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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Front Office Report
By Michelle Grutman
Finance
You’ve heard the old saying “the buck stops here,” well, since I’ve taken over the day to day of the UUMC financials, the buck now stops here! Mark Fullerton remains onboard with us as he tirelessly transfers all of our data from both Quickbooks and Church Windows over to Aplos. As we compile the Semi Annual Giving Statement in Church Windows, we pray that it is the last project of the antiquated program. Your Giving Statement will be sent out soon.
In the month of June UUMC received two bequeaths. One from the Estate of David Bacon of $100,000. The other from the Estate of Rosemary Chappell, earmarked for the food pantry and these funds will tremendously help us continue God’s work at UUMC and Outreach.
Newsletter
As you scroll thru this newsletter, you will notice that it looks a bit different. I have been working hard to condense our weekly newsletter to best highlight the newest and most relevant information! Each section has been color coded which has made them easier to find. Content from previous weeks is now located in a link bar at the bottom of each section making it easier to digest.
Social Media
I’m pleased to announce that our social media has grown exponentially. No longer is it uncommon to see Facebook posts with over 20 likes. In fact, thanks to all of our followers, we had 156 likes, comments and shares, on the Pride Parade picture post. That’s a huge number! While not nearly as impressive as Facebook, we have seen an uptick in Instagram reactions as well. Both platforms have had an increase in followers and I’m just getting started! Please continue to like, comment & share our social media so we can continue to spread the word about God’s work being done here at UUMC! Stay tuned! There’s a lot more to come.
-Michelle Grutman
Manager of Office Operations, Social Media & Finance
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12 Ways We’re Responding
To the Supreme Court Decision
In light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion, you may
have wondered what more University Church can do to help both those
parents who choose to have children and those who choose not to. Here are
12 ways we are already in ministry with them:
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The Food Center provides emergency food boxes with staple goods,protein and fresh produce to about 250 families every Friday
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Parents can get diapers, baby formula, wipes, sanitary pads and hand sanitizer once a month
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ACR Health, Planned Parenthood and Onondaga County Health staff talk with people about sexual health and other issues one Friday a month
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Upstate Medical University students offer health screenings monthly on Sundays under the supervision of a physician
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People may get a free lunch every other Thursday from ACR Health hosted at UUMC, along with condoms and information about sexual health
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More than 175 bagel breakfast bags go out each Sunday morning on the church corner and at an addiction treatment center on Erie Blvd.
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The Clothing Closet is available on Thursdays and Sundays
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Pastor Alicia and Pastor Beth are available to talk with parents who are struggling
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Outreach and Food Center Coordinator Galyn Murphy-Stanley regularly puts people in touch with other social services
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Our donations to “Blessings in a Backpack” feed hungry school children on weekends
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The church’s Justice Team is in touch with Planned Parenthood to see what other support or services we can offer
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Restart helps families furnish new homes
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Legacy Article July 2022
I don’t know if you realize this but for many pastors the stewardship campaign and cycle are quite stressful and uncomfortable. That was certainly the case when I started at UUMC. Maybe it’s because I’ve heard in and out of the church building from a variety of people throughout my life, “the church only wants your money.” I do not believe this at all but it looms in the back of my head when we talk about the finances during worship for a month or more.
All this changed my second year at UUMC when I was looking through the pledge cards and saw one pledge of $0.50 per week. My heart skipped a beat and I teared up because I knew this was a sacrifice for our pledging friend. They wanted to contribute to the overall budget of the church no matter what. In the months after seeing this pledge card, I noticed our friend collecting bottles on Sunday mornings before worship along the streets. By the time, they arrived at church there were no longer bottles but 50 cents to place in the offering plate.
The parable of the widow’s mite before my eyes.
I share this to say we are all in this together every little bit and large bit goes into making our congregation something incredibly special. A place of worship and song, seeking justice and mission, friendship and community.
Please know that no matter your wealth when you make your way to Heaven, you may leave a little bit or large bit as a part of your legacy to the vibrant future of University United Methodist Church.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Alicia
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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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Worship | July 17, 2022
Our half-truth this morning is “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” This is a phrase used when we are trying to comfort and uplift someone facing a challenge. It seems nice enough but today we will discover how this statement is only partly true.
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Scripture: Psalm 46: 1-2, 1 Corinthians 10:13
Worship Music
Prelude: “O, My Father” By Roy M. Darley
Offertory: “Ave Verum Corpus” By: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Brad Bowers, tuba
Postlude: Offertory “Ave Verum Corpus” By Brad Bowers, Tuba, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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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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Did You Know?
In 2018, UUMC agreed to be a Disaster Partner with the Food Bank. If there was another winter storm, such as the four day ice storm in 1998 that knocked power out for five counties; or the flooding emergencies near Binghamton that have continued on and off since 2011; or Hurricane Sandy’s catastrophic impact on New York City, or an international pandemic called COVID-19 – if any of these things happen around Syracuse, UUMC would respond as a receiving and distribution center for water and food, as well as temporary shelter for aide workers. Now you know.
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Volunteer Event Challenge!
Pastor Alicia has issued a challenge for everyone in the congregation to check out the Outreach efforts in a new way. Between June and October, she would like you to attend at least one volunteer event.
Volunteers options are:
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- Assist with construction/painting of our outdoor Art installation
- Create & distribute homemade energy bars/ muffins/ etc to our breakfast folk.
- Join us for breakfast. Pick up a breakfast bag and coffee and sit outside with our guests.
- Collect washable blankets for distribution through Restart
- Pick up and deliver an Emergency Food Box to a neighbor
- Purchase and donate waterproof winter gloves
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- Pick up donated bagels at area Brugger Bagels sites & bring to UUMC
- Slice and individually bag bagels for breakfast distribution
- Boil several dozen eggs and return to UUMC for Breakfast distribution
- Paint a chain link fence (old playground area)
- Collect basic household cleaners for distribution through Restart
- Install/construct or donate an outdoor food pantry cabinet
- Install/construct or donate a pet waste collection bag post
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Ongoing Requests
Men's colored T-Shirts, Sizes S, M, L & XL
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School Supplies
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:
50 pairs of safety scissors • 150 single subject spiral notebooks • 100 3 ring binders • 150 mini packs off Kleenex • 200 travel bottles of hand sanitizer
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United Methodist
At the Ball Park
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Join us Thursday, July 28 for the 42nd annual United Methodist Night at the Ballpark! The Syracuse Mets will be playing against the Omaha Storm Chasers. This year our seats are in the 200 level on the 3rd base line. This is a "Dollar Thursday" where Hot Dogs, Coneys & Coke products are $1! Therefore we will be not tailgating before the game.
Tickets are $14 ea. Please see Ann or Pastor Alicia today.
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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:
Josephine Doe, & Yartumo Gborkorquellie
The requests list below come from the previous Sunday’s worship and those received during the week.
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Ann: For herself, in her decision about medical treatment.
Brittany C.: Please keep in prayer for remaining in service.
Anonymous: Please pray for Bette H. who had a wonderful time on her trip to Italy but now has COVID.
Anonymous: Victims of war & violence; those who have been displaced.
Anonymous: Prayers for our friend, Sean, who started chemo this week for pancreatic cancer.
Anonymous: Thankful prayers as my son and daughter in law recover from COVID.
Anonymous: Guidance for Graduate School.
Barbara: Please pray for my niece, Erin, who has COVID. She is developmentally disabled and doesn't understand about the disease, and she is not able to take the antiviral pill due to other medication."
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Erika V.: Prayers for Barb W and prayers for Maria S and family.
Jayne H.: Prayers of gratitude for continuing healing from surgery. Peace and light to the Ukrainian people.
Mamie: Good morning fam, please keep my family in prayer. We are all spaced out from each other in the mist of this pandemic, and I worry so much for my Grandchildren as well as my Child. May God’s hands continue to protect all.
Peg: Pray for my friend Joanne who is going in for an operation.
Sharon S.: Please pray for my family as they return home from vacation.
Sherri C.: Prayers for Sarah and her family for recent loss of their mother. Sue and her family. Jayne and her family. Rich, Stephanie.
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Thank You Letter from Bellevue Heights UMC
Dear University UMC,
You continue to be one of our most generous donors to the Delaware Weekend feeding program. We thank you for your latest contribution which is especially needed now that Syracuse has become #1 in child poverty in the US.
With your help, we were able to feed all 470 students each weekend of the school year for about $47,000.
God Bless You!
Sincerely,
Jeanie Brown
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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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Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration Committee
www.peacecouncil.net
Dear Religious Leader,
Thank you for all you do to promote peace and justice in our community and the world. Syracuse Peace Council (SPC) has been at the forefront of local efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. The moral imperative for this has been affirmed by the Nobel committee, granting the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign for Abolishing Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), for leading in the achievement of a nuclear ban treaty, now signed by 122 nations and ratified by 65 so far. (Note that the US and other nuclear nations have not signed on). With wars around the world, and threats to use nuclear weapons, this work is more important than ever.
For many years, SPC hosted a dramatic procession to draw attention to the threat of nuclear weapons and to commit to prevent their use. We also have held picnics with lantern floating and other rituals for this same goal. Since the pandemic, we have continued the picnic/rituals and organized simpler tableaus at important locations to influence policy-makers. We are asking congregations to join these crucial efforts to preserve all that we value.
Here are 7 ways you and your congregation members can participate. Can you pick one or 2?:
- Share a prayer for peace and nuclear abolition at your services between now & August 7.
- Join us for a picnic and ritual on Sunday, August 7 at 6pm. Please check peacecouncil.net for the location. If you would like to lead a ritual, call one of us at the numbers below.
- Bring a contingent to the tableau and demonstration at the County Courthouse on Tuesday, August 9 at 11:30 am. If your congregation has a banner, you may display it.There will be other artistic and symbolic props available to hold at the event.
- Send a statement to go out with our media packet noting the position of your denomination, or a statement from your congregation on preventing the use of nuclear weapons. We would be glad to be of support in drafting such a statement.
- Put the notice for the events in your bulletin/newsletter/website/social media
- Have your youth group, religious school, or summer camp make crafts (doves or peace cranes) to carry in the procession. We have members who can help with this.
- Show our 8 minute video, “A Future Without Nuclear Weapons”, as part of a special event, service or social media posting. https://youtu.be/Gfvo4EiE0I023
One of our members will be calling to see how you would like to participate. If you wish to contact us, please call the Syracuse Peace Council at 472-5478, or Diane at 315-391-4484
For the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration Committee
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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
1085 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY
315.475.7277
Email | office@uumcsyracuse.org
Facebook | uumcsyracuse
Twitter | @uumcsyr
Instagram | uumcsyr
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