news stories
Teaching children to pray: A helpful script
April 4, 2017 / By Kerry Evans, Jamesville Community Church
Editor’s Note: The theme of our next issue of the Advocate, which will arrive at local churches and be accessible through our website the first week in April, is Together in Prayer. The issue features many stories of how prayer has made a difference from an individual-level, all the way to our Conference level. Like this story, some of the stories provide guidance on teaching children to pray. …more
A Reflection of UpWord! 2k17
April 4, 2017 / By Kristian J. Snyder, CCYM Member 2017-2018
Hundreds of youth and adults from all across Upper New York came together in Liverpool, N.Y.for UpWord! 2k17. UpWord! 2k17 was held on March 31 - April 2 at the Liverpool Holiday Inn. There were over 300 youth and adults who joined the 57Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) members who planned and organized the event. There were a total of 35 youth groups from 10 different districts in attendance. The weekend included 15 …more
2017 Pre-Conference Briefing to be produced via video this year
March 30, 2017 / By UNY Communications
In years prior, leading up to the Annual Conference, Pre-Conference Briefings were held across the UNY area to provide information about the budget, pensions and benefits, resolutions, constitutional amendments, and other details to help you feel prepared for Annual Conference. This year, we have successfully developed a narrative budget and conducted listening sessions across the UNY Conference to discuss the budget. You can review and/or download our 2018 narrative budget …more
The Rev. Dr. John Tyson reflects on John and Charles Wesley’s prayer life
March 27, 2017 / By UNY Communications
Editor’s Note: The next issue of the Advocate, which will arrive at local churches and be accessible through our website in early April, focuses on prayer. For this issue, we connected with Wesleyan scholar, the Rev. Dr. John Tyson to learn more about John and Charles Wesley’s prayer life and insight on how the Wesley’s teachings can help nurture our prayer life today. Below …more
Update on Milford UMC and Fonda-Fultonville UMC
March 16, 2017 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Please continue to pray for Milford UMC and Fonda-Fultonville UMC as they recover from the fires that destroyed their buildings earlier this week. The Milford UMC, which caught on fire Sunday March 12, begins moving forward. In a letter to her congregation, Millford UMC pastor, the Rev. Sylvia Barrett, explained the logistical and administrative procedures that have taken place since the fire. She said, “We are working on an inventory …more
Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean to serve as AC17 study leader
March 8, 2017 / By Kathleen Christiansen
Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean will serve as the study leader at the 2017 Upper New York Annual Conference session, which takes place June 1-3 in Syracuse. “I’m delighted to be at Annual Conference,” she said. “There are lots of people that I love that are serving in the Upper New York Conference. I’m really happy to do it.” Dr. Dean is an ordained …more
Budget listening sessions begin in Upper New York
March 7, 2017 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
At the 2016 Annual Conference, after much deliberation, the 2017 Conference budget passed with an added motion for the Conference Council of Finance & Administration (CF&A) to lead the production of a narrative budget that includes one paragraph describing the ministry and priorities of each line item in our 2018 ministry share budget for the 2017 Annual Conference to be posted on the UNYAC website at least two weeks prior to …more
We are moving!
February 28, 2017 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference office will be moving to the new United Methodist Center at 7481 Henry Clay Blvd in Liverpool, N.Y. 13088, March 17-21. To accommodate the move, the office will be closed. The office will be reopening on Wednesday March 22 at the new location. Upon reopening, the Conference office hours will remain the same (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). The new phone number for the …more
Sue Russell named Director of Asbury Camp and Retreat Center
February 27, 2017 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The UNY Conference is pleased to announce that Sue Russell has been named Director of Asbury Camp and Retreat Center. Having served as the Interim Director of Asbury since the spring of 2016, Sue’s history at Asbury is notable. Sue was hired in June of 2011 at Asbury as the Guest Services Coordinator. In February of 2015, she became the Assistant Director. The UNY Director of Camp & Retreat Ministries, Mike …more
United Methodist Men hosting Conference-wide shoe drive
February 22, 2017 / By UNY Communications Team
The Upper New York Conference United Methodist Men is sponsoring “Shoes For Service,” a shoe drive that will benefit Upstate New York Veterans, from March 1-31. UM Men is working with Funds2Orgs, which gives organizations money based on the total weight of the shoes gathered during shoe drive campaigns. UM Men will collect all types of shoes, including boots and flip flops, as well as shoes for …more