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Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it (a demon) out?"
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17: 19-20
New International Version
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Adirondack District
Newsletter
February 10, 2018
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Is your newsletter "cutting off" at the margin?
Try clicking on the link at the top of this newsletter that says,
"Having trouble viewing this email?"
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Note that the next Newsletter will be sent on Feb. 24;
Local news and general updates will be sent on on Feb. 14 and 21
Miss something? Not all information is repeated each week
To view Local Church Events sent on Feb. 7,
Click here
To view the District Newsletter sent on Feb. 3,
Click here
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2018 Camp Registration Open!
Registration for 2018 Summer Programs is now open!
Click here to browse all of our 2018 summer programs and to register. Don't forget to take advantage of our Early Bird ($10 before May 1), Sibling ($20 per camper), and Refer-A-Friend ($40 for the referring friend) discounts! We've got big things planned this summer and we want YOU to be part of it! Register today! If there are any questions, please contact us at (toll free) 855-414-6400 or info@campsandretreats.org
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Basic Lay Servant Class to be Offered in April
The Basic Lay Servant class will be offered from 2 PM to 7:30 PM Sunday, April 22 and 2 PM to 7:30 PM Sunday, April 29 at the Malta Ridge UMC, 729 Malta Ave., Ext., Malta 12020. (There will be a half-hour break for dinner; dinner provided at the first gathering). Facilitator is Arlene Schmidt. To register and for information on how to obtain the book, please contact Arlene via email @ adschmidt@nycap.rr.com
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Lay Servant Advanced Course to be Offered in Albany District
"United Methodist Heritage; 10 AM to 3:30 PM Saturdays, April 14 and April 28 at the Amsterdam UMC, 347 Golf Course Rd,, Amsterdam 12010. Facilitators:
Please contact the facilitators to register and for any questions.
Be sure to submit certificate of completion to Bruce Hazard, Director of Lay Servant Ministries for the Adirondack District: firstglobal@verizon.net
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NOTE:
The Basic Course and an Advanced Course are also being offered in Plattsburgh on April 13 and 14. See details under "Previously Run" section near the end of the newsletter.
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Certified Lay Ministry Training to Begin This Spring
Albany District, in collaboration with Adirondack, Mohawk and Oneonta districts, will be offering Certified Lay Minister training beginning this Spring.
¶268 of The Book of Discipline defines a certified lay minister as "...a certified lay servant...who is called and equipped to conduct public worship, care for the congregation, assist in program leadership, develop new and existing faith communities, preach the Word, lead small groups, or establish community outreach ministries as part of a ministry team with the supervision and support of a clergy person. A certified lay minister is assigned by a district superintendent in accordance with ¶419.2."
Certified lay ministry training consists of four modules totaling 78 hours. Module 1 is Call and Covenant for Ministry; Module 2: The Practice of Ministry; Module 3: Organization for Ministry; Module 4: Connection for Ministry. These modules, available in PDF form only, can be purchased through the Upper Room: Click here
The class is limited to 20 participants (first come, first served).
Registration Deadline: March 26
The class will begin with Module 1 on
Saturday, April 7, at North Main Street UMC, Gloversville, from 10 AM to 3 PM, with additional classes on the first Saturday of each month (same time, same place for Module 1), with the last class in September. Our facilitator for Module 1 will be Rev. David Smith.
Do you feel God's call upon your heart to become a certified lay minister? If so, please contact Nancy Goddard at bngoddard@davespc.net or Maxine Getty at albanydistrict@unyumc.org for an application packet. Be sure to include your mailing address.
For more information on Certified Lay Ministry Click here
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Journey Through the Holy Land with Bishop Webb
In January, 111 folks from the UNY Conference journeyed with Bishop Webb through the Holy Land. Bishop Webb explains in his blog the many reasons he felt blessed to experience the Holy Land for the first time. From allowing him to deepen his relationship with members across the Conference, to being reminded how Jesus surrendered to God, and being able to share this trip of a lifetime with his wife Jodi and youngest son, Ben, Bishop Webb expresses heartfelt gratitude. To read Bishop Webb's reflections,
Click here
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United Methodist Men to Host Retreat
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Bishop Swanson |
We are very excited to be hosting this dynamic retreat at Sky Lake in Windsor, NY, September 7-8. The retreat is open to all w
omen, children and men.
The Keynote Speaker is Bishop James E. Swanson Sr.
For the full article,
Click here
To read more about Bishop Swanson,
Click here
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Clergy Retreat:
Together in Faith and Recovery
The Retreat will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM Saturday, Feb. 17 at Healing
Springs Recovery Community and Outreach Center, 125 High Rock Ave., Saratoga Springs, 12866. This is an opportunity for clergy to learn about recovery and spirituality. The retreat was planned due to concerns expressed by pastors at a gathering in the Fall with local politicians. Contact Rev. Drew Sperry with questions, (518) 584-3720. Pastors can contact Carrie at the District Office for information on CEU credit. Please RSVP by Feb. 14; 518-306-3048, ext. 3637 or coordinator@sararecovery.org To view or download the poster,
Click here
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Safe Sanctuaries Training to be offered in March
Two trainings are planned. One in the Albany District at Burnt Hills UMC, and one in the Adirondack District at the Saratoga Springs UMC.
A reminder that all clergy, certified lay ministers serving churches and supply pastors are required to take this training (one-time only).
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Sunday, March 4, 1:30 to 4:30 PM at the Burnt Hills UMC (Albany District).
If you are interested in attending please call or email the Burnt Hills UMC office at 518-399-5144 or burnthillsumc@gmail.com If you are attending this training, please send your certificate of completion to Carrie in the Adirondack District Office (PO Box 590, Glens Falls, NY 12801)
(Update) --
Saturday, March 10, 11:45 AM registration; training is Noon to 3 PM, at the Saratoga Springs UMC. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Carrie Boyer by
February 28 at
adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org or (518) 480-4866. There is a limit of 40 participants.
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries,
Click here
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What Do Local Churches and The Olympics have in Common?
Whether it is the winter or summer Olympics, the games face a very specific challenge. They take sports that are only vaguely familiar, often filled with athletes that few people recognize, and try to make them the focus of the world. And just as they begin to do so, that iteration of the games ends. Four years later, the producers work to do it all over again -- in a different city with new athletes. Broken into its simplest components, the situation is not unlike what local churches face: Engage and inspire a community while overcoming the challenge of quickly and simply communicating at times complicated information.
For the full story,
Click here
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The
General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) focuses on bringing about full and equal participation of the racial and ethnic constituencies in The United Methodist Church. The commission carries out its work through advocacy of the issues and by reviewing and monitoring the practices of the denomination.
Black History Month is an opportune time to discover or rediscover aspects of U.S. history often ignored or obscured by "official" educational systems, legalized policies and practices, and even ecclesial narratives. By focusing on the testimonies, accounts, and realities of Black Americans, we open ourselves to a more accurate account of how the United States was formed, survived, and thrived despite our sinful reliance upon legally and culturally enforced slave labor of those born in and of Africa. Black History Month gives all of us the chance to interrogate the narratives taught by our schools, our legal systems, and, yes, even our churches. By doing so, we get a better sense of who we are, who we desire to be, and what we're willing to lay down and pick up for our desire to become reality.
Visit the United Methodist General Commission on Religion and Race website:
Click here
Reading List:
Click here
For more stories and resources,
Click here
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Courtesy Liberia Annual Conference
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Ask the UMC:
When Was the First African-American Bishop Elected?
In 1858, Francis Burns was elected and served as a missionary bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia. He is the youngest person elected bishop; he was 35 at the time.
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An Opportunity to Serve:
Imagine No Racism: Become a District Volunteer Advocate
Racism is a disease that infects the hearts, minds, souls and bodies of individuals,
churches, and communities. In the Upper New York Annual Conference, we are going to Imagine No Racism together! We are creating the Imagine No Racism District Team to help us imagine this as a Conference.
For the full story, and to view Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb's video invitation to apply for the Imagine No Racism District Volunteer Advocate position, Click here
The deadline to apply for the Volunteer Advocate position is February 14. We are looking for at least four people to represent the Adirondack District. Do you have a passion for equality and justice? The task force envisions this position as requiring a few hours a week, especially in the beginning. As the ministry progresses, the hours will become a bit less. There will be a training of advocates from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, March 17 at the Conference Office in Liverpool.
"Imagine No Racism Launch Day"
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, April 21, which is Conference-wide "Imagine No Racism Launch Day." Attendance for this event is mandatory for all Clergy, Supply Pastors and Certified Lay Ministers serving churches. They are being asked to bring laity who are passionate about racial justice. The event will be from 12:30 PM to 4 PM, most likely at the Saratoga Springs UMC. Look for updates in the coming weeks.
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Annual Conference petitions, resolutions, reports due Feb. 15
The Committee on Petitions and Resolutions is charged with overseeing the submission,
review, and presentation of petitions and resolutions to the Annual Conference.
All resolutions and petitions for the 2018 Annual Conference session must be submitted to the Committee no later than Feb. 15, 2018. Submissions should be emailed to the Director of Connectional Ministries Office at
DCMOffice@unyumc.org
For information on writing and submission guidelines as well as a petition and resolution template
, Click here
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Rethink Church : Easter Outreach Resources: Tools to help you reach out this Easter
Invite your community to experience a more meaningful Easter using our outreach materials. For the full article,
Click here
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Order Resources from Media Resource Center
The Media Resource Center is a free lending library supported through your ministry share dollars.
To learn more about the center and to look through the online catalog
Click here
You will find a multitude of DVD studies, curriculum, and support materials for your use!
Consultations are always available. Not only can you order resources in person, it's also easy to
order resources through the online catalog, by email to Media Resource Coordinator Karen Campolieto @
karen@unyumc.org, or by phone (315) 898-2027 and they will be mailed right to your church.
It only takes a couple of days to receive the materials.
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Previ
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From the Conference Office
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Important Dates
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- Feb. 15: Deadline for submission of petitions and resolutions as well as deadline for reports and action items from Conference teams
- Feb. 15: Final date to update statistics in EZRA system
- Early March: Annual Conference registration opens
- Early April: Vol. I of the Journal is available
- April 21: Imagine No Racism Event
- May 31-June 2: Annual Conference (Onondaga Community College)
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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 two scholarships offered by the Upper New York Conference: Conference Merit Awards and Lottie Brown Grants. Application forms and guidelines are available now. For more information and to apply, Click here
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UNY Conference 2019 Narrative Budget booklet available
The first draft of the UNY Conference 2019 Narrative Budget booklet has been released.
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 of the budget booklet 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.
To view the booklet from the Conference website,
Click here
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Local Church as Employer
The UNY Conference web site devotes a page as a resource to Local Churches with information related to their role as employer, including employment law compliance, payroll/taxes, general support policies, and other various human resources and benefits related topics that may need to be addressed from time to time. It is the responsibility of each Local Church to be aware of both Federal and State laws and regulations that they are required to follow. For more information,
Click here
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Conference publication, 'Advocate,' available online
Volume 10, Issue 1, of the Upper New York Conference's ministry magazine, 'Advocate,' celebrates some of the amazing ministries through lay leadership around the Conference. You'll find more than a dozen stories, including ministries with special needs communities, bereavement, mission work and much more.
To read the latest issue of the Advocate electronically, Click here; the printed version of 'Advocate' should be available in your local church. If you can't locate a copy and would like one, contact Carrie in the District Office. We have extra copies. (518) 480-4866 or
adriondackdistrict@unyumc.org
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Sign up for the Weekly Digest
The Weekly Digest is a wrap-up of news and information, along with feature articles, direct links to several "hot spots" on the Conference website, photos and more.
If you don't already subscribe but would like to look at this week's issue, be in touch with Carrie. To sign up to receive the Weekly Digest beginning next week, click here:
Weekly Digest
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Thank you to all the pastors and church leaders who have submitted the annual church conference forms. Please submit any outstanding reports as soon as possible.
Pastors: A reminder that the Leadership Interface Forms are now due.
Click here
This form is crucial, as I need to update our database with church leader information.
Due Feb. 12: Report of Trustees; Report of Finance Committee; 2018 Church Budget and 2017 Year-End Financial Report.
2017 Local Church Annual Audits are due March 15
Here is the link to the forms checklist which is found on the Conference website. You can download the forms from that page:
Click here
Send forms via email attachment to
Also a reminder that the annual statistical reports MUST be filed online by Feb. 15. Reminders have been sent to pastors and treasurers. For those who might be helping pastors with this crucial task, please ask them to forward the information to you. To login to the system,
Click here
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Previously Run/Ongoing Interest
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Lay Servant/Speaker Courses to be offered in Plattsburgh
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are all called to a life of servanthood. For many laypersons, Lay Servant Ministries of The United Methodist Church is a part of their faith journey as they seek a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The courses offered in this program can help an individual on their personal faith journey or help prepare them as servants of leadership through the ministries of leading, caring, and communicating.
The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to help one explore their call to service within the United Methodist Church. "Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship." (Course description in 2018 Lay Servants Ministries: Equipping Resources)
Instructors: Rev. Phil Richards and Rev. Edie Poland
An Advanced Course: "Transforming Evangelism." will also be offered. "This course leads participants to learn from John Wesley how to practice relational evangelism. They will discover that evangelism involves not only sharing our faith with others, but also welcoming people into a community where they can grow in faith." (Course description in 2018 Lay Servants Ministries: Equipping Resources)
Instructors: Rev. Peggi Eller and
Pastor Brandilynne Craver
When
: The separate courses will be held in the same time-frame:
5 to 9 PM Friday, April 13 continuing to 9 AM to 4 PM Saturday, April 14.
(Snow dates: April 27 & 28)
Place:
Plattsburgh United Methodist Church, 127 Beekman St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Cost:
$25 for book, materials, and dinner Friday evening and lunch Saturday
Registration
Deadline: March 26
Information needed:
Name, address, email address, phone number, course for which you are registering, and special dietary needs
-- Complete form "Local and Certified Request and Recommendation." For a copy of that document, Click here
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Books will be available for pick up at PUMC
by March 15 upon receipt of "Request and Recommendation" form and fee
Each participant is expected to have read the course book prior to beginning class.
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Local Church Records Retention Guide
With the start of a new year we may be
inclined to say "Out with the old"and discard/destroy important records.
Before you do that, please click here to view Local Church Management guidelines from The United Methodist Church's General Commission on Archives and History.
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UMW Assembly 2018 in Columbus, Ohio
United Methodist Women Assembly 2018, "The Power of Bold," is a time for fellowship, equipping for service
and collectively experiencing God's call to mission with women, children and youth. Through moving worship, inspiring speakers, engaging exhibits, riveting workshops and town hall-style meetings, participants will leave Assembly with knowledge, courage and determination to change the world as part of a daring and compassionate 150-year-old movement of women committed to turning faith, hope and love into action.
To learn more about the event and to register
Click here
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How You Can Help Storm and Earthquake Victims
Contribute Funds for Disaster Relief:
Thanks to churches who have taken a special collection for the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and the Mexico City earthquakes.
You may send contributions to the Finance Department at the United Methodist Center, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, NY, 13088. Please make checks payable to UNYAC and designate money to a fund or funds that have been established:
Hurricane Harvey - #481
Hurricane Irma - #482
Hurricane Maria- #483
Mexico City Earthquakes - #611
2017 Storms - #474
UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response - #692
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Finance Department, 855-424-7878, ext. 2004.
For instruction on how to assemble kits, Click here
The Upper New York Conference's Mission Central Hub is a place for local churches to actively engage in outreach and disaster response ministries:
Click here
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District Contact Information
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Adirondack District
of the Upper New York Conference
Rev. William (Bill) Mudge, District Superintendent
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Rev. Bill Mudge |
Carrie Boyer, Administrative Assistant
Physical Location: 15 Maplewood Parkway (South Glens Falls UMC)
South Glens Falls 12803 (GPS)
Mailing Address: PO Box 590, Glens Falls, NY 12801
(518) 480-4866
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