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Communicator's  
Corner: 
 
Prayers for Pakistan

Methodist leaders around the world call for prayer in response to the park blast Sunday in Lahore, Pakistan, which killed at least 70 people and injured dozens more, many of whom were celebrating Easter. 

Chicago Northwestern District Superintendent 
Zaki L. Zaki invites all to a prayer vigil in solidarity with the Church and the people of Pakistan being held tonight - Thursday, March 31 at 7 pm at Central United Methodist Church at 8237 N. Kenton Ave., 
Skokie, IL.


Native American Ministries Sunday -
April 10  


When you support Native American Ministries Sunday, you equip seminary students who will honor and celebrate Native American culture in their ministries. You also empower congregations who  are finding fresh new ways to minister to their communities with the love of Christ. For resources and stories
click here.

 
United Voices for Children Seeking Award Nominees

Each year the Board of Directors of United Voices for Children selects individuals or groups to receive several  awards which 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.
 
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 NIC is no longer sending each church one free copy. The Journal is available on our website free to download as a pdf. Click here. 
  
Free Insurance eBook 
United Methodist Insurance (UMI), the insurance company for the denomination's local churches, has created an easy to use, free resource for local churches that provides a quick glance at insurance concepts to be considered when reviewing insurance policies. To receive the free eBook,  click here.

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. 
 
  It's not too early to start thinking about 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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March is Women's History Month   
 
 Click here to find stories about notable women who have played a significant role in the history of the Methodist church.  
 
Check out our new  
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eNews                                                                                 March 31, 2016                                                                              
Prayers following crimes at churches
 
We pray for the congregations which experienced burglaries and vandalism following the Easter holiday this week. Living Faith UMC in Waukegan was broken into and several items stolen late Sunday or early Monday morning and Waukegan San Pablo reported an attempted break-in on Wednesday.

At Lincoln UMC in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, someone painted hateful graffiti on the church's front doors including a swastika and the words "Rape Mexico." Lincoln UMC's Pastor Emma Lozano says the racist markings followed media coverage of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Easter Sunday sermon to the church's largely Latino congregation and his call to embrace immigrant families facing deportation. Pastor Lozano also commented that the church had received threatening phone calls on recent occasions when Congressman Luis Gutierrez spoke to the congregation.

"Some group was determined to send us a message. Of course, we will in no way be intimidated - but we will inform our community about what is happening and we will remain alert," said Lozano. She told her congregation at Adalberto, Lincoln's sister church, "we will fight hate with the Love of Christ."

In addition to the churches and communities, Bishop Sally Dyck asks us to pray for those responsible for these acts that they may experience healing from the pain and anger that would cause them to do it.

"We especially deplore vandalism that focuses on the nationality/ethnicity of the people in the community and church as happened at Lincoln UMC," said Bishop Dyck. "As Christians we must all speak out against hateful speech such as this graffiti. It's a violation of the sacredness of the people in the church and community."

Police are investigating the incidents.

NIC School of Evangelism - Rescheduled
 
The School of Evangelism planned for this Saturday, April 2 has been rescheduled for Oct. 22, 2016 due to low registrations. It will be held at the same venue: Epworth UMC in Elgin. The keynote speaker, and workshop leaders will all be available in October. If you registered for the April 2 event and paid by credit card, a refund will be issued. If you sent in a check, it will be returned or refunded. If you have any questions you may contact: Natarsha Gardner, [email protected], 847-931-0710 Ext. 16.
 
Champions for Children Training - April 9
 
Register online today!
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, 1600 W. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg, IL

This training will specifically address three areas where children and families living in poverty are volatile and live with potential risks in: Health and Nutrition, Violence and Public Education. 

Keynote speakers for this event include Bishop Sally Dyck, Errol Alden MD, FAAP, Retired CEO of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Nancy C. Grim Hunter, Distinguished Educator: Chicago State University, and other leaders in the areas of health and well-being of children living in poverty. 

 
Annual Conference - 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
April 8

Legislation and Historical Documents due Friday 
ALL historical documents and proposed legislation for the conference must be submitted by April 1, 2016 to Rev. Katie Voigt, by emailing [email protected].
 
Bishop's Appeal  
 
The 2016 Bishop's Appeal offering at Annual Conference will go toward Rosecrance and its Launch to Life Campaign which will support a new counseling and recovery residence in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Click here for more information and resources.

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. The deadline is May 20 - unless all spots fill sooner. Click here to download the application. Click here to apply online.

Mission Challenge - Start collecting 
This year's Mission Challenge will be for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center which is our United Methodist disaster relief supply center just south of Springfield, IL. This year we are collecting School Kit items and each district will be notified of what its contribution will be. An award for the Mission Challenge will be awarded to the District providing the most school kits. Click here for more info.
 
General Conference 60 Days of Prayer -
Begins today

 
The Upper Room is encouraging prayers for General Conference leading up to, during and after the global meeting from May 10-20 in Portland, OR. 

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. 

Commissioning Service
All are welcome to the blessing and commissioning of the NIC General Conference Delegation on Sunday, April 17, 4pm at Wesley UMC in Naperville. Click here for more information.
 
News & Events
Creative Ministries Grant Applications due April 11 
The Northern Illinois Conference Program Council is currently accepting applications for Creative Ministries Grants. The Northern Illinois Conference Program Council is currently accepting applications for Creative Ministries Grants. In 2015, the Program Council awarded 17 grants totaling close to $20,000. The grants helped fund a music academy, vacation Bible schools, a paper products pantry for homeless families, senior resource workshops, school supply giveaways and a weekend retreat for Chicago youth caught in the middle of gang war, just to name a few. If you would like to apply, please fill out the form and send it in no later than Monday, April 11 at noon. Visit www.umcnic.org/grants to download the application. For questions contact Rev. Chris Pierson at [email protected].

Calling all leaders - One day Seminar April 16   
All laity, pastors, church staff, and Conference staff are invited to attend a very special ICD (Institute for Congregational Development) 2.0 event on Saturday, April 16. Pastor Junius B. Dotson, Lead Pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita, KS, will lead us in a journey on how to create effective discipleship systems that work. This one-day seminar on discipleship will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2875 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Northbrook. Registration begins at 8:30am, and the seminar will last from 9am - 5pm. Lunch will be provided. You do not need to be an ICD participant to attend. Cost: $30. Deadline to register: April 8, 2016. Click here or email Judith Siaba, [email protected].
 
United Methodist and Muslim Interfaith Dinner - April 26
You and a guest are cordially invited to the 11th Annual Muslim-Methodist interfaith dinner on April 26 at 6:30pm, co-sponsored by the Northern Illinois Conference and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC). Theme: "Faith Against Hate: Scenarios of Solidarity". Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Larry L. Greenfield, new Executive Director of the Parliament of the World's Religions. Location: Islamic Center of Naperville, 2844 Ogden Ave. Click here to RSVP by April 20.
 
Golden Cross Sunday 
The Golden Cross Sunday offering goes to a scholarship fund for workers in NIC-related care giving institutions who have demonstrated in the workplace a loving care for older adults and who plan to pursue a broader or higher education or career in that field. To order your offering envelopes call or email Pong Javier, OAM co-chair 708-268-7003 / [email protected]. Click here for more info.

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.
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