Embury District Newsletter
Greetings from the Embury District Office
News and Notes on this Saturday, May 1
Color Key:
Blue type – General interest
Purple type – News for “New Yorkers”
Green type – News for “Vermonters”
We invite you to visit these sites:
Reflections from Jan Rowell or join the conversation on Jan's facebook Group: Grace Alone
Upper New York Annual Conference
PRAYER CONCERNS
David Adams, pastor of Poultney, Fair Haven, and Wells UMCs in Vermont, sends this prayer concern asking that we keep his wife, Lynn, and his mother-in-law Judith Hulbert in prayer. Lynn has been caring for Judith who is in home hospice in Colorado.
Merrel and Dottie Allen from Tomhannock UMC ask for prayers of strength and healing as Merrel faces serious health issues.
(IMPORTANT UPDATE) EMBURY DISTRICT CONFERENCE, Saturday, May 8, Shaftsbury UMC, 127 Church St., Shaftsbury, VT. All clergy, lay members and equalization members are expected to attend.
"Rethinking Church - For our Conferences and Local Communities" All District Conferences this year will include: * Worship
* Conversation about the closing business of Troy Annual Conference as contained in pre-conference materials * Material from Dr Gil Rendle, consultant with mainline churches throughout North America, about the changing work of local congregations in a PostChristendom culture. * Discuss the plan of union document for Upper New Yorkers.
Gathering begins at 9 a.m. with registration and light refreshments. Worship at 9:30 a.m. After the morning session, we will break for a luncheon to celebrate our time together as the Embury District. There will be a short session for clergy and lay members from NY churches after the lunch to review the proposed Plan of Union for the new Upper NY Area annual conference.
NOTE: Please review the pre-conference journal online (see link below) and print out the Resolutions Section (pages 37-44) to bring to the District Conference. PreConference Journal on-line (Word) (PDF)
Please RSVP to Carrie emburydist@troyac.org so we can have an accurate "lunch count." A $5 donation for lunch is requested at the door. If you have special dietary considerations (diabetic, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) please let Carrie know.
(updates) Troy Annual Conferences
TROY ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Register for the closing session of Troy Annual Conference, Saturday, May 22, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 54 Bay St., Glens Falls, NY. Registration is now $50. All local church Lay Members or Reserve Lay Members, Clergy and Equalization Members are expected to attend. Clergy are also expected to attend the Clergy Session May 21. Please contact the district office with questions or conflicts regarding attendance. Annual conference information and registration
ENTRIES FOR PEACE WITH JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Board of Church and Society will award scholarships to youth (high school and college) who submit a concise essay (1 page) that shows an understanding of how the Social Principles inform the application of peace with justice to the human condition, and one action that can be taken to influence public policy. Deadline: June 5. Contact: Virgia Phoenix, Peace with Justice Coordinator at VPhoenix12@aol.com
(update) Upper New York Gatherings
UPPER NEW YORK UNITING CONFERENCE, 8:30 AM-6 PM, Saturday, June 19, ONCenter in Syracuse. Clergy and lay members from churches in the Upper New York area will gather for an Adjourned Session of Annual Conference and celebrate the uniting of the New York churches of North Central New York, Troy, Western New York and Wyoming annual conferences. The session will be held at the OnCenter in Syracuse, N.Y., with ordination beginning at 4 p.m. at the Civic Center, two blocks from the OnCenter. Detailed information and registration is available on-line. Register on-line
ADJOURNED SESSION AND WORSHIP CELEBRATION
Saturday, September 11, Empire State Plaza, Albany
(update) New England Annual Conference and News
PRE-CONFERENCE BRIEFING FOR VERMONT DISTRICTPastors and lay members to the New England Annual Conference will meet in VT on June 5 at Trinity UMC in Montpelier from 1:30-4:30 PM. Details: Vermont District pre-conference briefing
NEW ENGLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE SESSION, JUNE 17-19 at GORDON COLLEGE IN WENHAM, MA; Clergy Session June 16
Ongoing information and updates: New England Annual Conference Session
A PDF of the Registration Packet with a mail-in registration form is available for download.
NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE E-NEWSLETTER
“UMCatalyst News Notes” is a weekly electronic newsletter with news and announcements from the New England Conference. To view newsletter online: Catalyst newsletter
EVENTS / INVITATIONS
DISCUSSION SERIES ON FOOD AND SUSTAINABILITY
”Menu for the Future,” 6 Sundays @ Noon, April 18-May 30 (no meeting on May 16), First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, 1221 Wendell Ave. Please contact Melissa McKinnon dre@fussonline.org phone 377-0002 if you plan to attend, or for more information.
“The act of putting into your mouth what the Earth has grown is perhaps your most direct interaction with the Earth.” -- Frances Moore Lappe
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS FOR BUILDING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
The Conference Council on Race & Religion (CCORR) will present a FREE workshop for the New England, Vermont & Upstate New York UMCs, Saturday May 15, 8:30 am – 4 pm at the Shenendehowa UMC, 971 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY. Please register by May 8: Joy Lowenthal, joylowenthal@yahoo.com or 518-477-9631
REMINDERS
FREE TROY CONFERENCE WEB SITES TO DISCONTINUE
Troy Conference has provided free web sites and a console management system to its churches, but as the conference transforms into its new entities, those web sites will no longer be available. Churches hosting their sites at troyconference.org will need to move to a new web provider before July 1. Full Story: Web site options
HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION
FOR NEW ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN UPPER NY
Please note: There are no plans for Dental or Vision coverage after June 30, 2010. You may want to plan your upcoming appointments accordingly.
HealthFlex Health Insurance Plan documents:
Blue Cross-Blue Shield EPO Medical Plan
Medco Pharmacy Plan
BC-BS Medicare Companion Plan
Also, the info on shared property insurance is online at http://uppernewyork.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=45860&PID=764969
Updated JAN’S SCHEDULE
Day of Sabbath: Fridays
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May 1 |
On the District |
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May 2 |
On the District |
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May 5 |
Cabinet |
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May 6 |
VT/NE Transition, Lebanon, NH |
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May 8 |
Embury District conference, Shaftsbury, VT |
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May 10-12 |
Cabinet meeting |
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May 20 |
Cabinet meeting |
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May 21 |
Troy Conference Clergy Session |
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May 22 |
Troy Annual Conference |
TO REACH the EMBURY DISTRICT OFFICE:
Phone and fax: (518) 235-2077
Email: emburydist@troyac.org
Embury District web site
Carrie is in the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mailing Address: PO Box 189, Clifton Park, NY 12065-0189
