Happy New Year 2023
DS Rev. Suzanne Block
Isaiah 43:18-19: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Welcome to 2023! There was a time when I thought the year 2000 was so far away. And here is 2023! Amazing! When I look back from my birth year until now, so much has changed. Changes in technology, medical advancements and the way students learn (in person as well as remotely), and how AAA charges a car battery, to name just a few examples.

The way we worship has also changed. I remember heated discussions around drums and guitars in the church sanctuary. Yes, I am that old. And today how flexible churches have become with technology. Being able to share God’s word of hope found in Jesus Christ through live streaming, Zoom, and the pre-recording of services. Sharing of the Good News and making connections locally, regionally and globally.  

Change is hard. Yet, the prophet Isaiah give us God’s word: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

We can become so caught up in the past that we miss what God is doing.
We long to “go back to normal” that we miss what God is doing.
We don’t want to change so we miss what God is doing.

God is doing something new every day. Let us ask ourselves the following questions:
  • Are my eyes, ears and heart open and ready to perceive what new thing God is doing?  
  • In order for me to see what new thing God is doing, how am I faithful and obedient to God’s leading in my life?
  • Am I sensitive to the nudging of the Holy Spirit?  
  • Am I loving God with my heart, mind soul and strength?
  • Am I loving my neighbor?  

In order to be faithful and obedient to God’s leading in our lives, I challenge us through February 28th, 2023 to pray John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer daily. My prayer is that this will lead us to perceiving and seeing and hearing what new thing God is doing!

Wesley’s Covenant Prayer: 
(Traditional Version)
“I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition
(Contemporary Version)
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.

The prophet Isaiah gives us God’s word: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

With grace, joy and peace,
Suzanne

PS: I am excited to hear from you what new thing God is doing in your life, in ministry, in your neighborhood in this new year of 2023!
1/5/23
Downloadable Prayer Poster for the New Year
Happy New Year members of the Upper New York Conference! The New Year is a great time for reflections, prayers, and getting together with families, friends, and loved ones. Click here for some printable posters you can use to be mindful of God's place in our lives. 
DISTRICT OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION
CORNERSTONE DISTRICT OFFICE
PO Box 687
Bath, NY 14810

District Administrative Assistant Patti Gridley
Office phone-607-962-8047

District Superintendent Rev. Suzanne Block suzanneblock@unyumc.org
office phone- 315-898-2089 and leave a message for her.
Prayers Calendar for Pastors & Churches
January 15-Jamestown: Camp Street & Kennedy First UMC's. Pastor Jennifer Delahoy, her husband Brian and their family.

January 22-Jamestown: Christ First UMC. Rev. Jennifer Piatt, her husband David and their family.
January 29-Jamestown:Kidder Memorial & Mayville UMC's. Rev. Tom LeBeau, his wife Georgia Whitney and their family.
February 5-Knapp Creek UMC. Rev. Jerry Piper, his wife Kathy and their family.

click here for full calendar
1/5/23
Two Messages from Bishop Hector
Special Message from Bishop Hector-Mark Webb. Click here

From the Desk of Bishop Hector : Blizzard of the Century Response. Click here
1/5/23
Save the Date for March Special Session
The Upper New York Conference’s March 2023 Special Session of Annual Conference to consider disaffiliation requests will take place remotely on March 25 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
 
Registration will open on Feb. 1, 2023, and close on March 10, 2023.
1/5/23
Save the Date for Regional Meetings with Bishop Hector
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, Bishop Héctor Burgos, who prefers to be addressed as Bishop Héctor, will be the new bishop of the Upper New York (UNY) Conference. Bishop Héctor is eager to meet laity and clergy throughout the Conference and has scheduled dates for regional meetings. The meetings will be as follows:
 
 
The clergy meetings will be from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
 
The laity meeting (and clergy unable to attend the earlier time) will be from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
1/5/23
BSA Affiliation Agreement
Troops and local congregations seeking to continue or start a relationship will need to complete a new “BSA Affiliation Agreement” and “Facilities Use & Indemnity Agreement.” Click here to download the BSA Affiliation Agreement. Click here to download the Facilities Use & Indemnity Agreement.  
 
All UNY local congregations seeking to be in relationship with a local troop should use these and only these forms. 
 
In most areas, the affiliation agreements and facility use agreements are being implemented and the implementation is going well. There are BSA Councils that are not cooperating in a few Conferences and as the BSA learns of these, they reach out to those Councils to address issues.
 
If you are encountering such issues, please contact Jeffrey Hunt jeff.hunt@scouting.org of BSA, who oversees the BSA Councils across the United States.
12/19/22
Report Your Church Statistics on AC Stats: Replaces the Ezra System
Annual Church Statistics (ACStats) is the one-stop location for United Methodist data that tracks membership, expenses, and income. It's designed to help churches submit year-end statistics to the Upper New York (UNY) Conference digitally in a way that's cost-effective.
 
This user-friendly platform replaces Ezra as the method of reporting your church statistics.
 
March 17, 2023, is the deadline to complete the 2022 statistical report for your church; however, you cannot enter any data to the 2022 statistics tables until Jan. 3, 2023.
 
In the meantime, you may familiarize yourselves with the new ACStats platform by reviewing the user's guide for local churches. Translated reports are available in Spanish and Korean. 

PLEASE take the time to read the user's guide before entering your data. Please make sure you write down your login and password some where as the Administrative Assistant's no longer have access to help you with that. So, if you have issues logging in you will need to contact Autumn Wells at the conference office. You may contact Autumn at 315-898-2004 or email her at autumnwells@unyumc.org
 
Click here to learn more.
1/5/23
Need something to do while waiting for the Super Bowl to start?
Need something to do while waiting for the Super Bowl to start? Chiz Rider will give us a sneak peek at morning worship. We will then enjoy a pot-luck lunch in Darrah Hall, followed by a full concert in the Sanctuary at 1:00.

Chiz made his concert debut at age 7 and national touring began during his last years in high school. His first recording at age 15, was a custom cd titled, “CHIZ.” Chiz has collaborated with some of America’s most talented instrumentalists to create two albums and he has been blessed to have performed with such popular Christian artists as Carman, Margaret Becker, DC Talk, Newsboys, Cindy Morgan, Larnell Harris, and Michael W. Smith. Ninety percent self-taught, he began by imitating songs he heard on the radio. Now, Chiz’ fresh musical style embodies a jazz/pop sound that has been influenced by such versatile jazz musicians as Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Maynard Ferguson, Louis Armstrong and Jon Faddis. Chiz Rider Ministries maintain an active national touring schedule of over 260 concerts a year as well as several international performances.

This is a free event and a free-will offering will be taken.
Taking Place at Christ First UMC, Jamestown
2023 Safe Sanctuary Training Schedule
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: Feb. 4, May 6, Aug. 5 and Nov. 4. The Training of Trainers will be 9 AM to Noon, Saturdays, Mar. 4 and 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.
There's Still Time to Meet Ministry Share Obligations for 2022
As 2022 winds down, there is still time to consider fulfilling your local church ministry share obligations.
 
Ministry share payments support not only the Upper New York (UNY) Conference, but also supports services around the world, including Camp and Retreat Ministries, disaster release assistance, New Faith Communities, Africa University, and more. Payments are being accepted until Jan. 9, 2023.
 
Click here to read the entire letter sent on behalf of UNY CF&A chair, Holly Roush, and Conference Treasurer, Bob Flask.
1/5/23 
No new elections needed for
General Conference 2024
The United Methodist Church’s highest court ruled that new delegate elections “are not required” for the long-delayed and potentially pivotal General Conference, now set for 2024.
 
What this means is that the Upper New York (UNY) Conference delegates that were elected at the 2019 UNY Annual Conference for the originally slotted 2020 General Conference will be able to serve at the 2024 General Conference. There is no need for new elections.
 
The location and dates for the 2024 General Conference have also been announced—the event will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina from April 23 to May 3, 2024.
Click here to read more.
12/19/22  
‌
CORNERSTONE DISTRICT OFFICE
PO Box 687, Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Monday-Thursday-Visits to Office by Appointments Only
physical location: 35 Wilkes Ave., Bath, NY 14810