Note:

District email address has changed!

Please begin sending all emails to carrieboyer@unyumc.org The albanydistrict@unyumc.org is no longer being used.

And a reminder that Carrie is now working remotely

The District Office is no longer located in the Newtonville UMC in Latham. Carrie Boyer, the administrative assistant, is now working from her home office. The phone and email are (518) 608-1246 and carrieboyer@unyumc.org

Our mailing address will remain the same: PO Box 511, Newtonville, NY 12128 until further notice.

Our District Superintendent, the Rev. Debbie Earthrowl can still be reached at her current phone and email (518) 391-3215 and debbieearthrowl@unyumc.org

Save the dates

for 2024 District Days

In the new year, Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez will be visiting local churches in all 12 districts from February to April. District Days are a way for the bishop to meet with laity and clergy across Upper New York. Clergy meetings are scheduled for each visit from 1 to 3 PM and another meeting will be held for laity (and clergy who couldn't attend earlier gathering) from 7 to 8:30 PM. All United Methodists of Upper New York are invited and encouraged to attend a gathering closest to you. 

Bishop Hector will visit Shenendehowa UMC in the Albany District on Tuesday, April 9. The church is located at 971 Route 146 in Clifton Park.

He will visit the Community United Methodist Church of Chestertown in the Adirondack District on Wednesday, April 10. The church is located at 11 Church St., Chestertown.

To view the entire schedule, click here.

Please begin entering important church statistical data now. Deadline is earlier this year:

Feb. 15

Just a reminder pastors and church leaders can start entering information in the statistical tables in ACStats. Information must be submitted by end of day on Feb. 15.    



Login usernames and passwords will need to be recreated and information created last year will not be entered into the 2023 statistical tables. Pastors: Please note that you cannot use the same email address twice for two different churches and/or users. This can be solved by adding additional digits, like your GCFA number, at the end of your email address for the second church. 

To learn more, click here.

ACStats help and user guide. Click here

Local Churches will need to create all new Usernames and Passwords upon initial entry into the platform.

Pastors who serve more than one church: Please remember that you cannot use the same email address twice for 2 different churches/Users. It's advisable to use the church's email address if you have one, or if not, this can be solved by adding additional digits at the end of your email address for the 2nd church like your GCFA #

Ex: Email Address/Username: AwesomeGod@gmail.com541236   

Make the #BeUMC Toolkit

a part of your everyday essentials

The right tools make even the toughest jobs easy. To help you with your work, we’ve created the #BeUMC Toolkit, which is full of digital resources to help your congregation be the Christ-centered, grace-filled, committed people of God they desire to be. The #BeUMC campaign reminds us of the best version of who we say we are, faithful followers of Jesus Christ seeking a better world. Explore messaging and share success stories to sustain the #BeUMC campaign at your conference or local church. To begin, click here.

2024 - Endings and Beginnings - Part 6

I was delighted to be able to get some photos of Nature adorned with a coat of snow. For me, another reminder that almost without exception there is something good that can come out of all the events of life.

When the events are tragic; it is difficult to think of how anything good can come out of them. For me the answer is not that there is something good in the actual event; but that God can somehow enable it to be a time of learning and/or strengthening. It may simply be motivation to work to make sure nobody else has to experience that tragedy.

I also believe that my faith in God being at work to make all things work together for good doesn’t lessen the pain that tragedy brings or reduce the need for compassion for those affected by tragedy.

In the final analysis it means as the Apostle Paul would proclaim in his letter to the Christian community in Rome that God’s love is stronger than anything in Heaven or on Earth. See Romans 8:18-39.

Today’s photo was taken on January 5, 2024 on Little Pond Trail outside Bennington, Vermont.

Shalom,

David E. Smith, Pastor

Mayfield & Northampton at Fish House United Methodist Churches

Phone or Text: 518-572-4051

Email: revdavid76@gmail.com

You can find this and other devotions in my blog at www.adirondacksights.wordpress.com. You can also find more of my pictures on my web site www.revdavidimages.com. 

You are invited to join us for our Monday evening Prayer Group at 7:00 pm and our Wednesday Bible Study at 7 PM. Both are being offered in person at the Mayfield UMC and on Zoom which can be accessed using the following link on your computer, tablet, smart phone or by calling in on the provided phone number.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7356408548

Phone Call In: 1-929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 735 640 8548

EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS

Scholarship offered to 2024 Tamarac High School graduates

Center Brunswick UMC in Troy has announced that a $500 scholarship will be awarded to a 2024 graduate of Tamarac High School in memory of Harold and Mable Keyes. The student does not have to be a member of the church. To read the letter, click here. Deadline to apply: March 1, 2024.

Cookies -N- Carols, Sunday, Jan. 14, First UMC of East Greenbush

“Cookies-N-Carols” will be presented at 2 PM Sunday, Jan. 14 in the Fellowship Hall of First UMC East Greenbush, 1 Gilligan Rd. Performers are from the church choir, Byrd in the Bush, and our Coffeehouse(s). 

Story Telling Night, Wednesday, Jan. 17, First UMC of East Greenbush

Join us for our next Story Telling night on at 7 PM Wednesday, Jan. 17 at First UMC of East Greenbush, 1 Gilligan Rd. We have speaker Desi Biechman coming to tell us about how sobriety led him to Jesus Christ. He once was lost, but now he has been found. Desi has been sober for over 30 years. He is currently a licensed Minister through the Melchizedeks MC group and ministering to the motorcycle community. Everyone is welcome to come hear Desi’s story. There will be light refreshments available.

First UMC of East Greenbush's EcoTeam sponsors talk on funding available for Clean Energy Improvements, Sunday, Jan. 21, at the East Greenbush Community Library

                                                                                                          First UMC of East Greenbush's EcoTeam is sponsoring a presentation on "Federal, State and Utility Savings Available for Clean Energy Improvements." The presentation will be given by Paul Fisk and will be held at 1:30 PM on Sunday, Jan. 21 in Room B at the East Greenbush Community Library. Paul Fisk is a trained Climate Reality Project presenter on the causes, effects, and solutions for the climate crisis. He retired from a career in local and state government, having held managerial positions in budgeting and information management. He currently focuses on publicizing the wide array of government and utility financial incentives available to households to save energy and money while reducing fossil fuel pollution. Tax credits and rebates to weatherize and electrify homes and vehicles, upgrade HVAC systems and appliances, install solar panels, and other options will be discussed. Clean energy improvements not only will save you money but will add to your comfort and provide you with a healthier home environment.

Thrift Shop, Pine Grove UMC, open monthly:

Next date: Saturday, Feb. 3

Pine Grove UMC's Thrift Shop, "Seconds to Go," will be open Feb. 3 from 9 AM to 1 PM. The church is located at 1580 Central Ave., Colonie. Enter on the east side of the church (the left side - toward Albany) and use the doors near the back of the building. We have household treasures, glassware, cookbooks, toys, jewelry, dolls and more! The thrift shop is open the first Saturday of the month through 2024 except for July, which will be announced as the date nears.

Happenings at First UMC of Delmar

The church is located at 428 Kenwood Ave., Delmar

Blessed Bargains Shop: Every Tuesday (year round) 10 AM to 5 PM

Treasure Cove Thrift Shop: (Open Year Round) Tuesdays from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM

Please refer to our website for more information: https://www.delmarmethodist.org/