The Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference is being held virtually beginning TODAY through Saturday June 19. You are able to access the livestream at www.unyumc.org.
There will be live, up-to-date coverage of the happenings at Annual Conference: Click here
Click here for a copy of the 2021 Journal Vol. 1 as well as all updates to the Journal Vol. 1.
If you have questions about voting rights, click herefor answers.
All laity of the Upper New York Conference are welcome to participate in the virtual laity session at the Annual Conference, regardless of whether or not they are registered for Annual Conference. The two-hour webinar livestream following today's Opening Worship will feature presentations from United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, Young Adult, Lay Servant Ministry, and more. Click here at 10:15 am TODAY for this session.
The Memorial Service (7 pm Friday, June 18) and the Ordination Service (3 pm Saturday, June 19) can be viewed via livestream by clicking here.
Please keep these pastors, their families and the Church families in your prayers throughout the coming weeks.
June 20
Edwards Chapel & Watts Flats UMCs
Pastor Warren VanDewark, his wife Diane and their family.
June 27
Ripley & South Ripley UMCs
Pastor Becky Ward and her family.
July 4
Brocton:Tri-Church Parish
Pastor Clara Wilder, her husband Gary and their family.
Please be in prayer for everyone involved in the Upper New York Annual Conference, both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes, June 17-19.
To download the 2020-2021 District Prayer Calendar, click here.
Welcome New Churches to
the Cornerstone District
Dear Pastors serving our Lord in the Southern TierRegion of our conference:
The southern tier districts are Cornerstone, Mountainview, Binghamton and Oneonta. We have three superintendents now serving four districts and to do so, we are adjusting the lines of our districts.
Beginning July 1, the following churches currently in the Mountainview District will become members of the Cornerstone District:
Allentown, Bolivar, KonXions, Swain, Short Tract and Wellsville.
The following churches currently in the Binghamton District will become members of the Mountainview District:
Barton, Halsey, Litchfield, Lounsberry, Nichols, Smithsboro, Spencer, Tioga Center, and Waverly.
Olean:Christ will continue to be in the Cornerstone District and be supervised by Jeff McDowell from the Mountainview District.
We hope this will clear up some of the confusion and help us keep a focus on our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ across the land.
In Christ with you,
Jeff McDowell, Nancy Adams, and Suzanne Block, superintendents.
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.
For 2021, Rev. Dibelius is 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.
Click here for Rev. Dibelius’s latest spiritual discipline exploration, True Service, which she explains as a lifestyle encompassing acts of compassion and acts of justice.
Remember: District office mailing address is
PO Box 842
Jamestown, NY, 14702
On June 30, 2021 Cathy Hall, Administrative Assistant to the Cornerstone District, will retire. She has served the District with outstanding service for seven years!
Please join me in wishing her well.
Grace, Peace and Love,
Suzanne
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce one ad interim appointment and ten appointments. View the full list of changes here.
The UMC is leading a sustained and coordinated effort to actively engage in the ministry of dismantling racism and promoting racial justice. The Upper New York (UNY) Conference Communications team will regularly share worship, advocacy, and educational resources to help with this important campaign.
This week, we feature two articles related to Juneteenth written by Upper New York Co-Convener of the Conference Commission on Religion & Race, George Whitney.
Click here to read Georgia’s article about the history and symbolism used in Juneteenth celebrations.
Click here to read Georgia’s article about Juneteenth celebrations in UNY this year.
The June issue 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 this particular Bridge can also be accessed from the Annual Conference 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 Annual Conference section.
This issue focuses on what you need to know to be prepared for the 12th session of the UNY Annual Conference to be held virtually, June 17-19, 2021.
PLEASE NOTE: Each year, the Bridgeschedule changes from the usual two issues per month to one issue per month for the months of June, July, and August. The publication will be ready the week prior to the first Sundays in June, July, and August. The usual two issues per month will resume in September with issues ready prior to the first and third Sundays of each month.
Explore the latest digital ministry resources, all created with local churches in mind.
This month, the People of God campaign is celebrating our commitment to strengthening our faith. Share this inspiring message with your congregation by downloading resources for social media, worship, websites and more, available in English and Spanish.
United Methodist Communications is offering Outreach Social free for one year to the first 250 United Methodist churches that sign up. This service provides over 3,000 graphics, a scheduler and reporting. You can even set up automated posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for the entire year in a matter of minutes!
The Leveraging Communication online training course includes on-demand workshops and Q&A sessions facilitated by leaders in innovative church communications. You will learn to leverage a variety of communication tools, such as social media, digital ministry and news writing, to share your church’s story.
Whether your church is meeting in-person, online or both, Zoom is the perfect tool for expanding connections with your community. Local churches who are new to Zoom or who already have a month-to-month Zoom plan can be a part of United Methodist Communications’ group Zoom Enterprise-level web conferencing license through April 19, 2022!
12th Session of the Upper New York Annual Conference
June 20
Father's Day
Summer Begins
July 5
Conference & District Offices Closed in observance of Independence Day
July 5
Registration deadline for Mission u
Items from Celoron UMC Available
The congregation of Celoron United Methodist Church will be celebrating their final worship service on Sunday, June 27. They are looking for a "good home" for the church's contents: pulpit furniture, worship supplies, office furniture, kitchen items, etc.
Click here for a compete inventory of available items. If you/your church/any other church is interested, please contact Chris Fandt, Celoron Trustee Chair, 716-488-1722.
Updated Church COVID-19 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.
Mountain View District
Lay Servant Retreat Day
An all day, in-person retreat for UNY lay servants - and anyone who may be interested in knowing more about Lay Servant Ministry - will be held Saturday, August 21, at Avoca United Methodist Church, 8593 Jacob's Ladder Rd. in Avoca.
Scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm, the retreat will include time for worship and fellowship as well as opportunities for learning. Click here for a flyer with full details.
Advance registration is $15 (including lunch) and is due by August 1. Onsite registration will be accepted for a fee of $20. Click here for the online registration form or email Larry Crandell for more information.
LSM Classes Open to All
Please note the class facilitator and/or contact person and contact him/her with any questions.
NEW - Basic Lay Servant Course
The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church.
To register or for more information on any of the LSM classes listed above, please contact Arlene Schmidt at adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.
NEW - Lay Servants Lead in Conflict Resolution
August 21 & 28, 8 am-1 pm
Class in-person, Watertown: Asbury UMC parlor,
200 Parker Street/327 Franklin Street
Watertown, NY 13601
Every church deals with conflict, both healthy and unhealthy, and this course equips and empowers lay servants to help lead through those times of conflict as a time of transformation.
A meal will not be served during the class, we will however, take a break around 11:30 AM.
For additional information about the class, please contact the facilitator at 315-771-9142 orleonvanwie@gmail.com.
Imagine No Racism
September 8, 15, 22 & 29 and October 6 & 13 6:30-8 pm
Click here for the June/July issue of the Media Resource Center newsletter!
Mission u 2021
Registration Available
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 and 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.
It's not too early to begin planning for your congregation's response to the annual Upper New York Conference collection drive for Red Bird Mission. Please share the attached letter from David Alexander, Coordinator and member of Endwell UMC.
If your church is willing to serve as a collection point for our District as Ripley UMC has done in past years, please email David, Dalexander4@stny.rr.com
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.
Click here to quickly browse this summer’s programs by site or filter the programs to pinpoint the perfect fit. Feel free to contact the CRM Ministry team with any questions.
New Webinar Series!
Engaging the Community for Social Transformation
Are you seeking ways your congregation can more fully engage your community and work for justice? Are you getting stuck thinking about what steps to take, in identifying the issues, or wondering where to start?
Introducing a new monthly webinar series that will answer those questions and more!
Starting Thursday, June 24, you’ll receive insight on how the local church can engage the community and build relationships in ways that bring about tangible change.
Summer is Here! Now is the time to take advantage of our e-Learning courses!
CEUs are required in many fields to ensure professionals keep their skills current; the same goes for pastors and professionals looking to promote effective ministry.
Discipleship Ministries offers affordable courses with high-quality information that will enrich your faith life and ministry.
