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Communicator's
Corner:
Preparing for Lent
Ash Wednesday is Feb. 10. Keep checking UMC.org for resources, the latest stories and a new quiz for the 2016 Lenten season.
UM Foundation Grants
The United Methodist Foundation started the new year awarding grants to 21 ministries totaling more than $22,000 at a reception on Jan. 7, 2016. The money will help many ministries get started or continue to grow.
The funds will go toward programs at United Methodist Churches and related groups across the conference ranging from Hispanic/Latino outreach, youth choirs, a community teaching garden to after-school homework centers, college/career assistance and vacation Bible schools. Learn more about one church which received a grant for its Hispanic/Latino outreach ministry and is hosting a multi-cultural retreat on Jan. 23.
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Clean up buckets arrive in Manchester, MO from the Midwest Distribution Center. Photo Credit: Manchester UMC
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To date the Midwest Mission Distribution Center has delivered 1,656 cleaning buckets (formerly called flood buckets) with anticipated requests for many more to both IL and MO. Thanks to your donations at last year's Northern Illinois Annual Conference of 100's of buckets and supplies, this was made possible.
Please keep our neighbors in central and downstate Illinois as well as Missouri in your prayers as they deal with the flooding. For information on donation or volunteer requests, visit the NIC Disaster Relief Facebook Page.
Directory Coming Soon...
A new Northern Illinois Conference Church, Clergy & Laity directory will be available soon.
If you ordered a directory through the 2015 Annual Conference registration, one will be mailed to you. An updated pdf of the clergy list is now available on our website www.umcnic.org/directory.
If you would like to purchase a directory for $10, please contact Susan Gieseler at [email protected].
It's not too early to start thinking about next summer and camps 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.
Lay Leadership
2016 Trainings
Location: Grace UMC in Naperville
Jan. 30 - Location: Glenview UMC
Jan. 23 - Location: Faith UMC, Orland Park
Location: First UMC, Dixon
Location: First UMC of Crystal Lake
Location: Faith UMC, Freeport
District Lay Academies
Click on District for more info: Sundays from Feb. 14-Mar. 13
Apr. 16 & 23
Mar. 5 & 12
Elgin -
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Register for the Winter 2016 Landscape Regional Conversations
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Laity Listening Sessions:
*Aurora/Elgin - Barrington UMC Sunday, February 28 (3:30 -6:00 PM)
Click here to register for a laity session. Registration deadline is Feb. 15. You may choose any location or date that best suits your schedule.
Clergy Listening Sessions:
*Rockford/DeKalb - Mt. Morris: Disciples UMC - Monday, February 22
(10:00 -3:00 PM)
- Tuesday, February 23 (10:00-3:00 PM)
*Aurora/Elgin - New Lenox UMC - Wednesday, February 24 (10:00-3:00PM)
Location: Naperville: Grace UMC from 9am-3pm. This event is for elected conference leadership and those serving on a conference committee. Participants will be sent a personal email invitation soon with a registration link. Clergy and laity attending the Purpose Summit are also encouraged to attend one of the above listening sessions.
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MLK Celebration - This Sunday, Jan. 17
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Please join us as we celebrate the life, legacy and vision of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016 at St. Mark United Methodist Church. Our special guest speaker for our annual celebration service is Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. Location: St. Mark United Methodist Church at 8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago Time: Fellowship starting at 4:30pm with the service scheduled for 5pm.
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Human Relations Day - Jan. 17
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 Human Relations Day on Jan. 17 is one of The United Methodist Church's six special Sunday offerings.
When you give on Human Relations Day, you continue to nurture at-risk youth, strengthen communities' self-improvement efforts and advocate for the oppressed.
Learn more about Human Relations Day, get resources for your church, and donate by clicking here.
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Apportionments Update
As of January 13, 348 congregations, including 4 new faith communities, have given a total of $5,965,581 in support of vital mission and ministry happening across Northern Illinois and around the world. An additional $782,000 has been given in second-mile, designated giving.
Administrative note: The postmark deadline for 2015 contributions is tomorrow - January 15, 2016. To avoid delays in processing, please make checks payable to Northern Illinois Conference and mail to P.O. Box 5646, Carol Stream, IL 60197-5646.
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Laity Convocation - Feb. 6
Registration open
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Please join your Conference Board of Laity on Saturday, February 6, 2016 for INSIDE OUT! (Inner Strength for Greater Outreach).
The event continues with the theme of Who Is My Neighbor?, and seeks to help us renew our spirits in order to be more effective in our Christian outreach. In other words, be renewed inside, be led by the Spirit and then reach out! Thus, INSIDE OUT!
This year's special keynote speaker is Ray Buckley, the interim Director of the Center for Native American Spirituality and Christian Study. The event will start at 9am with worship and will also include afternoon workshops concluding at 3pm.
Early registration cost is $15 per person and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Registration after January 30 will be $20 per person. For more details and to register click here.
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Rainbow Covenant New Application
 The Rainbow Covenant Advance Application for 2016-2020 is now available. Rainbow Covenant is a way for an organization or ministry connected to the NIC to be supported by local United Methodist congregations. Every organization wishing to be included as a Rainbow Covenant Advance must submit this application. This includes all current Advances as well. The deadline is February 15, 2016. Click here for more details and the application.
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Order of Elders Gathering - Jan. 19
All Full and Provisional Elders are invited to meet at Barrington UMC from 8:30am - 2:00pm on Jan. 19 for worship, plenary & dialogue, lunch and fellowship. Plenary Speaker Dr. David Hogue will lead us, as we remember and reflect on the various covenants to which we have given our lives, with some emphasis on our baptismal and ordination covenants. Click here to download the flyer and for more information to RSVP.
Clergy Tax Seminar - Jan. 28 Sponsored by the United Methodist Foundation at First UMC at the Chicago Temple from 9am-12noon. Lynette Rice, CPA, CFP and Benefits Educator with the General Board of Pension & Health Benefits will present important and timely information, including:
- Planning your compensation package
- Reporting income
- Deductions
- Clergy housing allowance exclusion
- Professional expenses
- Tax Planning
- The importance of UMPIP and other pension issues
Registration open. Click here for more information.
Healing and Building Summit - Feb. 27
Registration is open for Urban Strategy's Healing and Building Summit at Maple Park UMC in Chicago. Our plenary speaker will be Dr. Colleen Cicchetti from Robert & Ann Lurie Children's Hospital to focus on healing. Click here for more information and to register today.
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.
Local Church IT Support
Is your church interested in help with Managed Information Technology Services? The Northern Illinois Conference is looking to assist local churches with reducing their IT support costs by providing this service for a low monthly cost compared to what other vendors can offer you or for what you are currently paying. Please feel free to reach out to us via phone 312-334-0729 and speak with our Information Technology Manager Mo Darwish or email him at [email protected] for further questions/discussions.
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