AROUND THE CORNER
Next Issue Sept. 1st, 2022
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Thoughts from District Superintendent Suzanne |
The summer months have flown by. There are still very warm days and flowers with brilliant blooms. I have been blessed at the parsonage when I look into the woods. There have been two doe’s, one with twins and the other with triplets! God’s creation is amazing!
And there is a change in the air. Leaves on the trees are already changing from green to gold or red.
Nights are becoming cooler giving us a more comfortable sleep. Crickets are chirping and the moon has been radiant. The season of fall is drawing near.
Change: with two newly appointed district superintendents: Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood appointed to the Mountain View District and Rev. Robert Kolvik-Campbell appointed to the Binghamton and Oneota Districts. Change: when we received in our emails the announcement of Bishop Webb’s retirement. Change: conversations with churches around disaffiliation. Change is happening and it seems to be occurring quicker and quicker in our daily lives.
Sometimes so much change can be overwhelming. How do we handle all this change? Prayer of course. I am thankful for my colleagues in the connection for calming conversations and encouragement. I am thankful when I hear about churches receiving new members and celebrating baptisms! I am thankful to know that the mission of the church continues – Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! And I am reminded of Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (ESV) and Matthew 28:20b Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Change may bring emotions of grief, tears, disbelief, and uncertainty. What can happen with change? New birth can be a result of change. Think of the changes a caterpillar has to progress through to become a butterfly. Now reflect on, 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (NIV)
Each one of us has changed greatly when we made the decision to follow Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit our lives are changed, are transformed as we strive to become more faithful and obedient disciples of Jesus Christ.
Finally, on my way home last Friday I passed the State Police building on Route 60. It was hopping with cars and reporters. My first thought was, “Wow something must have happened. I wonder what news story will be forth coming.” I arrived home and turned on the news. I was in a state of shock and disbelief that an episode of violence occurred at the Chautauqua Institution.
Change has already happened at the Institution with your picture ID presented before you enter the grounds as well as changes in security.
The Scriptures I reflected on, Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (NIV) and John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (NIV)
As we journey through this season of change: let us be prayerful; let us be peacemakers; let us love one another; let us be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
With peace and love,
Suzanne
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Important Information to Share |
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If You Need To Contact The Cornerstone District Office PLEASE Use The Number Below |
The issue with the voicemail going to our emails has been fixed!!!
I am still going to ask that you call 607-962-8047 (this is the Mountain View District number) This is the number that does send the voicemail to my email so that if I am working remotely I am still able to receive your phone calls (if you leave a message that is).
Thank you and again I apologize if you have left messages and have not gotten a response back.
Patti
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Pastors & Their Churches to Pray for Month |
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--
Aug. 7 Ashville & Magnolia UMCs. Pastor John Bowen & family
Aug. 14 Bemus Point & Sinclairville:Park UMCs. Pastor Joe Pascoe, his wife Leslie and their daughters Ashley, Taylor & Riley. Tom Holland & family.
Aug. 21 Bolivar, Olean: Trinity & Rivers Edge UMCs. Pastor Dawn Quesenberry, her husband Mike & family.
Aug. 28 Busti Federated. Pastor Lee O’Brien & family
7/21/22
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Bishop Webb announces clergy appointments
View the full list of changes here.
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Do You Have An Events For The Newsletter? |
If your church is hosting events, dinners, VBS and you would like it put in the Around The Corner Newsletter. Please send me the particulars of the event. Please include the Date, Time, Name of your Church or Place it is being held, Address where event is happening, Contact info if needed, a Small Blurb on the event. Please do make sure I receive the information by the Tuesday of the week that the Newsletter will be sent. The Newsletter is sent every other week (the next newsletter date is always found at the top the newsletter)
Send your information to:
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Registration for the Thirteenth Session of Annual Conference is Now Open Aug. 15-Sept. 16, 2022 |
The Thirteenth Session is scheduled to be held remotely Oct. 6-8.
Registration is now open for the 2022 Upper New York Annual Conference session, scheduled to be held virtually Oct. 6-8. Click here to register. If you need to be excused from Annual Conference, click here and complete the form.
All eligible voting members must preregister to be able to participate and vote. Registrations cannot be accepted after Sept. 16 due to online voting.
This year, there is a small registration fee to help cover the cost of virtual meeting support and voting.
Several offerings will be collected this year, including the Clergy Care Fund, Helping Hands Fund, UNY Mission Central HUB, Mission of Peace, and New Faith Communities. To learn more about these offerings and to make a donation, click here.
If you have any questions, call (315) 898-2000.
Who: All clergy and laity representatives to the Annual Conference Session
What: Thirteenth Session of the Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
When: Oct. 6-8
Where: Virtually
Theme: The theme will be It is Well – Keeping Hope Alive. We acknowledge all that we have faced in the last two years, and through it all, we are well, and God’s hope is alive.
Click here to read why the event was postponed and will now be held remotely Oct. 6-8, 2022. To be excused from Annual Conference, click here and submit this form.
8.4.22
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Chicken & Biscuit Dinner at Caneadea UMC |
WHEN: Saturday, August 20th, 2022
WHERE:Caneadea UMC
8392 Rt. 19, Caneadea, NY
TIME: 5pm
COST: $12 Dine In or Take Out
MENU: Chicken & Biscuit, Mashed Potatoes, Peas, Coleslaw, Cranberry Sauce and Delicious Desserts
8.18.22
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In Person Safe Sanctuary Training Event |
WHEN: Aug. 27th, 2022
WHERE: Wellsville First UMC
79 Madison St.
Wellsville, NY 14895
TIME: 10am-1pm
COST: Free
CONTACT: Pastor Craig Buelow at
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Impact 2022 is a gathering of people looking for an experience with God with the larger body of believers. Can you imagine worshiping God with 500 people? August 28th at 10 am we will be gathering for a time of worship. praise songs, hymns, scripture, fellowship with food and a family Christian concert to follow.
Sit in the stands or bring your favorite comfortable lawn chair. There will be food available to purchase or bring your own to have a time to get to know each other and enjoy many different Christian music with several musicians.
WHEN: Aug. 28th, 2022
WHERE: Allegany Fair Grounds
72 East Main St.
Angelica, NY 14709
TIME: 10am Worship
Food, Fellowship and a Concert following the Worship Service.
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After a season of prayer and discernment, Upper New York (UNY) Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, has made the decision to retire from the active episcopacy on Dec. 31, 2022. He submitted his request for retirement to the Northeastern Jurisdiction and the Council of Bishops on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022.
Click here to read Bishop Webb's letter announcing his retirement as of December 31, 2022
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UMCOR School Kit and HUB Update |
UMCOR recently discontinued the School Kits and replaced them with the Menstrual Hygiene Kits. This does mean that we will no longer be collecting the School Kits at the HUB. I understand there may have been churches in your district that have already collected the school kits with the intention to bring them to the HUB. I am encouraging congregations to use this as a prime opportunity to connect with their local school district or an organization in their community that supports children to donate the school items they have collected. I would love to receive emails with any pictures and/or information about how much was collected and where it was donated so we can celebrate the impact made by keeping the school kits local this year.
I have written a blurb about this on the website and it will be going out in the Weekly Digest today. If you could kindly share this in your district newsletters, I would appreciate it!
If anyone does have any questions please contact Kristina Clark.
Kristina Clark
Director of Missional Engagement
Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
Direct Line: 315.898.2066
Cell: 570.267.5711
8/18/22
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During the Laity Session at Annual Conference |
During the Laity Session at Annual Conference we are doing a slide show of churches being the church during the pandemic. We requested pics back in March and have only received pictures from about 10 churches and would love some more (just a few), please note what the pictures are of. If you would like to share, please email them to Brenda Shelmidine at shelmidinebrenda@gmail.com by Monday, August 22nd. If you already sent them back in March you do not need to send them again. Thank you.
Brenda Shelmidine
315-777-2671
8/18/22
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A new job opening has been posted to the website for an Administrative/Accounting Services Specialist. If you have any referrals for this position, please ask candidates to apply online through our website.
8.18.22
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Have You Heard About UNYUMM/New Generation Men's Ministries? |
Come join us at a Men's Retreat
WHEN: Sept. 9-10, 2022
WHERE: Camp Casowasco
TIME: Registration on Friday Sept. 9 between 4:30-5:45pm
OTHER INFO: Dinner at 6pm and the Retreat will end Sat. at 3pm
PLEASE BRING:
Camping gear, Sleeping bag, Pillow, Flashlight, Bible and a Mask
(masks may be required per UNYAC and CDC)
8.18.22
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Course of Study Through Wesley Seminary:
Fall 2022-Spring 2023
Licensed local Pastors....are you are planning to take COS for the Fall, Winter or Spring Weekends? If you are, please consider filling out your registration form and get it to the District office to have the DS sign it and then I will get it to the registrar.
The deadline for registration for the Fall Sessions-Sept.1st of 2022. (Reminder that the District office is CLOSED on Fridays)
Please, DO NOT WAIT to the last minute to register. When a class is filled, Wesley closes the registration for that class and there is no wiggle room.
I am putting this out now as one of the busiest times of the year is coming soon. There is no need for you to miss out on getting your course requirements met. There is NO MONEY due at the time of registration. You can register NOW for all three sessions...... Fall, Winter and Spring and if something comes up....you can cancel.
IF you need a specific class.....sign up now ....you need to remember that these courses are not just for UNY Conference....these are open to other Conferences as well. SO, sign up now. Click here for all the information you need for COS Satellite School. You will find all the forms you need here as well.
The steps to get registered:
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Get registration form-click here
- Fill out the form, print it, YOU sign it.
- Scan & email to your District Office
- District AA will get the DS to sign it and will send it to COS Registrar
- Registrar will fill out her part and get it to Sara Shephard.
- Sara Shephard will send the Registrar a confirmation of your registration.
- Registrar will send confirmation to the District AA
There is no reason to wait to the last minute because there is no money that needs to be sent with your registration. So, please sign up now!!
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Download the #BeUMC Discussion Guide |
Did you know that the United Methodist Church has a free, downloadable 45-page discussion guide tied to the #BeUMC campaign? This is a great resource for your Sunday School class, Bible study, or small group to reflect on what it means to #BeUMC.
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We STILL Have UMC Hymnals Available |
If you are in need of UMC Hymnals (these are the red hymnals) please contact the Cornerstone District office. You can call the office at 607-962-8047 or email me at cornerstonedistrict@unyumc.org. Please note that these are located in Jamestown. We are willing to try to work a way to get them to you if you are not in Cornerstone District.
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Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in East Aurora, NY, is seeking a Director of Family Life and Youth to lead practical and spiritual education in Christian ministries for local families, children, and youth. This is a full time position that requires a flexible schedule. The compensation package includes competitive salary, housing, health and retirement benefits. A Job Description is attached. To respond to this opportunity please contact the church office at 716-652-0500 or admin@bakerchurch.org
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The Upper New York United Women in Faith
Mission u event
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The Upper New York United Women in Faith are holding an in-person Mission u event this summer. Would you please help us advertise this event in your weekly newsletters?
Attached is the flyer and registration forms for the UNY UWF 2022 Mission u event, scheduled for August 18 - 20, 2022 at Fayetteville UMC, 601 Genesee St., Fayetteville, NY 13066. This is an intergenerational, in-person event.
A separate Zoom event will be scheduled for a later date.
7/21/22
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We are in the planning stages for this years collection of shoeboxes and other items for the Red Bird Mission. We are looking for drop off sites in the various districts where various Churches could drop off their shoeboxes and or other items that are going to the Red Bird Mission. We are looking for sites from October 16 thru November 16. The trip is planned for November 28 with the packing of the trucks on Saturday, November 26.
The need for shoeboxes filled with personal hygiene supplies, backpacks, new blankets and sheet sets and diapers are in great need this year. The need for used clothing is not a critical need at this time as their warehouse is full. We will still take new cloths as they can be used at the Community Outreach Center for distribution. If there are Churches that can be drop off sites, please send an email to Dalexander4@stny.rr.com , so a list can be made available in our future emails.
Your help in this project is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, I can be reached by email or you can call 607-743-8955. Thank you for helping us start the process of getting things ready to take to the Red Bird Mission.
7/21/2022
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Let Us Continue to Keep the Ukrainian People In Our Thoughts & Prayers |
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Reminder: Sexual Harassment Training Is Mandatory |
This is a reminder that New York State employers must adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy and provide training on sexual harassment prevention to their employees on an annual basis. This includes all those employed by the local church.
There is a free on-line training that is available to all. A certificate of completion is provided when the training is complete.
PLEASE NOTE:
Safe Sanctuaries training does not exempt churches from the NYS sexual harassment prevention training requirement.
If you have questions on this topic, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at tracyrickett@unyumc.org or (315) 898-2017.
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Disaffiliating from the UNY Conference
and the UMC
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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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Tending the Soul
2022-2024 A Two-year Training Program for Lay and Clergy
Exp.11.14.22
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Upcoming Upper NY Safe Sanctuary Zoom Training Sessions.
Click here for flyer and more information on these upcoming trainings
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks, click here.
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Helpful Links & Resources for You |
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Media Resource Center
Click here for tips on ordering through our website.
Media Resource Center
315-898-2027
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
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Lay Servant Courses Offered Around the Conference
Click here to find out when, where and how you can sign up for a lay servant course that you need or are interested in taking. This link connects you to all the Districts in UNY Conference that are offering courses. Just click and start exploring your options!
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Cornerstone District Office
PO Box 687
Bath, NY 14810
716-665-2423
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