Northern Flow Weekly Newsletter

June 8, 2023

The Importance of Summer Camp

Dear United Methodists of Upper New York,

Summer camp can offer a life-transforming experience for young people. The Upper New York Camp & Retreat Ministr y has five sites that offer amazing activities year round. In this season, the focus is the opportunities of summer camps. Click here to read about the impact summer camp had on me while growing up in Puerto Rico. It's not too late to sign-up a young person in your life who wants to explore what it means to live like a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Together in mission,

Héctor

Episcopal Address Speaks of Needed Shifts and Unveils New Conference Logo

June 2, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / Email

Disorientation and uncertainty. “This is the context we are living in,” said Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez during his Episcopal Address on June 2 at the 2023 Upper New York Annual Conference.”

“We will not wait for the disorientation and uncertainty to end to move forward,” Bishop Héctor said, “We are going to continue to move forward together and unapologetically share God’s hope with our communities.”

Bishop Héctor then exclaimed, “UNY We’re moving forward and we’re doing it together!!!!”

The crowd responded with near-deafening applause.

Bishop Héctor recognized that to move forward, we need to make some shifts.

Two shifts involve relationship-building:

We need to shift from silos to connections. We need to get out of the church doors and into our communities.
We need to shift from competition to collaboration. Bishop Héctor said,” We are going to explore collaborations across the Conference. Competition speaks about individual agendas—collaboration celebrates our shared mission.”

One of the shifts, Bishop Hector expressed had to do with a new way of looking at vitality; he said, “We are going to shift from a culture of growth to a culture of impact.”

He asked the audience to “Imagine what if it looked like if you measured church vitality not by the number of people in the pews or the amount of money in the offering plate, but by people who could tell stories about how their lives improved because of ministries at your church!”

The final shift that Bishop Héctor shared is the shift from institutions to people and with that he shared the new branding of the Conference’s logo; the logo is no longer the Upper New York Annual Conference; we will now refer to ourselves as The United Methodists of Upper New York.

“We want our Conference logo to showcase people.” Bishop Hector explained.

Together, the United Methodists of Upper New York are moving forward in fulfilling the vision of living the gospel and being God’s love to our neighbors in all places.

SAVE THE DATE

The year, Syracuse United Methodist Ministries (SUMM) will be sponsoring our 43^rd annual United Methodist Family and Friends Night at the Ballpark scheduled for Thursday, August 17 at 6:35pm Syracuse Mets vs. Columbus Clippers, Ohio. There will be no tailgate party this year. Like last year, we will have 200-level assigned seats (not 300-level benches), and we will gather on the field at 6.15 pm to sing the National Anthem from Home Plate. Game Ticket: $15

For more information or ticket reservation,

please call or email Rev. Andy M Anderson – at 917-723-0901

Email: andmcand@hotmail.com

Darlene Dennis – 315-345-6338

Email: rdennis31@verizon.net

Bellevue Heights UMC – 315-475-0011

Email: bellevueheightsumc@gmail.com

Make Check Payable to: Bellevue Heights UMC with Game written in the memo line and mail to: Bellevue Heights UMC, 2112 S. Geddes Street, Syracuse, NY 13207

Please, do not miss this fun event. Order your tickets by July 27.

More information to follow soon.

Family Life Weekend at Camp Aldersgate

Each year Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center, Greig, NY hosts Family Life Weekend. Moms, Dads, kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends are all welcome!

Together we enjoy swimming, boating, relaxing, square dancing, singing, fellowship, campfires and more. “Life-Giving Community” is the topic Pastor Matt Rowe (North Rose UMC) will help participants consider this summer, July 14 – 16, 2023.

Visit https://aldersgateny.org/upcoming-events/ for more information or email office@aldersgateny.org.

The weekend is a wonderful way to introduce your family to a Christian camping experience; Friday dinner through Sunday lunch.

When Nature Calls Podcast

On the Mission, Season 2: When Nature Calls focuses on the Upper New York Camp & Retreat Ministries. This six-week series features highlights from camp around the theme, "The Water of Life." Each week, site directors will introduce a different passage of scripture and how it relates to a different experience of water. You'll hear from site directors at Aldersgate, Asbury, Casowasco, Sky Lake, and Skye Farm.

Click here to listen to the series on Simplecast and click here to watch the video version of the podcast.

Stewardship with Rev. Susan Ranous

EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT

It has been some time since I have done a blog entry, for which I apologize. Unfortunately, life (and health) got in the way. The good news is that with surgery and upcoming radiation, my cancer will be taken care of.

I wanted to make a blog entry, however, about Employee Retention Credits. That is because I am sure you are receiving phone calls from people/companies that are promising that they can help you apply for these credits and you can receive “$28,000 per employee). While that could be true, the amount is most likely inflated because that is the maximum credit and assumes that every employee was making at least $10,000 per year during 2020 and $40,000 per year during 2021. In churches, that is usually not the case. This companies also charge a substantial amount of money to prepare the necessary paperwork for the claim.

I have done a few of them for churches, and, while it takes some work and computations and spreadsheets, it isn’t horribly difficult. Essentially, quarterly payroll per employee has to be computed for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020 and the first and second quarters of 2021. Then the maximum “qualified wages” have to be computed per employee per quarter, and then the maximum credit applied per employee per quarter. Once those computations are done, then amended quarterly payroll forms have to be prepared, applying for the credit.

There are two “reasons” for this credit to be allowed. The employer church:

(a (a) were affected by government orders imposing capacity restrictions on services and other gatherings; or

(b (b) suffered significant declines in gross receipts.

While many employers have some familiarity with the ERC, confusion exists around the qualifications and application processes.

Because our churches were closed or had to have reduced attendance, they can qualify for this credit even though many of our churches did not experience significant declines in gross receipts, thanks to the generosity of our people!

The maximum credit is essentially $5,000 per employee for 2020.

The maximum credit is $7,000 per employee per quarter for the first and second quarters of 2021.

There are credits available for the third and fourth quarters of 2021, but there are additional requirements to qualify. Reported on Form 941-X for Quarter 2

Tax exempt organizations that experience fully or partially suspended operations due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority to limit commerce, travel, or group meetings due to COVID-19 can qualify as Eligible Employers for purposes of the ERC. The period that the employer pays qualified wages lasts as long as the government mandates are in effect.

If you wish more information on this credit and the steps needed to apply for it, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com.

I’d be happy to answer questions, or help you with the application.

Watertown First UMC

Announces Summer Programs

Please join our Church Family for the following events this Summer:

Supper Church: A fun, faith filled, activity for the whole family – join us for a catered meal with your family and new friends while listening to contemporary Christian praise music, followed by interactive/intergenerational games, a Bible Story and adult discussion time while kids enjoy a bible craft and recreation time. 4:30-6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome!

Summer Bible Study on the Gospels and Book of Acts: Please join us for a ten-week study on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm as we explore the Good News of the Gospels and beginning of the early Church.

June 13, 2023: Matthew 1-12.

June 20, 2023 – Matthew 13:1- 25: 46

June 27: Matthew 26:1- Mark 10:45

July 4, 2023, No Meeting – Happy July 4^th

^{July 11, Mark 10:46-Luke 4:13}

^{July 18, Luke 4:14-14:35}

^{July 25, Luke 15:1-24:53}

^{August 1, John 1:1-10:42}

^{August 8: John 11:1 Acts 5:16}

^{August 15, Acts 5:17-23:35}

^{August 22, Acts 24:1- Romans 13:14.}

^{A Little Child Will Lead Us Summer Childcare: Little Mermaid Water Fun Adventure}

^{Dates: June 7, 14, 21, July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16,}^{from 3:30 - to 6:00 pm.}

^{Wednesday August 23, 2023}^{, Field Trip to the Thompson Park Pool and Playground /Church Family Picnic from 2-6 pm.}

^{Hot dogs/hamburgers/ chips/ beverage will be provided, please bring a side dish and dessert to pass. All Welcome!}

Adirondack District Offering Lay Servant Courses

Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries has added some courses to the 2023 schedule.

Please remember that you MUST attend all class times and dates to receive credit.

All registrations and course fees MUST be in by the date due.

For a registration form or for more information, contact Arlene Schmidt, arlenedschmidt@gmail.com For more information about the courses (books, etc.) click here for the updated brochure.

Advanced Course: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

Registration open. Last day to register: June 22

Tuesdays: July 11, 18, 25, August 1 & 8: 6-9pm

Zoom: Fee $15

Facilitators: Jacqueline Kim, CLM & Paula McMahon, CLM

Advanced Course: Leading Worship

Registration opens June 19. Last day to register: July 12.

Mondays: July 31, Aug. 7, 14, 21, & 28: 6-9

ZOOM: Fee: $15

Facilitator: Pastor Bruce Hazard

Advanced Course: Leading Prayer

Registration opens July 13. Last day to register: Aug. 5

Thursdays: August 24, 31, Sept 14, 21 & 28: 6-9pm

Zoom: Fee $15

Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM

Advanced Course: Polity

Registration opens July 25. Last day to register: Aug. 17

Tuesdays: September 5, 12, 19, & 26: 6-9pm

ZOOM: Fee $15

Facilitator: Pastor Bruce Hazard

Advanced Course: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

Registration opens August 24. Last day to register: Sept. 16

Thursdays: October 5, 12, 19, 26, & Nov 2: 6-9pm

Zoom: Fee $15

Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM

Advanced Course: Called to Preach

Registration opens September 26. Last day to register: Oct. 19

Tuesdays: November 7, 14, 28, Dec. 5 & 12: 6-9pm

ZOOM: Fee $15

Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM

Bishop Burgos Núñez Announces Clergy Appointments

After the prayerful discernment of the Upper New York (UNY) Cabinet, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor Burgos Núñez announces the following appointments. All appointments, otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2023.

Here

"Engage New People Grant" Available

The Upper New York New Faith Communities' Team is excited to announce the “Engage New People Grant” to benefit local churches in the Upper New York Conference that are working to Engage New People not already in their church/ministry. New Faith Communities Conference-wide purpose is to reach people outside the Church in new and contextual ways.

Grants will be available up to $2,500 to help local churches and ministries. Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis in 2023. Churches and ministries may apply for up to $2,500 during one calendar year. Please expect 60 days to review your application.

Click here to apply for the “Engage New People Grant.”

Upon completing the application, the New Faith Communities' team will reach out to the pastor/lead planter of the church and/or contact person listed to confirm your submission.

SAFE SANCTUARIES TRAINING SCHEDULE

Schedule

Wesley Heritage Tour 2024

Join Pastor Brett Johnson on the trip of a lifetime to visit John and Charles Wesley’s homeland of England. We will be visiting sites of great importance to United Methodists, including the Wesleys’ hometown of Epworth, Oxford, Bristol, and worship in the Wesley Chapel in London.

We will also be stopping at Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and St Paul’s Cathedral. Tour dates are July 13-22, 2024. Please use the following link to register: https://portal.myfaithjourneys.com/ and use group code 24002.

Contact Rev. Brett Johnson, pastor.brett.johnson@gmail.com, with any questions.