JOYS & CONCERNS

Please include these prayer requests in your weekly church bulletin, in your prayers during your Sunday worship if you have a time of "pastoral prayer" and keep these pastors, their families and the Church families in your prayers throughout the week.

August 4
The Olean:Trinity Church. Rev. Joan Zimmerman and her family.

August 11
The Sheridan Church.

August 18
The Sinclairville:Park Church. Pastor Joe Pascoe, his wife Leslie and their daughters Ashley, Taylor and Riley.

Please keep the family of Brother Carl Isler in your prayers. Carl died Monday, July 29, 2019, after a brief illness. Most recently he served as lay supply at Conewango Valley United Methodist Church (May 2017-November 2018). Arrangements are pending for a memorial service at East Otto United Methodist Church, Carl's home church.

Please keep the family of Rev. Jerry and Kathy Piper in your prayers. Kathy's mother, Priscilla D. Britton, 94, died Sunday, July 21. Jerry conducted a memorial service on Wednesday, July 24. If you wish to send a card or note of condolence to the Pipers, their mailing address is 2745 W. River Rd., Olean, NY, 14760.

Pastor John Green (Great Valley UMC) is working through some health issues. Please keep Pastor John and his wife Janet in your prayers.

Please keep the Lundgren family in your prayers. Dorothy Lundgren, 90, died on July 18. She was predeceased by her husband, the Rev. LeRoy Lundren, who served several Upper New York churches, including Laona, Olean: Showers, Dewittville, Hartfield in the former Western New York (WNY) Conference. She's also the mother of the Rev. Larry Lundgren (retired) who served UNY churches, including Baldwinsville, Rochester: Covenant, and others in addition to serving as the Buffalo District Superintendent in the former WNY Conference and also as the WNY Director of Connectional Ministries. A memorial service will be held in August at the convenience of the family. Condolences can be sent to Rev. Lundgren at 2873 Sanibel Circle, Baldwinsville, NY 13027.

Also be in prayer for all who are  in need of physical healing, burdened by stress, living with grief, and more.
Share Your VBS Stories!
Summer is a great time for the United Methodist Church to educate children about the love of Christ through Vacation Bible School (VBS). We'd love to hear inspiring stories about VBS programs throughout the Cornerstone District. Send us a paragraph or two about VBS at your church along with photos to [email protected] . 
NEW - Outreach at the County Fair
This week (through August 4) members of the East Randolph and Napoli United Methodist congregations are helping to satisfy our need for "fair food" at the Cattaraugus County Fair in Little Valley. Both churches consider their presence at the fair as part of their outreach ministry.

If you visit the fair, please stop by the East Randolph and/or Napoli booths and support these ministries. And thank you to members of other Catt County congregations who are giving their time and sharing Christ's love with others during fair week!
Around Our District

All are invited to Napoli UMC, 10087 Route 242, Little Valley, for the 10 a.m. worship service on August 4 featuring the ministry of Boys JIM Club campers (ages 10-13) who have been studying and training to preach, recite Scripture, sing, perform magic, ventriloquism, drama, music and more!
Ripley UMC,  84 W. Main St., will serve their monthly All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Saturday August 10. Cost is $7 for all the pancakes, sausage, bacon, made-to-order eggs and omelets, home fries, biscuits & sausage gravy, orange juice and coffee you can eat and drink! Proceeds from the August breakfast go to the Ripley Fire Auxiliary's Visit with Santa.

East Otto UMC , 7896 E. Flats Rd., will host their 10th Annual Blueberry Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 10 , at the church. Children's games & activities, a rummage sale, food (Wendle's c hicken, hamburgers and hot dogs), a bake sale and terrific live music from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Proceeds go to benefit East Otto's youth and outreach mission.
 
Machias UMC, 9735 Route 16, will be the site of a 34-week Disciple II class beginning Tuesday, September 10. Pastor Nancy Preston will teach the class, which will meet at 6:30 p.m. each week at the church. Completion of Disciple I is a prerequisite for taking the class; participants are responsible for purchasing their own books. Please contact Cindy Hull, 716-517-5576 or [email protected]. 
EVERYONE - Please Read This Notice!
New York State has mandated Sexual Harassment Policies and Sexual Harassment Prevention training for all employers. This means churches, too.
 
If your church has any of the following as staff:
Deacon
Pastor/lay pastor
Choir Director
Organist
Custodian
Child Care Worker
Church Nursery School Teacher
Sexton
Praise Band
or any others hired by your church,

New York State is requiring your church as the employer to provide them with a Sexual Harassment Policy and Sexual Harassment Prevention training by October 9, 2019 .  This is not optional. Everyone must comply. We sent notices out in Around the Corner last Fall/Winter but have heard this still is not understood by churches. Please make sure your church S/SPRC and employees are aware of this.   More Information here:
NEW - Programming for Fall, Advent?
Take Advantage of the UNY Media Resource Center
Are you a new Pastor or Christian Ed Director? Are you in a new appointment? Would you like to try something different in your church? When making plans for the fall, remember to check with the Media Resource Center for what is available to borrow before you purchase something. Your Shared Ministry dollars have already paid for the resources we have in the library, so why pay twice! Give Karen Campolieto, coordinator of the Media Resource Center, a call (315-898-2027), email her ([email protected]), or check out the online catalog.
 
What is available to borrow?
  • Sunday School Curriculum for all ages
  • Confirmation Curriculum
  • Resources on Church History/United Methodism
  • Advent/Lenten Studies
  • Resources for Leadership, Worship, Stewardship, Outreach
  • Small Group Studies on the Bible, Spiritual Formation, Faith, and Discipleship
  • Resources for Social Justice Issues and Mission
  • Studies for Men and Women
  • Small Group Studies for Parenting, Marriage, Relationships
  • Aging, Grief/Loss, and Heath/Wholeness
Click here for the latest issue of the Media Resource Center newsletter.
NEW - Not the Media Resource Center...
In advance of every new quarter, Cokesbury sends the District office single copies of its Sunday school curriculum (pre-school through adult) including a One Room Sunday school kit (a reproducible kid's book, ages 3-12; leader's guide; and resource pack with DVD). We have just received the Fall 2019 materials. If you or your church are interested in or has a need for these materials, please call or stop by the District office. We will be happy to have these materials put to good use!
ATTENTION! All Course of Study Students
The deadline to register for the Fall Weekend of the Upper New York Satellite School - Friday, September 20 - will be here before you know it. 

Please remember that once you complete the registration form it has two "stops" to make before it can be sent to Wesley Seminary:
  1. The District office; once Suzanne signs the form, we mail it to
  2. The COS Registrar; once Betsy O'Flynn signs it, she sends it to Wesley.
Please do not send the registration form directly to Wesley; you cannot be registered for a class without the required signatures. Please send your registration form to the District office as far in advance as possible to ensure that you meet the September 20 deadline for Fall Weekend classes.

For more information about Upper New York's COS, including the registration form, click on this link: http://www.unyumc.org/ministries/course-of-study-satellite-school.
NEW - Change in Distribution of
Clergy Compensation Information
Please be aware that the Benefits Office no longer mails out printed "Setting the Pastor's Compensation" packets to clergy or S/SPRC chairs. All materials are sent by email to clergy and S/SPRC chairs; the information also is available on the UNY conference website. This material will be emailed/available in August.
 
This is another reason for churches to provide the District office with an accurate Local Church-UNYAC Leadership Interface Form.
 
Please call or email the District office if you have had a change in S/SPRC chair within the last year so that we can update the conference database.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Transforming Church Conflict &
Creating Space for Authentic Community
What Is This? A 2-session retreat on transforming conflict for United Methodist clergy and servant leaders of the Upper New York Conference
 
Time & Place:  
Western Series at Asbury Camp & Retreat Center, sponsored by the Mountain View District, Rev. Nancy Adams, District Superintendent
  •  Session One - September 18 & 19, 2019 (W/Th)
  •  Session Two -October 9 & 10, 2019 (W/Th)
Eastern Series at Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center, sponsored by the Northern  Flow District, Rev. Mike Weeden, District Superintendent
  •  Session One - September 25 & 26, 2019 (W/Th)                           
  •  Session Two- October 16 & 17, 2016 (W/Th) 
* Cost:  
West: Early Registration - $626  
After August 15 - $676*                  
 
East: Early Registration - $562 
After August 15-$612*                   

*Please contact your District Superintendent for information about any subsidies being offered.

Maximum # of Participants / Series: 20

Content: 
The first session introduces Transformative Conflict Theory, spiritual practices to ground participants in the face of conflict, and skills & strategies for responding to conflict. 
The second session reviews the theory and skills in session #1, then introduces new concepts and skills used to facilitate participation in the heated church meeting. Methodology includes lecture, individual reflection, discussion, concept & skill development exercises, & role plays. 

Click here for a flyer; click here to register for the retreat.
Opportunities for Learning

"Wesley Revealed" at UM House
The United Methodist House, located at 14 Pratt Ave. on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution, is pleased to announce a  weekly series at 7 p.m. on Thursdays through  August 23.

Dr. Richard Heitzenrater, a professor at Duke Divinity School and longtime friend of the UM House, will speak on a different topic each week (download  schedule of topics).  For information about parking and access to Chautauqua, please call  Rev. Carmen Perry, 716-357-4045.
Disciple I  is being offered by David Pritchard and Paul Winkleman beginning  Monday, August 5 , from  6-7:30 p.m.  This is a  34-week Bible study . Meetings will be done online through ZOOM with no requirement to meet in person; a reliable internet connection is required.

If you have questions or wish to register, please contact Pastor David Pritchard,  [email protected].

Tending the Soul, open to both laity and clergy, is a program designed to train individuals in Missional Spiritual Direction and Congregational Formation. The two-year training program (which takes place during six retreats) offers learning and formational experiences in classroom and small group settings.

The Rev. Tim Phelps, Chaplain of Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, took the TTS training from 2012-2014. This is what he has to say about the training:

"Since 2006 I have served in extension ministry as a hospice chaplain. My experience with Tending the Soul 2012-2014, affirmed and clarified my calling to end of life ministry. It named and gave a deeper understanding of what I was already doing in the area of Spiritual Direction, which is listening deeply to the individual and noticing the ways in which God is present in their life. I strongly recommend this two-year training to anyone who wants to learn more about Spiritual Direction, becoming more aware of the presence of God in their life, and in the life of others."

Click here to learn more about the 2019-2020 Tending the Soul Training, which begins Nov. 11-14, 2019.

SAVE THE DATES: Lay Servant Ministries Fall Training is scheduled October 18-19 at East Randolph UMC. Watch for details & registration information.

*****
Calling Prospective CLMs!
The four-module  Certified Lay Minister  (CLM) training (approximately 8 hours per module) will be offered in the Cornerstone District in the near future. We hope to have a schedule for the training very soon!

Please click here to read more about  CLM . Then, if you or someone in your church is interested in this training to please call or email the district office (716-665-2423,  [email protected] ).
Please Share What
the Youth in Your Church are Doing!

Fredonia 1st UMC Promotes Collaboration to Support Summer Programming for Area Youth
Fredonia First United Methodist Church's youth director June Ruckman and Cherry Creek United Methodist Church youth leader Pattie Lukaszewski have been working with Taylor Gates from Christ Community Church in Fredonia to provide opportunities for children, youth and families in the area to know, love and serve others, the community and God. To read more about what they have been doing, please click here.
General Conference 2020 Petition Submission Process Opens
Petitions for consideration by the 2020 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary now through September 18, 2019.

According to church law, "Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference...."

Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website at umc.org/gcpetition. Petitions must be typed and may be submitted through the General Conference website, by postal mail or fax, or via e-mail to [email protected]. This e-mail address should be used for petition submission only. All other correspondence should be directed to [email protected].
UPDATE - Ways to Help UNY Mission Central HUB
The Upper New York Mission Central HUB is focusing on the desperate need for hygiene kits around the world in places such as the transition shelters along the U.S. Mexico border.

Throughout the summer, the UNY Mission Central HUB is collecting monetary and supply donations to assemble UMCOR hygiene kits. Those who send in a donation, will have a "hand" placed on our "world."

Click here for a fun video visual of this campaign.

Click here to make a donation. 
NEW - Searching for a Church Home
The District office has received two reversible (purple/green), never-used pulpit scarves. They are from the R.J. Toomey. If your church could use one or both of these paraments, please call (716-665-2423) or email ( [email protected]) the District office.
DON'T FORGET!
New Places for New People Campaign Continues Through November 1.
Every individual who makes a gift of $100 or more will receive a button like the one pictured. Congregations that give at least $500 will receive a certificate recognizing them as a "New Places for New People"Partner Church. Churches should list Advance Special #664 in the memo line of their checks; individuals should write "New Places for New People" in the memo line of their checks.

The "New Places for New People" Partners campaign is underway until November 1. Click here for toolkit resources to promote the "New Places for New People" partnership. 
Important Dates For Your Calendar!

August 5
Disciple I via ZOOM begins. Contact Pastor David Pritchard for details:
[email protected]

September 2
Cornerstone District Office CLOSED in observance of Labor Day

September 12
Fall Pastors' Gathering
Christ First UMC, 663 Lakeview Ave., Jamestown

September 18
District Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM)
Bemus Point UMC, 4954 Bemus-Ellery Rd.

September 20
Registration deadline for COS Fall Weekend at UNY Conference Center in Liverpool

September 23-24
One-on-One Pastoral Conversations 
Christ First UMC, 663 Lakeview Ave., Jamestown

September 25-26
One-on-One Pastoral Conversations
Christ UMC, 633 Linwood Ave., Olean

October 3
One-on-One Pastoral Conversations
Christ First UMC, 663 Lakeview Ave., Jamestown

October 6
Installation Service for DS Suzanne Block
4 p.m., Christ UMC, 633 Linwood Ave., Olean

October 7-8
One-on-One Pastoral Conversations
Christ First UMC, 663 Lakeview Ave., Jamestown

October 18-19
COS Fall Weekend
UNY Conference Center, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool

October 18-19
Lay Servant Ministries Fall Training
East Randolph UMC, 122 Church St.

October 22-24
Bishop's Retreat
RIT Inn & Conference Center, 5257 W. Henrietta Rd., Henrietta
REMINDER - When You Get a Call from the District Office
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 . 



Rev. Suzanne Block
District Superintendent

Rich Preston
District Lay Leader
[email protected]

Cathy Hall
Administrative Assistant
716-665-2423
[email protected]