Northern Flow/Mohawk Weekly Newsletter April 11, 2024

Northern Flow/Mohawk

Weekly Newsletter

April 11, 2024

2024 District Days with Bishop Hector

Save the date for 2024 District Days

Northern Flow District

April 11th

Gouverneur First UMC

In the new year, Bishop Héctor 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 1-3 p.m. and another meeting will be held for laity (and clergy who couldn't attend earlier gathering) from 7-8:30 p.m. All United Methodists of Upper New York are invited and encouraged to attend a gathering closest to you.

Operation: Home Repair

Volunteers are needed for the 2024 Operation: Home Repair, a summer home repair mission project based in and around Schoharie County. This unique effort brings critical home repairs to neighbors as a collaborative effort of the Mosaic Cooperative Parish of United Methodist Churches, a group of 10 churches working together on the southeastern edge of the Upper New York Conference. This year repairs will take place over two weeks, July 8th - July 19th, and volunteers may participate for any or all of that time period, including the weekend. While skilled volunteers are always valuable, you do not have to have any particular skill to volunteer. Projects will likely include repairing decking, plumbing, building ramps, installing gutters, repairing leaky roofs, painting, and outdoor clean-up.

Volunteers are welcome from all across the conference. Youth aged 18 and under must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or youth leader. Housing can be arranged for volunteers coming from further away. Lunch, water and coffee will be provided on site for all volunteers.

If you feel called to join in this impactful mission work, please complete this volunteer application and submit by May 1^st. Any questions may be directed to Cobleskill United Methodist Church at cobyumc107@gmail.com.

New Book Study to Begin Monday, April 22^nd or Wednesday, April 24^th on ZOOM!

Co-teachers are Rev. Phil Richards and Rev. Sally White, and we’d welcome your registration simply by emailing Diane Duffy-Patyjewicz (registrar) Luv2garden5@gmail.com.

Please let her know which group you will be participating in.

Book comes out on April 2^nd

(Monday Nights at 7 p.m. or Wednesday afternoons at 12:15 p.m.)

"Everyone who claims to be 'Christian' or else claims to be upset by 'Christianity' needs to read this book, especially politicians using people's supposed faith for their own ends." ―Margaret E. Atwood

"Jim Wallis calls the nation to grow up and he calls us all to fight the love battle to save the soul of America." ―From the Foreword by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.

A major new work by the New York Times bestselling author, arguing that the answer to bad religion is true faith that will help refound democracy

“It is time says Jim Wallis, to call out genuine faith―specifically the “Christian” in White Christian Nationalism―inviting all who can be persuaded to reject and help dismantle a false gospel that propagates white supremacy and autocracy. We need–to raise up the faith of all of us, and help those who are oblivious, stuck, and captive to the ideology and idolatry of White Christian Nationalism that is leading us to such great danger. Wallis turns our attention to six iconic texts at the heart of what genuine biblical faith means and what Jesus, in the gospels, has called us to do. It is time to ask anew: do we believe these teachings or not?

This book isn’t only for Christians but for all faith traditions, and even those with no faith at all. When we see a civic promotion of fear, hate, and violence for the trajectory of our politics, we need a civic faith of love, healing, and hope to defeat it. And that must involve all of us–religious or not. Learning to practice a politics of neighbor love will be central to the future of democracy in America. And more than ever, the words of Jesus ring, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

Mohawk District LSM

Advanced Course Schedule

Greetings to all,

The 2024 Spring in-person LSM Advanced course schedule is attached for your convenience.

Please note the Grace period for Lay Servants to obtain their continuing education has expired. If you have not taken an advanced class since 2020, you will need to complete a class by December 31, 2024, and submit your annual report, to maintain your status as an active Certified Lay Servant/Lay Speaker/Lay Minister.

Schedule

Seeking AC volunteers

Excitement is building as we move closer to the 2024 Annual Conference (AC) Session, to be held May 30-June 1 at the SRC Arena on the campus of Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.

In the midst of all that happens at AC, there is a great need for people to serve as volunteers at various times throughout the three days. Consider living out your discipleship by serving as a volunteer.

Volunteers are needed to greet and escort attendees, assist staff, and lend a helping hand.

Stewardship with Susan Ranous

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH #6

We are in the sixth week sharing about the VANCO stewardship booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church. This week, we are discussing Themed Giving Campaigns. Most of our “themes” for giving are usually holidays or a capital campaign or something very special.

The cool thing is themed giving campaigns doesn’t just have to be around the holidays. Examples include:

At the end of the school year, maybe special gifts toward the playground or gymnasium or something in honor of graduating seniors.

There are always theological themes, such as charity, tithing or stewardship, or more practical themes such as poverty or evangelism.

The liturgical calendar also gives themes. What if you considered a special Lenten offering (maybe an amount per day or something else) that goes to a ministry that helps others (outside the normal offering and normal budget).

Maybe there are topics that your book or Bible studies are talking about.

Themed messages and worship can also help with themed giving campaigns.

Some of these ideas can reach current members who don’t attend frequently or even others that attend only at certain times of the year such as Christmas or Easter.

It can be an outreach and a financial one.

Make things different, make things fun!

If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org. I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

Contacting Northern Flow/Mohawk District Office

If you are trying to reach the district office please use the following information:

Email tammymcadam@unyumc.org

DS Rev. Weeden mikeweeden@unyumc.org

Phone 315-535-5149

Fax 315-535-5151

Mailing Address PO Box 208 Gouverneur NY 13642

Office Hours Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

We are completely working from home and this is the best contact information to be able to reach us.

If you would like to sign up for our weekly newsletter or would like to have something posted please email me. Articles need to be sent in by Wednesday by 3:00 p.m..