Sympathy Notice: Joyce J. Meyer
Mrs. Joyce J. Meyer, spouse of deceased member Rev. Charles Meyer of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on March 24, 2024.
We want to begin by hoping that all of you are doing well and staying safe at home as we learn to live with this new virus until we find a vaccine for it. I also want to thank you all for being patient with your Annual Conference committee, as we have journeyed through these last couple of months, discerning the best format for our 2020 Annual Conference session.
We have taken this time because we wanted to be sure we were doing the right thing and would do all we can to not put anyone’s health at risk. So, given the uncertainty of how long we will need to maintain safe distancing, and how long before gatherings of about 1000+ people will be permissible, the Annual Conference Committee and Bishop have approved to hold a ‘virtual 2020 Annual Conference session’ on Saturday, November 14, 2020.
While so much has changed and our buildings remain closed, this year’s theme “Y Church?” still seems relevant as the church continues to be a presence (while not necessarily in-person) in our communities by meeting people’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs.
While we do not have all the details figured out yet, here are some things we can tell you:
Friends, if this seems overwhelming, please know that we feel the same. We are all learning as we go along. We do hope to get some guidance from other Annual Conferences who are using similar platforms to hold their Annual Conference session before us. We humbly ask that you help us make this session successful by making sure the conference has the correct names of your lay members to Annual Conference and alternates. Please enter the information in the Conference Portal or contact your District Administrative Assistant. This will help the Committee on Credentials with the credentialing process.
Please check our website at umcnic.org/AC2020 and eNews for dates, deadlines and details on all of these plans as they are finalized. And once again, thank you for your patience and your support in these very uncertain times.
Stay home friends and be safe!
Rev. Alka Lyall, Chair of Annual Conference committee,
Rev. Katie Voigt, Chair of Daily Proceedings,
Rev. Ryan Sutton, Chair of the Committee on Credentials,
Rev. Melissa Meyers, Chair of Worship Planning
Mrs. Joyce J. Meyer, spouse of deceased member Rev. Charles Meyer of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on March 24, 2024.
Rev. Donald Long, retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Bishop Dan Schwerin asks for prayer for all those affected by the violence that took place in Rockford, Ill., on March 27.
"Every day of our lives is an unfolding of Holy Week," Bishop Dan Schwerin says. Read his Holy Week reflection and watch his Easter video greeting.