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Communicator's
Corner
Correction:
In the September Reporter North Central College Chaplain, Rev. Eric Doolittle's email is incorrectly listed.
It should be:
2015 Game Changers Summit, Sept. 17-19
Join United Methodist Communications in harnessing the power of communications technology for global good. At the 2015 Game Changers Summit in Nashville, you will learn from global experts and church leaders who are already finding success in this new landscape. Discover how to integrate simple solutions into your global work, and meet people seeking partners to maximize programming and forge lasting relationships.
Click here for more information and to register today.
UMCMarket Relaunches
The online shopping portal, UMCMarket,
re-launched on July 13,
using more advanced technology and faster delivery of donations. Working with
Tribute, Inc., the new and improved UMCMarket will provide an enhanced user experience,
quicker access to status reports, regular distribution of micro-donations
and the addition
of hundreds of savings offers for participants.
Check it out at
Disciple Fast Track is looking for 10 churches from each Annual Conference to join a second round of beta testing to make sure the new Fast Track study is of the highest quality. For nearly thirty years, the original Disciple Bible Study has helped millions of people read through the Bible and grow in their faith through a 34-week class.
Churches that participate in this beta 2 testing phase will receive the final, official-release materials at no cost.
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Katrina 10 years later
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 10 years ago this weekend, Hurricane Katrina made landfall causing catastrophic destruction along the Gulf Coast. When the waters finally receded from Katrina, life looked hopeless. An ugly gray sludge coated everything, mold "bloomed" everywhere. The smell was unbearable and unforgettable.In the decade following Aug. 29, 2005, United Methodist News Service made many visits to places wrecked by Katrina. Progress has been made and in 2015, after all the darkness, silver linings have begun to emerge. Churches have been rebuilt and ministries are stronger than before. Hundreds of thousands of United Methodists took part in that recovery with their hearts, hands and money. Here are their stories of resurrection. Click here to read the series of reports from Kathy Gilbert and photographer Mike DuBose.
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NIC Pastor's Son Remembered as a Hero
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Jennifer and Andrew Zajac were married last November.
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Andrew Zajac, 26, one of the three firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service killed in the state of Washington, is the son of the Rev. Mary Zajac, senior pastor at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, Ill., and her husband, Jim. Andrew Zajac, Tom Zbyszewski, 20, and Richard Wheeler, 31, were killed and four others injured when flames overtook their crew one week ago. Wheeler was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wenatchee, Washington.
Rev. Zajac continues to thank everyone for their outpouring of support and posted on her Facebook page that a memorial service for all three firefighters will be held at 1:00pm on Sunday in Wenatchee, Washington. The Zajac's have been in Washington with their son's wife and family this past week. "Being here in the place Andrew loved with our daughter-in-law and her family has been a blessing in the midst of this storm. God is with us," wrote Mary.
The Zajac Family has asked that anyone wishing to donate "In Memory of Andrew Zajac" consider the following:
Read more from the Chicago Tribune on Andrew and click here to hear the family's video statement.
Keep the those continuing to battle the wildfires on the West Coast in your prayers. Read more on how one UMC church in Washington is helping to bring relief to those fleeing the fires.
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Bishop's Invitation to Clergy
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A conversation about biblical authority in light of human sexuality:
All clergy are invited to a day to discuss biblical authority with your clergy peers on Oct. 5, 9am-3pm at First UMC Arlington Heights. Dr. Cheryl Anderson, professor at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, will teach and lead us in discussion about what biblical authority is. The Bible is often the stumbling block between Christians around human sexuality but it also impacts other issues such as gender. Last year our gathering of clergy focused on our shared ministry in pastoral care, specifically around same-gender marriage, but this day will challenge as well as enlighten us on biblical understanding and interpretation.
We will be limited in our space accommodations so the priority will be anyone appointed to a local church (elders, local pastors, and retirees who are appointed to a church) and deacons whether appointed to a church or not. Those who are retired, but not appointed to a local church, are welcome to register if there is available space (the registration will be cut off when we meet our maximum capacity for the space).
In order to register, you will need to agree to the "Rules of Engagement" which you will find on the registration form. You are highly encourage you to read Dr. Anderson's book, Ancient Laws and Contemporary Controversies
, before the event (available in kindle edition). Please note: no childcare will be available during the event. We also are asking you to bring a favorite Bible with you. Registration: $20 (to cover lunch, event expenses and speaker)
Click here to register
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Safe Haven Sites Serve Hundreds of
CPS Students this Summer
 This summer nearly 500 children are enrolled at United Methodist Church Safe Havens across the city of Chicago. Safe Haven is a partnership with Chicago Public Schools and the faith based community, primarily churches to provide safe spaces, healthy food and learning opportunities for school-aged children.
This was the 2nd summer Chicago United Methodist Churches participated and provided programming for students. Click here to read more. | |
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Justice For Our Neighbors Northern Illinois (NIJFON) will be celebrating another amazing year at its fourth annual dinner celebration on Sunday, September 20 at the Elgin Community College in Elgin, Ill. Honorable Judge Manuel Barbosa (ret.) will be returning to his boyhood home of Elgin as the main guest. Judge Barbosa will share his story of being brought to this country as an infant from La Huestaca Potosina, Mexico to Texas. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
United Methodist Foundation Grant Applications
is accepting applications from local churches and UM church-related agencies for its 2015/6Grants Program. In 2014 the Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling more than $20,000. Grant awards range is $500 - $3,000. Learn more in our grant guidelines. A copy of the grant application in Microsoft WORD is available via a link on the Foundation's homepage, nicumf.org. The deadline for grant requests is September 15, 2015. Call the Foundation Office with any questions, 312.346.9766, ext. 704. Click here to learn more.
Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Workshop - Sept. 19
As new pastoral appointments take place this summer, the NIC Cabinet is pleased to provide a workshop for church leaders of cross-racial/cross-cultural appointments and their pastors. The workshop will be held on Saturday, Saturday, September 19, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Barrington UMC, located at 98 Algonquin Rd, Barrington, IL. Bishop Sally Dyck will be with us with her inspiring message. Click here for details.
UMM Spiritual Congress - Sept. 18-20
You're invited to join the Northern Illinois Conference UMM for the Spiritual Congress (annual retreat) to be held September 18-20 in Williams Bay, WI. For those of you who have attended before, you know that it is sure to be a spirit-filled weekend of fellowship and growth. This year's speaker, Rev. Grace Imathiu, is a renowned worship leader and Christian educator. Her message, "David, a Man after God's Own Heart," will bring to life the story of this important biblical man and call us all to greater discipleship. Please prayerfully consider committing to this weekend of spiritual rejuvenation. You don't need to be from Illinois to attend. For more information, please go to www.nicumm.org.
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