.Adirondack District,
Local Church
and Conference News
Resources and Information
Dec. 9, 2020
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"I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
― Abraham Lincoln
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Send us your news!
Call Carrie with questions, 518-480-4866.
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The District Office is open
We are now back in the office. We are adhering to guidelines on safety and social distancing. If you need to stop by, please call ahead. You'll need to wear a mask, and follow safety protocols. Call Carrie at (518) 480-4866.
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Please note
Much of the information in the newsletter is repeated from past weeks. Wanted to leave it in, as there are resources that you can continue to use. Anything that is updated from last week is noted. Please be in touch with questions or concerns to Carrie: (518) 480-4866 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org or to District Superintendent Rev. Debbie Earthrowl: (518) 391-3215 or debbieearthrowl@unyumc.org
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Please hold the family of Gary DiLallo in your prayers. Gary passed away on Saturday, Nov. 21. Gary served the Edinburg UMC as a Certified Lay Minister. Condolences can be sent to Gary's wife Carol at 83 St. Andrews Dr., Clifton Park, NY 12065. To read his obituary, click here. To read a story about him that appeared in the Schenectady Gazette, click here.
Please hold the Rev. Peter Kelly in prayer. Peter recently suffered a stroke, and is now at home recuperating. Cards of care and concern can be sent to Peter at 1350 Centerville Place, The Villages, FL 32162-2453.
Please continue to hold George Holzhauer, and his wife, retired pastor Rev. Phyllis Holzhauer, in prayer. George has been residing at Wesley Health Care Center, so he and Phyllis have been unable to see one another in person since March. George has been improving lately, and he and Phyllis appreciate your continued prayers. Cards of care and concern can be sent to George at 647 Riverview Rd., Rexford, NY 12148.
Please continue to hold the Rev. Erik Smith and his wife Jane Smith in prayer. They are dealing with serious health concerns. Cards of care and concern can be sent to the Smiths at 407 Stage Rd., Ballston Lake, NY 12019.
If you'd like prayer for yourself or others, or you'd like to share a joy, please be in touch with Carrie (518) 480-4866 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org Please know that we will need to contact folks to be sure they feel comfortable with us publishing their information.
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Schroon Lake church has a special "drive-by"
On November 19, 20 members from Schroon Lake Community Church drove to Paradox Lake to celebrate a very special birthday. Connie Jenks turned 100 years old. Just to see the joy and smile light up her face as we stood around while Ed Donley played happy birthday on the trumpet and we sang to her was so heart warming! We not only made her day, she made ours as well. Drive-bys are our way of reaching out to people on special birthdays or to just let them know they are missed. We love our Schroon Lake Community Church family.
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Share your story
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges in the way we do church, but it has also offered opportunities for growth. Please share your story on how you or your church is reaching out to touch lives amidst the isolation and anxiety of our new reality.
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Local Church Classifieds and Events |
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Click here to view Local Church Classifieds and Events.
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Both/And: Maximizing Hybrid Worship for Online and In-Person Audiences with Jason Moore
The UNY Conference will be offering a timely webinar with Jason Moore on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 6-8 p.m. on Zoom.
This webinar will offer tips, strategies, and equipping to help the local church create a worship ministry where both in-person and online worshiping communities feel equally included and cared for.
The goal is to help churches better prepare through Advent and especially for Christmas. It will also help churches prepare into the new year as the webinar will be available for 90 DAYS to view and review.
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The spiritual practice of breath prayer
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.
Since September, Rev. Dibelius has been revisiting practices she taught to provide more insight to help further deepen your relationship with God.
From now until Christmas, Rev. Dibelius’s spiritual practices will be connected to Advent.
This week, she revisits the spiritual practice of breath prayer.
The four breath prayers she offers in the video are:
Spirit of God................anoint me to bring good news
O Lord God..................let me shout for joy
Lord Jesus Christ.........sanctify me
Christ the Light...........let me carry the light
Click here for Rev. Dibelius’s Advent breath prayer practice.
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Winter Book Study
“Grounded – Finding God in the World – A Spiritual Revolution” by Diana Butler Bass is a book study to be led via ZOOM gatherings on Mondays at 7 p.m. or Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
Email Pastor Phil Richards to sign up and let him know which day you will be participating! (pastorphils@gmail.com) The cost of the book on Amazon is approximately $23, regular-priced. Looks like you can get it for less than $15 right now! We will begin the study on Monday, January 11 and Wednesday, January 13.
We ask that you make a donation to help fund our Adult Study programs at PUMC. Just go to plattsburghumc.org and click on the Donate button. You can also mail in a check to PUMC, 127 Beekman Street, Plattsburgh NY 12901.
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Reaching new people this Christmas is more important than ever
Earlier this year as churches adapted to the emerging coronavirus threat, few of us imagined we would not have returned to “worship as usual” by Christmas. Yet here we are. Congregations across the country and around the world are planning novel and creative ways of observing Christmas Eve and Christmas responsibly during a pandemic.
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11 creative ways to observe Christmas this year
Looking for creative ways to observe Christmas this year? A group of Minnesota churches assembled this list of ways to celebrate Advent and Christmas safely during a time when churches can’t enjoy fully packed sanctuaries.
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12 Practices to Cultivate Humble Leadership
The best leaders understand the importance of humble servanthood. But what practical measures can a leader take to demonstrate genuine humility? Here are 12 practical suggestions to cultivate a humble spirit.
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What promotes clergy wellbeing and why it matters
How can clergy thrive in ministry? In this episode the Lewis Center for Church Leadership speaks with Dr. Matt Bloom, Research Professor at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and Principal Investigator for the Wellbeing at Work program, about how clergy can thrive and better cope with the many challenges to their wellbeing.
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Adirondack District
Lay Servant Classes
The following courses are the 2021 cycle for certification as Lay Servant or Lay Speaker. The courses are open to all Districts.
If you are interested in Certified Lay Ministry, the prerequisites are the Basic Course, and Spiritual Gifts. However, it is highly recommended that the five additional required Lay Speaker courses be taken.
Basic Course: Basic Lay Servant (daytime course)
See May for other dates.
Tuesday, Jan. 19 and Thursday, Jan. 21: 9 am-noon
Monday, Jan. 25 and Wednesday, Jan. 27: 9 am-noon
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Advanced Course: United Methodist Heritage
Thursdays: Jan. 7, 14, 28: 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Advanced Course: Preaching: From Your Hearts to Theirs
Course 1: Mondays: Feb. 22, March 1 and 8, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday March 13: 9 am-1 p.m.
OR
Course 2: Thursdays, Feb. 25, March 4 & 11: 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 20: 9 am-1 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee $15
Each course is limited to 6 participants.
Deadline for registration form and fee is Feb. 8
Advanced Course: Leading Prayer
Wednesdays: April 14, 21, May 5: 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, May 1: 9 am-1 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Basic Course: Basic Lay Servant
Thursdays, May 13 and 27: 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, May 29: 9 am-1 p.m.
Monday, June 7: 6-9 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Advanced Course: Spiritual Gifts
Mondays June 14 and 21: 6-9 pm
Saturday, June 26: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Thursday, July 1: 6-9 pm
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Advanced Course: Leading Worship
Wednesdays: July 14, 21, 28: 6-9 p.m.
Saturday: August 7: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Advanced Course: Polity
Tuesdays August 17, 24, 31: 6-9 pm
Saturday, August 28: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
For more information about Lay Servant Ministries, click here
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Updated COVID-19 Guidelines and Best Practices
New York State, like much of the world, is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases with regional micro-clusters across the UNY Conference experiencing positive test rates above 4.5 percent.
With the health and safety of all members and communities of the Upper New York Conference in mind, the Conference Reopening Task Force, with the full support of Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, and the members of the UNY Cabinet, have revised the COVID-19 guidelines. While underlying public health science and regulations have changed little since March, this revision seeks to increase clarity and ease of use.
The New York Forward requirements remain the minimum standards and are mandatory for every congregation. In addition to these requirements, the guidelines also include a set of “UNY Recommended Best Practices.” While these do not have the force of law, they are designed to further decrease the chance of infection and harm and are strongly recommended by the Bishop, the Cabinet, and the Task Force. Congregations, operating through their own “Reopening Task Force,” are responsible for making decisions about how they will keep staff, members, and visitors safe during this crisis.
The guidelines cover facility, worship, small group, food, and program hosting minimum standards and best-practices. Click here for a chart that outlines the minimum standards that churches should follow (the NYS guidelines) and the additional UNY recommend best practices. This chart also provides helpful resources.
Future updates and revisions will be noted in red in subsequent versions. If you have any questions involving these guidelines, feel free to contact the COVID-19 response team of the UNY Conference via phone at 315-898-2012 and email at covid-19response@unyumc.org.
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Web site for COVID "hot spot" zones
Click here to see if your address is in one of the "hot spot" zones according to New York State's website.
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Paid Family Leave Update
Effective January 1, 2021, there are changes to the New York State Paid Family Leave benefit.To view the document, click here.
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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 10 ad interim appointments and four retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
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Online Giving
Visit the Conference website to learn about online giving: Click here
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Reminder regarding New York State
required annual training for sexual harassment prevention
As previously communicated, New York State employers must adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy and provide training on sexual harassment prevention to their employees on an annual basis.
Each New York State employer is required to have a sexual harassment prevention policy in place. The employer's sexual harassment prevention policy must be provided to the employee at the time of hire and during each annual training. The policy can be provided electronically as long as the employee is able to print the policy for their records.
It is recommended you obtain a signed acknowledgment from the employee affirming they have received and read the employer's sexual harassment prevention policy.
There are various free or low-cost online sexual harassment prevention trainings available to your employees.
If you have questions on this topic, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at tracyrickett@unyumc.org or (315) 898-2017.We are now back in the office. We are adhering to guidelines on safety and social distancing. If you need to stop by, please call ahead. You'll need to wear a mask, and follow safety protocols. Call Carrie at (518) 480-4866.
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A message from the Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team to trainers
In this time of Covid-19 and social distancing, the Safe Sanctuaries Conference Team is not recommending any in-person Safe Sanctuaries trainings. This is to keep safe those who would be together for a long period of time. We ask that people be patient. Recertification letters have gone out to the trainers. There is a test training for trainers only set for December 12 from 9 AM to 1 PM. We will test the curriculum that has been redone for a virtual training via zoom. Please watch your emails for the link and the updated materials. Please refer to the recent letter for the co-chair contact in your District and for more information. If you have questions, send an email to: Safesanctuaries@unyumc.org
Co-Chair Arlene Schmidt, CLM and Pastor Christine Mitchell, Pastor, Honeoye Falls United Methodist Church
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Start the day with Debbie
Our District Superintendent Debbie Earthrowl shares a devotion via Facebook Live at 7:30 AM every Monday through Saturday. The devotions are also posted on her Facebook page and our District Facebook page, so you can tune in at any time. We are also posting daily bible readings from Rev. Bill Mudge. I personally find this an inspirational way to start my day. I trust you will, as well. To view, click here:
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Blessings to all,
Carrie B
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News/Resources
From the Conference
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Digital discipleship
The Upper New York Conference is launching the Digital Discipleship Ministry to provide churches, large and small, with the proper resources to keep people connected.
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Media Resource Center's December newsletter available
Visit the Resource Center's page on the Conference website to explore the vast library of resources: Click here. For the newsletter, click here.
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Digital Discipleship training
On Nov. 5, the Rev. Rachel Barnhart, pastor at Broad Street UMC, led a Zoom training on using Zoom to host House Churches. This is part of the Upper New York Conference’s Digital Discipleship trainings.
Click here to hear Rev. Barnhart’s testimonial. Click here to watch the recording of Rev. Barnhart’s webinar.
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Stewardship with Susan Ranous
Connect with the Rev. Susan Ranous, deacon serving as Director of Christian Stewardship for the UNY Conference.
Click here for the blog that she usually publishes on Thursdays about stewardship, creation care, finances, money, generosity, and many other topics. Be sure to check it out!
Click here to visit her Facebook page, "Stewardship with Susan Ranous."
Rev. Ranous can be contacted through your District Superintendent or directly via phone (315) 427-3668 or email: susanranous@unyumc.org.
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Imagine No Racism: Train as a facilitator
Are you moved to help dismantle racism? Have you already experienced the "Imagine No Racism" curriculum? The Conference Commission on Religion & Race (CCORR) is planning more opportunities to train people as INR Facilitators to lead new small groups. This one-day training will be on ZOOM. If interested, please let Carrie know and we will coordinate times that work for people. (adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org or (518) 480-4866.
If you have not experienced the six sessions of INR but are interested, please let Carrie know and we will find a small Zoom group for you.
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Sign up for the Skye Farm newsletter!
Click here to sign up for the Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center's newsletter, "Pass it On." To read past issues, visit the archives: click here
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List of online worship services
The Conference website offers links to online services.
To view, or to add your service to the list, click here.
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Live-streaming and licensing
For information on live-streaming and licensing information: Click here.
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Visit Conference website for updates on COVID-19
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church is actively determining the best way to balance ministry while protecting the health of all clergy and laity.
We have created a resource page designed to support leaders in our Conference as they make critical decisions in a situation that is quickly changing.
Click here for the webpage. Please note that by scrolling down on this link, you will see the latest news on COVID-19 and on the right side, you will see links to FAQs, webinars, live streaming, video conferencing, and more.
If you have a question about COVID-19 and how it affects your church or need assistance, please contact UNY Communications at (315) 898-2012 or COVID-19response@unyumc.org and someone will contact you.
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Tune in to webinars
The Conference website has webinars to assist you with the following:
How to Facebook Live
Using ZOOM to keep church connection
Online Giving
Streaming worship online.
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Tips for streaming your services
Many churches are brainstorming ways to record or stream their services during the COVID-19 outbreak. Click here to check out our Resource page where we describe different services you can use for video recording or live streaming your services.
One popular live streaming platform that churches are using is Facebook Live.
Click here for a very useful video by Baptist pastor Bobby Gillstrap, showing you how to use Facebook Live.
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Other Resources and Information
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Advent: Re-gifting Joy, Hope, Peace and Love
Most of us have received a gift we did not need or one that did not quite fit our personality. It has become common practice for many to re-gift these unwanted gifts by giving them to someone else. Some people even keep a bin of unwanted gifts to re-gift at the office holiday party or some other festive occasion. But what if we thought about regifting differently? What if we committed to passing along to others the gifts of joy, hope, peace, and love. Practicing this form of re-gifting in our congregations can deepen our engagement with the Advent season.
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Encouraging personal devotion through Advent
December is a time when people are looking for experiences to share with friends and families. Church leaders can plan in advance to offer events and guide individuals and families in ways that will bring greater meaning to Christmas preparations.
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Find daily, weekly devotions online
Devotional resources to share with members and other congregants is one of the needs identified by pastors and other local church leaders in recent research conducted by United Methodist Communications. For a list of resources, click here.
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Leading small groups during social distancing
Small groups and Sunday school classes form one of the most powerful connections and means of support for members.
Many people are asking: What happens to these connections during times of social distancing? How can leaders maintain these essential care mechanisms in the lives of members?
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Resourcing men's ministries
Are you interested in establishing a men's ministry in your church?
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Keeping church property safe when closed
Even if your church building is seeing little use these days, the property still faces risk of damage or burglary. Explore tips from United Methodist Insurance that will help local churches keep people safe and make the most of limited visits to the building.
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Adirondack District
of the Upper New York Conference
Rev. Deborah (Debbie) Earthrowl
District Superintendent
Gracie Lynn Besse and
Linda Sheeran
Adirondack District Lay Leaders
Carrie Boyer
Minister of Administration
Our office is located in the South Glens Falls UMC
15 Maplewood Parkway, South Glens Falls (12803)
Mailing Address:
PO Box 590, Glens Falls, NY 12801
(518) 480-4866
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