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Hello, Friends!
Most of you know that I went on Bishop Webb's trip to the Holy Land this past January. I am so privileged to say that this was my 5th trip to the Holy Land, and I would go again in a heartbeat.
As I write this, it is Maundy Thursday, in the week called Holy. I think back to being in the land called Holy, particularly to a time when we were not at a historic site, but rather at the Nissan Brothers olivewood factory and shop in Bethlehem. The Nissan brothers are Christians who are gifted and employ others who are gifted in the art of olivewood carving. I looked around for quite awhile, picking up some items for a friend who had asked me to pick up some specific items for her, and something for my cousin who took me to and from the airport and let me keep my car at her house while I was gone.
When I had picked up those things, I then looked for something for myself. I saw a carving of Jesus with the children, but He wasn't smiling in the carving. He would have been smiling while playing with the children, so my search went on. Then I saw the carving that stopped me in my tracks. I don't know how to describe what happened, other than it wouldn't let me go. I knew I would be leaving the store with this piece. That was a problem, though, when I saw the price, which was several hundred more dollars than I had intended to spend. I stood there crying in the middle of the store, and I couldn't help it. A salesmen came up to me, telling me not to be sad. I explained to him that I was not sad, but rather, moved. He offered me a lower price, but it was still way more than I had intended to spend. The piece was carved with incredible detail. It was a carving of Jesus washing Peter's feet. When did that happen? Oh yea, it was Maundy Thursday - "Maundy," from the Latin "Mandatum Novum," or "New Commandment." Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35). Earlier in the chapter, in vs. 14, Jesus said "So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." Jesus told the disciples that we should follow His example and wash others' feet. In other words, we are to be in service to others.
Back to the Olivewood Shop. In the carving (see the attached photo), you may not be able to see it, but the detail of the intensity in Jesus' eyes, and Peter's hand up, telling Jesus to stop, symbolizing what he said in John 13:8, "You will never wash my feet," was striking. The salesman gave me a price that I could live with, still way more than I intended to spend, but I knew I had to have that carving. It was such a powerful experience - and a reminder to me - and to all of us - that we are to be servant leaders. Jesus example to us was of a servant leader. How are we embodying that in the ministries (both lay and clergy) that Jesus is calling us to?
In this week called Holy, may each of us consider how Jesus is calling us to serve - not just one another, but those we don't even know, so that we can share His love beyond the walls of our church buildings?
May each of you have a Holy week, and a blessed and joyous celebration of the resurrection on Easter!
With You as we Journey with Jesus towards the cross,
Nancy
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Sunday, April 29th is our next regional district prayer gathering
, from 2-3:30 p.m. at
Angelica UMC, 15 Park Circle, Angelica
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Bishop Webb announces clergy appointments
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has announced two new appointments and 17 retirements, pending approval at the 2018 Clergy Session. View the full list of changes
here.
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Mountain View District's Status as of today March 29
,
2018
| Completed |
94%
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| In Progress |
4%
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| Not Started |
2%
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Pastors
& Lay Supply Pastors
The reports/forms listed below are now past due. We know that responsibility for these documents often is delegated. So, Pastors and Lay Supply Pastors: Please make sure that all 2017 reports have been submitted to the District Office. All forms may be downloaded by clicking on the link.
Questions? Call or email the
District Office
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Still Need Equalization Members
Do not register for Annual Conference until you receive notification from the District Office that you have been approved to go as an Equalization Member! Please note....just because you were approved to go last year does not guarantee that you will be approved to go this year.
* Equalization members will be required to pay $60.00 for their registration*.
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Download
April Issue I
of the Bridge
The April Issue I copy of the Bridge is now available for download. It is available in both color and black & white formats. Click here to select the version you prefer and make copies as necessary.
This issue focuses on the Eastertide and how the symbols of spring can help people remember the resurrection all throughout the 50-day season that begins Easter Sunday.
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The Upper New York Conference is still accepting applications for Imagine No Racism Regional Coordinators
Qualified candidates will help connect, resource, and supervise Imagine No Racism District Advocates across the UNY Conference. There are four openings and each position will average 15-20 hours of work per month with a $4000 stipend per year. Click here to read the job description and click here to apply by April 4.
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Creative Worship workshop with Jason Moore slotted for April 28
Syracuse city churches, in collaboration with Vital Congregations and the Crossroads District, invites you to a workshop on April 28, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool, featuring worship coach, Jason Moore of Midnight Oil.
There will be four sessions throughout the day: the first session focuses on engaging your church's culture through metaphor and telling a great story; the second session focuses on art and seven time tested principles for design and more; the third session zeros in on team work, and the final session illustrates how you can use technology to your advantage.
Click here to learn more to register. There is a $15 registration fee, which includes lunch.
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Students: Apply now for
2018 UNY Conference scholarships
United Methodist high school seniors and college students are invited to apply for a scholarship offered by the Upper New York Conference: Lottie Brown Grants. Application form and guidelines are available now. Click here for more information and to apply.
The deadline for applications for this scholarship is:
April 10, 2018
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OUTWARD '18
April 13-15, 2018
Holiday Inn and Suites
441 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool, NY
"Embrace" is the theme based on Mark 11:22b: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you" (The Message). This year's Outward (formally UpWord) will focus on how we can put our Inward growth into Outward action. Workshop and activities are designed for youth in grades 7-12. Any questions regarding the registration, contact Judy Hipes at 607-624-2145 or tandj3905@hotmail.com
*Please Note: Registrations received after April 2 cannot be guaranteed hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn.
This registration is completely retro, hard copy, make check payable to UNYUMC with Outward 18 in the memo line, etc. There will be NO on-line registration for this event. Click here for registration form.
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Imagine No Racism:
Mountain View
District's location will be held at
the Avoca UMC
Imagine No Racism (INR) is a ministry of the Upper New York Conference with the goal to increase conversations on and awareness of racism and white privilege at the District and local church levels and to increase the number of ministries which impact racial justice within local churches and their surrounding communities.
Imagine No Racism will convene multiple District-level small groups, consisting of both clergy and laity, to engage in deep listening, transformative study, and meaningful action to eliminate racism and white privilege in individuals, local churches, and the communities the local churches serve.
April 21, 2018, is the launch date for Imagine No Racism; this event will take place from 12:30- 4 p.m. simultaneously at every District
Communication Hub across the Conference. It will include worship; a welcoming message from Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb, livestreamed from the United Methodist Center; educational videos featuring members from the Bishop's Taskforce for Eliminating Racism; the formation of small groups; and more.
Click here to learn more about what to expect at the Imagine No Racism launch event.
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Do you have a heart for social justice?
While we can help these ministries through being the hands and feet of Christ, we can also support these ministries through offerings that the United Methodist Church collects on Special Sundays.
The United Methodist Church has six Special Sundays church-wide. These include:
- Native American Ministries Sunday (third Sunday of Easter)
- Peace with Justice Sunday (first Sunday after Pentecost)
- World Communion Sunday (first Sunday of October)
- United Methodist Student Day (last Sunday of November)
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March 29: Holy Thursday
March 30: Good Friday (Conference Office Closed)
March 31: Holy Saturday
April 1: Easter
April 13-15: OUTWARD! 2018 - DETAILS
April 15: Native American Ministries Sunday
April 21: Imagine No Racism Launch Day -
DETAILS
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Education/Training Opportunities
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Lay Servant Courses offered
in the Cornerstone District
Please Register by
March 31
The 2018 Lay Servant Training School will take place
April 13 & 14 at Christ United Methodist Church, 633 Linwood Ave.,
in Olean. In addition to the basic Lay Servant Ministries course, the training school will offer Leading in Prayer, UMC Heritage and Planning Worship.
Registration must be received/postmarked by
March 31.
Cost for one 10-hour class is $25 and is due at the time of registration. To download the brochure/registration form, please
click here. The brochure also is available on the District website,
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How We Handle Money
in the Church Webinar
Every church that has ever had a crisis of financial impropriety thought what they were doing was fine until the day it was discovered. What's your church's policy for handing the gifts people entrust to you? Are you protecting sensitive information? Is it appropriate for the pastor to know what people give?
Click here to find out more and register
WHEN:Thursday, May 10, 2018
TIME:
6:30 pm, Central Daylight Time
DURATION:
1 hour
PRESENTER: Ken Sloane
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May 12 ERT Training and Recertification at
Clifton Springs UMC
UMCOR's Early Response Team (ERT) training equips individuals to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster. When disaster strikes, ERTs fill a specific need to clean out flood-damaged homes, remove debris, place tarps on homes, and otherwise help to prevent further damage. The next course takes place May 12, 2018 at Clifton Springs United Methodist Church, 1 East Main Street, Clifton Springs, NY 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. to recertify.
* The Early Response Team course is facilitated by Roger and Donna Cullen. This course is eight hours.
* The ERT Recertification is for current or recently expired ERT badge holders. Brian Greenwald facilities this four-hour course.
* ERT training cost of $25.00 includes the ERT manual, background check, supplies, and badge.
* Recertification cost is $21.50 and includes materials, supplies, background check, and badge.
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Registration is now open for Annual Conference
Registration is now open for the Upper New York Annual Conference session, held May 30-June 2 at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.
Click here obtain more information about the 2018 Annual Conference session, including the registration form, the menu, and the housing form.
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Getting Ready for Annual Conference 2018: Transportation and meal updates
.The Upper New York Annual Conference is being held from May 30-June 2 at Onondaga Community College's SRC Arena in Syracuse.
This year, as opposed to previous years, shuttle buses are only being offered in the morning and evening for the first three days, and all day on Saturday.
Click here to learn how to get to the SRC Arena, and to download a shuttle bus schedule.
Meals are available at the SRC Arena and meals or snacks can be purchased at The ROAD, an UNY New Faith Community, located about a mile from the SRC Arena.
Click here to learn more about meals and the hours that The ROAD will be serving food.
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What you need to know about 2018 Annual Conference: Getting There
Unlike the past few years, this year's Annual Conference is not taking place at the Oncenter; it is taking place at Onondaga Community College (OCC) SRC Arena. The Upper New York Conference has you covered. We will be frequently releasing news items related to "What you need to know about the 2018 Annual Conference."
Click here to read the first article that explains how to get there and also details about accommodation options.
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Getting ready for Annual Conference 2018: Clergy Session and Laity Session
This year's Annual Conference will be held at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse from May 30-June 2. Note that this year's Conference is four days as opposed to three. The first order of events are the Clergy Session and Laity Session which will be held the evening of Wednesday, May 30. Click here for more details.
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Seeking Youth Delegates to Annual Conference 2018
We are seeking youth (currently in grades 9-12) from the churches in our Mountain View District to serve as Youth Delegates at our Upper New York Annual Conference session in Syracuse, scheduled to begin in the evening of Wed., May 30 and continue through Saturday, June 2. There is no cost to the youth, but registration is required, and the youth delegates will be housed together at the Park View Hotel in Syracuse. All with questions and/or interest should contact our District Youth Coordinator, Rev. Eleanor Collinsworth, at egcollinsworth@gmail.com
or contact the District Office 607-962-8047 or email PattiGridley,
at
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Annual Conference study leader and ordination speaker announced
The quadrennium theme "Together in Prayer" continues at the 2018 session of the Upper New York Conference with a sub-theme of "Boldly Living Our Call." The Rev. Dr. Gregory Jones of Duke Divinity School will be the guest study leader. His emphasis will be on living our call in the Wesleyan Way. Bishop Dennis Proctor of the Northeastern Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church will be this year's ordination speaker.
Click here to learn more about Rev. Jones and Bishop Proctor.
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2019 Conference Budget Information
With Annual Conference right around the corner (May 30-June 2), now is the time to become familiar with the 2019 Conference Budget. Click here to gain an overview of how Ministry Shares support the Upper New York Budget in a new, dynamic video, starring many youth and adults across the Conference.
Click here to view our updated 2019 Narrative Budget booklet online. Printed copies of the Narrative Budget booklets are currently available at the United Methodist Center. Contact your District office to request your copy.
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2019 UNY Conference Budget
The first draft of the UNY Conference 2019 Narrative Budget booklet has been released.
Click here to download a pdf version of the booklet from our website.
Click here to view the budget booklet on Issuu. As changes are needed, these digital copies of the budget booklets will be updated.
When all updates are completed in the coming months, printed copies will be available in the District Offices and at the UNY Conference Center.
The final budget booklet will also be added to the 2018 Conference Journal, Vol. I.
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Blueprint for Wellness Annual Conference Event Pre-Registration Begins
Wespath Benefits and Investments and The Center for Health has again teamed up with Quest Diagnostics to offer "Blueprint for Wellness," a free health screening program for eligible participants in the Upper New York Conference. Quest Diagnostics will be at the Upper New York Annual Conference event at Onondaga Community College (SRC Arena/Allyn Hall Room A182), on Thursday, May 31 and Friday, June 1 from 6 to 10 a.m.
Pre-Registration is strongly recommended for the Annual Conference event. You can register for an appointment between now and May 18. Click here to learn more.
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Equitable Compensation Application for July-December 2018 available
The Commission on Equitable Compensation has issued guidelines and application forms for salary grants to local churches for the period July 1 to December 31, 2018.
To apply for salary assistance from the Equitable Compensation Fund, applicants should review the policies and procedures in the application document for guidance, and then complete the application according to the directions provided by the April 9, 2018 deadline.
Click here to review the policies and procedures or to complete the application.
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Commission on a Way Forward presents two sketches to Council of Bishops last week
What is Christ's way forward for doing mission and ministry in the worldwide United Methodist Church? That is the question Bishops pondered during their February meeting in Dallas last week as they received an updated report from the Commission on a Way Forward.
In the report given to the Council of Bishops this week, the Commission shared with the Bishops two sketches that carry forward many of the values and principles of the three sketches that were presented to the Bishops at their meeting in November.
Click here to learn more and read summaries of the presented sketches.
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Last month, we introduced you to VitalSigns, a platform that can help your church to track key indicators and uncover important insights.
Click here to watch a video that shows you just how easy this program is to use.
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The Upper New York Camp & Retreat
The Upper New York Camp & Retreat Ministry Area is excited to share our 2018 summer camp and retreat programs with you! Discover five awesome sites with over 200 programs. Summer Camp provides endless laughter, meaningful worship, and important friendships. Retreats provide a unique experience in a beautiful setting. Click here to discover the best program for you or your child based on age, interests, and sites.
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Center for Health Newsletter from the UNY Conference Benefits Office
The Benefits Office of the Upper New York Conference is happy to provide a new resource promoting personal wellness. This newsletter is produced quarterly by the Center for Health, which is a division of Wespath, dedicated to health and wellness products and resources addressing the five dimensions of well-being: physical, emotional, spiritual, social and financial. Click here to read the first newsletter.
Click here to read archived copies of the Activate.
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Latest issue of the Advocate available
Click here for the latest issue of the Advocate on the Conference website; the printed version of this newsletter will be available in your local church. The Advocate is the Conference's ministry magazine.
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Dates for your calendar
Mar.30 Good Friday- Conference & District Offices Closed
Apr. 21 Imagine No Racism- Avoca UMC
Early April: Vol. I of the Journal is available
May 31-June 2 Annual Conference (Onondaga Community College)
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Upper New York Annual Conference Contact Information
The United Methodist Center
of Upper New York
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
(315) 898-2000
Toll-Free (855) 424-7878
Fax (315) 898-2150
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Resource Center:
Click here
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Rev. Nancy Adams
District Superintendent
Patti Gridley
Administrative Assistant
65 East First St., Corning, NY 14830
(607) 962-8047
Mountain View District Webpage click here
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