eNews - September 14, 2022
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Help for Immigrant Families Arriving from Texas |
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More than 300 asylum seekers have arrived on buses sent from Texas since Aug. 31. In collaboration with local, state, federal, and community governments, the city of Chicago is taking action to ensure they have access to shelter, food, and other resources.
The city of Chicago expects to receive hundreds more migrants from Texas. Under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard, thousands of migrants have already been bused to Washington D.C. and New York City.
Last week several Lay Missioners with the NIC Hispanic/Latino Academy and for Faith Community Development who serve Living Waters New Faith Community in Franklin Park brought donations and toys to dozens of immigrant families staying in a suburban hotel. The Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors is also helping with legal assistance.
NIC Refugee Coordinator Rev. Jonathan Crail is putting together a list of churches for drop-off locations across the conference. Check back online here soon and read more.
The NIC is working with the city of Chicago and several agencies on donation and volunteer requests. Click below for more info.
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) - download flyer
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September Events - Register Today |
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Fresh Expressions Teaching
Sept. 18 - 21
The Holy Spirit is inspiring a rise in “fresh expressions of church” that offer innovative settings for engaging followers of Christ, writes the Rev. Michael Adam Beck, who is the speaker for the NIC's upcoming Fresh Expressions training. Read his commentary.
In this training sponsored by the NIC Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment, you will learn practical tools for how to be church with people currently not connected with any church.
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>Come for a Sunday worship experience and choose from one of six teachings across the conference. |
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Thurs., Sept. 22
12 - 1:30 pm.
“Undenied: No Longer Willing to be Unheard” with special guest speaker, Rev. Chebon Kernell, who will share his insights and learning related to indigenous communities’ history, present work being done, and how we can be in solidarity as we prepare for the future.
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NIC Program Ministry Grants Now Open
Applications are being accepted for the NIC's three ministry grants, Social Reform, Congregational Development, and Creative Ministries. The deadline to apply is Nov. 14. To learn more about each grant and for an online application, click here.
Church Conference Forms Available Online
2022 Church Conference materials, including the agenda, are available online at umcnic.org/churchconference. Please encourage your church leadership to begin working on gathering the information as soon as possible. The forms are designed for online submission and will look very similar to last year’s. Please note that all reports should be submitted online one week before your church conference, except for the Clergy Compensation form. Lastly, if you have anything that you need to add to the agenda, please contact your District Superintendent as soon as possible.
Church and Society Accepting Grant Applications
Applications are being accepted for three grant programs operated by United Methodist Church and Society. The deadline is Sept. 16 to apply for Ethnic Local Church, Human Relations Day, and Peace with Justice grants, which range from $2,000 to $5,000. Applicants must be a United Methodist church, district, conference or other affiliated organization, or an ecumenical group or organization with a formal partnership with The United Methodist Church.
UM Foundation Creative Ministry Grants
The Foundation’s grants program annually offers funding of $500 – $2,000 to local churches and church-related organizations as they develop new or expanded creative ministries. A “church-related organization” is any organization within our conference area that partners with a local United Methodist church and/or members of the United Methodist Church in our conference. The Foundation has granted more than $1,000,000 to 200+ ministries since 1999. Grant applications are due Sept. 15. Click here for more information.
Bishop Dyck Elected to Ecumenical Group's Top Committee
United Methodist Bishop Sally Dyck, ecumenical officer of the Council of Bishops and interim bishop of the California-Nevada Conference, has been elected to the executive committee of the World Council of Churches. The central committee elects 20 of its members to serve on the WCC executive committee. Read press release.
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Around the Conference
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UMM Spiritual Congress - Sept. 16 - 18 at the Conference Point Center, 300 Point Center Rd., Williams Bay, WI. Spiritual Congress is back in person and presented by NIC United Methodist Men for spiritual development, training and fellowship. The topic of this year’s Spiritual Congress is “Making Spiritual Life Relevant and Sustainable.” For details and registration, click here.
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Black Healing Collective Workshop - Sat. Oct. 8 from 9 am - 1 pm at St. Mark UMC, 8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. This 4-hour workshop is for people of Black African heritage and will: define racial trauma, discuss the significant impact that racial trauma has historically had and continues to have within the Black community including the UMC, and discuss coping strategies that have been used within the Black community for healing our trauma. Cost: $25 (includes lunch). Learn more and register here.
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NIC Fellowship of Asian Americans Lecture and Discussion - Sun. Oct. 9, 3:30 pm at Elmhurst: First, 232 S. York St., with Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, author of "Invisible: Theology and the Experience of Asian American Women." A catered dinner is available for $12 with advance registration. Click here for details.
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Center for Changing Lives 2022 Gala - Oct. 15 at 6 pm at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4048 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago. Center for Changing Lives (CCL), was founded by Humboldt Park UMC and currently serves as a bilingual (English/Spanish) Financial Opportunity Center. You are welcome to come as an individual/household or your church can purchase a sponsorship. We will be enjoying música en vivo from Tierra Roja with Sounds from the Fields - México, Cuba, Puerto Rico- Unidos en sonoridad y cultura. Additionally, George “G-Spot” Jackson will be sharing house music. Click for more information and tickets.
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NIC United Women in Faith Annual Meeting - Oct. 22. Theme: Turn it Up! Registration opens at 8:30 am, and Program begins at 9:00 am at Sycamore UMC, 160 Johnson Ave., Sycamore, IL. Cost $5. Click here for registration.
Around the Connection
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National Hispanic Heritage Month - Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 During National Hispanic Heritage Month, The United Methodist Church is called to incorporate and listen to Hispanic voices and speak out in support of them being heard in the public forum. ResourceUMC offers several ways for churches to observe the event. Click for ways to celebrate.
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BeADisciple.com Course: Helping Young People Hear God at Church - Sept. 26 - Oct 14. Developing a church that actively seeks and follows God’s call takes intentional planning. This course teaches you how to create a church environment that actively talks about and encourages a sense of calling in young people. Cost: $45. Click for more information.
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EarthKeepers Online Commissioning Service - Tues., Sept. 27 at 7 pm. Join this webinar to celebrate the commissioning of the 2022 Global Ministries EarthKeepers as they prepare to lead environmental projects in their communities. From the NIC Conference, Jake Barnett (Wespath staff member) and Karen Clausing completed the training. Click here to register.
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Leadership Institute - Sept. 28 - 30. The Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS will hold its annual Leadership Institute for clergy and lay ministry leaders in person and online. Speakers include the Rev. Adam Hamilton, the church's senior pastor; Jo Saxton, leadership coach; and the Rev. Tod Bolsinger, author of "Canoeing the Mountains." Click for registration.
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SBC21 National Summit on Mass Incarceration - Oct. 19 - 22 in Charlotte, NC. Are you looking for ways to inspire and engage your congregation with ministry outreach that is relevant and transformative? Register now and learn how you and your team can transform your church and the lives of persons impacted by mass incarceration. Registration cost $199. Click here for details.
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United Media Resource Center in New Home |
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All items are unpacked and shelved! While there's some organizing to do, the UMRC is settling into its new location at Kumler Outreach Ministries in Springfield, Ill.
Things to know:
Kumler Outreach Ministries
Attn: United Media Resource Center
303 E North Grand Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-3822
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