Issue Date: August 5th, 2021 |
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1. Charge Conference dates will soon be scheduled for the fall season. Revised forms will be out by mid-august. Pastors and Lay Leaders are responsible to fully complete them.
2. An excellent Lay Servant retreat / training day is set for Saturday August 21. Please see flyer in this issue and sign up to attend! All are welcome. Pastors can get 7 CEU contact hour credit!
3. Give a little to Casowasco to repair buildings after recent flooding!
Your Tabula Rasa: a blank slate. I do not know what tomorrow will bring; but for today I will work and worship and pray and trust the Lord who has made me. Do you know what this week / month / year holds for you? Sometimes I think that life is mostly what we make of it; that we have a ‘tabula rasa,’ or blank slate with which to create our life’s story. God has given us the blank slate, the chalk, and the time, so all we need to do is get up the holy gumption to begin writing. I know there are many things you cannot control, but for what you can control, are you doing everything to the good of others and the glory of God? God asks us the age—old question through Micah: “What does the Lord require from you? To do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” (6:8) I think you can do anything you set your mind to if you dedicate it to God and plan to succeed. If I am wrong, feel free to come back to me and complain, but give it a few months of trial first. Choose what it is you think God is calling you to do, give it a try, and see what happens! Here is another encouraging word from the Lord: “Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us. . ..” (Eph. 3:20)
Welcome to our District, the following churches: BARTON, HALSEY VALLEY, LITCHFIELD, LOUNSBERRY, NICHOLS, SMITHBORO, SPENCER, TIOGA, and WAVERLY!
Welcome to our District, the following pastors: GINGER PANTEL, RICHARD VANDERPOOL, CHRIS WOODCOCK, ALAN BILL, CINDY SHULTE, GRACE WARREN, DELMA WEST and MARY JEAN SIMONIN.
A word from Wesley
"Nothing conduces more to health than abstinence and food with due labor," Wesley wrote in his 1747 book, "Primitive Physick: or An Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Disease."
"Primitive Physick" was a best-seller in Wesley's day. He first published it anonymously.
"It sold more books than anything that he ever wrote," said Randy Maddox, a John Wesley specialist who teaches at Duke University in Durham, N.C.
I am with you in Christ! -Jeff McDowell-
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Mountain View District Office
Open By Appointment Only
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At this time visits to the office are by appointment ONLY.
Office is open: Mon.-Thurs.
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From the desk of Mountain View District Associate:
Rev. Michael J Kelly
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I hope all of you have enjoyed watching the Olympics the last few days. We see 206 countries represented by over 11,000 athletes. I for one, have been so impressed by the kindness and sportsmanship that has been on display throughout these games. I am overjoyed when I see two runners collide and fall to the ground, with no apparent malice, and watch them help each other up, and trot across the finish line together. TOGETHER!
We remember the words from hymn number 558 from our United Methodist Hymnal:
I am the church!
You are the church!
We are the church TOGETHER!
All who follow Jesus,
all around the world!
Yes, we’re the church TOGETHER!
In all my years, not only as a clergy member, but even as laity I have never experienced the blatant disrespect that I am seeing and have experienced personally as now. Friends read these words from this hymn. Often our meetings are held under fire, battles between members, battles involving clergy, our Superintendents, our Conference and the denomination. The principles that we hold true with holy conferencing have been thrown out the window. General decency and kindness are long gone. Our churches are under attack by outsiders, so therefore, we need to unite, not just as United Methodist, but as Christians. We cannot let this happen, for there is only one winner when it does. Again using the words of a well known hymn:
“It is Finished:”
There's a line that is drawn through the ages
On that line stands an old rugged cross
On that cross, a battle is raging
To gain a man's soul or it's loss
On one side, march the forces of evil
All the demons, all the devils of hell
On the other, the angels of glory
And they meet on Golgotha's hill
The earth shakes with the force of the conflict
And the sun refuses to shine
For there hangs God's son, in the balance
And then through the darkness he cries
It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord
Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making
I didn't know that the war had been won
Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages
Had fought all the battles for me
And that victory was mine for the claiming
And now praise his name, I am free
It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord
But is IT? We need to refocus and be His church, TOGETHER!
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Bishop Announces Clergy Appointments |
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce appointments and retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
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FAITH IN ACTION
WHEN: Oct. 1-2, 2021
WHERE: Camp Casowasco
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Effective July 1, 2021, eligibility rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program have been changed. This change creates a new opportunity for clergy members and other employees of not-for-profit organizations engaged in faith-based work to potentially have certain student loans forgiven under the PSLF Program.
The PSLF Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and designed to support careers in public service. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance of an eligible individual’s student loans that were provided under the federal government’s Direct Loan Program (or consolidated into a Direct Loan) after the individual has made 120 qualifying monthly payments.
To be eligible for loan forgiveness, an individual must be working full-time for a qualifying employer and meet other eligibility requirements. Not-for-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code—such as local churches, annual conferences, church-controlled agencies and church-associated organizations—can be qualifying employers. In the past, applicable rules excluded applicants from counting hours spent on “religious instruction, worship, and any form of proselytizing” toward the full-time work requirement. The Department of Education has removed this exclusion effective July 1.
The PSLF Program’s eligibility requirements and application process are complex. Clergy members and lay employees who are interested in learning more about the PSLF Program and the recent change are encouraged to visit the Department of Education’s PSLF Program website.
The information above should not be considered legal or tax advice. Individuals, annual conferences, local churches, or other employers or parties should consult with their own counsel and other advisers.
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Workshop From General Council on Finance & Administration |
What you really need to know about housing allowances:
DATE: Tuesday, August 10, 2021
TIME: 7:30 p.m. EDT
PRESENTERS: Ken Sloane & Bryan Mills
Each year when we do the special clergy tax webinar, we get more questions about the Housing Allowance than any other topic. And the questions come not just from clergy, but from Finance Committee members, Treasurers, and SPRC chairs as well. So for the first time, we are going to offer a webinar for laity and clergy to help churches better understand this special provision and how it can be a blessing to everyone! Join Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship & Generosity and his guest Bryan Mills, General Counsel for the General Council on Finance & Administration, as we bring clarity to an often confusing topic.
Something new: we will be offering an opportunity to send in questions ahead of time with your registration!
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LAY SERVANT COURSE OFFERED
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
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Note* - Because of COVID, the Conference Team of Lay Servant Ministries is extending a year of grace to everyone who needed to take an Advanced Lay Servant Course in 2020 so you now have through 2021 to take a course to keep your certification up-to-date
7/8/2021
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From the Mountain View District Lay Ministry Team |
When Jesus called his disciples, those he would teach, heal and pray for, he chose everyday folks. Fishermen, tax collectors, farmers, and such were called, and nudged by God with a longing to follow and serve. We today as Lay Servants have been called as well in such a way and if you had not noticed, times have changed a bit.
We are faced with different challenges in our discipleship and so it is vital that we, the hands and feet of Jesus in the world, called to teach, preach, healing and leading take time to gather together. We gather to encourage, support, and provide teaching to help us in our ministries…Jesus said it best when he prayed for his disciples and then all believers; “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:25-26
You are not alone in your ministry. Our Mountain View District Lay Servant Team has planned a time of gathering in the Spirit on August 21st, from 9-5 pm. We are so blessed to have David Teel, the Director of Laity and Spiritual Leadership come up from Nashville to speak to us about our call and the future of Laity. From the Conference, Mike Block, the Director of Missional Engagement will be holding a workshop on Missions and the church. Please see the flyer for the other workshops being provided during this day of unity in the Spirit. We will worship together, learn together, share a meal. and Communion to be sent out to do the work God has called us to do. For the glory of God, the building of disciples and the transformation of the world.
WE also hope to introduce others to Lay Ministry and encourage you to invite someone from your church who has shown an interest and the gifts to serve.
Join us! Registration information is on the flyer or click here for an online registration form.
Joyously in Service,
The Mountain View Lay Servant Ministry Team
7/22/21
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ALBANY DISTRICT LAY SERVANT COURSE OPPORTUNITIES |
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Safe Sanctuaries ZOOM Trainings |
Two Opportunities to Attend!
The Upper New York Annual Conference Team will host a standard Basic Safe Sanctuaries training via ZOOM from 9 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday, August 21 OR September 25.
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks,
7/22/21
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United Methodist Night at the Ball Game |
Contact Ken Summers for tickets at:
or my phone (607)725-7709
7/22/21
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Tool for the Local Church: Mission Insite |
Mission Insite is free to churches
Mission Insite is a web-based demographics provider for local church use. In planning ministry, it is important to know the context.
Mission Insite provides demographic data that is updated on a regular basis and the reports are user friendly to the novice or experienced demographer.
The reports are free to the local church because the Annual Conferences is under contract with Mission Insite. But in order to access the website you will need to register your local church.
7/8/2021
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UNY Conference Center to Open July 26th |
Now that the CDC and New York State have issued guidelines allowing indoor gatherings for vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals (so long as they wear masks and social distance), the UNY Conference executive staff team has made the decision to open the UNY United Methodist Center to the public following the attached protocols, effective July 26, 2021.
UNY Conference Director of Connectional Ministries and Executive Assistant to the Bishop, the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding said, “We are very, very excited to be able to welcome guests, visitors, and teams back into the building. We have really missed them.”
The protocols are in place to ensure that everyone will be safe when using the UNY Methodist Center.
The office will be equipped for hybrid meetings via Zoom for those unable to attend in-person.
Click here to register for a meeting with your team at the UNY United Methodist Center.
We hope to see you soon!
7/22/21
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CRM is excited to see:
Campers (still registering – click HERE to search the program list!!)
Staff (critical need for health professionals, counselors and kitchen staff)
Volunteers (small and large projects, an hour or a week+)
Questions?
Call the site or the CRM Central Office at 315-898-2026.
7/8/2021
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PLEASE Consider Subscribing to the Following Links |
These will keep you updated on all the news coming from the Conference.
UNY-Notes are targeted email blasts:
· From the Desk of Bishop Webb
· Alerts
· Announcements
· Prayer Requests
· Death Notices
· Camp & Retreat
Weekly Digest- will be sent every Wednesday. It will contain a round-up of that week’s UNY Notes, along with feature articles, direct links to several “hot spots” on the Conference website, photos, and more.
7/8/2021
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Please note that there is a new type of phishing-scheme email that has been received in multiple inboxes throughout the Upper New York (UNY) Conference. The email will look as though it is from someone you know in the UNY Conference and will show their actual email address. The text will ask you to link to a DocuSign document. DO NOT OPEN THIS DOCUMENT! It contains a virus. It is not truly from the person in the “From” address.
Do not open any links in these emails.
My Mountainview district email was hacked July 12th. and it has been an ordeal to get it fixed and back up working again!!!! PLEASE be careful in what emails and documents you open.
Click here for a helpful video that outlines how to identify such an email and what to do if you receive one.
If you have any questions or concerns about this phishing scheme, contact Doug Thomas, UNY IT Manager, at dougthomas@unyumc.org
7/22/21
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Southern Tier Interfaith Coalition (STIC) |
STIC have confirmed the date of Sunday, Sept. 12th, 3 p.m. for the online version of the Witness to Injustice program. The program will feature 9 Native American readers narrating the history of Turtle Island. Narration will alternate with small group reflection time after each section.
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From the Lewis Center for Church Leadership
of Wesley Theological Seminary
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50 Ways to Improve Your Annual Stewardship Campaign |
This free resource in our popular 50 Ways series provides effective strategies for improving your stewardship campaign. Topics include: plan carefully; structure your campaign to acknowledge unique giving patterns; know what motivates people to give; ask in effective ways; follow up; and more.
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Dan Hotchkiss explains how congregations can build their staffs by “hiring” unpaid volunteers. He explains how this approach can make fuller use of a volunteer’s talent and energy while also creating a more unified reporting and decision-making structure.
7/22/2021
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NY Hero Act and how it pertains to New York State employers |
On May 5, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) into law. The law mandates extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for ALL New York State employers. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during a future airborne infectious disease outbreak.
Under this new law, the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL), in consultation with the NYS Department of Health, has developed a new Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Standard, a Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan, and various industry-specific model plans for the prevention of airborne infectious disease. Employers can choose to adopt the applicable policy template/plan provided by NYS DOL or establish an alternative plan that meets or exceeds the standard’s minimum requirements.
By Aug. 5, 2021, employers are required adopt a model prevention plan and conduct a “verbal review” of the policy, employee rights and the overall prevention plan.
By Sept. 4, 2021, employers must provide copy of the adopted plan to all employees in their primary language within 30 days of adoption, or by Sept. 4, 2021.
Click here for more information including the details of this law and templates you can use
7/22/21
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DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES
Christmas In July!
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The Advent season is closer than you think, so start planning ahead!
The invitation this Advent season to your church and the world is “Come Home for Christmas.”
Included you’ll find the Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy, Hymn Suggestions, Worship Planning and more!
7/22/21
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COVID-19 Information & Resources |
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Other News Links From the Conference |
If you want to keep in the know of what is happening in the Upper New York Conference and the United Methodist Church please consider these links. |
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The HUB at UNY Conference Center |
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MOUNTAIN VIEW DISTRICT OFFICE |
35 Wilkes Ave.
PO Box 706
Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Office Is Open
Mon.-Thurs.
In Person by APPOINTMENT ONLY
Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell
District Superintendent
Pastor Mike Kelly
District Associate
Ann Welch Wood
District Lay Leader
Patti Gridley
District Administrative Assistant
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