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

Prayer concerns

Please keep the family and friends of the Rev. Bob and Pastor Joy Lowenthal in your prayers. Their son, Benjamin J. Lowenthal, died on Sunday, May 19. A Celebration of Life is planned for 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 2 at First UMC of Corinth, 243 Main St. in Corinth followed by a time of fellowship. The service will be livestreamed on the First UMC of Corinth’s Facebook page. Click here. Cards of condolence can be sent to the Lowenthals at 84 Lona Lane, Rensselaer, NY 12144. Click here to read Benjamin’s obituary.

Please continue to keep Roger Waldron, retired local pastor and husband of Pastor Debby Waldron (West Fort Ann UMC) in your prayers. Roger has been hospitalized and his condition continues to worsen.

Please keep the family and friends of Marilynn H. Peterson in your prayers. Marilynn, 96, died on Easter Sunday, March 31. She was predeceased by her husband, the Rev. Thomas Peterson in 2005. Rev. Peterson served several Upper New York churches, including South Glen Falls UMC, First UMC Delmar, Hartford UMC, and churches in Troy and Schenectady in the former Troy Conference. Condolences can be sent to Marilynn's daughter Lynn Martin at 123 W. Groton Rd, Groton, NY 13073. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 1 at 1 PM at Ballston Spa UMC, 101 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa. Click here to read the full obituary. If you wish to make a donation in Marilynn's memory, please consider a gift to UMCOR, 458 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Building A, Suite 1, Atlanta, GA 30308. Attention: Izabel Scott. You can add a note asking that the family be notified that a gift was made in Marilynn's memory (please provide them with Lynn Martin's address noted above.)

Please send us your prayer requests and joys! Send to carrieboyer@unyumc.org

Annual Conference registration is closed. Next time to register is at the Conference on May 30, or watch via livestream

The next opportunity to register will be at the start of Annual Conference on Thursday, May 30. Registration opens at 8:30 AM (Worship begins at 10 AM.) Meal arrangements are made in advance with the venue and can only be guaranteed for the first 50 people who register late and on-site. All late registrants will be charged an additional $50 fee.

The Conference runs May 30-June 1.

If you are not planning to join us in-person at the SRC Arena in Syracuse, join us virtually by watching the livestream on the Conference website, where you can also access daily notes about each of the services, reports, and petition and resolution results. You can also view/download the 2024 Pre-Conference Workbook and all updates and addendums online as well.

Annual Conference general information

Congregations encouraged to participate in "Love Offering" for the Engage Fund to be collected at Annual Conference

The Engage Fund is a new initiative that aims to invest in the youth of Upper New York now and in years to come.

United Methodists of Upper New York are asked to participate in a "love offering" through their church, and in return, pastors and congregational leaders should bring the offering's collection to Annual Conference to be shared during opening worship.

Watch the video: Click here

Access the toolkit, which includes a letter to pastors, the transcript of the video and a bulletin for churches. Click here

Advanced Lay Servant Class Offered by the Northern Flow District via ZOOM

Leading Prayer

Course Leader: Martha Helmer, CLM

Order text: Let the Whole Church Say Amen, by Laurence Hull Stookey

Where: Hybrid course, in person at Canton UMC or by ZOOM

When: Saturdays, June 1 and June 8 from 9 AM to 1:30 PM

Please be prepared to review Exercises 1-5. If coming in person, please bring a bag lunch. Coffee and tea provided.

Sign up at the district office, designating in-person or Zoom participation tammymcadam@unyumc.org

Aldersgate Camp hosts Family Life Weekend

Each year Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center, Greig, NY hosts Family Life Weekend. Moms, Dads, kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends are all welcome! Together we enjoy swimming, boating, relaxing, square dancing, singing, fellowship, campfires and more. “Growing Up in Christ: God’s Gracious Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Maturity” is the topic Rev. Dr. Doug Cullum will help participants explore this summer, July 12 – 14, 2024. Visit https://aldersgateny.org/upcoming-events/ for more information or email office@aldersgateny.org. The weekend is a wonderful way to introduce your family to a Christian camping experience; Friday dinner through Sunday lunch.

The Recap: Special #UMCGC episode

Spend a few minutes to get an overview of what occurred at the Postponed 2020 General Conference, including key legislative actions, celebrations of milestones and ministry reports, as well as learn how the historic gathering will impact the denomination’s future. To view, click here.

Closeup of Clouds

I find it fascinating how cloud formations can spark the imagination. When I look at today’s image, at first glance I see a giant foot. As I continue to look at it, I see a face adorned with a giant mustache, another glance reveals a toothless grin.

It is amazing how when we spend the time to study something that new information is revealed. Even as spending time with a person can reveal aspects of who they are that weren’t initially apparent. In some cases, time may prove our initial evaluation of an individual completely wrong. Then there is the reality that just as weather can change cloud formations, so too the influence of the events of daily life can radically change individuals. In fact, the possibility of change is at the center of the ministry of Jesus, who sacrificed his very life that this world might be redeemed and become the Paradise God created it to be.

Sunday we will celebrated Pentecost and the ability of the Holy Spirit, the life-giving breath of God to breathe life into individuals and communities who feel there is no hope for them. I believe that the power of God’s love will not be defeated. There may be conflict and violence in this world of ours, but the day is coming when the vision John of Patmos describes in Revelation will be reality with God wiping away or tears and all that is evil is vanquished. Already I see glimpses of it as followers of the way of Jesus Christ seek to share his love with their neighbors.

Today’s photo was taken in the Adirondacks from Batchellerville Bridge across The Great Sacandaga Lake on May 11, 2024.

I have done more than 1,400 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.