NIC eNews for Oct. 14, 2020

October 14, 2020

AC2020 Registration Open

The 181st Northern Illinois Annual Conference with the theme "Y Church" will be held online via a Zoom webinar on Nov. 14, 2020. Online registration is open and closes Oct. 25.

**All Clergy and Lay Members to Annual Conference must register by the deadline to receive a Voter ID Number.** Registration cost: $25/person. The registration link is available at umcnic.org/AC2020. Observers do not need to register and will be able to watch online. More details to come.

Legislation and Historical Documents are now also available online. Please review before participating in the Annual Conference session. Three Pre-Conference Briefings will be held Nov. 4, 5, and 6. Please register for one session.

Technical Trainings will be held Nov. 11 at 1pm and 7pm and Nov. 12 at 9am. Attendance is strongly encouraged to learn the voting system and webinar instructions. Please register for one session.

AC2020 Mission Challenge

This year’s Annual Conference mission challenge will collect Hurricane Relief items for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC), our United Methodist disaster relief supply center just south of Springfield, Ill., which is celebrating 20 years of ministry in 2020.

This August was a record-breaking month for the MMDC, with shipments of almost $1 million dollars worth of in-kind supplies and equipment, the shelves need to be replenished.

Click here for the items needed, which will be collected through Nov. 1. Several NIC churches are serving as collection sites across each of the six districts. Click here for the list and drop-off times. Monetary donations are also encouraged. For more information including donation forms, visit umcnic.org/missionchallenge.

AC2020 Bible Study Registration

Rev. Junius Dotson, General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries, is leading us in a three-session online Bible study via a Zoom webinar focusing on the Annual Conference's three strategic goals. If you missed Session 2, click here to watch.

You don't have to be a Lay Member of Annual Conference to participate, but registration is required to receive your Zoom link.

The third and final session on Oct. 22 at 10am will discuss how we reach our goal to "Increase the Number of Vital Congregations." Registration closes at 10pm, Wed. Oct. 21. Click on the registration links to sign up for the remaining session.

OCTOBER 22 Session

NIC Prayer Network

What word has God spoken to you lately? What scripture have you read recently that has warmed your heart? Would you encourage others by sharing that? Is God nudging you?

The Discipleship Task Force invites both clergy and laity to write short devotions (250 words). Include a Bible verse and a prayer. This should all fit on one page.

Be a blessing. Share what God has given to you and help us live out our goal to grow and reach new disciples of Jesus Christ. Please send devotions to DiscipleshipTF@umcnic.org. To read this week's devotion, click here.

Prayer Network

Communicator's Corner

Just SHOW UP! A 6-month jumpstart youth ministry plan

The NIC Discipleship Task Force is kicking off a six-month "Jumpstarting Youth Ministry" plan to help anyone who works with children and youth to find new ways to minister, be the church, and grow and make disciples in times like these. Each month will have a theme with a video to accompany it, followed by a list of resources to help leaders, both clergy and laity, paid and volunteer, to “jumpstart” their youth ministry, whether it presently exists or whether they’re looking for a starting point! This month, their theme tackles that question of “where or how do I and my church get started?” And the answer is simpler than you think: “Just SHOW UP!” Click here to learn more.

Help match gift to NIJFON

Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors (NIJFON) has been blessed with a $25,000 gift from Berry Memorial UMC in Chicago through the sale of their church’s historic building. NIJFON would like to challenge the 350+ United Methodist congregations in the Northern Illinois Conference to match this generous gift and raise a total of $25,000 to double this blessing! The donations will help NIJFON to continue to provide free, high-quality immigration legal services to our immigrant, refugee and asylum-seeking neighbors. Watch the Bishop's video invitation to join the challenge. Click here to learn more.

Brighten a child's Christmas

The holidays are right around the corner and that means it's time for the Kids Above All Holiday Gift Drive! Each year, through the generosity of community and corporate partners, Kids Above All (formerly ChildServ) helps the children in their programs have a great Christmas. Click here to watch a video and learn more. This year's drive runs from November 30 - December 16. For more information or to sponsor a child, contact Deaconess Catherine Inserra at cinserra@kidsaboveall.org or (847) 224-2870.

Global Mission Fellows application open

The Global Mission Fellows program of The United Methodist Church places young adults, ages 20–30, in social justice ministries for two years of service. The program offers the opportunity for service in the United States (US-2 track) and around the world (International track). The application for the 2021-23 cohort of Global Mission Fellows on the US-2 track opened on Oct. 12. The application for the Global Mission Fellows International track will be released at a later time, pending travel restrictions related to COVID-19. The fall application deadline is Nov. 30, 2020, and the spring application deadline is Feb. 24, 2021. Click here for more information and to apply.

'Water is Life' chronicles global struggle for clean water

More than 750 million people around the world lack reliable water access. In a photo project three years in the making, UM News photographer Mike DuBose documents the church's efforts to provide clean water to rural Africa, with reporting by Kathy L. Gilbert. View photo feature.

Mark your calendar

Around the Conference

Click here for event information on the Conference calendar and check back often for updates.

Immigration Issues and the 2020 Election - (Oct. 15) 12 - 1pm. Conversation via Zoom sponsored by NIJFON with special guest Melissa Bowe, National JFON Advocacy Manager. To reserve your spot, email Paula Cripps-Vallejo at paula.crippsvallejo@nijfon.org. Download flyer.
UMW Annual Celebration - (Oct. 24) Save the date for the NIC UMW Annual Conference meeting, which will be held via Zoom. This year's theme is "LISTEN: WITH FRESH EARS AND EYES!" The guest speaker is Rev. Danira Parra, who is pastor of Dayspring Native American UMC in East Peoria, Ill. Look for more information and registration at umwnic.org.
Introduction to Coaching - (Oct. 29) 9am - 4pm (break from 12pm - 1:30pm.) Coach Jim Griffith will lead this interactive webinar for new, turnaround, or vital churches. Sponsored by the NIC Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment. Learn more and register today.

Around the Denomination

North Central Jurisdiction Mission Academy - (Oct. 9 - 31) A different session will be held each day! All are offered via Zoom at 2pm. The goals are to reunite people called to mission, inform, train, energize and share the story. Attend as many sessions as you choose. No overlapping or missing one discussion for another. Click for more info and to register.
Younger Clergy and Candidates Webinar - (Oct. 21) 11am. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary will host a webinar panel discussion with younger clergy and candidates on the findings of the recent Clergy Age Trends in the United Methodist Church report. The report revealed that the number of young elders returned to near record lows this past year after four consecutive years of decline, erasing a decade of progress. Click for more information and registration.
PAUMCS Zoom Workshop - (Oct. 26) 10am - 3pm. The Northern Illinois Conference Chapter of PAUMCS (Professional Administrators of the United Methodist Connectional Structure) invites all church secretaries and administrative staff to join them in…BEING VITAL. Click for details.
UMHEF Virtual Homecoming - (Oct. 27) beginning at 10am. The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) will host a virtual “homecoming” to celebrate Methodism and higher education, UMHEF scholars, and more. Festivities will include messages from United Methodist students, spotlights of UM-related institutions of higher education, interactive activities, messages from prominent leaders, and more. Click here for free registration and schedule for the day
Bishops call for full participation in U.S. election - (Nov. 3) Bishops in the U.S. called on United Methodists to encourage people to vote in the Nov. 3 elections. "The right of every citizen to vote in the United States is under attack, and with it, the foundation of American democracy and the sacred worth of all persons," said the Faith and Democracy statement signed by signed by 31 active and 28 retired bishops. Click to read.
"Leading into Change" Perkins Fall Convocation - (Nov. 15 - 16) Through engaging plenaries with keynote speakers Kirk Franklin and Tod Bolsinger, and collaborative workshops led by skilled leaders, this virtual event will help equip participants to generate ideas and strategies for tomorrow and beyond! Registration is open. Click for details.