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October 24, 2024

** 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)

Support Clergy Facing Racist Bullying and Violence

News and social media outlets are reporting an increase of white Christian nationalist rhetoric, some of it calling for mass deportations. This has provoked bullying against our clergy who are serving in cross-racial appointments.

"The increase in race-based taunting at schools, some people telling our clergy who are here lawfully to go home, harm done to parsonage property, and the backdrop of racist rhetoric impacts all of us, particularly persons of color and especially children," Bishop Dan Schwerin says.

The bishop asked church Staff-Parish Relations Committees and lay leadership more broadly to develop a plan for supporting and protecting our clergy and clergy families as this rhetoric increases anxiety. 

"With multiracial leadership, The United Methodist Church is particularly ready to lead evangelically for our time," the bishop affirms. "We are blessed to be in mission with Christ for the transformation of the world in these days." Read more

Hurricane Relief and Cleanup Continues

As the recovery from recent hurricanes continues, we remain committed to supporting those affected by the storms. In the Holston Conference, teams arrive to help with hurricane cleanup. Fresh Expressions churches are showing up to respond to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Midwest Mission sent three shipments of disaster relief supplies and are working to send more. Read more.

(Mike DuBose/UMNS photo)

What NOT to Do for Hurricane Relief

People want to help after a natural disaster, but some efforts and donations can actually be extremely unhelpful, adding to the burdens of already stressed people. Any item—or volunteer—they did not explicitly request becomes a burden and is wasted. Read more.

Ways to Help Hurricane Relief

• Financial donations to UMCOR support local efforts to accomplish immediate relief and long-term recovery. To give write a check to your local church and note the fund that you want to support. (UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response or NIC Disaster Response) Churches can also give through the NIC Apportionment process.
• The NIC Disaster Response Team is continuing to work on coordinating volunteer opportunities. We will share the information as we have it.
• Midwest Mission's supply of disaster relief are getting heavily depleted as they send supplies to areas affected by the recent hurricanes. Their current requests are for Cleaning Kits, Hygiene Kits, tarps, and trash bags. Items needed for kits are listed here. Kits can be dropped off at several of the drop-off sites in our conference; see the image below. Download a bulletin insert about donating to relief. Download a screen image about donating to relief.

Pumpkin Smash Event at New Hope UMC

New Hope United Methodist Church, in

collaboration with SCARCE and the City of West Chicago, is excited to announce the annual Pumpkin Smash event. Recycle your old pumpkins and help the environment on Sat., Nov. 2, at 643 E. Washington St, West Chicago, IL 60185.As Halloween festivities come to an end, residents are encouraged to bring their old pumpkins to the Pumpkin Smash. This event provides a fun and sustainable way to

dispose of pumpkins, keeping them out of landfills and contributing to environmental conservation.

Geneva UMC 185th Celebration a Success!

The celebration weekend started with an event Friday evening for attendees to walk through exhibits featuring videos about the development of the church and its congregation, along with a special program in the sanctuary. Saturday continued the celebration, with the church hosting a community block party and open house that afternoon. Food trucks providing hot dogs and ice cream were put to good use, while activities kept all who attended busy having fun. The church was open for the scavenger hunt, bell ringing and a walk through of the exhibits, while a former church well-used in the mid-twentieth century was opened up and available for a nostalgic stroll through it. Sunday morning worship was presided over by Bishop Dan Schwerin and the congregation enjoyed a special piece of music arranged by Director of Music Scott Stevenson, sung by the chancel choir and played with the bell ringing group Sanctuary Ringers.

Sat., Nov. 2

9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Dixon:Grace UMC, 921 E Chamberlin

Keagy and PACK grant recipients will present their ministries. All are welcome to attend. Learn more.

Grant Deadlines Approaching

• Social Reform Grants: The NIC Board of Church and Society provides financial assistance to churches that have a passion and a plan for addressing a social justice-related concern. Projects can address domestic or international injustices. Application deadline: Oct. 30. Learn more.
• Creative Ministry Grants: 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. Application deadline: Oct. 30. Learn more.
• Church and Society Grants: The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) awards grants to United Methodist congregations and groups related to The United Methodist Church through Peace with Justice programs, the Ethnic Local Church and Human Relations Day. Applications are due Oct. 31. Learn more.

 HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

Pre-order Your United Methodist Official Resources

The new UM Discipline, Book of Resolutions, Social Principles and Set of Leadership Guidelines are available to order from Cokesbury. The Discipline/Resolutions will be sent in January, and the Social Principles are to be sent in April. Learn more.

2024 Church Conference Reports

Just a quick reminder that all Church Conference (CC) forms & reports are due at least 1 week prior to your CC date. There is plenty of time to submit them in time if you plan ahead and submit them early. We encourage everyone to be working on them now. All-Things-Church-Conference can be found here.

Leadership Portal Temporarily Closed

Churches: Access to the Lay Leadership Portal is now CLOSED. Conference staff are spending the next few months moving data to a new database. It includes a user feature that we will integrate into the church portal. Watch for announcements of when it is up and running. Questions? Contact Leola Tucker or Debbie Rogers.

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.

Like Us on Facebook: Prairie Central District

Rev. Wendy Hardin-Hermann

Prairie Central District Superintendent

whardinhermann@umcnic.org

872-810-0873

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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