Mountain View District Newsletter
|
|
Words From Rev. Nancy Adams
|
Hello, Friends,
As many of you know, our office moved on Monday from Corning to Bath. While it is exciting, it is also, not surprisingly, a lot of work. When you see Patti Gridley, give her a GREAT BIG thank you for all she did to coordinate the move, along with doing the bulk of the packing, unpacking, and organizing. Thanks also to Veronica Seeley for investigating and finding the space for us, and to Eleanor Collinsworth for welcoming us to Bath and bringing us goodies from the bakery! The people at Five Star Bank have been very welcoming and helpful. We have felt nothing but support, for which we are grateful.
Not to be missed in all the busy-ness of moving amid keeping up with the regular duties of our work, is the celebration of Pentecost this coming Sunday. Pentecost is my 3
rd
favorite day of the year after Easter and Christmas Eve, in that order. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and the Church was born. (Read Acts 2:1-21).
May each of us sense the fresh breath of the Holy Spirit this Sunday – and beyond. How is the Holy Spirit moving in your life? In your congregation? On our District? In our Conference? Our denomination? Our country? Our world?
One of my continual prayers is to not get in the way of the Holy Spirit and the ways He is moving among us. Speaking of the Holy Spirit, the 4
th
verse of “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness,” #2120 in “The Faith We Sing,” says, “You call from tomorrow, You break ancient schemes, from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams, our women see visions, our men clear their eyes, with bold new decisions Your people arise.” May that be so of us, Mountain View District! Come Holy Spirit!
With You in the Journey,
Nancy
|
|
|
|
Bishop Webb's Appointment Announcements
|
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has announced two new appointments and 17 retirements, pending approval at the 2018 Clergy Session. View the full list of changes
here
|
|
Mountain View District Office
is NOW located in Bath!
The Mountain View District Office is now up and running in our new office space in Bath, NY. We are still trying to get settled in.
We still have some things to finish up with in Corning.
Our
location address
is: 35 Wilkes Ave., Suite 101, in Bath, NY 14810. (we are located behind the Five Star Bank on Liberty St.) Our
mailing address
is: PO Box 706, Bath, NY 14810. Our phone, fax and emails are still the same.
|
|
Upper New York Conference – Safe Sanctuaries® Team
SAFE SANCTUARIES®
TRAINING
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 9:00 a.m.-noon
Upper New York United Methodist Center
WHO
: Individuals with responsibility for the safety of children, youth, and vulnerable adults in the churches’ ministries such as pastors, those responsible for Christian education, and youth group leaders. Upper New York staff members with interest or responsibilities related to Safe Sanctuaries.
(This course is a prerequisite for Upper NY’s Safe Sanctuaries Training of Trainers which is offered several time a year at various location around Upper New York)
WHEN
:
Wednesday, June 20 9:00 a.m.-noon
Please arrive between 8:40 and 8:55 so we can begin on time.
WHERE
: United Methodist Center, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd, Liverpool, N.Y. 13088
Meeting Room B
If unable to use on-line form, please register by contacting Carol Barnes,
carolb@htva.net
or 607-687-4793
A link to handouts will be emailed prior to training for participants to print and bring.
QUESTIONS:
Questions about the course should be directed to Carol Barnes at
carolb@htva.net
or 607-687-4793.
There is no charge as Ministry Shares benevolences from local churches cover the expenses.
|
|
Constitutional Amendment on Gender Justice to be Revisited
|
The Rev. Gary W. Graves, Secretary of the General Conference, announced last week that an error was made in the text of a proposed Constitutional amendment as it was presented for voting, and which subsequently failed to pass. Amendment #1 of the five constitutional amendments that were approved by the 2016 General Conference--and which narrowly failed to be ratified--included a sentence which had been removed by the legislative body.
The sentence that was inadvertently included in the version of the distributed amendment read, "The United Methodist Church recognizes it is contrary to Scripture and to logic to say that God is male or female, as maleness and femaleness are characteristics of human bodies and cultures, not characteristics of the divine."
Rev. Graves said that when he was made aware of the error, he immediately began to take corrective action. Rev. Graves expressed regret that the mistake occurred and said it was simply a matter of human error. "A new ballot is being prepared for voting by Annual Conferences at their next meeting; however, some conferences will not meet again until 2019," said Graves.
|
|
Download the May Issue II of the Bridge
|
The May Issue II 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. This issue features Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb's letter about the Commission on a Way Forward's meeting with the Council of Bishops this month and the recommendation that will be sent to the special session of General Conference to be held in St. Louis, MO in February of 2019. This issue also includes a heart-felt story about churches and children who have been raising funds in memory of a young boy.
|
|
|
|
The Accessibility Committee is in need of volunteers!
|
If you are willing to be an extra set of hands to help at one or more of the lunch/supper meals we could use the help. You will have to have a brief training before the meal time, and read a brief article on accessibility etiquette so that we can be God's love to our sisters and brothers while respecting their independence. Please contact Cher McCotter at
chermccotter@moldeddevices.com
if you have some time to assist.
|
|
Seeking long-term volunteers at the UNY Mission Central HUB
|
The Upper New York Mission Central HUB, located at the UNY United Methodist Center in Liverpool, is currently seeking long-term volunteers to train and lead teams in assembling UMCOR flood buckets, health kits, school kits, and more. There will be many opportunities for these volunteers to lead inspiring missional engagement throughout the year-the first opportunity will be May 30, assisting members across the UNY Conference in assembling flood buckets and health kits. Contact Mike Block, UNY Director of Missional Engagement at
mikeblock@unyumc.org
or (315) 898-2066 for more information.
|
|
|
Microphone Monitors Needed for Annual Conference
Plenary Sessions
|
Please consider this an invitation to serve at this year's Annual Conference as a Microphone Monitor. A seat will be reserved for you near the floor microphones. Your main responsibility is to facilitate the generation of an amendment form as people come to the mike to speak. The speaker will complete the form containing the proposed change to the motion. The originator keeps a copy (the third page, I believe). I will pick up the completed form and distribute the copies as necessary.
As a microphone monitor you may also be asked to back up the tellers and help us enforce the "bar of the Conference."
If we can identify enough volunteers the plan is that there will also be a 'floater' during each plenary session who, if needed, will be able to take over should the designated monitor need to take a ten minute personal break.
Please reply to let me know whether you would be able to serve in this capacity. If you can help, please confirm the best email address to use as well as a cell phone number to use should a text message or call need to be made during the Conference.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jan Rothfuss, Assistant to the Conference Secretary
|
|
Educational Opportunities
|
|
Right Start Workshop- For Pastors
The Mountain View & Binghamton District's are once again teaming up to present the Right Start Workshop. These workshops are offered to those Pastors that will be experiencing a change in their appointment or are retiring from ministry as of July 1st.
Mountain View & Binghamton District are hosting:
WHEN:
May 24th, 2018
WHERE:
Waverly UMC
TIME:
9:00am-3:00pm
|
|
2018-19 Course of Study Buffalo Extension
|
The Buffalo Course of Study Extension is a program of the UMC designed to help equip local pastors for ministry.
The summer session of Course of Study, Buffalo, NY Extension School is
August 10-11
and
September 13-14
, 2018.
Registration is due by June 11
.
Tuition is due by June 26.
|
|
|
"The Life and Thought of Charles Wesley"
|
June Intensive course being offered
WHEN:
Monday-Friday, June 11-15
WHERE:
Colgate Rochester Divinty School
1100 South Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14620
TIME:
8:30am-3:30pm
COST:
The cost for auditing a class is $150. for clergy or almuni/ae and $300 for others.
DESCRIPTION:
"This course is an in-depth study of Charles Wesley's life and thought. Charles "the other Wesley," was a major contributor and shaper of the Wesleyan tradition - in terms of his evangelism, hymns, and the challenges of living a happily married life in the midst of the relentless demands of ministry. This examination Charles' work will be set in the context of his life and times and based on a close reading of important primary and secondary resources. Particular attention will be paid to the on-going relevance of his work for contemporary Christian practitioners in the Wesleyan theological tradition."
Further information about auditing can be found on the CRCDS website, or you can contact
John R.Tyson
directly.
|
|
Annual Conference Information
|
|
UPDATE - The 9th Session of
the Upper New York Annual Conference
May 30 - June 2, 2018
|
This year, the Annual Conference is at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College (OCC). GPS address is: 4585 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY, 13215.
Registration for Annual Conference closed April 29. The next opportunity to register will be at the Annual Conference registration table. All on-site registrations at the Annual Conference Session are increased by $50 (same as previous years).
Please click on the following links to learn more about a specific topic:
Meals
All meals will be buffet style with the exception of special banquets. New this year is a Continental-style breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday, welcoming guests as they arrive.
Click here
to learn more about the meal service and what's to eat around OCC;
click here
to view the lunch and dinner menu May 31-June 2.
Click here
to view the Wholely Grounds menu at the ROAD, a coffee house and New Faith community at 4845 W. Seneca Turnpike.
MFSA
Questions: Contact
David Wood at (315) 364-8756
Click here
to sign up to help with this mission project!
|
|
May 19:
Right Start Workshop (Northern Flow & Crossroads) -
Details
May 20:
Heritage Sunday
May 20:
Open House (Sky Lake)
-
Details
May 20:
5K Trail Run and Walk (Sky Lake)
-
Details
May 22:
Right Start Workshop (Niagara Frontier & Cornerstone) -
Details
May 22:
Right Start Workshop (Genesee Valley & Finger Lakes)
-
Details
May 24:
Right Start Workshop (Mountain View & Binghamton) -
Details
May 27:
Peace with Justice Sunday
May 30:
Mission Central HUB Mission Project -
Details
May 31-June 2
Annual Conference (OCC)-
Details
|
|
Rev. Nancy Adams
District Superintendent
Patti Gridley
Administrative Assistant
PO Box 706
35 Wilkes Ave., Suite 101
(607) 962-8047
Check out our Facebook Page
|
|
The United Methodist Center of Upper New York
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
(315) 898-2000
Toll-Free (855) 424-7878
Fax (315) 898-2150
|
|
|
|
Camps & Retreat Centers
or call toll free- 855-414-6400
Safety & Security for your Organization:
Click here
|
|
Mountain View District Office| Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church | 607-962-8047 | 607-962-8045 | mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org |
Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
