MOUNTAIN VIEW DISTRICT NEWS |
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Friends on the Mountainview District:
If God is for us, who shall stand against us? And God is for us; meaning all the people of the world.
During a period of what we cannot control, there is much we can: our words, our actions and our attitude. “…out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Jesus, in Matthew 12:34)
In our struggle, let us struggle together. Let us bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Here are some things I heard this season: 1. We are resourced through the grace of God and unexpected gifts of talent and goods from people in our churches and communities. 2. We are afraid and concerned on many levels, especially with our personal and family connections to health care and other essential workers. 3. We are unsure what to do to help others. 4. We are working hard to help our congregations have regular worship and devotional opportunities. 5. We are resourcing each other in ways we did not before. 6. We are struggling to adapt to the technology needed. 7. We have not given up hope that “God has a plan” in all this.
I ask you to press into serving Christ and one another in a new way and to a new degree. Do not give up hope that God can bring good out of evil and life out of death. It is our resurrection song. It is our faith through Jesus Christ that lets us draw nearer to God and each other in this time. Let us show God and the world that we are committed to serving, no matter what, and we are willing to spend whatever it costs to help one more person know God’s love unconditionally.
In Christ’s service,
Jeff McDowell
Please read Pastor Mike Kelly’s vital encouragement below.
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A Note From District Associate Mike Kelly |
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Friends, this is a trying time for sure and we must rest in the hope that God provides in what sometimes feels like a hopeless situation. There are so many Scriptures that we can rely on but today I offer from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
The Book of Ephesians is among my favorites. Chapter One in particular gives us the eternal perspective of how God sees things that are not yet as though they already exist (Eph 1:4) because of the precious blood of the Lamb of God that cleansed us (Eph 1:7), which assures our eternal inheritance in Him (Eph 1:11), and for this reason: “So that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:12). Indeed, we have such a glorious future with the inheritance that is incomparably great and can hardly be described even in these times of trial.
With that being said I believe that my assignment as the District Associate is God ordained, I feel as though I have been put in this place for times such as these. Therefore, I humbly offer my support to those Pastors and congregations of the Mountain View District. While I pray daily for all of you please remember that I am here to serve and care for you all, whether that be a shoulder to cry on, words of inspiration or some other help in your time of need, please call upon me, I’ll be there!
10/21/2020
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PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHURCH DOES THIS
Reminder Regarding New York State Required
Annual Training for Sexual Harassment Prevention
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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. 9/10/2020
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Churches Continue to Fulfill Requirements
for Reopening
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If you have returned to in-person worship and continue to stream online you must go back to the UNY survey and update your previous answers and don't for get to save it.
Click below to complete the form and your congregations compliance
1. The Upper New York Annual Conference has asked every local church on the district, whether it has decided to offer in-person worship at this time or not, to complete a survey indicating its compliance with the New York State requirements. This was due by June 26th. The District will contact churches who don't respond. Click here to complete this form and indicate your congregation's compliance.
2. Churches are required to make a plan and follow the guidelines as they begin to reopen. Your plan must be available when you are asked to provide it. Churches must also complete the REQUIRED Affirmation NYS needs before you reopen for in-person activities
or worship.
Find an overview of UNY Conference reopening guidelines here and some frequently asked questions on reopening here.
The New York State Guidelines are available online here.
NYS Required Affirmation is Necessary
for All Churches to Reopen Church
9/24/2020
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Links to Sources for Reopening Your Church |
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NEXT NEWSLETTER
November 5, 2020
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Please consider subscribing to the following links. These will keep you updated on all the news coming from the conference office during this time. It will help keep repeated emails from being received. |
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General Conference
Aug. 29 - Sept. 7, 2021
Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn
Jurisdictional Conferences
in the United States
November 10-12, 2021
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Click the button to see the list of events happening in
Mountain View District
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NYS Travel Advisory - 38 states and two territories impacted - CT, NJ, PA meet criteria but not added to list (see below) |
As of October 20, 2020, there are 38 states and two territories impacted. They are the following:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Additionally, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania all meet the criteria to be added to the travel advisory list but were not added because a quarantine would be nearly impossible to enforce along New York’s border (particularly those that live in one of these states and works in NYS).
10/21/2020
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Lori Jagow’s Oct. 27 webinar on using Facebook
for digital discipleship
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Save the date—on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m., Lori Jagow, online minister at Pendleton Center UMC, will be sharing how Pendleton UMC was able to reach thousands using Facebook.
You can watch a video to learn how Lori increased her church’s following ten-fold in just a few months. Click here to gain some insight from Lori on increasing discipleship using Facebook.
Learn even more by joining Lori’s Zoom webinar on “Using Facebook to Increase Discipleship” on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. Click here at that time to attend this free webinar.
10/22/2020
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Adirondack District Lay Servant Classes Open to All |
The following courses are the 2020-2021 cycle for certification as Lay Servant or Lay Speaker.
Advanced Course: Spiritual Gifts
Tuesdays November 10, 17, Tuesday December 1: 6-9 pm:
Saturday December 5: 9 am – 1 pm
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
Advanced Course: United Methodist Heritage
Thursday January 7, 14, 28: 6-9pm
Saturday January 23: 9am-1pm
Advanced Course: Preaching: From Your Hearts to Theirs
Course 1: Mondays February 22, March 1st and 8th : 6-9pm
Saturday March 13: 9-1pm
OR
Course 2: Thursday February 25, March 4 & 11: 6-9pm
Saturday March 20: 9-1pm
ZOOM: Course Fee $15
Deadline for registration form and fee is February 8
Advanced Course: Leading Prayer
Wednesdays April 14, 21, May 5: 6-9pm
Saturday May 1: 9-1 pm
ZOOM: Course Fee: $15
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PREVIOUSLY RUN NEWS ITEMS |
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For many people, Covid-19 is kicking up a lot of issues ranging from financial strain and family dynamics to stress, depression, and grief. Worries and problems often have a tendency to grow when we keep them to ourselves.
Your EAP has a variety of excellent no-cost counseling services available to you and your family! Whatever the difficulty you may face, our experienced counselors are available day and night to help – simply make a call to our helpline – 800.252.4555.
Click here for a flyer to tell you more about these great services. Be sure to share this benefit with your family, too!
800.252.4555
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Tips for a Successful Virtual Charge Conference |
Since the members of the Council who attend will be spread apart, it will be helpful if each individual has copies of the reports in front of them during the Charge Conference, either electronically or on paper. Consider printing/distributing or emailing packets of the reports to each person.
Remember: Charge Conference Must Be Announced
AT LEAST 10 days in advance. Announce the time and date during worship, in the newsletter, in meetings, person-to-person.
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UPDATED-NY State Executive Order Related to Travel
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On June 25, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 205 that requires individuals traveling to New York from states with significant community spread of COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
This list is updated daily.
As of October 6th this order applied to anyone traveling from:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
The quarantine applies to New York State residents who visit those states for an extended period (more than 24 hours) and return home to New York State.
10/6/2020
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UNY Conference Center remaining closed
to the public
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Please note that the Upper New York Conference Center in Liverpool, including the Episcopal office and Crossroads District office will remain closed to the public. |
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Helpful links to put resources at your finger tips! |
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Mountain View District Office |
35 Wilkes Ave., Suite 101 (physical address)
PO Box 706
Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Office Hours:
Mon.,Tues.,Thurs., 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m
In-Person Wed. 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
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