October Reporter Now Online
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The October Reporter issue is available to read online and is on its way to subscriber's mailboxes. Read more about the six Discipleship trainings held in September across the conference focusing on one of the three Annual Conference Shepherding Team (ACST) goals:
To Grow and Reach New Disciples of Jesus Christ
.
Also, learn more about a Chicago church that held a Saturday school welcoming neighborhood children, the Bishop's reflection on her visit with Venezuelan immigrants at the Church of The Redeemer of Calvary, and more on Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.
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Registration Open for Special Session
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Northern Illinois Annual Conference members and clergy may now register for the
Nov. 16 Special Session
from 9am - 1pm. It will be held at Kishwaukee College, 21193 Malta Road, Malta, IL.
Registration cost is $10. Off-site childcare at Malta UMC will be available. Pre-order a box lunch to go for $8.
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Support Our Farming Families
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At the
Nov. 16 Annual Conference Special Session
, a Bishop's Appeal offering will be taken to help our local farmers who are facing hardships due to a rainy, cold spring that delayed planting and a drought in July that further hampered the growing season.
Bishop Dyck encourages churches to take an offering and donate as you are able. "Farming is the backbone of not only our economy but our culture," said Bishop Dyck. "Let's be supportive of our farmers. It will be greatly appreciated and every amount, no matter how big or small, will help."
Starting in November, the Keagy Town and Rural Committee will begin to review applications for grants for farm families upwards to $500 to be used for personal and family needs to aid with ongoing costs of living. The Farm Family Aid Grant application forms will be released October 10 and received into early 2020 for eligible farmers.
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Program Ministry Grant Applications Open
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Churches may apply for one of three grants available through the NIC Program Office under the categories of Social Reform, Congregational Redevelopment, and Creative Ministries. Fall grant applications will be accepted through
Oct. 15, 2019.
For complete grant descriptions, instructions and the online application, click below.
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Canoeing the Mountains Workshop
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Registration is open for this engaging workshop sponsored by the NIC Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment on Oct. 17 from 9am - 3pm at First Korean UMC, 655 East Hintz Rd., Wheeling, IL
(new location).
Based on the book "Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory
," a
uthor and Fuller Theological Seminary Assistant Professor Tod Bolsinger presents ideas and practical tools that will equip UMC leaders to move into the future and learn to lead in a world that looks nothing like it did in the past.
Cost $50 includes a box lunch
. $70 at the door.
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Church Conference Materials Available Online
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C
hurch Conference season is underway! This year the District Superintendents are excited to dive deep into our three Annual Conference Strategic Goals with your congregations.
Documents, forms and materials (including instructions, a revised agenda, and a letter from the Bishop and the Cabinet) are now available online.
The 2019 Church Conference online forms will look very similar to last year’s, with the exception of one
new report
titled "
Financial Summary"
(most recent income and expense report).
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Plumbline Reunion in October
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Calling all Plumbline alumni!
Reflect, Engage and Share
at our first reunion on
Oct. 14
from 9am-2pm
at
Community UMC, 20 Center St., Naperville, IL.
The NIC has been taking high school students to New York City on the
4-day Plumbline Tour since 2002. In 2019, we took students to Washington, D.C. Whether you went on the tour in 2002, in recent years, or any years in between, we’d love to see you to reconnect.
Click here
for more info. Click the button below to register.
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Communicator's Corner
Memorial Service for Rev. Johnson
Fifty years ago, Rev. Bruce Johnson was pastor of Armitage Avenue United Methodist Church in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago. It was renamed the People's Church by the Young Lords, a Puerto Rican street gang turned political organization. But on September 29, 1969, Pastor Bruce and his wife Eugenia were found brutally murdered in the parsonage, leaving three young children behind, a crime that remains unsolved. The Young Lords are marking the anniversary of the slaying with a memorial worship and procession on September 29, 2019, at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church,
925 W Diversey Pkwy,
Chicago at 10:30am.
Watch the latest Different Drummers to learn more.
HealthFlex Exchange Workshops in October
HealthFlex participants (
full-time clergy, spouses and lay employees)
are invited to come learn more about the shift to the HealthFlex Exchange, effective January 1, 2020, at five workshops across the conference this October. The workshops will be led by NIC and Wespath staff to
help you choose the plan that works best for your family's needs and budget
. The open enrollment period is from
October 30 - November 14.
For more information and to register for a workshop,
click here
.
Attention Retirees:
Your retiree benefits through Via Benefits will remain exactly the same and are not affected by the Conference's HealthFlex Exchange changes. Your benefits would only change if you elected to be in another Medicare Supplement program for 2020. If you are retired and participating in Via Benefits and receiving an HRA benefit, you do not have to do anything to maintain your benefits for 2020. Questions? Contact Woody Bedell at
[email protected]
.
Chuck is Back!
A free online teaching series based on
Chuck Knows Church
and designed to help congregations discuss critical issues that potentially could prevent them from being vital churches, is now available from Discipleship Ministries. The 16-session video teaching series uses a study guide to help congregations talk and learn about topics such as discipleship systems, evangelism, stewardship, church committees that work, innovation, and more. For more information and to register, go to
chuck.umcdiscipleship.org
.
Unwrap Christmas in Communities Around the Globe
When it comes to what matters most at Christmas, people say that it’s spending time with family and friends. United Methodist Communications’ 2019
Unwrap Christmas
event campaign is designed to help local churches offer meaningful places for people to connect with one another throughout the Advent season. United Methodist Communications is supporting these outreach efforts by offering event grants and other resources to local United Methodist churches.
A limited number of $300 grants to offset the costs of the invitational items are available. Learn more at
Outreach.com/UMC
.
GCORR Presents a Free Online Course –
"Implicit Bias: What We Don’t Think We Think"
This resource has been created for anyone who is interested in learning and teaching others about implicit bias. The learning engagements included in each section allow for individual work, group work, and sermon preparation. Each exercise is an invitation to the sacred journey of discovering with your church and community how God is leading you to use this material faithfully within your context.
Enroll in the course.
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Around the Conference
Click here
f
or the Conference Calendar and more upcoming events...
- IMPRISONED Movie - (opens Sept. 27) at Regal City North IMAX & RPX, 2600 N Western Ave., Chicago. A film parable depicting the redemptive power of love and forgiveness in contrast to the destructive power of anger and revenge. Filmed on location in Puerto Rico prior to Hurricane Maria, a portion of the box office proceeds will be donated to UMCOR for their continuing relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Click here for a leader's discussion guide. Click here for more information.
- Chicago BMCR 30th Annual Laity Awards - (Sept. 28) 12 noon luncheon at Holiday Inn Matteson Hotel, 500 Holiday Plaza Drive Matteson, IL. Donation: $60. Click for details.
- Family Resource Fair - (Sept. 28) 9am - 2pm at First UMC in Waukegan, 128 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. More than 20 organizations will participate this year, including JFON (Justice for Our Neighbors), ChildServ, and Kohl's Children's Museum. Click for more information.
- Fabiola Grandon-Mayer Installation Service - (Sept. 29) 3 - 5pm at Beth Eden, 3201 Huffman Blvd., Rockford, IL. Come celebrate the installation of Rockford's new District Superintendent. Click for details.
- NIJFON Annual Champions for Justice Dinner - (Sept. 29) 4:30 - 6:30pm at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N Broadway, Aurora, IL. The Northern Illinois Justice For Our Neighbors (NIJFON) celebrates its 8th year with this annual fundraiser event to support the continuing work to protect immigrants by providing free, high-quality legal services. State Representative Delia Ramirez and Rev. Paula Cripps-Vallejo will be recognized as this year's Champions of Justice Award Recipients. Sponsor and buy tickets today.
- Hispanic/Latinx Celebration - (Oct. 5) 9am - 2pm at Des Plaines: First, 668 Graceland Ave, Des Plaines, IL. Let's celebrate NIC Hispanic/Latinx ministries with an opening gathering, workshops, display tables, closing service, and a meal. Bring photos, posters or brochures for display. Everyone is welcome! Registration is open.
- A Day in the Country - (Oct. 14) 7am - 4:30pm at Jonamac Orchard in Malta, IL. The DeKalb District invites our kids in the Chicago Metro Districts to experience life in the country with them on Columbus Day. Enjoy apple doughnuts, farm animals, pumpkins, tractors, and so much more! Space is limited. Sign up online by Oct. 7. Download the flyer.
- Trustees Workshop - (Oct. 19) 9am-12:30pm at Naperville: Grace, 300 E. Garner Road, Naperville, IL. The opening session, “Best Practices for Local Church Trustees,” will be for all attendees. This session will include local church checklists for maintenance and safety items, emergency procedures manual, keeping current with background checks for staff and volunteers, and the how to share space. Click here to register.
- Launch to Life Rosecrance Benefit - (Oct. 22) 11:30am - 1:30pm at the JW Marriott, 151 W Adams St., Chicago. Featuring David Sheff, Author of the New York Times #1 best seller, “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction,” which was adapted into a movie in 2018. Proceeds from the event will benefit life-saving programs at Rosecrance in the Chicagoland area. Click for tickets.
Around the Denomination
- Hispanic Heritage Month - (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) United Methodist Communications suggests five ways to celebrate Hispanic-Latino culture and provides resources for inviting surrounding communities to join in church events. Read five ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Discipleship Ministries also offers a special liturgy month and some suggested activities. Click here for more resources.
- World Communion Sunday - (Oct. 6) World Communion Sunday is one of six Special Sunday offerings. Our designated gifts benefit students around the world by providing scholarships, mentoring, and training. As we come together to receive Holy Communion with Christians around the world, we recognize our unity and shared commitment to building God’s Kingdom on earth. Click for resources.
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United Media Resource Center
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Click here
for
a list for fostering growth and renewal resources.
Visit the resource center's
website
for the latest catalog and more information on how to check out and return items.
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