Mohawk District E-newsletter for Churches and Pastors July 31, 2019

Mohawk District Office Update The week of Aug. 4, 2019, the District Office is OPEN Aug. 8 and 9. The week of Aug. 11, 2019 the District Office is OPEN Aug. 12 and 13. Messages will be checked, mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org, 315-797-1777.

Walking with you in Ministry Share this Mohawk District E-newsletter as a resource to help the work of promoting the missions, ministries and events of the Mohawk District. Utilize it with your church's staff, teams and organizations. Anyone can subscribe to have the e-news sent right to your own inbox. Just send us your email address. If you want to include news in this publi- cation, send it a minimum of eight days in advance to: mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org   To catch up on the latest, past e-newsletters are conveniently archived on the Conference website at: http://www.unyumc.org/district/mohawk Prayer Focus Week of August 4th Camden UMC and Cleveland UMC Pastor Wendy Morrison Prayers for Pastor Jim and Marge Barnes and family (Van Hornesville UMC). Jim is in need of healing prayers for his hip. Send cards to: Durgin Pines Pastor Jim Barnes, Room 148 9 Lewis Road Kittery, ME 03904 Click here for a copy of the 2019-20 Prayer Calendar

Time to Register for Bishop's Retreat The 2019 Bishop's Retreat is October 22-24, 2019 at the RIT Inn and Conference Center in Rochester, NY. The theme is, “Biblical Risk Takers” and the keynote speaker is the Rev. Grace Imathiu.

Register or Find Information

Mission Collection Begins As you begin your fall planning, please consider a collection for Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky. Items and shoe boxes are needed for Christmastime. See a complete list and details of drop off dates and needed gifts and supplies. Click here for info.

New York State has mandated Sexual Harassment Policies and Sexual Harassment Prevention training for all employers. This means churches too . If your church has any of the following as staff: Deacon Pastor/lay pastor Choir Director Organist Custodian Child Care Worker Church Nursery School Teacher Sexton Praise Band or any others hired by your church, then New York State is requiring your church as the employer to provide them with a Sexual Harassment Policy and Sexual Harassment Prevention training by Oct. 9, 2019 . Our District wants to help you with this. We are not required to, but want to assist to help your church comply with the law. If you choose not to take this help in the form of a training on Sept. 15, 2019, then you may make your own plan to acquire training materials and get your pastor and staff trained. This is not optional. Everyone must comply. We sent notices out in the e-news last Fall/Winter but have heard this is still not understood by churches. Please make sure your church SPRC and employees are aware of this.

Find More Info on Policies and Training

Adirondack District Invites All to Join in for Summer and Fall Lay Servant Learning Opportunities ‌

Basic Lay Servant Course This course is the foundation for all the other Lay Servant courses. You will be encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended. Participants are invited to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a leader and in mission and ministry in the community and in daily life. Cost: $15  includes the text book.          Sat., Aug. 17, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. & Sun., Aug. 18, 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. Please bring a bag lunch/dinner. A microwave and refrigerator are available. Malta Ridge UMC, 729 Malta Ave. Ext, Malta NY 12020 Facilitators: Arlene Schmidt and Bruce Hazard For information or to register, contact Arlene Schmidt, adschmidt@nycap.rr.com     Advanced Course: Leading Prayer Praying in public can be daunting, but prayer is something one learns. This course on praying in public will help the participant grow in confidence and skill in public prayer and enrich one’s personal prayer life. Thurs., Aug. 15, 6-9 p.m., Tues., Aug. 20, 6-9 p.m.  & Sat., Aug. 24, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fortsville UMC, 402 Fortsville Rd., Gansevoort , NY 12831             Please bring a bag lunch for Saturday. $15 registration--- Does not include Text. “Shaping the Prayers of the People: The Art of Intersession”  can be ordered from www.cokesbury.com or Amazon before the class. Facilitators: Bruce Hazard and Arlene Schmidt  For information or to register, contact Arlene Schmidt, adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.                                          Advanced Course: Called to Preach Called to Preach is designed for those who have not completed formal preaching training, for pastors seeking a basic refresher course, and for others who are called upon to preach in a pastor’s absence. Called to Preach is the required preaching course in the lay speaker track of study. Saturdays: Sept. 7 and 21, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Round Lake UMC, 34 George Ave., Round Lake, NY 12151             Please bring a bag lunch. Pastor Danyal Mohammadzadeh is the instructor from Living Hope UMC, Waterford, NY   $15 registration —Does not include the text. “The Four Pages of the Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching” by Paul Scott. Wilson.  Click here For information or to register, contact Arlene Schmidt, adschmidt@nycap.rr.com     Advanced Course: Lead Worship "Leading Worship" focuses on the ministry of the lay servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group or congregation in worship. The course will help participants understand the history of Christian worship, paying particular attention to the development of current United Methodist ritual and ritual resources, the basic pattern of worship, the Christian year, and the Revised Common Lectionary. This is one of the courses needed for Certified Lay Speaker.  Please bring a bag lunch. Facilitators: Bruce Hazard and Arlene Schmidt $15 Registration –Does not include the book. “Worshipping with United Methodist” by Hoyt L. Hickman (revised edition).   Click here Sat., Oct. 26, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sat., Nov. 2, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. South Glens Falls UMC, 15 Maplewood Pkwy, South Glens Falls, NY 12083 For information or to register, contact Arlene Schmidt, adschmidt@nycap.rr.com

Regretfully, the Christian Family Retreat is Cancelled The Christian Family Retreat, that was to be Sept. 13-14, at Sky Lake has been cancelled.

Tending the Soul is a program designed to train individuals in Missional Spiritual Direction and Congregational Formation. The two-year training program offers learning and formational experiences in classroom and small group settings. Along with one-on-one soul care in a more formal spiritual direction setting, this training moves participants toward a posture of spiritual direction within the wider context of the neighborhood of one’s work, travel, and life in community. The program will be held at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center and will begin in November 2019. Click the link, Tending the Soul, for more details about this opportunity.

Pastor Area Connect Groups are for all those serving a local church as the Pastoral or Deacon Leader North PAC 10 a.m., First Thursday of each month, Boonville UMC  West PAC 10 a.m., Aug. 1, Rome: First UMC

Transforming Conflict A 2-Retreat Series on Transforming Conflict for United Methodist  Clergy and Servant Leaders of the Upper New York Conference.   Time & Place: Western Series at Camp Asbury -  Sponsored by the Mountain View District, Rev. Nancy Adams, DS Session One - September 18 & 19, 2019 (W/Th)* Session Two - October 9 & 10, 2019 (W/Th)*                     Eastern Series at Camp Aldersgate - Sponsored by the Northern Flow District, Rev. Mike Weeden, Session One - September 25 & 26, 2019 (W/Th)*    Session Two - October 16 & 17 (W/Th) All sessions begin with lunch at 12:15 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. Thurs.   Cost:                   West: Early Registration - $626   After August 15 - $676** East: Early Registration - $562/commuter rate is $400 After August 15 - $612**/commuter rate is $450                                                                 Maximum # of Participants / Series: 20

Register Now

All those serving the local church: Deacon/Pastor/Lay Pastor Save the date: At 3 p.m., Sept. 15, there is a District Day with worship, church conference orientation, supper and an evening session with sexual harassment prevention training at First UMC of New Hartford . All those serving the local church under appointment or assignment are expected to attend this District Day.

Sidewalk Prophets Coming to Norwich, NY, Aug. 9, 2019

Time for Vacation Bible School!

Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 First UMC 105 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY 13413 All kids age 5- entering 6th grade Register at: http://firstumconline.org/kids-day-out-registration-form August 5-7 5-7 p.m. Lowell United Methodist Church 5840 Lowell Road, Rome, NY

<>< <>< <>< <>< Vernon Center Old Home Day 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 3 On Route 26, 1 mile south of Route 5 . Parade, food. BBQ Chicken dinners in the afternoon. Kids’ Tractor Pull at Noon. Crafts, collectibles, flea market, pony rides, antique cars and tractors.  <>< <>< <>< <>< Clergy Breakfast    All Clergy in Mohawk District are invited for breakfast at Denny's, 8548 Seneca Turnpike, New Hartford, 8:30 a.m. each Thursday for a time of fellowship.  For questions, contact Becky Guthrie at becky@firstumconline.org <>< <>< <>< <><

<>< <>< <>< <>< Chicken Barbecue Aug. 11, 2019 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. United Church of Canastota 144 Center St., Canastota $11 per meal/Drive thru Find a flyer here <>< <>< <>< <>< Ava UMC will celebrate their 150 th anniversary With a concert and hymn sing, “Come Christians, Join to Sing” 3 p.m., Aug. 18, at West Leyden Elementary, 1157 Fish Creek Rd., West Leyden, NY

Mohawk District Office 105 Genesee Street New Hartford, NY 13413 mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org 315-797-1777 Please use back entrance (full glass door) for Mohawk District **Office Hours: Generally Tues., Wed., Thurs., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, Other times by appointment.

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