Hurricane Ida Damage Includes
UM Churches
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Category 4 Hurricane Ida delivering 150mph winds caused widespread damage in southeast Louisiana, including to several United Methodist churches and parsonages. Much of Louisiana remains without power or cellphone service. Read more.
NIC Disaster Coordinator Colin Monk and members of Morris: First UMC are in Louisiana assessing some of the hardest-hit areas and helping coordinate with the initial emergency efforts with the Louisiana Conference.
Once the situation evolves, early response teams may be invited by the conference to help with needs such as debris removal and tarping roofs. Those interested can connect with NIC Disaster Coordinator, Colin Monk at [email protected] or 815-603-9523.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has already awarded a grant to the Louisiana Conference to support relief efforts and remains in prayer for the many communities impacted by this major storm.
How to Help
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Give to UMCOR’s U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery through Advance #901670.
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Donations also can be made through the Louisiana Annual Conference’s disaster response fund.
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For information on relief supply kits, visit umcmission.org/umcor-relief-supplies or midwestmission.org.
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Learn more about UMCOR's monthly training opportunities. For September, they're launching UMCOR's revised Connecting Neighbors with an introduction to accessing the workshop materials and information on how YOU can become a Connecting Neighbors Ambassador. Click for details.
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September Reporter Available Online |
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The September Reporter is at the printer but is available online ready to read now.
Learn more about disaster relief efforts for victims of the Haiti earthquake, help for Afghanistan refugees, and how rural churches are impacting their communities. Also, Bishop Hopkins poses the fifth question in his monthly column, “Do we have a Private Faith or a Public Witness?”
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2021 Annual Conference Updates |
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While it seems like we just wrapped up the July session, the second session of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference is a month away!
Registration is closed and no new registrations will be taken. If you registered for the July session, you are all set, since it covers both sessions. If you need to substitute with an alternate member, please contact Laura Lopez at [email protected] by Sept. 20 to make the change.
Upcoming Dates:
Sept. 1: Legislation and documents are posted online at
Sept. 23: Pre-conference Briefing at 10 am.
Sept. 27: Pre-conference Briefing at 7 pm.
(Choose one briefing to attend. Zoom links will be emailed to anyone who's already registered for Annual Conference. Choose one date most convenient for you. No new registrations required.)
Oct. 1: Ordination and Commissioning Service for the 2021 class at 6 pm. Preacher: Bishop Tracy S. Malone from the East Ohio Conference. Limited in-person attendance (invite only). It will be livestreamed on the NIC Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Oct. 2: Fall Session of AC2021 starting at 9 am until no later than 3 pm. Via Zoom videoconferencing with GNTV assistance.
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Two Churches Come Together for DIY Rally Against Racism |
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Following up on a conference-wide DIY Rally Against Racism initiative, on Sunday, August 29, 2021, pastors and congregants from Saint Andrew UMC in Carol Stream and First UMC of West Chicago from the Prairie Central District gathered together to proclaim they stand against racism. Church members marched to the Town Center and shared ways to put their faith into action. Click to read more.
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Communicator's Corner
NCJ Special Session Moves to Virtual Meeting
Due to the rise in COVID-19 and the Delta variant, the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) College of Bishops has decided not to hold an in-person meeting this November in Ft. Wayne, Ind. "The health situation since issuing our call for an in-person special session of the jurisdictional conference has changed dramatically," wrote Bishop David Bard, President NCJ College of Bishops. "The current health risks of gathering hundreds of people inside confined spaces were too significant to ignore." Unfortunately, a retirement celebration for Bishop Sally Dyck will have to wait until an in-person meeting can be held. The session is not being completely canceled as the Bishops are working out logistics to hold the special session virtually November 10-12, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm (EST). Click to read more.
Ephesus Project Kick-Off
A Church/Pulpit Exchange is not new to many churches. However, the Anti-Racism Task Force has gone a step further. Ephesians 2:14-15 speaks about divided groups coming together as one new humanity as our peace. If your church is interested in participating, we encourage you to register by filling out this form. A representative from each participating church will be invited to a meal this fall to meet a representative from their partnering church and learn more about this uniquely created opportunity to develop a partnership.
UM Foundation Grants
Local churches may now apply for creative ministry grants from the UM Foundation. The deadline is Sept. 15. For more information and to apply, visit umfnic.org/grants.
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Around the Conference
Click here for event information on the Conference calendar and check back often for updates.
Around the Conference
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Lake North District Outdoor Worship - (Sept. 19) at 3 pm at Central UMC, 8237 Kenton Ave., Skokie. All Lake North churches are welcome! Reconnect with God and each other in this Ravinia-style worship service as the new Lake North District. Click for details.
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Prairie South Lay Academy - (Sept. 18 & 25) 8:30 am - 2:30 pm at Paw Paw UMC, 370 Wiley Ave., Paw Paw, IL. Cost: $45/per person. High school youth may attend at no cost for registration. ALL participants purchase their own textbook. Click for course information and to register.
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Prairie North Lay Academy - (Oct. 16 & 17) at Harvard: First, 1100 N. Division Street, Harvard, IL. Cost: $25/per person. For course descriptions and registration, click here.
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Save the Date: All-Conference Worship - (Nov. 14) 4 pm at Our Saviour's UMC in Schaumburg. Guest preacher will be Rev. Olu Brown from Impact Church in Atlanta, GA.
Around the Connection
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United Media Resource Center |
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Click here for new books that can be mailed to your church or home address.
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