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 MoreWe discussed some of the challenges of forming faith communities these days. Online worship portals have been a gift—but then how do we introduce growth in faith and the development of deeper commitment to a faith community? Many of those who attended in-person worship four times a month a short time ago, may attend once a month now. How might we deepen community with these shifts in participation? Imagine someone attending worship online for perhaps six months and summoning the courage for in-person worship—how do we welcome, affirm, and give stewardship to their growth in faith?
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe Northern Illinois Conference and the Conference Global Board of Ministries would like to thank the forty-three churches that went the second mile as 100% Mission Links churches. In addition to the apportionment dollars received for General Church and the Annual Conference, the NIC received over $560,000 in 2nd Mile giving and almost $100,000 in Special Sunday offerings.
Read MoreThis year marks the 107th event of a tradition that was started by Sharon UMC in Plainfield. Since 1914, the congregants of Sharon have joined together to make and serve their Chicken Noodle Dinner, on the Friday prior to Ash Wednesday.
Read MoreThe people of Ashton United Methodist Church really stepped up. For quite a while, many of them have been supporting the high school students by attending many of their events. At one of the basketball games, Pastor Jan said to the coach, Mike Messer, “We need to find a way to honor these kids; maybe a breakfast or a pizza night.” Coach Messer replied that they would be having a Saturday game in a couple of weeks, so breakfast would be nice before the game.
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