1085 E. Genesee Street
Office: 324 University Ave
Syracuse, NY 13210
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Greetings!
Here is your weekly news from UUMC.
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Sunday Worship | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person and on Facebook Live
Click Below to Join Worship on Sunday
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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. |
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Virtual Coffee with Pastor Alicia
Every Tuesday - 10 a.m.
Click below to join on Tuesdays
Passcode is 7277
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Worship | Seventh Sunday of Easter | May 29, 2022 |
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Memorial Day is a day assigned to remember and memorialize
those who have died in military conflict. While initially conceived to
remember military personnel that have given their lives, it is now
commonly broadened to also include civilians who have lost their lives
in war. Today, I would like to further broaden our understanding of
Memorial Day to include those who have been killed in the war of hate
and fear at our schools, our churches, our movie theaters, our grocery
stores. The schools listed on the screen have all had shootings since
1998. The battle toll from this war is beyond comprehension in a civil
society and we have been buffeted in the past two weeks by horror after
horror after horror. It is time to not only memorialize the dead, but to
stop the killing. Our theme for today is, “Disturbing the City.” Clearly
our cities are disturbed by these horrors. Persons of color, women,
LBGTQIA folk are asking, how many of us are going to die? It is time
for us to disturb the status quo, for us to be “good trouble” as
Congressman John Lewis used to say. We must be witnesses to the
healing power of Jesus Christ in our city.
Scripture: Acts 16: 16-34
Worship Music
Prelude: Sanctus from St. Cecelia Mass - Charles Gounod
Hymns: #512 “Stand by Me”,
“Your Peace Will Make Us One” (Tune UMH 717)
Postlude: The Enchanted Garden - Maurice Ravel
Our Altar flowers on Sunday are given in honor of Kirsten Magowan's Mother, May Nicolaisen's 90th Birthday.
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Children's Activities
- Our children's table is out and full of activities for your kids to do on Sundays! The table is in the front of the sanctuary on the right side.
- Your kids can read a book, fill out coloring pages and do activity sheets, all with our lovely volunteers supervising them!
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Online Giving
- For your convenience, you can click here to give online.
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Church Updates | New Information |
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Thank You for Your Gifts and Contributions
UUMC would like to thank each and every one of you for your generous gifts to our Church in memorial of Lee Potter.
Due to a flaw in our recording system, we were unable to acknowledge each of you individually. Please know that we appreciate all your help as we continue to serve the residents of the great city of Syracuse. This issue has now been rectified.
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GOVERNING BOARD REPORT - Joyce Flynn
For those folks newer to UUMC and the United Methodist Church’s structure, I thought it might be helpful to briefly hear what our Governing Board is, what it does, and who its members are. We are your “Congress” at UUMC (and hopefully work better together and get more done that our current U.S. Congress!). We meet regularly to hear reports from various UUMC committees, consider requests and recommendations on staffing, funding, and building usage, among other things, and we make decisions on behalf of the UUMC community regarding how our church will respond to issues in our local community and beyond.
Our members are as follows:
Alicia Wood, Pastor
Beth DuBois, Pastoral Associate
Barbara Nunn, Lay Leader
Nelson Price, “Body” Chair (Outreach, Church&Society, ACTS Rep., etc.)
Cynthia Steinem, “Mind” Chair (Christian Ed., Study Groups, History Committee, etc.)
Ann Owens, “Spirit” Chair (Worship Comm, Ushers, Greeters, Altar Guild, etc.)
Ronald Denby, Finance Comm. Chair
Connie Myers, Staff/Parish Relations Comm. Chair
Seth Austin, Trustees Chair
Ted Finlayson-Schueler, Lay Member Rep. to the Annual Conference
Gwen Tillapaugh-Fay, UUMC Rep. to Syracuse United Methodist Ministries
Melanie Fullerton, Recording Secretary – probably the toughest job of all!
In our last meeting on May 17th, among other issues, we approved the hiring of Michelle Grutman to fill the position of Manager of Office Operations, Social Media and Finance.
Michelle is a transplant to Central New York with a background in graphic design. She is already hard at work in the office and interacting with the congregation and community via email and Facebook.
Please help us to welcome Michelle to the UUMC family!
We approved entering into an agreement with Aplos, a company who will provide a software system that will enable UUMC to manage our Office & Finance systems accurately and with improved time efficiency both now and well into the future.
If you have any suggestions, questions or concerns that you would like to raise to the Governing Board, please feel free to reach out to any of the members.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joyce Flynn, Governing Board Chair
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UUMC Events Looking Ahead |
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Next Sunday: June 5: Pentecost Sunday/wear Red for to celebrate
June 8 at 6 p.m.: Special Charge Conference at Paul’s UMC.
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June 12: Peace with Justice Sunday—We celebrate and reaffirm our holy commitment to ending injustice domestically and internationally on this day. Offerings made this Sunday will go to many hundreds of United Methodist-backed projects to bring Christ's peace and justice to a broken world.
June 19: Family Day/Graduation Sunday
June 21 at 7 p.m.: CNY Pride Interfaith Service—The service will be at All Saints Church on Lancaster Ave. Pastor Alicia 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.: Save the Date! 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 28: United Methodists at the Ball Park
August 14-17: Work workshop for all interested
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We are ending our worship series this sunday, "We Are Witnesses," which follows the United Methodist liturgy through Eastertide up to Pentecost.
During this time, we consider what it means to be Christ's church in the world, how to live faithfully and serve as witnesses to the radical love of God.
Please look forward to all the worship committee will be planning for this time.
This series is based on a book, "Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom," by Dr. Darryl W. Stephens. It may be purchased here for $10 in paperback. |
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Eastertide Adult Education Opportunity |
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PROPHETIC VOICES is a Special Collection of five award-winning documentary films profiling remarkable religious figures from one of the most turbulent centuries in history. Through their timeless writings and prophetic witness, they helped shape the contours of how to create a moral and ethical response to the social and political challenges of their era. Most importantly, what they left behind is a roadmap for how to faithfully confront our own issues today.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Howard Thurman, Reinhold Niebuhr, Dorothy Day and Abraham
Heschel each came from different faith traditions and varied cultural backgrounds. What they shared in common was an abiding love for their tradition, a willingness to challenge established powers, including their own religious leaders, and an acceptance of the cost that voicing truth entails - both professionally and personally.
Pastor Beth will meet virtually with those interested on Sunday evenings – for three
weekends in May and two weekends in June. The first part of the meeting will be for those who want to watch the documentary together, the second part will be our discussion.
June 5: Dorothy Day—video at 5 p.m., discussion at 6 p.m.
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Zoom link for Sunday's discussion.
June 12: Abraham Joshua Heschel—video at 5 p.m., discussion at 6 p.m.
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Date Changed—June 4 at 8 p.m.: To join, or for more information, please contact Nelson Price through email at nprice@twcny.rr.com or call at (315) 446-7656 |
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Holy Land Trip in 2023 Information Session, June 2nd |
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Pastor Alicia Wood invites you to join her on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, February 14 - February 24, 2023.
You are cordially invited to attend an information session of Thursday, June 2nd at 6pm at Bellevue Heights UMC (2112 S. Geddes Street, Syracuse, NY) either in-person or on Zoom. Kindly contact Pastor Alicia to indicate whether you plan to attend in-person or via Zoom (Zoom link to follow). Thank you. We look forward to seeing you.
You are encouraged to register immediately with only $100. June 14 ($75 off),
July 14 ($50 off), August 14 ($25 off).
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Thank You from UMCOR for Our Donation |
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Conversations with Pastor Alicia
The sixth episode of the church podcast, Conversations with Pastor Alicia, is out now! Click here to access it on our website.
Jason Naradzay, former Food Center volunteer and friend of the church, shared his remarkable testimony with us. We hope you feel encouraged and awed by how God has worked in his life.
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Our staff and lay leaders have finished filing their reports on their work at UUMC during 2021! You may view the annual report here.
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Wednesday morning prayer via Zoom |
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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
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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:
Joeviet Cooper, Eva and Juliet
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The requests list below come from the previous Sunday’s worship and those received during the week.
Ann O.: Prayers for a good day at Camp Casawascos open house.
Ann O.: Congratulations for Charolette Stanson, who graduated from college last week.
Anonymous: Mamie is in the ER getting fluids – please pray for her.
Anonymous: Safe travels for our family with a baby.
Anonymous: Prayers for the Gallardo Family and Marie Gallardo.
Anonymous: Prayers of healing for the entire ESM communities.
Anonymous: Prayers of healing for Dr. Jim Dispenza.
Barb W.: Continued prayers for my neighbors in Florida for comfort and healing.
Connie M: All those who grieve.
Gail T.: Requests prayers for the family and friends of Carol F., who passed away.
Gwen: Prayers for those who feel ’unseen.’
Jeanne: a hearty welcome to Connie Wilson, a former UUMC member who now lives in Anderson South Carolina.
Jim T.: Prayers for Jeremy Gorman’s family as he recently passed away. He was a caseworker for Jim & many others who have special needs.
Julie O.: For LOVE to replace hate in the hearts of all on the planet who hate themselves and others.
Liz: Prayers for Kate.
Morgan: Prayers for Gerry Mastronardi and family.
Sharon: Prayers for healing for all those hurting.
Sherri C: Prayers for Sue and her father's failing health. Rich Harvey, the family of Doreen Sabo, Anne, Cooper and Spencer. Kathy and Jayne. Stephanie.
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At University United Methodist Church, we believe that church is more than just a building; it’s a way of living. It’s connecting with others — in compassion, love, justice, service and fellowship. Volunteers assist with outreach in a number of ways. |
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UUMC Outreach Clothing Closet |
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The clothing closet is open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Donations can be scheduled by calling the church office. See our website for a list of accepted materials.
Your continued donations and support have been appreciated! Thank you!
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June Volunteer Opportunities |
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More detailed information will be shared with registrants about this event but, please know that you will be working within a group of volunteers and leaders to create 150+ free to-go brown bag breakfasts for residents of our community. Bags are generously filled with diverse nutrient dense foods, hot coffee, bottled water, juice and some supplemental foods. There are 2 simultaneous breakfast distributions which are prepared at UUMC each Sunday morning.
As we continue to tweak this effort and embrace this summer season the largest effort for our Sunday breakfast is between 8-9am. This is when all of the volunteers will be utilized to pre-pack breakfast bags in our UUMC kitchen. At about 9am the greater population of volunteers may retire. Few are required to distribute the breakfasts to our Sunday guests. These distributing folk have already been identified and will remain through clean up.
Additionally, please recognize that Sunday, June 26, 2022 has been intentionally left off the volunteer registration link. This day will be supported wholly by SUNY Upstate Elizabeth Blackwell Leadership Group. We will not need any additional volunteers needed for this day.
Please see the attached Youtube video for more information.
It is important for you to register for these events. If there are closures and/or disruptions to our distribution I will contact you through this registration platform. Obviously, if you don't pre-register, I can't contact you. Thank you! Happy registering!
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Volunteer Request
YOU’RE INVITED!
We had a great time at our last Peanut Butter & Cream Cheese Packing Party on May 5th, and in spite of the cream cheese challenges, got a lot packed! We are looking for a few more folks to join us for the next one on Thursday, June 2nd from 9:30 - 11:30 in the big kitchen. Invite a friend to join us, and come for fun, fellowship & a chance to be part of our Outreach effort for our weekly Sunday Breakfast.
No special skills needed - just a willingness to help, & a desire to have some fun while doing it.
Call Joyce Flynn at (315) 480-6767 or email: jhflynn56@gmail.com with questions. Hope to see you there!
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Spring/Summer 2022 Food Center @ 324 University Ave. Cancellations & Closures |
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Monday, May 30, 2022
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University United Methodist Church CLOSED (Memorial Day Holiday)
Thursday, June 30, 2022
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Emergency Food Box packing CANCELED
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Clothing Closet OPEN 9 a.m.-noon
Friday, July 1, 2022
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Emergency Food Box & Diaper distribution CANCELED
- July’s Diaper distribution rescheduled for 7/8/2022
Monday, July 4, 2022
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University United Methodist Church CLOSED (4th of July Holiday)
Thursday, July 21, 2022
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Emergency Food Box packing CANCELED
- Clothing Closet OPEN 9 a.m.-noon
Friday, July 22, 2022
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Emergency Food Box distribution CANCELED
Thursday, September 1, 2022
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Emergency Food Box packing CANCELED
- Clothing Closet OPEN 9 a.m.-noon
Friday, September 2, 2022
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Emergency Food Box distribution CANCELED
- September’s Diaper distribution rescheduled for 9/9/2022
Monday, September 5, 2022
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University United Methodist Church CLOSED (Labor Day Holiday)
Although we strive to remain open each Friday for food distributions, Thursday clothing access and various volunteer opportunities, know that national holidays, staff and volunteer vacations interrupt our ability to gather and effectively distribute food and diapers. We will pause on the above dates to celebrate Syracuse’s beautiful summer, and we hope you do too. Thanks!
—UUMC Staff
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Ongoing Requests
Little Free Library
We need books to be donated for our library. Contact Michelleat the church office, office@uumcsyracuse.org to arrange a drop-off time.
Pet Food Needed
If you’re able to donate pet food, please call or email the office for an appointment to drop it off.
Hygiene Items Needed
Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant – have been in high demand and much appreciated. If you are able to donate those, please call the office to arrange a time for drop-off.
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Donations we accept for use at UUMC:
- Clean, gently used clothing, winter (thick) socks, gloves, hats, and outerwear (Machine washable ONLY)
- Clean, gently used shoes & boots
- Undamaged books
- Cat & Dog foods (Unexpired)
- Undamaged/unopened shelf stable foods (Unexpired)
- Unopened/undamaged personal hygiene items. Specifically; toothpaste, (individually wrapped) toothbrush, shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, lotion, women’s sanitary items
- Baby diapers, baby wipes and unopened, unexpired foods for baby
- Face Masks (Never worn, paper or cloth)
Financial donations drafted to University United Methodist Church with the destination in memo (i.e.: Food Center, winter clothing, breakfast, pet foods, etc.)
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Donations we accept for United Methodist RESTART Ministry
- Clean, gently worn pots, pans, flatware, glasses, tableware (plates, bowls, mugs (not plastic))
- Clean, gently used bed blankets, sheet sets & towels (Machine washable ONLY)
- Financial donations drafted to the Syracuse United Methodist Ministries, with Restart noted on the memo line.
For donations of lamps or furniture contact Jackie Sadowski at jlsadowski@aol.com or, Interfaith Works 315-449-3552. Both of these sites fill a home or apartment for someone whose life is in transition or “Restarting”
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From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Prayers for the Families |
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Again! Again, we are faced with senseless violence, murder, and destruction of any sense of normalcy. African Americans should not have to fear being shot going to the grocery store. Asian Americans should not have to fear being shot while at work. People should not have to worry about being shot while riding the subway, hanging out at a bistro, or going to church. Kids should not have to fear being gunned down at school.
Once again, we cry out to God and lift up the families and victims of Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We pray for those parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles, who had their precious loved ones, their children, violently taken away from them. We pray for the families of the teachers murdered. We offer healing prayers for those injured and in critical condition. We plead for God’s presence to be known in a community that has been turned upside down. We pray for the family of the gunman.
Our systems and our society must change! Laws must change! We must deal with racism! We must deal with gun violence! But even greater, we must deal with the disease of a culture that tolerates violence and hate too often, in too many forms. We must acknowledge and address a society that is becoming numb and a culture that is looking spiritually bankrupt.
As those who follow Jesus Christ, we know what we have witnessed repeatedly in our society is not God’s desire. We know there is a better way. The Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaims a different way. These are spiritual matters – these are matters of evil and darkness – these are matters of the heart. As the Church of Jesus Christ, let us encourage and demand that those responsible and positioned work for policy change. But let us not stop there or place our hope in that work alone.
As the Church of Jesus Christ, our hope is in the living God. As followers of Jesus Christ, let’s get serious about living out our call to flood a world in darkness with the light of the Gospel. Let’s be the peacemakers amid violence, taking the way of Jesus into the ways of the world. Let’s walk along those who have been victimized and those who have reached such a place of despair and brokenness that they become perpetrators, with mercy and compassion. Let’s call out injustice and sin by showing people another way – the way of following Jesus. Let’s get serious about being so contagious because of our hearts transformed by Jesus that those who encounter us will desire the same.
We must boldly speak against sin and injustice, but let us just as boldly proclaim the answer, the hope, the truth, the only solution for now and for all eternity – the one called Jesus! If the Church won’t invite the world to the one who changes hearts and transforms lives who will? If we place our faith for change in anything above Jesus, may God forgive us.,
Holy Spirit, Come! Holy God, change the hearts of your people! O God, may your kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven!
In the Hope of Christ,
Mark J. Webb
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Tell Us How Your Congregation is Helping Your Pastor
Pastors have a lot of responsibilities that go far beyond preparing for worship. They are on call to congregants who need support; they perform weddings and funerals; they have meetings throughout the week with different ministry teams at their church.
The COVID-19 pandemic placed more demands on these pastors—for many, they had to recreate the way they did worship to digital platforms.
We want to know how congregants are helping their pastors renew and replenish their souls and we’d like to share these stories with the entire Upper New York Conference. By sharing these stories, our hope is that others throughout the Conference will be inspired to help their pastors prioritize wellness during these difficult times.
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Church Trustees and SP/PRC Resources
New materials and webinar recordings room April 26 and 28, 2022 were developed for churches in the Southern Tier Region, which consists of the Cornerstone, Mountain View, Binghamton, and Oneonta Districts. District Superintendents the Rev. Suzanne Block, the Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell, and the Rev. Nancy Adams led the sessions.
One webinar was related to church trustees with included resources and the other webinar was related to staff-parish-relations committees with included resources.
Click here to watch these helpful recordings and access the useful resources
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2021 Annual Conference Reports |
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UM News posts the official summaries filed by annual conferences from around the connection. Find the latest reports on our archive page.
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Annual Conference postponed and moved virtual, October 6-7 |
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How University UMC is Tackling the Food Insecurity Crisis in Syracuse
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic hit, University UMC’s food pantry went from distributing food to 50 families from the Southeast side of Syracuse every Friday to 350 families from all over Syracuse. Currently, they serve about 200 Syracusan families every Friday.
University has 200 volunteers dedicated to this ministry—the majority who are not members of the church.
Click here to read the full story of this ministry and how the volunteers not only physically, emotionally, and physically feed the poor, but how they are breaking down barriers that prevent food security.
Click here to watch the volunteers in action at a recent Friday distribution.
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Disaffiliating from the UNY Conference and the UMC
During the Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference held virtually in June of 2021, the body passed Resolution UNYAC2021.7 which created a Study Commission to examine the readiness in the UNYUMC for the Implementation of the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.
Last fall, the UNY Study Commission issued surveys to clergy and congregations in the UNY Conference about the Protocol. Despite there only being a 30 percent response rate, some congregations and clergy did report that if the Protocol passes, they will leave the United Methodist Church. Click here to read the survey report.
Earlier this month, the Global Methodist Church announced that it will launch on May 1, 2022. Click here to read the announcement.
Given these changes, the Conference Board of Trustees anticipated there would be congregations who might now desire to explore disaffiliation.
Click here to read an article that outlines the disaffiliation process.
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United Methodist Church Bishops Call for Action to Stop Mass Shootings |
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church President, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, today urged clergy and laity to go on offense to stop mass shootings like the one that killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas.
Click here to read Bishop Bickerton’s full statement.
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Daily Anti-Racism Prayers
Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church offers anti-racism prayers emailed to you Monday through Friday. To sign up to receive them, click the link below.
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Please click the link below to read United Methodist news from around the country and world on UM News Digest.
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“You Are Your Best Thing” – Vulnerability, Shame Resilience and The Black Experience” will be discussed on zoom by the ACTS Race Matters Book Club on Mon June 27 @ 7 PM. The book is an anthology of 20 essays on the topics, edited by Tarana Burke and Brene Brown. The title is taken from the novel “Beloved” by Toni Morrison which was previously discussed by the interfaith book club.
We are dedicated to the notion that enlightenment through reading will be a catalyst toward the dismantling of white supremacy and systemic racism. Dialog among diverse peoples of faith and conscience is critical during this time of continuing turmoil.
There are 12 copies in the OCPL system.
“Tarana Burke and Dr. Brene Brown bring together a dynamic group of Black writers, organisers, artists, academics and cultural figures to discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience. Contributions by Kiese Laymon, Imani Perry, Laverne Cox, Jason Reynolds, Austin Channing Brown, and more.
It started as a text between two friends. Tarana Burke, founder of the 'me too.' Movement, texted researcher and writer Brene Brown to see if she was free to jump on a call. Brene assumed that Tarana wanted to talk about wallpaper. But it was immediately clear to Brene that the conversation wasn't going to be about wallpaper. Tarana's hello was serious and she hesitated for a bit before saying, "Brene, you know your work affected me so deeply, but as a Black woman, I've sometimes had to feel like I have to contort myself to fit into some of your words. The core of it rings so true for me, but the application has been harder."
Brene replied, "I'm so glad we're talking about this. It makes sense to me. Especially in terms of vulnerability. How do you take the armour off in a country where you're not physically or emotionally safe?" Long pause. "That's why I'm calling," said Tarana. "What do you think about working together on a book about the Black experience with vulnerability and shame resilience?"
There was no hesitation. Burke and Brown are the perfect pair to usher in this stark, potent collection of essays on Black shame and healing. Along with the anthology contributors, they create a space to recognise and process the trauma of white supremacy, a space to be vulnerable and affirm the fullness of Black love and Black life.”
As our community’s social justice interfaith network, ACTS is hopeful that dialog will bring greater awareness and action. There are more than 30 regular members of the book club from 13+ different congregations with an average of a dozen or more persons participating each month. Come once or come often to share your thoughts with others on the journey.
To make your registration for the June 27 gathering, email petersarverACTS@gmail.com Zoom link will be sent to regular members and those registered closer to the discussion date.
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Indoor Masking Recommended in Onondaga County |
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The CDC recognizes 10 counties in New York as being at high risk for COVID. Indoor masking is recommended for all counties at high risk, including Onondaga County. Fourteen New York counties are at medium risk this week. |
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Performances have returned, taking place each Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. If you need a ride, contact Jayne Humbert or Nelson Price. You can find the location and show for each week's performance on the Civic Morning Musicals website. |
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