View as Webpage

Prairie Cental eNews.png

News & Updates

February 9, 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)

The Prairie Central District Shepherding team would like to say a big thank you to the workshop leaders, participants, and members of Gary UMC in Wheaton for a wonderful district training event. Leadership along with 103 participants, engaged in a deep Communion worship time, engaging and thoughtful teaching, and a time of lunch and fellowship afterward. It was shocking and delightful how many people stayed for lunch and continued to stay until we literally had to kick them out of the church. We guess people miss being with one another. For those in attendance, please fill out your evaluations when you receive them. We really want to make sure next year's event is even better. Hallelujah!

Please join Bishop Dan Schwerin for a day of introduction, reflection, and conversation on your district TODAY, Thursday, February 9. 


Laity will gather at Elgin: Journey of Hope UMC - 37W040 Highland Avenue, Elgin, IL. The gathering will be an evening conversation from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Registration not needed.

  • You are encouraged to join in the gathering for our district, but should the one planned for our district not work for you, any gathering can be attended. Find all the details here.

Join the North Central College Voices of Praise Gospel Choir for an evening of praise and worship. Sat., Feb 11 at 3:00 pm at Grace UMC, 300 E Gartner Rd, Naperville. The event will celebrate Black History Month with local college choirs, spoken word artists, and other performances. Tickets are $10, Seniors $5, and Students/Children are free. For more information and tickets, click here.

Upcoming Events.png

Click on the event title below to find out more information

Black History Month

February


Scouting Ministries Sunday

Any Sunday in Feb or March


Prairie Central Bishop's Day on the District

February 9


NIC Prayer Network Monthly Meeting

February 10


Laity Convocation

February 11


Souper Bowl of Caring

February 12


Ash Wednesday

February 22


Bishop Schwerin's Installation

February 26


Order of Elders

February 28


Prairie Central Lay Academy Spring

March 5, 12, 19 & 26


Black Healing Collective 4-Hour Retreat

March 11


Day Light Savings Begins

March 12


Becoming the Beloved Community

March 18


UMCOR Sunday

March 19

Click here for more information and register.

UWFaith - Prairie Districts "Catching the Spirit Together" Event

Join the three Prairie Districts in one United Women in Faith event on Sat., Feb 18 at 1:30 pm on Zoom. There is no cost to catch the spirit to learn more about United Women in Faith. Learn more and register by clicking here.

Apportionments Highlight

General Commission on Religion and Race

Through the World Service Fund, support for the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) ensures that The United Methodist Church is well-equipped to resist the evil, injustice and oppression of racism.

In 1968, GCORR was established to hold the newly formed United Methodist Church accountable in its commitment to reject the sin of racism in every aspect of the life of the church.


GCORR will not rest in its work of challenging and equipping the church to complete its unfinished agenda of dismantling racial discrimination. They continue to do this by championing diversity, equity, and inclusion; developing interculturally competent leaders; and catalyzing authentic community.


While racism remains their primary focus, their perspective and partnerships reflect a broader context, which includes poverty, nationalism, tribal conflicts, gender discrimination, homophobia, disability, and generational bias—because we know all forms of oppression are connected, and they cannot be dismantled in isolation.


As we celebrate Black History Month, we remember that Black history is everyone’s history. Black individuals have been at the forefront of some of the most significant cultural and scientific advancements in history. Their gifts, skills and talents have blessed our world. The life of the United States and of The United Methodist Church is richer because of Black individuals and the experiences they bring.

 HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Lead and Love in Mission

Dreaming of putting together a mission journey but need some help getting started? Lead mission journeys but want to be more intentional? Come to our one-hour panel discussion, "Connecting for Mission: a Conversation for Dreamers, Planners, and Volunteers," on February 23rd from 7-8 via Zoom. This will be a panel of experienced team leaders who have traveled nationally and internationally. This is a collaborative effort of the Anti-Racism and Discipleship Task Forces to equip our churches in leading youth mission experiences. We invite youth leaders and those who lead youth in mission to attend. Kris Aves, NIC UMVIM co-coordinator, with extensive experience leading youth in mission locally and nationally, will moderate. Click here to register for the link.

4-Hour Workshop, Sat., March 11, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

St. Mark UMC, 8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL

Cost: $25 (includes lunch)

The content of this 4-hour workshop is for people of Black African heritage and will:

  • Define racial trauma.
  • Discuss the significant impact that racial trauma has historically had and continues to have within the Black community, including the UMC.
  • Discuss coping strategies that have been used within the Black community for healing our trauma.

Click here for more information and to register.

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

February is Black History Month! There are also many resources available throughout the United Methodist denomination for you to use. Click here to find more resources.

Lent and Easter Resources

Lent starts on February 22. There are many resources available around from around the denomination. Click here for a sample of the resources.

Generosity Coaching Hotline available

The United Methodist Foundation of Northern Illinois Conference and Horizons Stewardship are partnering to provide on-demand generosity coaching to Northern Illinois United Methodist Churches at no cost and no obligation to you or your church. Click here to learn more and connect with Horizons.

Statistical reports due

It’s that time of year again when each local church gathers its attendance, program, and financial records and submits its statistical report to the Conference. The NIC office uses the statistics you report to asses how your church is doing, to report to the larger denomination, and to calculate apportionments for your church. It’s very important that we have accurate, up-to-date information. This way, your apportionments accurately reflect your church’s ability to contribute to the conference’s connection. 2022 statistics can be entered at umctables.org. The deadline is February 28, 2023. For resources and more information, click here. If you have questions, contact David Quinn at dquinn@umcnic.org.

Click here to get started.

NIC Prayer Network Monthly Zoom Meetings

The NIC Prayer Network is an entryway for joining in common prayer for the ministries of the Northern Illinois Conference. You’re welcome to join in praying for the upcoming events of our conference. Yes, God can do things without our praying, but God chooses to involve us. And without God, our work is futile. The next meeting is Tomorrow, February 10 at 10:00 am. All are invited to join.  No preparation is necessary, just log in. The Zoom link is available here. Meeting ID: 897 7835 0821 Passcode: 152529


If you’d like to pray but have other appointments at that time, email us DiscipleshipTF@umcnic.org and request the agenda or add to the agenda. Also, pray along each week for clergy, churches, leaders, and NIC Advances by visiting the Prayer Network website.

Resources for the Local Church

  • #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 - for small groups, pastors, children and individuals.

Like Us on Facebook: Prairie Central District


Rev. Jeffry Bross

Prairie Central District Superintendent

jbross@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 783


Leola Tucker

Administrative Assistant

ltucker@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 733

Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  YouTube  Web

Do you have news to share?

We are always looking for stories of what is happening in the local church.  We welcome articles from churches highlighting ministries, outreach, and missions which 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. 

Keep up to date with all Conference Events and News in the Weekly email!

If you would like to receive the weekly Conference eNews and other important announcements, including sympathy notices and appointment announcements, please sign up online or click the Update Profile button at the bottom of this email.


NOTE - Clicking UNSUBSCRIBE below means you will be unsubscribing from ALL Constant Contact emails from the NIC (Appointment Announcements, Sympathy Notices, etc). If you want to stop receiving one newsletter, please click "Update Profile below".