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===================================================================== Chicago Northwestern District News
The United Methodist Church - The Northern Illinois Conference
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Centering Together in Ministry
The angel said, "Don't be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you--wonderful, joyous news for all people. You savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord. Luke 2: 10-11(CEB)
"The birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way of understanding life but a new way of living it." Frederick Buechner
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Blessed Advent and Christmas to All!
Advent is my favorite season of the Christian year. I love the preparation and the anticipation as we light Advent wreaths, hang greens, sing carols, and read scriptures of hope and readiness. I enjoy church conferences in this season as I am able to see the many different ways our congregations prepare for this season and the coming of Christ! It is very powerful to see our difference and diversity woven together in the common themes of hope! prepare! look! It is also a joy to see ministries of justice and peace throughout our district which remind us that the coming of Christ means receiving God as a child...but also God as a word of prophecy and justice, in a world so immersed in consumerism, conflict, and greed.
As we continue in this season of Advent and journey toward Christmas, I pray that the hope and possibility of God's realm will be realized in the world and each of your lives. May Jesus come anew for you and bring new possibility to your life, journey, and way.
Finally, I want to say thanks to all of you! You are so very faithful in your witness, mission, and seeking of God's justice in your communities in the world. Many of you offer so much for the sake of our mission as United Methodist Christians! Thank you so very much for all you do!
Blessed Advent and Christmas to each of you!
Christ's Peace Rev. James Preston, DS
LEAD 2012 is January 28, 2012 in Glenview
LEAD 2012, our annual leadership training for the Chicago Northwestern District, will be held Saturday, January 28, 2012, 8:30am to 3:30pm at Glenview UMC, 727 N. Harlem, Glenview. Cost is $12 per person and includes lite breakfast, lunch, three workshops and the plenary. Our theme is Leading Boldly in Challenging Times. Online and mail-in registration will be available soon. Workshops include: Evangelism, Leadership, Trustees, Finance, Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, SPRC, Social Media, Reconciling Ministries, and much more. Watch for more information. Email Debbie Rogers at drogers@umcnic.org for more information. Childcare is available upon request for children 10 and under.
Laity Convocation is February 4, 2012 in Elgin The annual conference Laity Convocation is Saturday, February 4, 2012 at First UMC of Elgin. Registration cost is $15 and includes breakfast and lunch. The speaker is Rev. Larry Hollon from the Commission on Communications in Nashville. The theme is Cyberspace and Sacred Space. For more information or to register, visit www.umcnic.org or contact Natarsha Gardner at 847.931.0710 Ext. 16. Let's have a good number of persons from CNW!
Apportionments Workshop is January 23, 2012 in Park Ridge
The Chicago Northwestern District Board of Stewards is hosting a two hour workshop on apportionments and mission giving on Monday evening, January 23, 2012 at 7:00pm. The event will be held at First UMC of Park Ridge, 418 Touhy Avenue. Parking is available behind the church and on the street. There is no cost. Speakers will include Lonnie Chafin-Conference Treasurer, Merrie Bunt-Conference Apportionments Coordinator, Joanna Gwinn-District Mission Secretary, and others. Please plan to bring a team. Churches paying less than 50% in 2011 are required to attend with a team of two or more. For more information, contact Debbie Rogers at drogers@umcnic.org.
Winter Warming Event by Reconciling UMs is Saturday January 14
The NIC Reconciling UMs will be hosting their annual Winter Warming event on Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 1pm to 7pm at Euclid Avenue UMC, 405 S. Euclid Ave., in Oak Park. There will be inspiring workshops and a fellowship dinner. Dynamic worship will be led by Mark Miller from Drew University. For more information, visit www.winterwarming.com. All are welcome!
Conference Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is Sunday, January 15
All are invited to a conference-wide celebration of the ministry and witness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, January 15 at Hartzell UMC in Chicago. The event will begin at 4:00pm and conclude at 7:00pm. Watch for more information. The church is located at 3300 S. King Drive in Chicago.
UM Women Announce Important Dates for the Year!
The Chicago NW District United Methodist Women remind us of important opportunities for women in the coming year. The UMW School of Christian Mission Winter Experience is January 20-22, 2012 at Camp Reynoldswood in Dixon. The North Central Jurisdiction UMW meeting will be held June 19-20, 2012 at Drake University in Des Moines, IA. The Annual Summer School of Christian Mission will be held July 19-22, 2012 at Judson University in Elgin. For more information, please contact Vivian Matthews at vmatt5400@aol.com.
UM Men Lenten Prayer Breakfast is February 25
The Chicago Northwestern District United Methodist Men will gather for their annual Lenten Prayer Breakfast and Worship Service on Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 9am to 12noon. Rev. James Preston, Superintendent, will be our guest speaker. The theme is Leading for Change. The location is to be determined. For more information, contact Leon Deloney at ldeloney2@aol.com.
District Youth Set to Gather
The Chicago Northwestern District Youth have several events planned for the winter and spring of 2012. You may visit www.umcnic.org for more information or contact Rev. Carol Hill at carol@parkridgeumc.org for more information.
Jan. 29 - Holy Spirit Award Banquet, 5 - 8pm - First UMC Park Ridge
Feb. 25 - Lenten Youth Outreach,12-4pm - West Ridge UMC in Chicago
Mar. 24 - Youth for Justice Night, 4-7pm - First UMC Evanston
May 4 - 6 - Fan the Flame Retreat at Wesley Woods Campground
Jun. 16 - Joyful Noise Music Fest, 3-5pm - St. John's UMC in Oak Park John Wesley Theological Institute is February 12-14, 2012
The annual John Wesley Institute for laity and clergy is set for February 12-14, 2012 at the Carmelite Center in Darien, Illinois. The address is Cass Avenue and I-55. The theme is Christian Conferencing in a General Conference Year. The keynote speaker is Dr. Russell Richey from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.umcnic.org or contact Rev. Fernando Siaba at fsiaba48@yahoo.com.
Lay Academy is March 3 and 10
The annual Lay Academy for training leaders and lay speakers will be held Saturday, March 3 and 10, 2012 at First UMC of Park Ridge. The theme is "Building Leaders the Wesleyan Way." The brochure and information will be available soon. Please contact Ellen Feliciano for more information at 312.282.0131 or felinet@ameritech.net. Worship Alive Announces 2011-2012 Season Worship Alive, a wonderful education series related to creating dynamic worship, has announced its offerings for the year. They are:
Proclaiming the Verbs with Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence: January 28, 2012 at Western Springs Presbyterian and January 29, 2012 at United Church of Rogers Park.
Celebrating in a Material World with Dr. Mark A. Torgerson: March 10 at Western Springs and March 11 at United Church of Rogers Park.
Congregational Song in the 21st Century with Richard and Trish Bruxvoort Colligan on April 28 only at Western Springs.
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Consider the Chicago Northwestern District in your estate
and planned giving for the future ministry of our district.
Contact Rev. Preston at 312.346.9766 Ext. 134 for more information.
Upcoming Events and Offerings --Winter Warming Event for Reconciling UMs - Saturday, January 14 Euclid Ave. UMC
--Perkins School of Youth Ministry January 9-12, 2012 1-888-THEOLOGY for more info.
--LEAD Leadership Training for District - Saturday, January 28, 2012 Glenview UMC
--Laity Convocation February 4, 2012
--John Wesley Theological Institute February 12-14, 2012 Darien, IL
--Lay Speaker Academy March 3 and 10, 2012 First UMC of Park Ridge
--Bishop's Interfaith Youth Bus Tour Saturday, March 24, 2012 8am-6pm
Our Prayer Ministry
Victims of Gun Violence throughout our city, area, nation and world
Virginia Tech
Libya
Egypt
Syria
Abby Espada, healing after surgery
Jean Price, healing after surgery
Rev. Donald Wright, healing after stroke
Rev. Timothy Rathod, healing after stroke
Rev. Charles Murray, healing after stroke
Rev. Dr. Marti Scott, death of mother
NIC Delegation to GC and JC
General Conference 2012 in Tampa
Jurisdictional Conference 2012 in Akron
Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON) - the new conference immigration clinic
Red Line Ministries in Chicago
Developing Urban Strategy for Ministry in the city
The youth of this district and our communities
The Effort to stop expansions of gambling in our communities
Our new faith communitiesHarvest 2020
Harvest 2020 Fundraising Effort
Those affected by the continuing financial crisis
Those living under the stresses of these difficult economic timesJanet Lehr Lewis, UM missionary in Palestine
Helen Roberts-Evans, UM missionary to Liberia from our District (Sherman UMC)
Our congregations and communities
Our campus ministries, agencies, and missions
Our pastors and lay leaders
District Youth Ministry
District UMW
District UMM
Our District Prayer Ministry and Prayer Team
Arnold Rivera, our conference lay leader
Gerald Hayes, our district lay leader
District Leaders
Debbie Rogers, our district administrator
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
Rev. James Preston, District Superintendent
Conference Staff
Rachel Harvey and Myka Kennedy Stephens, deaconesses in our district
The United Methodist Church
Harvest 2020
Our 20 new faith communities launching this month
President Barack Obama
Vice President Joseph Biden
Governor Pat Quinn
Other leaders in our state and nation
The City of Detroit and the Detroit Metropolitan District of the UMC
The Methodist Church in Bolivia
The Seoul South Annual Conference
The West Angola Annual Conference
The Chicago Northwestern District
The United Methodist Church
77 West Washington Street, #1820, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312.346.9766 James Preston Ext. 134 Debbie Rogers Ext. 132
www.umcnic.org Check us out on Facebook as well Northwestern District!
Our mission is to effectively empower and equip local congregations to make disciples
for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Core Values: Gospel Change - Abundance - Movement - Outward Focused - Social Healing