Northern Flow Weekly Newsletter February 16, 2023

The Current

February 16, 2023

Camp Aldersgate Announces

Camps for 2023

UMCOR Cleaning Buckets for Buffalo

In the aftermath of the Christmas Blizzard, many have asked “What else can we do?”.

Buy items from the Upper New York Mission Central Hub’s “Cleaning Kit" Amazon Wishlist now through March 1st and have your items shipped to Harris Hill United Methodist Church, located in the Buffalo area.

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3U03Y63G93KQA?ref_=wl_share

Harris Hill United Methodist Church’s “Go! Ministry” was prepared to respond to their community's cleaning needs after the blizzard with UMCOR Cleaning Buckets. They graciously provided these buckets to their neighbors and helped many make sense of the mess that was in front of them. Let's help replenish their buckets!

If you are dropping off in person, please call Harris Hill UMC to schedule a drop off at (716) 632-4688

Buying from somewhere else? Ship to: 8495 Main St, Williamsville, NY 14221

Are you connected to UNY?

Do you receive the latest news and updates from UNY Conference?

All pastors should be connected and as many people from your congregation that would like to be.

Open to everyone – pass the word!

If you are not connected please follow the instructions below.

To sign up either click the following link: https://bit.ly/UNYnotes.

Or follow the steps below:

Go to the conference website

Click on News in the toolbar

Select Connect with UNY

You can sign up for all six categories or just select the UNY Notes

Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez’s

Installation Service to be Held March 11

The Upper New York (UNY) Committee on Episcopacy invites all United Methodists in UNY to join us Saturday, March 11, at 2 p.m. to celebrate the assignment of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez as our new episcopal leader. At this installation service, we will thank God for the life, ministry, and leadership of Bishop Héctor, offer him and his family our gracious hospitality, and hear our new bishop share his vision for how God intends to lead us into the future together.

This service of installation and celebration is intended for the whole Conference. You may participate in one of two ways:

1. In-person at the Liverpool First United Methodist Church in Liverpool, NY. A limited number of seats are available. Please RSVP for in-person participation no later than March 4 by registering here. An onsite reception will follow this service.

2. Via Livestream from anywhere in the Conference and beyond. To connect, please click here on the Conference website on the day of the service. For Livestream participation, no RSVP is necessary.

We look forward to joining together Saturday, March 11, 2023, to welcome our new resident bishop and celebrate all God seeks to do in and through us in the days ahead.

Save the Date for Regional Meetings

with Bishop Héctor

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:

Feb. 16, 2023 -Northeast Region–New Hartford
March 1, 2023 – Lakes Region–Auburn UMC
March 2, 2023 – Northeast Region–Plattsburgh UMC
March 15, 2023 – Southern Tier Region—Olean: Christ
March 16, 2023 – Southern Tier Region—Central Endicott

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.

LEARNING AND GROWING OPPORTUNITY

A DISCIPLE’S HEART: GROWING IN LOVE AND GRACE

A Book Study and Discussion Group

by James Harnish with Justin Larosa

Discipleship in the Methodist tradition affirms that there is always more work for God to do in the human heart. Our focus in this study circle is the ongoing transformation of the heart that happens as the love of God that came to us in Jesus takes up residence in us, enabling us to become agents of God’s transforming love at work in the world.

Thursday, February 16^th @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, March 2^nd @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, March 16^th @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, March 30^th@ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, April 13^th @ 7:00-8:30 PM

All Sessions will be held on Zoom. Please email one of the facilitators to register. There will be no registration fee, but participants (lay or clergy) need to purchase their own book.

Facilitators

Wendy Zepp: wzepp@stny.rr.com

Ann Welch Wood: awelchwood@hotmail.com

A Disciple’s Heart Daily Workbook: Growing in Love and Grace by James Harnish with Justin Larosa here

BLESS THIS MESS

Bless This Mess ZOOM Forum - Sponsored by Plattsburgh United Methodist Church

Parent ZOOM Video Forum: Bless This Mess Bless This Mess: A Modern Guide to Faith and Parenting in a Chaotic World (by Re. Molly Baskette and Ellen O'Donnell. PhD.)

A book study / parent support group. We will discuss: a brief overview of the book topics of raising children in a Christian faith; navigating developmental challenges from preschool through adolescence to adulthood; developing positive parenting and discipline skills; coping with life emotional challenges including anxiety, depression, fear, anger; developmental challenges; and other medical and mental health issues.

There are 10 Chapters and we will discuss 2 Chapters each time we meet. The meeting dates and times are as follows:

Sundays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Feb 26th, March 19th, April 16th, May 7th, and finish May 21st.

Link to purchase the book here

Link to reading guide here

In order to offer this opportunity we need at least 3 families to sign up. If you know of others that are interested in a group like this, please forward this information. This is an open group to Members and Non-Members of the congregations.

Please email me back by February 17th, if you are interested in participating. pastorphils@gmail.com

We will send out a link to those registered by February 23rd.

Blessings,

Rev. Phil Richards

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: Leading Prayer

Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29: 6-9pm

ZOOM: Fee $15

Registration and course fees due by Feb. 15

Advanced Course: Called to Preach

Tuesdays April 11, 18, 25, May 2 & 9: 6-9pm

ZOOM: Fee $15

Facilitators: Jacqueline Kim & Team member

Registration and course fees due by March 28

Advanced Course: Polity

Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17 & 24: 6-9pm

ZOOM: Fee $15

Facilitator: Bruce Hazard & Team member

Registration and course fees due by April 19

Advanced Course: Opening Ourselves to Grace

Thursdays: May 4, 11, 18, 25, & June 1: 6-9pm

ZOOM: $15

Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim & Team member

Registration and course fees due by April 20

"Engage New People Grant" Available

The Upper New York New Faith Communities' Team is excited to announce the “Engage New People Grant” to benefit local churches in the Upper New York Conference that are working to Engage New People not already in their church/ministry. New Faith Communities Conference-wide purpose is to reach people outside the Church in new and contextual ways.

Grants will be available up to $2,500 to help local churches and ministries. Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis in 2023. Churches and ministries may apply for up to $2,500 during one calendar year. Please expect 60 days to review your application.

Click here to apply for the “Engage New People Grant.”

Upon completing the application, the New Faith Communities' team will reach out to the pastor/lead planter of the church and/or contact person listed to confirm your submission.

Application

Reminder for Churches Certificates of Insurance

If your church is seeking certificates of insurance for disability insurance coverage (DB 120.1) and/or workers’ compensation insurance coverage (C105.2), the following information will be helpful to you.

Requests for DB 120.1

Certificates of insurance for disability insurance coverage (DB 102.1) are issued by the disability insurance carrier, Guardian. The following information will be needed from you to request the certificate of insurance. You can email either Tracy Rickett, HR Generalist, at t tracyrickett@unyumc.org or Suzannah Emerson at SEmerson@WalshDuffield.com with the following information. Please allow at least 5 business days for your request to be processed.

NAME OF INSURED CHURCH:

MAILING ADDRESS OF INSURED CHURCH:

EMAIL ADDRESS TO WHERE DB 120.1 CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE SENT:

NAME OF ENTITY REQUESTING PROOF OF INSURANCE (Typically the Dept of Health):

ADDRESS OF ENTITY REQUESTING PROOF OF INSURANCE:

Requests for C 105.2

Certificates of insurance for workers’ compensation insurance coverage (C105.2) can be obtained by contacting American Church Group of NY. They will assist each church in obtaining the documentation needed. Contact them at 800-326-7200; 717-763-5517 (fax) or UMCservice.NY@AmericanChurchGroup.com.

If you have questions on certificates of insurance, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at (315) 898-2017 or tracyrickett@unyumc.org.

SAFE SANCTUARIES TRAINING SCHEDULE

Schedule

Report your church statistics on ACStats beginning Jan. 3, 2023. Please share this news with those in each church who work on statistical reporting.

After Jan. 3 Report your Church Statistics on ACStats

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.

Click here to learn more.

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 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Registration will open on Feb. 1, 2023, and close on

March 10, 2023.

ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS

Stewardship with Rev. Susan Ranous

February 8, 2023

QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS (QCD)

I know it’s the start of a new year, but I wanted to talk about required minimum distributions from retirement plans. For those of us fortunate to have retirement funds set aside, there are rules on how and when to take those funds out. Required minimum distributions are the amounts that are required to be withdrawn by every person every year starting with the year they turn 72.

The amount is calculated on worksheets, based on the age of the person, and the amounts in their retirement accounts. These required minimum distributions are mandatory. These withdrawals are often taxable and can affect the amount of Social Security that is taxable, as well as reduce the amount of medical expenses and other itemized deductions that might be allowed.

For some people who don’t need the funds, they’re required to withdraw it anyway. Some of them set it aside, but still have to pay taxes on it now.

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) might be worth considering. This allows someone to have a required minimum distribution (retirement distribution) sent directly from the retirement account to a charity, like your church.

There are potential benefits from giving a Qualified Charitable Deduction directly to the church.

If someone has Social Security income or something else that becomes taxable on their tax return because of other income, with a QCD, it doesn’t appear on the tax return, so gross income is reduced and the taxability of Social Security would likewise be reduced.

In other words, if someone gives a QCD directly, it isn’t taxable income. If a taxpayer receives the total distribution, they pay taxes on that total amount of the and then give the contribution themselves. Since most people aren’t able to itemize, there is no tax benefit to the charitable contribution. Making a QCD is a smart way for individuals who don’t itemize deductions to still receive tax benefits from their charitable donations.

If someone has significant medical expenses that could allow some deductibility as itemized deductions, the adjusted gross income that calculates the base for deductible is reduced with a QCD, so more medical expenses would potentially be deductible.

Ultimately, if someone receives the retirement benefit directly and gives it to the charity themselves, the person is giving less than 100% because the retirement benefit is taxable.

QCDs are a smart option for retirees who don’t need the additional money from their IRA — they can respect the RMD mandate without having that distribution included in their yearly income.

The tax savings they offer let you maximize your charitable impact.

Please note that because the retirement distribution isn’t taxable, the charitable contribution isn’t deductible either.

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Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to talk about mission and money in your local church. I have some great ideas to help you understand where you are and were you’re going!

Charge Conference Forms Due Dates

Due November 1st.: NOW PAST DUE

Pastor's Appointment Advisory Form (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

S/PPRC Appointment Advisory Form (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

Pastor-S/PPRC Covenant Forms (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

*These need to be printed and mailed to the district office*

Due December 1st.: UPDATE ONLINE - DO NOT PRINT A COPY

Church Profile (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

Pastor's Profile (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

Due February 15th. 2023

Report of Trustees

Report of Finance Committee

2022 Year End Financial Report

2023 Church Budget - Your church format

2022 Statistical Reports (https://stats.gcfa.org/)

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.