January 29th, 2020 Oneonta District Newsletter
* Please share this newsletter with your friends and congregation members.
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Bishop Webb Announces Clergy Appointments
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce eight ad interim appointments and eight retirements pending approval of clergy session.
View the full list of changes
here
.
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Annual Conference Information
On December 10, 2019 the UNY Annual Conference Sessions team met to continue their work of planning for the 2020 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference. Several important decisions were made related to special offerings and fees to cover meals and other amenities.
Click here
for more details on special offerings and fees
Petitions and resolutions
will need to be submitted to
petitions@unyumc.org
by February 3, 2020 for inclusion in Vol. 1 of the Upper New York Conference Journal. Items not submitted by this date will only be available on the Annual Conference App and on the Conference website.
As we get closer to Annual Conference, continue watching Conference and District communications channels for the latest information about the 2020 session.
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Equalization Members to Annual Conference
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 Oneonta District Office. 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.
ALSO:
there are
changes that the youth need to be aware of for this year’s Annual Conference.
- Youth equalization members need to fill out application in their own DISTRICT to be approved to attend
- Register online with the Youth EQ form (this is new this year)
- Cost to register is $10.00 for youth equalization members (opens Feb 28th – closes May 1st)
- Youth will be asked about housing on the registration form
- Late fee is $75.00 this year
- Once their registration is received- It will be confirming with their district that they have been approved and filled out the proper paperwork for their district- they will NOT be accepted to attend until their district says yes.
Separate but pertaining to youth – youth coordinators MUST register online with the regular registration form; they MUST ALSO email Betsy O’Flynn (
geneseevalleydistrict@unyumc.org
) to request to be housed in the Parkview. They should state what day they are arriving and what day they are departing, and if they have a specific roommate request. This request MUST be made by the deadline or they will NOT be guaranteed a room.
This same will apply to any Young Adults that would like to stay at Parkview. They will need to fill out application in their own district if applying to be an EQ member – then register online with the regular registration form; then email
Betsy O’Flynn (
geneseevalleydistrict@unyumc.org
)
t
o request to be housed in Parkview.
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New plan on Regional Superintendency
At a gathering of District Committees on Superintendency on Jan. 18, a new Regional Superintendency plan was shared.
Click here
for all the details, including: a video, key points, frequently asked questions, and a full article.
1/23/2020
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Important Dates to Remember
Only 3 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.
The
2019 annual audit
of your church financial records are due to the District Superintendents on
Sun., March 15, 2020
.
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Oneonta EZRA Completion Status:
Not Started: 71%
In Progress: 28%
Completed: 11%
Thank you to: Edmeston, Franklin, Morris, New Berlin, Plymouth, and
Treadwell UMC's for submitting your completed EZRA Stats!!
Deadline for submitting is only 17 days away!
Let's be the 1st District to get 100% completed by the Feb 15th deadline!
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***REMINDER***
LESS THAN 3 weeks TO GO TO FILE YOUR 2019 STATISTICS!!
HERE ARE SOME STATS “BASICS” FOR THE 2019 SEASON:
·
This is to remind you that your church’s 2019 Statistics report must be completed as of
February 15,
2020.
·
You will complete your Stats submission by using the Ezra system. Please log in at
www.ezra.gcfa.org
.
·
Type in your User Name and Password. If you need assistance, please contact your District office or Erica Wentworth at 315-898-2000, ext. 2004. Erica can also assist you with various statistics questions you may have.
·
There is a User’s Guide that you can print, under “Reports” on the Ezra Home page under “Instructions & Guides”.
·
There are tutorial videos to consult! Please log into Ezra. On the home page click on Reports. Under “Instructions & Guides” the first link listed has “Quick Tutorials”.
·
Carefully read the Message from the Conference Office on the Home Page before beginning your reports.
·
To begin your 2019 reports, please:
·
Update your church’s contact information by clicking on “Account” at the top of the Home Page
·
To begin updating your statistics, click on “Enter Stats” on the Home Page
·
When entering stats, PLEASE make sure that you explain any large changes from the prior year’s reporting. The system will prompt you with a “Warning” note on the top of the page for each specific line item.
·
PLEASE DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY INSERT 2019 DATA. ACCURACY IS VERY CRUCIAL for both your church and reporting to the General Church.
If you have already submitted your Statistics for 2019, we greatly appreciate it – THANK YOU!
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Elm Park UMC is once again running their "Soup-to-Go" ministry.
Soup will be distributed weekly on Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm
This program will run for 10 weeks. Last distribution day will be Wednesday March 18th, 2020.
Many in the community look forward to receiving homemade soup during these winter months.
This program is Open to all.... If you have any questions please call Elm Park Church office at: 607-432-6552
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" Second Sunday Soup"
Location:
At Schuyler Lake UMC (The Little White Church) Address is 123 church St. Schuyler Lake N.Y. 13457.
Time:
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Dates:
February 9th, March 8th and the last one is April 12th
Serving six to eight different kinds of soups and they even have a Vegan soup.
Free to the public but donations are welcomed!
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Workshop- “Three Ways to Engage Your Community”
Date:
Thursday, Feb.13
th
, 2020
Time:
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Location:
Cooperstown United Methodist Church
GPS location:
66 Chestnut St., Cooperstown, NY 13326
Workshop Leader:
Rev. Dana Horrell
The Purpose of the workshop is to introduce tools that church leaders can use to reach out to the community in service and dialogue.
Those three ways include:
1)
Learning more about your community through surveys, mapping, and interviews
2)
Starting or restarting a service project
3)
Deliberating together to overcome divisiveness about important social issues.
The event is free. It is sponsored by the Social Holiness team of the Upper New York Conference. For more information and to register go to
http://bit.ly/2QTxqCk
or call Rev. Horrell at 315-439-9154.
In addition to serving as pastor of Cooperstown United Methodist Church, Rev. Horrell is Co-editor of The Parish Paper (
www.theparishpaper.com
). This workshop is based on his book,
Engage!: Tools for Ministry in the Community,
which was published by Fortress Press last year.
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Sight and Sound bus trip to see the show “Queen Esther”.
Saturday, October 3, 2020
$160 for adults
$100 for children 12 and under
Includes show and meal at Hershey Farms Restaurant
Pick ups in Oneonta, Sidney and Binghamton
Contact Claudia Jenkins at (607) 563-7713 for reservations and information.
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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 who delivers 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.
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"Deeper Dive"
days
a follow up from our Oneonta District Day at the Cobleskill UMC,
Date: Saturday March 14
th
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
.
Location Sidney UMC
-More information coming soon.
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Lay Servant Basic Course, is being offered by the Oneonta District Lay Servant Committee in 2 locations.
E
ast: Every Wednesday from Feb 5th - Mar 4th
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Esperance-Sloansville UMC Education building
Location:First UMC of Unadilla
The book is "
Lay Servant Ministries, Participant's Book (Basic Course)"
The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church. It explores
- personal spiritual gifts
- servant leadership
- each leader's role in developing future leaders
- the importance of consistent spiritual practices
- the core ministries of Leading, Caring, and Communicating
- and much more.
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Albany District Lay Servant Classes
Basic Course
Wednesdays, Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 19 (with March 11 as snow date)
from 7 PM to 9 PM
East Greenbush UMC, 1 Gilligan Rd, East Greenbush (12061)
To register, contact Heather Smith at
beezermcgee@yahoo.com
_____________________________________________________________
Basic Course
Wednesdays, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, March 11, 18, 25 (with April 15 as snow date)
from 6 PM to 8 PM.
Rotterdam UMC, 1915 Helderberg Ave., Schenectady (12306)
To register, contact Nancy Goddard at bngoddard@davespc.net
______________________________________________________________
Advanced Course: Called to Preach
Saturdays, March 7 and March 21 from 9:30 AM to 3 PM
Newtonville UMC, 568 Loudon Rd., Latham (12110)
To register, contact Glenn Harrison at usbobsled1@yahoo.com
Advanced Course: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition
Saturdays, April 25 and May 2 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Living Hope UMC, 126 Middletown Rd, Waterford (12188).
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Mohawk District Lay Servant Classes
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
.
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For more information about Lay Servant Ministries,
click here
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Local Disaster Response (ERT)Team Forming in Norwich
Training on Feb.8
th
, 2020
Date: Saturday, February 8, 2020
Time: 8:30 AM – 5 PM. Lunch will be provided
Location: Norwich Broad Street United Methodist Church
(a part of the Oneonta District of the Upper NY Conference)
, 74 N. Broad Street in Norwich, NY 13815 (607) 334-2895
All too often those of us living in Chenango County are hit with heavy rains and periodic flooding that badly affects our neighbors. After the First Responders have left, there’s frequently a very disheartening mess left before repairs can begin and folks can begin to rebuild their lives. There’s a need to help clean that mess, and to provide emotional support throughout the recovery process.
There’s a new effort underway to form an Early Response Team (ERT) in Chenango County to help coordinate an organized response for our neighbors and our communities to recover from disasters, such as regional flooding. Broad Street United Methodist Church, is sponsoring this all-day training event. The invitation to become a part of this team is extended to the entire community over the age of 18. Online registration prior to the event is needed go to:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhpWrYfVL4cLosfYu6_bAPJVHUbYvR7iGjEqHTT6nNVrOmfg/viewform
In addition to the debris removal, there are multiple other tasks suitable for people who do not feel able to do the heavy lifting. The expectation is that the ERT team will help to fill a void in the overall coordinated response to local disasters. As such, it is also being conducted in cooperation with the local Emergency Management System.
Broad St. Church has arranged to pay for the background check and the registration fee for the first 30 people who register for the course. Please consider helping your neighbors by becoming a part of this team.
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Launchpad 2020 - How to do a New Faith Community
Friday January 31st
Saturday February 1st
at the Conference Center in Syracuse
If you're planting or curious about planting a New Faith Community (NFC) in Upper New York, then Launchpad is for you. Launchpad is a two-day boot camp led by the Rev. Bill Vallet and the Rev. Dave Masland at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool.
This intensive crash course is scheduled for Jan. 31- Feb. 1. It is designed for lead planters to attend, along with 2-4 other team members. The more people who attend from your team, the stronger the impact of the training on your team, and ultimately, on your New Faith Community.
The cost of this workshop is $99 for the lead planter, and $25 per person for each additional team member PLUS the cost of staying in a nearby hotel and dinner one night. Lunch is provided for both days and included in the cost. The deadline to register is January 17, 2020.
click here for the registration form.
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UNY Disaster Response Training Classes
The Adirondack, Albany, Binghamton, Mohawk, and Oneonta Districts could use some special help in requesting ERT folks to help in what looks like regular weather issues. ERT’s are basically trained to be ready if and when a disaster occurs in their own areas and if available help other areas too.
We have all heard of various natural disasters which have occurred across the country such as floods, tornados, and other severe storms. What we often don’t hear about is how survivors struggle to recover during the following days, weeks and often months after the disaster. We don’t think of people who have no power, no heat, no water, even though it is during winter months. We don’t think of those who can’t live in their home due to mold, or because the house is off its foundation. Instead we watch the news, see the destruction, and then sit down to eat dinner or go about our business the next day.
To bring this closer to home, in our own Conference, in the Utica area, there was a massive flood event on Halloween which damaged some 800+ homes. People are still suffering, cleaning, repairing, replacing furnaces a full 2 months later. Most of us didn’t hear about this flood, or have already forgotten about it.
But we can still help. Our Conference has a program to send people almost immediately into disaster areas to quickly, effectively, and appropriately provide a caring, Christian presence to assist survivors in recovery. It is called ERT. It stands for Early Response Team. Early Responders are trained by UMCOR during an 8 hour session with all the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How answers to the typical questions willing volunteers are apt to ask when they feel called to provide help. What do we do? We listen to survivors, we hold trembling hands, we hand out bottles of water, and listen some more. We give hugs, we assure that people care, and then we wash walls, remove wet carpet, wet wallboard, shovel mud, carry out ruined appliances, cover holes in roofs, and make homes secure again. But we don’t do repairs. That happens later with rebuilding teams who are often the very same people on the Early Response Team.
So where can you receive more information and training to become an Early Responder? Attend one of two Basic Early Response training events.
1 - Feb. 8 at Broad St. UMC, Norwich , NY
. which is northeast of Binghamton and east of Cortland. Registration information is at
http://bit.ly/20ERTNorwich,
The Conference Disaster Response Team
Mike Block, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator
Donna & Roger Cullen, UMVIM Co-Chairs
Carl Shepard, ERT Trainer
MaryBeth Ingalls, UNY UMC Volunteer Coordinator, ERT Trainer (in training)
Brian Greenwald, ERT Trainer
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Get Ready to Embark: Destination God
OUTWARD!
Youth Conference registration is open. Gather your youth and adult leaders and get ready to roll! This event takes place
March 13-15
at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool and focuses on an outward expression of God's love Youth groups will have an opportunity to get a taste for mission work by going on short excursions away from the hotel as well as have more opportunities to do things together and work toward creating a God-like community around them.
Cost is $70/pp and includes t-shirt. Meals are on your own (not included). Overnight stay is $115 per room per night. Up to 5 people per room is allowed. A $10 charge for an additional roll-away bed applies, first come, first served basis.
Any questions, contact Judy Hipes at 607-624-2145 or tandj3905@hotmail.com
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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.
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Note for Local Pastors:
All Local Pastors must take COS-121 and COS-122 BEFORE they will be allowed to take any other classes in the COS system.
Each seminary will determine how they are acquiring the information on whether the LP has taken these classes. Some will ask a question on the registration form others while others will be requesting transcripts to accompany any registration for classes.
If an LP needs to obtain a copy of their transcript they can email
cosregistrar@gbhem.org
. I receive a copy of the transcripts for this conference in February of each year. If you contact me at
candidacy@unyumc.org
I can email you a copy of this. However if you prefer to get the most updated transcripts you will need to contact GBHEM at the email listed above.
The Book of Discipline states part-time local pastors must complete 2 COS courses per year to make satisfactory progress. You may take as many as your Conference approves.
Any questions please feel free to contact me.
Betsy O'Flynn
Candidacy, BOM
1050 East Ave, Rochester NY 14607 (mailing)
585-340-9558
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The Upper NY Local Pastors Licensing School for 2020 is as follows:
Date: April 19-25, 2020
Location: Camp Casowasco, Moravia, NY
Arrival time: Welcoming will begin at 4:15 on the 19th, dinner will be served at 5:30
On-line registration availability will be set up at the appropriate time.
If interpreter is required please inform me as soon as possible.
Caroline Simmons
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Camps & Retreats Ministries
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Bishop Webb's Response to Protocol Statement
On Jan. 6, 2020, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb sent a letter to the Upper New York Conference explaining how the media took an independent team of United Methodist Bishops' Protocol Statement out of context, leading many people to ask the question, "Has the United Methodist Church split? Has the decision been made?" Bishop Webb explained that the simple answer to those questions is no and then went on to describe how it is important to remember our polity and our process. General Conference is the only body that can speak for the denomination and make changes to The Book of Discipline. At this point, no decisions have been made and none will be made until the General Conference meets May 5-15, 2020 in Minneapolis.
Click here
to read Bishop Webb's full letter.
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Clergy Tax Exemptions information
Clergy who own their homes may be eligible for a tax exemption. For more information, and the Exemption Application Forms, please
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Group Ruling on Tax Status
United Methodist Churches are classified as 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
Your church may need to prove this status to various organizations. They will be looking for your tax ID and a copy of the Group Ruling Letter. General Conference on Finance and Administration (GCFA) has automated the process for obtaining this letter.
Click here
to request a copy for your church from the legal department of GCFA. You will need to provide your church's name, address, Employer Identification Number (EIN), and approximate charger date.
Contact GCFA Legal Services Department at
legal@gcfa.org
with additional questions.
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Updated CF&A Section of the Conference Website
Your Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) has been working on developing the CF&A section of our Conference website. Some new arrivals on that section of the web-page include handbooks. The topics covered by these various handbooks is:
- Clergy Tax
- Finance and Standards
- Payroll
- Clergy Compensation
- Internal Church Audits
- Ministry Shares
- Two-part Handbook with multiple resources
You can locate these handbooks on the Conference website (unyumc.org), selecting "Finance" under "Resources" and then select Conference Council on Finance and Administration (on right-hand sidebar), where the handbooks are located. Link:
https://unyumc.org/about/cfa
CF&A takes all tasks seriously and hopes to be a resource for all.
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Safe Sanctuaries Minimum Standards
The Minimum Standards have been established by the Upper New York Annual Conference for all ministries. They are not inspirational, but set minimum standards to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. Without exception, these standards apply to all local churches/charges, district and annual conference ministries, and those who serve within.
Click here
for more information.
Click here
to go to UNYAC safe sanctuary information.
Background Checks - will be conducted every two years.
Click here
to learn more about background checks and for information on the Trusted Employees services.
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Check out this website. ResourceUMC is a
new
, comprehensive website that empowers you to search for and quickly find resources and tools from across the connection.
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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
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Is Your Church Info Up-to-Date?
With new appointments/assignments and the change to summer worship times, it's easy to lose track of if and/or where the most up-to-date information "lives." You can help the District Office with this task by checking your church's information at
http://www.unyumc.org/district/oneonta-churches
.
Churches also need to update their own information at this site:
http://www.umc.org/find-a-church/search
. Once you find your actual church listing, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click the red button to update information.
We want people to get the most accurate information possible and not be discouraged from attending any of our churches because of inaccurate information.
Thank you for your help with this important task!
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Oneonta District Office work hours are Monday-Thursday
The office is Closed Friday-Sunday
NOTE
: Office hours vary from day to day so
Please call before coming to the Office as we are not always working onsite.
Thank you for your Patience.
Teresa~ Oneonta District Administrative Assistant
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NOTE:
I
f your church has events that you would like advertised in our District newsletter please email Teresa at OneontaDistrict@unyumc.org- We send our Newsletter out Weekly on Wednesday afternoons. Please send your information to us no later than 5:00 pm on Tuesdays
***************************************************************************************************************
If you have ideas for making our District Newsletter better - we would like to hear from you .
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Conference Office Address:
The Upper New York Conference
United Methodist Center
7481 Henry Clay Blvd
Liverpool, N.Y. 13088
Office Hours - Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Phone: 315-898-2000 Toll Free: (same) 1-855-424-7878
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Oneonta District Office
of the Upper New York Conference
of the United Methodist Church
"Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by... living the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God's love with our neighbors in all places."
Your Partner in Ministry at the Oneonta District Office
Teresa Wood, Administrative Assistant
64 Chestnut St. (GPS) / PO Box 668 (Mailing), Oneonta, NY 13820
Fax - 607-353-1034
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