news stories Tagged “Connectional Ministries”
Cady Grant Award recipients for 2023
May 23, 2023 / By Blenda Smith
Five Cady Grants have been awarded this year, totaling $20,000. Awardees have demonstrated creative ways to support, educate, and enhance the lives of African Americans and Native Americans and their unique cultural values. Music Educators Wind Ensemble is commissioning a Native American composer to write an original classical piece to honor and commemorate the International Wampum Exhibit at Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, NY (March-September 2023). This exhibit is displaying 300-year-old …more
Inclusion isn’t a dirty word
May 22, 2023 / By Pastor Daniel J. Bradley, Faith Journey United Methodist Church
“When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” Acts 1:13-14 Some …more
Collections at the 2023 Upper New York Annual Conference
May 17, 2023 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
At this year’s Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference, held June 1-3, at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena in Syracuse, there will be three opportunities to give. During Opening Worship on June 1 at 10:30 a.m., there will be a collection for the UNY Mission Central HUB. The HUB is located at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool. It is a place for local churches to actively …more
Faith and my mental health journey
May 16, 2023 / By Rev. Tom LeBeau, pastor at Kidville Memorial and Mayville UMCs
I’ve written this in recognition of May, Mental Health Awareness Month. Someone I trust, my spiritual director, told me I have a sacred wound. He encouraged me to write about it. It is a major depressive disorder. Shame, pride and fear of being judged for lacking faith have stopped me from writing about it until now. Despite working in the mental health field for 15 years prior to becoming …more
Upper New York Conference welcomes Colleen Boyea
May 2, 2023 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In late January, Judy Campany left her role with Upper New York as Administrative Assistant for Connectional Ministries and Vital Congregations. Shortly after a search was engaged, applications gathered, and interviews shared. On May 1, Colleen Boyea joined the staff as Administrative Assistant for Missional Excellence. She will support the Director of Missional Excellence, the Director of Missional Engagement, Director of Spiritual Vitality, and the Director of New Faith Communities. Also …more
Children learning how to love themselves and others at Watertown First UMC
April 27, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s Note: A Little Child Will Lead Us is a recipient of a $2,500 Everyday Disaster grant from the Upper New York Conference’s Mission Central HUB. As one mother stated, this ministry has healed many children from underprivileged backgrounds and has helped them blossom. There are many theories as to why children are no longer in our churches, especially our smaller churches. Some say that kids are …more
The means of grace through coming to the Lord’s table
April 25, 2023 / By Pastor Daniel J. Bradley, Faith Journey United Methodist Church
It’s inborn in our humanity—the need to connect with people, places, and things. We have the desire to be more than we are as human beings. This can be a good thing or bad, depending on your perspective. Bishop Al Wesley Goodwin said, “We are not human beings having a supernatural experience. We are supernatural beings having a human experience.” Let that …more
Nueva Cosecha offers hope for immigrants
April 17, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Jouse Gonzalez, who served as the translator for interviews needed for this article. Intense, passionate words of praise from Pastor Antonio Gonzalez echoed through the gymnasium of Utica’s Neighborhood Center on Palm Sunday, thanking Jesus for his love and grace, and hollering that love is always the answer. The 25 congregants applauded Pastor Gonzalez consistently throughout the service. They were inspired. The 10 …more
Easter message from Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
April 9, 2023 / By Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
Editor's note: The following message was sent electronically on April 9, 2023 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez to United Methoidsts of Upper New York. “The angel said to the women, 'Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said …more
Staying Connected Part II—Living our Baptismal Covenant
March 30, 2023 / By Daniel J. Bradley, Pastor at Faith Journey UMC
Editor’s Note: The following is the second part of an essay written by Pastor Daniel Bradley about why it is essential in this season of renewal to connect with Christ and the Church. Click here to read Part I. The Baptism vows that my parents took for me when I was an infant were confirmed when I made my public declaration of faith when I was 13. They have …more