No doubt your church is planning to honor fathers on Fathers' Day (Sunday, June 16).

The General Commission on United Methodist Men is urging churches to consider using that day as an occasion to celebrate "Men's Ministry Sunday." 

While some men may never have children of their own, they provide guidance to children and youth as scoutmasters, sponsors of youth organizations, big brothers in Big Brothers Big Sisters, school mentors, or a score of other ways.

All men should be celebrated, and Fathers' Day may be the perfect time to do so.

And here's an opportunity  to test your knowledge about fathers and some of the men who shaped The United Methodist Church. We encourage you to share the link with friends, too, so you can compare scores later.

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 . 

**If you have a graduate in your family and would like to share that information (name, school graduating from, future plans) with the district office, please email us at [email protected] .

Whether traveling overseas or around the corner, starting a new job or a new family, we embark on all kinds of journeys. Life itself can be a long and winding road, but as Christians, a life dedicated to God is not one defined by standing still, and our faith assures us that we will never travel that road alone.

Titled "A Song of Ascents" in Scripture, Psalm 121 marks life's journeys. The sacred song is believed to have been sung by pilgrims traveling the ancient road to Jerusalem but, over the ages, has become known to many by a more familiar name: "The Traveler's Psalm." The words serve as a guide for the journey and a reminder God is watching over us every step of the way.

Reading secondhand reports from a business session of annual conference may be the ideal sleep aid. The endless stream of motions, petitions and amendments are far from the hymns and sermons associated with the experience of church.

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 . 

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.