October 4, 2018 e-Newsletter

Finger Lakes District E-Newsletter October 4, 2018

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WELCOME FRIENDS !

Rev. McDowell

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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Office Hours: Please see the District Superintendent's note below regarding current office coverage. You can call the office at any time (315-781-0188). Or email. Thank you.

The next edition of this eNewsletter comes out on October 11, 2018. To submit an item for the newsletter, please have it to the district office by October 9. Thank you.

DS NOTES : October 4, 2018

Dear Leaders of our Finger Lakes Churches: Grace and Peace to you this week! Please read the following important notices and share them with your churches at the earliest date possible so that we are on the same page.

~ Our Administrative Assistant is temporarily out of the office as her husband, the Rev. Stephen Deckard, had a stroke in mid-September. He will be going home soon from the hospital and continue with rehabilitation. In the meantime, Vicki Swanson will be taking on Pam's role via email, office presence, and phone. Please do not hesitate to contact her with the same email Pam uses, [email protected].

~ Our Laity Banquet had to be moved to Oct. 14th (see flyer below). We have extended the deadline for submission of paragraphs of your lay ministry highlights to Oct. 11th. Please submit via mail or email by then to be included in our booklet. Please tell your churches that the deadline to RSVP for the dinner is also Oct. 11 so we need to know very soon!

~ The Bishop's presentation on the way forward for our denomination is closest to us in Liverpool on Sunday Oct. 21; please plan to attend and bring some leaders from your church.

~ Our district has a Leadership Team and we are seeking three more lay persons from the northern part of our district and the Ithaca area; please email our office if you are interested. This team will help me strategize how best to help each church in our district develop an effective disciple - making plan of ministry over the next year.

~ Please work to get all your charge conference forms in on time. I read every page in advance and ensure that your church's ministry is well run and recognized.

"Remember that God, who is rich in mercy, will be with you and your church always, giving you strength for the work ahead and joy in the journey! See Charles Wesley's hymn of praise:
Christ, from whom all blessings flow, perfecting the saints below, hear us, who thy nature share, who thy mystic body are. Join us, in one spirit join, let us still receive of thine; still for more on thee we call, thou who fillest all in all. Love, like death, hath all destroyed, rendered all distinctions void; names and sects and parties fall; thou, O Christ, art all in all!"

I am with you in prayer and hope. Jeff McDowell

District Superintendent's 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 2018: 11/4; 12/2
In 2019: avail. On 1/13; 2/3; 3/10; 3/17; 3/31; 4/28; 5/5; 5/19; 6/2; 6/2311/4; 12/2.

SAVE THE DATE

Laity Banquet Sunday, October 14, 2018 at Club 86 in Geneva. 3:30 - 6:30 pm. 86 Avenue E, Geneva, NY 14456 $22 per person. Reservations to the District Office by October 11.

Vicki Swanson plans to provide office coverage in October as follows: October 4 8:30 am-1pm; October 9 9am-2pm; October 11 9am-2pm; October 16 9am-2pm; October 18 9am-2pm; October 22 8:30 am-2pm; October 25 9am-2pm; October 29 8:30 am-2pm. She will also have access to email, which will be check periodically throughout the month.

Clergy (& Family) Worship Event!

Wednesday November 7 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

12 North Park Street, Seneca Falls, in 2nd f loor auditorium.

Praise team leading music; DS McDowell Preaching on "Christ in YOU, the Hope of Glory!"

We will praise God, hear the Word, celebrate what God is doing, and offer prayers for one another and for the larger church. Communion will be celebrated and anointing with oil will be offered.

And YOU don't have to lead it, Pastors!

Alleluia. Please plan to attend.

Dear Church Leaders: Did you know October is Pastor Appreciation Month? Please find ways to recognize, thank God for, and celebrate the ministry of your Pastor this month!

ORGAN CONCERT

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 4 :00PM

Trumansburg United Methodist Church

Corner of South & Main Streets

featuring the c.1862 Garret House organ

Permelia and David Sears

guest organists

You are invited to join us

for a dish-to-pass dinner following the concert.

Freewill Donation

to benefit the Trumansburg Food Pantry

Bishop Webb offering fall gatherings for A Way Forward

This fall, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb is hosting six gatherings around the Conference in preparation for Special Session of General Conference to talk about Commission on a Way Forward for The United Methodist Church.

The regional gatherings will include a presentation of the plan and process of General Conference, a time to remember our mission, and worship and prayer. Click here to find the dates and times when Bishop Webb will be in your area.

The final report of the Commission on a Way Forward has been released in all four official languages of the General Conference: English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili. The report will be presented to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference. Subject to final copy editing, the report will be printed in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate (ADCA) in November. Click here to read a statement from the moderators of the Commission and the President of the Council of Bishops on the release of the report as well as access to the report in all languages.

Church Charge Conference Schedule (updated as of 9/4)

WE WILL WORSHIP TOGETHER AT ALL CHARGE CONFERENCES. PLEASE COME WITH ALL YOUR CHURCH LEADERS TO BOTH THE COMBINED WORSHIP TIMES AND THE INDIVIDUAL CHARGE CONFERENCE TIME ASSIGNED TO YOUR CHURCH.

When: Sat., Oct. 13, 2018

Where: Clifton Springs

Time: 9:00am-4:15pm

9:00am Session:

Clifton Springs

Lyons

10:15am Worship

11:15am Session:

Palmyra

Chapin

Varick

Alton

1:00pm Session:

Manchester

Aloquin-Flint

Port Gibson

Lansing

2:15pm Worship

3:15pm Session:

Seneca Castle

Waterloo

Newark 1st

When: Fri., Oct. 19, 2018

Where: Cortland 1st

Time: 7:00pm

Cortland 1st

Reynoldsville

When: Sat., Oct. 20, 2018

Where: Cortland 1st

Time: 9:00am - 4:15pm

9:00am Session:

McGraw

Virgil

10:15am Worship

11:15am Session:

Dryden

Harmony

Homer 1st

Freeville

1:00pm Session:

Ithaca: Forest Home

Scott

Cortland: Homer Ave

2:15pm Worship

3:15 Session:

Varna

Truxton-E. Homer

When: Sat., Oct. 20, 2018

Where: Penn Yan UMC

Time: 9:00am-4:15pm

9:00am Session:

Milo Center

Bluff Point

10:15am Worship

11:15am Session:

Branchport

Dundee & Dresden

Rushville

Mecklenburg

1:00pm Session:

Yatesville

Benton

Middlesex & Gorham

2:15pm Worship

3:15pm Session:

Vine Valley

Penn Yan

Newfield

Jacksonville

When: Sun. Nov. 18, 2018

Where: Wolcott:Faith UMC

Time: 2:15pm - 5:45pm

2:15pm Session:

Amazing Grace (Butler, Countryside, Victory)

Red Creek-Westbury

Clyde

Sodus 3rd

North Rose

3:30pm Worship

4:45pm Session:

Wolcott: Faith

Rose

Sodus Point

Sterling

Newark: Emmanuel

When: Fri. Nov 30

Where: Seneca Falls

Time: 7:00 pm

Seneca Falls

Geneva

When: Sun. Dec. 2, 2018

Where: Auburn UMC

Time: 2:15pm - 5:45pm

2:15pm Session:

Tyre

Mottville: St. Andrews

Port Byron

Weedsport

New Hope: Midlakes

Trumansburg

3:30pm Worship

4:45pm Session:

Cayuga

Ledyard

Moravia: Christ Church

Auburn

Ithaca: St. Paul's

Save the date for Order of Elders Gathering

Elders, mark your calendars and save the date for the Order of Elders

Gathering with the theme, "Leading with a Heart of Peace." Join Bishop Webb as he welcomes Bishop Grant Hagiya from the California-Pacific Annual Conference. The event will be held Dec. 6 from 10-3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool. All elders are expected to attend. Additional details and registration info will be released soon. Click here for more information.

Christian Transformation Leadership!

Attached you will find the brochure for our Fall Retreat that the Fingerlakes Lay Servant Ministries Team is very excited to share with you. Please share it with your congregations and anyone you know who wants to take a weekend away at beautiful Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center to learn about Christian Transformational Leadership. Our guest speaker will be Marc Brown, who is the Director of Connectional Ministries for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church as well as co-author of the book we will be using.

Why transforming Christian leadership?

The United Methodist Church has stated that "the mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." If this goal is to be fulfilled, the church needs Christian transformational leaders. This course offers a framework for understanding how lay servants can be Christian transformational leaders in their congregations, in their workplaces, and in the world.

Join others as we learn the three disciplines of Christian transformational leadership and the four qualities of Christian transformational leaders. This weekend retreat is sure to be life changing - don't miss it!

Partial scholarships are available for Lay Servants in the Finger Lakes District through the District Block Grant. Please contact me for more information.

Come to the District Laity Banquet on October 14th and be entered into a drawing for a book or partial tuition to this retreat!

Finger Lakes Lay Servant Ministries Team
Jennie Young-Walczyk, Team Leader, 603.667.8273

Join us for the 2018 Bishop's Retreat

Bishop's Retreat

October 23-25, 2018!

Genesee Grande Hotel, Syracuse, NY

"Living, Leading and Equipping for Biblical Stewardship"

Our Keynote Speaker: Dr. Clif Christopher, M. Div., CFRE Dr. Clif Christopher founded the Horizons Stewardship Company in 1992 following a challenging career in pastoral ministry. He serves as the company's CEO to this day. In his twenty years as a pastor, he led numerous major building and capital campaigns. Since founding Horizons, he and his strategists have led consultations in over 2,000 churches, conferences, synods and diocese in all phases of building, finance, and church growth.

Dr. Christopher is a certified church growth consultant and has earned the coveted title CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive). In 1995, he was given the National Circuit Rider Award by the United Methodist Church for outstanding leadership in developing vital congregations

Click Here for information and to register

Pastors and the Sacraments, and Weddings and funerals:

All pastors may perform the sacraments of communion and baptism in their local church. Ordained Elders may perform them outside the confines of their local church if there is cause for this.

Funerals may be performed by anyone, including lay speakers and lay servants.

Weddings may be performed by local pastors in the context of their church building and congregation's members, but not outside of those boundaries. Ordained Elders may perform weddings any place, with appropriate reason and coordination with local clergy so as not to impose on the work of other pastors. All pastors are responsible to provide pre-marriage counseling for couples seeking marriage. Anyone who is or is planning to become a pastor may not be certified by an online service for the purpose of performing a wedding. We do not recognize online certifications or ordinations for these purposes. No clergy are allowed to perform weddings or "hold unions" for same gender couples and none can be performed by anyone within our church buildings. This stance is up for reconsideration by our General Conference in February of 2019.

Native American Festivals

November 11 Canandaigua Treaty Celebration. 12 noon - 9 pm, Courthouse lawn, Canandaigua and Elementary Schoo l

Did You Know?

Your church has beliefs and stances we have agreed upon, called "Social Principles" which are a great study for your small groups. They are found in our Book of Discipline but can be ordered and studied through Cokesbury book store.

SAFE SANCTUARIES® TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Fayetteville United Methodist Church (Crossroads District)

Upper NY's Safe Sanctuaries® Training

WHO: Individuals who have responsibility for the safety of children, youth, and vulnerable adults in the churches' ministries such as pastors, those involved in Christian education, and youth group leaders.

This course is a prerequisite for Upper NY's Safe Sanctuaries Training of Trainers.
WHEN : Saturday, October 20, 2018 9:00 a.m. - noon Please arrive between 8:40 and 8:55 so we can begin on time.
WHERE : Fayetteville United Methodist Church, 601 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066

Class size is limited to 40 participants with priority given to those also registering for the afternoon Training of Trainers.
PRE-REGISTER by October 13 . Email Kathy Fortner from the Fayetteville UMC at [email protected] . Information needed is name, church and email address. Information about how to acquire handouts to bring with you will be emailed prior to training for participants to print, look over, and bring.
There is no charge as Ministry Shares benevolences from local churches cover the expenses.

Upper NY's Safe Sanctuaries® Training of Trainers

WHO: Individuals interested in facilitating Upper NY's Safe Sanctuaries Training as part of their District training team and/or for their local church. WHEN: Saturday, October 20, 2018 1:00-4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Fayetteville United Methodist Church, 601 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066

Lunch will be provided for those participating in both morning and afternoon sessions.

Registration is limited to 15 participants with those desiring to be a member of their District's training team having priority.

PRE-REQUISITE: Upper NY's Safe Sanctuaries 3-hour Training is a prerequisite for Training of Trainers. This can be completed in the morning or sometime since June 2016. This must be the standard learning station format facilitated by a certified UNY Safe Sanctuaries trainer. This is non-negotiable. Members of the District training team should be affirmed by their District Superintendent.
Advanced Lay Servant course credit and Continuing Education credits for clergy is available.

There is no charge as Ministry Shares benevolences from local churches cover the expenses.

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

Looking for a Local Mission to be Involved With?

Interested parties who want to schlep out muddy basements and do other home repairs in the Finger Lakes or Mountainview Districts should call the " Lodi flood phone" which will coordinate helpers coming in. That number is: 585-319-7227. Pastor Charlie Valentine is involved as District ERT and Roger Cullen is there as VIM coordinator for the conference. Recent flooding in Seneca County and throughout Pennsylvania has caused a shortage of UMCOR flood buckets within the Upper New York Conference. (see next article)

UNY Mission Central HUB is in great need of UMCOR cleaning kit supplies

They need help assembling and verifying buckets. While some of these buckets are used to help our own area, they're also used around the world. According to Mike Block, Director of Missional Engagement, and Joe Auslander, UNY Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, warehouse contents are limited, and help is critical at this time.

Click here for a list of UMCOR certified supplies used in cleaning kits and click here for your closest drop-off location. If you or a few friends can help assemble kits in the very near future at the UNY Mission Central HUB, please contact Mike Block at (315) 898-2066 or [email protected]

Students: Apply now for 2018

UNY Conference Scholarships

United Methodist high school seniors and college students are invited to apply for two scholarships offered by the Upper New York Conference: Conference Merit Awards and Lottie Brown Grants. Application forms and guidelines are available now. Click here for more information and to apply.

DEACON'S RETREAT

Be the Bridge (and Mind the Gaps)

November 7-8, 2018

Where: Upper NY Conference Center, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd.

Liverpool, NY

When: Check-in opens at 10:30 on November 7, 2018

Departure at 3:00 on November 8, 2018

Leaders: Drs. Margaret Ann Crain and Jack Seymour (co-authors of A Deacon's Heart)

Session Topics: A Deacon is Called and Sent

Who Are We?

Compassion and Justice

The Identity of a Deacon

What is the Church? An Ecclesiology that Favors Deacons

E nvisioning a Ministry that Fulfills Leading the Church in the

In-between Times

Living and Serving as a Deacon in the World

Let Us Be Bread

Cost: $55/person; includes lunch on the 7th and 8th and dinner on the 7th

Lodging arrangements are the responsibility of the participant. The Upper NY Conference has negotiated special rates at the Staybridge Suites in Liverpool; participants who choose to reserve a room at the Staybridge should indicate they are part of the C onference program.

Registration: All registrations will be processed on-line. Click here: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=eroqakuab&oeidk=a07efop0bnd5ec972ae to register.

Margaret Ann Crain is professor emerita of Christian education at Garrett-Evangelical, having become a member of the faculty in 1998. Crain served churches as a Christian educator in Missouri and North Georgia for 20 years before joining the faculty at Garrett-Evangelical.

An ordained deacon of The United Methodist Church in full connection with the Northern Illinois Conference, Margaret Ann's contributions to the academy and the Church have made her one of the most well-known and well-respected scholar practitioners in her field. She also worked tirelessly to make Garrett-Evangelical a center for training, supporting, and nurturing Deacons within the UMC.

Jack Seymour is professor emerita of Religious Education at Garrett-Evangelical, having joined the faculty in 1988, later serving as academic dean and vice-president for academic affairs from 1996-2006, director of the joint Garrett-Evangelical and Northwestern University PhD program from 1992-1996, and director of the Garrett-Evangelical PhD program from 2009-2012. Jack has published numerous articles and is the author and co-author of a number of books, including his most recent publications, Teaching the Way of Jesus: Educating Christians for Faithful Living (Abingdon, 2014) and Teaching Biblical Faith: Leading Small Group Bible Studies (Abingdon, 2015). As dean of the seminary, he supported the deacon program creatively and constantly which helped to grow it into a favorite place for students who are called to the order of deacon.

General Conference Special Sessions Registration Fees Reduced

Thanks to a $450,000 grant from United Methodist Communications (UMCom) and budget reductions identified by the General Council of Finance and Administration (GCFA) and General Conference staff, there will be no registration fees for the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference.

The Commission on the General Conference voted this week to rescind the registration fees after United Methodist Communications agreed to provide $450,000 to cover communication-related needs outside the scope of their responsibility that would normally come from the General Conference budget. Click here to learn more.

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.

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!

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]

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

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.

In 2016 a web-based resource site was created at https://www.facebook.com/groups/UNYUnitedMethodistHistoricalSociety/. In 2017 the Society began public meetings.

In 2018 a quarterly newsletter UNY Historical News & Views started. Attached is the Spring issue for Methodist members to see. The first issue can be accessed through a link at http://www.unyumc.org/news/article/whats-new-with-the-uny-historical-society.

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

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]

Volume 10, Issue 2, of the Upper New York Advocate focuses on vital congregations and leadership. The theme is "Spiritually planning our way forward." You will learn about the five markers of vitality and churches that are succeeding in those areas. You will find testimonials of pastors who are learning that VitalSigns is an incredible resource. Looking for courses or programs to strengthen your leadership? You will learn about many opportunities in this issue of the Advocate. This issue also points to dozens of resources that can help you on your path to becoming a vital congregation.

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.

Greetings, UMW members,

CLICK HERE for the Fall 2018 Newsletter.

CLICK HERE for the Winter 2018 Newsletter.

Any questions can be directed to President Mary Anjo 315 573-0553.

Subject: From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Imagine no Racism engagement

Dear Imagine No Racism Group Participants,

I am grateful to each of you for your participation in Upper New York's Imagine No Racism ministry. You are engaging in the urgent work of addressing racism in ourselves, our Church, and in our communities. This is holy work that we join our sisters and brothers throughout the Northeast Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church in doing. Thank you.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF BISHOP WEBB'S LETTER

CLICK HERE for a list of District Advocates.

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

Workshop and Conference Sponsored by the Voyagers

For Leaders and Coaches: Clergy, Educators, Therapists

Location: Buffalo, New York Area

The Voyagers are a gathering of clergy and church leaders exploring Bowen family systems theory and its application to congregations and leadership by Rabbi Edwin Friedman. We believe that the factual approach of Murray Bowen that underlies his theory and the creative and imaginative use of theory by Edwin Friedman provide a unique understanding of human functioning for life, leadership, coaching, and ministry.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - Bowen Theory Introduction and Application

Location: Westin Hotel, Buffalo Time and Cost: TBA

Thursday, November 15, 2018 - Conference with Dr. Michael Kerr

Theme - Bowen Theory's Secrets: The Hidden Life of Families

Location: Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY

Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Cost: TBA

For information and early bird registration,

contact Rev. Robert Spilman, [email protected]

phone: 716-479-7933

363 Darwin Drive, Amherst, NY 14226

Puerto Rico Mission Trip

Last chance to sign up for the team!

Is God calling you to be part of the solution in working with the people of Puerto Rico as they recover from Hurricane Maria? The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico is ready to host teams as they serve rebuilding in their country.

Join the Finger Lakes District Mission Team: January 19-26, 2019

Accommodations-Retreat Center or local church--bunks, meals, water, transportation to worksites.

Cost: $1200 includes airfare

Contact: Pastor Beth Bouwens at [email protected] or call 607-346-6634

Red Bird Mission 2018

CLICK HERE for shoebox information for Red Bird 2018. Please consider being part of this vital mission. If you have any questions, please let us know, you can contact the Endwell UMC at 607-754-5735 or Dave Alexander at 607-743-8955.

Aloquin-Flint Church will again serve as a distribution center for the boxes. Their address is:

2760 State Route 5 & 20

Stanley, NY 14561

Please contact David Mott, 585-526-6713 to set up drop off time.

New- Back-to-school blessing

Each new school year brings a new journey, a new chapter, and maybe some anxiety. Make the transition easier by praying or meditating.

Click here to watch a video on how to help prepare your hearts and minds for the upcoming school year for teachers, students, and everyone who works with children.