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Communicator's
Corner
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November Reporter
The November Reporter should have arrived in your mailbox ... if not ... should be soon. Please note the paper was printed before the GCFA's new announcement regarding membership numbers and a possible reduction in bishops for the North Central Jurisdiction - the Bishop's Column and the bottom front page story do not reflect the change. Click here to read more.
(Thanks to your faithful payments of apportionments, each church receives up to 5 free print subscriptions. Contact Anne Marie Gerhardt by email communications@umcnic.org
if you have an address change.)
November is Native American Heritage Month
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General Conference News
African bishops
speak out
on terrorism, sexuality
African bishops have called on The United Methodist Church to confront global terrorism and hold the line on church teachings regarding human sexuality.
#CTTalks
Continuing the conversation around key topics related to General Conference 2016, The Connectional Table began a month-long series on Christian Conferencing as part of the #CTTalks online forum. Click here to watch the video and download a companion guide.
GBCS Internship Program
The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) Internship Program provides a unique opportunity for emerging leaders to gain valuable professional advocacy experience, increase leadership skills and deepen their Christian walk and witness. It's intense, fun and a life-changer. Take a chance; the next cohort begins February 16. You don't have to be in school, but you could be. Learn more by clicking here.
ChildServ Holiday
Gift Drive
ChildServ offers many ways your church can help bring a smile to a child this Christmas Season. You can sponsor a child, donate a toy, make a cash gift or volunteer.
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Special Session - Nov. 7
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Online registration for the Nov. 7 Special Session of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference is closed but walk-ins will be accepted. Special Session will be held at Court Street UMC in Rockford with registration starting at 8am.
The purpose of this special session is to present, discuss and (where appropriate) vote on these matters:
Please print all the documents:We strongly urge you to print all the documents that are necessary for this session. You may ask your pastor or church office staff to assist you with that. Please note that hard copies will NOT be available at the church. You may choose to download the documents to your devices but please know there will be no WiFi available. You can find these docs by clicking here.
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| Transformative Difference: Apportionment dollars at work | |
Chicago church trains youth with life and job skills
 Lincoln UMC on Chicago's West Side has developed a Youth Corps in
partnership with eight local schools reaching approximately 1,500 students
and they hope to reach thousands more. Currently, volunteers train and equip youth who work to create safety zones within their schools and communities.
They work with the local major gangs and assist them in developing peace treaties. Lincoln UMC provides alternative activities for these youth and helps them develop meaningful and purposeful skills for service and work.
The NIC cabinet awarded Lincoln money from its UM Presence
fund to help them grow this important outreach ministry to youth in the
community.
This story on how your faithful payment of apportionments continue to transform lives can be found in the 2016 Narrative Budget which we encourage you to share with your congregations.
Click here for more stories and to read more...
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| Drawing Closer to God - Register Today | |
Saturday, Nov. 14
9am - 3pm
Christ United Methodist Church
Rockford, IL
Cost: $15
Bishop Linda Lee will be the Keynote Speaker at the NIC Spiritual Formation "Drawing Closer to God" event on Saturday, November 14.
As Bishop-in-Residence at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Bishop Lee is working in the areas of spirituality, spiritual formation and United Methodist studies/polity. She is editor of the book A New Dawn in Beloved Community: Stories with the Power to Transform Us.
In addition to hearing Bishop Linda Lee speak, four workshops will be presented. They are Contemplative Photography, Praying in Color, Labyrinth: Walking Prayer, or Praying with Beads. All presenters are members of the NIC Spiritual Formation Committee. There is still time to register online at umcnic.org/spiritform until November 11.
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HealthFlex Changes
For 2016 there will be some changes to our HealthFlex program provided by the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits (GBOPHB) to the Northern Illinois Conference. To all Church Treasurers and/or those responsible for establishing the Church budgets: For 2016 there will be no increase in premium to the churches for the cost of the HealthFlex program. The monthly charge for the HealthFlex program will remain $1,350 a month. To Participants: In 2016 the HealthFlex plan deductible will increase from $750 to $1,000 per individual and $2,500 to $3,000 per family. Open Enrollment for the 2016 HealthFlex program is from Nov. 4, 2015 to Nov. 19, 2015. For all the details click here.
Vital Congregations Conversation Series - Nov. 13-14
The Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment invites you to the "VITALITY CONGREGATIONS CONVERSATION SERIES: HEALTHY DISCIPLESHIP SYSTEMS I" seminar. This is intended to empower laity, pastors, church staff, conference staff and others in the area of discipleship. The first of a two part presentation. The keynote speaker is Rev. Junius B Dotson who is known for creating teams that "get things done." Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel in Northbrook. To register click here.
Town & Rural Festival - Nov. 21
Join us as we celebrate new and exciting ministries happening in the rural areas of our annual conference. Come hear churches share details of how they are reaching out to their neighbors. Rev. Jill Sanders will be offering the keynote address. Where: Faith UMC, 702 E. Dixon, Polo, IL. Click here for more details.
Youth Summit in the City - Nov. 21
Celebrating the Death of Gun Violence In Our Time. United Methodist Youth (6th to 12th grade) are invited to participate in the 2nd annual Urban Strategy Youth Summit in the City at St. Matthews UMC in Chicago from 10am-3pm. The aim of the Youth Summit is to empower youth to hope for, imagine and envision the possibility of a country with no more hand gun violence in their lifetime. Click here for registration information and more details.
Churches With Childcare Centers: FREE Energy Assessment Available
In response to the budget crisis, Elevate Energy is offering FREE energy efficiency advice to childcare centers within the ComEd territory.That includes those centers housed in churches and congregations.They can help identify steps you can take - now or later - to save on utility and maintenance costs. Click here to learn more.
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