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2015 Annual Conference
 
Communicator's 
Corner
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2015 Charge
Conference Forms 

This year all Church Conference forms are to be completed and submitted online one week prior to your CC date,

except for the Clergy Compensation Form & Agreement and Lay Servant Annual Report (which will be turned in and signed at the time of your Church Conference). Click here to find your District's Forms.
 
 Tune in to Sanctuary 

Sunday, September 27 at 12:30 pm on ABC-7 television in Chicago.
In this special documentary, Preaching and Healing, we take you to rural Honduras, where you'll meet faith-centered doctors and nurses in a Honduran led health care mission known as Predisan, working with local government to provide holistic care, strengthen family structures, and build healthy communities.
 
 
Sanctuary sneak peek 
  
In the News

Chicago Pastor's  
Modern Family

 

Check out a nice article on Rev. Julie K. Fleurinor of Resurrection UMC in Chicago and how as a pastor and foster mom she's living into her call.
 Click here to read more. 
 
Program Office Phones

The Elgin office has a new, working phone system. Thanks to the Conference's IT Director
Mo Darwish for coming up with a great solution to the problem.
 
 

  
eNews                                                                                     September 17, 2015                                                             
Hispanic Heritage Month & Celebration
Jorge Lockward
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States (September 15 to October 15), we recognize the wonderful gifts that we have received in the ministries of Hispanic/Latino Americans.

Lay members and clergy from all conference churches are invited to come and celebrate the beautiful diversity of our annual conference.  
  • This celebration will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2015.
  • Location: Elgin First UMC (216 East Highland, Elgin IL).
  • Beginning with food and fellowship at 4:00pm with plenty of rice, beans, meat and tortillas.
  • Followed by worship at 5:00pm.
  • If you are able, please bring your favorite dessert to share at the end of the day.
  • Please click this link to let us know you will be joining us.
Jorge Lockward, Director of Global Praise at the General Board of Global Ministries will be leading a vibrant worship experience. All are welcome! 
European refugee aid goes beyond food
Photo by Fekete D�¡niel, HIA-Hungary
ACT Alliance Hungarian Interchurch Aid distributed 200 packages of food and hygenic items for refugees in the Vomosszabadi temporary reception center. United Methodists in Hungary are a part of Hungarian Interchurch Aid and have assisted in the refugee effort.
As migrants - many escaping conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan - continue to flow into Europe in unprecedented numbers, United Methodists are among the local citizens providing aid.

Church leaders also are sensing the refugee crisis has created "Kairos" - an opportune moment - to pray and work for real change.

"The right of individuals from all countries to ask for asylum is under threat," said United Methodist Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany. "We as people of faith have to make use of the fact that the reality proves the failure of the current regulations to work not only for humanitarian aid but also for more just procedures for those who come to Europe." Click here to read more on how United Methodists can pray and act.  
 
The Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors (NIJFON) has been able to assist three Syrian families with legal representation for their refugee status claims. Read more and learn how your congregation can help locally. 

Landscape Assessment
Thank you to all of those who have already taken the Landscape Assessment tool that was sent out to nearly 600 people across the conference on September 8. We are grateful for your input and the time you gave to share your thoughts. If you received an email asking you to take the assessment and have not yet clicked on the link, please do so today. The assessment phase of this work will remain open for only two more weeks.

On November 7 at the Northern Illinois Conference Special Session in Rockford at Court Street UMC a report on the initial results of the assessment will be presented. If you have any questions about this process you can direct them to: Rev. Arlene Christopherson at: [email protected].

Registration for the Special Session will open next week. Look for more information on our website at www.umcnic.org/AC2015
 
News & Events
 
UMM Spiritual Congress - This weekend 
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 especially with this year's speaker, Rev. Grace Imathiu. For more information, please go to www.nicumm.org.

Champions for Children Retreat - Oct. 11 
The NIC Children's Table is focusing this year on the complex issues surrounding children living in poverty across the Northern Illinois Conference. Join this important dialogue across our conference by registering for the Champions for Children Retreat and Training, "Expressions of God's Love and Radical Hospitality for All Children", October 11, 2015 (First UMC Oak Park). Click here for details and registration.
 
Mark Your Calendar
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