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News & Updates

April 27, 2022

** Note ** You are receiving the district eNews because your name is in our Lay Leadership Database as a leader in your local church. If you are no longer interested in receiving the District eNews, please click the Update Profile link at the bottom of the email. (Clicking UnSubscribe means you will not receive ANY emails from the conference including appointment announcements, sympathy notices and weekly eNews)

May Reporter Available Online

The May Reporter is now available to read online and will be delivered to mailboxes soon.


Learn about NIC Members helping with storm recovery, the Film Series is igniting discussions, how one church became a Reconciling Congregation, and the campaign to help repair the harm to children. In their columns, Bishop Schwerin invites us to encourage each other and Rev. Arlene Christopherson gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of Annual Conference.


Check out the issue online and read the news stories here.

Mission Links helps you live out the beatitudes and be a blessing for projects around the block and around the world.


United Voices for Children Sunday is celebrated on each fifth Sunday in months with five Sundays. The next time we celebrate is April 30.

United Voices for Children (UVC) is a coalition of NIC congregations, agencies, groups and individuals that speaks and acts on behalf of children, youth and families in need. Funds are divided among the institutions in the UVC coalition: Kids Above All (formerly ChildServ), Rosecrance Health Network and MYSI (formerly Methodist Youth Services, Inc.) Learn more about the 5th Sunday Appeal here.

Prairie Central Informal Gatherings with the District Superintendent


Informational gatherings will be held on the second Thursday of the month, May 11. 


Zoom Links (The links will stay the same for all meetings, though clergy links and lay links will be different)


Clergy Gathering 9:00 am link.


Lay Gathering 7:00 pm link.

Lay persons: This is NOT for Lay Leaders only. It is intended for all lay persons who want to know more about what is going on and be connected.



Upcoming Events.png

Click on the event title below to find out more information

Changeover Zone Transitions Workshop

April 29



AC Early Bird Registration Closes

April 29


United Voices for Children Sunday April 30


Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 

Month of May


AC Legislation Posted Online

May 5


Golden Cross Sunday

May 7

 

Mother's Day 

May 14


Heritage Sunday

May 21


AC Clergy Session 

May 23


2023 Film Series - Asian History and Culture

May 25


AC Registration Closes 

May 28


Pentecost  

May 28


Memorial Day 

May 29


AC Pre-Conference Briefings

June 1 & 2


Peace with Justice Sunday

June 4


Annual Conference

June 6 - 8


More updates and details will be posted in the NIC eNews and on the website at umcnic.org/AC2023.

Bishop's Appeal for Migrant Needs

This year, the Bishop’s Appeal focuses on migrant needs. Your donations will help area organizations provide migrants with immediate needs like hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and food and longer-term needs like employment, housing, medical care, and legal assistance. Read more here.

"Fill the Truck" With Disaster Relief Supplies

The NIC Board of Global Ministries is collecting disaster relief kit items for Midwest Mission. Collect items from their list of most-needed items and bring them to the mission truck parked outside Annual Conference. Learn more here.

 HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Donate Childcare Supplies to Kids Above All


Kids Above All's Happy Babies Drive is collecting childcare supplies so that parents, caregivers, babies, and toddlers have the essentials they need for a happy and healthy start to their lives together. They've created a wish list of the most needed items. The donation location, as well as volunteer opportunities, for this year’s drive is Kids Above All’s Better Life Distribution Center, located at 1801 E. Oakton in Des Plaines, IL 60018. Learn more here.

Contact Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger with questions about the CDF Freedom Schools at (224) 430-3761 or [email protected]

Explore Asian Cultures at Anti-Racism Film Series

At this quarter’s Anti-Racism Film Series, discover the rich history and culture of the multitude of Asian communities. On May 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., ten host sites will serve a meal followed by a presentation and panel discussion. (You may also attend via Zoom.) The series guides participants into deeper awareness of race and ethnicity. Register and find more information here.

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

NIC Repair the Harm to Children Campaign launched

As you may know, the Boy Scouts of America recently settled a lawsuit related to accusations of sexual abuse of children. The Repair the Harm to Children campaign was created to address the needs of the survivors in three ways; listening and providing healing to the survivors, contributing our fair share to the survivor fund established by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and working to create safeguards against harm in the future. We seek pledges from churches and individuals to fund restorative healing for the survivors. Click here for more information.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time when we honor the history and contributions of members of this fastest-growing population in the United States. This is a diverse group of people with origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. In The United Methodist Church, we have an opportunity for a richer experience of worship and life as the people of God when we celebrate the voices of our Asian American and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters among us. Find worship resources and more here.

The United Methodist Church celebrates Heritage Sunday annually near Aldersgate Day (May 24). This year Heritage Sunday is May 21. The observance provides an opportunity for reflection on heritage, celebration of where the Church has been, how it understands itself as it shapes us today, and the meaning of Christian conferencing. The theme for Heritage Sunday 2023: “Local Church Histories: The Cornerstone of Our Faith.” Find worship resources and more here.


Shop UMC Market & Support Ministries

Now that Amazon Smile is no longer available encourage your supporters to use UMC Market. Like Amazon Smile, UMC Market enables online shoppers to raise donations for your ministry or church simply by making purchases. Nearly 2,000 vendors participate, including Expedia, Kohl’s, Ticketmaster, and Walmart. Visit UMC Market.

Read more here.

Download Your NIC Property & Casualty Certificates

Find your church's 2023 Certificates of Insurance on the NIC Lay Leadership portal. (Note: please discard all Certificates of Insurance sent earlier this year from Arthur J. Gallagher.) Contact Dwayne Jackson, Director of Risk Management & Ministry Protection, with questions or for assistance at (312) 783-5945 or via email.

Other Resources

  • #BeUMC Resources -Tool Kits, Social Media Kits, Graphics, and more.
  • Social Media Shareables - Free graphics for social media for different events, months, and ministries. (Through Outreach, log-in is needed, but resources are free)
  • UMC Giving Resources - Mission Moments, Special Sunday Info, Leader Kits, Pew Cards, and more.
  • United Media Resource Center - Lending library of Christian materials for local churches, small groups, pastors, children, and individuals.

Like Us on Facebook: Prairie Central District


Rev. Jeffry Bross

Prairie Central District Superintendent

[email protected]

312-346-9766 ext. 783


Leola Tucker

Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

312-346-9766 ext. 733

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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 [email protected].

Check out our Submit News page for more details. 

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