Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

August 8, 2023

Next newsletter is August 22, 2023

Please submit items to be included by the Friday before.

Welcome to the NEW District Newsletter, featuring news for

both the Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts. This newsletter will contain only information relating to the districts. If you are receiving multiple copies of this newsletter please let the district office know and we will remove your name from one of the lists. Thanks

A Note from Sherri:

Fruitfulness

This is a great time of year! The farm stands are full of locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables. There is nothing like a perfectly ripe peach or a home-grown juicy tomato, eaten like an apple, while it’s still warm from the summer sun. Neighbors are sharing the bounty of their gardens, and many people are busy canning and freezing for the winter days ahead.

Jesus talked a lot about fruitfulness. He said that he is the vine, and we are the branches. “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. 

Jesus also said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16

What does it mean for us to be fruitful as followers of Jesus? Henri Nouwen reminds us that, “We need to be really aware of the difference between fruitfulness and success, because the world is always talking to you about your success.” He goes on to say there is nothing inherently wrong with success, but success and fruitfulness are two different things. Nouwen writes, “The question is: “Are you going to bear fruit?”

What do we mean by fruitfulness? For the church, the Body of Christ, fruitfulness is the outcome of following the great commandment and the great commission.

Love God, love one another, go and make disciples of Jesus.

Each church must decide how to best do that work in their particular context. That’s why having an intentional discipleship plan is important. An intentional discipleship plan, or IDP, is a system for creating relationships with persons who surround your church and moves people toward discipleship.   

We know the world around us has changed and continues to change. The ways we have “done” church are not as effective or no longer effective in engaging people and helping them follow Jesus. We need to be open to new ways to be fruitful. If your church has an intentional discipleship plan, I congratulate you and I pray your IDP guides all you do as a congregation, as well as gives you a measure of how you are being fruitful. If your congregation does not have an intentional discipleship plan, I want to invite you to create one. There are many resources available. Please let me know how I can resource you and your congregation so that we may be fruitful in ministry together.

I’m praying for you.

Please pray for me.                                                                         

Grace and peace,

Sherri

** SAVE THE DATE **

Fall Clergy Meeting Dates Scheduled

Please Mark your Calendars for the Fall Clergy Meetings!

Crossroads District is scheduled for Tuesday September 19th at the

UNY Conference Center - Room B.

7481 Henry Clay Blvd, Liverpool NY 13088

Finger Lakes District is scheduled for Wednesday September 20th at the Seneca Falls UMC

2 Chapel St #446, Seneca Falls, NY 13148

The meetings will start at 9:00am and will be ending by 12:30pm.

Reminder: Update your Church Information on the UNY Website:

Thank you to all the churches that have sent updates and/or corrections to their church information listed on the conference website.

If you have not sent in an update or OK as is - please send a reply

email to the district office.

CLICK HERE for the Crossroads District listings

CLICK HERE for Finger Lakes District listings

CLICK HERE to reach the district office

Crossroads District News

“The Crossroads Lay Servant Ministries uses Facebook to communicate our classes and other news.

We invite all Lay Servants/Lay Servants/CLM’s to follow us on

“UNY Crossroads District Lay Servant/Speakers”

On Facebook, SEARCH for UNY Crossroads District Lay Servants/Speakers

CLICK Follow

We will see you there!

Bob Mueller Co-Director Crossroads LSM Committee

Darlene Dennis Co-Director Crossroads LSM Committee

Listed CLICK on the link below for Fall Classes -

Advanced Courses for Lay Servants, Required Course for Lay Speaking

FROM YOUR HEARTS TO THEIRS: Delivering an Effective Sermon

DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS



OPENING OURSELVES TO GRACE: The means of grace and discipleship

UNITED METHODIST HERITAGE

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UNIVERSAL APPLICATION

Church Announcements

Stewardship with Susan Ranous

Please check out the blog below

https://www.susanranousstewardship.com/2023/08/stewardship-and-discipleship-together.html

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August 14 - 18, 2023

Jamesville Community Church is holding a VBS

Monday August 14th thru Friday August 18th

9:00am - 12:00noon

For questions please contact Alex Snow at 315-247-3733

Don’t forget to register and join us!

Wish list to help VBS:

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August 8 - 29, 2023

PENNELLVILLE FARMERS MARKET 

A Farmers Market will be held every Tuesday through August 29th at the Pennellville United Methodist Church parking lot from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

The church is located at 389 County Route 54 in Pennellville. 

We hope to connect our community with the best in local produce and

products at reasonable prices. The church will also be selling hot dogs,

salt potatoes, potato chips, soda and water.

New vendors are welcome. There is no charge for a space.  

You must feature homegrown and/or homemade products. 

Any vendor who is interested may contact Jeff Hodge at (315) 383-4384, Bonnie Frawley at (315) 695-2193, or Chris McCabe at (315) 516-4875. 

Please call as soon as possible to reserve a space.

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August 29, 2023

PENNELLVILLE FREE WILL DINNER

The Pennellville United Methodist Church will be having their next

Free Will Dinner on Tuesday, August 29th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

The menu will be a 'summer fare' type.  

Come out and enjoy some good food and fellowship. 

The church is located at 389 County Route 54 in Pennellville. 

In conjunction with the Free Will Dinner, we will also be holding our Farmers Market in the parking lot from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Free Will Dinners are held the last Tuesday of each month. Menu and dates are subject to change, if needed. We hope to see you on August 29th.

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Finger Lakes District News

August 8, 2023

Penn Yan UMC to host The Community Cafe

Tuesday August 8, 2023 at 5:00pm

Chef Salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, eggs, meat,

dressing, croutons, and Ice Cream

The church is located at 166 Main Street, Penn Yan NY

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As stated previously - please subscribe to the conference news for the following:

For important news regarding Bishop Hector A. Burgos Nunez,

Annual Conference, and valuable other resources,

YOU will need to subscribe to Conference emails by clicking here.

You should subscribe at least to the UNY Notes and the Weekly Digest.

If you missed a previous District newsletter,

Click here for an archived copy of

Crossroads District

Finger Lakes District

THANK YOU for your patience during this transition time.

Please reach out to the district office with any questions.

Crossroads and Finger Lakes District Superintendent

Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood - Sherrirood@unyumc.org

Crossroads District Lay Leader

Darlene Dennis

Robert Mueller

Finger Lakes District Lay Leader

Shafeegh Habeeb

Superintendency Administrative Assistant

Betsy O'Flynn - betsyoflynn@unyumc.org

Office # - (585) 340-9525

PO Box 23206

Rochester, NY 14692