October 3, 2023 Crossroads and Finger Lakes Newsletter

Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

October 3, 2023

Next newsletter is October 17, 2023

Please submit items to be included by the Friday before.

A Note from Sherri:

²³Whatever task you must do, work as if your soul depends on it, as for the Lord and not for humans, ²⁴since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24

³Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 16:3

This week begins Charge Conference season for the Crossroads and

Finger Lakes Districts. I’m excited to be meeting with churches across

the districts for this important meeting.

The charge conference is the basic governing body of each

United Methodist local church and is composed of all members of the church council. All members of the charge conference must be members

of the local church. The charge conference must meet at least once per year. The charge conference directs the work of the church and gives general oversight to the church council and the church at large, reviews and evaluates the mission and ministry of the church, sets salaries for the pastor and staff, elects the members of the church council, and recommends candidates for ordained ministry. (Source: A Dictionary for United Methodists, Alan K. Waltz, Copyright 1991, Abingdon Press.) For more information, please see ¶ 246-251 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016.

This year we are doing our charge conferences in a group setting. All the churches will meet together in one space,

and we will conduct our work together.

All charge conferences will begin at 7 pm.

For more information on what is required for charge conferences, and for the agenda for charge conferences

(it is a two-sided document) click here.

People will often say to me, “I don’t like/want to do all these reports, I just want to do the work of the church. I just want to do ministry.” Ordering the life of the church, including reports, is ministry. The charge conference is a capstone meeting, giving final approval to the work of Nominations, Staff Pastor-Parish Relations, Finance, and other teams and committees of the church. It’s the leadership of the church giving final approval to that work and providing transparency to the body of how we will live and work together in covenant community. How would our churches function without some type of organization? How can we function without agreement on who and how we will lead and how we will use our resources? Please reframe this work as holy work not busy work. Why? Because it is this holy work that empowers our churches to make disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world and be God’s love with our neighbors in all places.

Somewhere along the line, we have fallen prey to the erroneous notion that ministry just happens, and we can do our work on the fly, and it will all be okay. When we function on the fly, we are reacting to situations as problems and not planning or giving thought to goals or outcomes. Vital and healthy churches make plans, set goals and plot outcomes. Good ministry doesn’t just happen. It requires strategy, transparency, and yes, work. But is also requires praying, studying, sharing, dreaming and discernment. Charge conferences and reports are part of that work. My job is to resource you as you live into listening for God’s leading and find ways to be Jesus’ hands, feet, and heart in the world. Let me know how I can serve you. I look forward to seeing you soon. Please pray for me, I’m praying for you.

Grace and peace,

Sherri

Be a part of “Together in Worship”

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, Oct. 10th

for our next “Together in Worship” event

beginning at 9 a.m.

Join us either on Facebook or

in-person at the United Methodist Center,

located at 7481 Henry Clay Blvd. in Liverpool.

Everyone is invited to attend, regardless if you’re clergy or laity.

The Rev. Debbie Earthrowl will be preaching and Nairobi Smith will be playing music. Tuesday’s message is about what we get to be and do, instead of what we have to be and do while answering God’s call.

Click here to join us remotely at 9 a.m. on Oct. 10.

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

Church Announcements

Stewardship with Susan Ranous

Please check out the blog below

CLICK HERE for the Blog: Stewardship with Susan Ranous

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October 5, 2023

Fall Rummage Sale at Minetto United Methodist Church

A fall rummage sale will be held at the Minetto United Methodist Church with its customary assortment of clothing, housewares, and other items.

The sale will begin on Thursday, October 5,

in the evening 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

On Friday, October 6, the sale will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 7, from 9:00 a.m. to noon will be bag day —

all you can put into one provided bag for a bargain basement price.

A collection shed is available in the parking lot at the back of the church for clothing items that can be recycled. Useable items include: all clothing, shoes, sneakers, purses, blankets, sheets, pillowcases, drapes, and stuffed toys.

The church is located at the corner of State Route 48 and County Route 8, one block south of the Stewarts Shop, midway between Oswego and Fulton, in the village of Minetto. Its physical address for GPS purposes is 2433 County Route 8, Oswego, NY 13126. The mailing address is PO Box 217, Minetto, NY 13115, phone 315-343-3465.

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October 14, 2023

The Collamer United Church is very pleased to announce

that it will present a public

Drive-Thru Only

Chicken & Biscuit Dinner

On Saturday, October 14, 2023.

Serving will be from 4:30 P.M. through approximately 6:15 P.M.

The church is located at 6865 Fly Road in Collamer (East Syracuse),

just South of the intersection of Fly Road and Route 298

(about 2 miles East of Carrier Circle, or take Exit 7 off from Route 481).

This delicious chicken dinner will include homemade biscuits,

mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh cooked vegetables, and dessert.

Collamer Church is well-known for its great cooks.

Tickets may be purchased at the door.

$13.00 for ALL adults

$6.00 for children under 10

(We apologize but we cannot accept credit cards)

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October 14, 2023

Good afternoon ☀Our drive thru dinners are starting up again!

Please help us get the word out so we can provide this delicious dinner delivered to their vehicle!

This month is Lasagna Dinner Drive Thru

on October 14th starting at 5 pm and running until sold out.

No donation required but we gladly accept cash contributions

in any amount!

CLICK HERE for a Flyer with more details

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October 14, 2023

Fayetteville United Methodist will hold a TRUNK OR TREAT celebration on Saturday, October 14 from 2-4. The event will be held in the church parking lot, 601 East Genesee Street in Fayetteville. Please contact the church office at fayettevilleunitedmethodist@gmail.com for more information.

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October 17. 2023

the final Farmers Market will be held - same time, same parking lot (Pennellville United Methodist Church, 389 County Route 54, Pennellville)

Along with this, the annual Trunk or Treat will take place so all the children can visit the various decorated trunks and receive their fill of Halloween candy while the adults shop for fresh homegrown produce and homemade crafts for Christmas gifts.

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October 17 & 28, 2023

Immanuel UMC Annual Fall Craft Show

303 Kasson Rd., Camillus, NY

Friday, October 27 from 4-8pm

Saturday, October 28 from 9am-3pm

All of our crafters hand make the items for sale. Bring a friend and get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping!

All proceeds from the sale benefit our Disaster Recovery Mission outreach.

We are also collecting non-perishable food items for our local food pantry. Anyone who brings an item to donate will be entered in a drawing for a donated crafter item.

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October 28, 2023

Fayetteville United Methodist will host a Craft and Vendor sale, FALL INTO THE HOLIDAYS, on Saturday, October 28 from 10 - 4. The church is located at 601 East Genesee Street in Fayetteville. Vendor spaces are available. Please contact the church office at fayettevilleunitedmethodist@gmail.com for more information.