News Stories from February 2023
Joining God’s mission
February 27, 2023 / By Rev. Olga E. Gonzalez, Racial Ethnic Missionary
Are you feeling a call to be a missionary? My call to missions goes back to when I was a child. I grew up listening the testimonies of my uncle Miguel Gonzalez, who has been a missionary for more than 50 years. He’s now a missional pastor in Costa Rica along with his wife Sara. He was always receiving pastors and friends at my grandmother’s house, where …more
Lent throughout Upper New York
February 27, 2023 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Churches in Upper New York (UNY) are living into our vision of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and loving their neighbors in all places this Lenten season. Many of the Ash Wednesday services planned throughout the Conference last Wednesday were canceled due to extreme weather, but local churches were quick to change gears and offer their services remotely through Zoom or Facebook. Churches are continuing their community meals and …more
Mid-Term State of The United Methodist Church set for March 2
February 27, 2023 / By Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga Director of Communications Council of Bishops
Council of Bishops President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton will deliver a Mid-Term State of The United Methodist Church Address on March 2, 2023, at 1pm EST. The video presentation will launch on the official United Methodist denominational website at UMC.org/Renew and be shared on Facebook.com/UnitedMethodistChurch. The news comes on the heels of Bishop Bickerton’s Ash Wednesday message in which he encouraged …more
Clara’s Closet supports thousands of refugees
February 27, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Clara’s Closet is far more than a closet—this clothing, bedding, hygiene, and home goods ministry takes up the entire basement of Buffalo: Central Park UMC. Set up like a department store, racks upon racks of clothing are arranged by gender and size, including a large room dedicated to baby and children’s clothing. There is also a room of particularly trendy clothing with tweens and …more
Realignment for Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding and Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens
February 22, 2023 / By UNY Communications
Over the past six weeks, Upper New York (UNY) Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, has assessed the UNY executive staff structure and portfolios. After much prayer and discernment, Bishop Héctor is excited to announce two realignments in the executive team, effective March 1, 2023. The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding will be appointed as Assistant to the Bishop of the Upper New York Area of …more
We are community
February 22, 2023 / By Pastor Daniel J. Bradley, Faith Journey United Methodist Church
Community is at the heart of everything we do as the Church of Jesus Christ. Faith does not happen in a vacuum. Faith happens when we walk the road of life with the people God has placed on the path with us. We don’t get to pick and choose who is on road. What we do with those individuals is integral to their faith and ours. Scripture tells …more
Celebrating miracles at Jonesville UMC
February 22, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
We last covered Jonesville United Methodist Church’s Stigma Takes Away Hope and Life (STAHL) ministry and its Alcoholism and Addiction Family Recovery Resource Center a year ago and since then, the committee has become larger and impressively active. STAHL works to create an awareness of drug and alcohol addiction and to provide support to family members and those in recovery. STAHL founder, Phyllis Mullaney, said, “As they …more
On the Mission podcast: Better Together for Lent
February 21, 2023 / By UNY Communications
Upper New York has launched its podcast, called On the Mission. We will frequently offer series with different themes. Our first theme is “Better Together,” which will carry you through the Lenten season. We live in a time when the difference between us is often highlighted more than anything else. To say we live in a world that feels divided is no shock to most. Yet, we are …more
Special Message from Bishop Burgos – Disaffiliations
February 17, 2023 / By Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez The United Methodist Church Serving the Upper New York Area
Editor's Note: The following letter was emailed to clergy and laity in the Upper New York Conference on Feb. 17, 2023 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez. “…the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 Dear United Methodists in Upper …more
Shelby Winchell named new Director of Communications
February 15, 2023 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference is excited to announce that Shelby Winchell has been promoted as the new Director of Communications for the Upper New York Conference. She is replacing Steve Hustedt, who vacated the role in the fall of 2022 to become the top communicator for the College of Science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Shelby is a familiar face around Upper New York. She joined the Conference …more