September 5, 2023 Newsletter

Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

September 5, 2023

Next newsletter is September 19, 2023

Please submit items to be included by the Friday before.

A Note from Sherri:

¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NRSVUE

These are Jesus’ last words to his disciples at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. “Go, make disciples… baptize… teach them to obey what I have commanded… I am with you.” This is the purpose of the church. Somehow, we have moved from disciple-making to church building. There are some who might say, “Well, aren’t they the same thing?” From the perspective of someone who is not yet a follower of Jesus, there is a big difference. One invites people into a relationship. The other promotes an institution.

What if instead of focusing on building the church, we focused on making disciples? In church building we are focused on the institution. “What can we do to get people to come to our church?” is a question I hear often. What would happen if instead we focus on, “How can we introduce people to Jesus, and show them how to follow him?”

Bishop Héctor spoke about this at annual conference. In his Episcopal Address, Bishop invited us to prioritize relationships as we shift our focus from institution to people. It’s all about relationship. Our relationship with God and with one another. The place to start is by looking at our own relationship with Jesus. It’s about asking, “How does following Jesus make a difference in my life? Does following Jesus make a difference in how I live? In how I think? In how I see the people around me?”

If we focus on building relationships with people, showing people Jesus and inviting people on the journey, we won’t have to worry about building up the church -it will happen organically.

I’m praying we make this important shift.

Grace and peace,

Sherri

** REVISED 8/22/23: SAVE THE DATE **

Fall Clergy Meeting Dates Scheduled

Please Mark your Calendars for the Fall Clergy Meetings!

Crossroads District is scheduled for Tuesday September 19th at the

UNY Conference Center - Room B.

7481 Henry Clay Blvd, Liverpool NY 13088

NEW LOCATION!!!

Finger Lakes District is scheduled for Wednesday September 20th at the Geneva UMC

340 Main Street, Geneva NY 14456

The meetings will start at 9:00am and will be ending by 12:30pm.

Youth Ministry Training Event

New youth ministry leader? Looking for some planning help?

Or just trying to find the time to get your youth ministry plan together?

Let us help!

Join WPAUMC Youth Ministry Coordinator Amanda Mitchell for a weekend

of planning strategies, structure and teamwork and get your youth ministry plan ready for action.

September 22-24 at Olmsted Manor & Retreat Center.

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 District News

“The Crossroads Lay Servant Ministries uses Facebook to communicate our classes and other news.

We invite all Lay Servants/Lay Servants/CLM’s to follow us on

“UNY Crossroads District Lay Servant/Speakers”

On Facebook, SEARCH for UNY Crossroads District Lay Servants/Speakers

CLICK Follow

We will see you there!

Bob Mueller Co-Director Crossroads LSM Committee

Darlene Dennis Co-Director Crossroads LSM Committee

Listed CLICK on the link below for Fall Classes -

Advanced Courses for Lay Servants, Required Course for Lay Speaking

REVISED start date: FROM YOUR HEARTS TO THEIRS: Delivering an Effective Sermon

DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

UNITED METHODIST HERITAGE

NEW: Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Class

NEW: Certified Lay Minister Course and Brochure

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UNIVERSAL APPLICATION

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR CHURCH STAFF???

Our fun-loving and energetic church staff has 2 positions we are ready to fill!

We are in need of a Kidz Club Coordinator. Kidz Club is Immanuel’s Sunday

morning education program.

We are also looking for a Faith Formation Coordinator. This position involves

developing and overseeing our educational and faith-building programs with all of

our young people. This staff position will have a chance to develop the job description

as we look to new and innovative ways to help young people grow in their relationship

with God. Our church staff is dedicated to enabling all members of Immanuel to live

into the call God places on each of our lives.

If you’d like to join us in that work please apply today!

Check out our website at www.churchofthebells.org for more information.

To apply:

Please send a resume and a letter of interest to office@churchofthebells.org.

Immanuel United Methodist Church, 303 Kasson Road, Camillus NY 13031.

Church Announcements

Stewardship with Susan Ranous

Please check out the blog below

CLICK HERE for the Blog: Stewardship with Susan Ranous

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September 9, 2023

Manlius UMC is hosting a Chicken BBQ &Bake Sale

Saturday September 9

11:00am until all is sold

Dinner includes 1/2 chicken, salt potatoes, cole slaw, & roll.

1/2 chicken also sold. Senior Discount.

Take outs great for picnics or the game

The church is located on the corner of Wesley & Pleasant Streets, across from the Manlius Post Office

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September 15, 2023

Manlius UMC Family Fun Night

FREE EVENT!

Friday September 15, 2023

6:00pm Spaghetti Dinner

7:00pm Magician and Balloon Animals

Gift Bag for each family

Hosted by the Manlius UMC Sunday School and Youth Group

The church is located across from the Manlius Post Office.

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September 15, 2023

The Collamer United Church is very pleased to announce that it will, once again, hold its annual rummage sale on …

Friday, September 15 from 9 A.M. until 6 P.M.

Saturday, September 16 from 9 A.M. until Noon

Saturday, September 23 from 9 A.M. until Noon

It will be held at Vollmer’s Greenhouse across from the cemetery on Route 298 in Collamer (2 miles East of Carrier Circle; or ½ mile West of Exit 7 off from Route 481).

This “GIGANTIC’ and “AWESOME” sale will offer a wide variety of great bargains from nearly new to nearly antique.

There will also be a food counter and a bake sale so shoppers can snack while searching for treasures.

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September 23, 2023

Church Yard Sale

Crafts, Jewelry, Baked Goods, & Treasures

Saturday, September 23rd

10am-2pm

St. Paul's UMC - 2200 Valley Drive, Syracuse, NY 13207

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September 23, 2023

Cicero UMC is hosting a Drive Thru Chicken BBQ

10:30am until sold out

$14.00 dinner includes 1/2 chicken, 2 sides, roll/butter and a cookie

Chicken prepared by Dave's Finger Lickin' Chicken

The church is located at 8416 Brewerton Rd

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September 22-23 & 29-30, 2023

Local Church Announces Nu 2 U & Bake Sale

Trinity United Methodist Church Nu-2-U and Bake Sale is planned

for Sept. 22 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be a wide variety of items for sale; something for everyone.

The sale (without baked goods) continues Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Bag Sale starts at 9 a.m. Sept. 30.

A portion of the proceeds will be used to purchase socks and other

necessary clothing for local elementary age students.

Anyone wishing to donate may bring the items to the church beginning

on Sept. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to noon or call the church for arrangements

on a different day or time.

Please use the East Utica entrance as the sale is downstairs.

The church is located at 45 East Utica Street, corner of East 4^th and Utica, Oswego. Everyone is welcome to attend in person worship on Sunday starting at 10:00 a.m. The live web service is available on the church Facebook page. For further information, please call and leave a message at (315) 343-1715

or visit https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.