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Miss something? Not all information is repeated each week  

       

To view the August 7 Local Church Events, Click here           

To view the July 27 District Newsletter,  Click here      

The newsletter is usually sent out every other Saturday,
with updates sent weekly in the Wednesday Local Church News and Events.   

The Upper New York Conference's Commission on Religion and Race will continue

	Rev. Michelle Ledder

Imagine No Racism (INR) trainings this fall and are calling this version INR 2.0. These trainings will kick off on Saturday Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Upper New York Conference United Methodist Center in Liverpool with the Rev. Michelle E. Ledder from the General Conference Commission on Race and Religion (GCORR) as the featured speaker.   

 

As a Director of Program Ministries at GCORR, Rev. Ledder crafts and facilitates initiatives focusing on the Institutional Equity priority of GCORR's Ministry Model. She works to help all levels of the Connection create the beloved community with systems, policies, and processes that level the playing field for everyone.

 

This event is open to all laity and clergy throughout the Conference. INR 2.0 forges a stronger scriptural connection to INR lessons and offers a flexible format. This event will help refresh and update your knowledge base as well as help those who are now ready to start the Imagine No Racism initiative. Click here to register.

 

If you're unable to attend the initial INR event, there will be opportunities to attend subsequent events in churches throughout UNY in September and October that will review this content. Watch for an announcement of these dates and locations across the UNY Conference communication platforms-these dates will be released soon.

 

Pre-retirement seminar for clergy to be held in October

All clergy looking to retire in the next year are encouraged to attend a pre-retirement seminar on Oct. 7 at the Conference Center in Liverpool.  This seminar highlights and explains the benefis available through The United Methodist Church, including the current pension plan, health insurance options, Social Security, and any moving assistance that's available

District Confirmation Retreat: Are you interested?

The Rev. Phil Richards of the Plattsburgh UMC is interested in putting together a District Confirmation Retreat in the Spring of 2020, location yet to be determined. This would be a District ministry for youth to explore their faith and find their place in the local church. This retreat would include: History of the UMC, Mission and Service, Worship and Sacrament, Spiritual Journey components and Discipleship Training. This would all be geared to youth Grades 6 through 12.

He would like to recruit leaders who have a passion and gift for connecting with youth. He is looking to see if there is an interest on the District to offer this opportunity.  Please get back to him by August 25 if your church has an interest in participating, along with approximately how many youth in your church might come to this event. This would be a great supplement for Confirmation Classes. Please contact Phil at  [email protected] or (518) 563-2992.

 

Click here for the updated 2019 Church Conference schedule. 

 

Our District Superintendent, the Rev. Debbie Earthrowl, will be presiding at all of the conferences again this year. She is looking forward to spending time with you.

 

In most cases, Debbie will also be meeting with the SPRC (Staff Parish Relations Committee) immediately following the church conference.   

Church Conference forms available online

The 2019-2020 Church Conference forms are now available online. Many of these forms are due two weeks prior to your Church Conference. Many of our conferences are early this year, but please do your best to get the forms in to us as soon as possible. Especially important are the pastor's compensation reports, the Leadership form, trustee ballots and Do you have a Discipleship Plan. To view and download the forms, Click here

2020 Clergy Compensation Materials have been e-mailed

 

Please be aware that the Benefits Office no longer prints packets for clergy or SPRC chairs. All materials were sent by email to clergy and SPRC chairs this week, and are also available on the conference website: Click here 

 

Pastor compensation reports are due two weeks prior to your annual church conference. To view and download that form, Click here  

 

If you did not receive this email, please be in touch with Carrie and she will forward the materials to you. (518) 480-4866 or [email protected] 

 

(Update)

New York State employers required to provide

Skye Farm Retreats coming up

 

Camping season ends this weekend, but there are some

exciting retreats coming up:  

 

 

You are encouraged to share or download this video to use in Sunday School classes, before or during worship, or with your friends and family.

To read more and view the video, click here

What is Ordinary Time?

The Christian year includes two central cycles focused on major events in the life of Christ: the Christmas cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany) and Easter cycle (Lent-Easter-Pentecost).

Each of these seasons begins with a time of preparation and anticipation followed by a time of celebration. Ordinary Time follows each cycle.

The word "ordinary" here does not mean "routine" or "not special." Instead, it refers to the "ordinal numbers" (first, second, third, etc.) used to name and count the Sundays (such as the Third Sunday after Epiphany). This term comes from the Latin ordinalis, meaning "numbered" or "ordered," and tempus ordinarium, "measured time."

More than 350 United Methodist missionaries serve in more than 60 countries around the world.

"Missionaries serve as agents of God's transformation. They do not go and fix problems on behalf of others - they go to be in ministry with the local community. They go to learn, listen and serve as witnesses of God's transforming grace and power," says Judy Chung, executive director of Missionary Service for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Wesleys take the web: Three general rules

In this installment of United Methodist Communications animated series, which features the brothers who founded Methodism, John and Charles Wesley lay out three rules for holy living according to John Wesley.

You can watch and share these clips, whether with your confirmation class, new member class, Sunday school group or in other settings.

Several discussion questions are included in the article

To read more, and to view the video, click here

When we hear the tragic news of a shooting, United Methodists mourn with the victims and families of those wounded or killed. We turn to God in prayer, longing for a day when violence will cease.

In addition, many people consider what actions we might take to prevent something similar from happening in the future. So, what can we do?

The Upper New York Mission Central HUB is focusing  

 

Throughout the summer, the UNY Mission Central HUB is collecting monetary and supply donations to assemble UMCOR hygiene kits. Those who send in a donation, will have a "hand" placed on our "world."

 

  

Training Opportunities Sought for Mission Work

 

If anyone in the Adirondack District is interested in organizing a training class, or in taking a class, please contact Carrie in the District Office (518) 480-4866. This request comes from Mike Block, the Conference Director of Missional Engagement.  

 

As a conference, when compared to some, we are very fortunate when it comes to Natural Disasters occurring within our borders. We cannot say the same for many other conferences as the requests seem to be coming more and more looking for help. While our current ERT (Early Response Team) and VIM (Volunteers in Mission) folks are trained to help, it looks like we will need to add to the list of who is trained and available to help. Over the last 2 years there have been fewer folks from the Upper New York Conference willing and able to help our partner conferences.

 

We are looking to offer training classes on either ERT (Early Response Team) or TLT (Team Leader Training) within the next 2 to 3 months. The main purpose for being trained is to be ready in case your own district needs help, but to also provide an opportunity for those willing to go outside of the home area and help others.

Is your congregation interested in assembling UMCOR cleaning kits? Do it the right way by avoiding some of the common mistakes people make when putting the kits together. For example, air fresheners and insect repellents cannot be aerosol.

Click here to watch a video of Mike Block, Upper New York Director of Missional Engagement, presented in David Letterman-fashion, the Top 10 mistakes made in assembling cleaning kits.  

We will be following the same format as the day we held in March at the Saratoga Springs UMC. We will begin with registration at 8:30 AM and a time of worship at 9 AM. There will be three 75-minute blocks of workshops, and lunch will be served. The day will conclude with worship and Holy Communion at 2:30 PM.

The cost will be $10.

As the day draws nearer, we will be posting workshop descriptions and a schedule.

Join ministry leaders from across the nation for  Leadership Institute 2019, held at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection September 25-27 in Leawood, Kansas. The focus is on " A Future for Methodism.

"  

 

In addition to guest speakers, discussion and worship one of the keynote speakers will be New York Times columnist and best-selling author David Brooks who will speak about the importance of character in bringing people together in divided times.

To learn more, Click here

Tending the Soul, open to both laity and clergy, is a program designed to train individuals

	Sky Lake Camp  and Retreat Center

in Missional Spiritual Direction and Congregational Formation. The two-year training program (which takes place during six retreats) offers learning and formational experiences in classroom and small group settings. In addition to 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. The registration deadline is September 15.

 

 

 

To make reservations by email:  [email protected]

Questions: Call/Text Angela Stott at 518-221-8643

 

If you are from the Adirondack District, and you attend training in the Albany District, please send a copy of your certificate to the Adirondack District, PO Box 590, Glens Falls, NY 12081 or scan a copy to [email protected] so we can place it in our file. 

Transforming Conflict Retreat for Clergy/Servant Leaders   A Two-Retreat Series on Transforming Conflict for United Methodist Clergy and Servant Leaders of the Upper New York Conference is being offered by the Northern Flow District Superintendent Rev. Mike Weeden. The retreat will be held at Camp Aldersgate in Greig, NY.    Session One - September 25 & 26 (W/Th)   Session Two - October 16 & 17 (W/Th)   All sessions begin with lunch at 12:15 PM Wednesday and end at 5 PM Thursday      Cost:                  Early Registration - $562/commuter rate is $400 After August 15 - $612/commuter rate is $450                                                                  Maximum # of Participants: 20   To register: Click here      To view or download the brochure, click here    There is also a retreat planned at Camp Asbury in Silver Lake, led by District Superintendent Nancy Adams. Call Carrie for details, (518) 480-4866.

(New)

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 webpage include handbooks. The topics covered by these various handbooks are: 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 selecting Conference Council on Finance and Administration (on right-hand sidebar), where the handbooks are located.  CF&A takes all tasks seriously and hopes to be a resource for all. These handbooks are part of that.

Check out the Media Resource Center  

 

Why buy it if you can borrow it?

 

If you've never used the Media Resource Center before, give us a try. Funded by your Shared Ministry dollars, we can supply you with small group discussion materials, Bible studies, children and youth curriculum, adult curriculum, and a myriad of subjects such as stewardship, evangelism and social issues.  The easy online ordering is just a click away. Your order will be sent through the USPS and you'll get a mail back envelope and label with instructions on mailing. Your only cost is the postage to return it.  If you need assistance, contact the Media Resource Center coordinator Karen Campolieto at 315-898-2027 [email protected]    

 

Church leaders and pastors across our district recently have updated their online Church Profile. Did you know that the Upper New York Conference also offers all churches access to a free tool that provides important information about the communities where they are located?

  

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. The reports are user-friendly to the novice or experienced demographer.

  

In order to access the website you will need to register your local church. The links below provide instruction for you to register and establish user name and password for your local church.

 

To register, and for more information: Click here 

Free Resources   

focus on Intentional Discipleship 

 

The intentional discipleship movement is already happening across the connection. More and more churches and leaders are recognizing that we must have a relentless focus on making and growing disciples, and move away from fixing churches.

 

Engagement involves initiating and building relationships. Engagement seeks to ensure that outreach and evangelism efforts become a vital part of an intentional system of  discipleship.  

 

New resources from Discipleship Ministries,  

including books, and study guides and films, are available to help lay leaders, clergy and conference leaders reach out to new people with intentional discipleship.  

 

Petitions for consideration by the 2020 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary now through September 18, 2019.

 

According to church law, "Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference...."

 

Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website at umc.org/gcpetition. Petitions must be typed and may be submitted through

the General Conference website, by postal mail or fax, or via e-mail to [email protected]. This e-mail address should be used for petition submission only. All other correspondence should be directed to [email protected].

 

Click here for more information 

Trip to the Holy Land planned for 2020

The clergy team of Syracuse United Methodist Ministries (Revs. Andy Anderson, B.J. Norrix, Jee Hae Song and Alicia Wood) invite you to join them on a trip to the Holy Land, February 11 - February 21, 2020. This trip will expand your knowledge of the Bible and the sacred land. A journey following in the footsteps of Jesus will change the way you read the Bible.

 

We will explore, learn, and fellowship together as we visit Caesarea, the Sea of Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Samaria, Jacob's Well, Masada (Judean Desert), the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and much more. The cost of the trip starts at $3,248, leaving from JFK, New York. It includes basic tour and guided sightseeing, round-trip international airfare, fuel surcharges, government taxes, administrative fees, entrance fees, hotel gratuities and program fees, daily buffet breakfast and dinner, deluxe motor coaches, first-class hotels, and more.

 

 

The earlier you register, the bigger the discount.  

 

Click here to learn more and to obtain a registration brochure with all the details about this exciting opportunity.   

In October, the Rev. Jeff Matthews will be leading a tour on the theme of "Scotland: Knox and More" through "Educational Opportunities." This is an opportunity to explore a beautiful country, people and culture as you also learn about their place in the history of Christianity and the reformation. For full details: Click here.  Jeff can also send you a printed brochure and can answer any questions you may have about the trip.  

You can reach him at Trinity UMC in Albany by phone at 518-463-1293, ext. 11 or by email at [email protected]