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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Pastor's Report
As we ebb and flow through changes we never saw coming in our lives due to a pandemic, our church property has also gone through changes to meet the needs of our congregation and community.
In the spring of 2021, after we had been serving breakfast outside, our volunteers noticed many of our guests sat on the cold front steps of the church to eat their breakfast. It was suggested that we install several permanent tables outside that would withstand all the elements of Central New York. Palm Sunday 2021, our guests enjoyed sitting around tables that our Outreach Ministry had paid for and installed. These tables are now used by congregation and neighbors every day of the week.
The West Lawn of our church property once housed a playground. Early Head Start had updated it as tenants. When they moved out in August of 2021 they took many of the components of this playground. Unfortunately, as COVID hit and continued our playground was unused by children.
March 2022, it was brought to the Trustees attention that the playground was unsafe. After some discernment, it was decided to make the West Lawn a more multi-use space. The fence was taken down, the playground removed, then seeded with grass, the wooden fence painted, emergency exit doors replaced/repaired, the weeds and overgrowth removed. This became a joint effort with the Trustees and Outreach funding the project.
The next step of the plan is to purchase mobile playground equipment that may be moved in and out of the space as needed. More tables and umbrellas will be purchased by Outreach. Our church has also been selected to be a part of the “Urban Forest Initiative” and will be receiving two free trees from the city.
This summer we'll host the SUMM picnic to show off our new beautiful green space. We have decided to try our weather forecasting luck by hosting worship outside two Sundays in our new green multi-use space. At these events will offer a few children’s outside activities such as sidewalk chalk and toss across (and maybe some bubbles).
I pray you will join us in celebrating one way in which our congregation has made lemonade out of lemons. Psalm 23: 4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
~Pastor Alicia
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Joel Cooper To Be Camp
Casawasco Counselor Next Year
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Joel Cooper, 16, a UUMC regular, enrolled in the first-ever Leaders-In-Training program at Camp Casawasco, Moravia. He completed his month-long training last week and has been invited to go back next year as a counselor.
“I liked connecting with the kids,” he said, adding that he made jokes when they got homesick or played games with them to keep their mind off home. He also enjoyed helping campers on the high ropes course.
The last day he was a leader in worship and shared a message about God’s love.
Joel thanks the congregation and SUMM for their donations that helped him have a meaningful summer experience.
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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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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13
Sermon: "The Jesus Lounge"
Worship Music
Prelude: "How Great Thou Art" by Stuart K. Hine arranged by Mark Hayes
Offertory: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Connie and Bruce
Postlude: “You Are Mine”
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Kids Corner
Check out one way to connect with your children as you all connect with scripture. Click Here
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Peanut Butter Packing Party
Peanut butter cup packing next Thursday, August 4th from 9:30 am - 11:30 am in the kitchen. All are welcome to join in the fun!
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Ongoing Requests
Men’s Sneakers and Shoes - All sizes needed!
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Casowasco LIT Program,
A success
They have matured, built friendships that may last a lifetime, increased their confidence, deepened their relationship with God, and gained top-notch leadership skills in just one month. The Leaders in Training (LITs) at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center completed their one-month training on July 22, 2022.
Click here to read about the inspiring training journey that five 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old accomplished so that they may successfully lead camp and local church ministries.
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The UUMC Legacy Circle Asks the Following Question:
What are the components of End of Life planning?
- Will
- Guardianship
- Living Trust
- Financial Power of Attorney
- Health Care Proxy/ Medical Power of Attorney
- Living Will/Advance Directive
- Beneficiary Designations
- Life Insurance
- Letter of Instruction
- Digital Asset Instructions
- List of all Accounts and Documents
- Sharing the above with Family Members
Gathering the above may appear to be a daunting task, but not all items are applicable to everyone. There are also available tools to simplify gathering the data.
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Thank You for Supporting the ACTS Spring Banquet
Dear UUMC,
We enjoyed a great diverse turnout at our ACTS Spring Event. While the May 24 gathering has come and gone, we are making progress every day in our pursuit of social justice because of your generosity.
Although this happening was a fund-raising event, it was just as importantly an occasion to celebrate social justice in our community...and to network with others committed to dealing with disadvantage and discrimination among us!
Justice Leadership by 100 Black Men, Rev. Craig French, Assembly Member Pam Hunter and Aneesah Evans was lifted up as examples for all of us to follow.
The figures for our net income are not finalized but we did take in more than $24,000 for the event.
Your purchase of 13 event tickets with a contribution of $975 helped to make it all come together.
As mission people wanting all in the Syracuse area to flourish as individuals and groups, we are working together in the process of reducing unjust barriers and overcoming inequities.
Every step in that direction brings us closer to the reality of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Beloved Community here is this place!
Our work continues with training in community organizing, anti-racism education, education equity, violence prevention, and transportation inequities.
Once again, many thanks for your generous participation in our annual Spring Event!
Peter Sarver
Board Chair for Financial Sustainability
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School Supplies
Thank you for your generosity, we are getting close to our goal.
UUMC is asking for School Supplies to be donated to Eastern Farm Workers to be distributed to migrant workers’ families in CNY. All supplies needed by August 14.
We are asking our congregation to supply the following:
30 pairs of safety scissors • 104 single subject spiral notebooks • 80 3 ring binders
130 mini packs of Kleenex • 200 travel bottles of hand sanitizer
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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:
Beth Drew, Joe Marusa, & their Family
The requests list below come from the previous Sunday’s worship and those received during the week.
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Ann O.: Prayers for a friend, Dave H., and his family. He has a very serious illness.
Ann O.: Joy for a new great-nephew Lucas James, born on Friday 7/22/22.
Anonymous: Continue to pray for Lois M and Beth Drew and their family as Lois transitions slowly into God's house with many rooms in Heaven. John 14: 2 is one of Lois' favorite scriptures.
Barb G.: Asks us to pray for Grace B. for healing and comfort following a serious mouth surgery and for family reconciliation during these difficult times.
Connie M.: Jim who is hospitalized with a brain bleed and his family.
Connie M.: Asks that we pray for her family as her second cousin who is 39 years old and in his last few days of life after a short battle with an illness.
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Erika V.: Prayers for Maria S and family
Jayne H.: Peace and light for the people of Ukraine.
Lois M.: Keep Sunday Morning volunteer Andy in your thoughts as he undergoes hip replacement and
recovery.
Mike R.: Prayers for some friends who are in a better place.
Sharon: Pray for all those healing.
Sharon: Please pray for my friend Sandy for healing and hope.
Sherri C.: Prayers Sarah and family, Sue and family., Jayne and family, Julie and Marc.
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Save the Date!
August 10 at 6 -8 p.m.: SUMM Picnic at UUMC.
UUMC will provide the hot dogs, paper products, condiments, rolls & Ice Cream Truck.
We will need your help to make this fun and special. Other congregations will bring: Chips: Brown Memorial • Beverages: Gethsemane • Fruit or Vegetables : Erwin First • Sides: Bellevue Heights and St. Paul's • Lawn Chairs: Everyone!
Here's the schedule:
5pm: set up and fire up the grills • 6pm: Supper • Worship • Ice Cream Truck
As the party winds down: Clean Up
Please RSVP to Michelle in the Church office by August 5th so that we do not purchase too much or not enough.
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Syracuse Hospital to Give Free Prescription Drugs to Uninsured Onondaga County Residents
Published: Jul. 18, 2022
New program will provide free prescription drugs to uninsured Onondaga County residents at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Uninsured Onondaga County residents with limited incomes will be able to get free insulin and other prescription drugs starting July 24 from Upstate Community Hospital’s outpatient pharmacy at 5000 West Seneca Turnpike.
Upstate will get the drugs from Dispensary of Hope, a national non-profit drug distributor that collects billions of doses of excess drugs, that would be otherwise destroyed, and gives them to people in need.
To be eligible, patients must be uninsured and have income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For a single person, 300% of the federal poverty level means annual income of $40,770.
Qualifying patients must also have a prescription to get the medicines.
Darryl Geddes, an Upstate spokesman, said the program will be a great option for people who do not qualify for Medicaid, the government health insurance program for people with low income and disabilities. Medicaid serves patients at or below 133% of the federal poverty level.
About 5% of Onondaga County residents under 65 are uninsured, according to U.S. Census data.
Available medications will include drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stomach ulcers, diabetes and more. One of the drugs available will be insulin, a diabetes medication which can cost up to $300 per vial.
Upstate said in an announcement its hospital and clinics often see patients who cannot afford medications.
Dispensary of Hope was started in Nashville, Tennessee in 2003 by a doctor who worked with the local medical community to donate unused drug samples to free clinics and pharmacies. It now receives donated medications directly from manufacturers and distributors and distributes them at more than 200 sites nationwide.
Upstate will become the first Dispensary of Hope site in the state outside New York City, which has five sites.
Patients who want to participate need to send their prescriptions to the pharmacy, located across the street from Upstate Community Hospital.
More information about the program can be obtained by emailing Upstate at upstatemedhealth@upstate.edu.
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Lay Servant Courses on Zoom
Advanced Course: Leading Worship
Mon.: Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29, 6-9 p.m.
Zoom: Fee $15
Advanced Course: Called to Preach
Thurs.: Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 6-9 p.m.
Zoom: Fee $15
Advanced Course: For the Common Good (Spiritual Gifts)
Tues.: Oct. 4, 11; Thurs.: Oct. 20, 27; and Mon., Oct 24, 6-9pm
Zoom: Fee $15
Advanced Course: Opening Ourselves to Grace
Thurs.: Nov. 11 and 17, 6-9 p.m., Tues., Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and 13, 6-9 p.m.
Zoom: Fee $15
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Safe Sanctuaries ZOOM Training
August 6th
(Perfect time to get your Sunday School, Youth Group, Nursery or any other Ministry Staff & Volunteers registered)
The standard Safe Sanctuaries training will be held: Saturday, August 6th from 9AM to 12:30PM. This training will be held via ZOOM.
REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE August 5, 2022 AT 5PM
If you are not registered by that time, you will not be able to attend this event.
Our next conference Zoom Safe Sanctuaries training is not scheduled until November 5, 2022!
The training will follow the revised ZOOM curriculum developed by the Upper New York Annual Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team, educating those involved in ministries who work with children and vulnerable adults on risks and prevention strategies related to abuse.
The participant curriculum packet is available on the Eventbrite event page via download. We recommend printing or asking your church office to print this packet for you prior to signing into the training.
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks, click here.
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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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Contact Us
Alicia Wood, Pastor
Beth DuBuois, Pastoral Accomplice
1085 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY
315.475.7277
Email | office@uumcsyracuse.org
Facebook | uumcsyracuse
Twitter | @uumcsyr
Instagram | uumcsyr
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