news stories
2022 UNY PALESTINIAN DINNER (Imagined) in honor of Co-chair Leah Mae Carlisle
June 7, 2022 / By Linda Bergh
IMAGINE!! Imagine, if you can, gathering at a downtown Syracuse church, smelling the enticing odors of chicken, rice, and spices as you enter; filling your plate from the rice, chicken, cauliflower dish (maqlouba = “upside down”), vegetarian rice with lentils, topped with carmelized onions, Palestinian salad, fresh pita bread and hummus, and having tempting pieces of baklava waiting for you at your table. And, imagine Shirley Stevens singing &ldquo …more
Reaching the marginalized and oppressed: Berlin UMC
June 7, 2022 / By UNY Communications
For the past 10 years, Berlin UMC has hosted "Hand me down days,” a clothing giveaway. The church members erect a tent in the parking lot and for 2-6 weeks, depending on the year, the tent is open for people to come and take whatever clothing they can use. When the event is complete, the remainder of the clothing is divided among other ministries handing out clothing. Some is kept …more
Summer Camp at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
June 1, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
From day camp to residential camp; from kayaking to white-water rafting; from the lakeside to the highlands; from arts and crafts to creating gadgets; from archery to riding rollercoasters, this summer, Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center has exciting summer-camp opportunities for children of all ages! David Weber, the site director for Casowasco is excited to report that camper registration has more than doubled since this point in time last year. …more
Youth speak truth
June 1, 2022 / By Kitty Dates
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in teh 2022 Issue I of the Advocate, which focused on children and youth. Click here to access the Advocate. Sometimes, congregations showing up to worship in the local church have a magical idea of how it all happens. There is a whole process of planning, learning, researching, and praying that goes into the preparation of every worship service. Generally, this …more
Attracting young families to church with puppets
June 1, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: This article originally arreared in the 2022 Issue I of the Advocate, which focused on children and youth. Spark, Goldie, Jimmy, Samuel, and “Big E” are responsible for growing the children’s ministry at Saranac Lake First United Methodist Church. These individuals are “The Not So Perfect” puppets, and “Big E” is Saranac Lake First UMC pastor, the Rev. Eric …more
Accountability groups healing souls in UNY
May 31, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Asbury First UMC of Rochester is one of the larger congregations in UNY. Over the last year Asbury First UMC has started Class Meeting accountability groups through The Discipleship Project. They have 8 groups from 8-12 members, and 10 commissioned lay Class Leaders, coordinated and led by clergy leader, the Rev. Rachel Dupont. Asbury uses a process that shepherds people through group spiritual formation toward mutual accountability. Their participation and retention rates …more
Celebrating the life of DS Vonda
May 29, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
“The teacher,” Pastor Stephen McKnight said, pointing to the Rev. Vonda Fossitt’s casket. “The student,” he said pointing to himself. This is how, Pastor McKnight opened the Celebration of Life service for DS Vonda on May 26, 2022, at New Light United Methodist Church, where Pastor McKnight serves. DS Vonda was District Superintendent of the Genesee Valley District in the Upper New York Conference. She died …more
From the Desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb: Texas elementary school shooting
May 25, 2022 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, sent the following note to the Upper New York Conference on May 25 as a response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24. Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Again! Again, we are faced with senseless violence, murder, and destruction of any sense of normalcy. African Americans should not have to fear being shot …more
A statement and call to action from the Conference Commission on Religion & Race
May 25, 2022 / By Conference Commission on Religion & Race
As we continue to process the overwhelming grief, pain, and outrage of the hate-driven murders in Buffalo on May 14th, we ask our Lord and Savior to move us from prayers to actions that bring an end to racial violence in all its forms. As we consider specific responses to systemic racism, it is important that we first remember the historic relationship between acts of white supremacist terror and other …more
Children and Youth Ministry, the very heartbeat of our churches
May 25, 2022 / By Lynne Kimpland, Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Endwell UMC
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in the 2022 Issue I of the Advocate, which focused on children and youth throughout the UNY Conference. Click here to access the Advocate. The year 2019 was the culmination of effort, planning, inspiring, and training leaders. The six years leading up to this time at Endwell UMC produced numerous family-fun entry points in our community with our Children and Youth Mission Statement …more