|
"Invite a friend into life in Christ, where our service, mission, and witness demonstrate Easter in a Good Friday world," Bishop Dan Schwerin says in his Holy Week and Easter message. You may include it in Holy Week or Easter worship.
|
|
Special meals, a layette project, a Walk for Justice, community ecumenical activities, and more are part of NIC churches' Lent and Holy Week observances this year. Learn about these and find inspiration for your church.
|
|
Learn, engage, and share a meal with others as you discover the history, culture, challenges, and successes of different ethnic communities. The NIC Anti-Racism Task Force is presenting a film discussion series in which participants learn about and discuss the contexts, causes, and impacts of racism. Read about the upcoming films here. Consider hosting a discussion at your church. Complete and submit the interest form here.
|
|
Room reservations for Annual Conference are now available at a reduced price for the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center at 1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg, Ill.
-
Cost: $169 plus 11% tax per night
-
Nights available at NIC rate: June 5, 6, and 7
-
Reservations by phone: (888) 236-2427 (mention Northern IL Conference UMC)
-
Reservations online: book.passkey.com/go/NorthernILConferenceUMC
RESERVATION BLOCK CLOSES ON APRIL 11!
Reserve your room now.
|
|
-
April 3: Online registration begins.
-
April 3: Historical documents & proposed legislation due. Find the form here.
-
April 28: Early-bird registration ends. (Fee rises to $125.)
-
May 23: Clergy session
-
May 28: Registration closes.
-
May 30, 7 p.m.: Pre-conference briefing, online.
-
May 31, 10 a.m.: Pre-conference briefing, online.
|
|
Special Observances
June 6
- 9 a.m.: Laity convocation
- Evening: ordination service
June 7
- morning: Retirement service
June 8
- morning: Memorial service
|
|
|
Annual conferences will not be electing delegates this year for the 2024 general and jurisdictional conferences. Read more here.
|
|
More updates and details will be posted in the NIC eNews and on the website at umcnic.org/AC2023.
|
|
Twenty percent of Americans say they are attending worship in person less often since before the pandemic, Pew Research Center data show.
On the other hand, 15 percent say they are participating in virtual services more often. Tracking the same individuals’ answers on four annual surveys from 2019 to 2022, the organization found that the vast majority (87 percent) report no change in their rates of worship attendance over that period. Learn more here.
While the headlines may have receded, the sin of racism remains with us. United Methodist Discipleship Ministries believes that work toward change must be bathed in prayer every step along the way. They’re providing daily prayers for the ongoing journey of transformation. Find them here.
At least 25 people died and dozens were injured in storms that cut a path of destruction across the lower Mississippi Delta on March 24. So far, we know that a UM church was destroyed; three others and a parsonage were damaged. To help with recovery efforts, please give to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery through Advance #901670. The Mississippi Conference is also raising funds to help survivors; learn more here.
|
|
Mission Around the Denomination
|
|
Every Saturday morning, Lokole Methodist Radio in Congo dedicates 30 minutes to lifting up the cause of vulnerable children. The program, "30 Minutes with the Orphans," is an initiative of Innocent Afful, a UM missionary who is coordinator for orphans and vulnerable children for the Churches of Christ in Congo. Some of these children are threatened by civil unrest in the region. The ministry Afful leads provides vocational training and literacy education for orphaned children.
|
|
-
Becoming the Beloved Community Workshop: How to Talk About Race in America, April 15 at Rochelle UMC, 709 Fourth Ave., Rochelle. In addition to providing facts about racism, this four-hour workshop reveals some of the harm caused by racial prejudice. Registration fee is $20. Contact Dr. Richard Guzman at rrguzman@comcast.net to register.
-
Conference-wide UMVIM Leader Mission Journey Training, April 22, 9 a.m. to noon at Harmony UMC, 2600 W. Pearl City Rd., Freeport. Those leading a mission or going on a mission journey across town or across the world will find this very helpful. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. A free-will offering will be taken. Click here for information.
-
Discipling Anti-Racism Youth (DAY) Second-Quarter event, April 29, 9 a.m. to noon at Community UMC, 20 N. Center St., Naperville. The workshop will be facilitated by the Becoming the Beloved Community (BBC) team, led by Dr. Richard Guzman. The discussion will engage participants and get their feedback on ways to talk to youth about work on racial justice and equity. All conference youth leaders are encouraged to attend. Please click here to register. Questions? Contact Deacon Sharon Rice at deacon_sharon@hotmail.com. More information on Becoming Beloved Community is available here.
|
|
Grandparents can be a supportive influence on their family's faith development. United Media Resource Center has some books to guide grandparents in this role.
Check out the resources here.
Resources include:
Grandparenting: Strengthening Your Family and Passing on Your Faith
Discipling Your Grandchildren: Great Ideas to Help Them Know, Love, and Serve God
Equipping Grandparents: Helping Your Church Reach and Disciple the Next Generation
Overcoming Grandparenting Barriers: How to Navigate Painful Problems with Grace and Truth
|
|
Please note: Unsubscribing from this eNews list will remove you from all notices from the Northern Illinois Conference, including messages from the bishop, appointment announcements, and sympathy notices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|