Many churches and youth are participating in Mission Trips this summer
Many churches are starting up Mission Trips after a pause or change due COVID. It is great to see everyone being the hands and feet of Christ in our word.
Read MoreGreen Community Outreach Earns Grants for Hartzell Memorial and Grace (Logan Square) UMCs
Many churches would love to have more money available to serve their communities with Christ’s love—and to become more environmentally responsible at the same time. Grace United Methodist Church, Logan Square, and Hartzell Memorial United Methodist (both in Chicago) recently received Chicago Recovery Grants that will make this possible.
Read MoreConnecting 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.
Read MoreBishop Schwerin ready to start in the new year
At the consecration service, Bishop Schwerin learned he would be assigned to the Northern Illinois Conference effective Jan. 1, 2023, for which he expressed his gratitude. “I've been your neighbor for many, many years. I am so grateful to be assigned to the Northern Illinois Annual Conference," said Schwerin. "You have a history of justice-seeking ministry that humbles me and makes me grateful to be called to be assigned to you. I look forward to making relationships with you, learning from you, and shepherding with you."
Read MoreBishop's Column: Hearing the call
When I think of being called into ministry, I think of my father. Oh, he wasn’t a pastor. He was a mechanic who quit school in the eighth grade and was mostly a “home” Baptist. That means he did not go to church very much. He was “spiritual” but not “religious” long before those were sociological categories.
Read MoreFresh Expressions Grants Available
The word Fresh [Expressions] was borrowed from The Declaration of Assent, which is made by deacons, priests, and bishops of the Church of England. The Church of England and British Methodists started Fresh Expressions to revitalize existing churches and to start new forms of churches.
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