1085 E. Genesee Street
Office: 324 University Ave
Syracuse, NY 13210
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Greetings!
Here is your weekly news from UUMC.
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Sunday Worship | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person and on Facebook Live
Click Below to Join Worship on Sunday
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Please note: Every worship service remains "live" on our Facebook page. You are able to watch every one that has been done since we began online worship. They never go away. If you are unable to begin at 10:30, you can watch it at your leisure another time. |
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Virtual Coffee with Pastor Alicia
Every Tuesday - 10 a.m.
Click below to join on Tuesdays
Passcode is 7277
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Worship | Fourth Sunday of Easter | May 8, 2022 |
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In our reading from the Gospel of John that you will hear later, we find the religious leaders were in a bind. Follow God as they had been taught, or embrace God as Jesus was describing God? Many in the United Methodist Church today are facing a similar decision. Last Sunday, a group of individuals identifying themselves as The Global Methodist Church, separated from the United Methodist Church to form a new denomination dedicated to keeping LGBTQIA persons from participating in the life of their churches. Within our own conference, the bishop as well as other conference leaders, pastors and churches have committed themselves to joining this new effort to reject LBGBTQIA individuals as worthy of full participation in the life of the denomination and local congregations. In 2011, University Church unequivocally and unanimously voiced our belief that, in the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda in response to the Orlando night club murders, "Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love, cannot be killed or swept aside.” We are truly a congregation of “Open Hearts, Open minds and Open doors” Our theme today, “In relationship”
capsulizes what we are about and we are delighted that you have joined us this morning. To paraphrase Joshua 24:15, “For me and my church family we choose the God reflected in the love of Jesus for all people.”
Scripture
This week's scriptures are John 10: 22-30, Revelation 7: 9-17 and Psalm 23.
Worship Music
Prelude: "Air" by G.F. Handel
Hymns: “All Who Hunger,” “When the Poor Ones" and “Salt and Light."
Postlude: "Allegro from 'Solomon'” by G.F. Handel
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Children's Activities
- Our children's table is out and full of activities for your kids to do on Sundays! The table is in the front of the sanctuary on the right side.
- Your kids can read a book, fill out coloring pages and do activity sheets, all with our lovely volunteers supervising them!
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Online Giving
- For your convenience, you can click here to give online.
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Church Updates | New Information |
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UUMC Events Looking Ahead |
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May 15: Offerings made this Sunday will go to supporting Native American ministries and scholarships for Native students attending seminary.
May 24 at 6 p.m.: ACTS Annual Banquet at Drumlins
June 12: Peace with Justice Sunday—We celebrate and reaffirm our holy commitment to ending injustice domestically and internationally on this day. Offerings made this Sunday will go to many hundreds of United Methodist-backed projects to bring Christ's peace and justice to a broken world.
June 25: CNY Pride Parade—We would love to have a large presence! We will gather at 10 a.m. to begin marching at 11 a.m. This year we will have a vehicle to ride in the parade if you prefer not to walk. Please call or email the church office to sign up and give us your T-Shirt size. We are asking for a donation to pay for the T-shirts. If you have questions, please reach Diane, 727-238-0187.
June 21 at 7 p.m.: CNY Pride Interfaith Service—The service will be at All Saints Church on Lancaster Ave. Pastor Alicia is a part of the planning and service.
July 28: United Methodists at the Ball Park
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We are starting a new worship series, "We Are Witnesses," which follows the United Methodist liturgy through Eastertide up to Pentecost.
During this time, we consider what it means to be Christ's church in the world, how to live faithfully and serve as witnesses to the radical love of God.
Please look forward to all the worship committee will be planning for this time.
This series is based on a book, "Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom," by Dr. Darryl W. Stephens. It may be purchased here for $10 in paperback. |
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Eastertide Adult Education Opportunity |
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PROPHETIC VOICES is a Special Collection of five award-winning documentary films profiling remarkable religious figures from one of the most turbulent centuries in history. Through their timeless writings and prophetic witness, they helped shape the contours of how to create a moral and ethical response to the social and political challenges of their era. Most importantly, what they left behind is a roadmap for how to faithfully confront our own issues today.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Howard Thurman, Reinhold Niebuhr, Dorothy Day and Abraham
Heschel each came from different faith traditions and varied cultural backgrounds. What they shared in common was an abiding love for their tradition, a willingness to challenge established powers, including their own religious leaders, and an acceptance of the cost that voicing truth entails - both professionally and personally.
Pastor Beth will meet virtually with those interested on Sunday evenings – for three
weekends in May and two weekends in June. The first part of the meeting will be for those who want to watch the documentary together, the second part will be our discussion.
May 1: Dietrich Bonhoeffer—video at 4:30 p.m., discussion at 6 p.m.
If you missed the first meeting, you can see this video for notes, sources and a quick recap on the Bonhoeffer discussion.
May 8: Reinhold Niebuhr—video at 5 p.m., discussion at 6 p.m.
May 15: Howard Thurman—video at 5 p.m., discussion at 6 p.m.
June 5: Dorothy Day—video at 5 p.m., discussion at 6 p.m.
June 12: Abraham Joshua Heschel—video at 5 p.m., discussion at 6 p.m.
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May 28: To join, or for more information, please contact Nelson Price through email at nprice@twcny.rr.com or call at (315) 446-7656 |
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Conversations with Pastor Alicia
The sixth episode of the church podcast, Conversations with Pastor Alicia, is out now! Click here to access it on our website.
Jason Naradzay, former Food Center volunteer and friend of the church, shared his remarkable testimony with us. We hope you feel encouraged and awed by how God has worked in his life.
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Message on Planned Giving from the Legacy Team
When church members designate a gift for University United Methodist Church in their estate, this is an important act to support the future of the church and its mission after one’s life is over.
Planned giving can be accomplished in a number of ways. Some may require legal assistance, but others are quite straightforward to accomplish. Please review the following options below.
Thank you for your support, both now and in the future.
—The UUMC Legacy Committee
Outright or Simple Gifts Anyone Can Make
Gift From Your Will or Trust
A Bequest is a gift made through a will or a living trust. It’s the most popular planned gift; the easiest to make; and costs nothing during a donor’s lifetime. A Bequest is usually a set dollar amount or percentage of an estate that goes to a nonprofit organization after the donor’s death. A Bequest can be included in a new will, or added to an existing will or living trust through a simple amendment called a codicil — often without the expense of hiring a lawyer.
Gift From Stocks or Appreciated Securities
Publicly traded Appreciated Securities that a donor has owned for more than one year can be transferred to a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit then sells the securities and keeps the proceeds, which can be applied to whatever purpose the donor designates. The donor gets an income tax charitable deduction based on the fair market value of the securities while also avoiding capital gains tax.
Life Insurance
A donor can designate a nonprofit organization as a beneficiary to receive all or a portion of the proceeds from a Life Insurance policy. This allows the donor to provide a large gift to benefit a nonprofit — often more than they’d be able to donate outright. The donor’s heirs benefit as well, because policy proceeds distributed to a nonprofit are exempt from estate tax.
Real Estate
A donor can make a Gift of Real Estate to a nonprofit, removing a large taxable asset from their estate and benefiting by receiving an income tax deduction equal to the appraised fair market value of the property, with no capital gains tax due on the transfer. The nonprofit can then sell the Gift of Real Estate or keep it for its own use.
Personal Property
Donors can gift items such as artwork, collectibles, books, equipment, or other items of tangible Personal Property. Most times, a gift will yield them a charitable deduction for the items’ fair market value (it must be professionally appraised), with no capital gains liability to the donor or organization. The nonprofit can either keep the property, display it, or sell it and use the proceeds.
Retirement Plan
Like a gift of life insurance, a donor can name a nonprofit as the beneficiary of a portion or all of his/her IRA, 401(k), or other Retirement Plans. The amount designated passes to the nonprofit and the donor’s heirs avoid income and estate tax.
Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
A QCD (also referred to as an IRA Rollover) allows donors 70½ or older to make tax-free IRA charitable rollover gifts of up to $100,000 per year directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts to eligible nonprofits. The funds must be transferred directly to the charity; withdrawing them first will result in a tax penalty.
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Our staff and lay leaders have finished filing their reports on their work at UUMC during 2021! You may view the annual report here.
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Wednesday morning prayer via Zoom |
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Every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. we gather for a zoom prayer meeting. It is open to everyone: come once, come every week, but you are invited to join us at any time: zoom link: Join Zoom Prayer
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Please note: Prayer requests and comments submitted in the chat during our online service are public knowledge, as the church’s Facebook page is open to all.
As a caring church, we hold one another in prayer. The names in the next sentence are selected each week from the church directory, generally in alphabetical order. This week, please pray for:
Joeviet, Juliet and Eva Cooper
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Monday afternoon, our beloved Lee Potter took a fall on the stairs at her home and died. We celebrate her life tomorrow, May 7 at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. Our hearts go out to her husband, Ed, their children and extended family. Lee was a familiar sight around University Church as she led worship, sang in the choir, volunteered in the feeding program and the Care Team. She will be missed.
For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be streamed at this link.
The names featured just above this text box in the newsletter that lifts each member of the church in prayer over the 52 weeks of the year was faithfully made by Lee each quarter.
Please keep Lee's family in your prayers in this challenging time.
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The requests list below come from the previous Sunday’s worship and those received during the week.
Anonymous: Thanks, Lord, for the blessing of the job through Interfaith WRISS as a senior companion.
Anonymous: Prayers for those grieving painful anniversaries and birthdays.
Anonymous: Prayers for those with COVID.
Kirsten: For a friend, Peter, recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Lee Potter: A joy–our dearest granddaughter, Julie, graduates from Upstate Medical University this afternoon with a degree in physical therapy.
Stephanie: Prayers for all those–people and non-human creatures–suffering from the devastation in Ukraine. Also, prayers for those oppressed in Russia. Prayers for progress moving forward from fossil fuels. Vera asks for prayers for our future dog, and I ask for prayers in the timing of that!
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At University United Methodist Church, we believe that church is more than just a building; it’s a way of living. It’s connecting with others — in compassion, love, justice, service and fellowship. Volunteers assist with outreach in a number of ways. |
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UUMC Outreach Clothing Closet |
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The clothing closet is open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Donations can be scheduled by calling the church office. See our website for a list of accepted materials.
Your continued donations and support have been appreciated! Thank you!
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May Volunteer Opportunities |
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Volunteer Request
YOU’RE INVITED!
Our first Peanut Butter & Cream Cheese Packing Party was a success on April 7, and those of us there had a great time! We are looking for a few more folks to join us for the next one on May 5 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in the big kitchen. Come for fun, fellowship & a chance to be part of our Outreach effort for our weekly Sunday Breakfast.
No special skills needed - just a willingness to help, & a desire to have some fun while doing it.
Call Joyce Flynn at (315) 480-6767 or email jhflynn56@gmail.com with questions. Hope to see you there!
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Ongoing Requests
Little Free Library
We need books to be donated for our library. Contact Desi at the church office, office@uumcsyracuse.org to arrange a drop-off time.
Pet Food Needed
If you’re able to donate pet food, please call or email the office for an appointment to drop it off.
Hygiene Items Needed
Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant – have been in high demand and much appreciated. If you are able to donate those, please call the office to arrange a time for drop-off.
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RESTART is shifting its focus from winter needs to beds and/or money for beds. Additionally, they are in need of volunteers on Mondays. Contact Jackie Sadowski for more information. |
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Ongoing RESTART Ministry Requests
Restart remains in need of many items, as they go out quickly to those in need. In addition to metal bed frames for twin, full and queen beds, there is a need of hand towels, kitchen towels and pot holders.
The bed frames must be complete with no missing feet/wheels and brackets. If you have frames that fit this description, please contact Jackie Sadowski at 315-463-8025
OR — Bed frames cost $45, and if you prefer to buy new ones for Restart, make checks payable to "SUMM" and put "Restart" on memo line. Checks should be sent to UUMC.
Also, we need bath towels, pillows, cookware. These items don't need to be new but should be in usable condition. Blankets are always needed.
More ways to help RESTART
The team has set up a wish list on Amazon.com. Click the link to below to view a list of needed items. Choose what you would like to donate by adding items to your cart. When done shopping, go to checkout for payment. Be sure to select “Restart Ministries c/o Evelyn Disinger” for the mailing address. The items will be shipped directly to Restart.
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Donations we accept for use at UUMC:
- Clean, gently used clothing, winter (thick) socks, gloves, hats, and outerwear (Machine washable ONLY)
- Clean, gently used shoes & boots
- Undamaged books
- Cat & Dog foods (Unexpired)
- Undamaged/unopened shelf stable foods (Unexpired)
- Unopened/undamaged personal hygiene items. Specifically; toothpaste, (individually wrapped) toothbrush, shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, lotion, women’s sanitary items
- Baby diapers, baby wipes and unopened, unexpired foods for baby
- Face Masks (Never worn, paper or cloth)
Financial donations drafted to University United Methodist Church with the destination in memo (i.e.: Food Center, winter clothing, breakfast, pet foods, etc.)
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Donations we accept for United Methodist RESTART Ministry
- Clean, gently worn pots, pans, flatware, glasses, tableware (plates, bowls, mugs (not plastic))
- Clean, gently used bed blankets, sheet sets & towels (Machine washable ONLY)
- Financial donations drafted to the Syracuse United Methodist Ministries, with Restart noted on the memo line.
For donations of lamps or furniture contact Jackie Sadowski at jlsadowski@aol.com or, Interfaith Works 315-449-3552. Both of these sites fill a home or apartment for someone whose life is in transition or “Restarting”
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Annual Conference postponed and moved virtual, October 6-7
The Sessions Committee of the Upper New York Conference gathered by Zoom on the morning of Thursday, April 21 to discuss growing concerns about the uptick in COVID-19 cases in Upstate New York and throughout the United States.
Members of the Committee shared both their own perspectives and what they have been hearing from others regarding the comfort level of gathering more than a thousand United Methodist from across Upper New York at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena. In the end, while there was a great sense of loss about not being able to gather in-person for the third year in a row, the Committee overwhelmingly agreed that the top priority had to be the health and safety of the individuals that would be asked to attend. The decision was made to institute a backup plan that has been in place since the Committee started planning for an in-person Annual Conference gathering.
Annual Conference will be postponed to Oct. 6-8, and it will be a virtual gathering. The plan is to use the same technology that was used at the 2021 virtual Annual Conference gathering, which was relatively well received.
Postponing Annual Conference creates a new set of logistical concerns to address and the decisions about those concerns will be shared once they are made. In the meantime, anyone who has already registered for the planned in-person Annual Conference gathering will receive full refunds. The processing of refunds will start immediately but could take a couple of weeks to complete. If you made a hotel reservation, you should contact the hotel directly to cancel.
“We know that there will be many different reactions to the news of Annual Conference being postponed and moved to a virtual event,” said the Rev. Joellyn Tuttle, Chair of the Sessions Committee. “Many will be disappointed; many will be relieved; and many more will be some combination of the two. Ultimately, this decision puts the health of the members of the Annual Conference first and that felt right to the Committee. Our first desire was to do no harm, and we are confident that we can pull together an excellent virtual event in October.”
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Laity Gatherings with Bishop Webb
Next month, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, will be hosting regional gatherings with laity for a time of worship, conversation, and celebration of mission and ministry. This will be a time to converse about the current realities within the UMC and the opportunities found in our call to live out the mission of Jesus Christ for today and into the future.
The following are the dates and times for the gatherings with Bishop Webb:
June 12, 2022 @ 3:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. at LeRoy UMC
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How University UMC is Tackling the Food Insecurity Crisis in Syracuse
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic hit, University UMC’s food pantry went from distributing food to 50 families from the Southeast side of Syracuse every Friday to 350 families from all over Syracuse. Currently, they serve about 200 Syracusan families every Friday.
University has 200 volunteers dedicated to this ministry—the majority who are not members of the church.
Click here to read the full story of this ministry and how the volunteers not only physically, emotionally, and physically feed the poor, but how they are breaking down barriers that prevent food security.
Click here to watch the volunteers in action at a recent Friday distribution.
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2022 Resurgence Tent Revival, May 6-7
Saratoga Springs UMC is so excited to invite you to REimagine what Methodism can be at their Resurgence Tent Revival.
Featured speakers Mark Miller and Garlinda Burton will invite you into a holy and revitalizing time of worship, Christian discipleship and fellowship. If you would like to participate, admission is free! However, lease register for planning purposes using this link.
See the brochure below for the schedule and more information.
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David Sight and Sound Trip, June 14 & 15 (Payment by May 9)
Pastor Andy, Bellevue Heights & Gethsemane United Methodist Churches have planned a trip to Sight and Sound Theater, Lancaster, PA for Tuesday, June 14 to see the show DAVID.
Experience one of the most legendary Bible stories as it comes to life with spectacular special effects, massive sets, and live animals in this brand-new original stage production. Meet David, the shepherd, the warrior, the general, the poet and songwriter, the king of Israel, and a man after God’s own heart. This production will explore David’s close relationship and walk with God.
This is an overnight trip departing from Bellevue Heights UMC, 2112 S. Geddes St., Syracuse at 7:30am on Tuesday, June 14.
Expected departure from Pennsylvania is 10:30am Wednesday, June 15.
The cost: $250 per person includes: coach fare, show ticket, dinner, hotel accommodation, [breakfast and lunch 06/15/2022].
Please call BHUMC 315-475-0011 or GUMC 315-479-7971 to make your reservation. Make check payable to Bellevue Heights UMC with the word “Trip” written in the memo line and mail to 2112 S. Geddes Street, Syracuse, NY 13207. To guarantee a space we encourage you to make your payment by May 09, 2022 as there are limited seats available.
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Disaffiliating from the UNY Conference and the UMC
During the Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference held virtually in June of 2021, the body passed Resolution UNYAC2021.7 which created a Study Commission to examine the readiness in the UNYUMC for the Implementation of the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.
Last fall, the UNY Study Commission issued surveys to clergy and congregations in the UNY Conference about the Protocol. Despite there only being a 30 percent response rate, some congregations and clergy did report that if the Protocol passes, they will leave the United Methodist Church. Click here to read the survey report.
Earlier this month, the Global Methodist Church announced that it will launch on May 1, 2022. Click here to read the announcement.
Given these changes, the Conference Board of Trustees anticipated there would be congregations who might now desire to explore disaffiliation.
Click here to read an article that outlines the disaffiliation process.
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What inflation means for church budgets |
Newsletter from Ken Sloane—"It seems that it has been quite a few years since inflation has been on our minds and on our radar, though we know that is changing right now. What are some of the ways that looking at the value of inflation-adjusted dollars might be important in analyzing financial situations in your church?"
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UM General Conference 2020 postponed to 2024 |
Delegates consider legislation at the 2016 General Conference |
After two years of COVID-related delays, the United Methodist General Conference for 2020 was again delayed until 2024. Organizers cited the currently 800-day backlog for processing visas, which would obstruct international delegates' participation in the meeting, as the reason for the decision. |
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The organizers of the planned breakaway denomination, The Global Methodist Church, have elected not to wait for the conference's decision. The launch date for the new denomination has been moved up to May 1, 2022.
Because individual church property is held in trust by the United Methodist denomination, however, leaving won't be legally simple.
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2021 Annual Conference Reports |
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UM News posts the official summaries filed by annual conferences from around the connection. Find the latest reports on our archive page.
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Daily Anti-Racism Prayers
Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church offers anti-racism prayers emailed to you Monday through Friday. To sign up to receive them, click the link below.
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Please click the link below to read United Methodist news from around the country and world on UM News Digest.
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L'Arche Syracuse Mother's Day Flower Fundraiser |
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Dear Friends and Supporters of L’Arche Syracuse,
After a two year absence, we are holding our Annual Mother’s Day Flower & Plant Sale May 4 – 8 at Shop City Plaza (corner of Teall Ave and Grant Blvd.). As you know, this is one of two fundraisers we hold each year and it is also a time to see members and friends of our community you may not have seen in a few years as well as purchase flowers for your wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, etc.
We need lots of volunteers so if you can volunteer, please contact Jamie Proper at dayhab@larchesyracuse.org or at (315) 479-8088.
If you have not planned your Spring flower garden plantings, now is the time to do so. We will have a wonderful variety of plants to make your house and yard beautiful. On Saturday and Sunday we will have cut flowers available for purchase.
Times of the sale:
Wed. May 4: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thurs. May 5: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fri. May 6: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat. May 7: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sun. May 8: 9 a.m. to noon
I look forward to meeting many of you in this season of Easter.
John C. Knechtle
Executive Director & Community Leader
L’Arche Syracuse, Inc.
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Save the date!
Reservations for the ACTS Spring Banquet, to be held at 6:00 p.m. on May 24 at Drumlins Country Club, may be made by contacting the church office. The event will feature a variety of serving stations with open seating. It is hoped that the event will give people the opportunity to get acquainted with one another.
Rev. Craig French, former pastor of UUMC, will be honored at this event. He will receive the Nebraski Carter Outstanding Clergy Award for his service to ACTS, and commitment to promoting social justice in the community.
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The ACTS Race Matters Book Club will be discussing “Beloved” by Toni Morrison on Monday, May 23 @ 7 p.m. on Zoom. The book has been the subject of the culture wars in the United States, most recently in the Virginia Governor’s race when the book was part of an ad challenging its appropriateness for children.
As our community’s social justice interfaith network, ACTS is hopeful that dialog will bring greater awareness and action. There are more than 30 regular members of the book club from 13+ different congregations with an average of a dozen or more persons participating each month. Come once or come often to share your thoughts with others on the journey.
Zoom link will be sent to regular members and those registered closer to the discussion date.
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Indoor Masking Recommended in Onondaga County |
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The CDC recognizes 10 counties in New York as being at high risk for COVID. Indoor masking is recommended for all counties at high risk, including Onondaga County. Fourteen New York counties are at medium risk this week. |
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Performances have returned, taking place each Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. If you need a ride, contact Jayne Humbert or Nelson Price. You can find the location and show for each week's performance on the Civic Morning Musicals website. |
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