AROUND THE CORNER
Information for and about our District
October 15, 2020 | Issue 101520
Together in Prayer
Please keep these pastors, their families and the Church families in your prayers throughout the week:

October 18
Olean:Trinity & River's Edge UMCs
Pastor Dawn Quesenberry, her husband Michael and their family.

October 25
Delevan & West Valley:St. Paul's UMCs
Pastor Candy Scarem, her husband Shannon and their family.

November 1
Dunkirk First UMC
Darlene Meeder and her family.

To download the 2020-2021 District Prayer Calendar, click here.
Pastor Appreciation In the age of the Covid-19 pandemic, showing gratitude to ours pastors may need to look differently than past years. Fellowship lunches and hugs are out, gift cards and car parades are in.

Here are ideas for how to say "thank you" that ensure everyone stays safe.
Napoli UMC, 10087 Route 242, Little Valley, is having an Election Day Dinner (take out ONLY) on Tuesday, November 3. Beef stew & biscuits, coleslaw & choice of pie (apple, pumpkin or berry) for $8. Pick up from 4:30-7 pm or until sold out. To order call 716-938-6974 or 716-938-9237.
Things to Know About
COVID-19 Charge Conference

  1. This is a Charge Conference, not a Church Conference. Attendance is limited to Committee Chairs.
  2. An elder has been assigned to preside at your Charge Conference. If s/he hasn't already, that person will be contacting your pastor to schedule.
  3. The meeting will follow an abbreviated agenda. Voting must be done by voice/raised hand - no paper ballots.

To see a calendar of Charge Conferences scheduled to date, click here.

Reports are due in the District office two weeks prior to your scheduled Charge Conference. You may make an appointment to drop off reports on Mondays or Thursdays; email to cornerstonedistrict@unyumc.org; send to the office at PO Box 842, Jamestown, NY, 14702.
Each Charge Conference needs a Recording Secretary. This year is no exception. Please assign a recording secretary. This can be the regular Church Council secretary or an alternate. They should have the Charge Conference minutes form and attendance sheet printed out in advance.

  1. Fill in the attendance sheet with each person at the meeting.
  2. Fill in the minutes form during the Charge Conference. At the conclusion, sign the minutes form.3
  3. Make arrangements to get the minutes form to the Pastor for his/her signature.
  4. Mail or email the signed form and attendance to the Cornerstone District Office.

Questions? Please call or email the District office, 716-665-2423 or cornerstonedistrict@unyumc.org.
The Adirondack District is offering two workshops via ZOOM led by Rev. Nancy Dibelius, UNY Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life. Anyone is welcome to register.

Using Spiritual Gifts- Wednesday, Oct. 21 10 - 11:30 am (geared toward clergy and church leaders)
How do you understand spiritual gifts? Explore how to use spiritual gifts in your congregation as part of discipling them, a way to help them grow and live more fully into their own unique giftedness while doing so in a way that helps your local church grow and develop. Class size limited to 12 participants. Register with Carrie Boyer, (518) 480-4866 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org

Basic Prayer Class - Saturday, Oct. 31
10 - 11:30 am (geared toward laity)
Are you uncomfortable when someone asks you to pray out loud? Join us to explore how to design a basic prayer that will offer a framework that can be used in almost any setting. It can be used for many different types of prayer and will offer you the confidence to lead groups in your local congregation. Class size limited to 12 participants. Register with Carrie Boyer, (518) 480-4866 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org.
The Commission on Equitable Compensation has issued guidelines and application forms for salary grants to local churches for the period January to June 2021. Salary grants are available only to churches with a pastor under full-time appointment. 
 
To apply for salary assistance from the Equitable Compensation Fund, applicants should review the policies and procedures in the application document for guidance, and then complete the application according to the directions provided. Completed applications should be submitted to your District Superintendent by the October 19, 2020 deadline.
 
Click here for more information and the application.
Suzanne's October Message
  • COVID-19 Pandemic – the journey continues with increasing cases and deaths
  • Racial Injustice, riots and increased violence
  • An increase in suicides, depression, addictions, homelessness, fear, food insecurity, fake news, loss of jobs, anxiety, frustration, weariness
  • The uncertainty of the United Methodist Church
  • Lack of respect, lack of kindness
  • Natural disasters in our country and around the world
  • Upcoming Presidential election
  • Divisions in our church and in our country
How are you feeling right at this moment? I have been feeling heavy of heart. Lots of tears have been shed. Numerous questions have been asked. Many prayers have been lifted. Much time has been spent in silence. Listening.

Colossians 3:12-15 (English Standard Version)
“12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

We are chosen by God for this new life of love and as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.
You have been chosen by God! I have been chosen by God! We have been chosen by God. (Continue reading by clicking here.)
Would you like to report to your local church the results from the 2020 virtual Upper New York Annual Conference? We have made that task easy for you. Click here for notes referencing all that occurred at the 2020 UNY Service of Commissioning and Ordination held on October 2, 2020 and Annual Conference Session held on October 3, 2020.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, churches across our Conference have been learning how to use digital platforms to increase discipleship. While digital discipleship has been effective for many years, it is currently becoming necessary to keep everyone’s safety in mind.

On October 13 the Rev. B.J. Norrix, lead pastor for the Syracuse United Methodist ministries, led a webinar on how he was able to increase giving at Erwin United Methodist Church using Tithe.ly. If you missed that webinar, click here to check it out.

Two more digital discipleship webinars are on the calendar:

Tuesday October 27 at 6 p.m., Lori Jagow, Online Minister for Pendleton Center UMC, will be teaching folks how to use Facebook to increase digital discipleship.

Thursday, November 5 at 6 p.m., the Rev. Rachel Barnhart, pastor at Broad Street UMC, will be teaching about increasing discipleship through using Zoom as a platform for House Churches.

Click here to attain Zoom links for the upcoming webinars.
The East Randolph United Methodist Church has received a great blessing from the Farmers to Family USDA program. Farmers to Family is sending 1,000 boxes of fresh food to Randolph to distribute to those in need. Distribution will take place beginning at 11 am on Saturday, October 17 & 24 at the Register Graphics parking lot, 220 Main Street in Randolph.

Please help get the word out to bless as many people as possible. The folks at ERUMC are hoping to do more than deliver food - they want to offer Christ's love through prayer, joy and maybe some music while connecting with the community.

Holly Evans Brown is the point person for this effort, 716-969-0493.
The October Issue 2 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 shares the news from the livestreamed UNY Conference ordination service on October 2 as well as the secure livestreamed Annual Conference on October 3.
THE MONTH AHEAD
October 16-17, Course of Study (Zoom)
October 17, Food for Those in Need, 11 am, 220 Main St., Randolph
October 18, Laity Sunday
Laity Sunday celebrates the ministry of all Christians as their lives are empowered for ministry by the Holy Spirit.
October 24, Food for Those in Need, 11 am, 220 Main St., Randolph
October 26, Regional Operations Team, 9-11 am (Zoom)
October 26, District Leadership Team (DLT), 5:30 pm (Zoom)
November 1, Appointment Advisory forms (Pastor's & SPPRC), Pastor/SPPRC Covenant Form due in District office
November 3, Election Day Dinner (carry out ONLY), Napoli UMC, 4:50-7 pm or until sold out, call 716-938-6974 or 716-938-9237 to order.
November 4, Pastors' Mini Retreat guided by DLT, 9-11 am (Zoom)
November 10, District Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM), 9 am-1:30 pm, Christ First UMC, Jamestown
Once you've made an appointment to visit the District office, please complete this form and bring it with you.
DON'T FORGET!
Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy & Training
Required of all NYS employers/employees. There are various free or low-cost online sexual harassment prevention trainings available to your employees. Click here to learn more. If you have questions on this topic, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at tracyrickett@unyumc.org or (315) 898-2017.

Boundary Training 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.

Visiting the District Office
In-person visits are limited to Mondays & Thursdays and must be scheduled in advance. Please call (716-665-2423) or email to schedule.

UNY and NYS guidelines (masks, maintaining social distance, completing the Health questionnaire) are observed in the office, which operates remotely on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
CCYM FALL EVENTS
The UNY Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) is sponsoring Work Days at Conference Camp/Retreat Centers this month.

Each Work Day will begin at 10 am. Masks are required for all attendees and social distancing is required between youth groups. In addition helping spruce up the grounds at each location, the day will include lunch and worship and will conclude at around 4 pm.

Cost is $20 per person. To see the schedule and registration information, please click here.
Opportunites for Training, Enrichment
The UNY Conference Commission on Religion & Race (CCORR) is planning more opportunities to train people as INR facilitators to lead new small groups. The one-day training will be on Zoom. Please contact the District office if interested.

Opportunities for Lay Servant training are being held in other Districts (in person and Zoom) Contact information is included with each class or contact the host District.
BASIC LAY SERVANT CLASS
October 19, 22, 26 & 29, 5:30-8:30 pm via Zoom
Hosted by Adirondack District, adschmidt@nycap.rr.com

November 7, 8:30 am through November 8, 11 am
Hosted by Genesee Valley District at Asbury Camp & Retreat Center.

UM Communications Online Training Courses
Affordable, on-demand courses created to support local church ministry. Explore courses here.

Is your small group meeting virtually? For many studies, you can download books, study guides and more at Cokesbury as well as streaming videos by subscription at Amplify Media. Explore all Amplify Media has to offer with a free 14-day trial! 
Spend a Day Apart at Camp
Renew your spirit in the Great Outdoors and gather with others to connect with God at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center's Day Apart 9:30 am-3:30 pm retreats.

October 20, Grief into Joy

Each Day Apart will begin by the Lakeside Chapel, weather permitting. Lunch is included in the $25 per event cost. Bring your bible, journal, and pen. Register by contacting Anne Horton, annehorton@casowasco.org.

Asbury Camp & Retreat Center also is offering times this fall set aside for worship, listening, sharing, and being in the presence of God.The retreats, from 9 am-3 pm each day, are led by UNY certified UNY Spiritual Director, Bonnie Kreutter. 

October 22, Bearing Fruit and More Fruit
November 17, Putting it All Together
 
The events are each $25 per person and include lunch.
If you want to register or have questions, call 585-237-5262 or email info@asburyuny.org.
CORNERSTONE DISTRICT [cornerstonedistrict.com]