Laity Convocation recording available online

More than 300 people attended the first virtual Laity Convocation, “The Other Side: Making Churches Vital in a Post-Pandemic World,” held as a Zoom webinar on Feb. 13, 2021. The session focused on the NIC’s strategic goals of ending racism, growing and reaching new disciples, and building vital congregations. The three speakers included Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey on communal prayer, Rev. Adam Hamilton on helping people grow in faith, and Rev. Dr. F. Douglas Powe on reaching out to our neighbors.

Church serves at vaccination clinic

Like many people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Rev. Marilyn Nolan, senior pastor at Lanark UMC, went on the search to find an appointment to get her shot, which would surprisingly turn into a community outreach. “Since I was in 1b category, I called the local Caroll County Health department to make an appointment and was told I was number 500 on a long waitlist,” said Nolan, a bit discouraged. “But while on the phone, I asked the administrator if the county needed sites to distribute the vaccine and offered our church as suggested by one of our members.”

Jumpstart Youth Ministry February Resources

Our theme for February, “Know Your Story/Own Your Story”, continues that encouragement for youth workers. It may sound cliché, but it is true: be yourself—know who you are and how you got here, and be open and willing to share that.

Five Cups Resources

5 Cups of Water is a five-week discipleship curriculum that invites you to engage with others in meaningful conversations about baptism and its impact on our lives as individuals and as a community: the body of Christ here on earth.

GCSRW Moves into Shared Space in Conference Offices

The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women’s board and leadership have reached a work/share agreement with the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, moving into smaller office space shared with Northern Illinois within the Chicago Temple, GCSRW’s former location. It was determined that moving into significantly smaller office space was warranted with GCSRW’s priorities of being good stewards in light of the continuing restraints on in-person working caused by the pandemic.

Beware of Phishing Emails

Phishing is very common these days, and as people get more desperate, phishing attacks will get worse. When people attempt to steal your data, they do so using free email address providers. They will use email accounts purporting to be from the bishop or a local pastor but using an @gmail.com address or something similar. Rarely, will they come from an @umcnic.org email address.

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