Bishop’s Column: Getting to know Bishop Dan Schwerin
Here are 10 things that will help you get to know our new Bishop.
Read MoreDid you know? Practicing Hospitality
This month’s NIC Reporter is filled with images of welcome. In the conference these days, we are driven by welcome. You only need to look at the conference calendar to see all the ways in which we are engaged in welcoming Bishop Dan Schwerin as our new episcopal leader. From an Installation Service (on Sunday, February 26th) to Days on the District (the first two weeks of February), to a card shower of notes and well wishes, we have extended a welcome to Bishop Schwerin.
Read MoreA Toy Story that hits the road
The late Rev. Doug Williams brought the idea of making and distributing toy wooden cars to his congregation at Aldersgate UMC in Rockford in 2011 as a new ministry to children. Combining inspiration from a similar ministry in Florida and his woodworking hobby, it was Doug’s dream for a life-giving impact.
Read MoreCreating safer and more welcoming spaces
One of the goals of the Northern Illinois Conference for 2022 was to ramp up our Safe Sanctuaries training and increase the number of volunteers who have gone through this valuable course. Online training through Safe Gatherings is an ongoing tool for this training. In addition, eight Safe Sanctuaries Trainings were held in 2022 throughout the summer and fall to train over 1,850 lay and staff. This brings our number of people leaders in the past 2 years to over 2,790!
Read MoreNotes of Rest presented for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance
On Sunday, January 15th, Julian Davis Reid presented one of his spiritual retreats, Notes of Rest, specifically tailored for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at First United Methodist Church of Oak Park. The event, sponsored by the Northern Illinois Conference and the United Methodist Foundation, focused on the importance of rest in fueling the continued pursuit of justice for all and Dr. King’s dream of the Beloved Community.
Read MoreSympathy Notice: Bettye S Mixon
Rev. Bettye S. Mixon, retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away Friday, January 13, 2023. During her ministry, she served Carbon Cliff; Chicago: Epworth and Rockford: Centennial.
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