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Communicator's
Corner 2016 Summer Camp Guide
 It's not too early to start thinking about next summer and camp at Wesley Woods or Reynoldswood. Click here for a listing of the 2016 camps, dates and prices. Also look for and share this special insert in the Dec/Jan Reporter!
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!
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.
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?
They're also now offering furnishings and project services for classrooms, offices and worship spaces. Click here for the catalog.
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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Bishop Calls on Lawmakers to Welcome
Syrian Refugees
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Bishop Dyck spoke at a press conference on Capitol Hill calling for congress to engage in moral policymaking and allow Syrian refugees into the U.S.
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In the midst of calls to cast out refugees, Bishop Sally Dyck traveled to Capitol Hill on Dec. 8 to add her voice to a coalition of other national faith leaders and three U.S. senators calling for
lawmakers to show mercy.
"Many young families find themselves between the violence behind them and the refusal of resettlement in some place with peace and safety, which is all that they really want," she said. "I trust that our senators will not prevent these refugees from coming."
Bishop Dyck applauded Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, who was also at the press conference and has called for 100,000 Syrian refugees to be resettled in the U.S. The coalition urged congress to take a moral stand on refugee resettlement and to speak out against inflammatory rhetoric towards refugees and their families. Read more.
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MLK Celebration Special Guest
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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. Rep. 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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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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United Methodists Give Generously During #Giving Tuesday
United Methodists around the world demonstrated inspiring generosity through their contributions on Dec. 1, 2015 - UMC #GivingTuesday. Nearly 6,000 donors from 27 countries donated $2.8 million through The Advance to support mission and ministries around the world.
The denomination's General Board of Global Ministries matched the first $1 million, building additional incentive for giving. More than 770 projects and missionaries received 8,757 gifts through The Advance, the designated giving channel of The United Methodist Church. Read more...
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Resources for Advent
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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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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. Click here to watch a brief video and learn more about the benefits of UMCmarket!
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.
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