News & Updates

May 14, 2026

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Hello Prairie Central District,

This is the season when I sit with many Staff-Parish Relations Committees, saying hello to a new pastor or bidding goodbye to a beloved pastor. The verse I often share, in these meetings, comes from the beloved Psalm 121, a psalm of pilgrimage:

The Lord will protect you on your journeys—

whether going or coming—

from now until forever from now.

If your church is in a time of pastoral transition, I hope you’ll join me in prayer for your congregation, for your outgoing pastor, for your incoming pastor. Here is an amazing list of resources, shared recently at our transition workshop.

If this is not the year for your church/you to experience a change in appointment, then join me in praying for those who are. If you are a pastor, be ready to welcome your nearest new UMC pastor, as they move into the area. If you are laity, pray for your nearest UMC churches, as they experience this time of transition.

Jesus is with us on every journey, guiding, guarding, protecting, empowering.

May this be our hope!

DS Rev. Wendy Hardin Hermann

Prairie Central District Superintendent

Prairie Central District Zoom Gatherings

May 14

Clergy (Zoom link): 9 a.m.

Laity (Zoom Link): 7 p.m.

Join fellow members of Prairie Central for inspiration, conversation and fellowship.

Questions? Message DS Rev. Wendy Hardin Hermann

Love Your Neighbor: Public Demonstration and DIY Events

The NIC Commission on Religion and Race invites churches and communities to participate in “Faithful Action: Love Your Neighbor,” an optional public demonstration following the last plenary session on June 15. Congregations are also encouraged to organize their own DIY Faithful Action events between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2026, as a witness to loving and supporting our immigrant neighbors through activities such as prayer vigils, rallies, marches, or educational trainings. Planning resources and a checklist are available to help churches create meaningful local events. Read more.

Building Hope with the Bishop’s Appeal

The 2026 Bishop’s Appeal: Education for Central Conferences supports transformational opportunities for students and church leaders around the world. This year’s appeal will help fund the construction of a high school in Tanzania led by NIC missionary Rev. Young Seon (Christina) Kim and strengthen the Endowment for Theological Education in the Central Conferences, investing in future generations of leaders, pastors, and communities. Rev. Kim was highlighted in a UMNews story recently, read how the ministry's existing secondary school is changing lives. Resources including bulletin inserts, videos, and promotional materials are available online. One option for collecting for the Bishop's Appeal is May 17 called Miracle Sunday when churches around the connection will be collecting. Learn more.

Collecting Supplies, Sharing Hope

Partner with the NIC Board of Global Ministries to collect times for Midwest Mission. We will be gathering most needed items, including supplies for home care kits and personal dignity kits. Donations will be accepted Sunday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday, June 15, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Click here for a full list of needed items and bulletin inserts.

Note: This year, churches are also encouraged to collect new and gently used school supplies. Many gently used school supplies are cleaned out of desks and lockers and end up in the trash, or clutter in your house. Items like notebooks with unused pages, extra pencils, crayons, rulers, folders, and other supplies often still have plenty of life left in them. Around the world, many children do not have access to even basic school supplies. In Honduras, students are often grateful just to have a single notebook or pencil. These simple tools can help a child learn, grow, and build a brighter future. Learn more.

Other Opportunities to Participate

Registration is open for voting members, guests and childcare. Find all the registration information here. Registration closes May 22!
Sign up to Volunteer.
Sing in the Mass choir.

Visit the Annual Conference Website

An Annual Conference Promise Continued Across Generations

In a moving reflection, Jeany Gewin shares how her mother’s experience as a member of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference in the 1970s shaped her own commitment to advocacy and inclusion in the church. Remembering her mother’s belief that “If Jesus welcomed all to the table, so should we,” Jeany reflects on attending Annual Conference and carrying forward that vision of a more welcoming and focused church. Read more.

Illinois Pilgrimage Unites Faith and History

United Methodists from across Illinois will gather for a four-day Illinois Pilgrimage (June 25–28) focused on faith, history, and justice, offering opportunities for learning, reflection, and community-building. The journey will include visits to significant historical and cultural sites across the state, concluding with worship and a visit to Cahokia Mounds. Open to participants of all ages, the pilgrimage invites deeper understanding and connection through shared experience. Read more.

Caring for Creation: Summit Equips Churches for Action

Participants gathered at the Creation Care Summit on May 2 at First UMC of Arlington Heights to learn practical ways to care for God’s creation and strengthen their congregations’ response to environmental challenges. They engaged in hands-on workshops focused on topics such as building church green teams, planting native species, and improving energy efficiency in congregational spaces, equipping churches to take meaningful next steps in creation care. Read more.

Mission Link Highlight:
Peace with Justice Sunday

This Sunday gives us the chance to reflect on how we can be agents of peace and justice. Peace with Justice Sunday is celebrated on May 31.

Peace with Justice Sunday is a time to renew our commitment to transforming the world through justice, compassion, and reconciliation. Through this special offering, we support life-changing ministries focused on peace, human rights, and justice for all. Your gifts help empower programs that transform lives and communities locally and around the world, with half of the offering remaining within Northern Illinois to support ministries in our own communities. Learn more.

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

Connectional Giving Update

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.

HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Summer Mission u

Join the United Women in Faith of the Northern Illinois Conference this summer for inspiring teaching events open to all.

Three Opportunities:

July 10-12 – Weekend teaching
July 19 – Korean One-Day teaching
Aug. 8 - One-Day teaching

All are welcome to attend these opportunities for learning, fellowship, and spiritual growth.

Learn more.

July 19 to 21

Camp Sullivan,

Oak Forest, IL

Open to youth ages 13 to 16 across our conference and beyond.

Cost: $60 per person, covers lodging, meals, & activities. Learn more.

Experience JOY Camp

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 21st to June 27th and has a total cost of $655 with discounts available for early registration (prior to June 1st), and siblings. Learn more.

Other Upcoming Events

May 15: Creative Ministries Grants applications due.
May 15: Pastoral Equitable Compensation applications due.
May 15-17: UWFaith Assembly 2026: Gathering of United Women in Faith from around the world in Indianapolis, IN
May 17: Heritage Sunday
June 21-27: NCJ Volunteers In Mission Youth Trip
June 26 to 28: NIC/IGRC Illinois Pilgrimage

Save the Date

July 17 & 18: Revolutionize Your Ministry: Jason Moore, writer of AI and the Church, will share his knowledge on using AI in the church and hybrid ministry.
Aug. 2-5: SCD 2026 Equips and empowers leaders to build communities where people truly belong and, together, become more like Christ—loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously for the sake of the world. Hosted in Columbus, OH
Sept. 11-13: UM Men Spiritual Congress
Sept. 29 to Oct. 1: School for Leadership: Innovating for Our Future Open to all clergy from Northern Illinois and Wisconsin.
Oct. 5-8: NCJ Commission on Archives & History Convocation
Nov. 12-14: Do No Harm 2026 A virtual conference equipping the Church to prevent sexual harm and foster trauma-informed care.

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

May is AANHPI Heritage Month

This month, we recognize Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and the contributions they've made to society and church life. Learn more about lesser-known historical figures across the UMC, US culture, and internationally. Resource UMC and General Commission on Religion and Race provide an overview of “firsts” in many areas. Learn more

Grant Deadlines Approaching

Equitable Compensation grants were established to provide economic support for Churches/Charges with a full-time pastor experiencing financial hardship to help ensure that all clergy are paid equitably. Deadline: May 15
The NIC Creative Ministries Grant aims to encourage creative, collaborative ministry programs throughout the conference. Deadline: May 15

Grants with applications reviewed on a rolling basis

Other Resources

ResourceUMC - your online destination for United Methodist Church leaders. Whether you’re seeking inspiration or practical information, this site is your go-to resource. Check back often for fresh ideas and insights to empower your leadership across our connection.
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. Wendy Hardin-Hermann

Prairie Central District Superintendent

whardinhermann@umcnic.org

872-810-0873

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