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Communicator's
Corner:
Apportionment Administrator announces move
After seven years as the Apportionment Administrator for the Northern Illinois Conference, Merrie Bunt is moving to California for
new opportunities.
As Apportionment Administrator she works with individual local church treasurers in receiving apportionment, clergy benefit, and advance specials. As a life long member of the NIC she has a deep knowledge of the local churches and their individual personalities.
Merrie was instrumental in adopting the conference database, and designing a new apportionment software. Her considerable talents in graphic representation of data brought us to a new generation in reporting. She also acted as Conference Statistician and fielded questions from multiple local churches in completing
these forms.
"Merrie is a gentle spirit and generous colleague who departs with our best wishes for the next chapter of her life," said Conference Treasurer Lonnie Chafin. She's a member of First UMC Chicago and daughter of the Rev. Julie Bunt.
Merrie's last day with the conference is March 24.
The NIC is currently seeking a replacement.
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In the News:
Hemenway United Methodist Church in Evanston, IL has installed a solar panel system on their roof which over 25 years will save: 616 tons of coal from being burned. About 1,231 trucks on the road. Reduce CO2 production by 319,375 lbs. Click here to read more.
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Rethink Church Grants Available The Rethink Church program through United Methodist Communications awards three types of grants each year: Community Event Grants, Digital Advertising Grants, and New Church Start Grants. Many Churches in the NIC have taken part in one of these grant opportunities and there's still time for your church to take advantage of free resources for Lent. Click here for more information.
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Laity Convocation
PowerPoints
Thank you to everyone who came to the Laity Convocation at Sycamore UMC on Feb. 6. Materials from the workshops are now posted on our website.
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February is Black History Month
United Methodist Discipleship Ministries offers
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 found in the March Reporter.
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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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Denman Awards Nominations Being Sought
The Evangelism committee is currently accepting nominations for the 2016 Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Lay, and Youth. The Harry Denman Evangelism Award recognizes a person whose life and ministry exemplifies the teaching of Christ and the Great Commission.
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24-Hour General Conference Prayer Vigil
 Sign up to pray on Feb. 29
The United Methodist Church will hold its quadrennial General Conference in Portland, Oregon from May 10-20, 2016.
As we all prepare for this important time of conferencing, the Council of Bishops has invited each Annual Conference to host a 24-hour prayer vigil. Our day is February 29.
Bishop Sally Dyck encourages everyone to fill the day with prayer as we all pray across the church and around the world for this important gathering. |
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Photo illustration by Kathleen Barry
During the United Methodist 2016 General Conference participants will receive a Protestant prayer-bead strand.
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"Be part of this prayer wave across our annual conference on February 29 (leap day)!" said Bishop Dyck.
You can sign up individually, as a group or your church. Click here to sign up for a 15-min time slot to pray and for resources including bulletin inserts and prayer cards.
To learn more about the continuing prayer ministry leading up to and during General Conference and how you can participate click here.
Note: If you are planning on attending General Conference as a volunteer or other role, please contact the delegation's chair Elisa Gatz. The delegation is also looking for those willing to read and give input on the legislation (more than 1,000 petitions have been submitted). Contact Elisa at: jegatz@comcast.net. Click here for news on the Pre-General Conference Briefing held in January for delegates and communicators in Portland, OR.
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Landscape Listening Session Follow up
 If you attended a listening session or are planning on going to one of the remaining sessions and would like more information on the Landscape survey results, find the downloadable reports below:
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Healing Communities Training - Mar. 5
 Healing Communities is a framework for ministry to persons returning from or at risk of incarceration, their families, and the larger community. It challenges congregations through mobilization of its existing resources to become "Stations of Hope" for persons affected by the criminal justice system.
A Healing Communities training is taking place Mar. 5 at Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, 405 S Euclid Ave., Oak Park, IL from 10am-3:30pm. There are a few spots available for a team from your church to participate. The cost for this one-day training is $40 per church (up to 5 people, includes lunch). Click here for registration and more information.
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Healing and Building Urban Summit
Saturday, Feb. 27
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Dr. Colleen Cicchetti
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
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There's still time to register for this Urban Strategy summit. Registration closes Friday, Feb. 26 at midnight. This summit will be led by Dr. Colleen Cicchetti with Lurie Children's Hospital and her team.
Time: 9am-2:30pm at Maple Park United Methodist Church, 11705 S. Elizabeth St., Chicago.
Click here for more information and to register today.
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One Great Hour of Sharing - Mar. 6
 United Methodist Communications is providing new resources for pastors and lay leaders to use in promoting One Great Hour of Sharing, which will be Sunday, March 6, this year.
Offerings on this Special Sunday support the administrative costs of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Click here for a bulletin inserts, articles and more.
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Your Statistical Reports are Vital
Deadline Feb. 29
By: Merrie Bunt
The statistical report offers us an opportunity to review and reflect which can be as much an act of worship as an act of bookkeeping. Compiling the raw numbers helps bring attention to matters of celebration or concern. What are your numbers telling you? The General Council on Finance and Administration has developed an easy, new way to look at these numbers called UMData.
You can explore charts at UMData.org showing Membership, Attendance, Professions of Faith, Baptisms, Grand Total Paid, and Apportionment Percent Paid for any church or aggregated by District, Conference, or Jurisdiction.
The 2015 Statistical Report season is well under way with 20 churches completed and 116 in progress! Congratulations to the DeKalb District with the most reports completed to date.
The deadline for 2015 reports is February 29, 2016.
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Annual Conference Updates - June 5-7
 "Walk By Faith"
The 2016 Annual Conference will be held June 5-7, 2016 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Ill. Online registration will be available on April 8.
Volunteers Needed The Annual Conference Worship Team is currently looking for persons throughout the Annual Conference who are willing to serve as greeters, ushers, or general volunteers for worship at Annual Conference this June. For more information, or to sign up, please contact Will Ed Green at
Prayer Team
The Annual Conference Worship Planning Committee is looking for folks, laity and clergy, who would be interested in praying for our Northern Illinois Annual Conference. This prayer team is forming now and has begun praying. You will be invited to intentionally pray daily before the conference begins, as well as, gather in prayer while at the conference. If you would like to be a part of this prayer team please contact David Jungnickel at pastordave03@gmail.com.
Legislation and Historical Documents
ALL historical documents and proposed legislation for the conference must be submitted by April 1, 2016 to Rev. Katie Voigt, by emailing ACdocuments@umcnic.org.
Memorial Service
We invite all churches to submit the names and photos, if available, of their Lay Members to Annual Conference who have died since June 2015 to Natarsha Gardner at ngardner@umcnic.org.
Important Worship Times - Mark your calendars
Ordination - Sunday, June 5 at 7pm
Memorial Service - Monday, June 6 at 3pm
Retirement Service - Tuesday, June 7 at 2pm
Visit www.umcnic.org/AC2016 for latest updates and more information.
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NIC UMM Election of Officers
The NIC United Methodist Men will hold an election for a new President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer for the Executive Committee.The election will be March 12, 2016 at Grace UMC, 3555 McFarland Road, Rockford, IL.
The day begins with a breakfast at 8am at a cost of $9. Tickets for the breakfast need to be ordered in advance at the address of the church so preparation for food can be planned. Bishop Dyck will lead the nomination and election process. She will also speak at a service following the business meeting. The nominees are: 1. President...George Groves, 2. VP...Craig McGregor, 3. Secretary...Dave Holland and 4. Treasurer...Neil Schilling.
Bishop's Youth Bus Trip - Registration Open
Come, hop on the bus with Bishop Dyck and other youth from across the Northern Illinois Conference on Saturday, April 16. Each year, this trip is offered as a way for many youth, especially confirmation students, to gather for a cross-cultural and multi-religious experience. Highlights this year include the Illinois Holocaust Museum, hearing from families impacted by migration crises, and a visit to a Native American center. The trip begins and ends at Evanston First UMC and will be from 8:30am-5pm. Cost is $35, includes breakfast, lunch, transportation to site, and all entry fees. Click here to register.
United Voices for Children Seeking Award Nominees
Each year the Board of Directors of United Voices for Children selects individuals or groups to receive the Bishop Jesse R. DeWitt Child Advocacy Award, the Katherine B. Greene Child Worker Award and the Rev. Margaret Ann Williams Service Award. These awards honor extraordinary volunteer service or advocacy efforts on behalf of children, youth and/or families throughout the Northern Illinois Conference. Please look around and nominate an individual or a group who deserves this recognition. Click here for the nomination form and details. Nominations will be accepted until April 8, 2016.
Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation
Take advantage of early bird registration which ends Feb. 29, 2016 for the 5 Day Academy for Spiritual Formation which will be held August 1-6, 2016 at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington Hills, IL. The Academy for Spiritual Formation is a program of Upper Room Ministries, providing an opportunity for clergy and laity to deepen their relationship with God through a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, learning and reflection. To take advantage of the Early Bird discount, you may either pay the $100 non-refundable deposit or the full amount before February 29, 2016. If you choose to pay the deposit, the remaining balance must be paid to the Registrar, by mail before April 30, 2016. Click here for details.
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