Northern Flow/Mohawk

Weekly Newsletter

August 17, 2023

Red Bird Shoe Box Mission 2023

The Mission team at Endwell United Methodist Church is again coordinating the collection and delivery of shoeboxes for the Red Bird Mission, located in Beverly, Kentucky. The Red Bird Missionary Conference is one of three United Methodist missionary conferences in the United States. It is the most comprehensive mission effort of the United Methodist Church, providing outreach and services that minister to the whole person-spiritual, physical, social, and economic.

In December of 2022, four volunteers from Upper New York drove two 26-foot trucks to the mission in Kentucky. They transported over 2,800 shoeboxes, over 100 new sheet sets and bedspreads, as well as numerous books, school supplies, and cleaning supplies.

The need is even greater this year.

Our goal for 2023 is to transport at least 3,500 shoeboxes and other supplies to the Red Bird Mission the last week of November.

There are two different styles of shoeboxes-adult and children. Click here for lists of items needed in the adult and children's shoe boxes. Christian bookmarks, wristbands, and other spiritual items are also appreciated.

The Red Bird Mission would like the items placed in clear plastic shoebox-sized storage containers with locking lids. If you are unable to purchase plastic boxes, the same-size cardboard boxes will work. Please do not wrap the shoeboxes or cardboard boxes.

Also, it is helpful to the mission if you clearly label each shoebox, so they know who the intended recipient is for the items. Click here for labels that you can use.

The mission also needs new pillows, new sheet sets, and new blankets for full and twin-size beds, as well as new bath towels. Used sheets, blankets, and towels cannot be sent.

Books, school supplies, new backpacks, and cleaning supplies are needed, as well.

Monetary donations can be made payable to the Endwell United Methodist Church to help cover the cost of the truck rental, fuel, lodging, and meals for the volunteers who will deliver the shoeboxes and other donations to the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky the last week of November. All funds will be deposited into a dedicated account for this mission. A suggested donation is $1.50 per shoebox. Please do not put money inside the shoe boxes. Place the money in an envelope and attach it to the shoe box.

We are in the process of compiling a list of drop-off sites if you can’t bring items to either the Upper New York Conference Center in Liverpool, NY, or to the Endwell United Methodist Church in Endwell, NY.

Please consider being a part of this vital mission. You can learn more about the mission by clicking here.

If you have questions or would like your church to be a drop-off location, please contact Dave Alexander by Sept. 8 at 607-743-8955 or Endwell United Methodist Church at 607-754-5735.

Apply Now for Fall 2023: Exclusive Online CPE Program

“What I have learned in CPE has transformed my practice of ministry by giving me the confidence that I need to enter any situation with an open heart and open mind." Rev. Khalif A. Smith Sr.

We often receive feedback similar to Rev. Smith from other program participants, which is why we want you to be a part of this life changing program. Applications are now available for fall and winter CPE units and spots will fill up fast.

Admission interviews are scheduled for the first week of August and will be reviewed until all open groups are filled. This year we are reviving the hybrid units with an in-person orientation retreat, however virtual CPE units will be still offered.

Here are a few additions we've added to our CPE program:

Multiple extended groups spanning five to sixth months with an in-person orientation retreat. Units are scheduled to end before Holy Week 2024.
Intensive virtual group meeting for 13 weeks, meeting every Thursday or every other Saturday for 8 hours.
Special group created for Korean speaking students, meeting on Saturdays (September 2023 through January 2024).

If you have any questions or need more information on our Clinical Pastoral Education program, please contact Rev. Dr. Soomee Kim.

Learn More Here

Northern Flow District Offering

Lay Servant Courses

** Please note the classes have been moved back by one week **

An in-person Lay Servant Course will be offered at the Ogdensburg UMC in the month of September. The course is being lead by Pastor Donna Fitchette.

"The Lay Servant Basic Course"

The dates and times are as follows:

September 12th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

September 19th 9:00 a.m. yo 12:00 p.m.

September 26th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

October 3rd 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

You are responsible for purchasing your own book and it can be purchased here

Pastor Donna will also be leading an Advanced Class on-line only in the month of October:

"For the Common Good: Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts"

The dates and times are as follows:

October 10th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

October 17th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

October 24th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

October 31st 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

You are responsible for purchasing your own book and it can be purchased here

You must attend all the classes to get credit for them. If you have any questions or to register please contact Pastor Donna @ missuaprilsue@hotmail.com

Stewardship with Rev. Susan Ranous

August 15, 2023

STEWARDSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

FINANCIAL HEALTH

Over the last couple of weeks, we focused on customizing the approach to discipleship[1] based on life stages and spiritual maturity. This week we’ll talk about customizing our approach to financial health.

The article from Christian Stewardship Network lays out four levels of financial health:

Struggle
Stable
Solid
Surplus

Their definitions identify struggling as those in the midst of financial crisis and in need of financial health; stable are those living from paycheck to paycheck; solid are those who have learned the basics of budgeting and are now debt free with margin.; and surplus are those with more resources than needed to basic needs and wants.

Most likely, you have people in all four of these stages of financial health, just as you have people in all stages of life and all stages of spiritual maturity. People in every stage looks at stewardship; at discipleship, and at life differently. We, therefore, need to approach this differently as well.

One thing I have learned is not to assume someone is struggling and not ask them to commit, or vice versa. But if you are aware someone is struggling and in the midst of crisis, then we have a responsibility to help them through that. To move from struggling or stable to solid may require teaching and training. A financial program, or how to budget program, or how to get out of debt program would be of great help to many. Anyone can and should budget, not just people with money.

It is hard to focus on making a financial commitment when someone may be worried about even putting enough food on the table, or to pay their rent. Helping someone out of that stressful situation will go a long way toward helping them care for themselves and to commit to a generosity program. Also, people who are focused too much on money may have great difficulty in even focusing on anything else, even discipleship or worship or prayer.

Like last week, let’s start with ourselves. Where do you fall in each of these areas? How do you know? What are the things that you can work on for each item. I attended a workshop that included completing a money autobiography that helped me understand why I believe what I do about money, why I spend money or save money. Start with that for yourself. If you’d like a pdf to a money autobiography to start your own work, please let me know. It will help you face your own financial health, but also to help others. A wonderful small group study could start with money autobiographies.

When we’ve helped our folks care for themselves financially, other steps will fall into place.

If you wish more information on this or would like to discuss stewardship and its relationship with discipleship, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com. I’d be happy to help.

[1] Stewardship Education that Builds Disciples, Furlong, Jessica and Dick, Don (Christian Stewardship Network), https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com.

Adirondack District Offering Lay Servant Courses

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.

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: Polity

Registration opens July 25. Last day to register: Aug. 17

Tuesdays: September 5, 12, 19, & 26: 6-9pm

ZOOM: Fee $15

Facilitator: Pastor Bruce Hazard

Advanced Course: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

Registration opens August 24. Last day to register: Sept. 16

Thursdays: October 5, 12, 19, 26, & Nov 2: 6-9pm

Zoom: Fee $15

Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM

Advanced Course: Called to Preach

Registration opens September 26. Last day to register: Oct. 19

Tuesdays: November 7, 14, 28, Dec. 5 & 12: 6-9pm

ZOOM: Fee $15

Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM

Wesley Heritage Tour 2024

Join Pastor Brett Johnson on the trip of a lifetime to visit John and Charles Wesley’s homeland of England. We will be visiting sites of great importance to United Methodists, including the Wesleys’ hometown of Epworth, Oxford, Bristol, and worship in the Wesley Chapel in London.

We will also be stopping at Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and St Paul’s Cathedral. Tour dates are July 13-22, 2024. Please use the following link to register: https://portal.myfaithjourneys.com/ and use group code 24002.

Contact Rev. Brett Johnson, pastor.brett.johnson@gmail.com, with any questions.

Mohawk District News

Mohawk District Day!

September 9, 2023

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

CenterPoint Community Center

Barneveld NY

We are looking for people who would like the opportunity to serve that day! If you are interested in lending a helping hand please contact Wayne Clemens @ bclemens@twcny.rr.com

If you plan on attending please let the district office know, please call 315-535-5149 or by email at northernflowdistrict@unyumc.org

Morning Star UMC will be hosting a SafeTalk suicide prevention workshop for anyone 15 or older Sept. 9th 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Frankfort Church

36 Second Street

Illion NY

1963 Conn electric Organ free to good home (or Church).

Delivery not included.

Mark Hediger, Pastor

Salisbury Center UMC

315-429-9085

July 24, 2023

Greetings to all of our Lay Servants:

The following Lay Servant Classes have been added to our LSM Fall education schedule:

The Advanced Lay Servant Class “Life Together in the United Methodist Connection (Polity) ” will be offered in-person at the Lowell UMC, 5840 Lowell Road, Lowell, NY 13490, starting Saturday, August 26, and continuing on Saturday, September 9 and 16, 2023. Class times are from 9 am to 3 pm each Saturday. Registration cut-off date is August 19^th. There are text books available for the first 6 students at no charge. Students are required to obtain their own textbooks prior to the start of class. Textbooks may be obtained from www.upperroom.org for $19.00. Check www.amazon for used books. The class instructor is Wendy Grosjean, CLM. This is a required class for those looking to be recognized as a Certified Lay Speaker.

If you have not completed a class since 2020, you will need an Advanced Lay Servant class to remain active as a Certified Lay Servant. This class can serve as an advanced or refresher class.

A student registration form is included with this course update notice.

Lay Servant courses are open to all, whether or not the student desires to be recognized as a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker in the Mohawk District. For additional information about the Lay Servant classes contact:

Ken Guilfoyle, CLM, Director (315 254 6673) (kguilf2855@aol.com )

Mohawk District Committee on Lay Servant Ministries

Registration Form