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Communicator's  
Corner: 
 
2015 Journal

Those who pre-ordered a copy of the 2015 Journal will be receiving their copies by mail soon. The Journal can also now be ordered online through Amazon. There is a difference in the Amazon list price of $15 compared to the pre-order price of $25 to take into account the shipping cost. Click here to order. The Journal is also available on our website free to download as a pdf. Click here.

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. 
The deadline for nominations is Mar. 15, 2016. Click here for forms and more information. The awards will be presented at the School of Evangelism on Apr. 2, 2016.

Apportionment Administrator announces move
Merrie Bunt
After seven years as the Apportionment Administrator for the Northern Illinois Conference, Merrie Bunt is moving to California for 
new opportunities in March.  

The NIC is currently seeking her 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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  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

 DeKalb District -
Mar. 5 & Mar. 19
 
Elgin -
Mar. 5 & 19

Mar. 12 & 13

March is Women's History Month   
 
Click here to learn more how you can attend this summer's  Global United Methodist Clergywomen Gathering in Houston, TX, August 29-31, or sponsor a clergywoman who is serving a congregation in Africa, Europe/Eurasia, or the Philippines.
eNews                                                                                      March 3, 2016                                                                              
One Great Hour of Sharing - Mar. 6

United Methodist Communications provides new resources for pastors and lay leaders to use in promoting One Great Hour of Sharing, which is this Sunday, March 6.  

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.

General Conference Prayers
 
Sacred Worth hosted a service on Feb. 29 as part of the 24-hour vigil offering prayers for LGBTQ justice at General Conference.
Thank you to everyone who prayed during the NIC's 24-hour vigil for General Conference on Monday. More than 155 people and groups signed up to pray including several churches, the NIC Cabinet and the Sacred Worth group at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary which held a half hour service in the Chapel of the Unnamed Faithful. 

The Upper Room is encouraging more prayers for General Conference leading up to, during and after the May global meeting in Portland, OR. 

60 Days of Prayer

Beginning March 31, you can use a daily prayer book, 60 Days of Prayer, through May 29, which are the 40 days prior to General Conference, the 11 days in session, and the nine days following the event.

By using the prayer guide, United Methodists will connect through the same scripture, meditation, and prayer for each day. 60 Days of Prayer is available free as a PDF download, a daily email service, or at the web site, 60daysofprayer.org. It's also available free on the General Conference app. A print copy of the book and e-book formats in English are available at a cost hereGuidelines for using 60 Days of Prayer with your Sunday school class, small group, or family are available here. 
 
Landscape Listening Session Follow up
 
If you attended a listening session or are planning on going the remaining session on Mar. 6 and would like more information on the Landscape survey results, find the downloadable reports below:
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.
Champions for Children Training
 
Save the date! 
Second NIC training event for Champions for Children!
PRESS Forward for Children
(Confronting the Physical, Racial, Economic, Spiritual, Social Dynamics of Poverty)

Saturday, April 9, 2016 (9:00am-3:00pm)
Location: Our Redeemer's UMC, Schaumburg

Online registration will be available soon. Click here for more information.  
 
Annual Conference Updates - June 5-7
"Walk by Faith"

The 177th 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 

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected]  

Display Tables
Display Table Registration is now open. Display tables will be in the St. Charles Ballroom in conjunction with Cokesbury Bookstore. Public display dates will be Monday, June 6, and Tuesday, June 7. Due to limited space, we can only accommodate 40 tables this year. Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received. On-line applications are strongly encouraged. Click here to download the application. Click here to apply online.

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.

News & Events
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.
Write-in names are permitted for any of the positions. Click here for details. 
 
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
Registration is open 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. Click here for details.
Mark Your Calendar
(click on title for more information)   
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