Please keep these pastors, their families and the Church families in your prayers throughout the coming weeks.
February 7
Pastor Victoria Hedlund, serving in Extension Ministry, her husband LeRoy and their family.
February 14
Machias UMC
Pastor Cindy Hull, her husband Vince and their family.
February 21
Chautauqua:Hurlbut Memorial Community UMC
Pastor John A. Jackson, his wife Juanita and their family.
Continue to pray for all those who are affected by COVID-19, either directly or through a family member, neighbor or friend. May we continue to show respect for others by practicing good hygiene, wearing masks & social distancing.
To download the 2020-2021 District Prayer Calendar, click here.
The UNY Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CCORR) will offer Imagine No Racism 2.0 courses on Zoom as the need arises; people interested and looking for an INR group may contact Blenda Smith, bsmith@binghamton.edu.
Format is typically six sessions. Clergy may receive 1 CEU; INR 2.0 also qualifies as an Advanced LSM course.
February is Black History Month — a time to reflect on the history of Black Americans and to honor the individuals and groups who have worked tirelessly toward racial justice.
As outlined in the Racial Justice Charter, United Methodist Women works to eliminate all forms of institutional racism; to study, understand and appreciate the historical and cultural contributions of each race to the Church and community; to support and participate in the worldwide struggle for liberation in the church and community, and much more.
Click here for great resources that United Methodist Women have put together to celebrate Black History Month.
NYS Sick Leave Law
All private sector workers in New York State are covered under New York State’s paid sick leave law. If a person is issued a W-2 year-end tax form, they are eligible for the New York State paid sick leave. Non-profit and religious organizations are not exempt from this law. Click herefor information on the New York State paid sick leave law.
Online Services Here to Stay
If there’s a positive side to the coronavirus for churches, it’s that many of them have dramatically upped their game online.Click here to read more.
Click here to view the UNY churches who are streaming services online. Click here to learn more about how your church can “go digital.”
The February issue I 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.
The stories that are featured in the Bridge can also be accessed from the news section of the Upper New York (UNY) Conference website for easy copying and pasting for those who wish to electronically distribute news featured in the Bridge. Click here to access the UNY Conference news items.
This issue focuses on the season of Lent, which begins on Wednesday February 17.
Bishop Announces Clergy Appointments
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce four appointments and 17 retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
Digital Discipleship Webinar on Children's Ministry
The UNY Conference hosted a webinar on Zoom on January 12 as part of our Digital Discipleship series. Lynne Kimpland of Endwell UMC was the featured speaker; she discussed how she was able to put together an effective children and youth ministry online at Endwell without having had much experience with technology beforehand.
Did you miss it? No worries. Click here to watch the recording.
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines & Best Practices
With the health and safety of all members and communities of the Upper New York Conference in mind, the Conference Reopening Task Force have revised the COVID-19 guidelines.
The guidelines cover facility, worship, small group, food, and program hosting minimum standards and best-practices. Click here for a chart that outlines the minimum standards that churches should follow (the NYS guidelines) and the additional UNY recommend best practices. This chart also provides helpful resources.
Registration for the Safe Sanctuaries Basic Training, scheduled via Zoom on February 13, 2021, is closed. Additional trainings will be scheduled later in February or in early March. Please watch this newsletter for additional information about future trainings.
2021 AC Dates Announced
After consultation with the Upper New York (UNY) Committee on Sessions, Conference Leadership Team, Board of Ordained Ministry Executive Committee, and the Upper New York Board of Trustees, Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Cabinet are announcing that the UNY 2021 Annual Conference (AC2021) session will be held remotely. The dates for this year’s Annual Conference will be June 17-19.
The Committee on Agenda and the Committee on Sessions will continue to create the framework of our time together during these three days, including but not limited to clergy & laity sessions, opening worship, ordination and a memorial service.
Submissions (reports, petitions, team recommendations) are due on March 15 to be included in Vol. I of the UNY Journal. Submission guidelines will be issued by the Petitions and Resolutions Committee in early February.
Continue to follow all UNY communication platforms for more details. To read the announcement in its entirety, please click here.
To receive these types of announcements directly to your email, click here to subscribe to UNY Notes.
Save the date! On February 13 at 2 p.m. EST, the General and Jurisdictional Conference Information Webinar will deliver important updates to U.S. delegates and other designated participants.
Anticipate presentations from GCFA, the Council of Bishops, the Episcopal Fund, the Jurisdictional Study Committee and a report on General Conference options.
Delegates will participate via Zoom and will receive their invitation from jurisdictional secretaries. Everyone else is invited to watch a YouTube live stream. Bookmark this page or URL (www.ResourceUMC.org/USJurisdictionalWebinar) for viewing the webinar.
Please note: The following information was accurate as of 3 pm Wednesday, February 3. It will be updated in the next newsletter.
In 10 days your church(es) statistical reports for 2020 are due. Sixty-eight (68)percent of Cornerstone churches have not started data entry.
Thanks to Bemus Point, Charlotte Center, Dewittville-Hartfield, Dunkirk, Gerry & Kennedy UMCs for completing this task!
To Jamestown:Camp Street, Clymer, Cuba, Friendship, Laona Emmanuel, Machias, Magnolia, North Clymer, North Harmony, Olean:Christ, Panama, Ripley, Sheridan, South Ripley & Westfield UMCs - keep going!
The Ezra site (www.ezra.gcfa.org) has been open since January 1; Monday, February 15, is the deadline for data entry.
If you have questions or need help, please don't hesitate to contact the District office or Erica Wentworth, ericawentworth@unyumc.org, 315-898-2004.
Clergy: Complete Boundary Awareness Training by February 15, 2021
Boundary Awareness Training is 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.
WORSHIP RESOURCE
Upper New York (UNY) Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb, and members of the UNY Cabinet have put together and released a worship service that may be used on a Sunday of your choice. It is hoped that by using this service, your pastor can have some much-needed rest and renewal.
Applications for the Lottie Brown Grant are now available throughMarch 15. Because of the coronavirus pandemic and limited staff working at the Conference office each day, it is highly recommended that all completed materials be sent electronically to scholarships@unyumc.org.
Preference is given to those entering some form of Christian service. A statement of your faith journey and philosophy of life is given high consideration. All application materials for this scholarship must be postmarked by March 15.
Applications for the Ercil Cady Grant are available now. Grant(s) of up to $5,000 may be awarded to individual United Methodists, local UM churches, or UNY District and Conference ministry teams. As directed by the originator of the Ercil Cady Grant, “priority shall be given to educational proposals that benefit minority groups or individuals, preferably black and American Indians.”
Please consider creative ways to use this grant. Click here for the procedures and application. The deadline to apply for this grant is March 15,
February 22, March 1, 8 from 6-9 pm; March 13, 9 am - 1 pm
Preaching: From Your Hearts to Theirs
February 25, March 4 & 11, 6-9 pm; March 20: 9 am - 1 pm
Basic Course
March 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 7-9 pm
Course fee $15
Click herefor the registration brochure.Registration ends February 25.
Leading Prayer
April 14, 21, May 5, 6-9 pm; May 1, 9 am - 1 pm
Course fee, $15 each. To register or for more information, contact Arlene atadschmidt@nycap.rr.com. To view the brochure,click here.
Imagine No Racism
April 22, 29, May 6, 13 & 20, 2-5 pm
Zoom: Course fee $15
Click herefor the registration brochure.Registration ends February 25.
Lay Pastoral Care
April 28, May 5, 12 & 19, 7-9 pm
Zoom: Course fee $15
Click herefor the registration brochure. Registration ends February 25.
The UMC is leading a sustained and coordinated effort through General Conference, August 29 to September 7, 2021, 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.
Our latest issue of the Advocate is filled with eye-opening articles which focuses on dismantling racism. In this issue you will find dozens of resources and information on understanding institutional racism and the work it takes to become anti-racist.
One article in this issue of the Advocate examined health inequities in Buffalo, NY.
Blacks in the inner city of Buffalo have exponentially higher rates of serious and chronic diseases and their premature mortality rate is an alarming 300 percent higher than whites in other parts of the region. Something had to be done about this health inequity, which is the reason why the Rev. George Nicholas, pastor at Lincoln UMC, was instrumental in creating the Buffalo Center for Health Equity in 2015.
Click here to learn what has already been accomplished by the Buffalo Center for Health Equity.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Upper New York Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, has been providing videos of helpful spiritual practices to help deepen people’s relationship to God during this difficult time.
Rev. Dibelius now will be zeroing in on spiritual disciplines. She explains that spiritual disciplines are a way to get away with Jesus, walk with Jesus, and learn from Jesus.
In case you missed or would like to review either of Rev. Dibelius's segments on the spiritual discipline of the sacraments:
