news article
District Days: Informed to Transform
October 12, 2023 / By Carrie Boyer, Adirondack and Albany Districts Superitendency Administrative Assistant
The Adirondack and Albany Districts hosted their annual “District Day: Informed to Transform,” on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Saratoga Springs UMC. More than 80 people participated, with 10 facilitators offering a total of 16 workshops. Fifty-one churches were represented. Each participant was able to choose three workshops for the all-day affair, which included a worship service and a free lunch, thanks to the generosity of the Adirondack District Lay Servant Team. This was our fifth event.
Workshops offered included Stewardship, Local Church Finance, Christian Yoga, Drama in Bible Study, Mission Insite, Asset-Based Community Development, Suicide Prevention and Grief, Harm Reduction in Faith Communities, Simplifying Your Church Leadership, Blending Lectio Divinia and Mandalas, Congregational Care, Harmony From Division, Lay Servant Ministry, Covenant Discipleship, Prayer Beads and Discernment as a Spiritual Practice. Click here to view the descriptions of each workshop.
Facilitators included three from the UNY Conference Staff: the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, the Rev. Susan Ranous and Kristina Clark. Others were Albany/Adirondack District Superintendent, the Rev. Debbie Earthrowl, the Rev. Meredith Vanderminden, the Rev. Derek Hansen, Katherine Chambers from the Council for Prevention/Hope and Healing RCOC of Hudson Falls, Albany and Adirondack Lay Servant Directors Darlene Suto and Pastor Bruce Hazard, and Certified Lay Speaker Bruce France.
Pastor Brendan Fox led us in worship.
Many folks provided feedback on their experience at the end of the day, citing the chance to worship and connect with others and the quality of workshops/facilitators as highlights of their day. Many said the downside was they couldn’t take more workshops! Some offered suggestions for future workshops.
The day was a blessing for all.