Mohawk District E-newsletter for Churches and Pastors
January 29, 2020

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You Don't Have to
Go It Alone--Come to
the Leadership Summit
for Direction and Learning


Registration for the
Upcoming Mohawk
Feb. 1 is held over.
Get registered today!
If you want to include news
to the Mohawk District in
this publication, send
a minimum of eight
days in advance to:

  To catch up on the latest,
past e-newsletters
are conveniently archived
on the Conference website at:
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Prayer Focus


Week of February 2


Maynard UMC

and

West Schuyler UMC


Pastor Susan Holland


Also, healing prayers
are needed for
Pastor Susan Holland,
Maynard/West Schuyler
UMCs, who is having
surgery Feb 5th now.


Click here for a copy of
the 2019-20 Prayer Calendar
Mrs. Virginia Magee - 1926 to 2019

Prayers for the family of Virginia Magee , who died Dec. 15, 2019. Virginia was the surviving spouse of Rev. Morton Magee. Prior to Rev. Magee's death in 2013, he served at the former South Ilion, North Columbia and Columbia Center UMCs, Remsen UMC, Prospect: Park UMC, Vernon UMC, the former Willowvale UMC, Sauquoit UMC and Vienna UMC. Condolences may be sent to Virginia's daughter, Doris Magee, 65 Oakdale Dr., New Hartford, NY 13413.

Registration is extended to 9 a.m, Jan. 30
(No child care is provided due to lack of sign-ups for child care.)

Churches and Pastors:
Registration is held over for the District Leadership Summit Feb. 1, 2020 . The District Superintendent would love to see all clergy, lay pastors and local church leaders in attendance.
Please send in your registrations right away and no later than 9 a.m., 1-30-2020.
Walk-in registrations also will be allowed but sending your registration in advance helps us to be ready for you with materials and lunch. This Summit provides valuable information and training for your entire church. Find more info and a registration form by clicking the button to the right!
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Important Dates to Remember

Only 2 1/2 weeks until the deadline! Don't delay, start today!
The Ezra site is now open to enter the church statistical data. The 2019 Statistical data is due by Sat., February 15, 2020. This information is entered and saved online.

Report of the Trustees - due by Sat., February 15, 2020. Send to Mohawk District.

Report of the Finance Committee - due by Sat., Feb. 15, 2020. Send to Mohawk District.

The 2019 annual audit of your church financial records are due to the District Superintendents on  Sun., March 15, 2020 .
Highlighting Disability Awareness Weekend
Feb. 2-3, 2020
At the 2018 UNY Annual Conference a petition was adopted for local churches to promote a Disability Awareness Weekend the first weekend in February.
 
The UNY Accessibility Committee recommends a Disability Aware-ness Weekend for a special offering and for promotion of awareness issues as well as ministries that enhance inclusion of people with disabilities.
 
Rev. Melissa McCarthy, Committee Chair, has provided resources to help your church broaden their awareness of disability issues. Find them on the Conference website, click here.
Regional Superintendency Plan
Jan. 18th Bishop Webb shared with the UNY Conference the Cabinet's plan for Regional Superintendency beginning July 1.
What does this mean? How will it work? Find more info here!
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Upper New York Imagine No Racism through preaching contest deadline extended
The Upper New York Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CCORR) is welcoming submissions of sermons designed to call out and dismantle racism. A panel of judges will recognize the sermon that most effectively engages and motivates listeners to imagine and build a world free of racism. The Pastor, Lay Preacher, or Deacon preaching this sermon will be honored at Annual Conference. Excerpts of the sermon will be shared in a variety of ways. The individual with the winning sermon will also be given collaborative access to our Conference staff to develop a promotional video for their church. The deadline for sermon submission has been extended to Feb. 29, 2020 .

Click here to learn what judges will be looking for in the videos and to find out how to submit the videos. 
Find Out About Ministry Opportunities for YOU in Disaster Response Assistance in this Letter from the Conference Disaster Response Team - Training Reg. Closes 2-1-2020
We could use any and all help to prepare and organize our abilities to assist those effected by Disasters. The Mohawk , Adirondack, Albany, Binghamton, and Oneonta District s could use some special help in requesting ERT folks to assist in times of weather issues. ERT’s are trained to be ready if and when a disaster occurs in their area. If available, they help other areas too.
 
So where can you receive more information and training to become an Early Responder? Attend one of two Basic Early Response training events.
 
  • Feb. 8 at Broad St. UMC, Norwich , NY.
Registration at http://bit.ly/20ERTNorwich
  • Feb. 29 at N. Chatham UMC.
Registration at http://bit.ly/20ERTNChatham .
 
The Conference Disaster Response Team
Mike Block, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator
Serve hungry and homeless veterans alongside
the Upper New York United Methodist Men

Churches are invited to join in this mission opportunity by collecting food at church. Please display a box from Feb. 2-29 dedicated to Feed Our Vets . Donations may be brought to 587 Main St., New York Mills, NY, 8-9 a.m., Sat., Feb. 29 th . To make other arrangements or for information, contact Mark Jones, 315-749-3700, or msjwelshman@yahoo.com . See the flyer and prayer below about this tremendous mission.
Equalization Members to Annual Conf.
Each year additional voting members to Annual Conference are needed to balance the votes between non-clergy and clergy, in other words, make the number of non-clergy votes equal to the number of clergy votes. To achieve this, each District in the UNY Conference is allowed to select a predetermined number of extra non-clergy to vote on behalf of the District. If you would like to serve in this capacity, please fill out the application and return it to Mohawk District. The District Superintendent and District Lay Leader will review the applications and invite some to serve. All applicants will be notified following this process. For those invited to serve as equalization members, they may register upon receiving notification they are invited to serve.

  • Call to Preach, which is the required preaching course in the lay speaker track of study, 8:30 to 11 a.m., Saturdays, beginning Feb.15, at MANLIUS UMC, 111 Wesley St., Manlius. Interested students can print and complete the application form, have it signed by your pastor and return it to Manlius UMC, P.O. Box 177, Manlius NY 13104 with a check payable to "UNYAC" in the sum of $10.00 by Feb. 4, 2020. Please Note: This class is limited to six participants. Each participant is required to order in advance the participant's book, "From Pew to Pulpit", by Clifton F. Guthrie (available through Cokesbury.com, Amazon.com or any other bookstore). For more information, please contact Pastor Joseph Kim at church office  (315) 682-8021; cell (315) 530-8568 ; jkim1107@gmail.com

  • CHANGE - Lay Servants as Transformational Leaders with Bob Mueller, at Marcellus UMC, Tuesdays, March 3 through March 31. This class is not a required class but is offered to those who have completed the Basic class and beyond. Click here for the registration form. Contact Bob for more information Mueller915@yahoo.com

  • Lay Speakers Tell Stories: Dancing with Words, 6 to 9 p.m. on the following dates: Monday, April 6; Tuesdays, April 14, 21, 28 and May 5, at Malta Ridge UMC, 729 Malta Ave. Ext., Ballston Spa 12020. To register, contact Arlene Schmidt at adschmidt@nycap.rr.com .
  
  • Advanced Course: From Your Heart to Theirs, 6 to 9 p.m. on the following dates: May 14; May 20; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 23, at Saratoga UMC, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs (12866). To register, contact Arlene Schmidt at adschmidt@nycap.rr.com .
Lenten Group Bible Study
The United Church of Canastota is offering a six- session Lenten Group Bible Study leading up to Easter Sunday. The Presentation, "Living the Story of Christ's Last Days", by Rob Fuquay, will follow the biblical story of the Passion right up to Christ's death on the cross. Sessions begin with prayer and a DVD presentation, followed with a Scripture Lesson and group discussion.  
 The Group Study begins 6 - 7 p.m., Sunday evening, March 1, at United Church of Canastota, 144 Center Street, and continues Sundays through April 5. The study is free and open to all with advance registration by February 16th. Participant books will be provided. Register by leaving a message with your name and phone number on the church office phone, 315-697-9222, or call Pastor Ken at 315-254-6673.    
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Super Sunday Chicken BBQ
The United Church of Canastota,
144 Center St, is hosting a
Super Sunday chicken BBQ
and you’re invited! Our drive-thru
event starts 11 a.m., Sun., Feb. 2. 
Better get there early for a
half chicken, salt taters, beans,
slaw, roll/butter and a dessert
for just $11! Drive up, pay and
drive away--the perfect meal
for your game day party!

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  Spaghetti and Meatballs Dinner
4 to 7 p.m., Sat., Feb. 29,
Ava Hilltop UMC,
State Route 26, Ava.
Menu: Spaghetti, meatballs, salad,
garlic bread, cookies
Price: $10 adult meal, 
$5 child meal ages 5 to 12,
free meal for child younger than 5.
Take-outs available.
Bring the whole family for a winter treat.
Questions? Call Betty-Ann 315-942-3210.

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Spaghetti Dinner
From 4:30 – 6 p.m., Feb. 8, the South Otselic UMC youth group is hosting
a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the
church followed by a bluegrass
Gospel music concert. A
freewill donation is accepted.
The dinner includes: spaghetti/meatballs, tossed salad, garlic bread, drink,
dessert. The Concert is 6-8 p.m. and features “The Gospel Way,” a bluegrass Gospel music group.
Click here for a flyer.


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Spaghetti Dinner
    A spaghetti dinner fundraiser for
the Nicaragua Medical mission
takes place 4-6:30 p.m.,
Sat., Feb. 8, at
Oneida First Presbyterian Church,
304 Broad St., Oneida, NY. 
Returnable bottles/cans and loose
change are also being collected. All proceeds benefit the medicine fund. 
Take out meals are available.

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Mohawk District Office
105 Genesee Street
New Hartford, NY 13413
315-797-1777

Please use back entrance (full glass door) for Mohawk District

Office Hours:
Tues., Wed., Thurs., 9:30 to 6 p.m,