AROUND THE CORNER
December 2, 2021
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Around the Corner will be published/distributed
every other week. Next Issue Dec. 16th
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"Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
We are in the season of Advent. The word Advent comes from the Latin Adventus and means "the coming of the Savior.” It is a holy season of the Christian church that marks a period of expectant waiting, anticipation, and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
The churches are decorated with greenery, poinsettias, Christmas trees, mangers scenes and candles. The four Advent candles, represent hope, peace, joy and love. The Advent Candles represent a journey. A journey each week bringing us closer and closer to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. The liturgical color is purple or blue, signifying great royalty in the coming of our Lord.
For many of us this is a time of busyness: cleaning the house, shopping for gifts, baking cookies, writing out Christmas cards, decorating the house inside and outside, baking cookies, sharing the story of Jesus’ birth with our children and grandchildren, baking cookies, watching favorite Christmas programs, shoveling snow, singing familiar songs, participating in the rituals at church, baking cookies and taste testing the cookies!
In my Advent devotional this year I am using “Manger and Mystery, An Advent Adventure,” by Marilyn Brown Oden. In this devotional she writes about “Holy Silence.”
“Holy Silence.” “Silence.” “Silence.” “silence.” “silence.”
Silence defined in the dictionary: as a noun - complete absence of sound. As a verb - prohibit or prevent from speaking.
In our culture today, silence as a complete absence of sound, is a challenge. And to prevent from speaking!! Wow this is a monumental challenge (especially for me)!
This Advent season I challenge all of us to take one verse each day from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” United Methodist Hymn #211, and silently reflect on the verse. (There are seven verses).
You may rotate the seven verses over the four weeks of Advent.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel:
Verse 2: O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Verse 3: O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Verse 4: O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Verse 5: O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home. Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death's abode. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Verse 6: O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Verse 7: O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
This Avent season may all of us take the time to be silent, prayerful, and joyful. Preparing and waiting expectantly, for the special night we celebrate the birth of Jesus once again!
In Hope, Peace, Joy and Love,
Suzanne
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Important Information to Share |
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Cornerstone District Website |
Please be aware that the only website that Cornerstone District is using is the one found on the Upper New York Conference Website.
Please Pass this information on to others!!!!
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There is NO Physical District Office |
Please make sure that you share this information as well. There is NO Physical District Office in Cornerstone. Please make sure that you mail anything that needs to go to the District Office to this address:
Cornerstone District Office
PO Box 687
Bath, NY 14810
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Pastors & Their Churches to in Prayer for Month of Dec. |
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord send your spirit in this place.
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace.
-- Ken Medema--
December 5- Clymer & North Clymer UMCs. Pastor Kevin Costner, his wife Heather and their sons Caleb & Joshua.
December 12- Cuba & Friendship UMCs. Pastor Becky Worth, her husband William and their family.
December 19- Delevan & West Valley:St. Paul’s UMCs. Pastor Candy Scarem, her husband Shannon and their family.
December 26- Dewittville-Hartfield & Mayville UMCs/ Rev. Mark Parsons, his wife Jan and their family
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January 2- East Otto UMC. Missy Ulinger, her husband Timothy and their family.
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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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District Office
Will Be Closed
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Patti will be out of the office Dec. 16- Jan. 3
If You Have An Emergency
Please Contact the District Superintendent
Please call 315-898-2089 and leave a message
OR
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Vote NO on the BSA Bankruptcy Plan |
The United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee has notified Conferences that it recommends all churches reject the BSA bankruptcy plan, i.e., vote no:
After months of mediation to achieve a settlement in the BSA bankruptcy and working with annual conferences about voting on the plan, the United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee recommends voting NO on the plan.
We do not have a signed settlement that would bring healing to the survivors and a release from claims against United Methodist local churches and other United Methodist entities. These releases are essential to prevent congregations and United Methodist entities from being sued and numerous court cases for United Methodists to defend.
While United Methodists are represented in the mediation and continue to work for a United Methodist settlement, it is not assured that we will receive a settlement. Because voting is occurring at this time, and all votes must be received by Dec. 14, 2021, regretfully United Methodists are recommended to vote NO.
Click here for a resource, guidance, and instructions for local churches, to assist with voting.
Click here for more information and further instructions and who to contact if you need assistance.
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Featured Church in Weekly Digest |
RIPLEY UMC
The Be Kind Initiative of Ripley, NY started a project back in July 2021 of making blessing bags for community members who needed some basic supplies (such as: combs, toothpaste, toothbrush, a face mask, and soap). As of November 2021, this project has been going on for over five months. So far with the amount of funds that were raised from donations and grants they have handed out approximately 125 bags to those in need. They are projecting that by the end of the year, Ripley UMC will have given out 200 or more bags to people in need.
The Be Kind Initiative team was started back in late 2018 and this project so far is the fastest growing and most successful one that has been done. One part of why this has been so successful and has grown so fast is they are in a prime location for the bags to be seen by anyone on the main street going through Ripley.
The bags are located on the Ripley UMC ramp with a banner hanging in the front to draw attention. They also have lists hanging with the bags so people who may not need the bags can make their own and hang the bags on the line. The lists shift to cover specific needs for each season of the year.
This concept has worked very well with bags given and received.
Ripley UMC encourages people who are called in a sense to either donate to this project or even to start up your own community project similar to this. If you have any questions about donating, ideas, comments, or starting your own initiative please email them at bekindalways299@gmail.com.
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Educational Opportunities |
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Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries |
The Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries has begun work on courses we will be offering in 2022. We plan to continue offering the 7 courses required for Lay Speaker Certification, and are excited to be offering some new advanced courses to support you in your continuing faith journey. A complete listing of all our course offerings for next year will be coming out soon!
If you feel called to ministry but are not sure where to start, the Basic Lay Servant course can help in your discernment process. This course is the foundation for all Lay Servant courses. In this course, you will be encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended. Participants are invited to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a leader in mission and ministry in the community and in daily life. If you are interested in this course, the next Basic Course dates are:
Monday January 10th 6-9
Thursday January 13th 6-9
Wednesdays January 19 and 26: 6-9
Via Zoom
Course fee $15
Facilitators: Lay Servant Ministries Team
The text is “Lay Servant Ministries: Basic Course Participant’s Book.”
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NEW
The ALPS-Memphis/TN/Holston Course of Study School
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Important Information
Course Of Study for Local Pastors
Dear Local Pastors
I encourage all recently licensed local pastors to take COS 121 and 122 in 2022 (or other local pastors. who have not yet completed COS 121 and 122.
The ALPS-Memphis/TN/Holston Course of Study School will offer COS 121 Bible I and COS 122 Theology I --online-- in the spring of 2022. I highly encourage you to register by December 15, 2021. The registration website is www.alpsumc.org Click on the 2022 Schedule tab for the course dates and syllabus and the Registration tab on the website to obtain registration forms. Please email your DS your registration forms by December 13, 2021.
COS 121 and COS 122 are prerequisite courses to all other COS courses (GBHEM Policy 2019) and are foundational courses for serving in the UMC. You may receive priority registration for these courses by registering by December 15, 2021. These courses will fill up quickly. Completing COS courses is required by the Book of Discipline. If you have any questions about the courses, please contact Dr. Barbara Nye, COS Director at bnye34@gmail.com or 615-289-4332 See course dates below
Grace and Peace,
name of LPR or DS
CC: Dr. Barbara Nye
Below are the zoom class session dates - The courses begin 30 days prior to these dates with prework, etc. "Registered students" will be sent a welcome letter from the course instructor with any course video links and zoom class meeting links with specific zoom times--approximately 3 weeks prior to the first zoom class sessions.
March 18-19 and April 8-9, 2022 -required zoom class sessions
COS 121 (formerly 111) Bible I: Introduction
Rev. Dr. Pat Whittemore Instructor
May 13-14 and May 27-28, 2022-required zoom class sessions
COS 122 (formerly 112) Theology I Rev. Dr. Phil Jamieson Instructor
2022 Spring Classes
The COS 2022 schedule is posted at www.alpsumc.org and attached. Please register by December 15, if possible, - especially for online courses offered in the 3 spring terms February, March/April and May. You may take one course per term. However, be sure you can complete the pre-work on time. The course syllabi are already posted. Courses will fill up quickly.
If you need to take COS 222 or COS 324 Preaching, the course limit is 12 - register early
All 20 COS will be offered in 2022
website www.alpsumc.org click on the Tab 2022 Schedule at the top of the web page and scroll down to see the list of courses and dates click on the Tab Registration at the top of the web page to print the 2022 registration form and email this to your DS.
You will not receive further notice of registration. Order your textbooks and begin pre-work as soon as your DS approves your registration contact alpsmthcos@gmail.com for registration questions contact bnye34@gmail.com for course advisement.
I hope your ministry is going well.
Blessings for Thanksgiving.
Barbara and Pam
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Course of Study Participants |
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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NEW
Simple Guidance for Preachers on Christmas Eve
As pastors and congregations prepare to receive guests on Christmas Eve, Bishop Kenneth H. Carter offers simple, heartfelt advice. Keep the sermon brief but grace filled. Appeal to people’s generosity. And make sure those inspired to begin their faith journeys are invited to take the next step.
Barry Howard names some dos and don’ts to help make your Christmas Eve service meaningful and welcoming. A festive and effective Christmas Eve service, he says, can go a long way toward building durable relationships and enhancing community connections.
Learn how your congregation can make a good first impression with first-time visitors. 50 Ways to Welcome New People provides strategies and tips to ensure your visitors feel truly welcome and at home in worship, plus guidance on visitor follow-ups and ways to be more inviting in your church.
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Advent & Christmas Resources for 2021
Here are several resources to help you
in your advent planning
Click below to explore the "Come Home for Christmas" worship series, read the advent candle lighting liturgy, and dive deep into a podcast discussion around Advent planning for this season and into 2022.
Click here for Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy 2021
New Webinar Series Coming November 16th
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“Come thou long-expected Jesus, born to set they people free.”
– Nativity Hymns, Hymn 10, by Charles Wesley, 1745
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Share the Meaning of Advent |
When congregants or visitors wonder about things such as the meaning of the candles in the Advent wreath, direct them to Ask The UMC’s online library. Exploring the collection of frequently asked denominational questions and their answers is an excellent way to learn something new.
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The Tuesdays at the Table series continues next week as the Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric and Michelle Hettmann discuss the question, “What do you understand when you hear, ‘This is the Lord’s table and we don’t set the guest list’?” Watch, ask questions and engage with others on The UMC’s Facebook page.
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Burning Question: How to do More with Less
Rebekah Simon Peter-Dec. 7th
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For most local congregations, there are lingering questions about the future. One question on most church’s minds is “How can we do more with less?”
Congregations are learning to deal with a lot of “lesses” in the new, hopefully soon-to-be, post-pandemic world:
• Less people in worship services
• Less money in the offering
• Less youth and young adults
• Less programming and more connection
These are just a few “lesses” congregations are dealing with. Rebekah Simon-Peter, author of upcoming book Growing the Post-Pandemic Church: Steps you can take right now to re-create your church, will touch on these topics and more as she shares what she has learned through recent research and focus groups.
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Preaching During Lent & Easter
Bishop Sharma Lewis-January 11th
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Bring two pens. You’ll need them. Bishop Lewis always brings new, fresh, information to each of her webinars. She will cover her tips related to sermon preparation, topics, preaching tips and more.
As clergy, we are called, among other things, to preach. Bishop Lewis, author of best-selling Lenten guide, Journey to Transformation, will be with us January 11 to lead a one-hour session on Preaching During Lent.
Bring two pens. You’ll need them. Bishop Lewis always brings new, fresh, information to each of her webinars. She will cover her tips related to sermon preparation, topics, preaching tips and more.
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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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NYS Minimum wage increase |
Effective Dec. 31, 2021, New York State (NYS) minimum wage will increase to $13.20/hour.
Employers in the Upper New York Conference, regardless of number of employees, must pay non-exempt employees minimum wage. Future increases will be determined by the NYS Director of Budget in consultation with the NYS Commissioner of Labor and will be announced on or before Oct. 1 each year.
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NY Hero Act extended to Oct. 31 and additional details about COVID-19 in NY State |
On Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, Governor Hochul announced that the New York State Commissioner of Health designated COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease.
The NY HERO Act plan (a law signed by Governor Cuomo in May 5), mandates extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during a future airborne infectious disease outbreak.
Initially, the NYS Hero Act was effective through the end of September 2021. The Hero Act has now been extended to Oct. 31, 2021 because COVID-19 continues to be a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health in New York State.
Employers now must follow the requirements of their plans, as well as conduct mandatory training for employees on the plan and the law. Upper New York churches are responsible for the mandatory training for their staff.
Click here to learn why asking for vaccination status is not a violation of HIPAA.
Click here to learn paid-leave requirements related to COVID-19 in New York State.
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Cornerstone District Office, PO Box 687, Bath, NY 14810
716-665-2423
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