eNews - September 21, 2022
Help for Immigrant Families Arriving from Texas
More than 750 asylum seekers from Central and South America have now arrived on buses sent from Texas since Aug. 31 and more are expected, according to the city of Chicago.

In collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, the city of Chicago is taking action to welcome and ensure these migrants have access to shelter, food, and other resources. 

NIC Collection sites for newly arriving Immigrants/Asylees 

Several churches across the conference in each district are serving as donation collection sites to be convenient, centralized locations in order to bring the items to the city. For the list of locations, contact and drop-off instructions, click here.

For information on volunteering, donation requests and other ways to help, click on the following links:

City of Chicago - Chicago.gov/support
World Relief Chicagoland - worldrelief.org/chicagoland/bus-response
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) - download flyer
Speaker Series: Race, America and the Church
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.

On-site at Our Redeemer’s in Schaumburg and livestreamed on YouTube.

Registration closes today, 9/21 at
Communicator's Corner
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.

Join the Fall NIC Book Club - Soul Reset
The Discipleship Task Force is excited about the fall 2022 NIC Book Club selection, Soul Reset by the late Junius Dotson! Rev Dotson spoke at one of our Laity Convocations and also led the Bible Study for our Annual Conference. Here Junius Dotson tells his story, and here is how this study works for congregations. Click here for details and to sign up today!

Chart Compares Advent studies
Looking for a new study for your small group, congregation or family this Advent? Cokesbury, the retail arm of the United Methodist Publishing House, has put together an interactive comparison chart of its Advent studies so Christians can find the study that best fits their need. Learn more. For customizable Advent outreach resources, click here. Get up to $250 off these resources by using code UMCA22
Mark your calendar
Around the Conference

  • Lake South Fall Lay Academy - Oct. 1 & 8 via Zoom. Registration cost is $10. Click to register.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Center for Changing Lives 2022 Gala - Sat., 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 enjoy 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.
  • Prairie North Fall Lay Academy - Oct. 22 & 23 at Freeport: First UMC, Freeport, 503 N Lily Creek Road, Freeport. Cost: $25. Click for more information and registration.
  • NIC United Women in Faith Annual Meeting - Sat., 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.
  • Prairie Central Fall Lay Academy - Nov. 5 & 12 at Cornerstone UMC, at 41W170 Russell Rd., Elgin, IL. Cost: $40. Click here for more information and registration.

Around the Connection

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. 
  • World Communion Sunday - Oct. 2. This Special Sunday offering supports young adults and makes a global impact for Christ. Half of the offering benefits World Communion scholarships for graduate students from the U.S. and other countries. Find multilingual resources in the pastor and leaders’ kit to help you prepare for your World Communion Sunday service.
  • 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.
  • Facing the Future 2022 - Nov. 16, 12 - 6 pm. After a brief hiatus during the pandemic, the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) is bringing back the agency's Facing the Future "Be Still as a Spiritual Practice" online training for pastors serving cross-racial, cross-cultural, and multicultural contexts. Registration cost is $45. Click here for details.
United Media Resource Center in New Home
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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