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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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Messages for the office: Please continue to contact the office via email (above) or phone (315-781-0188) and your messages will be responded to.
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The next edition of this eNewsletter comes out on January 22, 2019. To submit an item for the newsletter, please have it to the district office by January 20. Thank you.
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From the Superintendent:
Happy New Year! May the Epiphany of the Magi, that the Savior was born, enthuse all you are doing to further the cause of Christ!
Please note these three vital but unconnected News Items:
1. An excellent, high level training in the Transforming Conflict in Communities of Faith is taking place VERY SOON and the registration is within this newsletter. We are funding nearly a third of the cost with our Block Grant and it is held at Beautiful Casowasco. Please consider sending someone from your congregation. Pastors, consider going to the clergy sessions! Deadline is fast approaching! WE hope for 12-20 people per session and currently have only 6 total signed up. 2.General Conference is taking place in St. Louis, MO Feb. 23-26. See within this newsletter what one of our clusters is doing, and as a leader in your church, consider doing the same, using the conference resources. May we find unity through Jesus Christ's teaching, example, and presence with us. And by all means, use the resources of prayer, bible reading, and holy conversation with one another leading up to this event. 3. I will be away from my duties for part of January to have minor surgery and recovery time. From January 3-20 please contact Administrative Assistant Pam Deckard via phone and email. She will know which Elders on our district can assist you as well as which Superintendents are on call for me at that time. Use the office number, 315-781-0188 or her email, [email protected]. If there is a church conflict, first speak with your Pastor and Lay Leader, as well as your Staff parish relations chairperson. |
District Superintendent available to preach and/or lead worship
The DS is available to preach and/or lead worship on the Sundays noted below. These opportunities are an opportunity for the DS to worship with you and, if desired, to provide the message (as opposed to providing vacation pulpit supply). Other days of the week are possible as well with an inquiry. Please send a request to both Pam Deckard at
[email protected] and Jeff McDowell at
[email protected].
In 2019: Available: On 3/17; 5/5; 5/19
DS preaching:
Jan. 27 at Ovid Federated
Feb. 3 at Lansing UMC
March 10 at Midlakes and Scott
March 31 at Homer Ave and Virgil
April 28 at Harmony and Forest Home Chapel
June 2 at Varna
June 23 at Newark First
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The Finger Lakes District of the Upper NY Conference will present this two-part professional development & spiritual growth opportunity...
Transforming Conflict
in Communities of Faith
(A Two-Part Retreat Experience at Camp Casowasco)
Total Fee: $350 (actual fee is $650 but is being subsidized to make it affordable)
Registration Fee: $100
Balance of $250 due Feb. 1st
Commuter discount: $50
Registration Deadline: January 15th
PART ONE:"Transforming Conflict as a Spiritual Practice"
You can radically shift the nature of your conflict-interactions from negative and destructive to positive and constructive.
Servant Leader/Laity Retreat: Friday, Feb.1 - Saturday, Feb.2 TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE
Clergy Retreat: Wednesday, February 6 - Thursday, February 7 TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE
PART TWO:
"Facilitating Effective Participation in the Heated Church Meeting"
You will learn how to protect the meeting process, while at the same time support participants-in-conflict.
Combined Clergy / Servant Leader Retreat:
Thursday, March 28 - Friday, March 29 *
*Please note all participants of PART TWO must first have attended PART ONE!
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2018 EZRA Reporting Opens Jan. 1, 2019
The 2018 Ezra reports will be ready and open on the 1
st
of January and end on February 15
th
of 2019.
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Happy New Year! I hope that everyone's holidays were wonderful and blessed!
I want to highlight a few new things in Ezra this year.
- There is a new line in Table 1 - Membership. Line 6c has been added this year, its title is Non-Binary and includes direction/definition. It will NOT create an error if it is not filled. It is below the Female and Male lines and will auto-total into Line 6. If you have any questions about it, please contact me. This line was approved at Annual Conference and is required to be part of the gender options in Ezra.
- Churches will be required to input their FEIN (Federal Employee Identification Number) this year. I want to make sure that all churches know their FEIN and have it on hand. I also want to make sure that the Conference has a list of accurate FEIN numbers.
- This year, Lines 52a through 52t on Table 3 will give a warning when the line has an increase or decrease of more than 15%. An explanation will need to be given in order to submit the report. I'm hoping this puts more emphasis on accuracy and understanding of why increases or decreases in income are important.
- Please note the Directions for Line 52d on Table 3. Churches are required to report any money that is transferred in from savings or trustee accounts that is going towards the annual budget and spending plan of the church. If a church transfers money from their savings/trustee accounts to pay for Ministry Shares, it is then expected to be reported as income on line 52d.
- When logging in to Ezra, please make sure that the User Profile is correct and up-to-date. If you have trouble updating the information, please contact Cathy in the District Office or me for help.
Please remember that I am available to help you in any way I can.
Erica Wentworth
Finance Support Specialist
Upper New York Conference
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Wesley Heritage tour scheduled for February 2020
Join Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and his wife Jodi on a Wesley Heritage tour in England Feb. 11-19, 2020. This journey will take you through England where you will learn about the roots of the early Church and the ministry of John Wesley. Visit London, Oxford, Epworth, the Old Rectory where John Wesley grew up, and much more.
The earlier you register, the bigger the discount. Details about any potential available scholarships will be determined soon.
Click here to learn more and to obtain a registration brochure with all the details about this exciting opportunity.
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Dear Finger Lakes District Churches: Your 2018 statements for December
They have been uploaded and are now available for you to retrieve. There are two inserts included in this month's mailing.
Your GCFA number for your church is the Username as well as the Password. Below are important dates to remember.
Ministry Share Deadline Date
for 2018 will be Tuesday, January 08, 2019. After that date, any payments received for 2018 will be reflected in 2019 listed as Prior Year Ministry Share Payments on your monthly statement.
Statistics for 2018
-The Ezra site will be opened on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 to enter the church statistical data. The 2018 Statistical data will be due by Friday, February 15, 2019.
Local Church Audit
- The 2018 annual audit of your church financial records are due to the District Superintendents on Friday, March 15, 2019, no later.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Finance Department.
We hope you have a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year!
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Do you have questions about Special Session of General Conference?
What's the difference between a called General Conference and the one to be held in 2020? Why is the Commission on the Way Forward and not the Council of Bishops submitting the report to General Session? What are the differences between the One Church Plan, the Connectional Conference Plan, and the Traditionalist Plan? Are these some of the questions you or members of your congregation have as we approach the Special Session of General Conference to be held from Feb. 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri?
Click here
to find out the answers to these questions and dozens of others on the Upper New York Conference's Special Session of General Conference FAQ page.
Click here
for an article that provides a basic summary of what to expect at the Special Session.
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Special Session of General Conference
The Special Session of General Conference will be held from
Feb. 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri at The Dome, part of the America's Center Convention Complex . Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has created a series of videos that can help prepare you for what will be taking place at General Conference. The videos review the report created by the Commission on a Way Forward that will be presented at General Conference-they can be viewed individually, used for group discussions, and more-each video can be downloaded as well.
In addition to Bishop Webb's videos, the Upper New York Conference has also compiled other resources to help you prepare for Special Session, including Bishop Webb's Way Forward PowerPoint Presentation, an overview of the three church plans, and more.
Click here
for all resources.
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Emergency Early Response (ERT) Training
Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the United Methodist Conference Center, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd in Liverpool, from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
UMCOR Early Response Teams (ERT) provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of disaster. The training equips you to help individuals clean up their homes and yards. ERTs travel to communities impacted by floods, fire, hurricane, tornadoes, etc. to carry out damage assessment, debris removal, tarp placement, and to help prevent further damage. Team members should be in good physical health.
This training credentials you to enter disaster zones. An ERT badge is issued by UMCOR to persons over the age of 18 after successful completion of the course and a background check. Badges are valid for 3 years.
Individuals need not be United Methodist to take the training. Please spread the word about this training to family members and friends.
The 8-hour Early Response Team course is facilitated by Donna & Roger Cullen,
[email protected].
The fee is $25.00 and includes lunch.
Click here to register. Make your check payable to "UNYAC" with "VIM-ERT" on memo line. Mail check to UNYVIM, 9 Fox Hollow, Ionia, NY 14475. Registration closes January 11th.
We're looking forward to seeing your registration!
Mike Block,
Director of Missional Engagement
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Bishop Webb Announces New Chancellor
Last month, Scott DelConte was elected to the New York State Supreme Court. With this new commitment, he will no longer be able to serve as Chancellor to the Upper New York (UNY) Conference. Effective December 15, Peter Abdella, current Vice President of the UNY Board of Trustees, will be the new Chancellor of the UNY Conference.
A life-long Methodist, Peter can trace his "roots" to Christ First United Methodist Church in Jamestown. Please click here to read more about Peter
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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:
March 1-3, 2019: Women's Chocolate Getaway (Women)
April 11-14, 2019: Quilt by Faith: Spring (Women)
May 12, 2019: Mother's Day Brunch (Families & Adults)
Sky Lake:
February 15-18, 2019: Family Winter Weekend II (Families & Adults)
April 5-7, 2019: Church Family Getaway (Families & Adults)
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Is God calling YOU to serve on a mission team?
This opportunity is for you!
Join a UMVIM Team from McGraw UMC going to Costa Rica April 27- May 4, 2019
The team is hosted by Rice and Beans Ministries in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Each afternoon, after construction or VBS activities, our team will pack food bags to deliver door to door in the neighborhoods. Currently, Rice and Beans Ministries serves 80+ communities with food and prayer. Through this ministry they meet an immediate need and offer hope, an encouraging word, and prayer while building relationships with the families.
Cost of the trip is $1500 which includes Accommodations--lodging, meals, transportation to worksites and AIRFARE.
A note from Beth:
I am available to visit churches to share about Costa Rica and Rice and Beans Ministry. This will be the fifth time I have taken teams to CR.
Update on Puerto Rico Mission Trip-we have a team of 23 people going to serve Jan. 19-26, 2019. 5 people are from the Finger Lakes District and 16 from the Genesee Valley and two are from out of state.
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Greetings, UMW members,
Any questions can be directed to President Mary Anjo 315 573-0553.
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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 Taxes Webinar
February 11, 2019 at 10 a.m. CST Clergy face some unique challenges when it comes to things like social security payments, estimated tax payments, housing allowances or exclusions, and reimbursed expenses. Your corner tax preparer may not understand the unique situation of clergy, and finding a tax preparer who does understand your situation can save you substantially in money and aggravation. Join us as the Rev. Don Joiner, a certified financial planner, helps us navigate the preparation of taxes under the new tax laws as well as plan for a sound financial future.
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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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Celebrate the UNY Mission Central HUB's One Year Anniversary
Save the date of
Saturday Jan. 12 for an event you and your entire family will not want to miss-the Upper New York (UNY) Mission Central HUB Homecoming! This a one-year anniversary to celebrate one year of success and hard work at the Upper New York Mission Central HUB. All are invited to attend.
The event will take place from 1- 4 p.m. at the Mission Central HUB, located in the Upper New York United Methodist Center at 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., in Liverpool, NY.
There will be fun activities for the whole family, like UMCOR kit assembly contests, basic construction contests for youth and adults, and there will be an array of carnival-like games for all age levels. Exciting prizes will be awarded to the contest winners.
There will be face-painting for the kids and crafts as well.
At 1:30 p.m., there will be a plaque dedication to Earlville UMC. When Earlville UMC closed its church in 2017, they donated enough funds to cover the salary of a UNY Mission Central HUB Director for at least two years. They also gifted a 1.2 million dollar trust to help with operations well into the future.
At the HUB Homecoming, there will be plenty of appetizers and snacks as well as a delicious celebration cake!
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UNY Local Pastor's Licensing School
First, 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 is unknown at this time.
Second, the elders and provisional elders in the Northern Flow district that are requesting to remain less than full time for the 2019 appointment year can begin to send in to the Bishop's Office the annual letter requesting to remain in the less than full time status for the 2019 appointment year.
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Resources for Human Relations Day on Sunday, January 20, 2019
As we continue to Imagine No Racism (INR)and journey together through small group experiences and study, we'd like to offer ways to bring the INR message into your worship settings. Human Relations Day on Sunday, January 20, offers an ideal opportunity to incorporate messages of race inequality and injustice.
In addition to other resources available through UMC Discipleship Ministries, we offer this video entitled Racism Is Real by Brave New Films, this prayer and call to justice and mercy.
The 3:04 video, which can be used in worship or in a small group setting, offers powerful imagery and an impactful message to help our congregations to begin to see each other and the world around them through different eyes. We also hope that the use of the video and other resources in worship may stir interest among the laity in attending an INR small group either within your congregation or elsewhere in the district.
We continue to pray for your ministry and our work together.
In Christ, the Imagine No Racism Team
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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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New York State Employers required to adopt a sexual harassment policy and training
Due to a new law, every employer in New York State is required to establish and distribute a sexual harassment prevention policy. The policy can be distributed in writing or electronically. Employers are encouraged to have employees acknowledge receipt of the policy, and to post a copy of the policy where employees can easily access it.
Every employer is also required to provide employees with sexual harassment prevention training by October 9, 2019. This is an annual requirement as part of the new regulations.
Additional resources for sexual harassment training will be shared once that information has been gathered.
Click here for more details on New York State's Sexual Harassment regulations.
If you have any questions regarding New York state's sexual harassment requirements, please contact Tracy Rickett, Upper New York Conference's Human Resources Generalist at (315) 898-2017 or
[email protected].
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Ways to Connect with the UNY Conference
The Conference Communications staff have a number of ways to share information throughout Upper New York. Here are a few of them:
UNY Notes
are simple text-based emails that will immediately alert you to important news and events of the Upper New York Conference. UNY Notes are targeted email blasts in nine categories from which to choose: From the Desk of Bishop Webb, Alerts, Prayer Concerns, Announcements, Missions, Justice, Camp & Retreat, Young People and Death Notices. If you prefer fewer emails, remember that all of the week's UNY Notes are included in the
Weekly Digest
, published on Wednesdays.
Click here
to subscribe to UNY Notes and
here
to subscribe to Weekly Digest.
Click here for the latest issue of
The Advocate on the Conference website;
the printed version of this newsletter will be available in your local church. The Advocate is the Conference's ministry magazine.
You're also encouraged to "like" Upper New York Conference on
Facebook
.
Here you'll find pictures, short videos, questions from fun to serious, the latest news from the Conference and ways to try to engage with our followers. These posts will appear in your news feed along with posts from your other Facebook friends.
You may follow Upper New York on
Instagram
to see pictures and short videos from around the Conference. Posts will appear in your news feed along with everyone else you follow on Instagram.
So stay connected and up-to-date with your friends and churches from throughout the Conference!
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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.
Track data, gain insight, and help your church with VitalSigns
The VitalSigns dashboard is a tool that allows churches to track church growth indicators, such as weekly worship attendance, professions of faith, small group participation, missional participation, and financial giving. It is a deeper level of insight, support, and accountability that tracks and trends vital information in an easy-to-understand dashboard.
The General Council on Finance and Administration pays for this software through
General Church apportionment's - which the Upper New York Conference paid in full in 2016. The UNY Conference began using VitalSigns about 18 months ago, and so far, 38 UNY churches have signed up. Click here to learn how VitalSigns can help your church.
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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Disaster Preparedness
You can't prevent disaster. But you can prepare. United Methodist Insurance has created a comprehensive, robust handbook on Emergency Preparedness for Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather for Churches.
Click here
to download the eBook
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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! The District that collects the most UMCOR Cleaning Kits throughout the period will be awarded the prestigious
Golden Bucket Award
! 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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The Upper New York United Methodist Historical Society was organized by the Upper New York Commission on Archives and History to promote and preserve Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren history within the bounds of Upper New York Conference. Its mission is to Preserve the PAST; Inform the FUTURE.
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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.
As a bi-monthly publication, the Bridge can be used this Sunday or next, whichever is most useful to the local church. The Bridge is a communications tool designed for local churches to stay connected to each other and to the ministries taking place around the Upper New York Conference and The United Methodist Church. The newest volume will be listed at the top of the webpage, with older volumes below. The Bridge is designed to be handed out in worship, as a church bulletin insert, or as a standalone item. If you have questions or are unable to make copies, please contact
[email protected]
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2018 Upper NY Conference Journal Vol. II now available
The 2018 Upper New York Conference Journal, Vol. II is now available for download as a free PDF and for purchase through online publisher Lulu.com. This comprehensive book provides all the details of Annual Conference for the year of 2018.
Please view or download the 2018 Upper New York Conference Journal, Vol. II for free by first visiting the Conference website
here.
To purchase it for $16.86 (plus shipping and applicable sales tax) from Lulu.com,
click here
.
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UNYUMC Conference Center
The Communications Ministry has launched a
volunteer section on our website which lists current volunteer opportunities at the Conference level.
If your ministry is in need of a volunteer, please send your request to
[email protected].
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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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