NIC eNews for Oct. 7, 2020

October 7, 2020

Annual Conference 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 1, click here to watch.

All clergy and laity in the NIC are invited and encouraged to participate in all three online sessions. (You don't have to be a Lay Member of Annual Conference.)

Registration is required for each session to receive your Zoom link.

The second session on Oct. 8 at 10am will dive deep into our goal to "Live out the Conviction that Racism is Incompatible with Christian Teaching." Registration closes at 10pm TONIGHT, Wed. Oct. 7. Click on the registration links to sign up for the remaining two sessions.

OCTOBER 8 Session

OCTOBER 22 Session

Annual Conference Registration opens Oct. 12

The 181st Northern Illinois Annual Conference will be held online via a Zoom webinar on Nov. 14, 2020. Online registration will be open Oct. 12 - 25. Cost: $25/person. All clergy and lay members to AC must register before the deadline to receive a unique voting ID number. The registration link will be available at umcnic.org/AC2020.

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. They've had more than 150 domestic and 10 international shipments leaving their facility so far this year. Unfortunately at this time, they're struggling with in-kind donations due to the lack of the in-person Annual Conferences and not having their regular missionary groups on site. In addition, it has become extremely difficult to purchase hygiene and cleaning supplies in bulk due to the high demand during this pandemic. With Hurricane season being “extremely active” in 2020, they want to continue to prepare and replenish supplies for any future storms.

Click here for the items needed, which will be collected up until Nov. 1. Several NIC churches are serving as collection sites across our districts and a few more will be announced soon. Click here for the list and drop off times. Monetary donations are also encouraged. For more information including donation forms, visit umcnic.org/missionchallenge.

Intentional Discipleship Training - Oct. 14 & 15

Sponsored by the NIC Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment, learn the "how" of forming disciples and the "how" of growing generous disciples with Rev. Scott Hughes and Rev. Ken Sloane from Discipleship Ministries.

Choose either date. Sessions are identical trainings and will be held via Zoom. Click to register by Oct. 13.

NIC Prayer Network

What word has God spoken to you lately? What scripture have you read recently that has warmed your hearts? 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 [email protected].

~Karen Bonnell and Rev. Caleb Hong, Co-Chairs of Discipleship Task Force

Prayer Network

Communicator's Corner

Indigenous Peoples Day

The Justice Generation is a year-long immersive journey for teens and young adults focused on learning, acting and creating champions for racial justice. It is an initiative of Anti-Racism Task Force of the Northern Illinois Conference. Several Justice Generation students have shared their learning and thoughts about Indigenous Peoples Day. Please click here to read an article by Cindy Oh about "REDress Project." Click here to read an article about the "Doctrine of Discovery" by Paul Swartz. Click here to read an article by Evan Konkey about “Discovery” of America. Let us applaud and support these high school students by attending the upcoming Justice Generation Indigenous Peoples Day on Mon., Oct. 12 from 1 - 2:30pm via Zoom. Click here to register.

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 [email protected] or (847) 224-2870.

Prep for socially distant celebrations

Holiday events will look very different this year. With a little creativity, you can plan fall festivals, Halloween gatherings and Christmas celebrations that are fun and safe. A recent MyCom article offers ideas to help you get started. Click here to read.

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 [email protected]. 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.
Save the date for Laity Convocation 2021 - (Feb. 13) The NIC Board of Laity has scheduled an online event for next year's Laity Convocation - "The Other Side: Explore the Possibilities of Church in a Post-Pandemic World." More details to come. Download the save-the-date flyer.

Around the Denomination

Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month - (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15) Explore tools from Resource UMC designed to celebrate the contributions of Hispanic-Latino individuals in your community over the 30 days and beyond. Click here for more information.
"I Am Her" Women’s Leadership Summit - (Oct. 8 - 10) Hosted by the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, this virtual event will not be your ordinary conference. It’s a movement of women coming together to Be Inspired, Be Empowered, and Be Equipped to do the work personally, professionally and within The United Methodist Church to connect. The keynote speaker will be New York Times best-selling author Nadia Bolz-Weber. Cost: $39. CEUs available. Registration closes Oct. 7 at noon.
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
"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 with early-bird pricing of $65 through Sept. 21. Click for details.