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More united than ever before

The Tri-City area of Illinois, comprising the cities of St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia, has come to be seen as a community in and of itself over the years. The cities share a history of being three of the oldest in Illinois, they share borders featuring the Fox River, and have similar population sizes. Since 2020, for area United Methodists, this joint community has taken on new connection in the form of the Tri-City Methodists: a trio of churches – Baker Memorial United Methodist Church of St. Charles, the United Methodist Church of Geneva (UMCG), and Batavia United Methodist Church.

Sharing God’s love in the community

At Hanover UMC, several church members and leaders gathered to assemble Valentine’s baskets to deliver to folks in Hanover, Ill. The baskets contain fresh fruit, home-baked goods, and various snack items.

Forming a place for welcome, expression, and support

Friendship UMC in Bolingbrook is partnering with Bolingbrook Pride to host a Youth Drop-In event once a month for young people ages 12-18 who need a place to feel welcome, be able to express themselves, and support each other as they explore their true identities. Current youth don’t feel they need church, but seeing that a church can provide safety and support to them is significant.

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Joining in the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Two weeks of 24/7 prayer, confession, and worship in February went on at Asbury University, a campus of around 1600 students in Wilmore, Kentucky. This Lent, let us in Northern Illinois join with these students in prayer and worship. Let’s pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our churches in the Northern Illinois Conference.

Connecting and forming relationships across the conference

Bishop Dan Schwerin, newly assigned episcopal leader for the Northern Illinois Conference, spent his first month focused on meeting key leaders within the conference and the denomination. A cabinet retreat and bishop training, locally and across the country, filled his calendar. Late January and February were set aside to work on forming relationships across our conference.

Apportionments paid help aid our connection

The Northern Illinois Conference is thankful to its many churches for their faithful apportionment giving and celebrates those who paid in full. In 2022, 173 churches paid 100% of their calculated apportionments compared to 198 in 2021. Because of your apportionment giving in 2022, the Northern Illinois Conference will be able to help fund the conference budget for programs and ministries both locally and globally. Apportionments denote an understanding that the purpose of the church is not just to care for its members, but also to reach beyond itself to engage with the world, minister to the world, and be in mission to the world.

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