Notes From District Superintendent Sherri

 Happy Easter!

While every Sunday is a little Easter, we especially celebrate the resurrection of Jesus during the Easter season or Eastertide, which begins at sunset on Easter Eve and ends 50 days later on Pentecost Sunday.

I love the gospel readings during Eastertide:

• Mary finding the empty tomb in the garden.
• The women running to tell the disciples, “We have seen the Lord!”
• Thomas asking questions.
• Jesus making breakfast on the beach for the disciples. 
• Peter telling Jesus, “You know I love you, Lord.”
• Jesus walking with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. 

Spending time with these Scriptures allows us to work through our questions about Jesus’ resurrection. Eastertide is a time to ponder with Thomas, tell others about Jesus like the women, spend time in prayer and community and recognize that Jesus travels with us wherever we go. I hope you will take some time to sit, reflect and ponder these texts as we celebrate Eastertide. Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.

Grace and peace,

Sherri

Note from District Lay Leader

Ann Welch Wood

HELLO, SPRING!

Hello, spring! I had an uncle who awaited anxiously the blossoming of trailing arbutus each spring. He often said the sighting of this wildflower was sometimes the only reason that he persevered through the harsh winter. Know the feeling? Awaiting the crocus, daffodils, and forsythia to announce the coming of a new season? We travel through Lent with an expectation of arriving at the Easter story. When it arrives, we are filled once again with joy as we celebrate the gift of His Resurrection and the giving of new life in Jesus. During this Easter season, take time to rejoice and experience what we mean when we say Christ is risen and that we, as the church, are the body of the Risen Lord. It’s a season for focusing on our essential beliefs, those mysteries of the faith, and for preparing for the ministries the Holy Spirit has empowered us to undertake in Jesus’ name. Friends, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Blessings for your journey,

Ann Welch Wood

District Lay Leader

Article From Mt. View District Lay Servant Ministry Co-Chair Sue Silhan

Learning to See Through Change- Spring Lay Servant Classes

My mom has dementia. Our family feels blessed that her progression has been pretty slow, she is 92, and that she feels happy and is physically well. This is not so for many with Alzheimers/Dementia and it feels like a slow loss of one’s we love. The changes are unsettling when they don’t remember our names or even who we are in relationship to them. I personally entered into a time of deep grief over “losing my Mom” while she is still alive. 

It was a wonderful thing to read and teach Ministry With the Forgotten: Dementia Through A Spiritual Lens by Kenneth L. Carder.  “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known” 1 Cor 12:12  “Such an affirmation has significant implications when considering people with dementia. For one thing, it challenges the notion that persons with dementia lose their identity if they lose their memory. Our identity lies in God’s memory, not our personal memory……..Who am I? Only God knows!” [1]

This says something to me as well. As we navigate some pretty rough seas in our churches, our culture and our health we can trust in God, the one who knows us completely, loves us fully, and sets us free to depend upon Christ’s resurrection and salvation. The old saying from my MYF days, “let go and let God” allows us an opportunity to be church by surrendering in faith to God’s love and presence in our daily lives. We can sit with and care for those who forget themselves and us. We can be patient as our church structures change to something God has planned and we cannot yet see. We can be church in our communities with the gifts God has provided through the Holy Spirit. Our Easter Alleluias raise up to “catch the flame” of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and be the disciples we are called to be. 

Our District and Conference Lay Servant Ministry teams plan classes to help you discover what God might be calling you to. Not only a time of learning but also being in fellowship with others across the conference through zoom! To worship and pray together as we grow in understanding and in faith.

Join us this spring for the Basic Class in Lay Servant Ministry or the course Ministry With the Forgotten. Both will be offered live and by zoom, May 2^nd – May 30^th at First UMC Horseheads from 6-8 pm.  You can download the registration form https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FVsHJp8KjrFh9ECVZMGnCuDjIAP2MG0ZactBPHv9arc/edit?usp=sharing  

Classes are open to anyone interested and may be taken without cost if no credit is needed for LSM. Pastors receive 10 hours of CE for Advanced LSM Classes. Please feel free to call me with any questions or for more information. 607-703-0010

Blessings of God’s Love and Peace,

Deaconess Susan Silhan RN 

Co-Director Mountain View Lay Servant Ministry

Gestalt Pastoral Care Minister

[1] Ministry with the Forgotten: Dementia Through a Spiritual Lens – Kenneth L. Carder pg. 21

Prayers for:

Please keep the Rev. Mike Weeden and his family in your prayers. Rev. Weeden's father passed away on April 2, 2023.

Condolences can be sent to Rev. Mike Weeden at 149 Island Branch Road, Gouverneur, NY 13642. A Celebration of Life for Rev. Dr. Weeden begins at 11 a.m. on July 8 at Asbury First United Methodist Church, located at 1040 East Avenue in Rochester. Click here to read Rev. Dr. Weeden’s full obituary. 

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Visiting the District Office

The office is generally open Monday-Thursday.

We would appreciate if you would PLEASE CALL FIRST before coming to the office. We occasionally work remotely and would not want you to make an unnecessary trip to the office to find that we are not in.

Please call 607-962-8047 or email the office at

mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org

District Administrative Assistants, Offices Reconfigured

This information originally appeared in the March 29th issue of the UNY Conference Weekly Digest. Click here to read the full article.

The Upper New York Extended Cabinet shared today, March 29, its plan to reconfigure how administrative support is provided to its districts. Beginning July 1, 2023, the current structure of eight part-time and two full-time administrative assistants serving districts will be replaced by six full-time Superintendency Administrative Assistants, each serving two districts as well as working collaboratively on the superintendency support team. 

The new configuration of district administrative staff aligns with the reconfiguration of the Cabinet announced in January by Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez. Click here to read about the reconfiguration of the Cabinet.



By Jan. 1, 2024, it is anticipated all Superintendency Administrative Assistants and District Superintendents will work from home and all district offices will be closed. In this new arrangement, each district will still have a dedicated administrative assistant assigned to them.

2023 Appointment Announcements

Click here to read the letter of how the processes for appointment discernment, retirement announcements, expressing interest in open churches, and transitioning churches.

Click here for the announcement of appointments

District Administrative Assistants, Offices Reconfigured

This information originally appeared in the March 29th issue of the UNY Conference Weekly Digest. Click here to read the full article.

The Upper New York Extended Cabinet shared today, March 29, its plan to reconfigure how administrative support is provided to its districts. Beginning July 1, 2023, the current structure of eight part-time and two full-time administrative assistants serving districts will be replaced by six full-time Superintendency Administrative Assistants, each serving two districts as well as working collaboratively on the superintendency support team. 

The new configuration of district administrative staff aligns with the reconfiguration of the Cabinet announced in January by Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez. Click here to read about the reconfiguration of the Cabinet.



By Jan. 1, 2024, it is anticipated all Superintendency Administrative Assistants and District Superintendents will work from home and all district offices will be closed. In this new arrangement, each district will still have a dedicated administrative assistant assigned to them.

Bath Centenary UMC

Amish Ham Loaf Take Out Dinner

WHEN: Saturday April 29, 2023

WHERE: Bath Centenary UMC

3 W. Washington St.

Bath, NY 14810

TIME: 3-5 pm

Mountain View United Women in Faith

Special Recognition Dinner



WHEN: Monday May 15, 2023

WHERE: at the Y at Watson Woods

(used to be Watson Homestead)

TIME: 5:30 pm

EVENT: Buffet Dinner

COST: $20  (Checks to MVDUWF) Advance payment appreciated

RSVP: by May 8 to Karen Peterson - dpeterson1@stny.rr.com

Online Service of Lament Planned

Discipleship Ministries is planning an online worship experience titled “Out of Ashes: A Service of Lament in a Season of Disaffiliation.” The service is scheduled for 12 p.m. EST on April 20 and is intended to be a time to name loss while seeking the new thing God is doing.

Mitchellsville UMC: Eat-In Chicken & Biscuit Dinner

WHEN: Saturday, April 22, 2023

WHERE: Mitchellsville UMC

8421 County Route 13

Bath, NY 14810

TIME: 4:00-6:00 pm

MENU: Chicken & Biscuits, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans, Coleslaw,

Assorted Desserts & Drinks, AND Bake Sale

COST: 4 and under Free

           5-11 $5.00

           12- Adult $12.00

*Take-Outs Available

MEN’S RETREAT UNITED MENS MINISTRY / NEW GENERATION

WHEN: May 12th & 13th, 2023

WHERE: Letourneau Christian Center

4950 County Road 11

Rushville, NY 14544

Mountain View District Lay Servant Ministry Course Offerings

Ministry With the Forgotten-In Person/Zoom

Tuesdays May 2nd-May 30th 6-8pm

Click here for brochure

Adirondack District Lay Servant Ministry

Course Offerings Via Zoom

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

Facilitators: Jacqueline Kim & Team member

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

2023 Safe Sanctuary Trainings

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, Saturday, 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.

Opening to Grace 2023 Retreats

Co-director of the Mountain View District Lay Servant Ministry and Gestalt Pastoral Care Minister, Deaconess Susan Sihan, RN.

These retreats will be Hybrid In Person and Online.

• May 19-21
• Sept. 14-16
• Oct. 26-28

Click here for flyer and more information

Attention Churches

If you are considering…

Buying or selling a church building, a parsonage or other church property,

including land, or Undertaking major renovations to existing properties, or

Building a new church, parsonage, education building

or an addition to an existing building,

There are certain procedures that must be followed. 

The Book of Discipline - Chapter Six - Church Property

(page 733 in the 2016 version)

describes in detail the requirements that must be met in

order to do these things.



Please contact the District Office

607-962-8047

mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org

Boy Scout Bankruptcy update

Last week, the General Council of Finance and Administration (GCFA) issued an updated frequently asked questions webpage on the Boy Scout Bankruptcy following a recent ruling in the case. This webpage provides an overview and provides insight on what might happen next. Contact either Bryan Mills (bmills@gcfa.org) or Brandy Bivens (bbivens@GCFA.ORG) if you have any questions.

Two new job openings for a part-time Cook and part-time Kitchen Assistant for Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center have been posted to the website. If you have any referrals for any open positions, please ask folks to apply through the link on the website. Please contact me with any questions. Thank you.

https://www.unyumc.org/about/jobs

Puppet Production Puppets & A Preaching Robe Available

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. 

For more details please contact Rev. Doug Knopp at dkrev@yahoo.com

Does Your Church Have Members Attending SUNY Geneseo

My name is Gwyneth Jones-Wenninger, I am serving as the Wesley Fellowship Interim Director at SUNY Geneseo. 

The Geneseo United Methodist Church, under the appointment of Pastor Beth Malone, is beginning to revive the SUNY Wesley Fellowship which meets at the InterFaith Center near campus. We are reaching out to all of the churches in our conference who could have students attending SUNY Geneseo or nearby community colleges for contact information. I would appreciate it if you could provide me with any student information. They could also contact me directly at shadetreeauthor@gmail.com or via telephone (585) 969-0127.

I appreciate any assistance you can give me in reaching out to students that could be in our area. As you know, Wesley Fellowship is such an important support system and tool for growing leaders in our church!

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 to everyone – pass the word!

If you are not connected please follow the instructions below. 

To sign up either click the following link: https://bit.ly/UNYnotes.      

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.