Looking to spring and new beginnings, you are invited to pray for congregations who are
struggling to dream what God would have us do
~ Continue to pray for the people of Haiti and for all those who are ministering to them ~ Pray for the victims of the Chile earthquake ~ Pray for the new Executive Team of the Upper New York Area
For resource materials for worship services >>more
Bishop Matthews calls for prayers
Upon receiving news of the significant earthquake in Chile, the Rev. Dr. Marcus Matthews, resident Bishop of the New York West Area has called for prayers. Bishop Matthews urges all to hold Chile and all involved in prayer and to give generously. An 8.8 earthquake occurred this morning in central Chile. The Richter Scale is constructed geometrically so each 1.0 is ten times as strong as the one next lower. The January 12 Haiti Earthquake was 7.0.
"We can anticipate significant damage to housing and infrastructure miles away from the epicenter. Unlike in Haiti, recent construction standards are built to resist earthquake damage. Older buildings are more likely to have collapsed," the Rev. Carl Chamberlain, Western NY Disaster Response Coordinator, The United Methodist Church reports. "Additionally, there has been a tsunami warning issued for most of the southern Pacific that may extend as far as Hawaii." To support those affected by the earthquake in Chile, please make a gift to International Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance # 3019041.
Bishop Marcus Matthews names four executive staff persons who will work with him to lead the new Annual Conference in the Upper New York Area
The Rev. Dr. Marcus Matthews, resident bishop of the New York West Area, and resident bishop of the Upper New York Area this July, expressed high expectations as he announced those named as Senior Executive Staff for the new Annual Conference in Upper New York this week.
“All of these persons have a strong spiritual, disciplined life which they model in a variety of ways,” Bishop Matthews said. “Each person had a great appreciation for the mission and vision of the new conference and expressed excitement to live out the vision in the Upper New York Area.”
On Sunday, Feb. 21, Bishop Matthews announced appointments of the Rev. William Gottschalk-Fielding as Director of Connectional Ministries and the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga as Director of Communications.
In addition, Bishop Matthews announced Ms. Vicki Putney as Benefits Officer and Ms. Sherri Mackey as Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services for the new annual conference in the Upper New York Area.
Bishop Matthews announces preconference and district dates
The new annual conference of the Upper New York Area celebrates its uniting conference June 19, 2010 at the OnCenter in Syracuse, NY. The day will conclude with the Service of Commissioning and Ordination at 4 pm. In preparation for this significant day in the life of our new annual conference, 5 Upper New York pre-conference briefings are scheduled with Bishop Matthews presiding. In addition to these dates, each district has one day set aside for an Upper New York Area team to come and discuss the specific changes affecting the local church which will be implemented as of July 1, 2010. For the original letter >>more For an update with additional information>>update
2010 Love Offering for Mutambara Mission Centre Water Project
The Conference Board of Global Ministries has selected the Water Project for the Mutambara Mission Centre in Zimbabwe be the designation for 100% of the 2010 Love Offering.There is a chronic shortage of water. Not only is this inconvenient, but presents a problem in hygiene and sanitation in the hospital, schools, and private residences. Our goal is to raise the money to make the water supply at Mutambara acceptable. A minimum of $25,000 is needed to purchase bigger motors for the pumps, to replace a broken pipe line, and to repair a roof on one of the holding tanks.For more information on Mutambara please read the articles about last year's mission trip at: http://www.ncnyumc.org/connections/pdf/sep0907.pdf or
http://www.ncnyumc.org/vim/zimbabwemission2009.pdf
Churches across the conference are invited to take a special offering on Sunday, June 6, 2010 (or another Sunday) for the Love Offering and the lay member of the annual conference from the local church is to bring a check in the amount collected to the annual conference session on June 18, 2010.
NCNY Team Leader Training
NCNY UMVIM Coordinator Dr. Sylvia Reimer and Rev. Joe Auslander announce a Team Leader Training session scheduled for March 20, 2010, from 9 am until 3 pm at the Tyrone UMC. Having had TLT will be a prerequisite to taking UMVIM teams into Haiti, and having more leaders trained will help us be more fully prepared to address other needs for help, both within and outside of our conference.
More details about the training will be forthcoming. A registration form is available. If you are interested in setting up a training in your geographic area for this spring, please contact Sylvia at marsyl5141@aol.com or 315-788-5442
Summer Camp Registration Is Underway!
Church Committees: What You Need to Know
Congrats...You've been nominated!!! Now What????
Our churches need to be the center of the community; we need to be relevant to our families, friends, and neighbors… if we don't connect with the needs of the community we will die. Committees are the muscles that keep our churches moving and working. But we need to know how to be connected to God as well as to the community.
March 13, 2010 from 8:30 am.to 12:15 pm at the New Hartford UMC; 105 Genesee St., $5 per person, payment due by March 9 to Mohawk District Office, 315-797-1777
Casowasco and Aldersgate are excited to announce that the 2010 Summer Camp Brochure and Registration are available online! You can access the brochure at www.aldersgateny.org and www.casowasco.org. Registering online is EASY! Check out all of our new and exciting programs – this summer is going to be the best yet!
Please share this information with your congregations, Sunday Schools, Youth Groups, and more. Please contact the CCRM Office at ccrm@ncnyumc.org or 315-699-8715 x309 with any questions or for more information.
Bishop Matthews calls for response to Haiti disaster
The Rev. Dr. Marcus Matthews, Resident Bishop of the New York West Area, has asked United Methodists to consider receiving a special offering, tithing an upcoming fund-raiser, or hosting an event in the coming weeks where the proceeds can be dedicated to Haiti Rescue and Recovery, following the devastating earthquake on January 12
Gifts for relief efforts can be sent to the Annual Conference office with the notation for Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance # 418325. Each Conference Office will immediately forward all donations to the UMCOR recovery program set up to provide relief. Our disaster response teams are in conversations with UMCOR regarding other possible responses we might offer including sending disaster response teams to Haiti. We will keep you informed as opportunities develop. >>more
The Advance would like to recognize all United Methodists who have so quickly responded to the call for help from our sisters and brothers in Haiti. In addition to gifts made through local churches and annual conferences, almost 15,500 United Methodists have made online donations of over $2,000,000. Thank you!
The Upper Room Makes Prayers for Haiti Available at No Charge
The Upper Room is publishing Prayers for Haiti: Words of Hope for People Who Help for distribution beginning February 8th. The 32-page English-language booklet includes an introduction by Bishop Charlene Kammerer, meditations, prayers and scripture.
This booklet provides spiritual nourishment to all who are working on behalf of Haiti, whether through recovery efforts, financial contributions, or ongoing personal prayers. >>more
Bishop and Mrs. Matthews invite the Upper New York Area to visit the famous Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany on July 27, 2010
The story of Jesus told with powerful images and stirring music…the faith and devotion of the Oberammergau villagers as they keep their 370 year-old vow to God…the Alpine Wonders 2010 journey provides an opportunity for uniting Western New York, North Central New York, Troy and Wyoming United Methodist Conferences to travel together as the new Upper New York Area of The United Methodist Church. We will join together in fellowship, learning and devotion. We hope you will take this opportunity to travel together on this once-a-decade journey in the summer of 2010 >>more
Name proposed for new Annual Conference
The Upper New York Annual Conference is the proposed name for the new Annual Conference which will come into being in 2010.. >>more
2010 Annual Conference sessions will bridge two days
The 2010 North Central New York Annual Conference session will have a one-day agenda, but all members are encouraged to plan to spend two days together in Liverpool, NY >>more
Episcopacy committees recommend sale of Albany Episcopal residence
Members of the Episcopacy* and Episcopal* Residence Committees from the four annual conferences in Upstate New York entered into dialogue on matters relating to the upcoming transition of episcopal leadership. On July 1, 2010 Bishop Hassinger will re-enter retirement and Bishop Matthews will become Resident Bishop of the Upper New York Area. >>more
Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding is the convener of New ACT, the team charged with working toward the creation of a new annual conference comprised of all of the churches in New York State that are now part of the North Central New York, Troy, Western New York and Wyoming Annual Conferences. Go here for his reflections.
Neighborhood Center Appeals For Support
The Neighborhood Center's human service roots date back to 1905 when it began as a settlement house assisting immigrants file citizenship papers. By 1936, the Center provided Kindergarten (the first in Utica, NY!) and homemaking classes, and had a staff of five.
As the community changed, the Center expanded services for the more increasingly diverse population and gained national recognition. In 1945, they adopted the name "The Neighborhood Center" to reflect their changing community role and were the main provider of child care and other needed services - helping families become stronger and the community flourish.
Today, the agency provides a full range of outreach, preventative, developmental and therapeutic human services for nearly 20,000 people in the local and surrounding communities - a majority are children and their families.
Through its sustained pattern of activities that benefit children, families and the community, The Neighborhood Center, Inc. continues to advance in our enduring mission of truly "human" service. As an advance special (#1112) to our Annual Conference, see how you can make a difference to the many children and families served by the Neighborhood Center. Click here for ways to help support their mission this holiday season and all through the year.
Seasonal and H1N1 flu – Best Practices for Congregations
Pastors and congregational leaders can play an important role as we move more fully into flu season. Health officials advise extra precautions with the prospect of both seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu) upon us. The National Council of Churches has put together some practical suggestions to use within the worship setting, for congregational events and for visitation, to help contain the spread of the flu virus.
In addition, The Center for Disease Control has a dedicated page with specific information and links regarding Swine Flu.
Less than 14 percent of churches updating Find-a-Church profile in New York West Area
United Methodist Communications reports that less than 14 percent of churches in the New York Area update their Find-a-Church profile and Bishop Marcus Matthews is encouraging all congregations to change that statistic. >>more
Photos of doors needed
In August, 2009, the WNY Spectrum and NCNY Connections newspapers were combined into a New York West Area publication. In line with “Rethink Church” we are looking for photos of doors of United Methodist Churches throughout the New York West Area to use in the new publication.
Email photos to MarilynKasperek@ncnyumc.org as soon as possible for inclusion.
Doors will be added and/or rotated in future issues, so submissions are still welcome.
Resources for Rethink Church at a new Web site, www.rethinkchurch.org.
As the next evolution of the denomination’s “Open hearts” advertising and welcoming campaign, Rethink Church seeks to redefine the church experience beyond the church doors and invite people to become engaged in the world.“We hope Rethink Church will cause people inside the church to reassess what it means to be people of faith,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. “This campaign is an invitation to a revolutionary conversation about what it means to be people in mission. It’s more than rethinking. It’s a radical return to understanding what the Gospel is for us in our day.”
Working vision to shape work of New Area Conference Team affirmed
The New Area Conference Team (New ACT) continued their visioning process for the new Conference of the Upper New York Area this month and affirmed a working Vision and Purpose Statement. This is a first word, not the last - expectations are that the statement will continue to develop and the new Conference will continue to shape the future vision (not be bound by it). Those reading the statement should keep in mind that it is for missionary planners, not potential converts and it is to help us prepare for the future, not define the future. >>more
New Advance Project Guide Now Available
The Advance represents "second-mile" mission giving, the "first mile" being mission support included in World Service apportionments to congregations. Almost a thousand projects and programs in 100 countries are included in the new Giving Resource Guide from The Advance, the United Methodist designated mission giving channel. Subtitled Strength in Numbers, the 111-page guide, a magazine-style catalogue, lists approved recipients for the quadrennium, or four-year period, from 2009-2012. It also contains other information on mission support, such as how congregations can enter into Covenant Relationships with missionaries. >>more
Together at Annual Conference 2007, we covenanted to have a Safe Sanctuary Policy in place with accompanying implementation procedures by Charge Conference 2008. Go to our webpage for more information about this important ministry, including training opportunities. If you desire assistance from our team, please feel free to contact us.
Guide to College and University Campus Ministries
From the NCNY Conference Board of Higher Education and Ministry comes a valuable new resource: The United Methodist Student's Guide to College and University Campus Ministries in our Conference >>more
Continuing Education
Check out the continuing education page to learn about many opportunities available to laity and clergy. Either click here, or go to Vision and Ministry Resource Ministry on the left hand navigational bar, then Continuing Education. If you know of an event that should be included, please email Lauren Swanson.
Get Certified Lay Minister information here!
A certified lay minister is a United Methodist layperson called to congregational leadership as part of a ministry team under the supervision of a clergyperson. They are qualified for CLM status after specific training and examination.Training days for the fall will be announced. >>more
