Please share this information with others

Hearts for Jesus

The "Hearts for Jesus" focus this school year will be the expansion of the feeding program into the community of Georgetown. The students in the school will get well prepared meals each day. Prayerfully consider what your part will be in blessing this work in Belize.

RSO Gathering

We are stronger together! This is an opportunity for our Recognized Service Organizations to support one another in our shared mission as we express the love of Christ by serving our communities. The gathering is February 20, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (lunch included), at Concordia University Chicago, Oak Park/River Forest Room.

Key Highlights:

• Engaging conversations
• Develop stronger partnerships, deeper connections, and new model partnerships
• Keynote speaker, Jamie Kowalczyk, Vice President for Strategy & Innovation and Chief of Staff, Concordia University Chicago
• Networking opportunities with fellow RSO leaders 

Please include any of your staff who you feel would benefit from attending. We look forward to your participation as we strengthen our work together by building relationships and partnerships. By coming together, we can support one another in the shared mission of creating environments that serve our communities and exemplify the love of Christ.

RSVPs and questions can be directed to the President's Office at [email protected] by February 10, 2024.

SHINE! 2024

We’re getting ready to SHINE! again this year, and we invite you to join us. Start planning how your group will serve this year from April 12-21, 2024. Registration and information - including a Bible Study - are now available on our website. We can’t wait to see how the love of Jesus shines through community acts of service throughout the district!

Save the Date - "Hustle with Heart"



It might be early, but planning begins. Save the date for the August Back-to-School Worship and Keynote. On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, we will meet at St. Peter in Schaumburg for our gathering. This is a great opportunity to worship, reconnect, and be inspired as the new school year begins. Our speaker will be Dr. Bernard Bull. He serves as the president of Concordia University Nebraska and will energize us with his keynote titled, “Hustle with Heart."

Lay Theology Conference 2024

Bethany Lutheran Church, 1550 Modaff Rd, Naperville, IL 60565 is hosting this conference Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. The theme is "Becoming Screen Wise: Understanding Screens’ Toxic Tactics, Soberly Seeing Their Adverse Effects, and Confidently Charting a Wise Way Forward.” All ages are encouraged to attend, since we’re all impacted by screens! Our guest speaker is Rev. Jonathan Conner. Free conference, free childcare, free lunch.

L.E.R.T. Basic Training Dates

Lutheran Church Charities will provide LCMS L.E.R.T. (Lutheran Early Response Team) Basic trainings:

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024

Location: Christ the Rock Lutheran Church

8330 Newburg Road, Rockford, IL 61108

Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024

Location: St. John Lutheran Church

6821 Main St., Union, IL 60180

In the chaos of disaster, it's important to stay focused on the task at hand. LCMS Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) training will help you focus on the most important thing to remember as you prepare for, or to respond to, a disaster in your community or beyond. At the center of our LERT volunteer training is one thing: MERCY! Christ's mercy is the basis for everything we say and do. This training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike your community.

If you know someone who would be a good addition to your LERT Team, encourage them to register and attend. The registration cost for new LERT volunteers will be $35.00. The registration fee can be paid online with a credit card or at the event when you check-in by cash, check, or credit card.

Artist Series

Please join St. John's as they welcome Redekopp & Edwards back to the Artist Series on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. to continue the series' 16th season.  

Come and hear what decades of collaborative music-making can sound like!  

This program will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 215 S. Lincoln, Lombard, IL 60148. No tickets are required. A reception to follow the concert is planned.

Make Connections

A pastor’s wife so often receives blessings and rewards too numerous to list. However, there are other times when burdens feel heavy, difficult situations seem to arise at every turn, and she may feel that no one understands. The life of a pastor’s wife can be very lonely, but it doesn’t have to be.

She is not alone. She is supported, and there is a fellowship of sisters waiting to listen to, encourage, and celebrate with her. Join the Sister Support in the NID Facebook group. This community has been present for a little while, but has fallen into inactivity over the last couple of years. Christena Estby, a pastor's wife, is hoping to revive and energize the group by inviting new members and re-engaging with those already present. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to her directly at [email protected].

The LCMS Northern Illinois District is congregations, schools, and ministries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, spanning the northern 24 counties in Illinois. Filled with living hope in Christ, Confessing, Praising, and Advancing His Kingdom through Word, Wellness, and Witness. Our website can be found at nidlcms.org.

Contact:

Ann Ciaccio

Director of Communications

708-223-3118

[email protected]

Wish to stop receiving the NID Newsletter? WAIT! Don't unsubscribe below! Click here and tell us to remove "NID Newsletter" from your preferences but still remain on other NID lists.