315-475-7277 | Email: office@uumcsyracuse.org

Here is your weekly news from UUMC.

At the direction of the UUMC Governing Board and SPRC we performed a review of software and systems to replace Quickbooks as our financial system and to replace Church Windows as our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. In considering systems we articulated several needs and goals for the new systems.

1. Systems Integration: The new system will ideally integrate customer relationship

management and finance so that all systems talk to each other. This should also allow for mailing list management and relationship tracking.

2. A Modern Financial System: The financial system should be easy to access by

authorized individuals and be accessible via a web interface. This system should be able to manage church and not for profit financials. We have to commit to cleaning up our balance sheet assets and liabilities so that we do not import bad data into our new system.

3. Grants Management: The ability to manage grants and view accurate reports at any time. Access to reporting must be available to those managing the grants.

4. Ease of Reporting: The system must allow for multiple authorized individuals to access reports without compromising the security of the data being accessed. Reports should be able to be run at any time and from anywhere there is secure web access.

5. Ease of Communications and Relationship Management: We currently use Church Windows for our CRM. It is difficult to access and use. As a result our contacts database is woefully out of date. As a part of the conversion we have to commit to scrubbing and cleaning our contacts so we do not import bad data into our new system. We talked to and had Zoom presentations from three different vendors: Congregational Finance, Monkeypod and Aplos Church Software. Based on our experiences with these companies our choices came down to Monkeypod or Aplos Church Software. We checked references for each company. Although their offerings are similar and their references were equally good, we believe Aplos is a more seasoned company and is better prepared to help us with a successful move to

their services.

At the May 2022 meeting of the UUMC Governing Board, a motion from the Finance Committee with the concurrence of Pastor Alicia was approved to purchase software and conversion services from Aplos to replace Quickbooks and Church Windows.

The first year cost including conversion and integration services is $5,506. The annual cost thereafter: $4,008.00. Aplos replaces Quickbooks, Church Windows and Constant Contact

which had an annual cost of $1,400 annually. Moving to Aplos has also allowed the

administration to continue to cut operating costs through employee attrition.

Please join us as we come together to pray for peace in Ukraine during this time of crisis. This interfaith prayer service is open to all faith traditions and will feature blessings from religious leaders of various faiths. Taking place at St. Luke Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Warners, NY.

Sunday Worship | 10:30 a.m.

Please note: Every worship service remains "live" on our Facebook page. You are able to watch every one that has been done since we began online worship. They never go away. If you are unable to begin at 10:30, you can watch it at your leisure another time.

Families come in all shapes, sizes, kinds and colors. We as a church family, today, will celebrate them all through honoring our graduates, celebrating our 11^th Anniversary as a Reconciling Church, fatherhood, families, sharing a prayer for Juneteenth, and the legacy we will leave beyond this life. 

Scripture: Galatians 3: 26-29 (CEB)

Prelude: “Antiphon” By: Alexandre Guilman

Offertory: “How Great Thou Art” Desi Gillespie, soloist

Postlude: “Praise and Thanksgiving” Arranged by: Dale Wood

Pastor Alicia has issued a challenge for everyone in the congregation to give back. Between June and October, she would like you to attend at least one volunteer event. For opportunities within the church, please reach out to Galyn Murphy-Stanley. If you choose to volunteer outside of the church, please tell us about it!

June 21 at 7 p.m.: CNY Pride Interfaith Service—The service will be at All Saints Church on Lancaster Ave. Pastor Alicia & Others from our church is a part of the planning and service.

June 25: CNY Pride Parade—We would love to have a large presence! We will gather at 10 a.m. to begin marching at 11 a.m. This year we will have a vehicle to ride in the parade if you prefer not to walk. Please call or email the church office to sign up and give us your T-Shirt size. We are asking for a donation to pay for the T-shirts. If you have questions, please reach Diane, 727-238-0187. 

June 26 at 1 p.m.: We are delighted to announce that long-time UUMC friends Nathan Sumrall and John Ginn will present a special concert of music in our sanctuary. Nathan and John will be with us for 11 a.m. worship, and immediately following, the church will provide a light luncheon for those planning to stay for the 1 p.m. concert.

July Worship Series: "Half Truths" based on a book by Adam Hamilton.

July 28: United Methodists at the Ball Park.

July 31: Worship filled with music by Rev. Bruce Webster.

August 10 at 5-7 p.m.: SUMM Picnic at UUMC.

August 14-17: Worship workshop for all interested at UUMC.

February 14 - February 24, 2023: Travel wit Pastor Alicia to the Holy Land.

We are looking for Ushers and Greeters for our Sunday Service during the months of July and August. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Ann Owens at 315-382-2736.

Financial donations maybe drafted to University United Methodist Church with the destination in memo (i.e.: Food Center, winter clothing, breakfast, pet foods, etc.).

The clothing closet is open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Donations can be scheduled or inquired about by emailing Galyn at outreach@uumcsyracuse.org. See our website for a list of accepted materials.

Your continued donations and support have been appreciated! Thank you!

Men's Clothing - Pet Food Needed - Hygiene Items Needed - Socks

Contact Galyn at the church office, office@uumcsyracuse.org to arrange drop-off time.

We have already begun the upgrade to our Audio, Video and Lighting equipment in the Sanctuary in anticipation of the new livestream. We are adding 3 cameras to accommodate different angles and views. The upgraded sound system will increase clarity both on site and over the livestream. Training classes will begin later this month.

Information meeting/Open house Wednesday June 29, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at University United Methodist Church, 324 University Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210, corner of University Ave and E. Genesee Street. Clergy, parish staff, students and lay caregivers are all welcome.

Pastoral Care Education is an intensive education program that will enhance your skill in providing excellent pastoral care in your parish or volunteer setting. This information meeting will showcase the program with information from the faculty, sharing from previous students and time for questions and answers. Please pre-register with Connie Marion at (315)677-3719 or pastoraleducation@twcny.rr.com It is our custom to serve a light meal for this meeting, so please be sure to let me know you are coming.

Every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. we gather for a zoom prayer meeting. It is open to everyone: come once, come every week, but you are invited to join us at any time: zoom link: Join Zoom Prayer

Please note: Prayer requests and comments submitted in the chat during our online service are public knowledge, as the church’s Facebook page is open to all.

As a caring church, we hold one another in prayer. The names in the next sentence are selected each week from the church directory, generally in alphabetical order. This week, please pray for:

Elise Curry-Schemichen & Richard Schemichen

The requests list below come from the previous Sunday’s worship and those received during the week.

Ann O.: For all High School Students taking Regents and finishing this challenging year.

Anonymous: Prayers for Sue and her family, her Dad passed away yesterday.

Anonymous: Prayers for Jayne and family.

Anonymous: Prayers for Rich and Stephanie.  

Carol: Asks that we continue to pray for those who have lost lifelong partners and loved ones. 

Carol and Tom B.: Please keep in your prayers Sean and Karen, our neighbors and friends. Sean is facing a potential diagnosis of metastatic liver cancer. They expect to get final word today.

Erika: Asks that we pray for Maria S and her family.

Julie O.: That Love would replace hate, greed. Racism and etc in the hearts of mankind.

Kim: Asks that we pray for the homeless, those struggling with mental illness or physical illness and those adrift in Spirit.   

Kim: Asks for prayer for patience.  

Kim: Asks for prayers for her surgery on Friday goes well and for an easy and speedy recovery.

Kim: Asks for continued prayers for Gwen T-F for healing.

Sherri C.: Prayers for Sue and her family her dad passed away yesterday. Prayers for Jayne and family. Rich and Stephanie.

Click here for additional information.

July 14 ($50 off), August 14 ($25 off).

Individuals are invited to send questions in advance, along with their name and church, for Bishop Webb to address by emailing them to news@unyumc.org by June 17. An opportunity to submit questions during the webinar will be available through a chat function.

Click here on June 21 to join this webinar.

Click here to learn more about Juneteenth and learn six ways we can observe Juneteenth.