See/Create/Disciple at School for Cong. Development

Looking for ideas for how to invite, form, and send Christian disciples in your area? Attend the School for Congregational Development, Aug. 4-7, in Schaumburg. You’ll hear from experts and see creative ministries up close. The focus is not on "fixing churches" but making disciples of all nations (as the late Junius Dotson, former GS of Discipleship Ministries, urged). Don't miss this opportunity to attend a popular event when it is in our own conference!

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Catch Up With Annual Conference Session

Download Videos and Photos

Find videos from conference session at this Vimeo showcase. It includes all of the special services, the Bible Study with Rev. AHyun Lee (two parts), Bishop Dan Schwerin's Episcopal Address, the Laity Address from Connie Augsburger, a recognition of Bishop Sally Dyck's ministry, and many other highlights. Use them to illustrate church presentations, websites, and newsletters.

• View plenary sessions videos
• View session photos 
• View ordination photos

Generous Giving to Bishop's Appeal

Churches and individuals across the Northern Illinois Conference responded with overwhelming generosity to this year's Bishop's Appeal for United Voices for Children. Gifts total $37,707 so far. You may still donate here. Watch UVC's presentation at Annual Conference.

Mission Supplies Well Replenished

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. You can still donate some of the most needed items for kits; check out the list. There are also online shopping and donation options (see the side bar on the page here). You may send donations to the center directly or drop off at the NIC permanent sites.

Lose Something at Conference?

Left behind at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg last week: a stole, purple on one side, green on the other; a pair of reading glasses; and a cross on a rainbow-colored yarn lanyard. Contact the communications staff if you think one of these may be yours. 

Scholarship for Women Pursuing Church-Related Vocations

NIC's United Women in Faith offers a scholarship for women pursuing a church-related vocation, whether in ordained or lay ministry. Applicants must be accepted by an accredited graduate school, reside in the Northern Illinois Conference, demonstrate financial need, and supply a copy of their school transcript. Applications are due Sept.15.  

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Around the Conference

• Weekly Methodist Liaison Office update and virtual prayer meeting, every Wednesday at noon. Participants will hear from a Palestinian speaker and meet in small groups for prayer. Send an email message to the MLO for instructions on how to join the online meeting.

• United Voices for Children Fifth Sunday Appeal, June 30

• United Women of Faith Mission u, July 12-14, Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center, Oregon, IL; July 19-21, Wesley Woods Retreat Center, Wiliams Bay, WI.

• Arts and Culture Series Visit to the Japanese Summer Festival at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, July 27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Presented by the NIC Anti-Racism Task Force.



• Midwest Methodist Foundation Summit, Aug. 3, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Christ UMC, Rockford. Sponsored by the Midwest Methodist Foundation.

• Kids Above All Backpack drive, June 24-Aug. 3



Around the Connection

• LGBTQ Pride Month, June. 

• North Central Jurisdictional Conference, July 10-13, Sioux Falls, S.D.

• CRCC Madang, Aug. 12-16, UMC of the Incarnation, Arlington Heights.

• School of Congregational Development 2.0, Aug. 4-6, Schaumburg.

Church-School Partnerships

Here are some resources to help your church connect with nearby schools. 

• “Engaging Local Schools,” a DVD/CD-ROM set with a variety of resources 

• Church/School/Community: Forging Partnerships to Change the World, by Lia McIntosh 

• Make College Count: A Faithful Guide to Life and Learning, by Derek Melleby 

• Mission-Minded Guide to Church and School Partnerships, by Jake McGlothin 

List of selected resources

Online catalog

Contact the center

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