news stories
New structure in UNY Camp & Retreat Ministries
October 28, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Camp & Retreat Ministries is one of the most effective ways to introduce young people to God, especially in current times with the decline in the number of youth members throughout the Methodist Church. Upper New York (UNY) wants to maintain thriving Camp & Retreat ministries and has made a decision that will help make this possible. Michael Huber, the current Director of UNY Camp & Retreat Ministries as well …more
Rev. Grace Imathiu helps revitalize your Advent sermon series
October 25, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Advent is just over a month away. Have you planned your Advent sermon series? Is it the same year after year? If so, the Rev. Grace Imathiu wants to change that. She was the featured speaker at the 2019 Upper New York Bishop’s Retreat held Oct. 22-24 at the RIT Inn in Rochester, NY. Dean of the UNY Cabinet, the Rev. Nola Anderson introduced Rev. Imathiu as “a …more
St. Croix mission trip—a moving experience
October 21, 2019 / By Roger Cullen
From Sept. 21-Oct. 5, 2019, eight people from Upper New York (UNY) joined a crew of 22 volunteers from throughout the Northeastern Jurisdiction and beyond on a mission trip to St. Croix. In all our Team 32 worked on six homes putting on finishing touches, starting new projects, and significant work on whole roofs. We worked in the Frederiksted area on homes for permanent residents who are seniors, or disabled, or dealing with significant …more
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Pastor Appreciation
October 15, 2019 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: October is Pastor Appreciation Month. On Tuesday Oct. 15, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb, sent a letter to all pastors in the Upper New York Conference expressing his gratitude for their leadership and commitment to pursuing and living out God’s call upon their lives. Dear Friends, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus! During this month of Pastor Appreciation, …more
NEJ Native American Ministries Committee meets at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool
October 15, 2019 / By Kae Wilbert, UNY CONAM Chair
Upper New York’s Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) hosted the annual meeting of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee (NEJNAMC) Oct 10-12 at the United Methodist Conference Center in Liverpool. Guest speakers Rev. Dr. Thom WhiteWolf Fassett and Dr. Michael Martin brought new ideas, old ideas, common sense and Native traditions to a new level of understanding of the role we as CONAMs do play and …more
“AMENding through Faith”—an eye-opening event
October 14, 2019 / By Mark Jones, UNY UMM President
“AMENding through Faith” is a violence-prevention training initiative developed by the YWCA in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area. This YWCA currently operates one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the state of Tennessee. Operators of this shelter observed that the shelter had remained at 100% capacity much of the time. Education and self-awareness training were developed in response to constant flow of battered and abused women seeking …more
“New Places for New People” campaign update
October 8, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
“New Places for New People” is an Upper New York Conference campaign to raise funds for existing and new New Faith Communities. This campaign began last spring and gained a lot of momentum at the Upper New York Annual Conference in June. It’s not too late to become a “New Places for New People” Partner. The original deadline was November 1, 2019 and it has been …more
Rev. Suzanne Block offers hope through the unexpected at her installation service
October 8, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Oct. 6, 2019, at the Christ UMC, Olean, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb officially appointed the Rev. Suzanne Block as the Cornerstone District Superintendent (DS). This year, Isiah 55 came to Bishop Webb’s thoughts in his prayers for the Cornerstone DS. He said, “This passage (from Isaiah) describes the kind of life we are called to live, but I also think it’s a …more
Red Bird shoebox drop-off sites announced
October 7, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Dave Alexander and the mission team at Endwell United Methodist Church are again coordinating the collection and delivery of shoeboxes for the Red Bird Mission. Red Bird Mission is a poverty-relief organization that serves a remote, impoverished population in Bell, Clay, and Leslie counties in southeastern Kentucky. For several years, the Upper New York Conference has participated in the shoebox mission. Last December, four volunteers drove two 26-foot …more
UNY Delegation gathers at United Methodist Center
October 1, 2019 / By Stephen J. Hustedt / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Members of the Upper New York Conference Delegation to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences gathered at the United Methodist Center on Saturday Sept. 28. Those who were unable to be physically present had the option of participating remotely. The morning was spent discussing how the delegation would continue to work together and learning about proposed changes to the clergy pension plan. The afternoon was spent planning their process for the potential …more