March 5, 2020

New Look for District News

Welcome to your new biweekly eNews highlighting Aurora District events, information, and news. The District eNews will arrive in your email box on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Be sure to share with any staff and/or lay leaders who might be interested! Don't get the weekly NIC eNews? Click here to subscribe.

 From the District Superintendent:

Hello to all of our brothers and sisters in the Aurora District. I am excited about a new way to communicate with you as we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Look to this space every other week for district news, calendaring and stories of how the Holy Spirit is working within the United Methodist Church. 

While a lot of information is to come, I want to express my deep gratitude for the many who have been working so hard on the District Shepherding Team. Their hard work is about to bear much fruit. We are committed to working hard to strengthen the Aurora local churches as you make and grow disciples, become more vital as congregations and live out the conviction that racism is incompatible with Christian teaching.  

So, get excited and get ready. New opportunities are coming.  

Are you wanting to make new disciples?  We are about to launch an innovative and highly effective "5 Cups of Coffee" discipleship campaign. Anna Voinovich and Deji Sanyao will be taking the lead. We are adapting it to our district but you can click here to learn the basics.

Are you wanting to become more vital? A trial group of churches is working on adaptability and connecting their learnings to real issues in their churches. Soon other churches will be invited into this program as others are brought in to mentor leadership in adaptability. Cynthia Anderson and Leah Ostwald will be taking the lead.  

Do you want to work on the conviction that racism is incompatible with Christian teaching? Our cross-cultural and cross-racial pastors have been gathering for conversations around the issues and joys of cross-cultural appointments. Recently, they gathered with their SPRC chairs and wonderful learning and sharing took place (see photo above). The results will be to help our district be more diligently in real work around issues of race and relationships. Danita Anderson has been taking the lead in this effort.  

Finally, it's not too soon to MARK YOUR CALENDARS: 

Stewardship Training Event
with experts from the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the United Methodist Foundation 
Saturday, September 12, 2020 from 9 am - 12 pm
Northern Illinois Food Bank, Geneva, IL.

Aurora District Training Event
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Faith UMC in Orland Park. 

Rev. Jeffry Bross
Aurora District Superintendent
jbross@umcnic.org
847-962-4212

Explore One Board Leadership Training

If you or your church is considering a change in a leadership model, this will be an excellent opportunity to explore the pros and cons of moving to a One Board style of leadership. Saturday, Mar. 14 10am-2:30pm at Plano UMC, 219 N Hale St, Plano, IL. To register call 630-552-3700 or email office@umcplano.org.

CLICK on graphic for more information or to register.

Featured Resource: Illinois State Tax Exempt Certificate

The Illinois Sales Tax Exempt Certificate can be used by any Northern Illinois Conference church or agency for their purchases. To claim the exemption, you must provide this certificate to your suppliers when purchasing tangible personal property for organizational use. This exemption may not be used by individual members of the organization to make purchases for their individual use. Click here to download.

March Reporter Available Now

Stay connected! Learn how one church's prayers and concern for discipleship of children increased adult discipleship. Understand how our faith can impact efforts to curb environmental racism. Find out more details about Annual Conference in June. And much, much more! Click here to download.

Rev. Jeffry Bross
Aurora District Superintendent
847.962.4212
jbross@umcnic.org

Leola Tucker
Administrative Assistant
312-346-9766 ext. 733
ltucker@umcnic.org

Mailing address for all De Kalb District Correspondence:
Northern Illinois Conference
of The United Methodist Church
77 W. Washington Street, Suite 1820
Chicago, IL 60602

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