Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

January 9, 2024

Next newsletter is January 23, 2024

Please submit items for inclusion to the district office no later than Friday before.

The 23rd will be the last newsletter for awhile as Betsy will be out of the office.

*********

I would like to notify you that all district emails will go away as of

January 31, 2024. They will be replaced by your admins name email - example: for Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts you would email betsyoflynn@unyumc.org

Please when emailing state your name and your church to assist me

in making sure I respond correctly.

Thanks

A Note from Sherri:

Baptism of the Lord

In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”                               Mark 1:9-11

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. In The United Methodist Church, we have two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. We believe God imparts God’s grace to us in a variety of ways, but especially in the sacraments, which were instituted by Jesus. Jesus took ordinary, everyday things, life-giving things, like water and bread, and used them to create sacraments to impart God’s grace to us.

Baptism is multi-layered. Our liturgy talks about being incorporated in

the Christ’s holy Church and God’s mighty acts of salvation, being given new birth through water and the Spirit. It talks about washing away our

sin and being clothed in righteousness, as well as dying and being raised with Christ.

When someone is baptized, they, or their parents, are asked,

“Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world and repent of your sin?” 

“Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?” 

“Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations and races?”

These are HUGE questions! But they are also affirmation of what it means to follow Jesus. What if we truly lived as people who know we have the freedom and power to resist evil, injustice and oppression? What if we lived every day putting our whole trust in Jesus and the grace he offers to each and every one of us? While baptism is a once in a lifetime event, we spend our entire lives living into the promises made in that event.

At its heart, Baptism means belonging – belonging to God and belonging to one another on this journey of faith. Today, take a moment to reflect on your baptism. Jesus heard God’s voice say to him, “You are my son, the Beloved: with you I am well pleased.” What would you like to hear God say to you today?  Take some time to listen.

Want to know more about what we believe about Baptism? Go to UMCDiscipleship.Org and read, “By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism.” It’s available free and may be downloaded. 

I’m praying for you, please pray for me.

Grace and peace,

Sherri 

Betsy will be away for a medical procedure starting January 25th. There will be someone covering her emails and phone messages during this time.

The District newsletter will be put on hiatus until she returns to the office. If you have an emergency you can still reach out to DS Sherri at sherrirood@unyumc.org

Thanks

Save the Date - 2024 Bishop District Days

In the new year, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, 

Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, will be visiting local churches in all 12 districts

 from February to April during District days.

This time allows Bishop Héctor to meet with laity and clergy

across Upper New York.

Clergy meetings are scheduled for each visit from 1-3 p.m.

Another gathering is being held for laity

(and clergy who couldn't attend earlier meeting) from 7-8:30 p.m.

All United Methodists of Upper New York are invited and

encouraged to attend a gathering closest to you. 

Save the following dates:

Monday, Feb. 5

Crossroads District

Fayetteville UMC: 601 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066

Monday, Feb. 26

Finger Lakes District

Lansing UMC: 32 Brickyard Road, Lansing, NY 14882

Please CLICK HERE for the entire listing of dates and locations

Just a reminder to update your contact information

for the two districts - both the Crossroads and Finger Lakes physical offices have been closed:

All mail should be sent to:

District Office

PO Box 23206

Rochester, NY 14692

Please also update our email address to:

betsyoflynn@unyumc.org

we would like to move away from the

two district email addresses.

Thanks

Zoom Safe Sanctuaries Training

There will be a zoom safe sanctuaries basic training offered on

Saturday February 3, 2024 from 9:00am until 12:00 noon.

Please click on the flyer to registration details.

CLICK HERE for the Flyer

Egg Cartons Needed

Varna UMC collects egg cartons to give to people

who go to the Farmers Markets - this is an easy outreach and

we would greatly appreciate any cartons you could send our way.

The church is located at:

965 Dryden Rd

Ithaca, NY 14850

607-277-7910

The First Aid Closet (FAC) continues to meet its mission to loan,

free of charge, medical equipment and supply items to support health

and healing. The FAC mission is generously supported by persons donating items throughout the year from surrounding communities.

Thank You to everyone contributing support. This year approximately

576 friends, family and neighbors were supported and the Dresden United Methodist Church could not fulfill its mission without that support.

Thank you for each and every item.

Currently, the FAC needs shower chairs and benches, knee walkers,

and wheelchairs.  In 2024, the FAC is planning to purchase replacement items for those that have been well used.

There is a walker collection for persons needing one for after surgery

and the commodes are plentiful. Canes, bed rails, and items to help

get out of bed are available.

The most popular items are hospital beds and wheelchairs. Transport chairs and rollator walkers are next. Insurance typically does not cover items that make daily living easier or consider safety in the home. 

The FAC has many items that just make life easier.

The First Aid Closet has been blessed to serve many counties, not just Yates. The information for the closet is found in hospitals and doctor's offices from Syracuse to Rochester from Horseheads to Geneva.

Sharing in the community with the Living Well brings urinary incontinence products right to those who need them. Bandaging wounds can be very expensive and thanks to those who share with us, the FAC can share

with others. Very often there are items like nebulizer, blood pressure cuffs, scales, medication minders or sitz baths at the closet. “Call before you buy” can help stretch the medical budget. The best number is Deb Flood at 607.316.4920, please text if possible but if necessary you may call.

FAC is located at 26 Avenue A, Dresden, NY.

Signage was added at the church to help with directions to the FAC.

 The building for the FAC is a garage designed for storage of equipment. Monetary donations help with utilities and maintenance. A dedicated group of volunteers are selfless in helping people get what they need.

Prayer Calendars

Several of you have asked for the Prayer Calendars to be

started up again.

Listed below are the Prayer Calendars from January to June.

There is one for each district - please fell free to pray

for both listings.

CLICK HERE for Crossroads Prayer Calendar

CLICK HERE for Finger Lakes Prayer Calendar

If you do not see your church listed please do not worry -

you will be listed in the calendar that covers July - December

that will come in June 2024.

Crossroads District News

Church Announcements

Stewardship with Susan Ranous

Please check out the blog below

CLICK HERE for the Blog: Stewardship with Susan Ranous

****************************************************

January 13, 2024

Pulled Pork Dinner

Saturday, January 13th - 4:30* pm ‘til gone

Jordan United Methodist Church

63 Elbridge Street

Jordan, NY 315-689-3499

jordanumc.org

DRIVE THRU ONLY

cash donations gladly accepted, but none required

Menu:

Pulled Pork with Roll,

Coleslaw, Pasta Salad, Applesauce

Dessert

CLICK HERE for a Flyer

********************

January 18, 2024

Faith Journey UMC to host United Methodist Men Chili Challenge

Thursday January 18, 2024

6:00 - 8:00pm

There is a nice big parking lot, and the Guest Speaker program that

night (about 6:45PM) will be

"The Re-Birth of Faith Journey UMC: Cradle and Beyond!"   

Please cook up your own version of chili - with meat ("con carne") or vegetarian, so it can be sampled by the 25-30 or so men and older boys

for maximum voting. 

There is no cost to attend and to sample, and please know that a

Free Will Offering will be taken for the Cradle and Beyond store

in N Syracuse (7778 RT 11) near the Bear Rd major intersection.  

Please direct any questions to the Faith Journey church at 315-652-9186.

**********

January 27, 2024

Fayetteville UMC (601 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville)

will hold a Safe Sanctuary training Saturday 1/27 from 9-12.

Please register by emailing or calling the church office fayettevilleunitedmethodist@gmail.com,

(315) 637-4413 by Friday, January 19.

*************** 

February 4, 2024

On Sunday, February 4^th 4:30-5:30p.m. (or until gone).

Free will eat-in (pancakes, waffles, bacon or sausage, fruit cup,

and beverage) dinner at the

Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church, 45 E. Utica St. Downstairs.

Info: (315) 343-1715 or https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.

 *****************

March 3, 2024

On Sunday, March 3^rd 4:30-5:30p.m. (or until gone).

Free will eat-in (sweet and sour chicken over rice, rolls, green beans, dessert, and beverage) dinner at the

Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church, 45 E. Utica St. Downstairs.

Info: (315) 343-1715 or https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.

 *******************

April 7, 2024

On Sunday, April 7^th 4:30-5:30p.m. (or until gone).

Free will eat-in (pulled pork, coleslaw, dessert, and beverage) dinner at the Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church, 45 E. Utica St. Downstairs.

Info: (315) 343-1715 or https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.

****************

Finger Lakes District News

Church Announcements

Black Preaching Robe - Free 

Rev. Kristen Allen at Penn Yan UMC has been given a black preaching robe to share with someone who needs one, from a retired pastor in her congregation. It’s lovely, though slightly worn, and will fit someone about 6’2”. Interested? Email Kristen at pastorpyumc@gmail.com.

*****************

January 27, 2024

Safe Sanctuaries Training

Cortland First UMC is hosting a Safe Sanctuaries Training for the area churches. Trainer: Rev. Stephanie Brown

Saturday, January 27, 2024

9:00am - 12noon.

The church is located at 734 Rte 222

Cortland NY

No charge but reservations are important so as to have enough materials.

Contact: Pam Klotzbach

716-560-0290

******************

Reminder: Update your Church Information on the UNY Website:

Thank you to all the churches that have sent updates and/or corrections to their church information listed on the conference website.

If you have not sent in an update or OK as is - please send a reply

email to the district office.

CLICK HERE for the Crossroads District listings

CLICK HERE for Finger Lakes District listings

CLICK HERE to reach the district office

Crossroads and Finger Lakes District Superintendent

Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood - Sherrirood@unyumc.org

Crossroads District Lay Leader

Darlene Dennis

Robert Mueller

Finger Lakes District Lay Leader

Shafeegh Habeeb

Superintendency Administrative Assistant

Betsy O'Flynn - betsyoflynn@unyumc.org

Office # - (585) 340-9525

PO Box 23206

Rochester, NY 14692