Mohawk District E-newsletter for Churches and Pastors
Christmas 2020
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The Giving Continues:
Assist those from
Remington Arms who have
lost their jobs through a District-wide Mission
(see letter from D.S. below)
- Send donations of any amount (payable to First UMC of New Hartford who is helping with the technical aspects of purchasing gift cards with the donations)
- Mail to: Mohawk District, 105 Genesee St., New Hartford, NY 13413
- Include cards expressing God's love and support for those unemployed
- Deadline EXTENDED to Jan. 4, 2021, because the distribution date is in early January.
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To subscribe to the news-
letter, send us your email
address. To submit news
for this publication, send
it a minimum of eight
days in advance to:
District E-newsletters
To catch up on the latest,
past e-newsletters
are conveniently archived
on the Conference website at:
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District Prayer Focus
Week of December 20
Hamilton: Park UMC
and
Waterville UMC
Rev. Bryant Clark
Week of December 27
Bishop Webb
and
Upper NY Cabinet
Week of January 3
Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell
and
Mohawk District Committee on Ordained Ministry
Prayers are needed for the family of Rev. Dora Schneider, who died Dec. 3. Rev. Schneider served churches in UNY Conference and the former NCNY Conference, including Rome: First UMC.
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the 2020-21 Prayer Calendar
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Watch a Christmas Video Message from Bishop Webb
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No District E-News December 30
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The District Office is closed for vacations and the Christmas & New Year's holidays. Messages will be checked. Christmas blessings to all!
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Christmas Worship Options
A Christmas Cantata, Christmas Eve worship and Sunday worship can be found on YouTube:
CANTATA SUNDAY:
On Sunday, 20 December, 2020, hear a Cantata recorded from 2014 by our Church Choir.
CHRISTMAS EVE:
A Christmas Eve Worship Experience will be Live-Streamed from the Sanctuary and through the Internet at 7 PM EST, Thursday, 24 December 2020. The service will include special music, Christmas Lessons and Carols and sermon.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
A Live Worship Experience will be streamed from the Sanctuary 10:30 AM EST Sundays, with music, prayers, scripture, and sermon.
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Extended - District Christmas Mission
Over the past months we have seen some high highs and we have shared some low lows. I have been in awe as I’ve seen churches come together to hold each other up, reinventing how to be the church even in the hardest of times. The pain of separation from our loved ones, the anxieties of an unsure world, and the stress of a global
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pandemic are all very real. But like God leading Moses and God’s people through the desert, God is with us in our own desert moment leading us forward to what comes next. On the District Leadership Team we wonder, where might God be leading us? What is on the other side of this desert? Are there blessings to be had and shared along the way? We think so. In fact, we have all seen first hand how this unique moment demands us to collaborate to do ministry in new and collaborative ways. That’s why we have started to wonder what mission work might look like on a district level. Imagine if the whole of Mohawk district came together to truly share in the work God has called us to! Today I want to inform you of a mission opportunity that might act as a first step for us toward doing more collaborative work on a district level.
On October 25th, five hundred and eighty-five workers were laid off at the Remington factory in Ilion, NY right here in the Mohawk District. Our neighbors in Ilion were left with no severance pay and they had their paid vacation stripped away. It is surely a dark period for these folk, but can God show up in their lives? God can through us. The District Leadership Team in collaboration with a few at the New Hartford UMC are coordinating an effort to collect Christmas cards with messages of hope and well wishes for these workers--Let them know they are being prayed for and that they are not alone. Remind them that they are loved by God. We are also hoping to supply as many families as possible with a $25 gift card to Walmart. Just think, with a $100 donation, you can impact the lives of 4 families this Christmas season. We hope you will join us as a district as we surround these persons with love in their time of need. In mission, we may never be able to help all people but we can make a big difference for some. Cards and gift cards can be delivered to the Mohawk District office, 105 Genesee St., New Hartford, NY 13413. Checks can please be made out to New Hartford UMC and put “Remington” in the memo line. The church will help us account for all donated funds and get a check for all donations to purchase the gift cards. We hope to have these gifts collected by December 18th.
May God bless you all in this Advent season and may you see the light of Christ this Christmas.
Rev. Abel Roy, Superintendent
and
The Mohawk District Leadership Team
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UMC Offers Advent Devotions Each Week
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Christmas Worship Opportunities:
A Live Worship Experience will be streamed from the Sanctuary and through the Internet at 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time each Sunday, with music, prayers, scripture, and sermon. (We will update as to how to view later this week and each week until a resumption of In-Person Worship).
LIVING NATIVITY:
The Living Nativity will be produced and presented as a YouTube experience. We anticipate it being available before 15 December 2020. A Distribution of Hot Cocoa, Cookies, and the YouTube Link will be shared with the community. We will be sharing more information about the Living Nativity soon.
CANTATA SUNDAY:
On Sunday, 20 December, 2020, we will hear a Cantata recorded from 2014 by our Church Choir. We would ask that you join us for a ZOOM Coffee Hour after viewing the Cantata, at 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time. This way, we may be able to see and hear each other and share the joy of fellowship, even if online.
CHRISTMAS EVE:
Our Christmas Eve Worship Experience will be Live-Streamed from the Sanctuary and through the Internet at 7 PM Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, 24 December 2020. The service will include special music, Christmas Lessons and Carols, and sermon.
All services, from 6 December 2020 to at least 10 Jan 2021, including Christmas Eve and Living Nativity, can be found on your YouTube Channel:
Also our website has link as well:
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Blue Christmas Service is Available
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As we travel the season of Advent—a season that generally brings a sense of
joy and good cheer—we understand it is not joyful or filled with cheer for many
who have experienced significant loss. This year has been especially difficult
as we have been overwhelmed by a virus that has taken a huge toll on
individuals, families, communities and countries.
We pray that this service will bring a true knowledge that God is present
in your pain and despair and you will receive the peace and comfort your
spirit needs.
In Christ’s Service,
Deacon Becky Guthrie
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Mohawk District Office
105 Genesee Street
New Hartford, NY 13413
315-797-1777
Office Hours:
*The District Office is Closed Dec. 21-Jan. 1. If you have an emergency, call
and leave a message on the answering machine. Messages will be checked.
Regular Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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