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News & Updates

April 10, 2025

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Wishing you a blessed Holy Week

and Happy Easter

Click the video above to watch an Easter Greeting from

Prairie South District Superintendent Rev. Brian Gilbert.


Please download and share this video with your congregations. For more Easter greetings, check out the Easter 2025 NIC Vimeo Showcase, including videos from the cabinet in Spanish, Korean, and Tagalog.

School for Ministry a Spiritual Refuge for Hispanic/Latinx Pastors

About 60 Hispanic/Latinx pastors and lay leaders from the North Central Jurisdiction gathered for the Escuela de Ministerios 2025 (School of Ministries), an event hosted by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary's Hispanic Center in close collaboration with some of the NCJ directors of connectional ministries. The organizers aimed to create a spiritual and educational refuge for Hispanic leaders in ministry. The NIC played a key role in planning with GETS, providing space, vision, and support. Read more.

#PrayerOnThe100th

Join in a 24-hour prayer of unity from 7:00 p.m. on April 30 (100 days since the U.S. presidential inauguration) through 7 p.m. on May 1 (the National Day of Prayer). The ecumenical event, endorsed by the NIC, is designed to unite us around our yearning for healing and a better world. You can participate in the NIC Virtual Prayer Vigil, create your own PrayerOnThe100th event at your church/community, or join in with The United Methodist Church of Libertyville in their activities (including Drive-Through Prayer, Park and Pray, Spaces for Prayer and Listening, and a Front-Porch Prayer Gathering). Learn more.

Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer featured on The Great Collide Podcast

Amid the chaos gripping the United States, Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, Director of Connectional Ministries for the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, believes that the church's diversity and our unity in Christ enrich and strengthen us. She shares her inspirational message of hope with hosts Leanne Noland and Jasmin Taylor. Read more.

Upcoming Events.png

Click on the event title below to find out more information

Palm Sunday

April 13


AC Presentation Requests Due

April 15


Maundy Thursday

April 17


Good Friday

April 18


Easter

April 20


Earth Day

April 22


Benefits Lunch and Learn

April 23


Admin Assistants Day

April 23


Constitutional Amendments Education Meetings (AC25)

April 26 or 29


#PrayerOnThe100th

April 30 - May 1


Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May


Registration for AC 2025 Price Increase May 1


Transitions Workshop

May 3


Native American Ministries Sunday

May 4


AC Volunteer Sign Up Closes

May 5


NIC Lobby Day

May 7


AC Legislation Posted Online

May 9


Mother's Day 

May 11


Clergy Session of AC May 13


Deacon Dinner with the Bishop

May 13


Creative Grants due

May 15


AC Registration Closes (includes choir interest and child care)

May 23


Heritage Sunday

May 25


Memorial Day

May 26

Registrations Are Now Open!


Annual Conference Registration

  • April 1-30: $155
  • May 1-23: $170
  • Note: 
  • There will be NO on-site registration.
  • Payment will only be accepted via credit card. We are no longer able to accept check payments.


Child Care Registration

Child Care for Annual Conference 2025 will be hosted by Schaumburg: Our Saviour's UMC in conjunction with Schaumburg: Our Redeemer's UMC. It is open for children of registered Annual Conference members ages 6 months to 12 years old. Learn more.


Hotel Reservations

Reservations with a group discount are again available at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. Rooms can be reserved from Sun., June 8, to Tues., June 10. The cost is $190 per night plus applicable state and local taxes.


Other things to note:

  • Constitutional Amendments: The 2024 General Conference passed several proposed amendments to The United Methodist Constitution. They only become official once they are ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate of members to the annual conferences. You can download a summary sheet of the the Constitutional Amendment Votes or visit the Constitutional Amendment webpage.Voting for the Constitutional Amendments will be in the afternoon of Tuesday, June 10. Please plan accordingly. Educational opportunities are available on April 26 (10 a.m.) and 29 (6 p.m.).
  • Mass Choir: The worship team is looking for individuals to sing during the Celebration of Ministry Service on Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m.
  • Volunteers: Help is needed for a successful Annual Conference. We need registration volunteers, ushers/plenary pages, greeters, information desk volunteers and more to help Annual Conference run smoothly and efficiently. Sign up here.
Visit the AC2025 Website

AC 2025 Mission Challenge

The NIC Board of Global Ministries is collecting items for homecare kits and personal dignity kits for Midwest Mission. Obtain items from their list of most needed items and bring them to the mission truck, which will be parked in the east lot of the convention center on Mon., June 9, and Tues., June 10. Learn more.

Bishop’s Appeal 2025:

Innovative Outreach 

Implementing creative new ways to reach out to friends and neighbors is crucial. To encourage innovation and experimentation, this year’s Bishop’s Appeal will benefit churches that send members out of the building to engage with their communities in new ways.  

Invite your church to donate to the Bishop’s Appeal and bring the gifts to be collected on Tues., June 10. Learn more.

 HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Join the Notes of Rest Retreat

Led by artist-theologian Julian Davis Reid and in partnership with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, guests will receive from God through classical spiritual disciplines such as sacred reading and extended silence, as well as through Black music and a live concert. Jesus has promised to give us rest for our souls amidst the work that is ours to do.


May 30-31, 2025

Cost: $200 with sliding scale available. Covers three meals, housing and programming. Only 50 spots available.

Location: Stronghold Camp, Oregon, IL

Registration Deadline: May 1, 2025

Learn more.

JOY Camp Registration Open

JOY Camp is a week-long overnight camp open to incoming 5th Grade students through newly graduated high school seniors, hosted at Camp Reynoldswood. The camp runs from June 22nd to June 28th and has a total cost of $610 with discounts available for early registration (prior to June 1st), siblings, and payment in full at registration. Learn more.

Other Upcoming Conference Events:

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

Apportionment Spotlight:

World Service Fund

The United Methodist Church’s special giving structure ensures your generosity blesses as many people as possible in sustainable and strategic ways.

The World Service Fund cornerstone for the funding of the connectional system. It supplies the basic financial support to general agencies to provide essential services and ministries beyond the scope of individual local congregations and annual conferences through services and ministries that are highly focused, flexible, and capable of rapid response. At any given time, this fund is helping build churches, providing communications tools for local churches, advocating for the underserved and marginalized, educating constituents about racial equity, supporting missionaries, supporting spiritual formation,sustaining men and youth ministries and so much more.

HOW TO GIVE: Write a check to your local church and write, “Apportionments” in the memo line. Churches can give through the NIC Apportionment process.

Currently, as of the end of March 2025, our collection rates are as follows:

  • NIC and General Church Apportionments - 58%
  • Health and Pension - 69%
  • Clergy Responsibility - 74%
  • Property Insurance - 45%

Every contribution makes a difference in sustaining our conference’s mission and impact in the community. If you are not sure where your church stands on their contributions, please reach out to your pastor or church treasurer. Learn more.

Uplifting Young Methodists Scholarship

For many students, continuing education beyond high school is a challenging decision due to financial circumstances. Midwest Methodist Foundation's Uplifting Young Methodists scholarship helps minority UM students attend a nonprofit trade school, community college, college, or university. The application deadline is April 30. Read more.

Is Your Church Due Some Funds? 

Your church may have funds that it has not yet claimed. The Illinois Unclaimed Property website has numerous entries related to Methodist churches. Visit the site and see if your church is listed.Search the site.

Midwest Methodist Foundation Offers Generosity Coaching 

The Midwest Methodist Foundation and Horizons Stewardship are partnering to provide on-demand generosity coaching to NIC churches at no cost and no obligation to the clergy or the church. Horizons offers a calendar tool for you to make an appointment in the coming weeks. Each session is 50 minutes long. Read more.

Good Futures Accelerator for Effective Building Use

Discover how to use your buildings and property to further your ministry in your neighborhood and to generate new income streams. The Midwest Methodist Foundation makes the Good Futures Accelerator course available to NIC churches at half price. Use the code MMF-50 when registering. Learn more.

Grant Opportunities for Churches Looking to Help Immigrants

  • UMCOR Mustard Seed Migration Grant: UMC churches in the U.S. can help immigrants, migrants and refugees living in their local communities. UMCOR’s Mustard Seed Migration Grant program provides congregations with up to $2,000 for a one-time, community-based service project. The application is open and up to 100 churches will be awarded a grant. Grants are accepted on a rolling basis through Sept. 1. Learn more.
  • GCORR Action Fund Grant: The General Commission on Religion and Race is pleased to announce the opening of the 2025-2026 CORR Action Fund grant cycle. This funding opportunity supports initiatives that promote equity, intercultural competency, and justice within the church and broader communities. GCORR seeks proposals that address the realities of immigration. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for projects lasting up to 12 months. The application deadline is May 15. Learn more.

Suicide Hotline available

For those contemplating suicide or who just desperately need someone with whom to talk. It is confidential and free. Just call 988. The service has also been expanded for Spanish-speaking persons and deaf or hard-of-hearing persons, including those who use American Sign Language.

Other Resources

Rev. Brian Gilbert

Prairie South District Superintendent

bgilbert@umcnic.org

872-810-0864


Leola Tucker

Administrative Assistant

ltucker@umcnic.org

872-810-0913

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Do you have news to share?

We are always looking for stories of what is happening in your church.  We welcome articles from churches highlighting ministries, outreach, and missions that tell the story of being vital Christians. Events considered should be of conference-wide appeal and United Methodist-related. 


District eNews are sent out the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Please submit stories and events by end of business on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. Space is limited. Stories of fewer than 250 words are preferred. Submissions will be edited at the discretion of Communications staff. Information can be emailed to communications@umcnic.org.

Check out our Submit News page for more details. 

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