May 27th, 2021 Oneonta District News for you
* Please share this newsletter with your friends and congregation members.
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Note: The District Office is open by appointment only.
Please Call ahead to make an appointment.
Office hours vary Mon. – Thurs.
the office is CLOSED Friday- Sunday
Office closed on Monday May 31
The Upper New York Conference and Episcopal offices as well as the District offices will be closed Monday May 31 in observance of Memorial Day. We wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day as we remember the women and men who have died while serving our country.
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Updated COVID-19 Guidelines
New CDC Guidelines- what they mean for UNY churches
On Wednesday May 19, New York adopted the CDC's updated guidance on masks and social distancing and many business capacity restrictions have been lifted.
What does this mean for Upper New York local churches?
Keeping the safety of unvaccinated individuals in mind, UNY has answered many Frequently Asked Questions regarding these new guidelines as they relate to seating, singing, asking about vaccination status, and more. Click here for the latest COVID-19 FAQs.
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Bishop Webb announces clergy appointments
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Annual Conference 2021 Information |
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Tuesday, June 1, is the final day to register for
the 12th Session of the Upper New York Annual Conference,
which will be held virtually June 17-19, 2021.
All eligible voting members must register by June 1 to be able to participate and vote.
Registrations cannot be accepted after June 1!
Patti Gridley, administrative assistant for the Mountain View District, has created an All Annual Conference newsletter that includes key information about Annual Conference.
There are TWO new pieces of information in this Issue. The word NEW has been typed next to the things that are new.
There is also ONE Reminder piece of information.
Please click here to read the most up-to-date version of that document.
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Other Annual Conference news:
The tentative agenda for the 2021 Upper New York Annual Conference, being held virtually, June 17-19, 2021, is now available. If you have yet to register for the conference, you can do so by clicking here. To view the tentative agenda, click here.
The 2022 Ministry Share budget that will be voted on at the 2021 Upper New York Annual Conference, being held virtually, June 17-19, 2021, is now available. Click here to view the budget. Click here to read and/or download the narrative budget booklet, which explains the ministries of each line item.
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Happenings & Local Church News |
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NEW- New Berlin UMC has robes and stoles available to a good home. (Church, school, drama club, honor societies). Their are 18 of the blue Robes and 7 of the red and beige ones ans approx. 8 sets of the stoles,reversible as shown. If you are interested please contact: Penny Harrington;
email: pennynharrington@gmail.com or call: 607-847-6350
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Summer Saunters*
Join Pastor Sharon of the Fly Creek and Schuyler Lake UMC’s
in walks along the trails of Otsego County.
Pastor Sharon’s Summer Saunter plan: All saunters are scheduled on Fridays at 10am.
June 4 – Parslow Conservation Area
June 11- Forest of the Dozen Dads Beaver Pond Trail
June 25 - Goodyear Lake Waterway Access Main Trail
July 2 - Lordsland Preserve
July 9 - Glimmerglass State Park Covered Bridge Trail
July 16 - Gilbert Lake State Park
July 23 - Robert Riddell State Park
August 6 - Texas Schoolhouse State Forest Blue Trail
August 13 - Glimmerglass State Park Sleeping Lion Trail
August 20 - Fortin Park
August 27 - Betty & Wilbur Davis State Park, Andy’s Trail
September 3 - Arnold Lake State Forest
For questions you can contact Pastor Sharon Rankins-Burd at
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Available Items - Free to Church home
Cooperstown UMC still has Outdoor sign letters to give away: Metal with lip at the top. Some nearly new; others used. 2 sizes left: 1 1/2", 2 1/2". If your church is interested, contact Merrilyn O'Connell at : merrioc88@gmail.com or call (607) 547-9515. Willing to meet you halfway to deliver.
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Peace with Justice Sunday is May 30
Peace with Justice Sunday is May 30, please don’t forget this important giving opportunity – half of all the money donated in our Conference stays right here to support the ministries we are starting! Click here for resources for worship.
Last May, the Social Holiness Team awarded Niagara Frontier City Ministries a grant to help them support their work to provide masks, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products to the underserved in their area around Buffalo and Niagara Falls. This area and especially the homeless population was particularly hard hit in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last November, the New York State Poor People's Campaign was awarded a grant to help with their podcast entitled Getting into Step. The goal of the podcast is to connect activists and spiritual leaders and provide training and support for those doing the work of this national movement.
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Historical Society Meeting
Learn how chaplains played an important role in the Civil War by attending a June 12 Zoom meeting of the UNY United Methodist Historical Society.
The Rev. Dr. Nancy Hale, pastor at Canton United Methodist Church and a Civil War reneactor, will be the presenter at 7:15 pm. Click here for more information and ways to connect to the session, by Zoom or telephone.
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2021 Campaign for Red Bird
It's not too early to begin planning for your congregation's response to the annual Upper New York Conference collection drive for Red Bird Mission. Please share the attached letter from David Alexander, Coordinator and member of Endwell UMC.
If your church is willing to serve as a collection point for our District as Ripley UMC has done is past years, please email David, Dalexander4@stny.rr.com
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NEW- Upper New York UMW & UMC 2021 Mission
Registration Available
There’s far more than here than meets the eye and we hope you’ll join us this summer for the 2021 Mission u! Hosted by the Upper New York United Methodist Women and United Methodist Church, this virtual study program will be presented Thursday evening, July 22, through Saturday afternoon, July 24.
The program will feature group worship and plenary sessions and the participant’s choice of three different study options. A special mission presentation will be offered by Hope House in Utica, N.Y.
Registration is $25, with a special fee of $15 for first-timers. Scholarships are available and the fee should not be an obstacle. Register by July 5, but classes filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mission u is a transformative education program that offers studies on several different topics and is open to everyone—not just women.
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HUB Needs Your Help:
UNY Mission Central Critically Low on Kits
The need is high, UNY Mission Central HUB needs your help. Due to the pandemic our donations are low and many UMCOR kits we have received are not made with the updated supplies, this is a cost not only to us but also the donator. The storm season is coming up and we are not stocked to help communities when the need arises.
Questions? Please contact:MaryBeth Ingalls (UNYAC Mission Volunteer Coordinator) at :
There are so many ways to help for all who want to serve this ministry.
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Since the start of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Global Ministries has worked with partners around the world to respond to this humanitarian crisis. The Global Health unit and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have worked with health boards, medical professionals, disaster management coordinators, and faith leaders to prevent the spread of this disease. Grants have been awarded to provide clean water and medical equipment at health facilities and to address the economic challenges caused by the pandemic, such as food insecurity.
Click here to learn more about this fund and how to make a donation.
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New-Dismantling racism resource: "Expanding the Table," kicks off June 1
The UMC is leading a sustained and coordinated effort to actively engage in the ministry of dismantling racism and promoting racial justice. The Upper New York (UNY) Conference Communications team will regularly share worship, advocacy, and educational resources to help with this important campaign.
This week, we feature, “Expanding the Table,” a new video podcast series from the General Commission on Religion and Race, which will debut on Tues., June 1, 2021. Series guests will focus on how individual Christians and church-based entities can and should engage the work of racial justice-making and anti-racism.
Guests for the first podcast—titled “Racism, Police Reform and Faith”—are the Rev. Kirk Lyons of Brooklyn, N.Y. (leader of nighttime prayer walks through the most crime-ridden neighborhoods in New York City), and the Rev. Jeremy Wicks of Traverse City, Michigan (a former police chaplain and reserve officer).
Both United Methodist pastors are leading community-wide conversations and demonstrations that call attention to implicit and explicit racial bias experienced by Black and Brown people at the hands of police officers. Both are bringing together church, community, and law-enforcement members to seek solutions.
Rev. Lyons and Rev. Wicks will talk about their work as an outgrowth of their understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and offer ideas for how Christian communities may learn more and get involved in local police reform and anti-racism efforts.
Click here after June 1 to watch the video podcast
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Lay Servant Ministry
Note* - Because of COVID, the Conference Team of Lay Servant Ministries is extending a year of grace to everyone who needed to take an Advanced Lay Servant Course in 2020 so you now have through 2021 to take a course to keep your certification up-to-date
CLASSES OPEN TO ALL
Advance Course: Spiritual Gifts
June 14 & 21, 6-9 pm; June 26, 9 am - 1 pm; and July 1, 6-9 pm
Zoom: Course fee, $15
Advance Course: Leading Worship
July 14, 21 & 28, 6-9 pm and August 7, 9 am - 1 pm
Zoom: Course fee, $15
Advance Course: Polity
August 17, 24 & 31 6-9 pm and August 28, 9 am - 1 pm
Zoom: Course fee, $15
To register or for more information on any of the LSM classes listed above, please contact Arlene Schmidt at adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.
Click Here to see other upcoming Lay Servant Classes
For more information about Lay Servant Ministries, click here
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Safe Sanctuaries ZOOM training: Basic Course June 12th
The Upper New York Annual Conference Team will be hosting our standard Basic Safe Sanctuaries training via ZOOM from 9 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday, June 12th .
This training is brought to you and paid for by your Upper New York Ministry Shares. This basic training is required for anyone working with children, youth and vulnerable adults as stated by the Minimum Standards. This training is a must no matter if you are meeting in-person or online.
If you have already taken this training you DO NOT need to take it again.
The training will follow the reformatted ZOOM curriculum developed by the Upper New York Annual Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team, educating those involved in ministries who work with children, youth and vulnerable adults on risks and prevention strategies related to abuse.
There will be a link to the handout that should be printed and available to you for the training.
You must REGISTER for the training. If you register and are no longer able to attend we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can fill your spot with someone else who is waiting to take the training.
The training will be facilitated by Safe Sanctuaries Certified Trainers.
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks, click here.
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UMC Clergy Education Offering Courses for Credit
June 1 - Rachel Gilmore: Easy ways to enhance online discipleship in your church Click here to register and for more information.
June 22 - Olu Brown: Seize the Day! Leading your congregation on a new adventure
July 15 - Anne Bosarge: Starting and Sustaining Effective Hybrid Ministries
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A Trauma-Informed Approach to Pastoral Care Zoom course
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Pastoral Care is a pastoral care course that will provide strategies you can use to help people in your congregations who have experienced trauma, avoid retraumatization, and effectively care for yourself as well.
This online course has been offered twice before in recent months and was well-received, so it is being offered again. The course will take place across three dates: June 7 (7-9 p.m.), June 14 (7-8:30 p.m.), and June 28 (7-8:30 p.m.). Click here to register and be sure to save your confirmation email as it has the Zoom link you will need for the course.
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Camp & Retreat Ministries |
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The Upper New York Camp and Retreat Ministry Area is excited to welcome back campers and guests for summer programs at all five of our sites. Safety precautions (including limiting capacity) will be in place to ensure the safety of all, as life-long memories are made in our fun and supportive environments.
Click here for more information on the programs being offered this summer, which is also where you will find the link to register. We can’t wait to see you this summer!
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Click here for the June/July issue of the Media Resource Center newsletter!
June 28-30, July 1 & 2- Media Resource Center closed - vacation
July 5 - Methodist Center and Media Resource center closed for Independence Day observance
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Save the Date for the next Bishop’s Retreat
Due to the coronavirus, the 2020 Bishop's Retreat, originally scheduled for Oct. 20-22, 2020, at the Radisson Hotel in Corning, NY is being postponed until Sept. 27-29, 2022. It will also be held at the Radisson Hotel in Corning. The theme is, “Sharing Our Faith Boldly” and the keynote speaker is Debi Nixon, Executive Director of Development and ShareChurch at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Registration will open following the completion of the 2022 Annual Conference session.
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COVID-19 protocols
Starting May 19, New York State Governor Cuomo has stated that sanctuary capacity restrictions (i.e., set occupancy percentage) will no longer be required. Instead, sanctuary seating limits will be based on space available to maintain six-feet of social distance between individuals and/or households. Total sanctuary occupancy cannot exceed 250. Mask wearing while moving when entering, moving about, and exiting buildings is still required.
Additionally, outdoor worship limits will increase to 500 on May 10.
In terms of hymnals, Bibles, communion ware, and collection plates, limiting the sharing of these items remains the best practice. However, the CDC guidance indicates surfaces are not the primary way COVID is spread so using these items can be done with less risk if worshippers clean their hands before and after use.
To remain up-to-date on COVID-19 guidelines, be sure to check the Conference website by clicking here.
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This is a reminder that New York State employers (including churches) must adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy and provide training on sexual harassment prevention to their employees on an annual basis.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
Each New York State employer is required to have a sexual harassment prevention policy in place. Click here for a prior news article on the sexual harassment prevention policy requirements.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
New York State Law requires that employers of one or more employees must conduct sexual harassment prevention training for all employees on an annual basis
Free Training Available
The New York City Commission on Human Rights has developed a free online training that will satisfy both the New York State and New York City anti-sexual harassment training requirements. New York City's free online training is available here.
If you have questions on this topic, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at tracyrickett@unyumc.org or (315) 898-2017.
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Links to Resources for Reopening Your Church
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NEW-Northern Flow creates Intentional Discipleship Plan training resources
The Northern Flow District has created training resources for congregations and persons to walk through a “step-by-step” process for developing an Intentional Discipleship Plan.
Click here for steps 1 and 2 of the training; follow the guidance of the video trainers, use the provided PowerPoints and the resources (links) to enable your church and team to develop and implement your congregation’s Intentional Discipleship Plan.
Additional training steps will be provided over time. Imagine what God will do as more and more churches develop their process for Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World!
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The UM News team brings you breaking news, features and commentaries from across our global connection, such as recent stories concerning the future of the denomination, spotlights on transformational ministries and articles about efforts to dismantle racism. Receive updates in your inbox by subscribing to the Daily Digest or just the Friday Digest, which includes weekly highlights.
Interested in receiving only the Friday Digest with weekly wrapup? Click here.
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2021 Issue of the Advocate now available
The Advocate is the Upper New York Conference's ministry magazine.
The 2021 issue I of the Advocate focuses on “celebrating who we are” throughout the Upper New York Conference. In this issue, you will find stories that showcase the tapestry of different size congregations, and individuals with a variety of ethnic backgrounds and theologies, as well as different age groups.
This issue is currently available as an e-issue and has been distributed to local churches.
Click here to read or download this issue of the Advocate on the Conference website.
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Our church competes for attention in a noisy, marketing savvy (or weary) world. Learn how to reach out more effectively! Get share-worthy tips for promoting your church using emerging trends, tutorials, marketing, social media, outreach and technology from the award-winning e-newsletter.
Designed for pastors, church leaders and staff, MyCom delivers articles relevant to your job roles and interest areas. Watch for the latest from MyCom every two weeks.
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Free Discipleship Resources!
Click here for the latest issue of Discipleship Ministries' Equipping Disciples Newsletter.
Discover Your Spiritual Gifts!
We all have a mixture of gifts that work together and give each of us a unique way to contribute to ministry.
Take the assessment to discover your primary and supporting gifts today!
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Jason Moore’s follow-up workshop offered helpful tips to UNY clergy
This past Monday, Jason Moore offered an hour of follow-up on Zoom to recap the Zoom workshop he hosted in Dec. 2020, including what he has learned in the last four months on how to offer successful worship and engagement on digital platforms. There was also a time for questions from the 41 attendees. Click here to access this recording.
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John Wesley’s health tips
United Methodists are indebted to John Wesley for his habits of study and discipline that enabled him to create the writings and teachings that became our denominational traditions. What may be less well known is that Wesley was also fascinated by the human body; he conducted many an experiment on himself, eventually leading to his development of over 800 remedies for 300 unique ailments, which he recorded in his volume, Primitive Physick.
One of Wesley’s remedies was for coughs; he suggested to, “make a hole through a lemon and fill it with honey. Roast it and catch the juice. Take a tea-spoonful of this frequently.”
Click here to discover a few more of John Wesley’s health tips.
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For information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks,
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NEW-The spiritual discipline of prayer part 3
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Upper New York Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, has been providing videos of helpful spiritual practices to help deepen people’s relationship to God during this difficult time.
For 2021, Rev. Dibelius is zeroing in on spiritual disciplines. She explains that spiritual disciplines are a way to get away with Jesus, walk with Jesus, and learn from Jesus.
Two weeks ago, Rev. Dibeluis introduced the spiritual discipline of prayer by describing the centrality of prayer both in modern times and in Jesus’s time. Click here to watch that video. Last week, Rev. Dibelius focused on our petitions to God; click here to watch that video.
This week, Nancy’s video examines how to listen deeply for God in our lives. Click here to watch the video.
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Listen to recorded digital discipleship webinar on children’s ministry
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Intentional Discipleship Systems in a pandemic
Article by Rev. Dr. Aaron Bowens, the UNY Director of Vital Congregations,What it means to have an intentional discipleship system. Click here to read it.
How do we create disciples during a pandemic? Click here for insight from Ellen Mall John, Albany District Associate.
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Self-care resources - Click here to visit the COVID-19 resources section of the Conference website to see the recently added self-care resources.
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Phishing Season?
Please continue to pay attention to the emails you may receive from your District Superintendent, your pastor, or other leader asking for gift cards/money or perhaps informing you of an urgent request. Please be aware that these are phishing schemes—they are SPAM emails.
Check the email address—if it is not a unyumc.org email (example: nancyadams@unyumc.org) it is SPAM!
If you get emails like these, simply delete them and/or mark it as SPAM.
Click here for a good five-minute video clip on what to look for in phishing emails.
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How to get help from UNY Conference for...
Regular needs or questions, contact the Conference (315) 898-2000 or email: info@unyumc.org and leave a message including what assistance
you are seeking and it will be given to the right person to respond to you.
Technical or creative needs such as online Bible studies/meetings,
live streaming worship, or online giving
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Conference Office Address:
The Upper New York Conference
United Methodist Center
7481 Henry Clay Blvd
Liverpool, N.Y. 13088
Phone: 315-898-2000 Toll Free: (same) 1-855-424-7878
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Stay Informed, Up-To-Date Through These Links:
UNY Notes -Include notices From the Desk of Bishop Webb; Alerts; Announcements; Prayer requests; Death Notices; Camp & Retreat info
Weekly Digest - Sent every Wednesday. It will include a listing of all of the new information available.
This will help reduce the amount of e-news announcements coming to your computers.
Another great resource is the UMCOM newsletter. To subscribe, click here
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"Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by... living the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God's love with our neighbors in all places."
Your Partners in Ministry at the Oneonta District Office
Rev. Nancy Adams - District Superintendent
Teresa Wood, - Minister of Administration
Rev. George Gallandorm- District Associate
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How to Contact the Oneonta District Office
Phone: (607) 441-5102
Fax: (607) 353-1034
(physical address)
Oneonta District Office
64 Chestnut St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
(mailing address)
Oneonta District Office
C/O Teresa Wood
28 Orchard St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
All past District Newsletters can also be found at:
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All past District Newsletters can also be found at:
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UNY Conference Quick Links
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