December 24, 2024 Crossroads and Finger Lakes Newsletter

Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

December 24, 2024

Next newsletter is January 7, 2025

Please submit items for inclusion to the district office no later

than Friday before.

Please note the district office is closed December 23rd to January 2nd.

For emergencies please call the conference office at 315-760-6720.

A Note from Sherri:

“For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders,

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

Without fail, every year I am amazed by the Christmas story. God loves us so much, God was willing to become one of us, as a tiny and helpless baby. This baby was not born to powerful and wealthy parents, but to an ordinary girl, who said “yes” when God’s angel came to her with a preposterous proposal. The man to whom the girl was betrothed was also guided by an angel. This miracle baby was not born in a palace, and attended by servants, but in a stable, because his parents were travelers and had no place to stay. Some might call them refugees. The first people who were told of his birth were shepherds, marginalized social outcasts. Summoned by angels, the ran to find the baby, wrapped in swaddling cloth, just as they wrapped the newborn lambs, and lying in a manger, a common ordinary feeding trough. This child would become the Living Bread, sent from heaven, one who would have authority resting on his shoulders. But let’s not go there just yet. For these few days, let’s marvel at the infant Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, just as we marvel at the miracle of all babies.

Some of the themes of the Christmas story are trust, obedience, awe, joy, peace, and love. All these attributes seem to be in short supply these days. My prayer is that we will find a healthy and renewed sense of these gifts, that they may bolster as us we move forward into the new year. There are deeply important and timely messages in the Christmas story if look for them. Messages that tell us about who God is and how we are to live as followers of Jesus. The good news is that God is with us, God continues to love us and calls us to be conduits of love and grace for a weary and wounded world. May your Christmas season be abundantly blessed as we wonder at and live the Christmas story.

Grace and peace,

Sherri

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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Hannibal Center/South Hannibal UMC is looking for the

CD set for the United Methodist Hymnal.

With many churches using computers many of these sets

are probably collecting dust.

Please contact Jim Sokolowski at 315-532-2864.

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December 24, 2024

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Usher in Christmas at a moving celebration of word, song and

candlelight at our Christmas Eve Service on

Tuesday, December 24th at 11:00 p.m.

The Pennellville United Methodist Church will host this event

at 389 County Route 54 in Pennellville.

It's a beautiful way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Come and join us in this celebration.

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January 5, 2025

The Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) welcomes everyone to its free will dinner on Sunday, January 5 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. or until gone. The menu includes meatball sub, tossed salad, cake and beverage.

The eat-in dinner will be served downstairs (please use Utica Street entrance). Donations will be accepted, but never expected. The free will dinners usually occur the first Sunday of each month starting at 4:30.

The church is located at 45 East Utica Street, corner of East 4^th and Utica, Oswego. Everyone is welcome to attend in person worship on Sunday starting at 10:00 a.m. For further information, please call and leave a message at (315) 343-1715 or visit https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.

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January 11, 2025

Jordan UMC is hosting a Pulled Pork dinner.

Saturday, January 11th

4:30pm until gone

DRIVE THRU ONLY

The church is located at 63 Elbridge Street, Jordan MY

Menu: Pulled pork with roll, coleslaw, pasta salad, Applesauce, dessert

CASH donations gladly accepted but none required

CLICK HERE for a flyer

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February 2, 2025

The Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) welcomes everyone

to its free will dinner will be Sunday, February 2 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. or until gone. The menu includes beef stew, rolls, cookies, and beverage

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June 3-6, 2025

Sight and Sound Theater to see NOAH

Lancaster Bus Trip

June 3-6 2025

The trip includes transportation and lodging, with three breakfasts, dinners,

shows, driver gratuity and more.

Sponsored by Cicero United Methodist Church Caring Group

For more information, contact Mary Alice Scheel at 315-699-7181

Cost is $875.00 per person double, $950.00 Single

A $250.00 deposit is needed As Soon As Possible

Finger Lakes District News

Church Announcements

Geneva First UMC is looking for a Music Director / Organist

Part time: 10 hours/week

Salary: approx $14,000 - $15,000

(negotiable, commensurate with experience)

Job Benefits include:

Vacation: may be gone up to 4 Sundays per year.

For a full job description or to apply contact:

Tricia Maurer Leadership Team Chairperson

Phone: 315-789-6550 (church office) or

by email: genevanyfumc@gmail.com & tmaurer374@gmail.com

CLICK HERE for the Job Description

CLICK HERE for the Flyer to Post

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