Albany District and Conference News
July 15, 2021
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"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future."
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Please share with us how your church is making disciples for the transformation of the world!
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Please keep the Rev. Greg DeSalvatore, currently serving Cicero UMC, in your prayers. Rev. DeSalvatore suffered a massive heart attack over the July 4th weekend and is currently in the ICU in a medically-induced coma.
The Rev. Erik Smith is now residing at Kingsway Community, Room 211, 323 Kings Rd., Schenectady, NY 12304. Cards and prayers would be appreciated.
The Rev. Alan Rhodes is recuperating from a second stroke. You can send cards of care and concern to Alan at 3019 Spawn Rd., Schenectady, NY 12303.
Please also pray for:
Rev. Dr. Camillus Mourice, who is having a lot of pain and problems with his knees, and also for his wife Clementine Mourice, who has health issues.
Pastor Brenda Tompkins and husband Rob, as Rob continues to battle with cancer. Cards can be sent to 148 Second Ave., Mechanicville, NY 12118.
Rev. Judy Humphrey-Fox and her husband Tim.
If you'd like prayer for yourself or others, or you'd like to share a joy, please be in touch with Carrie (518) 608-1246 or albanydistrict@unyumc.org
Please know that we will need to contact folks to be sure they feel comfortable with us publishing their information.If you'd like prayer for yourself or others, or you'd like to share a joy, please be in touch with Carrie (518) 480-4866 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org
Please know that we will need to contact folks to be sure they feel comfortable with us publishing their information.
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Dismantling racism:
What are Freedom Fridays?
The UMC is leading a sustained and coordinated effort to actively engage in the ministry of dismantling racism and promoting racial justice. The UNY Conference Communications team will regularly share worship, advocacy, and educational resources to help with this important campaign.
Recently, Resource UMC highlighted Freedom Fridays as a good advocacy tool.
Click here to learn how your church can make every Friday a Freedom Friday. This session will highlight how congregations are using Freedom Friday to advance social justice and impact awareness as a way to have fresh expressions for engaging youth, young adults. Freedom Friday will also close out with a surprise nationally recognized formerly incarcerated who is now one of America’s most popular person.
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Executive Committee of the Northeastern Jurisdiction
Native American Ministries Committee
joined with the NAIC's Call to Action stated in their Children's Advocacy Letter
In response to the announcement in May 2021 that the remains of 215 Indigenous children had been found on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Ottawa Canada, the Native American International Caucus of the United Methodist Church (NAIC) sent a letter to the Bishops of The United Methodist Church calling for October 6, 2021, to be "the day that we United Methodists move from remembering to taking action to live further into our commitment of repentance and reconciliation" through A Call to Action. The Executive Committee of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee joined with the NAIC's Call to Action.
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Free Discipleship Resources!
Click here for the latest issue of Discipleship Ministries' Equipping Disciples Newsletter.
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Discover Your Spiritual Gifts!
We all have a mixture of gifts that work together and give each of us a unique way to contribute to ministry.
Take the assessment to discover your primary and supporting gifts today!
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Connecting with spiritual seekers |
As a church leader, you know your church should be reaching out to spiritual seekers. But how do you reach out to them? Who are seekers and what do they care about?
A survey of U.S. spiritual “seekers” ages 25-49, conducted by Barna Group on behalf of United Methodist Communications found willingness to visit a United Methodist Church rose to 42 percent in 2019 among U.S. adults seeking more spirituality in their lives and who are aware of the denomination. That's up from 28 percent in 2017.
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Looking back to move forward |
For congregations with deep roots in their communities, history can be either a great teacher or a severe burden. Four churches located across the U.S. share the ways their histories are informing their ministries today and their plans for the future. |
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What's New from the Conference |
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Being a Korean pastor in Caucasian congregations
The Rev. Dr. Moon Ho Kim has been a United Methodist pastor for over two decades. He has been part of the Upper New York Conference since its inception, most recently pastoring at Gloversville: Foothills UMC before retiring this year.
Dr. Kim is Korean; his congregations have been predominantly Caucasian. In the 2021 Issue I of the Advocate, with the theme “celebrating who we are,” Dr. Kim wrote a fascinating article about how the cross-cultural context of Korean Americans serving as pastors of predominantly Caucasian congregations is in many ways comparable to the Apostle Paul’s ministry example.
Click here to read the full article, which opens with a humorous personal anecdote.
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UNY CONAM advocates and educates about missing and murdered indigenous women and girls
Did you know that the murder rate of Native women is more than 10 times the national average on some reservations and homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native women and girls and 10-24 years of age? And that often, these disappearances or murders are connected to crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking?
The Upper New York Conference Committee on Native American Ministries shared an article in the 2021 Issue I of the Advocate about this along with how you can take action against these injustices.
The theme of this issue of the Advocate, is “Celebrating who we are.” CONAM’s advocacy work is something to celebrate! Click here to read their article.
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PLEASE Consider Subscribing to the Following Links
These will keep you updated on all the news coming from the Conference.
UNY-Notes are targeted email blasts:
· From the Desk of Bishop Webb
· Alerts
· Announcements
· Prayer Requests
· Death Notices
· Camp & Retreat
Weekly Digest- will be sent every Wednesday. It will contain a round-up of that week’s UNY Notes, along with feature articles, direct links to several “hot spots” on the Conference website, photos, and more.
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News Links From the Conference
If you want to keep in the know of what is happening in the Upper New York Conference and the United Methodist Church please consider these links.
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The HUB at UNY Conference Center
Contacts:
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Please note that there is a new type of phishing-scheme email that has been received in multiple inboxes throughout the Upper New York (UNY) Conference. The email will look as though it is from someone you know in the UNY Conference and will show their actual email address. The text will ask you to link to a DocuSign document. DO NOT OPEN THIS DOCUMENT! It contains a virus. It is not truly from the person in the “From” address.
If you have any questions or concerns about this phishing scheme, contact Doug Thomas, UNY IT Manager, at dougthomas@unyumc.org.
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What's New from the Lewis Center |
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Staffing when you
can’t afford to staff
Dan Hotchkiss explains how congregations can build their staffs by “hiring” unpaid volunteers. He explains how this approach can make fuller use of a volunteer’s talent and energy while also creating a more unified reporting and decision-making structure.
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Leaders don't need
all the answers
Clay Scroggins writes that authentic leaders are comfortable letting others know they don’t have all the answers. Maximizing your influence requires that you resist the attraction of false certainty.
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Fall Adult Book Study
Plattsburgh and Three Steeples United Methodist Churches.
Join us for our first book of the season: The Forgotten Creed - Christianity's Original Struggle Against Bigotry, Slavery and Sexism by Stephen Patterson.
Mondays at 7 p.m.
Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
On ZOOM!
Beginning September 20 and 22 and running through November 1 and 3.
Facilitated by Rev. Phil Richards and Rev. Sally White.
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New Opportunity to Grow with Your Online/Digital Discipleship!
Your district superintendent has purchased a one-year membership for your continuing education on Digital Discipleship! This subscription is available to your church teams and volunteers who want to learn how to make the most of your online ministry.
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Register now for 2021 summer camp & retreat programs
The Upper New York Camp & Retreat Ministry is excited to share their 2021 summer camp and retreat programs with you! All five sites will be offering a variety of programs. Summer camp provides endless laughter, meaningful worship, and important friendships. Retreats provide a unique experience in a beautiful setting.
Get excited about Skye Farm Camp & Retreat Center!
Click here to watch Skye Farm’s 2021 Summer Welcome video.
Questions? Call the site or the UNY CRM Central Office at 315-898-2026.
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Skye Farm seeks summer staff |
Skye Farm Camp is looking for summer staff! Camping ministries offer a unique and powerful opportunity for kids this summer to get outside and reconnect with God and with each other after a long and challenging school year. You can help make this happen! Skye Farm is especially in need of counselors as well as nursing staff to cover 4.5 weeks of summer camp. Food, lodging, training, and lots of fun all come with a paid or volunteer position at camp. If you would like more information, contact Hannah Lasher at hannah@campsandretreats.org or call the camp office at (518) 494-7170.
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Updated COVID guidelines
Following the announcement from Governor Andrew Cuomo that most New York State COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions have been lifted now that there is a 70% vaccination one-dose rate for persons 18 and older in the state, Church COVID-19 Guidelines have been updated on the Conference website.
Click here to review the updated Church COVID-19 Guidelines.
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Mission Insite free to churches |
Mission Insite is a web-based demographics provider for local church use. In planning ministry, it is important to know the context.
Mission Insite provides demographic data that is updated on a regular basis and the reports are user friendly to the novice or experienced demographer.
The reports are free to the local church because the Annual Conferences is under contract with Mission Insite. But in order to access the website you will need to register your local church.
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Start the day with Debbie
Our District Superintendent Debbie Earthrowl shares a devotion via Facebook Live at 7:30 AM every Monday through Saturday. The devotions are also posted on her Facebook page and our District Facebook page, so you can tune in at any time. I personally find this an inspirational way to start my day. I trust you will, as well. To view, click here:
or
Blessings to all,
Carrie B
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Attention All Youth Leaders!
Do you have youth with a zest for life, a love for God, and the potential to lead?
CCYM (Conference Council on Youth Ministry) has openings for 3 young people from the Albany District. You must be going into 7th - 12th grade for the 2021-22 school year.
For more information about CCYM, and/or to request an application, please email Laura Clark, Albany District Youth Coordinator, at LLC1129@yahoo.com.
You can also learn more about CCYM and other youth opportunities by visiting the Upper New York Conference website. Click CCYM under "Ministries".
The direct link to CCYM is here:
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Don't miss out on news articles that have run in the past. There are many resources you may be interested in. |
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Albany District
of the Upper New York Conference
Rev. Deborah (Debbie) Earthrowl
District Superintendent
Ellen Mall-John
Albany District Lay Leader and District Associate
Carrie Boyer
Minister of Administration
Our office is located in the Newtonville UMC
568 Loudon Rd, Latham, NY 12110
Mailing Address:
PO Box 511, Newtonville, NY 12128
(518) 608-1246
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