Graduation marks a major milestone in life, a time when we celebrate accomplishments and transition to another phase. Click here to view a video that combines images of graduates with the words of a  benediction written by the Rev. Jay Moyers . We encourage you to share the link with individuals or as part of worship or small group time as you offer prayers for those who are completing their schoolwork and dreaming of the future.

The phone at the District Office goes through the Conference Office system. So a call from the Cornerstone district office will display 315-898-2000 (Conference Office main number) on your caller ID.  We will leave a message for you,  but please don't hit "redial" to call us back; dial 716-665-2423 to call us back . 

Calling all bikers! Panama United Methodist Church, 22 E. Main St., will be the site of a Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday, June 9.

Folks are invited to gather at 12 noon at the church's picnic pavilion (in the church's community room if the weather is bad) for pulled pork, all the sides, drinks, music, etc. The blessing of bikes and riders will take place at approximately 1:20 p.m. with kickstands up at 1:30 p.m. for a ride together.

The event is intended for motorcycle riders but all bikes are welcome! Please share this poster with your riding circles and make plans to attend. If possible, please let Pastor Steve Taylor if you plan to attend to help with planning for the meal: [email protected] . 

Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb and  Rev. David Masland, the Director of New Faith Communities,  are offering the opportunity for individual clergy and laity, as well as every United Methodist Church in Upper NY to become a  "New Places for New People" Partner . 

 

Click here to watch a video featuring Bishop Webb and Rev. Masland; for handouts, a PowerPoint presentation, a video, and the platform to make a donation online, click here.  

Intro to Annual Conference Video
The Upper New York Annual Conference scheduled June 5-8, 2019, is less than one week away! Are you ready?  Click here  to watch a video of Conference Lay Leader Susan Hardy, and Lucina Hallagan, Conference Lay Servant Director, as they walk you through what to expect at the 2019 UNY Annual Conference.

If you missed the May 3 deadline, the next opportunity to register will be

on site at the Oncenter with an additional $50 fee . 

At the 2019 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference, members will elect delegates to the 2020 General Conference in Minneapolis, MN (May 5-15, 2020) and the 2020 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in Hunt Valley, MD (July 13-17, 2020).

 

You may view all the UNY Conference lay and clergy members who have expressed a desire to serve as delegates and meet the requirements, keeping in mind that all clergy members are able to be elected unless they designated that they do not want to serve as a delegate and lay people can put their names on the ballot at any time.

Annual Conference is fast approaching and the Petitions and Resolutions Committee would like to make this year's Conference as informative and helpful as possible.

Click here to see a list of the petitions and resolutions that will come before Annual Conference. They are in the order that they will be introduced to the membership. Contact information is included so that you may contact the writers for more information about their submissions.

Click here to read petitions and resolutions received in time for publication in the 2019 UNY Conference Journal, Volume I (starting on page 65).  Click here to view resolutions that were not received in time for inclusion in the 2019 UNY Conference Journal, Volume I.  

 

The Petitions and Resolutions Committee would like petitioners and AC attendees to have the opportunity at Annual Conference to engage in conversation, answer questions, or provide clarification to the petitions and resolutions that will come before the body during plenary. This will take place near the registration area in the lobby during lunch periods.

Are you attending Annual Conference and an alum, student, or friend of The Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School? You are invited to a luncheon! A free lunch will be provided during lunch (approximately 12:15 p.m.) on Thursday, June 6, at the Everson Museum (kitty corner to the Oncenter), 401 Harrison St.  Please send your RSVP to Debbie Diederich, 585-340-9643 or  [email protected].  

The Harry Denman Evangelism Award honors United Methodists who bring people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Each year, the Upper New York Conference works with the Foundation for Evangelism to recognize and honor one lay and clergy member for their commitment to consistently introducing others to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 

The laity recipient of the 2019 Harry Denman Evangelism Award is the Upper New York Conference's Director of Missional Engagement, Mike Block.

 

The clergy recipient of the 2019 Harry Denman Evangelism Award is the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, pastor at Asbury First UMC in the Genesee Valley District.  

 

The May issue II of the Bridge is now available for download. It is available in both color and black & white formats.  Click here to select the version you prefer and make copies as necessary. 

This issue focuses on ways to celebrate Pentecost at home and also informs readers about the meaning of Peace with Justice Sunday.

The Renewal and Evangelism in Upper New York team invites you to come share an inspiring breakfast with Dr. David Watson on Friday, June 7, in the Lafayette Ballroom of the Syracuse Crown Plaza Hotel, 701 E. Genesee St.

Breakfast will begin at 6:30 a.m. with the program scheduled from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. There is no charge to attend the program.

Dr. Watson, an author and professor and academic dean at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH, will share his observations from the Special Session of General Conference 2019. An ordained elder in the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, his most recent book is Scripture and the Life of God:Why the Bible Matters Today More Than Ever.  

Reservations and advance payment for the breakfast ($20) are required. Please send checks, made payable to "REUNY," to Rev. Stan Scoville, 8999 Jackson Hill Rd., Cuba, NY, 14727. Checks must be received by June 1. Questions? Call Rev. Rick LaDue, 716-969-0432.

http://www.umcgiving.org/ministry-articles/peace-with-justice-sunday 

The Upper New York United Methodist Historical Society will meet on Saturday, June 15 at the UNY Conference Center (7481 Henry Clay Blvd.) in Liverpool (click here to download a flyer). "Early birds" may volunteer in the Conference archives beginning at 9:30 a.m. Bring your own lunch if eating at the Center.

The Society meeting will start about 12:40 p.m. with a business meeting, followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Nancy Rutenber on UMC Historic Sites connected to Upper New York Conference. Then there will be a ceremony for retiring old Bibles led by the Rev. Jim Barnes II. Bring your worn-out Bibles for recycling or burning. Hard covers and any metal may need to be removed before any recycling. The meeting is open to all those interested.

Mission u offers opportunities to study current issues that have an impact on society based on recent mission study topics. Mission u is open to women, men, youth, clergy and laity. You are invited to come to Asbury Camp & Retreat Center on July 25-27 for this retreat that offer two study groups that all participants attend: Practicing Resurrection: Gospel of Mark and Discipleship (spiritual growth) and What About Our Money? A Faith Response (social action). Besides the study groups, there is worship & singing, interest groups and fellowship.

Cost includes registration, room and board. Registration deadline is July 10. Click here to download a brochure and for more information.