District Superintendent Rev. Suzanne Block |
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DISTRICT OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION |
CORNERSTONE DISTRICT OFFICE
PO Box 687
Bath, NY 14810
District Administrative Assistant Patti Gridley
Office phone-607-962-8047
office phone- 315-898-2089 and leave a message for her.
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Prayers Calendar for Pastors & Churches |
March 5-Northern KonXions UMC- Pastor Craig Buelow, his wife Diane and their family.
March 12-North Harmony UMC. Pastor Joe Osborne, his wife Kelly and their family.
March 19-Olean:Christ UMC. Rev. Chad Sayers, his wife Jessica and their sons Isaiah & Micah.
March 26-Panama UMC. Rev. Steve Taylor, his wife Stacy and their family.
April 2-Pleasant Valley UMC. Tony Gray, his wife Erin and their family.
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Save the Date for Regional Meetings with Bishop Hector |
Bishop Héctor is eager to meet laity and clergy throughout the Conference and has scheduled dates for regional meetings. The meetings will be as follows:
The clergy meetings will be from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
The laity meeting (and clergy unable to attend the earlier time) will be from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
1/5/23
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Bishop Burgos Núñez Announces
Clergy Appointments
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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.
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Report Your Church Statistics on AC Stats: Replaces the Ezra System |
Annual Church Statistics (ACStats) is the one-stop location for United Methodist data that tracks membership, expenses, and income. It's designed to help churches submit year-end statistics to the Upper New York (UNY) Conference digitally in a way that's cost-effective.
This user-friendly platform replaces Ezra as the method of reporting your church statistics.
March 17, 2023, is the deadline to complete the 2022 statistical report for your church. Here is the new login information for you to access the new platform. Click here
In the meantime, you may familiarize yourselves with the new ACStats platform by reviewing the user's guide for local churches. Translated reports are available in Spanish and Korean.
PLEASE take the time to read the user's guide before entering your data. Here is the link for the user guide . Please make sure you write down your login and password some where as the Administrative Assistant's no longer have access to help you with that. So, if you have issues logging in you will need to contact Autumn Wells at the conference office. You may contact Autumn at 315-898-2004 or email her at autumnwells@unyumc.org
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Bishop's Installation Service Announced |
Join us to celebrate the assignment of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Nuñéz as the new episcopal leader for Upper New York. Bishop Héctor's service of installation and celebration begins at 2 p.m., Sat., , Mar. 11, at Liverpool First United Methodist Church, 604 Oswego St.. Liverpool, NY. This service is intended for the whole Conference. You may participate:
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In-person at the Liverpool First United Methodist Church. Limited seats are available. Please RSVP for in-person participation no later than March 4 by registering here. A reception will follow this service.
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Watch the livestream from anywhere. For livestream participation, no RSVP is necessary. Click here
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2022 UNY Journal Vol. II now available
The 2022 Upper New York Conference Journal, Vol. II is now available for download as a free PDF and for purchase through the online publisher, Lulu.com.
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NEW Around the Connection
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Mid-Term State of The United Methodist Church set for March 2
Council of Bishops President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton delivered a Mid-Term State of The United Methodist Church Address today March 2, 2023, at 1 p.m. EST. The video presentation will launch on the official United Methodist denominational website at UMC.org/Renew and be shared on Facebook.com/UnitedMethodistChurch.
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NEW You're Invited to..... CHURCH Next |
Leading in A Post-Pandemic – Post-Denominational World. Looking at the four critical practices for local churches: Leadership development, Ministry with the poor, Creating new opportunities outside the church buildings and Forming recovery communities.
WHEN: Saturday, March 18, 2023
WHERE: Edinboro United Methodist Church
113 High Street
Edinboro, PA, 16412
Our leader for the day: Mike Slaughter
Pastor emeritus and global church ambassador for Ginghamsburg Church, served for nearly four decades as the lead pastor and chief dreamer of Ginghamsburg and the spiritual entrepreneur of ministry marketplace innovations.
Mike is also the founder and chief strategist of Passionate Churches, LLC, which specializes in developing pastors, church staff and church lay leaders through coaching, training, consulting, and facilitation services. Mike’s call to “afflict the comfortable” challenges Christians to wrestle with God and their God-destinies.
For more details please click the Flyer button below.
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Cornerstone District In Person
Spring Lay Servant Training School
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WHEN: Fri., April 21, & Sat., April 22, 2023
WHERE: Olean: Christ UMC
TIME: Fri., 5-9pm, Sat., 8am-5pm
COST: $25 (plus purchase of your own books)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 7, 2023
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Puppet Production Puppets &
A Preaching Robe
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Do you have a puppet ministry? Would you like to start one? We have several Puppet Production puppets available along with staging.
Free - Wesley style gray preaching robe with Cross and Flame on the velvet panels. Will fit a person Six feet tall.
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Is Your Church Looking For Choir Robes ? |
Falconer UMC has several choir robes (approximately 30) that they no longer use. They would gladly donate them. They are all red with white reversable collars.
Please contact Shirley Vandenburg at 716-665-5182
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UPDATED March Special Session of Annual Conference Via Zoom
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The Upper New York Conference’s March 2023 Special Session of Annual Conference to consider disaffiliation requests will take place remotely on March 25 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Registration is now open and close on March 10, 2023. If you are eligible to vote, be sure to pre-register. Click here to register.
There is a $10.00 fee for this conference for all eligible voters, except for equalization members.
Those who are not eligible to vote, do not need to register and can watch the Special Session via livestream by clicking here on March 25.
Click here to see a list of who is eligible to vote.
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Are You Connected To UNY? |
Do you receive the latest news and updates from UNY Conference? All pastors should be connected and as many people from your congregation that would like to be. This is open toeveryone – pass the word!
If you are not connected please follow the instructions below.
Or follow the steps below:
- Go to the conference website
- Click on News in the toolbar
- Select Connect with UNY
Sign up for all six categories or just select the UNY Notes.
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Adirondack District Lay Servant Ministries Offering 2023 Lay Servant Courses By Zoom |
2023 Lay Servant Course
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.
No refunds or credit for courses will be given. 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: Called to Preach
Tuesdays April 11, 18, 25, May 2 & 9: 6-9pm
ZOOM: Fee $15
Registration and course fees due by March 28
Advanced Course: Polity
Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17 & 24: 6-9pm
ZOOM: Fee $15
Facilitator: Bruce Hazard & Team member
Registration and course fees due by April 19
Advanced Course: Opening Ourselves to Grace
Thursdays: May 4, 11, 18, 25, & June 1: 6-9pm
ZOOM: $15
Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim & Team member
Registration and course fees due by April 20
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UMCOR Cleaning Buckets For Buffalo |
In the aftermath of the Christmas Blizzard, many have asked “What else can we do?”.
Buy items from the Upper New York Mission Central Hub’s “Cleaning Kit" Amazon Wishlist now through March 1st and have your items shipped to Harris Hill United Methodist Church, located in the Buffalo area.
Harris Hill United Methodist Church’s “Go! Ministry” was prepared to respond to their community's cleaning needs after the blizzard with UMCOR Cleaning Buckets. They graciously provided these buckets to their neighbors and helped many make sense of the mess that was in front of them. Let's help replenish their buckets!
If you are dropping off in person, please call Harris Hill UMC to schedule a drop off at (716) 632-4688
Buying from somewhere else?
Ship to: 8495 Main St, Williamsville, NY 14221
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‘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.
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Employer Legal Updates For 2023 |
With the end of 2022 has come (and will come) significant legal changes. It’s hard to keep up-to-date on all the new workplace laws that are in effect. Tracy Rickett, the Upper New York Human Resources Generalist, has you covered!
Click here for laws related to posting requirements. Click here for three laws related to leave. Click here to learn the pay requirements for exempt employees and a new law requiring pay transparency. Click here to learn about the Human Rights Law update. Click here to learn about amendments to the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act.
With these many new requirements, now is a good time to dust off your handbooks and update them if you have not done so recently. Tracy Rickett is happy to draft or review any handbooks or other policies for legal compliance. You can contact her at tracyrickett@unyumc.org or (315) 898-2017.
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2023 Safe Sanctuary Training Schedule |
The UNY Safe Sanctuaries Team has scheduled four, 3.5 hour Zoom basic trainings in 2023. There will also be Training of Trainers sessions.
The Basic trainings take place 9 AM to 12:30 PM, Saturdays: May 6, Aug. 5 and Nov. 4. The Training of Trainers will be 9 AM to Noon, Saturdays, Mar. 4 and Oct. 7.
The Basic training is for all clergy and anyone working with children or vulnerable adults. The Training of Trainers is for anyone who would like to become a church or District Safe Sanctuaries trainer in the UNY Conference. You need to have taken the Basic Training first.
If you need training between these dates, or would like to host an in-person training, please contact the District Office or send an email to the Safe Sanctuaries team, safesanctuaries@unyumc.org.
Registration for the February training will open Jan. 4. Look for the link in upcoming announcements.
For more information regarding Safe Sanctuaries, visit the Conference website: Click here. To view the poster, click here.
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Scholarships Available
for United Methodist Students!
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Applications are now open for scholarships from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Every year, UMHEF awards $2+ million to students planning to attend one of the 100+ UM-related colleges, universities, and seminaries across the country. Don’t let finances get in the way of achieving your dreams of a quality education! Apply by March 1 at https://umhef.org/apply.
1/19/23
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CORNERSTONE DISTRICT OFFICE
PO Box 687, Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Monday-Thursday-Visits to Office by Appointments Only
physical location: 35 Wilkes Ave., Bath, NY 14810
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