May 11, 2022
Annual Conference Registration Ends May 29
Registration remains open through May 29. Cost is $95 (early-bird registration ended April 29.) Please note there will be no on-site registration. *Make sure you have a file copy (.jpg, jpeg, png) of your proof of vaccination card handy to upload during registration, which is required.

Annual Conference will meet in person June 8 - 10 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. The AC Committee is diligently working to make this a safe gathering for everyone while continuing to monitor COVID-19 infection rates for the area. For current requirements for AC members to attend, please read the health and safety statement.

Clergy Session will be held May 24 in person at New Lenox UMC starting at 9 am. Click for details. You may register through AC registration. If excused from AC but attending the Clergy Session only, contact Marva Andrews at mandrews@umcnic.org for registration.

Laity Session will be held June 8 from 11 am - 12 pm at the Schaumburg Convention Center.

More info:

  • Legislation and Historical documents are posted online at umcnic.org/AC2022docs.
  • Click to download an abbreviated agenda.
  • Click to learn more about this year's speakers and leaders.
  • Download a Fact Sheet with more details and information. For more dates and information, visit umcnic.org/AC2022.
  • The worship services and plenary sessions will be livestreamed on the NIC YouTube Channel for guests and observers. Clergy and lay members of AC must be present in person to vote.
  • Volunteer opportunities. Ushers, plenary pages, greeters, secretarial pool members, set up/clean up crew, and more are needed to help Annual Conference run smoothly and efficiently. Please contact Laura Lopez, Events Administrator, at llopez@umcnic.org.
2022 Bishop's Appeal for Ukraine Assistance
The 2022 Northern Illinois Annual Conference Bishop's Appeal special offering will go toward Ukraine assistance. While immediate needs are great, we know the people of Ukraine will need long-term assistance. For more details on fundraiser ideas and bringing your collective offering to Annual Conference, visit umcnic.org/Bishopsappeal2022.
T-Shirt Sales

There's still time to buy a shirt or place a bulk order to help raise money for this year's Bishop's Appeal and support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

Click here to order.
AC Mission Challenge

The NIC Board of Global Ministries is coordinating with the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) to organize its fill-the-truck collection drive for the most needed items at this time. The truck will be parked at the Schaumburg Convention Center on June 8 and 9 to take in your donations. Click here for items needed. Download flyer.

All are invited to attend this event to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander month on Sunday, May 22 from 4 - 6 pm at First Korean United Methodist Church, 655 E. Hintz Rd., Wheeling, IL. The worship service featuring Bishop John L. Hopkins will be followed by dinner. This program is in partnership with the Northern Illinois Conference Fellowship of Asian Americans and the ACST Anti-Racism Task Force. No cost to attend but please register here. For resources, click here.
Communicator's Corner

Bishops Welcome Court’s Decision that Annual Conferences Can Not Vote to Leave UMC
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is expressing gratitude following the declaratory decision from the Judicial Council stating that an annual conference may not vote to separate from the denomination. The denomination’s top court agreed with the Council of Bishops that while an annual conference has the reserved right to vote on disaffiliation, the General Conference must first enact enabling legislation to establish the right to withdraw but has not done so for conferences in the United States. Read more.

Kids Above All Diaper Drive through May 15
Kids Above All continues to collect diapers of all sizes and wipes to help their parents, caregivers, babies, and toddlers have the essentials they need for a happy and healthy start to their lives together. Click here for an Amazon Wish List. To schedule a drop-off time for your donation, contact Manager of Faith & Community Relations, Deaconess Catherine Inserra, at 847- 224-2870, or at cinserra@kidsaboveall.org. Donation Drop off address: 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 450, Chicago, IL 60631. Time: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm.

Global Ministries Features Northern Illinois Conference Elder
NIC Missionary Rev. Jin Yang Kim, who is serving the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva, Switzerland, will be one of several missionaries featured on the Global Ministries' monthly Zoom meeting, #StillinMission, on June 2 at 1 pm CST. Register here. You will have the opportunity to meet in a small group to hear a presentation from each missionary during the call. Registration is limited.

Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge
The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) recently launched the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge, which starts on Juneteenth. Check out the resource webpage which now features weekly prayers and litanies, and will soon include French, Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog translations. Click here for more details.
Mark your calendar

Around the Conference
  • "Somewhere Over the Border" Special Preview - (May 13) 7:30 pm at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL. Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors (NIJFON) is partnering with Teatro Vista to bring this play exclusively to NIJFON friends and family on this night as an opportunity to share a beautiful immigration story and also as an organizational fundraiser! Only a few tickets left! Click here for details and to buy tickets.

Around the Connection

  • Heritage Sunday - (May 22) Heritage Sunday (Aldersgate Day) calls the Church to remember the past by committing itself to the continuing call of God. This year's theme is “Splits, Separations, and Reconciliations.” From now through the remainder of the year, the General Commission on Archives and History (GCAH) will be producing and releasing a number of resources to help the denomination better understand the multifaceted and multi-faced history of the Methodist movement in a global context. Click to read more.
  • Peace with Justice Sunday - (June 12) Half of the funds collected for this Special Sunday offering provide grants to local churches, districts, conferences, and other affiliated organizations that advocate for peace with justice. The other fifty percent of the offering remains in our annual conference to develop local peace with justice ministries. Click here for a promotional toolkit and resources.
United Media Resource Center
Click here for a new list of various resources to be mailed to your church or home address.

Go to igrc.org/umrc to access the online catalog.

Questions, comments? Contact UMRC Director Jill Stone at umrc@igrc.org.
 
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