News & Updates

March 13, 2025

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Classes are offered in redevelopment, creation care, SPRC, finance, and more. Cost $10 or $30 per church.

Click here to learn more.

UM Missionaries see lives changed in Asia and Africa

United Methodist Global Ministries missionaries Rev. Jonathan McCurley (Japan) and Rev. Dexter Ceballos (Mongolia) visited local congregations in February, sharing powerful stories of transformation in Asia and Africa. Rev. McCurley serves as a chaplain at the Asian Rural Institute, which trains grassroots leaders in sustainable agriculture and community development. Rev. Ceballos, as country director for the Mongolia Mission Initiative, supports leadership development, social ministries, and theological education to strengthen the growing United Methodist Church in Mongolia. Learn more.

2025 Keagy & PACK Grant Applications due MARCH 31!

Are you a small town or rural church, meaning a church outside urban and suburban areas? Have you been dreaming of a creative ministry opportunity in your community, but need a little financial help? The Northern Illinois Conference awards two grants for rural ministry each year — the PACK (Planned Act of Christian Kindness) Grant and the Keagy Grant — to empower small-town and rural churches in their community outreach. The grant applications can be found online and the deadline is March 31. If you have any questions about the grants or the grant process, please contact Rev. Libby Rutherford. Learn more.

Correction:

We sincerely apologize for any churches inadvertently missing in the 100% Apportionment and Mission Link listing. We deeply appreciate the faithful contributions of all our churches. The corrections are below:

100% Apportionment Churches:

Evanston: First
Chicago: Maple Park

Mission Link Churches:

Antioch
Rochelle

March 26 at 7 p.m. Online

Free event; no registration needed

Join us for a comprehensive training session on using Prosper, the web portal for managing apportionments, insurance billing, and pension programs.

You will learn how to set up ACH payments efficiently, as well as how to view and manage payment reports. You will also discover ways to optimize the system to work best for your needs. This training will provide step-by-step guidance and practical tips to help you navigate Prosper with ease. We will also touch base on Vanco and working with the Interfaith Credit Union. Do not miss this opportunity to enhance your payment processing skills. Read more.

Women's History Month

During March, the United Methodist Church celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring women who have shaped our denomination. These women are clergy, laity, missionaries, and more. Resource UMC offers materials for your church to learn about and celebrate the contributions of women to the United Methodist Church. Learn more.

Mission Links Spotlight:

UMCOR Sunday

UMCOR Sunday seeks to increase awareness and support for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

Gifts given on UMCOR Sunday play a vital role in enhancing the church's global humanitarian response because these funds cover UMCOR's administrative costs. This support ensures that 100% of donations given to UMCOR throughout the year can be directed toward on-the-ground relief and recovery efforts, allowing UMCOR to effectively respond to crises and provide assistance where it's needed most.

Learn more about UMCOR's recent relief efforts:

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

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

NIC and General Church Apportionments - 43%
Health and Pension - 62%
Property Insurance - 49%

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.

NIC Seeks a Risk Manager

The risk manager plans, implements, and administers the NIC’s property and casualty insurance program. The manager will work with 300+ local churches/sites, the conference’s insurance board and insurance broker, and other risk-management entities. Read more

HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

All NIC men are welcome to attend the March 22 gathering at New Lenox UMC. You'll meet other men of faith from around the conference, learn about the organization's hunger-relief ministries, and more. Arrive at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and stay for the meeting and inspiring worship. Learn more.

UWFaith 2025 Spiritual Growth Retreat

Sacred Breath: Contemplating Mortality as an Act of Devotion

Featuring: Deaconess Martha Lundgren

Sat., March 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Park Ridge, First UMC,

418 West Touhy Avenue

Cost: $15 per person

All are welcome for times of sharing, prayer, contemplation, conversation, movement, stillness, focused breathing, and music. Learn more.

Private Tour and Discussion Offered for the "Away From Home" Exhibit

On March 13 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., CONAM has arranged for a private tour of the "Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories" exhibit for United Methodists and then there will be an opportunity to speak with a survivor of the Indian Schools. The exhibit is at the Schingoethe Center at Aurora University in the Hill Welcome Center, 131 Prairie St, Aurora. Questions can be sent to Rev. Nancy Blade.

Annual Conference 2025

Monday, June 9 - Wednesday, June 11

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center

Special observances and events:

Clergy Session: May 13, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Naperville: Woori UMC
Laity Session: June 9, morning
Celebration of Ministry: June 9, evening
Bible Study: June 10 & 11, mornings
Lunch-and-Learn: June 10, lunch
Memorial service: June 10, late afternoon
Retirement celebration: June 11, midmorning

Submissions opened for the following:

Display Table Registration - Due May 1.
Legislation & Historical Reports - Due April 1.
Mass Choir: To sing during the Celebration of Ministry Service on Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m.
Presentation and Video Requests - Due April 15.
Purchase a Program Booklet Ad (Guidelines) - Due May 1.
Volunteers - Due May 5.

Visit the AC2025 Website

Other Upcoming Conference Events:

2 ^nd & 4 ^th Wednesday at noon: Weekly Methodist Liaison Office update and virtual prayer meeting. Participants will hear from a Palestinian speaker and meet in small groups for prayer. Methodists and others from around the world participate. Read more.
March 16: India Pilgrimage Information Meeting: Learn about the India Pilgrimage scheduled for November. Read more.
March 25: Order of Elders Gathering 2025: This gathering for Elders includes fellowship, a fail-a-bration contest, a word cafe, and fun activities. Read more.
March 27-30 & April 3-6: NIL Walk to Emmaus Spring Walks.
March 30: UMCOR Sunday: A special offering to support the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), an organization that acts on our behalf when there is a crisis. Read more.
March 30: United Voices for Children 5th Sunday Appeal: Set aside the offering on 5th Sundays for UVC's affiliated agencies. Read more.
March 31: Rural and Small Town Churches Grant applications due.
March 31: GBHEM Scholarships applications due.
April 1: Teaching Tuesdays: Join Rev. Christian Coon at 11 a.m. to learn more about doing ministry as a purple church. Read more.
April 1: The United Methodist Dollars for Scholars applications due.
April 1-May 15: Kids Above All Healthy Babies Drive: Help collect childcare supplies so that parents, caregivers, babies, and toddlers have the essentials they need for a happy and healthy start to their lives together. Read more.
April 5 & 26: Spanish Lay Servant Ministries 2025
April 23: Benefits Lunch and Learn: Join Rev. Cheryl Weaver this month to learn about Compass and Clergy finance. Read more.
April 30: Uplifting Young Methodists Scholarships applications due.

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

Creative Ministry Grants Now Open

In order to help support churches with creative programs in the summer, the Creative Ministry Grants team has moved the deadline from October to May. Coordinated by the program ministry members of the Annual Conference Shepherding Team, this grant aims to encourage creative, collaborative ministry programs throughout the conference. The grants support new, risk-taking initiatives to impact your community, freeing your church to explore new ways for your community to learn and be transformed. NEW Application deadline: May 15. Learn more.

Download your Facebook Live videos by May 31

Facebook Live videos older than 30 days will be deleted soon. If your church livestreams worship via Facebook, or you had a live video showcasing an outreach ministry or community event, they may all be gone by May 31, 2025, if not sooner. If this will impact your ministry or your personal Facebook profile, you can download your files to your computer. Read 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

#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.

Rev. Brian Gilbert

Prairie South District Superintendent

bgilbert@umcnic.org

872-810-0864

Leola Tucker

Administrative Assistant

ltucker@umcnic.org

872-810-0913

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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