Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

August 6, 2024

Next newsletter is August 20, 2024

Please submit items for inclusion to the district office no later

than Friday before.

A Note from Sherri:

“Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”

Jeremiah 6:16 NRSVUE

We’ve been talking about the importance of knowing where we’re heading as a congregation. If we don’t know where we’re going, how will we know when we’ve arrived? We’ve explored the definition of a local church, found in ¶201 of The Book of Discipline. Let’s look at ¶202 The Function of a Local Church.

¶ 202.  The Function of the Local Church — The church of Jesus Christ exists in and for the world. It is primarily at the level of the charge consisting of one or more local churches that the church encounters the world. The local church is a strategic base from which Christians move out to the structures of society. The function of the local church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to help people to accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to live their daily lives in light of their relationship with God. Therefore, the local church is to minister to persons in the community where the church is located, to provide appropriate training and nurture to all, to cooperate in ministry with other local churches, to defend God’s creation and live as an ecologically responsible community, and to participate in the worldwide mission of the church, as minimal expectations of an authentic church.      

Let’s list this out:

1.       Help people accept and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

2.     Help people live their daily lives in light of their relationship with God.

3.     Minister to persons in the community where the church is located.

4.     Provide appropriate training and nurture to all.

5.     Cooperate in ministry with other local churches.

6.     Defend God’s creation and live as an ecologically responsible community.

7.     Participate in the worldwide mission of the church.

These are the minimal expectations of an authentic church.

How is your church doing with these expectations? I encourage you to spend some time with other church leaders and discuss these 7 areas. What assistance do you need to move your community of faith toward living into these expectations? Let me know what you discover.

Prayerfully yours,

Sherri

Explore New Opportunities in Mission Leadership!

Are you interested in leading a mission journey in your community or beyond? Join us for the UMVIM Team Leader Training on October 5th at the Upper New York Conference Center in Liverpool, NY. This intensive session, led by Ray Yarnell, NEJ Volunteers in Mission Coordinator, is designed for both new and seasoned mission leaders in the local church.

Key Topics Include:

• Spiritual Leadership
• Mission Safety and Health
• Cultural Competency
• Understanding Poverty
• Types of Mission Service
• What to Expect Before, During, and After Your Journey

By attending, you'll gain invaluable skills and insights to effectively lead mission trips, whether locally or internationally. Lunch and all training materials are provided.

Early bird registration is $15 until August 31^st ! After that, the price increases to $25. 

Register now at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/vimtraining/event/tlt/

Just a reminder to update your contact information

for the district. All mail should be sent to:

District Office

PO Box 23206

Rochester, NY 14692

Please also update our email address to:

betsyoflynn@unyumc.org

Thanks

Crossroads District News

Church Announcements

Stewardship with Susan Ranous

Please check out the blog below

CLICK HERE for the Blog: Stewardship with Susan Ranous

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The Camillus First United Methodist Church is searching

for candidates to fill their Pianist and/or Organist position. 

This candidate will be responsible for choosing and preparing a Prelude, Offertory, and Postlude for Sunday worship services

each Sunday at 10:00 am. In addition, this candidate will be responsible

for choosing music and playing on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Christmas Eve. 

If you are interested in this position,

please call 315-672-3051 to schedule an interview.

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Now - Sept 26, 2024

LAKESIDE FARMERS MARKET

2024

SUPPORT LOCAL!!

In the parking lot of the

Bridgeport United Methodist Church –

3-6 p.m. Thursdays      June 27 – Sept. 26

(weather permitting)

Fresh Vegetables and Fruits

Baked Goods and Crafts

Childrens’ Activity, Prayer and Wellness Tent

Chicken Dinners every week -

$12 includes ½ chicken and 2 sides

Bridgeport United Methodist Church

377 RT 31            PO Box 369

Bridgeport NY 13030

315-633-9745

Pastor Omar Hall

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Now - August 27, 2024

PENNELLVILLE FARMERS MARKET 

A Farmers Market will be held every Tuesday,

July 16th thru August 27th, at the Pennellville United Methodist Church parking lot from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

The church is located at 389 County Route 54 in Pennellville. 

We hope to connect our community with the best in local produce and products at reasonable prices. The church will also be selling hot dogs, macaroni salad, potato chips, soda and water. 

On dates of our Free Will Dinners (July 30th and August 27th), there will be no food sold at the Farmers Market. 

You will have the opportunity to eat inside the church at the

Free Will Dinner from 4:00 until 5:30 p.m.

New vendors are welcome. There is no charge for a space. 

You must feature homegrown and/or homemade products. 

Any vendor who is interested may contact

Jeff Hodge at (315) 383-4384, Bonnie Frawley at (315) 695-2193,

or Chris McCabe at (315) 516-4875. 

Please call as soon as possible to reserve a space.

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August 22, 2024

United Methodist Night at the Ballpark

NBT Stadium located at 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse NY 13208

Syracuse Mets vs Durham Bulls

A Family & Friends Fun Night

Sponsored by: Syracuse United Methodist Ministries

Thursday, August 22nd, Game starts at 6:35pm

Tickets: $18.00

Contacts: andmcand@hotmail.com or 917-723-0901; rdennis31@verizon.net or 315-345-6338

To order tickets please click the link below

CLICK HERE for a Flyer

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August 23-24, 2024

SAVE THE DATE

Cicero UMC's Rummage Sale is returning August 23-24, 2024.

Please stay tuned for more information.

CLICK HERE for a Save the Date Flyer

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Finger Lakes District News

Church Announcements

Organist needed for the Lyons United Methodist Church,

93 William Street, Lyons, New York.

The job includes one practice a week with the praise band and choir

plus playing on Sunday morning. Salary negotiable with experience.

If interested, please call 315-946-9628 and leave a message.

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Reminder: Update your Church Information on the UNY Website:

Thank you to all the churches that have sent updates and/or corrections to their church information listed on the conference website.

If you have not sent in an update or OK as is - please send a reply

email to the district office.

CLICK HERE for the Crossroads District listings

CLICK HERE for Finger Lakes District listings

CLICK HERE to reach the district office

Crossroads and Finger Lakes District Superintendent

Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood - Sherrirood@unyumc.org

Crossroads District Lay Leader

Darlene Dennis

Robert Mueller

Finger Lakes District Lay Leader

TBD

Superintendency Administrative Assistant

Betsy O'Flynn - betsyoflynn@unyumc.org

Office # - (585) 340-9525

PO Box 23206

Rochester, NY 14692