News Stories from December 2015
Conference District Superintendents urge churches to ‘share the love of Christ’
December 28, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The District Superintendents of the Upper New York Conference have written an open Christmas letter to the congregations of the Conference. In the letter, they point out that, “During this season of Christmas, we open our hearts and lives to welcome the newborn Christ,” and so they call upon all United Methodists to “open our hearts to share the love of Christ.” They are asking pastors …more
Finding harmony with the United Methodist brand
December 17, 2015 / By Stephen J. Hustedt / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Two years ago, the Upper New York Conference Communications Ministry Area tried something new. It sponsored a contest that decided the new UNY Conference logo. It was a great success; entries were received from across the Conference and beyond. The end result was a lot of spirited voting, improved engagement from our audience, and a nice new logo. At nearly the same time that the Communications Ministry Area was running …more
Bishop Mark J. Webb shares his Christmas message
December 16, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb's annual Christmas message he asks, "As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, I wonder how we are getting ready to be changed by the promise of Christmas?" To see his Christmas video message, click the image to the right; to read his letter, see below. You can also find his Christmas letter in December's Vol. II issue …more
Advent letter asks New York’s congregations to ‘proclaim the fullness of our faith’
December 14, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
A central focus in many worship services during the Advent season is the Advent Wreath. The outer ring of the wreath holds four simple candles that represent so much: Hope, peace, joy, and love. The world in which we live is crying out for what we claim in our liturgy of Advent. The candle in the center of the wreath represents the promise and reality of a Savior in the …more
Using videos in your church – the legal way
December 11, 2015 / By the Rev. Nancy Hale
More and more churches are using video clips or movies for worship, family movie nights, and other events. But did you know that a church must have a video license to show movies or video clips, even if it does not charge admission? Churches are not exempt in any way from copyright law, and a video license is required to avoid possible fines or other legal action for copyright infringement. …more
Special request: Photograph your Christmas spectacular
December 10, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Every Christmas, churches of the Upper New York Conference put on elaborate, funny, and poignant Christmas pageants. We want to hear about your budding thespians. Take photos of your production and send them along with a short summary - including who participated, what was the theme/story, and any other unique tidbits - to news@unyumc.org with the subject line "Christmas Pageant." Please remember to get a signed photo …more
UNY Conference switches event registration system
December 8, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference has officially transitioned to a more user-friendly event registration system: EventSpot by Constant Contact. It’s “a professional way to promote and manage almost any kind of event for small businesses and organizations,” according to the website. The switch from Mission Connect to EventSpot comes as a result of feedback the Conference has received about the former registration system. “What we …more
Connectional Table Talks: A December series about Vital Congregations
December 8, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
This month, the Connectional Table will host a month-long series on Vital Congregations and the Four Areas of Focus for The United Methodist Church as part of the #CTTalks online forum. Beginning with a post on Dec. 1, a new video will be posted each week that explores how vital congregations are aligning their attention, energy, and resources in ways that are bearing fruit in the Four Areas of Focus: engaging …more
Giving Tuesday sets single-day giving record
December 2, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Total giving to the Upper New York Conference’s Africa 360 campaign on Giving Tuesday set a new single-day giving record. With the generous matching funds from the UNY Cabinet, $16,120 was raised on Dec. 1. Of that total, $8,060 was given by Conference-wide donors and that same amount was donated by members of Cabinet. “We think this is the most given on a single day of focused giving,” said Laurel …more
Mission unites the Syracuse UM Churches
December 1, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When a letter from the former Crossroads District Superintendent the Rev. Darryl Barrow announced the Syracuse city churches – University, Saint Paul’s, James Street, Hope Korean, Gethsemane, Erwin First, Brown Memorial, and Bellevue Heights United Methodist churches – would combine to form the Syracuse UM Churches, members from these churches gathered. “We all sat together and decided that it would be a good thing that if we …more