News & Updates

June 27, 2024

** Note ** You are receiving the district eNews because your name is in our Lay Leadership Database as a leader in your local church. If you are no longer interested in receiving the District eNews, please click the Update Profile link at the bottom of the email. (Clicking UnSubscribe means you will not receive ANY emails from the conference including appointment announcements, sympathy notices and weekly eNews)

Annual Conference Updates

Videos and Photos

If you were unable to attend Annual Conference, missed any moments or want to share portions with your congregation, most of the videos are posted on our Vimeo channel. Click on this Vimeo Showcase to find all of the services and more, including the Bible Study with Rev. AHyun Lee (2 parts), Bishop Dan Schwerin's Episcopal Address, the Laity Address from Connie Augsburger, a recognition of Bishop Sally Dyck's Ministry, and multiple performances. All of the plenary sessions are available on the NIC YouTube channel here.

To view photos from the three days, click here. For Ordination photos, click here.

Thank you to all who donated to the Mission Challenge for Midwest Mission

Good work NIC, for donating over 5,000 pounds of goods and over $2,100 to the Midwest Mission truck through the Mission Challenge!

If you missed out on the challenge, don’t worry. A list of the most needed items for kits can be found here. There are also online shopping and donation options (see the side bar on the page here). You also can always send donations to the center directly or drop off at the NIC permanent sites:

Lake North: Maywood: Neighborhood UMC or Glenview UMC
Lake South: New Lenox UMC
Prairie Central: Fox River Grove: Community
Prairie North: Lanark UMC

Bishop's Appeal Success for UVC

Churches and individuals across the Northern Illinois Conference responded with overwhelming generosity to this year's Bishop's Appeal to help children through UVC. A total of $37,701.13 was raised so far. If you missed bringing your church's donation, you can still donate here.

Watch the Bishop's Appeal presentation from Annual Conference.

Congratulations Kingswood United Methodist Church!

The One Matters Discipleship Award highlights churches who have in recent years moved from zero baptisms and zero professions of faith into positive numbers. Kingswood UMC in Deerfield and Buffalo Grove is the 2024 winner for Lake North. Read their story.

Watch the One Matters Award presentation here.

Congratulations Triumph UMC!

Triumph UMC is the winner of the John Wesley Mission Links Award, given out to the church that has the highest mission link giving per member. Triumph donated $1,452 in Mission Links dollars, which equals 77% per capita.

Mission Links churches have given 100% of their apportionments and supported projects in each of the 7 giving areas. (Special Sundays, Global Advance Projects, Missionary Support, UMCOR/Emergency Relief Projects, U.S.-Based Advances, NIC Conference Projects, and NIC District Projects). Thank you for living out the Beatitudes and being a blessing for projects around the block and around the world. Learn more.

Mission Link Highlight - UMCOR renews relief efforts in Gaza

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries has awarded several grants through the United Methodist Committee on Relief that are being mobilized to support organizations in Gaza on the ground, moving with and serving the displaced population. Through eight months of conflict with Israel, the need in Gaza remains overwhelming. Read more.

HOW TO GIVE: Write a check to your local church and write, “UMCOR” in the memo line. Churches can give through the NIC Apportionment process. Learn more.

HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Join the ARTF at the Japanese Summer Festival at Anderson Japanese Gardens

Saturday, July 27

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford

Cost

$10 admission
$25 admission and Asian meal

Learn more.

Join UW Faith this July for Summer Mission u

Two weekend offerings:

July 12 - 14 at Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center, Oregon, IL

and

July 19 - 21 at Wesley Woods Retreat Center, Williams Bay, WI

The theme is The Kin-dom Is Among You: Drawing Closer to God and One Another. The sessions will include Scripture explorations, discussions, and activities to apply what is being learned. Learn more.

Other Upcoming Conference Events:

Every Wednesday at noon: Weekly Methodist Liaison Office update and virtual prayer meeting. Participants will hear from a Palestinian speaker and meet in small groups for prayer. Methodists and others from around the world participate. Read more.
June 30: United Voices for Children 5th Sunday Appeal: Supportting United Voices for Children’s affiliated agencies—Kids Above All, MYSI and Rosecrance. Through this collaborative giving effort, United Methodist congregations of all sizes can make a real difference in the lives of at-risk children, youth and families. Learn more.
July 10 - 12: North Central Jurisdictional Conference: Jurisdictional conferences are held following each General Conference to vote on regional issues. Read more.
Aug. 3: Imagining Good Futures Summit with the Midwest Methodist Foundation: Learn how to fulfill your purpose in your community, reimagine the use of your buildings and generate new forms of income. Learn more.
Aug. 4 - 7: School of Congregational Development: Providing exceptional learning and networking experiences for United Methodist Church leaders. Learn more.
Aug. 12 - 16: CRCC Madang : A training program for Korean pastors serving in cross-racial appointments. Read more

LOCAL CHURCH RESOURCES

We need your photos!

We are looking to highlight Mission Trips and VBS Programs in the NIC district eNews later this summer. We need your photos! Please send any photos and short descriptions to lsmith@umcnic.org.

50 Ways to Welcome a New Pastor

It is the time of the year when many churches will be welcoming a new pastor. Congregations can help a new pastor get off to a strong start with these 50 Ways to acclimate a new pastor and make that new pastor feel truly welcome. Read more.

Other Resources

#BeUMC Resources -Tool Kits, Social Media Kits, Graphics, and more.
Social Media Shareables - Free graphics for social media for different events, months, and ministries. (Through Outreach, log-in is needed, but resources are free)
UMC Giving Resources - Mission Moments, Special Sunday Info, Leader Kits, Pew Cards, and more.
United Media Resource Center - Lending library of Christian materials for local churches, small groups, pastors, children, and individuals.

Rev. Brittany Isaac

Lake North District Superintendent

bisaac@umcnic.org

312-346-9766 ext. 785

Debra Rogers

Administrative Assistant

drogers@umcnic.org

630-465-2941

Do you have news to share?

We are always looking for stories of what is happening in your church. We welcome articles from churches highlighting ministries, outreach, and missions that tell the story of being vital Christians. Events considered should be of conference-wide appeal and United Methodist-related.

District eNews are sent out the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Please submit stories and events by end of business on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. Space is limited. Stories of fewer than 250 words are preferred. Submissions will be edited at the discretion of Communications staff. Information can be emailed to communications@umcnic.org.

Check out our Submit News page for more details.

Keep Up to Date With All Conference Events and News in the Weekly Email!

If you would like to receive the weekly Conference eNews and other important announcements, including sympathy notices and appointment announcements, please sign up online or click the Update Profile button at the bottom of this email.

NOTE - Clicking UNSUBSCRIBE below means you will be unsubscribing from ALL Constant Contact emails from the NIC (Appointment Announcements, Sympathy Notices, etc). If you want to stop receiving one newsletter, please click "Update Profile" below.