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WELCOME FRIENDS !
Welcome to the Finger Lakes District e
-Newsletter! Please share this with church members and staff, teams and organizations. We hope that you will find this a useful resource as we work to promote the missions, ministries and events of the Finger Lakes District. If you have something you would like to see included in a future issue of this e-newsletter, send to
[email protected]
May you have a blessed week!
Your friends at the Finger Lakes District Office,
Rev. Jeffrey McDowell,
District Superintendent
Pam Deckard,
Administrative Assistant
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Please contact the office via email (above) or phone (315-781-0188) and your messages will be responded to.
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Dear Friends. In lieu of my usual message that appears here, please read the following message from our Bishop:
"Having heard concerns about separate gatherings for lay and clergy following the Special Session of Annual Conference as well as concerns about the distance that some individuals would have to travel, Upper New York leadership has decided to replace the clergy gathering and the six regional gatherings with a single event that will be held remotely in all 12 districts."
Mark your calendars now for this Conference-wide time of worship, sharing, questions, and prayer. The Conference-wide event will take place on Sunday, March 17 from 4-6 p.m. The Finger Lakes District will hold this event at Cortland First UMC, located at 734 Route 222, Cortland, NY 13045. If one of these others is closer to you, feel free to attend there.
Here is a list of all the churches where this event will be held:
- Albany District: Shenendehowa UMC
- Adirondack District: Saratoga Springs UMC
- Binghamton District: Endwell UMC
- Crossroads District: Cicero UMC
- Cornerstone District: Bemus Point UMC
- Finger Lakes District: Cortland First UMC
- Genesee Valley District: Rush UMC
- Mohawk District: New Hartford First UMC
- Mountain View District: Avoca UMC
- Niagara Frontier District: Clarence UMC
- Northern Flow District: Canton UMC
- Oneonta District: Oneonta First UMC
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and Upper New York Conference leadership understand that many people are grieving after the results of Special Session. They believe that now it is more important than ever to gather together as a Conference and fill our hearts with faith in Jesus Christ.
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The next edition of this eNewsletter comes out on March 26, 2019. To submit an item for the newsletter, please have it to the district office by March 21. Thank you.
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Recorded message from our Bishop
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has recorded a special message for the members of the Upper New York Conference following the Special Session of General Conference.
Click here to hear his message
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2019 General Conference
Passes the Traditional Plan
In a 438-384 vote, delegates to The United Methodist Church's top lawmaking assembly approved a plan that affirms church policies on homosexuality and strengthens enforcement.
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Registration Open for Annual Conference!
Registration is now open for the UNY Annual Conference session, held July 5-8 at the Syracuse OnCenter.
Click here to register and for all information that you would need
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EQUALIZATION MEMBERS FOR FINGER LAKES DISTRICT
There are about 10 slots left for EQ members from the Finger Lakes District to Annual Conference. Please contact the District Office for information and an application. Thank you.
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We are at 100%. Thank you all!
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Safe Sanctuaries Training Opportunity
Saturday, May 11, 2019
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Geneva First UMC
340 Main St
Geneva, NY 14456
Trainers: Diane Withiam and Lisa Barrett
Please contact: Rev. Emily Huyge
or the church office at: 315-789-6550
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REGISTRATION FOR
SUMMER CAMP 2019
Go
to our site:
campsandretreats.org/2019
What better way to spend your
summer than
at camp?
Our
summe
r
camps offe
r l
ots of act
i
on
a
n
d
plenty of fun,
sun-soaked
days
.
Meet
li
fe
l
ong
friends,
eat great meals, and have the time of your
life
i
n
a spectacular setting! What makes our camp weeks so special? We offer a wide var
i
ety of programs
and
activities for chi
l
dren and
youth
to
experience while
they are at camp.
REFER A FRIEND **
SAVE $40
REGISTER ON OR BEFORE MAY 1 ** SAVE $10
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CAMPS AND RETREATS:
There is still space for YOU at one of our fall, winter, or spring gatherings - explore the opportunities available at our Camp & Retreat Centers. Head to
www.campsandretreats.org
for more information or to sign up/register, contact the site directly, or contact the CRM Central Office at 315-898-2026 with any questions.
Casowasco:
April 11-14, 2019: Quilt by Faith: Spring (Women)
May 12, 2019: Mother's Day Brunch (Families & Adults)
Sky Lake:
April 5-7, 2019: Church Family Getaway (Families & Adults)
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Outward! Youth Gathering Is Coming
Attention all youth leaders and youth groups! Registration is now open for the annual spring gathering of youth from across the conference is April 5-7 at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool. We are hoping for the largest attendance from the Finger Lakes District this year. *
CLICK HERE for Registration on the conference website.
The registration fee per person is $70 plus room rates for the hotel and food costs as each group will need to provide for their own meals. *The district does have some funding for scholarships to help pay for members of your group to attend. Please let me know if your group will be attending and if you would like some scholarship help.
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Upcoming DCOM Training
WHO: For all District Superintendents, DCOM Chairs, DCOM Registrars (or designees)
WHAT: DCOM Training!
WHEN: April 3, Noon (lunch provided) to 3:00 PM.
WHERE: Upper New York Conference Center
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
WHY: To share changes in the Handbook * To share best practices * To answer your questions
The new DCOM Handbook is on the Conference website!
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Basic & Advance Lay Servant Courses
Finger Lakes District Lay Servant Team invites you to Rose UMC, 10695 School Rd, Clyde, NY, Friday, March 22 from 5-9 PM and Saturday, March 23, 8 AM - 3 PM. Cost is $20 - includes snack and lunch on Saturday. The courses being offered:
Introduction to Lay Ministry: The BASIC Course
This course is the foundation for lay servant ministries. You discover and encouraged to employ your spiritual gifts, exercise servant leadership, develop future leaders, remain rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and become part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship.
Facilitators: Tony & Sue Carbone
Book: Lay Servant Ministries ISBN 9780881776263
Advanced Lay Servant Ministry HERITAGE course: Accountable Discipleship
This course focuses on the concept of the household of God, Scripture as divine revelation, Wesleyan understandings of grace, and the importance of the class leader in the development of the Methodist movement.
Facilitator: Jennie Young-Walczyk
Book: Accountable Discipleship ISBN9780881773392
Please purchase and read the entire book associated with your course before class. Registration Deadline: March 15.
Contact Jennie Young-Walczyk for more information @ 603.667.8273
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District Superintendent's preaching schedule:
March 17 at Alton
March 31 at Homer Ave and Virgil
April 28 at Harmony and Forest Home Chapel
May 5 at Geneva (both services)
May 19 at E. Homer/Truxton and Freeville
June 2 at Varna
June 23 at Newark First
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Continuing Education Requirements for Clergy
Attention: All clergy under appointment or assignment are required to complete
2 CEUs (20 contact hours) per year or accumulative 8 CEUs (80 contacts hours) per quadrennium and will provide documentation to the District Superintendent, unless
enrolled and attending Course of Study or Seminary Degree Program.
COS Information
Our registrar is continuing to receive registrations with 2015, 2016 & 2017 dates on them. Please a make sure you are using the most updated form. You can download the correct form HERE
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Clergy Tax Exemptions information
Clergy who own their homes may be eligible for a tax exemption. For more information, and the Exemption Application Forms, please
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UNY Local Pastor's Licensing School
This year's UNY Local Pastor's licensing school will be held May 5-11, 2019. This is an earlier date than in year's past. It will be held at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center.
The LPLS experience provides an opportunity to learn with other students about the basics of ministry, to interact with and share ministry practice with the faculty and students, and to be creative in beginning pastoral ministry. Students in the LPLS should have completed the requirements for certified candidate. Also, it is recommended that you complete a Safe Sanctuary Training and the Boundary Awareness Training (online) prior to attending the LPLS. Please bring those certificates (or copies) of successful completion with you.
Click here to register and to learn more information about this local pastor licensing school.
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Please Note:
If there are changes in the names, addresses, phone numbers, and
e-mail addresses for you, and/or any of your committee chairs, please contact the
district office with the changes. Thank you
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2019 Employer Updates
There are two changes that will affect Upper New York churches and employees in the new year.
Effective Dec. 31, New York State's hourly minimum wage rate is increasing to $11.10. All employers in the Upper New York Conference must pay non-exempt employees minimum wage regardless of how many people they employ.
Click here to read more about the wage increase.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, New York State (NYS) Paid Family Leave is increasing to 55% benefit and 10 weeks for eligible employees.
Click here to learn more about the updates and changes.
If you have any questions, contact Tracy Rickett, Upper New York Conference's Human Resources Generalist, at (315) 898-2017 or
[email protected].
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How to use VitalSigns
We introduced you to VitalSigns, a platform that can help your church to track key
indicators and uncover important insights. Click here to watch a video that shows you just how easy this program is to use.
For more information about the VitalSigns tool, free to all United Methodist churches, contact Aaron Bouwens, Upper New York Conference Director of Vital Congregations at
[email protected]
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The UNYUMC Mission Central HUB is announcing the
Golden Bucket Award
to the District that donates the most UMCOR Cleaning Kits!
Please tag your buckets with a removable tag (ex. string and piece of paper) include your church name and District
This award started on October 1st, 2018 and runs till May 25th, 2019.
The
Golden Bucket
will be awarded at the 2019 Annual Conference.
It is important to follow the UMCOR Cleaning Kit last updated May
2018. Any questions please contact Mike Block.
Click here
for an updated UMCOR cleaning kit supply list.
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Resolutions & Petitions for 2019 Annual Conference session
NOW
due no later than March 29th, 2019
The Committee on Petitions and Resolutions is charged with overseeing the submission, review, and presentation of petitions and resolutions to the Annual Conference.
NEW DEADLINE:To allow for more space and time for reflection following the Special Session of General Conference, the deadline for submitting petitions and resolutions for the Upper New York Annual Conference Session has been
extended to March 29. Submissions should be emailed to the Petitions and Resolutions Committee at
[email protected].
Click here for writing and submission guidelines as well as a petition and resolution template and sample document.
All reports and materials to be published in the Journal Vol. I are due on February 15, 2019. These items should be submitted to the Connectional Ministries' office at
[email protected]
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UNY Local Pastor's Licensing School at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
This year's UNY Local Pastor's licensing school will be held May 5-11 2019. This is an earlier date than in year's past. The venue will be Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center, 158 Casowasco Dr, Moravia, NY 13118. www.casowasco.org
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Counseling available for all of our appointed Clergy, part time and full time, and some paid church staff...
ESI's (Employee Assistance Group) TotalCare EAP can help
with virtually every area of life. See flyer (
click here) for more information. Or go to:
www.theEAP.com or call: 800-252-4555
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The latest copy 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.
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United Methodist Women Mission Resources is no longer publishing, except electronically, the United Methodist Reading Program "newsprint paper" Pamphlet, starting with this 2019 year. T
he following is a "Table of Contents" to bring you to the most useful parts as an English-speaking user:
pp 1-22 Reading Program books, with descriptions
[pp 23-27] [Spanish/Korean]
pp 28-30 Information on Reading Plans
[pp 31-36] [Spanish/Korean]
pp 37-38 Shipping Information (English at top)/ Order Form
[pp 39-40] [Spanish/Korean]
pp 41-42 Resources for visually impaired/
There will be copies of the English speaking pages at our FLD UMW Spring meetings, March 16 at Rose UMC, April 13 at Penn Yan UMC and Annual Banquet, May 7, Club 86, Geneva. Please take one to share with your UMW local unit.
I'm getting closer to being able to provide a selection of Reading Program Books, tax free, for purchase at these meetings. I will keep you informed when that is a firm option.
Reminder that your individual Report of Completion Requirements sheet for 2018 Books read, can be mailed to Angie Gage at 3637 St Rt 245, Stanley, NY 14561 or emailed to:
[email protected]
. The reports can also be turned in at the March 16 and April 13 FLD UMW meetings. Deadline for 2018 Reading Reports is April 15, 2019.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Marcia Waterman,
Communications,
Finger Lakes District UMW
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Bishop Webb announces clergy appointments
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has announced eight new appointments pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes
here.
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Nominations being accepted for Conference leadership vacancies
The Upper New York Conference Committee on Nominations is accepting nominations to fill vacancies on various conference leadership teams.
Click here
to read a letter from Chair of the Committee on Nominations, The Rev. Tony Hipes, and/or to fill out the nominations form. March 19 is the deadline to submit nominations.
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SPECIAL SUNDAYS
The United Methodist Church designates a number of Sundays throughout the year as opportunities for recognizing and supporting particular ministries. These are referred to as Special Sundays and most include an offering used to fund the work of these programs.
Churchwide Special Sundays with offerings enable United Methodists like you to offer refuge in times of disaster, promote peace and justice, provide scholarships and student loans, reach out to the community, teach skills to encourage self-sufficiency and share the love of Jesus Christ with God's people everywhere.
These special Sundays include: Human Relations Day, UMCOR, Native American Ministries, Peace with Justice, World Communion, and United Methodist Student Day.
There are other
Special Sundays approved for Annual Conference offerings. These include: Christian Education, Golden Cross, Rural Life, and Disability Awareness.
Please make sure you are promoting and taking these offerings so the power of our church in so many places will thrive. Thank you, D.S. Jeff McDowell
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Sojourner Truth |
Methodist women making history
March is Women's History Month, and The United Methodist Church is blessed with many individuals who have been role models in the faith.
Click here
to see how many names you recognize on this timeline referencing some of the amazing women who helped shape the Church starting in 1770.
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Now Past Due deadline
February 15 (send a copy to District Office)
Report of the Trustees
Report of the Finance Committee and a 2018 Year End Financial Report and 2019 Church Budget (in your church's format, no printed forms for these).
Due March 15, 2019:
2018 Local Church Annual Audit
**Mail completed copy of each to District Office**
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SAVE THE DATE !
United Methodist Night at the Ballpark
Syracuse Mets vs. Indianapolis Indians
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
6:30 PM (Game)
4:30 pm (Tailgate begins)
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The Upper New York Conference College Ministry Team invites high school and college undergraduate students to apply for the Lottie Brown Grant.
The application deadline is April 10.
Click here
for more information and to apply.
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2019 UMFF Rev. Dr. Keith Muhleman Ministry Grants
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March 31, 2019
1:15 p.m.
Christ UMC of Locke and Moravia
36 Church St
Moravia, NY 13118
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Job Opening: Maintenance Supervisor at Casowasco
Click here for the job posting for a Maintenance Supervisor at the Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. Interested candidates should apply online through the link on our website. Search for "Job Opportunities" on the UNY website.
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If you would like to subscribe to this e-newsletter, please send your email address to:
[email protected]
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Finger Lakes District
of the Upper New York Conference
Rev. Jeffrey McDowell
,
District Superintendent
Pam Deckard,
Administrative Assistant
12 North Park St., Suite 11
Seneca Falls, NY 13148
Office: 315-781-0188 efax: +1-315-282-2367
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