 |
Communicator's
Corner:
United Methodist church shelters farmers in Philippines
A United Methodist Church compound is giving sanctuary to farmers and indigenous people after a protest for food relief turned deadly on April 1. Three were killed and more than 100 injured when security forces fired on the crowd blocking a major highway. Protesters poured into the Spottswood United Methodist Church for refuge.
The United Methodist California-Pacific Conference is collecting signatures for a letter asking Philippines President Benigno Aquino to help farmers who have sought refuge.
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.
In the News
 Northern Illinois Justice
for Our Neighbors celebrated its 5th anniversary at the Aurora clinic this past Saturday sending a message to Gov. Rauner to welcome all refugees regardless of their point of origin. The group wrote letters on pillowcases and bedsheets to be delivered to the Governor. Click here to read more.
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.
Now is the time to register for summer 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.
--------
Check out our new Instagram Account
|
|
|
|
Annual Conference - Walk by Faith
Online Registration opens Friday, April 8 at 9am.
The 177th Annual Conference will be held June 5-7, 2016 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Ill.
Cost for registration:
- April 8 - April 29: $78
- April 30 - May 20: $93
- May 21 - June 7 - onsite only: $128
- Visit www.umcnic.org/AC2016 to register.
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.
|
Champions for Children Training - April 9
 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.
|
|
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 Portlan d, OR.
You can use a daily prayer book, 60 Days of Prayer, through May 29, which includes 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 redesigned General Conference app available for both iPhone and Androids. A print copy of the book and e-book formats in English are available at a cost here. Guidelines for using 60 Days of Prayer with your Sunday school class, small group, or family are available here.
NIC Delegation send-off - April 17
 All are welcome to the blessing and commissioning of the NIC General Conference Delegation on Sunday, April 17, 4pm at Wesley UMC in Naperville before they head to General Conference in Portland, OR.
| | |
|
|
|
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 cpierson@umcnic.org.
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, jsiaba@umcnic.org.
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 / abjavierjr@gmail.com. Click here for more info.
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.
|
|
| (click on title for more information)
|
|
|
|
|
