September 19, 2023 Newsletter

Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

September 19, 2023

Next newsletter is October 3, 2023

Please submit items to be included by the Friday before.

A Note from Sherri:

²My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 NRSVUE

The refrain from John Lennon’s song, “Nobody Told Me” often runs through my mind these days.

“Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Strange days indeed.

Most peculiar Mama”

We are in strange days. We’ve lived through a pandemic. People who were once active in the local church have not returned. There is apathy and animosity towards organized religion. Churches are disaffiliating from the UMC, and no one knows what will happen at General Conference. We’re reorganizing things – again. Our culture is divided along many fault lines. These are indeed strange and peculiar days. It’s easy to feel the weight of it all. With that weight we sometimes feel anxiety, fear and, if we’re honest, a little discouraged and despondent. How do we move forward as people of faith?

The letter of James begins with words of strange encouragement. “Consider it joy when you face various trials.” Consider it joy? Talk about being countercultural! James is saying when we work through challenging times our faith can be strengthened and deepened. Thus, when we have a mature faith, we can endure anything life throws at us. I want to be clear: God doesn’t give us trials to test our faith. We need to stop saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” because it just isn’t true. Life gives us struggles and trials – not God. However, God can use our trials to strengthen and deepen our faith.

How do we move forward as people of faith? When we find ourselves in places of trial and struggle, it’s helpful to go back to the basics of our faith. What is essential? What is lifegiving? It’s remembering that God loves us so much, God came to us in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s remembering we are to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. It’s proclaiming God’s grace, made evident in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, is available to us as a gift – all we need to do is receive it and share it.

Yes, we’re living in strange days, but if we turn toward God, God will see us through. Let’s get back to the basics of our faith, our purpose as the Body of Christ, the Beloved Community. I trust that in doing so, we will be strengthened for the journey through these strange days.

Grace and peace,

Sherri

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

REVISED start date: FROM YOUR HEARTS TO THEIRS: Delivering an Effective Sermon

DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

UNITED METHODIST HERITAGE

Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Class

Certified Lay Minister Course and Brochure

NEW: A Disciple's Heart

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UNIVERSAL APPLICATION

The Liverpool Methodist Church is seeking to hire

a part-time Director of Christian Education and

a part-time Director of Choral Music.

Please CLICK HERE to read more about the positions.

Inquiries should be directed to: churchoffice@liverpoolfirstumc.org

Syracuse Inner-City Learning Center needs volunteers

Syracuse Inner-City Learning Center is the mission of

Syracuse United Methodist ministries. Our program "Room to Grow" provides the after-school program for Syracuse City School District students (4th-6th grades).

Please consider volunteering if you have a passion

for mentoring children. The program runs Tuesday, Wednesday,

and Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

at the former Onondaga Hill Church building

(4845 W Seneca Tpke. Syracuse, NY 13215).

The first day of the Fall program will be October 10th.

If you have any questions, contact Rev. Jee Hae Song (jeehaesong611@gmail.com) or

Rev. Andy Anderson (andmcand@hotmail.com).

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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September 23, 2023

Fayetteville United Methodist will host a PUMPKINFEST

September 23 from 3-6.

Free food, pumpkin painting, games and other family activities.

This is the official kick-off to our twelfth annual PUMPKIN SALE,

running each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (11:00 - 5:00) from

September 22 through October 15.

The church is located at 601 East Genesee Street in Fayetteville

(beside the post office).

For more information, contact the church office at fayettevilleunitedmethodist@gmail.com.

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September 23, 2023

The Collamer United Church

will hold its annual rummage sale on …

Saturday, September 23 from 9 A.M. until Noon

It will be held at Vollmer’s Greenhouse across from the cemetery on Route 298 in Collamer (2 miles East of Carrier Circle; or ½ mile West of Exit 7 off from Route 481).

This “GIGANTIC’ and “AWESOME” sale will offer a wide variety of great bargains from nearly new to nearly antique.

There will also be a food counter and a bake sale so shoppers can snack while searching for treasures.

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September 23, 2023

Church Yard Sale

Crafts, Jewelry, Baked Goods, & Treasures

Saturday, September 23rd

10am-2pm

St. Paul's UMC - 2200 Valley Drive, Syracuse, NY 13207

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September 22-23 & 29-30, 2023

Local Church Announces Nu 2 U & Bake Sale

Trinity United Methodist Church Nu-2-U and Bake Sale is planned

for Sept. 22 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be a wide variety of items for sale; something for everyone.

The sale (without baked goods) continues Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Bag Sale starts at 9 a.m. Sept. 30.

A portion of the proceeds will be used to purchase socks and other

necessary clothing for local elementary age students.

Anyone wishing to donate may bring the items to the church beginning

on Sept. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to noon or call the church for arrangements

on a different day or time.

Please use the East Utica entrance as the sale is downstairs.

The church is located at 45 East Utica Street, corner of East 4^th and Utica, Oswego. Everyone is welcome to attend in person worship on Sunday starting at 10:00 a.m. The live web service is available on the church Facebook page. For further information, please call and leave a message at (315) 343-1715

or visit https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.

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September 30, 2023

First United Methodist Church of Minoa

Steak dinner, Saturday, September 30, 2023, 4:00-6:00pm,

Cost is $17.00 -

10-12 oz. charcoal grilled strip steak cooked to order,

salad, baked potato, roll and pie.

Take out dinners only.

First United Methodist Church - A community church for you!

246-248 East Ave., Minoa, NY 13116

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Upcoming Events from Pennellville UMC:

September 26, 2023

The Pennellville United Methodist Church will be having their

next Free Will Dinner on

Tuesday, September 26th from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

The menu will consist of macaroni & cheese, vegetable, tossed salad and desserts. Come out and enjoy some good food and fellowship.

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

The next two dinners are scheduled for

October 24th and November 28th.

FARMERS MARKETS

We had such a good response to our Farmers Market this summer, so two more have been scheduled. On September 19th, another market will be held at the Pennellville United Methodist Church parking lot from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. In conjunction with this, there will be a Chili Cook-off from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m. Come and sample some of Pennellville's finest chili recipes. Tasters will purchase 5 tickets for $1 and vote by placing a ticket in the can next to their favorite chili. Donations from voting will go to support the Phoenix Food Pantry.

On October 17th, the final Farmers Market will be held - same time, same parking lot. 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.

PENNELLVILLE CHRISTMAS CANTATA

Rehearsals for the Pennellville Cantata Choir will begin on Sunday, September 24th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Pennellville United Methodist Church, 389 County Route 54, Pennellville. Anyone is invited to sing. Joy Has Dawned, by Lloyd Larson, has been selected as this year's cantata. Performance dates will be December 2nd at 3:00 p.m. and December 3rd at 5:00 p.m. Terry Sivers will be directing. If you like to sing, come to rehearsal on September 24th. Cost will be around $20.00, depending on the price of the music, etc.