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Adirondack and Albany District Newsletter
Send us your news, events and classifieds: carrieboyer@unyumc.org
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Saturday, July 25, 2024
District Office hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays; 8 AM to 5:30 PM except Thursdays, 8 AM to 2:30 PM. Call Carrie Boyer @ (518) 608-1246 or send an email to carrieboyer@unyumc.org
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Please send all emails to carrieboyer@unyumc.org
The District phone is (518) 608-1246 and our mailing address is PO Box 511, Newtonville, NY 12128.
Our District Superintendent, the Rev. Debbie Earthrowl can be reached at (518) 391-3215 and debbieearthrowl@unyumc.org
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Newsletter Format
We have combined the Adirondack and Albany newsletters. In order to shorten the body of the newsletter, there are two links to Local Church News:
Events/Announcements: Click here
Meals/Sales and Classifieds: Click here
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Don't Miss Any Important News/Announcements from the Conference Office!
To ensure that you don't miss any important information,
please consider subscribing to the following:
Click here to subscribe to UNY Notes.
Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Digest
Click here to read the Weekly Digest published July 24.
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Prayer concerns
Please keep retired pastor, the Rev. Judy Humphrey Fox and her husband Tim, in your prayers. Tim continues to struggle with a chronic illness.
If you have a prayer concern, or a joy, that you would like to share, please contact Carrie Boyer at carrieboyer@unyumc.org. If you would like to receive cards of care and concern, please include your mailing address.
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Mark your calendar!
District Day is Saturday, Sept. 28 at
Saratoga Springs UMC
We have 15 workshops and 11 facilitators lined up so far, with more to come. Look for full descriptions of the workshops and a registration form in mid-August.
More details are in the Events/Announcements listing (link is at the top of the newsletter under "What's New?")
Here is the current list of workshops:
Stewardship; Local Church Finance; Simplifying Your Church Leadership Structure; Christian Yoga; Soul Collage; Dying, Death and Grief; Mission Insite; Prayer Beads; Guided Meditation; Accountable Discipleship; Covenant Discipleship Groups; Lay Servant Ministry; Missional Excellence; Opportunities for Youth Ministry; Harmony from Division; more to be announced soon.
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Bishop LaTrelle Easterling anoints the forehead of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez during the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference held July 10-12 in Pittsburgh. To the left is Bishop John R. Schol and Bishop Marcus Matthews. | |
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Putting hope in the 'harder thing'
WASHINGTON (UM News) — Regionalization allows the worldwide church to remain United Methodist in a new connectional way, writes the Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli. After serving as a delegate to the recently held General Conference, she is hopeful for what these worldwide gatherings might be like in the future.
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Stewardship with Rev. Susan Ranous
Today's article focuses on "What Else Do We Need for a Good Stewardship Plan? Click here to read more. And you can sign up for her blog.
Rev. Ranous will be offering two workshops at our District Day on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Saratoga Springs UMC; One on Stewardship, and one on Local Church Finances. More information and sign-ups will be posted in upcoming newsletters.
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Find Back-to-School Resources
Summer will be over soon, which means children will be headed back to school. Help prepare students in your church/community for another school year with prayers, encouragement and celebrations. Find the right resources and plan your back-to-school outreach now. To read more, click here.
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ResourceUMC
Prayer Partner Project returns fall 2024
Do you pray? How often do you pray? Do you want to grow as a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you want to have someone you can trust and with whom you can share? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, sign up for the Prayer Partner Project! You can register as an individual, or as your church or church group, such as United Women in Faith, a Bible study group, or a craft team. You'll choose a prayer partner (a friend, co-worker, family member, or neighbor within or outside the church). You and your prayer partner will decide how often to communicate and pray for each other.
To read more, click here.
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Skye Farm camp off to a great start!
Still time to register!!
The first month of Skye Farm Camp have been wonderful for campers and staff alike. Some weeks are full, but there are still some that have openings. Click here to view the program offerings and to register.
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Connecting through TikTok
With the ever-changing landscape of ministering in a digital age, you may wonder if TikTok is appropriate for your church and congregation. Here are some ways your church can reach new people through this social media outlet. To read more, click here.
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Our UMC has local, national and global reach! | |
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Rev. Lisa DePaz (left) with migrants and church members hosted at Haws Ave. UMC in Norristown, PA. Recipient of 2023 Mustard Seed Migration Grant.
Global Ministries
Churches step up to help migrants
ATLANTA — United Methodist churches throughout the U.S. are in ministry with migrants struggling to make a new life in America. In Norristown, Pennsylvania, Haws Avenue UMC used a $2,000 Mustard Seed Migration Grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief to set up Comunidad de Paz Haws, its ministry to the Hispanic-Latino population. Christie R. House reports on several such programs.
Read story
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Doing 'small things with great love'
PHILADELPHIA — In a beleaguered Philadelphia neighborhood where rampant drug trafficking, violence and despair have long reigned, a ministry supported by Lighthouse Fellowship United Methodist Church in Glenside, Pennsylvania, has been offering hope. A small team of street ministry servants from Shores of Grace Philly shows up every other Sunday afternoon outside Hope Park, giving out food and other items and connecting with a community in need. John W. Coleman reports.
Read story
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The Disaster Management Office team for the South Congo Episcopal Area poses in front of Kasapa Central Prison with prison staff and volunteers. Kasapa, home to some 2,679 prisoners, is near Lubumbashi, Congo.
Church helps feed prisoners in Congo
LUBUMBASHI, Congo (UM News) — With support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief, church members in Southern Congo provided food and other supplies to inmates at Kasapa Central Prison. Church leaders also brought a message of hope. Christian Kasweka has the story.
Read story
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Council of Bishops
Bishops condemn attacks on civilians
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops condemns Russia’s ongoing attacks on civilian targets, most recently the attack on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. Attacks against civilian targets are war crimes and a violation of all humanitarian principles, the bishops said in a statement.
Read statement
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United Methodist Communications
Unsung Heroes of Methodism: Jacob Albright
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Born to German immigrants in colonial Pennsylvania, Jacob Albright (Jakob Albrecht) would go on to found the Evangelical Association, one of The United Methodist Church’s predecessor denominations. Albright’s early life was marked by tragedy and hardship, which directly led him into ministry. Philip J. Brooks has his story in the latest installment of the Unsung Heroes of Methodism series.
Read story
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District Superintendent Rev. Debbie Earthrowl posts a daily devotional on Facebook
Click here to view Tuesday's devotion, which focuses on the fulfillment of prophecy in Matthew Chapter 26. Debbie reminds us of the great sacrifice of Jesus for us. She prays that we can always be watching for ways that we can follow more closely in the steps of Jesus.
Debbie shares her devotion live on Facebook every morning.
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JULY 25, 2024
Rewarding Work
Sam Whatley (Alabama, USA)
Link to Today's Devotional
READING FOR THE DAY
Matthew 18:1-5
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
It is a joy to help God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us find joy as we join you in building your kingdom on earth. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Rose Garden Beauty
While recent events have demonstrated the presence of hate and violence, I continue to believe that there is great beauty present in our world. Beauty which we can ignore and be part of that which is ugly or choose to cultivate.
As a follower of the way of Jesus, I believe that God has reached out to us with love and calls us to love one another. I further believe that each of us are created in God’s image and are intended by our Creator to be channels of love. A love which is willing to let go of hatred, to embrace forgiveness rather than revenge. I believe that this is God’s intention for this world of ours and that failure to do that is the cause of what is ugly in a world that God intended to be filled with beauty.
Your local Faith Community stands ready to celebrate our faith in a loving God, help you grow in your relationship with God, and support you in your struggles.
Today’s photo was taken in The Rose Garden in Central Park, Schenectady, NY on June 16, 2013.
I have done more than 1,500 Daily Photo Devotions, most of which can be seen on my blog at Blog Posts – Daily Photo Devotions (wordpress.com).
Shalom,
David E. Smith, Pastor
Mayfield & Northampton at Fish House United Methodist Churches
Phone or Text: 518-572-4051
Email: revdavid76@gmail.com
You can find this and other devotions in my blog at www.adirondacksights.wordpress.com. You can also find more of my pictures on my web site www.revdavidimages.com.
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