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Special Session News
CCFA and Cabinet have been working on the questions raised at the Special Session on Nov. 7. You can find the answers and a full report at:
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Can your pastor help save Park Grove Community Church?
The production staff and cast of "The Committee," a humorous and thought-provoking online series produced by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church, is looking for a real pastor to make a cameo appearance on the final episode of its series. To enter, create a simple video and upload it to YouTube, or write a statement explaining why your pastor can save Park Grove Community Church. Deadline is Jan. 10. Click here for all the details! It would be fun to see a pastor from the NIC featured!
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. 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.
Invitation to
40 Days of Hope
General Conference News 
A redesigned 2016 General Conference app is now available. A helpful way to stay connected and learn more about all aspects of the conference, the app will feature news, photo and social media feeds, video and audio archives, live-streaming of worship and plenary, the Daily Christian Advocate and petition tracking. Click here to learn more.
Full on Faith 2015  All congregations are invited to put faith into action by helping hungry neighbors during Full on Faith week at the Northern Illinois Food Bank! Sign up to volunteer during the week of February 22-27, and help the Food Bank fill all volunteer shifts with members of faith groups. Get more info and sign up by clicking here.
Even though Christmas isn't here yet, it is never too soon to start thinking about next year's VBS. In January, Cokesbury will be hosting three very exciting VBS Showcase events at churches in your area. They will be an opportunity for local Christian educators to gather together and share ideas. Click here for details.
Did you know?
Lay Leadership
2016 Trainings
*Aurora: Jan. 9
Location: Grace UMC in Naperville
Location: First UMC, Dixon
Location: First UMC of Crystal Lake
Location: Faith UMC, Freeport
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United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Offering
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World AIDS Day - Just Save One
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Each year, World AIDS Day is observed on December 1. It is a time for special programs on HIV/AIDS education and religious worship services that focus on intercessory and healing prayer, hope in God, and love and compassion in the midst of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. United Methodists are encouraged to promote a special offering the Sunday following World AIDS day.
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MLK Celebration Speaker Announced
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Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II
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Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II is our special guest speaker for the NIC annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on
Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016. It will be held at St. Mark United Methodist Church at 8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago beginning at 4:30pm with the worship service scheduled for 5pm. Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, II is now serving his sixth term representing Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, the home district of President Harry Truman. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. Having served for twelve years on the city council of Missouri's largest municipality, Kansas City, Cleaver was elected as the city's first African American Mayor in 1991. Cleaver has received five honorary Doctoral Degrees augmented by a bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M, and a Master's from St. Paul's School of Theology of Kansas City. Read his complete bio.
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Faith Leaders Call for a Chicago Independent Police Auditor
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| | Video: Call to Action Rally at City Hall |
Shortly after Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy resigned, faith leaders gathered for a planned rally outside Mayor Rahm Emanuel's 5th floor City Hall office demanding more be done to protect the public from abusive officers. Bishop Sally Dyck along with NIC clergy, laity and several Community Renewal Society member congregations called on Mayor Emanuel to immediately adopt the FAIR COPS ordinance which calls for an independent civilian police auditor's office. The rally comes a week after the city released dash cam video showing 17 year old Laquan McDonald being fatally shot 16 times by CPD Officer Jason Van Dyke who has now been charged with first degree murder. "The system is broken," said Bishop Dyck lending her support for an independent police auditor. "It's dysfunctional and can not discipline itself. The firing of the Superintendent is a distraction, not a solution." "The tragic case of Laquan McDonald's murder by Jason Van Dyke demonstrates why we need the FAIR COPS ordinance," said Rev. Robert Biekman, NIC Urban Ministries Coordinator. "An officer with 20 past complaints against him and no crisis intervention training should not have been allowed on the streets. There is no independent oversight now to look at these patterns and demand action." Read the full story.The Community Renewal Society urges Chicago residents to call their alderman asking them to support the FAIR COPS ordinance. Click here for more information.
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Save the Dates: Winter 2016 Landscape Regional Conversations
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Tentative time: 9am-3pm Focused on Elected Conference Leadership (those serving on Conference Committees) this day will include work on our corporate understanding of the purpose of the annual conference.
Laity Listening Sessions:
Aurora/Elgin - Barrington UMC Sunday, February 28 (3:30 -6:00 PM)
Aurora/Elgin - Naperville: Korean UMC - Wednesday, February 24 (10:00-3:00PM)
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Resources for Advent
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 Sunday, Nov. 29 to Thursday, Dec. 24
*One stop for United Methodist Advent resources includes devotions, sermon starters and books from Cokesbury, Upper Room, Discipleship Ministries, Rethink Church and Imagine No Malaria.
*United Methodist Communications offers a way to take Advent to Facebook and other social media with free downloadable images to celebrate each Sunday of the season.
*Take the Advent quiz
Planning for the New Year?
Please note: The NIC Media Resource Center will be closed December 21 through January 1. If you anticipate starting a new study in January, you may want to put in your request prior to December 18. The last shipment before Christmas will be sent on Thursday, December 18. The first shipment after Christmas will occur on Monday, January 4.
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Christmas Gathering of Asian Flavors
Experience the flavor of Asian food, worship, and ministries in NIC. This Christmas enjoy a fresh blend of spiritual truth, mixed with the hope and peace found in Jesus' birth, and a "house" full of new friends. Fill your season with all that God intended! Friday, December 4, 2015 at 6:30pm at Salem Korean UMC, 10 S. Walnut Lane, Schaumburg, IL. Message from Chicago Northwestern District Superintendent Rev. Zaki L. Zaki. Click here for details.
Hispanic/Latino Youth Christmas Celebration -
Celebración Juvenil de Navidad
Peace Program - Prayers for no more gun violence
Saturday, December 5, beginning at 2pm.
Meet at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1503 Broadway, Rockford, IL.
Rev. Fabiola Grandon Mayer will lead a short walk up Broadway saying prayers at places of violence, and also places that provide hope. Then return to Centennial UMC to hear Attorney Lee Goodman present ideas for gun control. Goodman is active in the movement to reduce gun violence. He is an organizer with Peaceful Communities, and is the author of the book Too Many Rights and Too Many Guns. Free & open to the public. Sponsored by Rockford Urban Ministries. For more info call 815-964-7111.
Peace with Justice Grants
The NIC Board of Church and Society administers Peace with Justice/Emerging Ministries Grants (a portion of the funds from Peace with Justice Sunday are given back to the conference for these grants). The same universal application is used to apply to both programs. All applications are due December 30, 2015. Click here for the application and details.
Shop, Save, and Support UMC This Holiday Season
If you haven't yet checked out the new UMCmarket.org, its an innovative and simple program that offers savings for you while generating contributions for your ministry. Whether purchasing items for donation or shopping for family and friends, it's a great way to give twice, at no additional cost to you.
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