Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer (Prairie North District Superintendent), shot a group selfie for the team at the Conference Office Christmas Party!

In their 128th year, Kids Above All’s mission continues to help children, youth and families build better lives to reach their potential in life.

Their Holiday Gift Drive is a wonderful success because of the generosity of so many local churches including First UMC Antioch who delivered their gifts by Nov 14th, the United Women in Faith, agencies, and many individuals who stepped up for their kids.

“We are blessed to have the support and friendship of all our mission partners who embrace and practice the mission of the United Methodist Church, on which Kids Above All was also founded,” said Catherine Inserra, Deaconess and Manager of Faith & Community Relations. "Together, we sent gifts to 1,523 kids in our care, Amen!"

Kids Above All wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.

Start your new year with a reset! Junius Dotson shows you how. Two new classes are starting - Join Rev Becky Nicol on Zoom Tuesday afternoons at 2:00 PM January 3-February 7 or Rev Caleb Hong on Zoom Sunday evenings January 8- February 19 at 7:00 PM

We are currently seeking a qualified candidate to come join the NIC Program Area Team as the Director of Communications.

The primary role of the Director of Communications is to convey the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist story in a holistic and fully representative manner. The Director will oversee the production of conference communications including print, news, and social media. Interested candidate must have excellent organizational, communication, and relationship skills as well as proficiency in multiple communication platforms. They must be able to consult with conference committees, boards and agencies in their communication efforts.

This position is a hybrid, full-time position with flexible hours. Some weekend and evening work is required. The position includes both Health Insurance upon hire (with wellness incentives) and Pension Benefits after a vesting period.

If you know someone who would be interested, click here for the job description and to apply.

Global Ministries 2023 Racial Ethnic Local Church Grant (RELC) and the Annual Conference Multiethnic Ministries Grant cycle is now open. All applications are due by February 15, 2023. RELC grants are awarded to assist local racial/ethnic congregations (at least 51% racial/ethnic membership) and annual conferences with projects and programs on one of the three areas: 1) Leadership Development; 2) Church Growth, Congregational Development and Ministry Development; 3)Pastoral Salary Support. Click here for questions. Click here for the RELC Application. Click here for the AC Multiethnic Ministries Application.

In response to the Renewable Energy Summit last fall, there is a Conference Net Zero Task Force forming. We are called to have our own in-depth conversations while building and sharing long-term creation care efforts. Interested leaders are encouraged to gather to design and develop a Northern Illinois Conference Net Zero Strategic Plan. The first meeting will be on Fri., Jan. 20 at 4 pm. at the Wespath office in Glenview, IL. More information can be found here or by contacting Richard Alton at richard.alton@gmail.com.

A friendly reminder that the deadline to pay apportionments is approaching quickly. Be sure to check your Prosper account at app.prosperumc.com before the year is over. As United Methodists, we are committed to connectional giving, and our primary way of doing that is through apportioned giving. By being a faithful 100% church, you allow the United Methodist faith to continue to grow around the world and here at home. Help spread our ministry and mission by catching up on your apportionments payment today. To find more information about apportionments, visit the Apportionments page. 

The Lilly Foundation has awarded a grant to the Family Faith Formation Initiative to create faith resources for parents. As the first step of our five-year process, we have created a survey to understand the values and needs of Christian parents/caregivers with young children (ages 0-3) so that parents/caregivers in this demographic are better supported. The survey opens on January 4th and will remain open throughout January. Thirty participants will be selected at random to receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Interested participants can sign up here to receive the survey link, as well as important updates about the Family Faith Formation Initiative. The ministry of the Family Faith Formation Initiative was developed out of the Rio Texas Conference in partnership with The Lilly Foundation. Please contact Rev. Adrienne Stricker (Central UMC Skokie) with any questions adrienne.stricker@gmail.com

The people of Ukraine have endured eight months of violence and destruction in a war that Russia recently escalated with attacks on civilians. Amid new terrors are also signs of hope, as churches, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), ecumenical agencies, and other nonprofit organizations band together to reach as many people as possible with care and support. Since July, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has approved more than $14 million for partners representing a wide spectrum of caring ministries across Ukraine and neighboring countries that have taken in refugees. Read more here.

New Resources: Click for books on Peace.

Find the online catalog here. The UMRC email address is umrc@igrc.org.

Kumler Outreach Ministries

Attn: United Media Resource Center

Springfield, IL 62702-3822

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