Next Issue: December 15, 2021
(the last one for 2021)
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From the desk of Reverend Michael Kelly: MV District Associate |
I get excited as I go from church to church in this district seeing the wonderful ministries that we are doing. I had an occasion this past week to follow up on the ministry of an individual that attends and has for many years Pine Valley United Methodist Church. This individual is affectionately known at the cross man. In fact, he has his own parking spot at Pine Valley UMC that is labeled as that. His name is Myron “Mike” Finch and despite his gnarled hands from years of hard work he is an artist. His medium isn’t the usual canvas and paints but instead are nails and very fine wire to craft beautiful crosses like those seen below. To date Mike has made more than 7400 crosses since he has been counting. So far, his crosses are in 34 countries and perhaps every state, including Alaska. He has been in the newspaper four times and on the television once, but his fame is beyond that, every dime from the sales of his crosses is donated to his church and other ministries. The total has amassed $32,000. Keep it up cross man. |
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On Saturday, December 4, Horseheads United Methodist held their annual Holiday Bazaar. I admit that I was a bit worried because of COVID in Chemung County, but it was handled wonderfully. They had over 40 vendors spread out throughout the complex, everybody was wearing masks and there were many sanitizing stations. Although food was served, they provided social distancing between tables to accommodate the removal of masks. Kudos everyone, thank you for all the workers and of course all that came out to support the event. My wife and I enjoyed our visit. Here are a few pictures from the event. |
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And at Montour Falls United Methodist the Fields/Sortore family asked if they could lead a reverse Advent food drive. They provided the congregation a list of items to bring each week during Advent and upon completion we would take the food to the Schuyler County Food Pantry located at the Montour Falls Baptist Church. With one more week for collection it has been an amazing success. Thank You!
Friends, please share your ministries with me, look what the Mountain View District is doing, let’s celebrate together.
Mike
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Good Morning Friends,
COVID continues to be with us and as anticipated we have seen an increase with Thanksgiving. Please plan with your COVID teams accordingly with safety and well being in mind as you review the latest information that I was able to find for our district.
- Chemung County – Active cases 666, new 76, hospitalizations 39, transmission rate 9.17%, breakthrough cases 50
- Steuben County – Active cases 384, new 104, hospitalizations 32, transmission rate 15.91%, breakthrough cases 32
- Schuyler County – Active cases 109, new 60, transmission rate 8.2%
- Tioga County – Active cases 294, transmission rate 13.04%
- Allegheny County – Active cases 317, new 23, new hospitalizations 14, transmission rate 21.39%
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A Message From The District Lay Leader |
The bridge is out! This usually conjures up an image from a western movie of a train racing toward a broken trestle bridge. Calamity ahead! Well, although it’s not quite that drastic, a small bridge in our community has been closed due to construction repairs for quite some time now. It’s made my travel to church quite inconvenient, as well as requiring folks in that neighborhood to make a considerable detour to town.
A bridge is a way of connecting here to there. It’s a way to provide passage over or through an obstacle. We too can be a bridge. Just as the completion of repairs to that bridge allowed us access, we can be the bridge or access that others may need in finding their way to Christ.
In this time of Advent, we celebrate the hope, love, joy, and peace that came into the world as a gift of the Messiah. May we be mindful of those folks in our path and may we be the bridge in linking others to Christ as we share these gifts.
Blessings,
Ann Welch Wood
District Lay Leader
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Mountain View District Office Open By Appointment Only |
Office visits are still by appointment ONLY. We ask that you wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. We also ask that you social distance while in the office. Please do not come to the office if you are not feeling well. We ask that you come another time.
Office is open: Mon.-Thurs.
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Patti Will Be Out Of The Office |
I will be out of the office on vacation beginning December 16th and back in the office on January 4th. (I will not be checking emails or phone messages)
The office will be closed December 23-Jan. 3.
Wishing ALL of you a very Merry, Hope, Love and Joy filled Christmas. May we all remember that JESUS is the Reason for the Season!
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Thank you for your Red Bird Shoebox contribution |
This year has been another spectacular year for the UNY Red Bird Shoebox mission. Thank you to all who contributed to this ministry.
Spectrum covered this mission project both in Upper New York and with the arrival of the truck at the Red Bird Mission Center in Kentucky.
Click here to watch the coverage of the hundreds of boxes that arrived in Endwell and were loaded into two box trucks for their trip to Red Bird.
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LOCAL CHURCH EVENTS IN THE DISTRICT |
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WHEN: Dec.1, 2021-Jan. 5, 2022
WHERE: By ZOOM
TIME: 6:30-8:30 pm
Register: Call 607-703-0010 or
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WHEN: Saturday, December 11th
WHERE: Avoca UMC
8593 Jacobs Ladder Rd.
Avoca, NY
TIME: 3:00 pm concert- 4:30pm Dinner
DINNER Reservation Deadline: 5pm Tuesday, December 7th
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Avoca United Methodist Church
Pancake Breakfast
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WHEN: Sunday, December 12, 2021
WHERE: 8593 Jacob’s Ladder Rd.
Avoca, NY 14809
(Corner of Jacob's Ladder Rd. & State Rte. 415, one mile north of village of Avoca)
TIME: 8-10 am
MENU: Buffet Serving: Buttermilk Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Home Fries, Applesauce, Juice, Coffee, Tea
COST: Free Will Offering
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Ecumenical Blue Christmas Service |
WHEN: Wednesday, December 15th
WHERE: Arkport Presbyterian Church
158 Chemung St.
Waverly, NY 14892
LIGHT MEAL: 5:30 pm
TIME: 6:30 pm
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WHEN: Wednesday, December 15th
WHERE: Waverly UMC
158 Chemung St.
Waverly, NY 14892
TIME: 7:00 pm
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Clergy Educational Opportunities |
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Bishop Sharma Lewis: Tips for Preaching During Lent and Easter
WHEN: Jan. 11, 2022
LEADER: Bishop Sharma Lewis
Participants receive a certificate for 1-hour CEU following the online class.
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Course of Study Through Wesley Seminary |
Licensed local Pastors....are you are planning to take COS for the Winter or Spring Weekends? If you are, please consider filling out your registration form and get it to the District office to have the DS sign it and then I will get it to the registrar. The deadline for registration for the Spring-Feb.1st of 2022. (Reminder that the District office is CLOSED on Fridays)
Please, DO NOT WAIT to the last minute to register. When a class is filled, Wesley closes the registration for that class and there is no wiggle room.
I am putting this out now as one of the busiest times of the year is coming soon. There is no need for you to miss out on getting your course requirements met. There is NO MONEY due at the time of registration. You can register NOW for both Winter and Spring and if something comes up....you can cancel.
IF you need a specific class.....sign up now ....you need to remember that these courses are not just for UNY Conference....these are open to other Conferences as well. SO, sign up now
The steps to get registered:
· Get registration form-click here
· Fill out the form, print it, YOU sign it.
· Scan & email to your District Office
· District AA will get the DS to sign it and will send it to COS Registrar
· Registrar will fill out her part and get it to Sara Shephard.
· Sara Shephard will send the Registrar a confirmation of your registration.
· Registrar will send confirmation to the District AA
There is no reason to wait to the last minute because there is no money that needs to be sent with your registration. So, please sign up now!!
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Course of Study Participants
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU
If you are registering for a COS class at GBHEM – you will need to list the name and email of your COS registrar. That information is as follows:
Betsy O’Flynn
We have had several lately list BOMregistrar@unyumc.org – this delays or causes you the student to miss the class entirely. |
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Other Learning Opportunities |
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Barry Winders says the COVID-19 crisis is a hinge point for the church. This pivotal time demands mission-focused leaders lest the church slip back into the busyness and nonmissional activities of the pre-COVID-19 past.
Kay Kotan says many churches feel a natural desire to return to the familiar, comfortable patterns of the past. But churches that embrace this time of disruption as a catalyst for lasting change are most likely to be vital in the post-pandemic world.
Lovett Weems and Ann Michel share eight key lessons to help churches deal with the financial aftershocks of the COVID crisis. Now is the time to create a healthier financial future by managing resources wisely, engaging givers more effectively, and seeking more creative approaches to economic sustainability.
Thom Rainer says it is a mistake for churches to give up their digital or streaming services after returning to in-person worship. He outlines seven reasons online worship can augment your place-based worship and reach the community.
Allen Stanton says rural churches need better indicators of what it means to thrive. He outlines three characteristics of vital rural congregations able to lead the wider community toward the Kingdom of God.
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ATTENTION:
LAY SERVANTS, LAY SPEAKERS & CLM's
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Every year lay servants, lay speakers, and CLM's are required to fill out an annual report that is due at your church charge conference.
Please make sure you fill out the correct form and it be completely filled out. Also, please make sure you have your Pastor sign it and that you have signed it before you hand it in.
LAY SERVANT COURSE OPPORTUNITIES
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NY State minimum salary to increase |
The New York State minimum salary for employees classified as exempt under the New York State Labor Law’s administrative and executive exemption will increase from $937.50/week to $990.00/week or $51,480 per year, effective Dec. 31, 2021.
Employers in the Upper New York Conference, regardless of number of employees, must pay employees classified as exempt under the administrative and executive exemption the New York State minimum salary.
Churches should review their wage and hour practices to ensure that their employees are classified properly as non-exempt or exempt and that current minimum wage and minimum salary levels are being paid to employees.
If you have any questions on this topic, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at (315) 898-2017 or TracyRickett@unyumc.org
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Overview of US Copyright Laws |
Has your ministry received a copyright claim on your worship streams? While you may have no malicious intent, copyright laws aren’t governed by intent. To help you avoid these issues, our Legal Services team has developed a comprehensive five-part article series to help your ministry understand copyright laws and licensing. |
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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 17 ad interim appointments and four retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW DISTRICT OFFICE
35 Wilkes Ave. (Physical location)
PO Box 706 (Mailing Address)
Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Office Is Open
Mon.-Thurs.
In Person by APPOINTMENT ONLY
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell
District Associate: Pastor Mike Kelly
District Lay Leader: Ann Welch Wood
District Administrative Assistant: Patti Gridley
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