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Adirondack and Albany District News
Aug. 12, 2023
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“The problem with not remembering is that you don't know what you forgot!"
-- One of our Albany District pastors .. I can relate!
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Please note!
Beginning today, we will be sending the District Newsletter out every other week. The local church events newsletter will continue to be sent every Tuesday.
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Update on Jonesville UMC program
on Healing and Recovery
We are so excited to invite the recovery community and friends, as well as the general public, to an upcoming event at Jonesville United Methodist Church!
The church's STAHL Ministry Addiction Recovery Education Series is hosting Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Beck on Thursday, September 14, at 7 PM, at the church, 963 Main St., Clifton Park.
Beck is the author of the best-selling spiritual autobiography, "Painting With Ashes, When Your Weakness Becomes Your Superpower."
His book is a raw and powerful story and will resonate with anyone who has felt unworthy, who has hit rock bottom, who has been hurt by the church, or who has felt like an outcast. From drug dealer to pastor on a mission to bring church "to the wild," Michael Beck invites you into a journey of healing where all are met with compassion and where transformation happens as we make space for each other's wounds. Discover how God can bring forth beauty from ashes by getting down in the gray soot of our wounds to paint our lives beautiful again.
Please see the attached flyer for further information about Michael Beck. We hope to see you there! Click here. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Phyllis Mullaney at 757-646-1879, or pam31ny@aol.com.
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Porter Corners UMC reaches out to community through concert
On July 23, the Porter Corners UMC in the Adirondack District welcomed 35 community members to listen to gospel singer/song writer Tammy Renee who is touring New York for a month. Some attendees posted their stories of inspiration following the concert and allowed their stories to be shared. Who could have believed that our little church at the 4 corners would make a difference in the lives of strangers. We can and do make a difference every Sunday with our music, prayers and message at 9 AM and we warmly welcome everyone to come and find out for yourself.
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Please keep the family and friends of the Rev. Wendell Elmendorf Jr. in your prayers. Rev. Elmendorf Jr., 91, died on July 15. He served several Upper New York churches, including Gloversville: Fremont UMC, Schenectady: Eastern Parkway UMC, Albany: Pine Grove UMC, and others in the former Troy Conference. Condolences can be sent to The Family of Rev. Wendell Elmendorf Jr. at 10894 N. Rampart Lane, Littleton, CO. 80125. Service information and an obituary are not available at this time.
Please keep the Rev. Steve Butler in your prayers. Steve had a severe fall on July 21 and is now recuperating. You cab send cards to him at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, 1270 Belmont Ave., Schenectady, NY 12308. Sunnyview will forward mail to him after he returns home, which was expected to be at the end of this week. We haven't received an update, but will keep you informed.
Adirondack District:
Tom Duers and Carole Duers (First UMC of Lake George) ask for continued prayer for Carole. Tom reports that he and Carole were encouraged after meeting with the kidney transplant team in Vermont. The hope is that she will be added to the donor list in September. Carole has been on dialysis for nine years. If you'd like to send notes of care and encouragement, their address is 302 B, 25 Larose St., Glens Falls, NY 12801.
Please keep Debbie Robinson in your prayers as she struggles with Parkinson's Disease. Debbie is the daughter of Doug Baker (lay supply at Raceville UMC). Cards can be sent to Debbie in care of Doug @ 5 Madison St., Apt. E, Granville, NY 12832.
Albany District:
Please continue to pray for Rev. Dr. Camillus Mourice, who continues to have a lot of pain and problems with his knees, and also for his wife Clementine Mourice, who has health issues.
Rev. Judy Humphrey-Fox and her husband Tim.
If you'd like prayer for yourself or others, or you'd like to share a joy, please be in touch with Carrie (518) 608-1246 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org
or albanydistrict@unyumc.org
Please know that we will need to contact folks to be sure they feel comfortable with us publishing their information.
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Get your News from the Conference Office | |
In the interest of reducing the volume of news items, and to encourage you to subscribe to the UNY Conference Weekly Digest and UNY Notes, we will no longer be printing Conference News in the District Newsletter.This includes messages from Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, including the appointment list. You can also click on the quick links, above.
UNY-Notes are targeted email blasts:
· From the Desk of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
· Alerts
· Announcements
· Prayer Requests
· Death Notices
· Camp & Retreat
Click here to Subscribe to UNY-Notes
Weekly Digest- is sent every Wednesday. It contains a round-up of that week’s UNY Notes, along with feature articles, direct links to several “hot spots” on the Conference website, photos, and more.
Click here to Subscribe to the Weekly Digest
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Gearing up to help Lahaina recover
The California-Pacific Conference has mobilized its Disaster Response Task Force, which is developing plans to help the people of Lahaina, a historic Hawaiian town largely destroyed by wildfires. The fires have killed at least 80 people. People are asked not to send goods to the disaster area. The conference has set up the Lahaina Relief Fund to take financial donations for the long recovery ahead.
Read update
To donate to Lahaina Relief Fund
Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank's pastoral letter
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Belong: IgniteYouth Conference 2023
September 29 to October 1
Wildwoods Convention Center, New Jersey
A great experience to rally youth back after the summer and encourage them into their next steps.
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos NúñezI will be there. He is looking forward for UNY youth groups to join me and connect with young people from the Northeastern jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. To learn more, click here.
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Creating a Narrative Budget Course Now Open!
Many local church leaders have signed up for the previous offerings of this course and have successfully created narrative budgets to tell the story of their church’s impact.
Click here to learn more and to see what past participants have to say about this course!
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Making hospitality radical
Jesus was clear: God’s welcome is for all people. Check out ways others offer radical hospitality and consider how you can widen your circle to make everyone feel they belong. To read more, click here.
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FREE Webinar: Accountable
Reimbursement Policies
- Are you looking to establish sound financial practices within your ministry or church?
- Do you want to ensure that your reimbursement policies are transparent, accountable, and align with best practices?
- Join the GCFA for an enlightening webinar on "Accountable Reimbursement Policies for Ministries and Churches" and take a significant step towards financial excellence!
- September 12, 2023 at Noon.
To sign up, click here.
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Let Justice & Peace Flow
If there is one thing that this difficult summer has reminded us it is that we need to pay attention to issues of climate justice.
We should ask ourselves what role we and the church can play in addressing the concerns we have for our environment. To read more, click here.
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How UMCOR helps migrants
Every day, thousands of people leave their homes in search of a better life for their families. The United Methodist Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR) Global Migration program helps refugees and migrants as well as the churches and ecumenical networks that assist them.
To read more, click here.
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Spiritual Practices episode 7 available
Looking for a great spiritual practice to bring you closer to God? In Upper New York’s Spiritual Practices podcast episode 7, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius introduces a practice known as "art as prayer." Click here.
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Friday night faith community thrives
Beloved on the BLVD, a new faith community at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool, invites people to worship on Friday nights and connect with others over pizza. The ministry has been a hit. “We’ve found church folks that are looking for another opportunity and some folks who’ve found they didn’t fit in the churches they were in,” said the Rev. Bill Mudge, who helps lead the new group. The Upper New York Conference created a video profiling this growing ministry.
Watch video
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United Methodist Communications can help you with your church's social media presence
UMCOM's social media expert can help you with new account creation, one-on-one coaching, social media audits, custom graphics creation and more. We’ll help empower you with the latest digital strategies so you can invite, encourage and transform your community! Click here.
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August Media Resource Center newsletter
The Media Resource Center is a free lending library funded by designated donations and runs by a dedicated volunteer group. This month’s newsletter features a book review of 24/6 by Dr. Matthew Sleeth and Everyday Object Lessons for Youth Groups by Helen Musick and Duffy Robbins. This issue also describes ways to make a monetary donation to the resource center. Click here for the online ordering catalog. Please allow for a timely response as orders are processed one day a week. Click here to view the newsletter.
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Lay Servant Course offered in the Albany District
All welcome to attend
Justice in Everyday Life: A Look at the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church
In person at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at First UMC Delmar (428 Kenwood Ave., Delmar, NY) - October 4, 11 , 18, 25 & November 1. The course will be lead by Heather Smith. Please contact her with questions or to register no later than Sept. 22 at h.smith1026@gmail,com
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2023 Adirondack District Lay Servant Course:
All welcome to attend
Lay Servant courses
Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries has added some courses to the 2023 schedule.
Please remember that you MUST attend all class times and dates to receive credit.
No refunds or credit for courses will be given. All registrations and course fees MUST be in by the date due.
For a registration form or for more information, contact Arlene Schmidt, arlenedschmidt@gmail.com
Click here for the updated brochure.
COURSE OFFERINGS:
Advanced Course: Leading Prayer
Registration open.
Thursdays: August 24, 31, Sept 14, 21 & 28: 6-9pm
Zoom: Fee $15
Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM
Advanced Course: Polity
Registration open.
Tuesdays: September 5, 12, 19, & 26: 6-9pm
ZOOM: Fee $15
Facilitator: Pastor Bruce Hazard
Advanced Course: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts
Registration opens August 24. Last day to register: Sept. 16.
Thursdays: October 5, 12, 19, 26, & Nov 2: 6-9pm
Zoom: Fee $15
Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM
Advanced Course: Called to Preach
Registration opens September 26. Last day to register: Oct. 19.
Tuesdays: November 7, 14, 28, Dec. 5 & 12: 6-9pm
ZOOM: Fee $15
Facilitator: Jacqueline Kim, CLM
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What's New from the Lewis Center | |
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Creating a safe space for holy work with children
Tanya Campen describes how practicing respect, preparation, and presence create safe spaces where children are valued and respected. She highlights the importance of preparing ourselves and safe spaces so that we can be fully present as children claim and respond to God’s presence in their lives.
To learn more, click here
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5 ways your church can use text messaging to reach more people
How can churches use texting as an outreach and communication tool? Brandon Cox outlines five ways churches can use texting to reach more people and make more disciples
To read the story, click here
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Church Conference Schedules begin in September
From Adirondack and Albany District Superintendent the Rev. Debbie Earthrowl:
I am glad for another opportunity to gather with you for our fall Church Conferences! This year, nearly all will be held jointly with other area United Methodist congregations so that, in addition to caring for the ordering of ministry for the coming year as individual congregations, we may look at some possibilities for collaborative ministry that might strengthen and broaden our mission and ministry. Since most of the “business” of the Church Conference is prepared beforehand by various teams within the church to receive final vote at the Church Conference, the majority of our time together will be spent on collaboration.
Click on the links below to view the schedules.
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Church Conference Information and Forms
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
and the District Superintendents released information about Church Conferences, online profiles and advisory forms and the forms checklist.
Here is a link to those letters: Click here.
And a link to a helpful page on the Conference website here.
View the conference forms checklist. Click here.
If you have questions, contact Carrie in the District Office (518) 608-1246 or carrieboyer@unyumc.org
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Creating in Creation
Sept. 8-10
Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center
Come create at camp! Join us for a weekend full of opportunities to unplug, devote time to the creative practices that fuel us, and enjoy the beauty of creation. Whether you’d like to crochet by the lake, sketch on a hike to the castle, write in a hammock, or try something new, we’d love to have you. Skye Farm will provide meals, lodging, basic crafting supplies, and several options for crafting locations and activities. Cost: $150.
The camp is located at 1884 E. Schroon River Rd. Warrensburg
Here is a link to the event: Click here
Retreats at Skye Farm
Skye Farm hosts retreats during our non-summer camp season. We provide groups with spiritual renewal. We can host groups of a variety of sizes. Click here for more information.
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2023 District Day - Informed to Transform!
We are pleased to announce we will be hosting another District Day on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Saratoga Springs UMC, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs. Each year, about 100 laity and clergy come together for a day of worship, fellowship and workshops. All are welcome to attend. Registration opens 8:15 AM. Worship at 8:45 AM. Three sets of 75-minute workshops will be offered throughout the day. $10 registration includes lunch. Scholarships available. Look for details in upcoming newsletters
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2023 Safe Sanctuaries schedule -
Training of Trainers is Oct. 7; next Basic Training is Nov. 4
The UNY Safe Sanctuaries Team has scheduled one more 3.5 hour Zoom basic trainings in 2023. There is also a Training of Trainers sessions scheduled.
The Basic training will be held from 9 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday Nov. 4. Registration will open Oct. 4. The Training of Trainers will be held from 9 AM to Noon on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The Basic training is for all clergy and anyone working with children or vulnerable adults. The Training of Trainers is for anyone who would like to become a church or District Safe Sanctuaries trainer in the UNY Conference. You need to have taken the Basic Training first.
If you need training between these dates, or would like to host an in-person training, please contact the District Office or send an email to the Safe Sanctuaries team (safesanctuaries@unyumc.org)
For more information regarding Safe Sanctuaries, visit the Conference website: Click here.
To view the poster with links to registration, click here.
How often does one need to take a Safe Sanctuary training? Click here.
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Northeastern Jurisdiction United Women in Faith to meet in April 2024
Save the date! Northeastern Jurisdiction United Women in Faith to meet April 19-21, 2024 in Providence, Rhode Island. Click here to go to the website.
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Wesley Heritage Tour 2024
Join Rev. Brett Johnson (Canton UMC in the Northern Flow District) on the trip of a lifetime to visit
John and Charles Wesley’s homeland of England. We will be visiting sites of great importance to United Methodists, including the Wesleys’ hometown of Epworth, Oxford, Bristol, and worship in the Wesley Chapel in London.
We will also be stopping at Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and St Paul’s Cathedral. Tour dates are July 13-22, 2024. Please use the following
link to register: https://portal.myfaithjourneys.com/ and use group code 24002.
Contact Rev. Brett Johnson, pastor.brett.johnson@gmail.com with any questions.
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Disciple Bible Study has gone digital!
Help your congregation learn the Bible and connect with each other in meaningful small groups. The new BeADisciple Study App offers everything you need to participate in a Bible study on a smartphone, tablet, or computer — with weekly meetings on Zoom or IN PERSON! The app is easy to navigate and offers powerful ways to connect through a 24/7 prayer thread, message board and built-in zoom access.
Registration is open now.
All assignments can be read and/or listened to. This new platform is launching now. For more
information and to signup go to:
For a related story, click here.
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Classes on Methodism are online
Classes about John Wesley and The United Methodist Church — some of them free — are being offered online by the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History on its U.M. History Hub. “Local Church Historians School” is free. “Splits, Separations and Reconciliations: Rooted in Wesleyan Grace” is $35. See the link below for a full list of classes and how much they cost. Read press release: click here
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Record Retention handbook
Click here for a document titled "Guidelines for Managing Records of the Local Church." It is a handbook on record retention.
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United Women in Faith
Leadership resources for women
United Women in Faith has a new collection of resources to help women grow their leadership abilities. The 2023 Leadership Toolkit is available on the digital platform Bridge. To access the information, women need to establish an account with Bridge.
Read press release
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Discounts & savings programs
for your ministry
GCFA has an extensive ministry partner program to find or create special discounts and savings for your ministry.
Whether you have an upcoming building improvement project, are thinking about travel to the Holy Land, are needing an online giving vendor, or something else - our guide has something for every ministry, big or small!
Our ministry partners have been vetted to align with our denomination's social principles.
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Great resources available from
United Methodist Communications
United Methodist Communications has a menu of services and tools as extensive as the menu of dishes at The Cheesecake Factory. Greg Petree has assembled a list of the top-10 services United Methodist Communications offers for free to help local congregations reach out to their communities.
UMCOM measured what’s viewed and downloaded to identify what services/resources are most used by churches. To read more, click here.
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The #BeUMC campaign reminds us of who we are at our best. As people of God called The United Methodist Church, we’re faithful followers of Jesus seeking to make the world a better place.
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Did you know that the United Methodist Church has a free, downloadable 45-page discussion guide tied to the #BeUMC campaign? This is a great resource for your Sunday School class, Bible study, or small group to reflect on what it means to #BeUMC.
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Guide offers discounts, resources for ministry
The General Council on Finance and Administration has released its updated Ministry Resource Guide. The free guide features special offers, discounts and programs from vetted ministry partners and is designed to help local churches and other United Methodist ministries.
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Start a conversation around social justice topics
Engage your adults in a conversation around social justice topics, like refugees and sexuality, to explore what these topics mean to individuals and your community.
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Mission Insite free to churches
A reminder that Mission Insite is a web-based demographics provider for local church use. In planning ministry, it is important to know the context.
Mission Insite provides demographic data that is updated on a regular basis and the reports are user friendly to the novice or experienced demographer.
The reports are free to the local church because the Annual Conferences is under contract with Mission Insite, but in order to access the website you will need to register your local church.
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Free shareable social graphics |
United Methodist Communications offers free shareable images for use in inspiring and informing your members year round.
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Start the day with Debbie
Our District Superintendent Debbie Earthrowl shares a devotion via Facebook Live at 7:30 AM every Monday through Saturday. The devotions are also posted on her Facebook page and our District Facebook page, so you can tune in at any time. I personally find this an inspirational way to start my day. I trust you will, as well. To view, click here:
https://www.facebook.com/debbie.earthrowl
Blessings to all,
Carrie B
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Albany and Adirondack Districts
of the Upper New York Conference
Rev. Deborah (Debbie) Earthrowl
District Superintendent
Gracie Lynn Evergreen
Adirondack District Lay Leader
Ellen Mall-John
Albany District Lay Leader
Carrie Boyer
Superintendency Administrative Assistant
Our office is located in the Newtonville UMC
568 Loudon Rd., Latham, NY 12110
Mailing Address:
Adirondack District: PO Box 753, Newtonville, NY 12128
Albany District: PO Box 511, Newtonville, NY 12128
(518) 608-1246
adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org
albanydistrict@unyumc.org
debbieearthrowl@unyumc.org
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