news article

UNY churches celebrate ‘Back-to-School’ season

September 18, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Upper New York Conference placed a call for local churches to submit photos and a brief write-up about their “Back-to-School” or Sunday school kick-off events. Below are photos of submitted events as well as brief stories about how UNY churches celebrated the “Back-to-School” season. Note: If you haven’t submitted your church’s photo(s) and write-ups, you can still do so by emailing them to news@unyumc.org with the subject line “Back-to-School.”

Mecklenburg UMC – submitted by the Rev. Cheryl Hine

As the pastor of the Mecklenburg United Methodist Church in the Finger Lakes District, I wanted to briefly share that the church combined a “Back-to-School” event with a Children’s Sunday. The message was about “Making Disciples,” and the children helped me with this message. We tried to stir up some disciples in a mixing bowl, in a similar way that we stir up ingredients for a cake. The combination of flour, water, sugar, and salt did not create a new disciple. We even tried to add slices of zucchini since we thought maybe the batter lacked a healthy vegetable. However, still no disciples. So then we opened our Bibles to find out how to “make disciples,” and we found several scripture verses that gave better instructions (recipes) about how to make and be disciples in our world.

Following the message, one of the Sunday school teachers presented each child with his/her own packet of school supplies (paper, spiral notebook, pens, pencils, erasers, etc.). Each packet was neatly tied together with a lovely ribbon. We blessed the packets, letting each child know their church family loves each of them. We want them to know that the school supplies are one way their church family supports them in their education. Two of the children are home-schooled, so rather than using backpacks, we focused on the educational supplies.

After the worship service, there was an ice cream social, which the children (and adults) had been looking forward to for a few weeks. “Back-to-School” was not just part of the worship service or the fellowship time afterwards. The entire morning celebrated children, how much God loves them, and how Jesus welcomed and depended on children to help him with his ministry. It was, after all, a child who carried a lunch of loaves and fish that ultimately fed the crowd of 5,000.

Whitney Point UMC – submitted by the Rev. Corey Turnpenny

At Whitney Point UMC, we kicked-off our program year with “Church Has Left the Building Week!” After their first day of Sunday school, our children and youth hit the streets and wrote “love notes from God” on the sidewalks down Main Street in Whitney Point. The adults worked on service projects throughout town. All week long we’re continuing to do random acts of kindness, and we’re holding all our meetings and Bible studies in different community spaces rather than the church.

Averill Park Church of the Covenant UMC – submitted by the Rev. Joseph Auslander

We held a special registration and invited the parents to attend first thing in the morning. We began with an opening prayer, and people were invited to have a breakfast that was laid out for them. Then there was a time for arts and crafts, followed by a worship service. During the service’s children’s time, the teachers were invited to the front, where the children and congregation extended their hands for blessings on the teachers.

Newfield and Reynoldsville United Methodist churches – submitted by the Rev. Mike Kelly

At Newfield and Reynoldsville United Methodist churches, we took a different approach to “Back-to-School.” For our “Back-to-School” program, we joined Chris Allinger – and WQNY QCountry 103.7 – in Ithaca as he walks throughout Tompkins County carrying a backpack. In this backpack, he is collecting donations for the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier has a Backpack Program, which sends students in need home with food packs that provide two weekend meals for their families. The packs cost $3 per weekend per student. Last year, we participated in the program and donated $350. This year, we were much more active, and I met with Allinger in the morning of Sept. 18 to give him our donations live on air. At this point, our donations for this program are more than $750 from the Reynoldsville UMC and $1,500 from the Newfield UMC; a quick calculation shows that our donations up to this point will provide 750 backpack meals. I am proud.

Centenary UMC in Malone

Centenary United Methodist Church held a blessing of the backpacks the Sunday before school opened, and our congregation also collected three large crates of school supplies that were donated to our local middle school and two elementary schools for use by children who come to school without the necessary supplies.

Butler UMC, Countryside UMC in Port Byron, and Victory UMC in Wolcott of the Amazing Grace Parish – submitted by the Rev. Martha G. Robinson

The Amazing Grace Parish celebrated our annual “Back-to-School” Sunday on Sept. 6 with a combined service of all three churches gathering together to worship and celebrate the Eucharist as one. The whole service was directed toward those going to school for the first time or those returning to continue their studies through the college level. Besides blessing the students and their backpacks, we also celebrated school employees who were returning to their positions or starting new ones. We had five returning students and six school employees this year. 

The morning message was delivered by a young man – a fourth grader this year – who had been to the Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center for the first time this summer. He shared his camp experiences and a picture of his camp mates.

Even Communion was geared toward back-to-school, and people were wondering where the elements were when they entered church. The bread and juice were packed in a lunch box and were taken out during the Words of Institution. The boy who spoke and another fourth grader held the elements – the lunch box with the bread cubes and the "I made the grade" mug with the grape juice – as the congregants came forward to receive the symbols of Christ's mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

The video litany and the “God of Learning” song – both from The UMC’s Back-to-School resource page – were used in the service.

Auburn UMC – submitted by the Rev. Richelle Goff

Sept. 13 was our Rally Day and All Church Picnic at Auburn UMC! More than 150 people attended the church picnic following the worship service. We started with a meal, followed by activities for children of all ages. The theme was “Deep Blue,” which is our new Sunday school curriculum. Kids decorated their cupcakes with blue frosting and various water items (fish, mini umbrellas, etc.). There was Sunday school registration, face painting, and a bouncy church, too! Several other games were included as well. There was no doubt that all who attended had a great time! 

Vestal Center UMC – submitted by the Rev. Jeff Aiosa

On Sept. 6, we did our “Blessing of the Backpacks” during Children’s Time. Kids were asked to bring their backpacks to church. We placed them on the altar and prayed for the kids, our Sunday school teachers, and all teachers for their coming year. It was a very special time for everyone, a great way to start the school year.

Faith UMC in Schenectady – submitted by Susan Learner, Communications Coordinator at Faith UMC

On Aug. 29, the Faith United Methodist Church in Schenectady sponsored its second annual Back-2-School Neighborhood Celebration. The parking lot of the church was blocked off from traffic so community children and their families could enjoy a safe space to have fun, play games, create artwork, and eat ice cream and hotdogs as summer came to a close. Face-painting and a balloon artist were special features, along with a youth drill team. A local police lieutenant once again attended to show support and highlight school safety guidelines. The "Faith UMC Village" of volunteers and friends made it happen, with attendance virtually doubling from the previous year! While community vendors donated the refreshments, Faith UMC donated school supplies for the event. This year, Fidelis Health Care also donated supplies. We look forward to gathering the neighbors together again next year!

University UMC in Syracuse – submitted by Galyn Murphy-Stanley, outreach coordinator

We have enhanced our pantry offerings with child-friendly, nutritious food choices (granola bars, small yogurts, 100 percent juice boxes, fresh fruits, and vegetables). These items have become very popular choices for our families who have school-age children, as children can have a healthy snack before/after school that the child can independently access.

Our congregation and community have been very generous with school supply donations. By making products available during our Friday Community in late August and early September, children were able to  make their own selection of school supplies from their teacher’s lists.

Rite Aid mobile flu clinic will visit our Friday Community this month to provide guests, staff, and visitors an opportunity to get their seasonal flu shot, while everyone enjoys the hospitality of University UMC’s Friday Community.

First UMC of Warrensburg – submitted by Susan Andrews, Event co-Coordinator

We call our event “Ready Set Go … Back to School.”

The most special aspect of our supply collection is that as the supplies come in, so do youth volunteers. Volunteers from YouthWorks – a Christian organization based in Minnesota that sends volunteers out to mission sites across North America – arrive in Warrensburg for six weeks in the summer to do mission work in the community. This year, one group made school bags and filled them with supplies. The children were so excited to pick out their special bags.

We supply hot dogs, and children get to choose their own ice cream from an ice cream truck – some have told us this was their first experience.

This year, we gave out 175 bags of supplies to children and youth in two hours. It’s always a joyful ministry to do for the community!

New Hartford UMC – submitted by Christie Chesebro, Intentional Discipleship Coordinator

At the New Hartford First United Methodist Church, we had a great turn out for “Back to Sunday School.” Last year, our average weekly attendance was 20. At this year’s kick-off we had 51! There were 34 attendees in the adult class and 17 in the children and youth classes. We are doing the “Believe” study church-wide, and people are hungry to learn how to think, act, and be like Jesus. The Rev. Brad Chesebro, pastor at the New Hartford UMC, is continuing the “Believe” theme in his messages every Sunday morning.  It’s awesome to see everyone so excited to learn about Jesus!

Vestal UMC – submitted by Lana Roske, Administrative Assistant

The Vestal United Methodist Church held its annual "Rally Day" on Sept. 13.

Sunday school classes began for students of all ages: nursery  through adults. Following the Sunday school, a worship service was held with all choirs and our own Master's Choice Band, offering great music.

To make the day even more fun, a fellowship meal was provided following the church service, and our youth program kicked off that afternoon with the Vestal United Methodist Youth Fellowship Open Miniature Golf Tournament.

Oriskany Falls UMC – submitted by Mike Marris, Lay Leader

The Oriskany Falls UMC – through its Creekside Community Outreach Center, located at 105 Madison St., Oriskany Falls – filled 128 backpacks with school and grade-specific school supplies for students in 10 school districts. That is an increase from 78 backpacks in 2014. Creekside took orders throughout the summer months for backpacks and, based on each school's supply lists, filled the backpacks with supplies. The students and their families picked up the backpacks the week before school started. What a blessing it was for us to have this mission. Fourteen people helped fill the backpacks and seeing the students' faces when they picked them up made it a very fulfilling mission. The center runs a thrift store, and all money generated at Creekside goes to mission work in the community.

At the Sept. 13 worship service at Oriskany Falls UMC, during the children's time, Pastor Joelle Faulks – serving at the Madison, Deansboro, Oriskany Falls, and Bouckville United Methodist churches – performed the Blessing of the Backpacks. About 10 students were present, and the blessing went to all backpacks for all students, present or not. The blessing also falls upon the people involved in the mission.

Creekside looks forward to filling backpacks again in 2016. We thank God for all the volunteers at the Creekside Community Outreach Center in Oriskany Falls.

TAGGED / Communications