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Communicator's
Corner
.......................Prayers for Charleston
 Read Bishop Sally Dyck's latest blog following the tragedy at Emanuel A.M.E Church. Also visit umc.org/violence for articles and resources in responding to the violence and racism.
Share Your Stories of H.O.P.E.
United Methodist congregations are being invited to share stories about how they are making disciples for the transformation of the world as they offer the H.O.P.E of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.
Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church, which developed the acronym H.O.P.E. (Hospitality, Opportunity, Purpose, Engagement)
to help remember steps in disciple-making, is posting the stories to celebrate how individuals and congregations make disciples on a new website, UMCHOPE.org. Click here to learn more.
Artwork for Sale
If you missed the sale of postcards and notecards of the beautiful "water"
images painted by Rev. Kristine Marshall which incorporated our worship theme of "Replenish", you can still buy them online. Proceeds will go toward the Bishop's Appeal for Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors. Order deadline: July 9
Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries presents Sanctuary this Sunday:
Selma at 50: Still Marching
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| | Watch Sanctuary this Sunday, June 28 at 11:30am on ABC - Ch. 7 |
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Tornadoes hit North-Central Illinois
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An EF-3 tornado left a path of destruction in Coal City Monday night damaging many homes and businesses - the second tornado to hit this north-central Illinois community in 19 months. The National Weather Service confirms at least 9 tornadoes touched down late Monday in Will, Kankakee, Lee, Grundy and LaSalle counties. Cleanup is well underway. Coal City UMC which served as a Disaster Response Center after the November 2013 tornado has been reactivated into operation. They served over 700 meals yesterday to volunteers and victims of the storm. In all, the congregation has 18 first-responders certified by the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Cash donations to the Illinois Great Rivers Conference Disaster Response Fund Advance Special #6800 will be used to make purchases and get them delivered to the site. Online donations may be made on the IGRC website at:
Check the NIC Disaster Response Facebook page for updates on other volunteer and donation needs.
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Annual Conference Highlights
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We hope everyone came away from Annual Conference "Replenished"! There were many highlights from our 2 1/2 days together including: Acts of Repentance, Celebration of Latino/Hispanic Ministries and the commissioning of 17 lay missioners, Reaching our Imagine No Malaria $1 million dollar goal, Retirement and Memorial Services, Ordination of 6 Elders and 2 Deacons, Commissioning of 7 for the work of an Elder and one for the work of a Deacon, as well much fellowship and reconnecting with friends.
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Photos from the Ordination & Commissioning Service are available to download on our Shutterfly page. Click here
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Evaluation Form: If you registered for Annual Conference, you should have received an email with the online evaluation form. Click here for the link. Please fill this out if you attended Annual Conference. Your feedback helps us plan for next year.
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Legislation: The Annual Conference approved legislation that included, a resolution to divest from fossil fuel, support of an Illinois House Bill to provide mental health resources for Illinois inmates, and petitions to change the General Church structure. 23 petitions in all will be sent on to General Conference. Click here to read more. A special session will be held Nov. 7 at Court Street UMC in Rockford to discuss and vote on the 2016 budget. Save the date.
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Bishop's Appeal: Over 250 churches participated raising
$42,483 for Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors (amounts still to be totaled). The traveling trophy went to the Aurora District. The
Ministerial Education Fund offering totaled: $2,983.94
- Bishop's Recommended Reading: A list of Bishop Dyck's recommended books is available at Cokesbury.com.
- Annual Conference DVDs: Copies of the following services will soon be available on DVD: Opening Worship (Acts of Repentance), Memorial, Retirement, Ordination, Episcopal Address, Hispanic/Latino Celebration. All are $5 except for Ordination, which is $10 (set of 2). Shipping is $5 for up to 10 DVDs. Please contact Susan Gieseler at: sgieseler@umcnic.org or 847-931-0710 ext. 17
Many more highlights and a wrap up article will be included
in the July/August Reporter
and soon on our website
visit: www.umcnic.org/AC2015.
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Letter to Gov. Rauner
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Diana Davis, Nancy Grim Hunter, Bishop Sally Dyck and Rita L. Simpkins-Smith
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Thank you to everyone who signed the Bishop's Letter to the Governor on behalf of the Children's Table at Annual Conference.
The signboard letters will be presented to the Governor's Office to share your voice with respect to the impact of proposed budget cuts on children and families in our communities.
Thank you, United Voices for Children for your groundswell of support to resource this initiative.
Are you interested in becoming a Children's Champion for your church? Click here for more information and the Children's Table initiative.
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UMW National Seminar - July 31 and Aug. 1
United Methodist Women from across the country will gather at the University of Illinois-Chicago in late July for a National Seminar, an in-depth experience of worship, Bible Study, education and action for social justice. National Seminar is a leadership development experience for United Methodist Women members to draw on faith and biblical tradition to discern and respond to justice priorities through service and advocacy. Bishop Sally Dyck will be presenting on July 31 at a town hall meeting on mass incarceration from 7-9pm. Click here for the event details.
Seminar program offers `In Focus' introductory events
Deadlines are approaching for "In Focus" introductory events for youth groups and young-adult leaders of ethnic minority local churches and campus ministries on the United Methodist Seminars on National and International Affairs. The deadline for the July 7-9 "In Focus" is June 26.
Learn more...Stewardship Summit- Aug. 22Visionary Stewardship! United Methodist Foundation's 12th Annual Stewardship Summit will be held Sat., Aug. 22 at Barrington UMC from 9am-3pm. Keynote Speaker is Rev. Dr. Michael Vilardo. Click here for registration and details.
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(click on title for more information)
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