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Communicator's Corner
.......................#BringChange
Across the nation, United Methodists are gearing up to #BringChange to celebrate World Malaria Day on April 25 by hosting various events, such as pancake breakfasts, lemonade stands, 5K walks and fashion shows to raise funds and awareness for Imagine No Malaria.
Imagine No Malaria has created useful resources for churches to host and promote events, as well as create social media buzz to #BringChange. Click here for more information and to register your church's event.
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Children get a a visit from Chicago firefighters at Epworth UMC
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Epworth UMC in Chicago is a safe haven site for Chicago Public school students this spring break. Check out this Sun Times article on how they're learning about finances and much more while having fun. Click here.
Volunteers can now apply online to serve as marshals or pages during The United Methodist Church's 2016 General Conference. The denomination's top legislative assembly will meet in Portland, Oregon, May 10-20, 2016. Submit the online application by July 31. New Church Website Online Course United Methodist Communications is offering a hands-on learning course to help churches build a website. Plus it has free web hosting perks! Click here for details.Golden Cross Sunday
Golden Cross Sunday is observed in the month of May in honor of older adults in your congregation. ORDER YOUR SPECIAL GCS OFFERING ENVELOPES NOW! Call or send an email to PONG JAVIER, OAM co-chair 708-268-7003 / abjavierjr@aol.com
Learning Spanish as Church Hospitality
Check it out! Who Is My Neighbor? Teacher Manual is now available to pre-order through Abingdon Press. The six-session resource was developed out of the NIC's Spanish as a Second Language program. It was written by Joyce Carrasco, Ruth Hoffman and Ngoc-Diep Nguyen.
The manual will be released on April 21, 2015.
sgieseler@umcnic.org.
Upcoming Missionary Intinteration Schedule
Opportunities exist this spring and early summer to visit with missionaries supported by the Northern Illinois Conference. If you would like to have a missionary visit your church please contact the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries, Rev. Shirley Pulgar-Hughes shirleymph@outlook.com. Click here to learn more.Schedule:April 20-23, Jeremias Franca April 27- May 4, Genilma Bohler May 11-24, Karen Johnson Ujereh Different Drummers: Puppet Ministry
The new Puppet Ministry at Good Shepherd UMC in Oswego was recently featured on Different Drummers. Check it out...by clicking here.
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School of Evangelism - April 18
Register today for the 2015 School of Evangelism at First UMC Elgin on April 18 with best selling author Leonard Sweet as the speaker.
Time: 8am-3pm
Location: First UMC Elgin, 216 Highland Ave., Elgin, IL
Theme: Bridging Personal and Social Witness
Registration fee: $15
Walk ins are welcome but caterer will not be able to provide lunch.
Click here for event flyer, workshop information and to register online.
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Hispanic/Latino Ministry Listening Session - April 19
 Bishop Sally Dyck invites representatives from all churches in our conference that wish to be in ministry with their neighbors in the Hispanic/Latino community to come together with leadership from the National Hispanic/LatinoPlan to talk about how we can better train and resource all our congregations in this important work.
If you have been in ministry with your Hispanic/Latino/a neighbors or want to be, we are asking you to come and share information and resources on Sunday, April 19 at Wesley UMC in Naperville from 3-5pm. This follows a weekend of listening sessions with Hispanic/Latino clergy and lay leadership.
Click here for more information and to register for this event. (no cost).
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Native American Ministries Sunday - April 19
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A Moment in Mission: Native American Ministries Sunday
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The offering received on Native American Ministries Sunday goes toward many partnerships and programs in the Native American community. Funds also go toward college scholarships for Native American students, support of tribal language classes, powwows, and other community programs such as Family Camp for Native families. "This year's Native American Special Sunday offering is all the more important as we continue our work in the future. 50% remains here in our annual conference and that amount will help us continue to take steps in the Acts of Repentance and reconciliation," said Bishop Sally Dyck. Go to www.umcgiving.org/nams for a pastor's toolkit and other resources.
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176th Annual Conference Registration Opens
April 17
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 Early Registration between April 17 - May 15 will be $75. Regular Registration between May 16 - May 29 will be $90. On-Site/Late Registration fees will apply to any registrations postmarked after May 29. The cost for on-site registration will be $125.
- Display Tables: Cost is $25 per table and $45 for a table with electricity. Tables will be on display for one-day only on Monday, June 15. The area for displays has changed from the MegaCenter to the St. Charles Ballroom. Applications and payment are due no later than May 22. To request a display table online click here.
- Meals: All reservations for group meals must be ordered by May 29. Buffet meals may still be ordered on the first day of Annual Conference. For more details go to www.umcnic.org/AC2015 and click on the "meals" tab.
- Mission Kit Challenge: You've heard about the Ice Bucket Challenge, but we have something better: the Cleaning Bucket Challenge. This year, each church is challenged to assemble at least one Cleaning Bucket and to BRING IT to Annual Conference. Visit www.umcnic.org/AC2015 and click on "Mission" for details.
- The Annual Conference Mass Choir Rehearsal April 25- for performance during the Ordination Service on Tuesday, June 16. Rehearsals will be held from 10am-Noon at First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights (1903 East Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights) on April 25, as well June 14 - 4:30 - 6:00pm at Pheasant Run. The choir will be under the direction of Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wilson - cynthia.wilson@garrett.edu.
- Bishop's Appeal: This year's special offering will go toward Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors (NIJFON) as they expand their capacity at three clinic sites, including offering special JFON legal help to those eligible for new immigration opportunities through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). Check out the latest Different Drummers segment featuring NIC youth who volunteer at JFON.
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Different Drummers: Youth Talk Immigration
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For the latest Annual Conference information visit www.umcnic.org/AC2015.
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Time to Celebrate - Reynoldswood Bottle Cap Collection
Camp Reynoldswood has reached its goal of collecting enough caps to make 3 benches. Any caps that you have right NOW, please turn in ASAP, and they will be counted towards a possible fourth bench, but please do not collect anymore after that. Volunteers are needed to help sort all of the 1200 lbs. of caps to be transported to Indiana this Saturday, April 11, from 8am-4pm in the Dining Hall. Reynoldswood is still looking for monetary donations, to help defray the cost of the benches. Please contact Eric Hoffman, Reynoldswood Site Director at director@reynoldswood.org or 815.284.6979 with any questions or for pick up arrangements.
10th Annual Interfaith Dialogue Dinner - Apr. 16
Still time to Register!
Africana Hymnal Project Preserves Rich Musical History
The Africana Hymnal Project, a multi-year effort to provide music and worship resources from African-American traditions and to identify and preserve the rich history of music forms born out of slavery, is now available for future generations of musicians and worship leaders. The project, a joint effort of Discipleship Ministries and the United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH) consists of a USB drive with 150 songs, an award winning documentary film chronicling the history of traditional music forms that are quickly disappearing from existence and a small group study guide for exploring these music forms. To learn more or more information about the project, including a brief trailer of the DVD and a complete list of the songs included on the USB flash drive, go to www.abingdonpress.com/africanahymnal.
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(click on title for more information)
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