Please keep these pastors, their families and the Church families in your prayers throughout the coming weeks.
January 10
Jamestown:Camp Street & Kennedy First UMCs
Pastor Jennifer Delahoy, her husband Brian & their family.
January 17
Great Valley UMC
Pastor John Green, his wife Janet and their family.
January 24
Rev. Molly Golando who serves in Extension Ministry, her husband David and their family.
Please keep family and friends of the Rev. Frank MacLaughlin (retired) in your prayers. Rev. MacLaughlin, 91, died on December 31, 2020. He was predeceased by his wife, Wilma Jean MacLaughlin, in 2016. He served several Upper New York churches, including Hornell UMC, Bolivar First UMC, and others in the former Western New York and North Central New York Conferences. Condolences can be sent to Rev. MacLaughlin’s daughter, Colleen Thivierge, at 96 Deer Circle, Crossville, TN 38555. Click here to read Rev. MacLaughlin’s full obituary.
Continue to pray for all those who are affected by COVID-19, either directly or through a family member, neighbor or friend. May we continue to show respect for others by practicing good hygiene, wearing masks & social distancing.
To download the 2020-2021 District Prayer Calendar, click here.
To download the 7-Day Coronavirus Prayer Guide (courtesy of LifeWay), please click here.
Erica Wentworth, Finance Support Specialist for Upper New York and our "go to" for questions about entering local church information in Ezra has provided this document to help with counting online church attendees. Erica also shared the following information from GCFA:
We don’t really have set parameters because we know each conference does it different and they have their own parameters. We just ask that each conference uses their best judgement on how to accurately count online attendance since they know their churches the best and the means that each church has. We did have the question about how should a small church count attendance when they mail out their sermons and the answer was, for the church to use their best judgement on who would have came and the people that are reading what they are sending out. With small churches, we believe they know their members the best and know the efforts they are making.
The Upper New York Conference does not have a policy around online attendance, according to the Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, Director of Vital Congregations. He emphasizes the importance of consistency. "Each congregation should determine how they are going to count online attendance and remain consistent with that," Bouwens said. "For the analysis to mean anything there has to be consistent counting.
The United Methodist Church celebrates Human Relations Day to further the development of better human relations by involving congregations in community and youth outreach through Community Developers Programs, United Methodist Voluntary Services Programs, and Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs.
It is celebrated on the Sunday before the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday (January 17, 2021). This offering was originally established in 1972 to fund Self-Determination Projects, The Black Community Developers and the Police-Community Relations Program. In 1988, the offering was designated to support ministries of social justice and outreach to at-risk youth.
Specific ministries include the Community Developers Program, United Methodist Voluntary Services Program and the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. The fund is administered by the General Board of Global Ministry and the General Board of Church and Society.
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines & Best Practices
With the health and safety of all members and communities of the Upper New York Conference in mind, the Conference Reopening Task Force have revised the COVID-19 guidelines.
The guidelines cover facility, worship, small group, food, and program hosting minimum standards and best-practices. Click here for a chart that outlines the minimum standards that churches should follow (the NYS guidelines) and the additional UNY recommend best practices. This chart also provides helpful resources.
How can pastors help members of their congregations who are survivors of trauma? A Trauma-Informed Approach to Pastoral Care is a pastoral care course that will provide strategies to help people who have experienced trauma, avoid retraumatization, and effectively care for yourself as well.
This Zoom course will be taught in three 90-minute sessions by Samantha Koury of the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC) at the University at Buffalo. Attending all three sessions will earn pastors 1 CEU (Continuing Education Unit).
Classes are scheduled:The dates for t
Monday January 18, 7-8:30 p.m.
Monday January 25, 7-8:30 p.m.
Monday February 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
Click here to register for this free course offering and a Zoom link will be sent to you. Questions can be addressed to Jessica Glaser at 716-425-2938 or Jessica.f.glaser@gmail.com.
Clergy: Complete Boundary Awareness Training by February 15, 2021
Boundary Awareness Training is required every 5 years of every clergy person in any active status or relationship with the Conference whose appointment is approved or set by the Bishop; every person serving as a supply pastor assigned by the District Superintendent; and retired clergy performing ministerial functions. Click here for registration instruction.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
Ministry Share Deadline Date for 2020 will be Monday, January 11, 2021. After that date, any payments received for 2020 will be reflected in 2021 listed as Prior Year Ministry Share Payments on your monthly statement.
Statistics for 2020 - The Ezra site will be opened Friday, January 1, 2021 to enter the church statistical data. The 2020 Statistical data will be due by Monday, February 15, 2021.
Local Church Audit – The 2020 annual audit of your church financial records are due to the District Superintendents on Monday, March 15, 2021, no later.
Please also share this flyer with updated information about Paid Family Leave.
EZRA IS OPEN!
There are TWO new lines this year. The first is in Table 2 – Line 46b. This line is for churches who had received a PPP Loan. The line is specifically for the amount that was used/allocated for payroll expenses.
The second line is on Table 3 – Line 54d. This line for churches who had applied and received a PPP Loan. This line IS NOT USED towards the calculation on Ministry Shares for 2022.
Deadline to enter local church data in Ezra (ezra.gcfa.org) is February 15, 2021
You may call or email Erica Wentworth, UNY Finance Support Specialist with ANY questions: ericawentworth@unyumc.org or(315) 898-2004.
Update from the UNY Safe Sanctuaries Team
Trainers ONLY
Curriculum Review via Zoom
9 AM to 1 PM Saturday, January 16, 2021
How to Deliver Safe Sanctuaries Curriculum via Zoom
9 AM to 11 AM Saturday, January 30, 2021
There are breakout rooms, icons, and a chat feature on Zoom that will help with the training. The curriculum has been reformatted to accommodate virtual training using no props. These zoom tools will be covered. Please watch your email for the link. We will also answer questions or concerns. If you have questions, send an email to:Safesanctuaries@unyumc.org
Online Safe Sanctuaries Training for ALL
The standard Safe Sanctuaries training will be held from 9 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday, February 13, 2021, via Zoom.
The training will follow the reformatted Zoom curriculum developed by the Upper New York Annual Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team, educating those involved in ministries who work with children and vulnerable adults on risks and prevention strategies related to abuse.
The training will be facilitated by Safe Sanctuaries Committee co-Chairs Arlene Schmidt and Pastor Christine Mitchell.
Today, we recommend the book, I’m Black. I’m Christian. I’m Methodist published by Abington Press last month. In this book of essays, ten Black United Methodists warn that it’s critical the denomination deal with racial issues with a sense of urgency.
The autobiographical essays key in on the varied experiences of Black United Methodists. They are people and leaders whose lives are tangible demonstrations of the power of a divine purpose and evidence of what grace really means in face of hardship, disappointment, and determination. Each of the journeys intersect because of three central elements that are the focus of this book. We’re Black. We’re Christians. We’re Methodists. Each starts with the fact, “I'm Black,” but to resolve the conflict of being Christian and Methodist means confronting aspects of White theology, White supremacy, and White racism in order to ground an oppositional experience toward domination over four centuries in America. Included are chapters on being a lesbian, a stutterer, and a Black preacher in a predominately white church.
Click here and here to read reviews of this amazing compilation of essays.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Upper New York Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, has been providing videos of helpful spiritual practices to help deepen people’s relationship to God during this difficult time.
Since the start of Advent Rev. Dibelius’s spiritual practices have been all connected to this important season in the life of the Church.
This week, she revisits the spiritual practice of guided meditation.
On December 10 Jason Moore hosted a webinar for the UNY Conference clergy that offered tips, strategies, and equipping to help the local church create a worship ministry where both in-person and online worshiping communities feel equally included and cared for.
This webinar will be available for your church leadership to view and review for 90 days.
