Find ways to share your personal story or simply post on your social media, “I am United Methodist.” Don’t forget to use the hashtag #BeUMC. NIC Communications has created shareable social media graphics in English, Spanish and Korean, or create your own. Click here to download. You may also share the images from the NIC Facebook page. Find more ideas at umc.org/BeUMC.

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 [email protected] for registration.

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

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.

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.

Communicator's Corner

Clergy and employees of not-for-profit organizations engaged in faith-based work may benefit from recent changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Wespath is offering a one-hour webinar on Mon., May 9 at 2:00 pm CST, and again on Wed., May 11 at 12:30 pm CST, to help organizations and their staff understand the PSLF Program and its application process. Learn more at Wespath.org/r/PSLF.

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 [email protected]. Donation Drop off address: 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 450, Chicago, IL 60631. Time: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm.

United Methodist Communication (UMCom) has announced a week-long ecumenical training opportunity launching this spring for anyone in ministry seeking to enhance their communications skills. Communication Learning Week: Taking the Next Step will be held May 9-13, 2022, and is designed with busy schedules in mind. All of the learning week content will be recorded and stored in a learning portal that participants will have access to for six months following the event. Registration opens April 12. Learn more.

Global Ministries Features Northern Illinois Conference Elder

NIC Missionaries' husband and wife team Rev. Kyeong-Ah Woo and Rev. Jin Yang Kim, who are serving the world Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva, Switzerland, hadn't been back to Northern Illinois since they were commissioned in 2017, but they finally got the opportunity to return for a visit this Easter. Read more on their limited itineration. Rev. Jin Kim will also be featured on the Global Ministries Missionary Zoom meeting 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.

The NIC Communications office has published part of the 2022 special

insert featured in the March Reporter explaining apportionments (asignaciones) translated in Spanish thanks to Prairie North District Superintendent Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer. "I invite you to share this information with members and leaders of your churches. We are a connectional church. We support and need each other," said Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer. To download the flyer, visit umcnic.org/apportionments.

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 [email protected].

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