent.
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Imagine No Malaria - Pledges grow as we near our goal Thank you to all those who have joined in the fight to eradicate malaria. We are growing close to our $1 million goal. Today we celebrate those congregations that have pledged to this work. Check out the participation of our congregations on this list.If your church wants to join in this work by making a pledge or you made a pledge and your congregation is not on the list we want you to be counted. Contact Rev. Arlene Christopherson at achristo@umcnic.org to add your church to the list of those making a commitment. Thank YOU!
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Laity Convocation - Feb. 14 -
 Who is My Neighbor? - The "Wesley" Way TODAY Can Show You! Online Registration is closed but walk-ins are welcome. Location: Sycamore UMC, 160 Johnson Ave., Sycamore, IL. Bishop Sally Dyck will be the speaker. Participants can choose to attend two of the four workshops led by laity and clergy in partnership. - Come and learn about ministry to youth and children at "No Matter the Age, No Matter the Height, They are Precious in His Sight!" led by Pastor Ayla Samson-Zaki and Nura Zaki.
- What about our leadership? "Send Me Lord!" will focus on leadership development, and will be led by Rev. Luis Reyes and Elisa Gatz.
- "The Beauty of Diversity - The Diversity of Beauty" workshop will address issues of cultural competency in our churches, and will be led by Rev. Young-Mee Park and Rev. Giovanni Arroyo.
- Finally, if you want to hear about implementing the Wesley Way today in your church, come to "WWJWD? (What Would John Wesley Do?)" This workshop will be led by Rev. Jonathan Dean and Ellen Feliciano.
Click here for more information and to register.
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Immigration News
Next week, a new application for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) begins for those brought to this country as children. Forms will become available on Feb. 18 and an additional 300,000 people should be able to apply. A new program for parents of citizen children called DAPA will also be unveiled around May 20. The NIC is responding by offering information sessions about the application process (including which documents are needed to apply for DACA). The following churches are trained and are available to hold information sessions in their area or to train other congregations to hold information sessions: 1. Sterling: Wesley (contact: Elisa Gatz) 2. Carpentersville/Barrington (contact: Sharon Orr) 3. Waukegan: San Pablo (contact: Rev. Miguel Nieves) 4. Chicago: Humboldt Park (contact: Rev. Paula Cripps Vallejo) 5. Chicago: Elston Avenue (contact: Rev. Hannah Kardon) For more information contact Rev. Michael Mann at mmann@umcnic.org.
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Save the Date - March 21 - Don't miss the bus!
 The 2015 Annual Bishop's Youth Missions Bus Tour is scheduled for Saturday, March 21 from 8am to 5pm. Youth will learn how different organizations, such as the Night Ministry and the Center for Changing Lives are responding to helping young people across Chicago. Some of the issues we will hear about include homelessness, food security, and church and community partnerships (especially with local schools). Cost: $20 per participant Lunch included Click here for details and to reserve your seat on the bus contact Rev. Michael Mann at mmann@umcnic.org.
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Black History Month
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February is Black History Month, a time when we take time to reflect on race and religion and celebrate the important roles African Americans have played in the development of the United States. Recognition of those roles from a historical perspective is an important step in celebrating the contributions of individuals and the collective changes the African American community has brought about. United Methodist Church agencies offer a variety of resources to help us remember and celebrate Black History Month.
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Let the 2014 Statistical Reporting Season Commence!
Username = GCFA # (6 digits)
Password = Conference ID # (5 digits)
Reports are due by 11:59pm on February 28, 2015!
While most of the questions within the statistical tables have remained the same, pastors and local church leaders will find a refreshing new look to the Statistical Data entry site this year. New this year is an addendum featuring six questions from the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA) seeking local church input about electronic giving. For further instructions and resources, please click here.
Volunteers needed for meal-packing - Feb. 15-16
Community volunteers are needed to help feed starving children by packing meals in two-hour shifts Feb. 15-16 at North Central College's Residence Hall/Recreation Center, 440 S. Brainard St., Naperville. An estimated 4,000 volunteers will pack up to 800,000 meals in less than 42 hours to help starving children in more than 70 countries. More than 300,000 of the meals will be directly delivered to countries impacted by the Ebola outbreak. Click here for details.
Creative Ministries Grant Application - Due Mar. 2
The NIC Program Council is currently accepting applications for creative ministries.The maximum amount available for a grant award is $3,000. Applications will be accepted until noon on Mar. 2. Click here to download the form. Read more about last year's grant recipients. Click here.
Healthy Church Initiative - Mar. 4-5The Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment invites you to "Healthy Church Initiative!" This is for all pastors and laypersons interested in bringing greater vitality and health to their congregations. This is an Institute of Congregational Development (ICD) event that is open to everyone. The speaker is Rev. Bob Farr, the Director of the Center for Congregational Excellence at the Missouri Annual Conference. Early Bird pricing ends Feb. 15. Click here for details.UMM's Annual Meeting will be held at Crystal Lake UMC. Gathering begins at 8:00am followed by breakfast, the business Meeting, and then a communion service. Click here for details.
One Great Hour of Sharing - Sunday, Mar. 15
One Great Hour of Sharing is what allows UMCOR to act as the arms and legs of Christ's church, moving toward the most vulnerable in their darkest days. Convinced that all people have God-given worth and dignity-without
regard to race, religion or gender-together we are assisting those impacted by crisis or chronic need such as victims of tornadoes, tsunamis and disease. Click here for resources.
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(click on title for more information)
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