news stories
Rush UMC fulfills dream with two projects
February 20, 2018 / By Kathleen Christiansen
When the Rush United Methodist Church was built a little over 20 years, there was always a desire to use the church’s land to provide opportunities for the community. The first opportunity came when the church built a large picnic pavilion – that seats 150 people – for public use, said the Rev. Cathy Hall Stengel, pastor at the Rush UMC. More recently, the church expanded upon this dream with …more
Soup sale helps kids go to camp
February 20, 2018 / By Kathleen Christiansen
Children at the Odessa-Catharine United Methodist Church rarely had the opportunity to go to camp during the summer, so the church decided to do something about it – with the help of soup. For the past few years, the Odessa-Catharine UMC has hosted its Soup-to-Go-Sale to raise money for the "Send our Kids to Camp Scholarship Fund,” which helps send the church’s children to summer camp at …more
Bishop Webb names Rev. Earthrowl as Adirondack District Superintendent
February 19, 2018 / By UNY Communications
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb is pleased to announce his intention to appoint the Rev. Deborah Earthrowl as Superintendent of the Adirondack District, effective July 1. Rev. Earthrowl currently serves as pastor of the Salem and West Hebron United Methodist churches in the Adirondack District. She has been involved in various leadership positions in Upper New York, as well as a predecessor conference. She currently …more
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Response to the school shooting in Florida
February 15, 2018 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's note: On Feb. 15 Bishop Mark J. Webb sent the following letter about the shooting at a Florida high school. Sisters and brothers in Christ, Our hearts ache and our spirits grieve as once again senseless violence and evil has taken the lives of innocent people. I invite you to join me in praying for the victims and families of the shooting yesterday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. …more
Imagine No Racism locations announced
February 13, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On April 21, 2018 from 12:30-4 p.m., clergy and lay members across the Upper New York Conference will have the opportunity to unite together and begin strategizing how they can work together to eliminate racism. Click here to read Upper New York Area Resident Bishop’s invitation to this event. This event will feature Bishop Webb and members of the Bishop’s Taskforce on Eliminating Racism. The event …more
Annual Conference 2018 speakers announced
February 13, 2018 / By UNY Communications team
The quadrennium theme “Together in Prayer” continues at the 2018 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference with a sub-theme of “Boldly Living Our Call.” The Rev. Dr. Gregory Jones of Duke Divinity School will be the guest study leader. His emphasis will be on living our call in the Wesleyan Way. Bishop Dennis Proctor of the North Eastern Episcopal District of the African Methodist …more
What Launchpad is all about
February 13, 2018 / By Rev. Dave Masland, Director of New Faith Communities
On Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3, 52 people gathered at the United Methodist Center for Upper NY Conference’s Launchpad 2018. Launchpad is essentially a boot camp for people that feel called by God to plant a New Faith Community in their neighborhood. The materials were developed by Path 1, the planting arm of the United Methodist Church. Three years ago, Bill Vallet and I were approved by Path 1 to teach …more
Bishops urge Methodists to deny themselves for the sake of Gospel this Lent
February 13, 2018 / By UMC Council of Bishops
In a message sent on behalf of UMC bishops to United Methodists throughout the world, Council of Bishops President Bishop Bruce R. Ough challenged fellow Christians to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ words in Mark 8:34-35, where he said: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will …more
Teaching children about emergency relief efforts
February 13, 2018 / By Mike Block, Director of Missional Engagement of the Upper New York Conference and lay member of Immanuel (Church of the Bells) UMC in Camillus, NY
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared In the Winter 2018 Issue of the Advocate, which zeroed in on the ministry of the laity. It is not often that one has the opportunity to share information regarding regional and worldly events with a young audience. As part of the Sunday School “JAM” (Jesus And Me) session at Immanuel UMC, our youth coordinator, Carol Doucette had asked if I could …more
What you need to know about Annual Conference 2018: Getting There
February 13, 2018 / By Vicki Swanson
This year, the Annual Conference is at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College (OCC). GPS Address is: 4585 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse NY 13215; comprehensive directions from multiple locations can be found here: http://www.sunyocc.edu/index.aspx?menu=807&id=1817 Buses: There will be shuttle buses from the Crowne Plaza and Genesee Grande. Youth and others staying at the Parkview will have access to the shuttle leaving from …more