February 18, 2025 Crossroads and Finger Lakes Newsletter

Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts

February 18, 2025

Next newsletter is March 4, 2025

Please submit items for inclusion to the district office no later

than Friday before.

A Note from Sherri:

For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12:4-5

I’ve been thinking about the United Methodist Connection and how we are connected to one another, as individuals and congregations, with United Methodists around the world. We seem to have lost sight of our connection to one another, or if we acknowledge it at all, see it as a detriment rather than a blessing. That’s unfortunate, because together, we can do more than any one person or church could do on their own.

Part of my thinking about connection is how we respond to the task of providing statistical information to the general church. More than one pastor has told me, “I want to do real ministry, not complete reports.” While completing reports is not exciting work, it is real ministry. For instance, those numbers help decide how the general church will set jurisdictional boundaries and influences the number of bishops who will serve. Those numbers are used to determine your local congregation’s shared ministries, and the shared ministries of the conference – yes! The conference pays shared ministries to the jurisdiction and the general church! Those shared ministries are used in a variety of ways including funding global mission, leadership development and crisis response. Those numbers are an indicator of the health and vitality of your congregation. Just like your temperature and blood pressure give an indication of your physical health, the statistical information you provide gives a snapshot of the health of the congregation. Does it tell the whole picture? No. But it does provide some important indicators of vitality.

To date, 362 of our churches have not submitted their statistical data – and the deadline was last week. That’s more than half of the churches in our conference. Friends, we are connected to one another. We rely on one another, working together to be the church in a world that needs us now more than ever. When we don’t follow through with the work that is before us, we all suffer. It makes it more difficult for the conference staff to do their work, and for the general church to make good decisions on our behalf that will benefit us all. As United Methodists, I pray we will bless one another by leaning into our covenant relationship and by taking seriously the shared work that is before us.

Grace and peace,

Sherri

UMHEF Scholarship April 1st Deadline

Apply by April 1 for Scholarships from the UM Higher Education Foundation!

Applications are due April 1st for scholarships from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Don't miss out on some of the $2+ million awarded every year to students attending United Methodist-related colleges, universities, and seminaries. Learn more and apply by April 1st at https://umhef.org/apply. (Note: UMHEF scholarships are separate from those offered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.)

UM Dollars for Scholars Program Awards up to $4,000!

The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation offers the UM Dollars for Scholars program. A $1,000 scholarship from a student's church is matched by UMHEF as well as participating UM-related schools and UM conference foundations for up to $4,000 to help pay your higher education. Learn more and apply by April 1st at https://umhef.org/umdfs. (Awards and final amounts are not guaranteed.)

SCHOLARSHIP FAQs

2025 UMHEF REFERENCE GUIDE

ERT Basic Training:

Celebrate UMCOR Sunday a day early by joining an

Early Response Team Training on March 29th!

This training will give you the skills you need to make a difference

when disaster strikes in your community.

You’ll learn key skills like roof tarping, debris removal, and

how to care for survivors.

Date: March 29th, 9AM - 5PM

Location: Rush United Methodist Church ( 6200 Rush Lima Rd, Rush, NY)

Cost: $35 (includes materials, lunch, background check, and ID badge)

Questions: disasterresponse@unyumc.org

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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March 2, 2025

Local Church Offers Free Will Dinner

The Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) welcomes everyone to its free will dinner on Sunday, March 2 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. or until gone. The menu includes Spanish rice, tossed salad, rolls, cookies,

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 next free will dinner will be Sunday, April 6 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. or until gone. The menu includes roast beef, mashed potatoes, vegetable, rolls, cupcakes, and beverage.

In case of inclement weather, please check Channel 9 or Spectrum news TV stations (or websites) for any cancellations.

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; visit https://trinityumcoswego.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.

CLICK HERE for a Flyer

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March 15, 2025

Manlius UMC presents an Organ Concert featuring Cathy Koch

Saturday March 15th at 7:00pm

Enjoy sacred and classical music played by Cathy on our very own Pipe Organ.

Event is FREE and open to the public. Bring a Friend!

The church is located

on the corner of Wesley & Pleasant Streets in Manlius.

Click here for a Flyer

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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

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July 24, 2025

Syracuse United Methodist Ministries is sponsoring

A Family & Friends Fun Night

NBT Bank Stadium

1 Tex Simone Drive

Syracuse NY 13208

Syracuse Mets vs Omaha Storm Chasers

Game starts at 6:35pm

Tickets are $18.00

The 45h annual United Methodist Night at the Ballpark game-

Syracuse Mets vs Omaha Storm Chasers

There will be no tailgate party, but food and beverages will be discounted (Dollar Thursday). Like last year, we will have 200-level assigned seats. We will gather at 6.15 pm at Home Plate to sing the national anthem.

Please do not miss this fun event. Order your tickets by the JULY 10, 2025.

For more information or ticket reservation, please call or email

Rev. Andy M Anderson – at 917-723-0901 Email: andmcand@hotmail.com

Darlene Dennis – 315-345-6338 Email: rdennis31@verizon.net

Bellevue Heights UMC – 315-475-0011 Email: bellevueheightsums@gmail.com.

Make Check Payable to: Bellevue Heights UMC with Game written on the memo line and mail to: Bellevue Heights UMC, 2112 S. Geddes Street, Syracuse, NY 13207

Please, do not miss this fun event. Order your tickets by July 10.

CLICK HERE for Flyer and order Form

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Finger Lakes District News

Church Announcements

February 22, 2025

Lansing UMC to host a Spaghetti Dinner

Eat In or Take Out

$10/dinner

All proceeds benefit "The Giving Tree" ministries with families with children

The church is located at 32 Brickyard Road, Lansing NY 14882

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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