news stories Tagged “Districts”
From the Desk of Bishop Héctor: Devastating Flooding in Central Texas
July 10, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following message was sent to United Methodists of Upper New York on Thursday, July 10, 2025 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez about the flooding across Central Texas and New Mexico. Beloved Family of God, Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastation caused by the catastrophic floods across Central Texas. Lives have been tragically lost, families uprooted, …more
Preaching with Purpose: Inside the Rest. Work. Play. cohort experience
June 25, 2025 / By Shelby Winchell, Director of Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Tuesday, June 24, the Rev. Abigail Browka and Pastor Bekah Solar, both serving as Associate Directors of Missional Excellence, hosted a Preachers: Rest. Work. Play virtual open house to discuss the Compelling Preaching Initiative. This four-year initiative is designed to help preachers cultivate healthy rhythms of rest, work, and play through a ten-month cohort experience. Why just ten months? Because preachers are busy—the program is intentionally …more
From the Desk of Bishop Hector: From Reflection to Renewal: Shaping the Future Together
June 23, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following note was sent electronically to United Methodists of Upper New York on Monday, June 23 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez. “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. …more
Moving forward at Casowasco
June 23, 2025 / By Casowasco Discernment Team / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
During this sabbatical season at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center, we’re reminded of the vital importance of rest. Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28–29: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… and you will find rest for your souls. Though this pause hasn’t always been easy, it has given Casowasco the needed space to lie …more
Campfires, cleanup, and connection: Aldersgate Rally ignites hearts
June 17, 2025 / By Pastor Kevin Kitto, Lowville UMC
The Aldersgate Regional Rally Day was an incredible success, filled with joy, connection, and inspiration! Over the weekend, we witnessed the power of community as participants came together to celebrate, learn, and make a lasting impact on the lives of our youth. Nearly 60 volunteers from a handful of local churches, including Lowville, Carthage, Champion, Natural Bridge, Beaver Falls, Turin, Martinsburg, and Constableville, pitched in to help get Aldersgate …more
Creation Care: Doing it God’s way
June 17, 2025 / By Dr. Andrew Hartley, Creation Care Chair / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s Note: The following commentary was written by Dr. Andrew Hartley, Chair of the UNY Creation Care Team. The views expressed in this article are of the author and team, and not of Bishop Burgos Núñez or any Upper New York staff member. If you are familiar with the Bible’s book of Genesis, you know that God gave the …more
Pentecost Message from Bishop Burgos – A Call to Reclaim Our Baptismal Vows
June 6, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following message was sent to United Methodists of Upper New York on Friday, June 6, 2025 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, urging us to reclaim and faithfully live our baptismal vows this Pentecost. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory …more
2024 CVA Allocation Update: A testament to stewardship and faith
May 6, 2025 / By Bob Flask, Conference Treasurer / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
At the 2024 Upper New York Annual Conference (UNY) session, conference members passed a resolution to allocate $7.8 million from the Child Victims Act (CVA) costs to the reserved fund for the UNY Board of Pension and Health. At that time, UNY was conducting the 2023 annual audit, leading auditors to allocate this cost to the operating year of 2023 based on incurred expenses and completed settlements. Initially, concerns arose about allocating such …more
Rest. Work. Play. How we’re shaping a healthier future for preachers
April 22, 2025 / By Rev. Abigail Browka, Associate Director of Missional Excellence / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
What do you get when you ask a group of preachers to slow down? You get revelation. That’s exactly what happened when our first cohort of Preachers: Rest. Work. Play. gathered for their Opening Renewal Trip in Belize earlier this year. Click here to read about the experience and click here to watch a video documenting it. What many thought would be a quiet week of …more
Passing of Pope Francis
April 21, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following message was sent to United Methodists of Upper New York on Monday, April 21, 2025 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez about the passing of Pope Francis. Dear Siblings in Christ, Grace and peace to you in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. It is with hearts heavy yet full of hope that we …more