NIC eNews for November 10, 2021

View as Webpage

November 10, 2021

Tending to the Harvest Event Registration Sponsored by the NIC Discipleship Task Force

"This weekend's events are like a booster shot for our discipleship life"

~ Karen Bonnell, NIC Discipleship Task Force Co-Chair

Registration closes 11/11/21 at midnight.

The "Growing Together Symposium" held via Zoom will focus on Ephesians 4:15 and be held Sat., Nov. 13 from

9 - 11 am.

Presenter: Rev. Kyungsu Park, who will talk about the connection between youth discipleship and relationship. Click here for a quick survey.

After the presentation, attendees are encouraged to participate in a breakout session on Intentional Discipleship Systems and discipling youth and other members of your church.

Click button for more info and registration.

MORE INFO

A Conference Worship Service will be held Sun. Nov. 14 at

4 pm (note new time).

Location: Our Saviour's UMC, 701 E. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg, IL. Space is limited and masks are required. The event will also be livestreamed. Click here for link.

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Olu Brown, Senior Pastor at Impact Church, Atlanta, GA.

►Watch a preview video from Rev. Brown.

Click below for more info and registration.

MORE INFO

Vital Merger Event - November Workshop Cancelled

***The November workshop has been cancelled due to low enrollment. You are encouraged to save the date and register for the March workshop.***

March 19 - 9am - 3pm

Cost: $20 includes box lunch.

Speaker: Dirk Elliott, Director of Congregational Vibrancy and Leadership Development for the Michigan Conference

Churches come in all forms of health: some are healthy and growing, others are maintaining the status quo, and some are declining. But they all have one thing in common – they want to be fruitful and healthy. One way this can happen is through partnerships or mergers. Attend this workshop and explore new ways your church might become healthier through a merger. Click for details.

REGISTRATION

November Reporter Available Online

Access the latest NIC news and information in the November Reporter now available online. In his monthly column, Bishop John L. Hopkins poses his final question in a series about the future of the Church.

Learn more about how First UMC in Evanston is helping provide clean water in Kenya, read about the Prairie North District's United Methodist Men potato drop to help feed hundreds in the community, and get a year in review from United Voices for Children.

READ NOVEMBER REPORTER

Communicator's Corner

North Central Jurisdictional Conference

Nov. 10 & 11

A special called session of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference with the theme "Building Beloved Community" is taking place virtually. Delegates from each conference are part of the official Zoom meeting, and others can watch the livestream online. Click here to watch the livestream. Click here for a detailed agenda for the two days. The three big topics of conversation include dismantling racism, episcopal leadership, and the future of The United Methodist Church. The NIC General and Jurisdictional Delegation has been meeting and preparing for the upcoming conferences. Read the group's latest update.

Council of Bishops Narrative for the

Continuing United Methodist Church

The Council of Bishops ended its fall meeting on Friday, Nov. 5, having spent time in worship, plenary and covenant groups as they seek God’s guidance to lead The United Methodist Church. The bishops, from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, overwhelmingly approved a narrative that provides a framework and begins to paint a picture for the continuing United Methodist Church. The document reminds United Methodists of Christ’s prayer for unity and the commandment to gather all to the table, to make space for one another, appreciate one another, and look for Christ in each other. Click to read more.

New NIC Directory Available

The 2021-2022 NIC Directory of Churches, Clergy, Laity and Committees is available to purchase for $7 on Amazon or download a pdf for free at umcnic.org/directory.

Beware of Phishing Emails

A heads-up about scammers who are back at it. Beware of phishing emails that pretend to be from the Bishop or District Superintendent asking for favors, your time or gift cards. First check the email address that is connected to a familiar name - if you receive emails from the Bishop or a DS that are not from @umcnic.org, that is spam. Do not respond.

HealthFlex Open Enrollment

The 2022 HealthFlex Annual Open Enrollment runs from November 3 – 18, 2021 for clergy and eligible members. You must register through benefitsaccess.org and select new user registration. In addition to completing the Annual Election, Benefits Access also includes your HealthFlex plan details, shows any health account contributions, and provides direct access to medical, dental and vision providers. Please note, the plans have not changed from 2021. If you have questions or experience trouble registering, contact Wespath Customer Service at 1-800-851-2201.

NIC Fall Mission Challenge

The NIC Board of Global Ministries with the Midwest Mission Distribution Center is organizing a fall collection drive from Nov. 29 - Dec. 7 to support recovery efforts from the 2021 Hurricanes and the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti. Several collection sites are set up around the conference to drop off your donations with more TBD. For items needed and more information on times and locations for collection, click here.

Kids Above All Holiday Gift Drive

Put your Holiday Spirit into action by stepping up to support Kids Above All’s Holiday Gift Drive 2021. You can help make the holidays joyful and bright for all the children they serve in a variety of ways, including sponsoring children, volunteering in their toy room Dec 1-13, and/or ordering online to help stock their pop-up toy store. If you would like to help, contact Deaconess Catherine Inserra at 847-224-2870 or cinserra@kidsaboveall.org.

Mark your calendar

Around the Conference

2021 Styberg Preaching Workshop - (Nov. 16-17) 9 am - 3 pm via Zoom. "The Content and Contexts of Preaching in the Face of Today's National and Global Challenges." This workshop, led by Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle, will examine ways to use scripture in addressing many of the pressing social, political, ecumenical, and personal challenges faced by people in the current national and global context. It will also examine ways by which such preaching can be done during the COVID-19 pandemic through the use of virtual, print, indoor, and outdoor settings. Thanks to the Styberg Preaching Institute at Garrett-Evangelical and the Lilly Endowment Inc., there is no cost to attend this workshop but registration is required. Click here for details.
Chaplain at Work: A Launch Event for Garrett's New M.A. in Pastoral Care and Counseling in Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care - (Nov. 17) at 11 am via Zoom. Join Dr. Rolf Nolasco, Rueben P. Job Professor of Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Theology, and Rev. Michael Washington, Chaplain and CPE Supervisor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, for a virtual information session for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary's new Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Track of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling (MAPCC) degree. Click for details.

Around the Connection

Discussion Series Explores What it Means to be United Methodist - (Through Dec. 21) “Tuesdays at the Table: Should I stay? Or should I go?” is a new discussion series for United Methodists, presented by the Connectional Table (CT) in cooperation with general agencies and contributors. Weekly segments will explore topics aimed at helping viewers better understand their faith, their church and themselves. The sessions will premiere every Tuesday at 10:00 am CT on Facebook, and will also be available for later viewing at UMC.org/ComeToTheTable and the UMC YouTube channel. For details, click here.
Early Response Team Basic Training - (Nov. 19 & 20) Volunteers in Mission training online. Contact Mariellyn Grace for more information and registration.
Special Sunday: United Methodist Student Day 2021 - (Nov. 28) United Methodist Student Day (last Sunday of November) furnishes scholarships and loans for students attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities. This offering helps provide for more than 70 scholarships available for United Methodist students to further their education and enrich the life of the Church. The fund is administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Click for resources.