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E-News from the Valley! November 17, 2020
This is sent on Tuesday - Items you would like to see in the E-News should be submitted to the district office by the Friday before
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District Office is open by appt only.
Call Betsy at 585-340-9525
Click here to go to the Genesee Valley District website.

Please click on the following links:
 UNY Notes - these include notices From the Desk of Bishop Webb; Alerts; Announcements; Prayer requests; Death Notices;
Camp & Retreat info 
Weekly Digest - this will be sent every Wednesday. It will include a listing of all of the new information available.

This will help reduce the amount of e-news announcements coming to your computers.
Thoughts from your District Associates

COVID is spiking. Many areas in our District are now in code yellow. Perhaps we had begun to relax. Perhaps we were getting tired of COVID. 

But with COVID spiking, it is time for us to re-energize our vigilance, our care for the safety of all, our practice of mask wearing and social distancing,

and our adhering to our own safety plans for re-opening. 

God expects us to be leaders in our communities. God calls us to the ministry of health and wellness. God calls us to be examples for all.

So...
       if we are worshipping in person... please remember ... no singing.

       if we are meeting in person... please remember... social distancing, masks taking temperatures and sanitizing.

       if we are getting back to normal... please remember...for the health and wellness of all we should be advocating a new normal.

       if we are considering Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings or Worship... please remember...COVID is a serious thing.

       if we are thinking of going out...please remember... we might remain relatively healthy and still infect someone else with COVID.
 
Let us pray...
       for those infected with COVID.
       for the nurses, doctors, and staff caring for those with COVID.
       for our country, states, communities and churches to make wise decisions.
for all of us to join together in this time.
       for God's health and wellness to touch everyone.
Calendars of Events
Bishop Gathering with Laity via zoom

Northeast Region
Wed, December 2, 2020
6:30pm - 8:00pm

Click here on Dec. 2 to join Zoom meeting or call 646-558-8656.

The meeting ID is 933 6043 0915 and the passcode is 068009.
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Southern Tier Region
Tues, December 8, 2020
6:30p - 8:00pm

Click here on Dec. 8 to join Zoom meeting or call 646-558-8656.

The meeting ID is 962 8916 4197 and the passcode is 778210.
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Lakes Region (GVD is in this region)
Wed, December 9, 2020
6:30pm - 8:00pm

Click here to join the Dec. 9 Zoom meeting or call 646-558-8656.

The meeting ID is 999 6943 3517 and the passcode is 777504.
A message from the Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team: 

In this time of covid-19 and social distancing the Safe Sanctuaries Conference Team is not recommending any in-person Safe Sanctuaries trainings. This is to keep safe those who would be together for a long period of time. We ask that people be patient. Recertification letters have gone out to the trainers. 

There is a test training for trainers only set for December 12th from 9-1. We will test the curriculum that has been redone for a virtual training via zoom. 
Please watch your emails for the link and the updated materials.
 
Co-Chair Arlene Schmidt, CLM and Pastor Christine Mitchell, Pastor, Honeoye Falls United Methodist Church
Churches Continue to Fulfill Requirements
for Reopening
If you have returned to in-person worship and continue to stream online you must go back to the UNY survey and update your previous answers and don't forget to save it.
Click below to complete the form and your congregations compliance

1. The Upper New York Annual Conference has asked every local church on the district, whether it has decided to offer in-person worship at this time or not, to complete a survey indicating its compliance with the New York State requirements. This was due by June 26th. The District will contact churches who don't respond. Click here to complete this form and indicate your congregation's compliance.

2. Churches are required to make a plan and follow the guidelines as they begin to reopen.  Your plan must be available when you are asked to provide it. Churches must also complete the REQUIRED Affirmation NYS needs before you reopen for in-person activities
or worship.

Find an overview of UNY Conference reopening guidelines here and some frequently asked questions on reopening here.

The New York State Guidelines are available online here.

NYS Required Affirmation is Necessary
for All Churches to Reopen Church
Genesee Valley District
of the Upper New York Conference 
of the United Methodist Church 

Peter Lagueras, District Lay Leader
Rev. Ted Anderson & Rev. David Underwood, District Associates
 
Betsy O'Flynn, District Adminstrative Assistant
Rev. Vonda J. Fossitt, District Superintendent
 
MAILING: 1050 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
PHYSICAL: 1040 East Ave, 2nd Floor, Rochester, NY 14607