Next Issue: February 10, 2022 |
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From the desk of Reverend Michael Kelly: MV District Associate |
From the Desk of Pastor Michael Kelly, Mountain View District Associate
It cold and wintery in the Mountain View District. In some cases, our attendance is down, while people are either hunkering in for the winter or spending their time in Florida. But I think it is a great time to start a new ministry. I think it is a great time to review our old ministries and see if they are working. What is God’s vision for you and for your church?
Scripture calls us to build our goals on things of lasting value and to fix our eyes on Christ and the joy that is to come. I rely a great deal on the Scripture from Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. So, I find it much easier when God, gives me a nudge. When I was a bit of an immature Christian, in other words before I gave in to His wishes, God at times had to hit me in the head with a hammer. Discernment is a wonderful thing, but we have to remember as we discern that it isn’t always what we want, but instead what God wants out of us. Many years ago I vowed I would serve the Lord and His churches, but I would never preach, I simply was not equipped for such a task.
The hammer came in back then, several times I might add. And today, I have accepted His call and couldn’t be happier in my roles, including preaching. All because I heard not what I wanted, but instead what He needed out of me!
If you feel as though you are being called, you probably are. If you need help sorting that out, pray about it, and give me a call.
With God’s Blessings, Mike
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District Lay Leader- Ann Welch Wood |
What is Lay Servant Ministries?
We are All called to lay servant ministry…maybe not as the person who leads the service from the front of the sanctuary, but certainly to grow as disciples, who then go and make other disciples. We are to celebrate and use our God-given, Spirit-driven gifts. Each one of us has a unique role in being the hands and feet of Christ in our own corners of the world. The United Methodist Church depends on its laity to carry out its mission and purpose. Christ is counting on you!
I hope you’ll take some time to think about:
What is God’s calling for you?
What are your next faithful steps?
How will you serve to make God’s amazing grace visible in the world?
Blessings on your faith journey,
Ann Welch Wood
District Lay Leader
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District Lay Servant Director- Deaconess Sue Silhan |
Deaconesses and Home Missioners are laywomen and laymen who are called by God to be in a lifetime relationship in The United Methodist Church for engagement with a full-time vocation in ministries of love, justice, and service. Together we form a covenant community that is rooted in Scripture, informed by history, driven by mission, ecumenical in scope, and global in outreach.
That is a broad description of the Order of Deaconess Home Missioner’s of which I belong and have been commissioned in 2018 by the Upper New York Annual Conference to serve in Healing and Wholeness Ministry.
For laity in the United Methodist Church who feel called by God to make a lifetime commitment to full-time ministries of love, justice and service, there is an opportunity to become part of a covenant community. Join us on February 3, 2022 at 7:00 PM Central Time to learn more.
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Mountain View COVID Update 1/27/22
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Chemung County: Active cases – 603, new cases – 133, hospitalization – 67, positivity rate – 14.6%
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Steuben County:Active cases – 826, new cases – 475, hospitalizations – 32, positivity rate – 16.91%
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Schuyler County: Active cases – 109, new cases – 81, hospitalizations- 2, positivity rate – 11.2%
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Allegheny County: County: Active cases – 329, hospitalizations – 11, positivity rate – 21.09%
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Tioga County: Active cases – 422, positivity rate 20.62%
Due diligence is certainly called for, be creative but be the church.
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NYS Hero Act extended through Feb. 15 |
On Jan. 15, 2022, the Acting NYS Commissioner of Health announced the fourth extension of the NYS HERO Act through Feb. 15, 2022, classifying COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health." Click here to read more about the latest extension of the NYS HERO Act.
As a reminder, the NYS Hero Act required employers to adopt a model prevention plan and conduct a “verbal review” of the policy related to infectious airborne diseases.
Also, employers were required to provide a copy of the adopted plan to all employees in their primary language.
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2021-2022 Charge Conference Forms That Are Due |
February 15th, 2022
Mail COMPLETED & SIGNED copy to District Office
Report of Trustees
Report of Finance Committee
2021 Year End Financial Report - your church format
2022 Church Budget - your church format
February 28th, 2022
If you need assistance with any of the forms or have forgotten your login information for EZRA, please contact the District Office. 607-962-8047 or email mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org
March 15th, 2022
Mail COMPLETED & SIGNED copy to District Office
2021 Local Annual Audit
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Mountain View District Office Open By Appointment Only |
Office visits are still by appointment ONLY. We ask that you wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. We also ask that you social distance while in the office. Please do not come to the office if you are not feeling well. We ask that you come another time.
Office is open: Mon.-Thurs.
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Bishop Webb Announces Clergy Appointments |
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce 17 ad interim appointments and four retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
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Clergy Educational Opportunities |
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Course of Study Through Wesley Seminary |
Licensed local Pastors....are you are planning to take COS for the Winter or Spring Weekends? If you are, please consider filling out your registration form and get it to the District office to have the DS sign it and then I will get it to the registrar. The deadline for registration for the Spring is Feb.1st of 2022. (Reminder that the District office is CLOSED on Fridays)
Please, DO NOT WAIT to the last minute to register. When a class is filled, Wesley closes the registration for that class and there is no wiggle room.
There is no need for you to miss out on getting your course requirements met. There is NO MONEY due at the time of registration.
The steps to get registered:
· Get registration form-click here
· Fill out the form, print it, YOU sign it.
· Scan & email to your District Office
· District AA will get the DS to sign it and will send it to COS Registrar
· Registrar will fill out her part and get it to Sara Shephard.
· Sara Shephard will send the Registrar a confirmation of your registration.
· Registrar will send confirmation to the District AA
So, please sign up now!!
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Other Learning Opportunities |
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Safe Sanctuaries ZOOM training to be held in February |
The standard Safe Sanctuaries training will be held: Saturday February 26th from 9AM to 12:30PM
This will be held via ZOOM.
REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2022 AT NOON
If you are not registered by that time, you will not be able to attend this event. At this time there are no other trainings scheduled, so we recommend getting registered as soon as possible.
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 training will be facilitated by Arlene Schmidt and Pastor Christine Mitchell, UNY Conference Safe Sanctuaries Co-Chairs.
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.
Please remember that all persons being trained MUST be on their own personal device (i.e. Computer, laptop, tablet, phone, etc.)
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks,
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Mountain View District Winter Lay Servant Classes |
2022 Winter Class Session
To be held at:
Via Zoom
Basic Class - Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Beginning Jan. 26 -Feb. 23 2022
Soul Reset - Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30 beginning Jan. 27th - Feb. 24th
Exploring Healing Prayer - Lent Study Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30 pm
beginning March 10th - April 6th 2022
Tuition: $15.00 per person plus purchase price of the books
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LAY SERVANT COURSE OPPORTUNITIES
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Check out the courses being offered by ALL the Districts in the UNYAC. Click here to see what courses are taking place.
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Opening to Grace Winter Retreats- Deaconess Sue Silhan |
Session Dates
Feb. 26th 12noon -9pm- Body Awareness & Balancing the Nervous System
Mar. 19th 12noon-9pm- Dreamwork
Both sessions are offered via Zoom and a time of shared discussion during our dinner if desired.
Fee of $100 per person with financial assistance available if needed.
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Stewardship Academy with Rev. Susan Ranous |
April 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom
May 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom
June 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom
July 16th 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (May be via Zoom or possibly in person)
Who Should Attend?
Clergy (approved for CEU)
Laity (approved by lay servant credit)
All those passionate about stewardship
This is an opportunity to read and learn about stewardship and all that it entails. There will be a final project due after the conclusion of the academy.
The topic would be one we have covered that you may want to get more detail on. It will be an opportunity to focus on an aspect of stewardship that you could use and help others utilize.
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Continue to Watch Out for Phising Emails |
Please note that phishing-scheme emails are still frequently arriving in the Upper New York (UNY) Conference inboxes. Do not open any links in these emails.
These emails may look like they are coming from someone you know with a unyumc.org email, but carefully look at the email address—a lot of time it’s NOT the person you know—it’s a phishing email (the email extension will be “yahoo.com,” “gmail.com,” or some other email extension and not unyumc.org).
These emails will often have a subject line that say “urgent” and the email will often involve a request for financial help.
There was an email like this that many of you may have received over the holidays appearing as though it was from Bishop Webb; some even included his photo. This was a phishing scheme.
Delete these emails. Mark them as junk. And do not respond to them!
If you have any questions or concerns about this phishing scheme, contact Doug Thomas, UNY IT Manager, at dougthomas@unyumc.org.
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Don't Wait, Get Your Federal Tax Exemption Letter! |
Did you know that, as a United Methodist ministry, it is easy to get a letter proving your tax-exempt status – without applying directly to the Internal Revenue Service? The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA), and sister agency to (GBHEM), United Methodist Women, and others, have received a “group ruling” designation from the IRS.
Basically, an umbrella or central organization (GCFA) takes over some of the administrative functions that would normally fall to a backlogged IRS, so that subordinate organizations, like United Methodist camps, churches, and other ministries can apply to the central organization for inclusion in their group. What that means for you is that, rather than applying directly to the IRS, you can apply online easily and quickly through GCFA. GCFA, rather than the IRS, will check your documentation and issue a letter of inclusion – meaning that you are included in the overall United Methodist group ruling for tax exemption.
Don't wait. Recently the IRS issued notice that it may change the group ruling policy. While we don’t know when those changes may take place, it is quick and easy to get a letter of inclusion in the denominational group ruling currently, so act quickly, before any changes take place.
There are a couple of important things to note: The online form is very straightforward for local United Methodist churches and the local church can quickly get its letter at the below link. For ministries that are affiliated as United Methodist organizations, such as a church, child care program, or a summer camp, the organization must have its own EIN, board, and organizing documents. Also, this tax exemption verifies your federal status and does not affect any state tax ruling.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW DISTRICT OFFICE
35 Wilkes Ave. (Physical location)
PO Box 706 (Mailing Address)
Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Office Is Open
Mon.-Thurs.
In Person by APPOINTMENT ONLY
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell
District Associate: Pastor Mike Kelly
District Lay Leader: Ann Welch Wood
District Administrative Assistant: Patti Gridley
If the office is closed and you have an emergency please call 315-898-2077 and leave a message or email the DS at jeffmcdowell@unyumc.org
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