Mohawk District E-newsletter for Churches and Pastors
June 2, 2021
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(This photo was taken prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We believe
we will be able to safely gather together again one day.)
A Time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
Ecclesiastes 3:5
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Missed the District Roundtable on VBS?
This May 26th session was
recorded. Please contact
the office to have the link emailed to you.
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District Prayer Focus
Week of June 6
VanHornesville UMC
&
West Winfield: Federated Church
Pastor James Barnes
&
Pastor Ken McKenzie
the 2020-21 Prayer Calendar
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District E-newsletters
To subscribe to the news-letter, send us your email address. To submit news
for this publication, send it a minimum of eight days in advance to:
To catch up on past e-newsletters visit the Conference website at:
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Annual Conference 2021
The 12th Session will take place virtually June 17-19, 2021. The Upper New York Conference is working with Good News TV Media Ministry to provide a positive virtual experience.
Who attends: Clergy and lay representatives to the Annual Conference Session
When is Annual Conference: June 17-19, 2021
Where will Annual Conference Take Place: Virtually
Registration Deadline: Is now passed. No registration is available. You may view the Annual Conference streaming online on the Conference website.
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Earlier this month, pre-conference trainings took place on the technical components of Annual Conference. Click here to view a training.
For All Annual Conference Attendees
There is an additional training for annual conference at 10 a.m., June 16, with different information and participants will use their personal ID number sent to you in advance. As mentioned the session will be different than the previous pre-Conference trainings in that it focuses purely on the technical components of Annual Conference and you will use your actual personal ID number that will be sent to you from GNTV prior to the training. This will be great practice to become accustomed to the format of Annual Conference, which begins on June 17. Click here at 10 a.m. on June 16 to join the training.
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Digital Discipleship Assistance for your church
from Superintendent Rev. Abel Roy
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Dear Mohawk District:
Hello and Welcome!
Your Superintendent Rev. Abel Roy 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.
When you decided to go into ministry, you probably didn't realize you would need to make the shift to online or what it would take to reach new people in your community. Pastors are among the group that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress of not knowing what to do is too much for most—this stress is common. Every church leader is facing similar frustrations.
This comprehensive program has SOLUTIONS for you! The lockdowns will change, but the future will never be the same as the pre-pandemic past. Digital connections are even more critical for delivering the Gospel.
Member Benefits
· Video Courses on Digital Discipleship
· Ongoing Support
· Discounted Individual Consultation (First Session only $25)
· Free EBook
· Free Resources
· Peer Support
· Clergy Networking
· Monthly Live Q&A
Each month, you will have the opportunity to engage in a Live video with Q&A that will cover everything you need to reach and keep more guests, both in-person and online.
You'll discover principles and systems that will work for any church, not just for the megachurch, but any size church!
PLUS... each presentation will be available to you after the classes are over. This on-demand access is included with your exclusive group membership!
TO ACTIVATE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
GO TO THE FACEBOOK Digital Discipleship Education You will need to request to join the group. Don't forget to invite your team members by sharing this link with them!
Attached to this email, you will find everything you need to get started in digital ministry! A Free Ebook on Making Digital Disciples, Digitial Discipleship brochure, and a QuickStart to Digital Discipleship Facebook Group.
TRAINING TOPICS
• Simple Online Worship
• Growing Your Online Ministry
• Build an Easy Website
• Livestreaming
• Photography
• Assimilation
• Holiday Campaigns
• Online Engagement
and more
LAUNCH INTO THE DEEP
With a greater need for technology and billions of people searching online for answers to life's problems, the times are challenging us to have the faith to launch out into new uncharted and deep waters.
Learn to use social media the way it was intended, and
discover that when we step out in faith, like the apostle Peter, our nets will nearly break
once we cast into the deep.
Sincerely,
Lori Jagow,
(716) 909-8329
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Ingredients for Effective Preaching
by Pastor Gary Spraker
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"God brings the Power, but we are called upon by Him to initiate action. In order to communicate from the pulpit with effectiveness, we must first know the people in our congregations. This sounds so simple and self-evident, but knowing our people is more difficult than it seems. We are not talking about a superficial knowledge, but a deep, spiritual-level knowledge that we only achieve through spiritual discernment." |
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Safe Sanctuaries ZOOM Training: June 12
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The Upper New York Annual Conference will host Basic Safe Sanctuaries training via ZOOM, 9 AM - 12:30 PM, Saturday, June 12, 2021.
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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, youth and vulnerable adults on risks and prevention strategies related to abuse.
You must REGISTER for the training. If you register and are no longer able to attend we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can fill your spot with someone else who is waiting to take the training.
The training is facilitated by Safe Sanctuaries Certified Trainers.
Click on the link to register:
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Small Group Training with Rev. Dan Finch
Registration is now open
A Small Group Training with Rev. Dan Finch takes place August 6-7 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Whitesboro. Times are 6-9 p.m. Friday, August 6th, and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, August 7th. The cost will be $20, which includes travel for Rev. Finch and lunch on Saturday. Send names of participants, church name, contact address, email, phone number, and a check payable to UNY Conference with $20 registration fee per person to:
Mohawk District, 105 Genesee St., New Hartford, NY 13413.
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2021 Mission u! hosted by the Upper
New York United Methodist Women
and United Methodist Church is coming
July 22 through 24. Check it out!
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There’s far more than here than meets the eye and we hope you’ll join us this summer for the 2021 Mission u! Hosted by the Upper New York United Methodist Women and United Methodist Church, this virtual study program will be presented Thursday evening, July 22, through Saturday afternoon, July 24.
The program will feature group worship and plenary sessions and the participant’s choice of three different study options. A special mission presentation will be offered by Hope House in Utica, N.Y.
Registration is $25, with a special fee of $15 for first-timers. Scholarships are available. The fee should not be an obstacle. Register by July 5. Classes filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mission u is a transformative education program that offers studies on several different topics and is open to everyone—not just women.
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Save the Date: District Day with Bishop Webb
for Laity and Clergy September 25
An outdoor or partially outdoor District Day on the CenterPoint Christian Fellowship (UMC) campus for all laity and clergy will take place morning and afternoon September
25th, with Bishop Webb joining in.
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Morning Star UMC in Frankfort Presents Car Show June 5
The Motor-In Methodists of Acme Rd. Second Annual Car Show and Chicken BBQ will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 5, at Morning Star Church, 4224 Acme Rd., Frankfort. There will be entertainment and food during the show.
The registration fee for cars is $10/car with judging at 2 p.m. and prizes awarded at 3 p.m.
A chicken BBQ dinner, with chicken prepared by Butch Parese, will be available from noon until sold out, take out only. The dinner cost is $12 and includes 1/2 chicken, salt potatoes, cole slaw, baked beans, roll and dessert.
All proceeds benefit the Morning Star Church of Ilion and Frankfort.
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Local Church is Sharing a Gift
from God to Bless Others
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Trinity UMC in Whitesboro recently received a gift of new work clothes from a uniform supply company going out of business. There are dress pants, dress shirts, Dickies, golf shirts, jeans, etc. Everything is brand new clothing. If you know of a ministry that could use it, please contact: Pastor.cory.jones@gmail.com
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“Expanding the Table,” a new video podcast series from the General Commission on Religion and Race, debuted June 1, 2021. Series guests will focus on how individual Christians and church-based entities can and should engage the work of racial justice-making and anti-racism.
Guests for the first podcast—titled “Racism, Police Reform and Faith”—are the Rev. Kirk Lyons of Brooklyn, N.Y., and the Rev. Jeremy Wicks of Traverse City, Michigan. Both United Methodist pastors are leading community-wide conversations and demonstrations that call attention to implicit and explicit racial bias experienced by Black and Brown people at the hands of police officers. Both are bringing together church, community, and law-enforcement members to seek solutions.
The Commission’s interim General Secretary, M. Garlinda Burton, says the new podcast series will offer a deeper understanding of how racism harms both the church and society at large and how anti-racism and racial justice function as an expression of Christian discipleship.
“‘Expanding the Table’ explains how people of faith can foster and practice anti-racism from the lens of followers of Christ. Religious and civic leaders will share practices and experiences that will inform and inspire Christians to live out their faith and bring the Word of God to bear on championing human and civil rights for all people,” Burton added.
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UNY Conference Offers New Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated
In accordance with New York State guidelines, churches now have the option to allow fully vaccinated individuals to attend in-person services without a mask. If a church makes this decision, great care should be taken for children and others who do not yet have the option to be vaccinated. It is recommended to always error on the side of caution. This may include creating vaccinated and unvaccinated seating sections, worshiping outdoors when able, asking all individuals to continue to wear masks, encouraging everyone who can to get vaccinated, or numerous other best practices beyond state guidelines.
It is understandable that there will be many questions about inquiring as to the vaccination status of individuals. Additional resources on this matter are available on the Conference website, https://www.unyumc.org/about/coronavirus-faqs. You are also encouraged to contact your local board of health with questions as they arise.
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Mohawk District Office
105 Genesee Street
New Hartford, NY 13413
315-797-1777
Regular Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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