|
|
January 2009 |
| |
December 2008
|
Board of Church and Society
Grants Available:
Applications Due December 15th
|
| Local churches and non-profit organization may apply for 2009 grants
in two categories – Emerging Ministries and Peace with Justice. Click
here for grant guidelines and application. |
Worlds AIDS Day is December 1st
|
|
 Why Should I Care?
People infected with HIV/AIDS live in nearly every country in the world. In some countries, like Botswana and Swaziland, almost 40% of the population has HIV/AIDS. In Africa alone, 13 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. The virus continues to spread. Epidemics have erupted in China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, several Central Asian Republics and the Baltic States.
HIV/AIDS is not just a health problem, but also a development problem. How? By spreading fast mostly to young people and working-age adults, HIV/AIDS affects the economy, society, family and schooling in a country, weakening the country as a whole.
Join with other United Methodists to make a tangible response to the global AIDS crisis. Contribute to the United Methodist Global Aids Fund (Advance #982345). The Fund represents a $1.00 commitment of every United Methodist in the United States. The fund supports education, prevention, care and treatment of people living HIV/AIDS including the approximately 1 million people in the US who are affected.
Read more about HIV/AIDS and what you can do:
Congregation and Worship Resources:
World AIDS Day
Learn more about how AIDS is affecting our world:
What Is It?
Contribute to: The United Methodist
Global AIDS Fund
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Website
|
A Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
|
 As our country moves through an unprecedented economic shift, it may seem incongruent to talk about Thanksgiving. But this holiday is about so much more then prosperity. It is about abundance. Prosperity is focused on material wealth and our own luxuries, our comfort. Abundance focuses on the overflowing love of God that makes us bold in sharing our faith and our resources.
more...
|
Local Church Success Stories
|
|
Arnold Rivera is the first Latino-Hispanic Lay Leader in the Northern Illinois Conference: Rivera is a man who finds many ways and places to share the good news of the gospel.
more...
|
|
Mendota UMC reaches out to Community with Latino Ministry leadership: Pastor Gail Brander discovered that 40% of the population in her community were Latino/Hispanic. She invited Lino Aragon to Mendota UMC to build new ministry.
more...
|
|
Churches join forces to connect to the future: Orland Park UMC and Pathway UMC – Oak Park faced the problems of ministry that had outgrown a building and an aging congregations. They found a creative solution to strengthen and rejuvenate their ministries – merge!
more... |
United Methodist Student Day is November 30th
|
|
 Last year, United Methodists gave nearly $4.8 million in scholarships to 3,540 students through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The agency provided another $1.2 million in loans to 500 students struggling to pay college bills.
Much of the money came from special offerings, such as that received on United Methodist Student Day, the last Sunday in November. 31 undergraduate and graduate students affiliated with Northern Illinois Conference congregations received scholarships to further their education.
We urge you to make an investment in the future, by giving on this Special Sunday. |
Resources for United Methodist Student Day:
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
United Methodist Student Day
|
Church Leaders Acknowledge Historic Presidential Election
|
Visiting Missionaries and Fall Mission Fairs
|
Celebrating Diversity
|
|
A
Commentary from Bishop Jung:
It is not enough to claim our tapestry of differences in Northern Illinois; our challenge is to live into our diversity – to grow from our diversity, to stretch and expand our understanding of God’s beautiful creation.
more... |
United Methodist Bishop Urges Candidates to Stop Divisive Rhetoric
|
|
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, President of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, today called on U.S. presidential candidates to stop their divisive rhetoric and focus on issues important to Americans in the final weeks of this year’s campaign.
more... |
Who would Jesus vote for in the upcoming election?
|
 Only the foolish would hazard a guess. But the New Testament is a picture of Jesus’ priorities. The General Board of Church and Society has prepared an election Guide which is intended as a discernment tool for you, your church and your community to evaluate potential leaders and political agendas of the two major parties as they relate to the Social Principles and Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church. Click
here to download the
Election Guide from
www.umc-gbcs.com. |
Stewardship is Holy Discipleship
|
 Rev. Michael Reeves is an expert on stewardship. He has devoted much of his ministry to leading and teaching about money and stewardship in the church. He was the presenter for the sixth annual stewardship conference sponsored by the Northern Illinois Conference Foundation. He challenged congregational leaders with this question,
“How are your people confronted with stewardship as a spiritual issue?”
more... |
Give Fairly Traded Chocolate Treats this Year
|
 This year, give treats that support small-scale farmers. Mini chocolates and trick-or-treat bags can be purchased at
shop.equalexchange.com. The UM Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and the UM General Board of Church and Society have partnered to encourage people to buy fairly traded treats. Fairly traded products provide small-scale farmers a fair living wage and an opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty.
more…
|
Come and Learn How You can Make a Difference in the World
|
|
DeKalb District Mission Celebration – featuring Beth Ferrell, jurisdictional missionary in residence, October 26 at 4:30 PM at Rochelle UMC.
more... |
|
Aurora-Elgin District Mission Fair – featuring Larry Kies, of Africa University in Zimbabwe, November 2 at 2:00 PM at Gary UMC, Wheaton.
more... |
|
Dr. Samuel Bruce, Mo-Dega
Project, Ghana Agricultural Consultant at First UMC - Evanston, October 22, 7:00 PM, First UMC – Evanston.
more...
|
|
Larry Kies, a United Methodist missionary serving as
Technical Advisor to the Africa University Farm, will speak at Batavia UMC, November 3, 7:00 PM.
|
Fall Opportunities for Learning and Growth
|
School of Evangelism – October 18th
|
 Intimacy and Action: Keynote speaker: Dr. Tony Compolo plus eight dynamic workshops that will boost your evangelism skills. Dr. Compolo is a highly sought after speaker, renowned for his insight, his humor and his ability to deliver life changing messages. He is also the author of 35 books.
|
|
For more information and a registration form,
click here.
|
Welcoming the Sojourner – October 16th - 18th
|
|
 A conference on immigration with keynote speakers: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Northern Illinois; Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Desert Southwest; José Oliva, Interfaith Worker Justice. Workshops include: The Bible & Immigration; The New Sanctuary Movement; INS Raids and Your Community. The conference will take place at the Hilton: Lisle-Naperville, Illinois.
For more information,
click here. To register,
click here.
For more information, contact: Rev. Michael Mann, 815-286-7102,
hinckleyumpastor@verizon.net
|
Challenging Business as Usual – October 17th - 19th
|
|
Challenging Business as Usual will run in conjunction with
Welcoming the Soujourner. In addition to Bishops Jung and Carcaño, presenters will include:
'General Commission on Religion and Race' general secretary, Erin Hawkins, and the Revs. Barbara Issacs and Eliezér Valentín-Castañon, both GCORR staff executives. Dan Gire, Movie Critic of The Daily Herald will present a workshop on “Racism in Film.”
|
|
For more information, contact: Rev. John Alan Boryk, 847-825-3144,
jaboryk@comcast.net
|
|
To register,
click here.
|
Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence
|
 Faith
Partners Training:
Substance abuse is an unrelenting evil that destroys lives, ruins families, and endangers neighborhoods. Too many people have been swept up in a cycle of addiction. Through faith-based and community groups, changes have been made that have revolutionized the way we help people break the chains of addiction.
Be part of an intensive
one-day workshop that will teach you how to build a congregational team that can build a healing place for prevention and recovery
more... |
Celebration of Bishop Hee-Soo Jung’s Return to The Northern Illinois Conference - October 12
|
 An Annual Conference gathering to Welcome Back Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is planned for Sunday, October 12, at 4:00 p.m. at First UMC of Downers Grove, 1032 Maple Avenue, Downer’s Grove, IL.
There will be worship followed by a reception to greet Bishop Jung and his wife, Rev. Im-Hyon Jung.
Bishop Jung was re-assigned to serve a second quadrennium as the Episcopal Leader of The Northern Illinois Annual Conference at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference, July 2008.
|
Faith Summit for Criminal Justice Reform - October 5th
|
 Faith Summit for Criminal Justice Reform: As people of faith,
the current system goes against our deepest beliefs in the inherent dignity
and worth of every person. We call for a system rooted in restoration,
rehabilitation, and healing that meets the needs of victims, offenders,
their families, and their communities.
On October 5th, we will gather to call
for the transformation of the criminal justice system. Join us to stand up
for healing of victims of crime, investment in violence prevention
strategies, treatment alternatives for people who commit non-violent
actions, the elimination of barriers to successful re-entry into society,
and a restorative approach to criminal justice policy. For more
information,
click here. |
United Methodist Men: Spiritual Congress 2008
|
 Driving Us to Perfection In Love – September 12th - 14th: Keynote speaker: Rev. David C. Adams, General Secretary of the General Commission on United Methodist Men of the United Methodist Church. To register, contact: Jeff Miller,
jmiller35@sbcglobal.net or 630-554-9708.
Registration deadline is September 8, 2008. |
Interfaith Bus Tour – September 19th - 21st
|
 The third annual Interfaith Bus Tour will be led by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of Northern Illinois Conference, who says, “Working with and learning about other faiths is a vital issue in our own faith walk.” On this tour, participants will visit ten different faith sites.
For more information,
click here. |
|
To register, contact: Harriet McCabe, 630-355-4617;
harrietmccabe@earthlink.net
|
|
Registration deadline is September 12th
|
Speaking to Violence That Affects Children and Teens
|
UMCOR's Key Role in medical relief in Georgia/Russia Conflict |
|
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is the lead coordinating agency for medicines and medical supplies being provided through US government-sponsored emergency airlifts to the conflict zone in Georgia, the Caucasus nation where fighting over the contested region of South Ossetia began on August 7th. UMCOR has a long history of work in Georgia.
A press release on UMCOR's role in the medical relief effort is
attached and also online
here. |
North Central Jurisdictional Conference 2008
|
North Central Jurisdictional Conference
|
 July 16-19, 2008 – 276 delegates from ten annual conferences in the North Central Jurisdiction will meet in Grand Rapids, MI to elect one new bishop. Five new bishops will be elected in the U.S. conferences.
Click here to learn more: |
Larry Pickens Endorsed by Northern Illinois Conference for Bishop
|
|
 Someone who serves with “intelligence, integrity, humility and leadership” are words being used to describe the Northern Illinois Conference’s Episcopal Candidate, Rev. Larry Pickens.
Click here to visit his website: www.larrypickens.org |
|
 10 days. 1,600 resolutions. 988 delegates and 140 translators for 9 languages. Nearly 1,000,000 words written by reporters. You can read every word at www.gc2008.com. General Conference 2008 is now history.
Here are some General Conference highlights:
Nothing Buts Nets Challenge – Be a part of the $40,000 challenge from the Northern Illinois Conference delegation to all United Methodists in the NIC. Be a part of the effort to eradicate Malaria by making a donation before Annual Conference (June 5, 2005). Click here for details:
Read about the Challenge
Nothing But Nets Video
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung preaches at General Conference and encourages the church to use both “holiness” and “hospitality” to build the kingdom of God.
Read full text of Bishop’s Jung sermon, “Jesus, Remember Me”
Bishop Jung preaching video
|
 |
Three Simple
Rules: For more information, click
here.
Study Guide Excerpt:
Even as people of faith, we find our lives can be messy, filled with addiction, fretfulness, and fears.
John Wesley believed that living a holy and good life required help from a caring community,
commitment to the practice of spiritual discipline, and ongoing instruction. For him, the Great
Commandment superseded all others as “a guide to the highest form of faithfulness.” |
 |
Annual Conference 2008: June 5th - 7th, 2008,
Pheasant Run
“We as an Annual Conference are about the business of scattering seeds. We are scattering seeds in the hearts and minds of our clergy, with the prayer that we might be swept up in a faith that is rooted in the scriptures, a faith that is watered by our connectional community, a faith that cannot be contained but must be shared as a passion, a passion for God that multiplies a hundredfold.” --
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
|
|
|
Three Simple
Rules: For more information, click
here.
Study Guide Excerpt:
Even as people of faith, we find our lives can be messy, filled with addiction, fretfulness, and fears.
John Wesley believed that living a holy and good life required help from a caring community,
commitment to the practice of spiritual discipline, and ongoing instruction. For him, the Great
Commandment superseded all others as “a guide to the highest form of faithfulness.” |
 |
Our Conference Mourns
- Schools, businesses and media outlets across Illinois and the country are
posting this ribbon on their web sites in a show of unity and sympathy with
the Northern Illinois University community. Click
here to see the
response from the Northern Illinois Conference. |
 |
February 25-27 –
“Christian Peacemaking in the Holy Land and Korea” A world summit featuring church leaders, scholars, authors looking at issues involved in reconciliation and peacemaking in two divided areas of the world. How can we make peace, mend divisions, and heal brokenness? This conference will bring together prophetic and challenging voices for peacemaking in the Holy Land and Korea.
Click to download the event flyer
here and the registration form
here.
|
 |
March 1 –
“Planting Passion for God in the Lives We Touch”, Keynote speaker: the Rev. Arlene Christopherson, Assistant to the Bishop, Northern Illinois Conference. This event will also offer a day full of hands-on workshops on aged based ministries: Children, young adults and older adults.
Click to download the event flyer
here and the registration form
here.
|
 |
March 7-8 –
“Emergence” - NIC Urban Convocation, Keynote speaker: Rev. Rudy Rasmus. Seven years ago, Rev. Rudy Rasmus and his wife, Juanita arrived at an inner city UMC in downtown Houston. There were nine official members of the church. Today, the church has swelled to more than 3,600 members and become a social service center for the downtown homeless, and a center for HIV-positive children.
Click to download the event flyer
here and the registration form
here.
|
 |
April 12 –
“Go the to the Mountain, Go to the Masses”: a day of spiritual and congregational renewal with Rev. Barry Carpenter. This presentation took place last October with rave reviews. One participant said, “I want everyone in my church to hear Barry Carpenter.” If you weren’t able to make the first event, you have another chance. This will be an inspiring day you won’t want to miss. For anyone who wants to experience passionate spirituality and is interested in helping their church grow.
Click to download the event flyer and registration form
here.
|
|
|
New Aurora District Superintendent named...
On Thursday, January 31st Bishop Hee-Soo Jung announced the appointment of Rev. Diana Mason Facemyer as the incoming Aurora District Superintendent effective July 1st. Rev. Facemyer will succeed Rev. Danita Anderson who has served in the position of Aurora District Superintendent for seven years and will move on to a new ministry setting effective July 1st.
more… |
|
|
Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens endorsed for Episcopal Candidacy... Bringing a wealth of local church and global ministry experience, Rev. Pickens was endorsed by the NIC General and Jurisdictional Conference delegations after “prayerful and deliberation and discussion.” The delegations said that after considering “God’s call, candidate preparation and readiness to serve in the Episcopal role”, Rev. Pickens received their endorsement. Episcopal candidates will be considered at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference to be held in July, 2008.
more...
|
|
|
Walter Kimbrough preaching at Days on the District for Clergy & Laity…
The Reverend Walter L. Kimbrough’s ministry has been characterized by evangelism, pastoral care, teaching and community service. A noted workshop leader, Bible Study teacher, motivator, administrator and preacher, Reverend Kimbrough is also the recipient of many honors and awards, some of which include an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Morris Brown College, 1991 and the Denman Award for Excellence in Evangelism in 1988. Don’t miss an opportunity to hear Dr. Kimbrough in Northern Illinois, January 30-February 2 at a Day on the District event.
more… |
|
|
Catching the Vision of Harvest 2020 to Build Growing Congregations...
Lay leaders inspired to use the gospel to change our world culturally and
spiritually.
more... |
 |
Ecumenical Events Promote Christian Unity... Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25
more…
|
|
|
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung Reflects on his Renewal Leave... The Bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference was in Korea last fall for renewal leave, Read about his moments teaching at a university, reconnecting with family and strengthening his spiritual journey.
more…
|
 |
Storms Bring Damage and Church Responds... Poplar Grove UMC mobilizes to help local residents recover from violent storm damage.
more…
|
 |
HIV/AIDS raises the question: How can the church be silent when there are 40 million people suffering with this disease? During December, please take time to pause and consider how this disease has devastated families around the world and see how you can become a congregation that cares.
more... |
 |
NIC Conference Delegation Sets Schedule... The delegation for the General and Jurisdictional Conferences has announced the schedule of meeting dates. These meetings will enable groups or individuals wishing to meet with the delegation to schedule a time.
more... |
September 2007
Cambodian Missionary Visits Northern Illinois Churches ... Clara Mridula Biswas is one of nine missionaries/missionary families that are in a covenant relationship with the Northern Illinois Conference. She recently visited a number of churches in the conference to share stories from her work.
more...
A Meditation on September 11th ... Today is a day we shall never forget. This is a day in which we can pray, take action for peace.
more...
My Good Deed: Change the world one good deed at a time.
September is open house month in the United Methodist Church ... Radical Hospitality means to “intentionally recognize Christ in everyone -- and to remember that guests may look for Christ in us.”
more...
Ideas for becoming a welcoming congregation
Storms bring flooding to Northern Illinois Church
... It rained for days and days. Was this the Midwestern states in late
August 2007 or the Biblical story about Noah from Genesis chapters 6-9?
more...
The Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church responds to the Statement of the Pope Benedict
XVI regarding the Catholic Church
... On July 11, 2007, many of our parishioners may have seen the
Associated Press headlines "Vatican decree upsets some: Document reasserts
other denominations can't bring salvation."
more...
UMC Council of Bishop’s Statement
Pope Benedict XVI’s statement
|
August 2007
|
|
September is open house month in the United Methodist Church ... Radical Hospitality means to “intentionally recognize Christ in everyone -- and to remember that guests may look for Christ in us.”
more...
Ideas for becoming a welcoming congregation
Storms bring flooding to Northern Illinois Church
... It rained for days and days. Was this the Midwestern states in late
August 2007 or the Biblical story about Noah from Genesis chapters 6-9?
more...
The Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church responds to the Statement of the Pope Benedict
XVI regarding the Catholic Church
... On July 11, 2007, many of our parishioners may have seen the
Associated Press headlines "Vatican decree upsets some: Document reasserts
other denominations can't bring salvation."
more...
UMC Council of Bishop’s Statement
Pope Benedict XVI’s statement
Bishop Jung speaks out on the arrest and deportation of Elvira Arellano ... Statement in Response to the Arrest and Deportation of Elvira Arellano.
more...
Bishop Jung Statement on Immigration
… The Bishop invites all people of faith to be in prayer over the complex issue of immigration in the United States.
more...
Immigration Activist is Arrested After Leaving Refuge of Church
… Elvira Arellano who spent a year in sanctuary in the Adalberto United Methodist Church in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago was arrested Sunday afternoon (August 19) in Los Angeles...
more...
Elvira Arellano Leaves Sanctuary to Speak Out on Immigration Reform ... On August 15, 2006, Elvira Arellano who is a member and lay leader of Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago, an immigration rights activist and a mother took sanctuary in her church rather than face deportation to her native Mexico.
more...
Faith Communities Push for Immigration Reform ... There
has been a great deal of public debate and several attempts within the U.S.
Congress to bring new solutions to immigration reform.
more...
Director, Media Resource Center position available (more) …
Pembroke Institute Focuses on Youth Leadership Development
... The Pembroke Institute is a leadership development and ministerial recruitment academy
which invites black youth (age 14 - 21) to Garrett Evangelical Seminar in
Evanston, IL for one week of intensive training each summer.
more...
Refreshing Worship Workshops ... Ready to start autumn at your church with a revitalized worship experience? Then come for an inspiring day or two of training!
more...
School of Christian Mission, “Sing Across Walls”
… The annual School of Christian Mission brought over 200 women, a handful
of men and half a dozen youth from all over the conference for classes in music and mission,
Globalization and Israel/Palestine.
more...
Nothing But Nets Interfaith Prayer Breakfast …“There is a meanness in the world that I
don’t understand. I don’t understand why in the 21st century, there is poverty and racism
and people dying from preventable diseases.” Bishop Thomas Bickerton to an
assembled group at the Chicago Temple UMC.
more...
DeKalb District Connects to West Angola
Conference … “I was so touched by all the goodness in the world:
people who choose unselfishness and community, rather than isolation and
materialism. Given all the bad stories that get re-hashed daily, it's
powerful to hear good stories of people who extend themselves in
mission--and who do so out of their United Methodist faith.”
more...
New Director of Communications Announced for Conference
… Susan Dal Porto has been selected as the new Northern Illinois Conference
(NIC) Director of Communications, following an extensive nationwide search
which attracted over sixty candidates
more...
|
|
