Mohawk District E-newsletter for Churches and Pastors
April 7, 2021
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UMW Asks You to Take the Mission U Survey
United Methodist Women in the Upper New York Conference are planning this summer’s “Mission u 2021” event, takes place virtually in July. Mission u is a transformative education pro-gram that offers study on several different curricula, plus plenary and worship sessions that are open to everyone, not just women. Please help UMW prepare for this event by com-pleting a brief survey by April 26.
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District E-newsletters
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District Prayer Focus
Week of April 11
Paines Hollow UMC
and
Gregg Sponburgh
Poolville UMC
and
Henry Edwards
Healing prayers still needed
Clergy Spouse Heidi Bradseth
Pastor Mark and Dawn Hediger
the 2020-21 Prayer Calendar
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Safe Sanctuaries ZOOM training |
The Upper New York Annual Conference Team will host the standard Basic Safe Sanctuaries training 9 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday, April 17, via ZOOM.
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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 have 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 Conference Committee Co-Chairs Arlene Schmidt and Pastor Christine Mitchell with the assistance of 8 co-trainers.
Click on the link to register:
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries or background checks, click here.
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One-Hour follow up to Both/And:
Maximizing Hybrid Worship for Online & In-person Audiences
Last December the Upper New York Annual Conference hosted Jason Moore’s Both/And: Maximizing Hybrid Worship for Online & In-person Audiences. This webinar was helpful in equipping so many churches to be engaged in hybrid worship and other settings.
A lot has happened in the online and in-person world of our churches since then. Jason Moore has hosted this webinar with over 35 Annual Conferences and para-church ministries since then. Jason will be back to host just over an hour of follow-up on Monday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m. The follow-up includes a time of recap. The recap includes hearing what Jason has learned in the last 4 months and sharing things you have learned. We will then open up the conversation for discussion and Q&A. This follow-up will take place by Zoom.
- What have we learned about in-person and online Worship since Dec.?
- What questions remain or have surfaced as you have engaged in Hybrid worship?
- What questions have you been dying to ask Jason?
Join your fellow hybrid and on-line planners and presenters in this discussion with Jason Moore, Monday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m. To register for the follow-up zoom conversation please Email here to Northern Flow District Office. A Zoom link will be sent to you closer to the time of the presentation.
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Appalachian Local Pastors' School - Summer |
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Annual Conference 2021
The 12th Session will take place virtually June 17-19, 2021. The Upper New York Conference is working with Good News TV Media Ministry to provide a positive virtual experience.
Who will attend: All clergy and laity representatives to the Annual Conference Session
When is Annual Conference: June 17-19, 2021
Where will Annual Conference Take Place: Virtually
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If you are unable to register online for Annual Conference, contact Erica Wentworth,
Upper New York Conference, 315-898-2004, ericawentworth@unyumc.org .
Equalization Members to Annual Conference
Each year additional voting members to Annual Conference (see article above) are needed to balance the votes between non-clergy and clergy, in other words, make the number of non-clergy votes equal to the number of clergy votes. To achieve this,
Each District in the UNY Conference selects a predetermined
number of non-clergy to vote on behalf of the District.
If you would like to serve in this capacity, please fill out the application and return it to Mohawk District. The District Superintendent and District Lay Leader will review the applications and invite some to serve. All applicants will be notified following this process. Please remember, submitting an application is not an automatic guarantee you will be asked to serve. For those invited to serve as equalization members, they may register upon receiving notification from the Mohawk District Office they are invited to serve. Applications will be approved on a rolling basis. Deadline for applications to be received for Equalization Member is April 15, 2021.
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UMM Annual Spring Retreat Overnight at Camp Aldersgate |
The Conference United Methodist Men wish to invite men from your district to our annual Spring Retreat, which takes place at Camp Aldersgate.
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This link provides information on how attendees will be protected to safely enjoy the retreat while at camp, and this link is from the Center for Disease Control and Protection. Temperatures will be taken upon arrival and again Saturday. Please plan to wear a mask throughout the retreat, except when eating and sleeping. Hand sanitizer is provided and its use is encouraged.
WHEN: Friday April 30th- Saturday May 1st
TIME: 4pm Friday-3pm Saturday
To help us promote this annual event, there is a descriptive flier available on our www.unyumm.org website. Click here for information or to register. Any questions, contact our Conference President, Mark Jones, at 315-749-3700.
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Virtual Fundraiser for
The Neighborhood Center--
Annual Gala DiMistero
"Once Upon a Night"
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A virtual event May 14 -21, with a live finale May 21. Tickets are $125 + shipping cost for non-local participants. |
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Each participating household receives a mystery box with special gifts and magical clues. Local participants receive a second box on May 21 with appetizers and beverages for two.
Those out-of-town participants are asked to include shipping cost for their mystery box. The deadline to sign up online is May 13.
Get your tickets at:
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Hospital Visitation Reopening
~ Rev. Becky Guthrie
I am happy to report that Mohawk Valley Health System (St. Elizabeth’s, St. Luke’s, and Faxton Hospitals) is opening their doors with guidelines for visitors. As of March 17th, visitors are allowed to enter with restrictions. Click here to read the full article that lists restrictions for visiting at MV Health System.
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Media Resource Center Needs Your
Borrowed Materials Returned
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The Media Resource Center began lending and accepting back overdue resources Aug. 1. Please check to see if you have any items taken out prior to March 2020. These items should be returned as soon as possible. With Pastors moving to other churches and Bible studies put on hold, we need to locate all resources and have them returned before they are forgotten.
If you need to readjust return dates, please contact Karen Campolieto, Media Resource Coordinator and Archives Assistant. The Media Center will not be available for personal pick-up, but you can mail materials until further notice while our offices are closed to the public.
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Upper New York (UNY) Mission Central HUB is preparing for the coming spring to support survivors affected by the different disasters (floods and high winds) that may impact our area. In partnering with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), UNY’s status of kits on hand is low at
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best. The most requested items are cleaning and hygiene kits. Those who can support our communities by assembling kits in your homes or churches, please share projects so we can offer support and possibly share your methods with others. Any number of kits helps.
Please review the list for contents of each kit. If you cannot provide complete kits, we can use individual items to help complete other kits that arrive incomplete.
The HUB at the UNY Conference Center will remain closed until further notice. However, there is a tent outside the Conference Center where kits can be dropped off. You can also make arrangements to drop off kits at the HUB by calling MaryBeth Ingalls at 315-372-0285 or emailing her at marybethingalls@unyumc.org or calling Mike Block at 315-491-0497 or emailing him at mikeblock@unyumc.org.
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Do You Have a God-Given Story to Tell?
Do you have a testimony to share? Write it up and send it to
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VIRTUAL LAUNCHPAD 2021
Launchpad is boot camp for anyone who is in the first year of planting a new faith community, or who is feeling called to plant a new faith community in the next couple of years. It provides the BEST practical, hands-on training for planters available in the UM Church. In these virtual sessions you will learn an amazing array of best practices that will enable you to build a solid foundation on which to build your new faith community. Six sessions take place Thursday evenings, April 22- June 10. To register or for more information please send an email to Rev. Abigail Browka at: pastorabigail1@gmail.com
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Some Good News and Some Encouragement
The Local Church Annual Audit was due March 15, 2021, and, to date, there are about 67% of churches who have completed this necessary process. Thank you very much for taking care of this. It helps assure givers that the local church is using their resources carefully and conscientiously.
For the 33% of churches who are still working on their annual audit, soon we will be contacting you to learn what has happened so far with your auditing process and when this audit will be finished. It will be really helpful if you could update us sooner on where you are and when the audit might be expected.
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Pastor Area Connect Groups |
All those serving a local church in the pastoral role are encouraged to connect to your colleagues through Pastor Area Connect groups. |
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North PAC: First (Apr.8) and third Thurs. each month, 10 a.m.,
via Zoom and in person in the mudroom Cafe at Centerpoint Church in Barneveld. For those who would like the Zoom link to call in, please email Pastor Wayne Clemens, bclemens@twcny.rr.com
Southeast PAC: First Tues. each month, 6:45 p.m., via Zoom:
AND
West PAC: Typically First Thurs. (May 6) 10 a.m., via Zoom
Call in #: 1 929 205 6099
Meeting ID #: 960 9287 5642
East PAC: Tentatively Mon., May 3rd, 7 p.m., via Zoom
Please let the District Office know if you need help connected to a PAC group.
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Lay Servant Courses - Open to All
The following courses are available to keep certification current or become certified as
Lay Servant or Lay Speaker.
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Advanced Course: Come to the Waters
April 19 through May 1. Deepen your congregation’s experience of baptism, confirmation and reaffirmation of baptism through this wide-ranging study of By Water and the Spirit, Scripture, Church history and United Methodist theology and practice of the sacrament. Participants will need a Bible and a U.M. Hymnal; other materials will be downloaded. Class members should be prepared for daily reading, reflection and online discussion. Cost is $65. Register online:
https://www.beadisciple.com/online-christian-courses/ifd297-come-to-the-waters/
Advanced Course: Becoming Accountable Disciples
April 19-30. Learn more about Wesley’s theology, his understanding of scripture and the “means of grace,” as well as his “operating principles” and “household rules,” as we explore what it means to be accountable members of the household of God! Students are required to have the text, "Accountable Discipleship: Living in God’s Household", by Steven W. Manskar, for this course. Cost is $65. Register online:
https://www.beadisciple.com/online-christian-courses/ifd168-becoming-accountable-disciples/
Basic Lay Servant
6-9 p.m., Thursdays, May 13 and 27; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 29; and 6-9 p.m., Monday, June 7.
Zoom. Course Fee: $15. Students must purchase, “Lay Servant Ministries: Basic Course Participant’s Book.” To register, email adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.
Advanced Course: Spiritual Gifts
6-9 p.m., Mondays. June 14 and 21; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, June 26; and 6-9 p.m., Thursday, July 1. ZOOM: Course Fee: $15. Students must purchase, “Each One a Minister” by William J. Carter. To register, email adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.
Advanced Course: Leading Worship
6-9 p.m., Wednesdays, July 14, 21 and 28; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, August 7. ZOOM: Course Fee: $15. Students must purchase, “Worshiping with United Methodists” (revised) Hoyt Hickman. To register, email adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.
Advanced Course: Polity
6-9 p.m., Tuesdays, August 17, 24 and 31; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, August 28. ZOOM: Course Fee: $15. "The Method of Our Mission" By Laceye C. Warner. To register, email adschmidt@nycap.rr.com.
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UMC Clergy Education Offering Courses for Credit in April/May 2021
Apr. 14 - Developing Effective Communication to Grow Your Church
Kevin Slimp. Click here to register or for information.
Apr. 20 - Ways to Enhance Online Discipleship in Your Church
Rachel Gilmore. Click here to register or for information.
Apr. 22 - Starting and Sustaining Effective Hybrid Ministries
Anne Bosarge. Click here to register or for information.
April 29 - Love Thy Neighbor: Staying the Course Toward Racial Reconciliation: Part 1
Patricia Sanders Hall. Click here to register or for information.
May 11 - Love Thy Neighbor: Let's Get Busy With sustainable Actions: Part 2
Patricia Sanders Hall. Click here to register or for information.
May 13 - Game Changers of the Post-Pandemic Church
Kay Kotan. Click here to register or for information.
May 25 - A Storyteller Looks at the Parables
Charles Maynard. Click here to register or for information.
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The Mohawk District Office staff will be available
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays,
generally. Call the District 315-797-1777, or
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Mohawk District Office
105 Genesee Street
New Hartford, NY 13413
315-797-1777
Regular Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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