Northern Flow/Mohawk

Weekly Newsletter

October 17, 2024

Contacting Northern Flow/Mohawk District Office

If you are trying to reach the district office please use the following information:

DS Rev. Weeden mikeweeden@unyumc.org

Email tammymcadam@unyumc.org

Phone 315-535-5149

Mailing Address PO Box 208 Gouverneur NY 13642

Office Hours Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you would like to sign up for our weekly newsletter or would like to have something posted please email me. Articles need to be sent in by Wednesday by 3:00 p.m..

Clayton United Methodist Church recently held an Advanced Lay Servant Course "From Pew to Pulpit" led by Pastor Earl LaLone

Here is a picture of the class, there was one participant that had to leave before the picture was taken.

Congratulations to all!

Upper New York Conference - Safe Sanctuaries® Team

SAFE SANCTUARIES® TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

WHEN: Saturday, November 2, 2024 9:00 a.m. - 12:30p.m.

Via Zoom

WHO: Individuals with responsibility for reducing the risk of abuse of children, youth, and vulnerable adults in the churches' ministries such as pastors, youth group leaders, Sunday School teachers, Vacation Bible School coordinators, music leaders, after-school program workers, home visitors, respite care workers.

WHAT: The goal of this course is reducing the risk of abuse. This basic course satisfies Upper New York's Minimum Standard that all adults who have regular and direct contact with children, youth and vulnerable adults are Safe Sanctuaries trained. Topics include the need for Safe Sanctuaries, types, and signs of abuse, recognizing signs of abuse and neglect, basic procedures in hiring/selecting workers, basic procedures in supervising workers and program participants, responding when abuse or neglect is disclosed or suspected, and reporting abuse. This course will not directly assist in Safe Sanctuaries policy and procedure development, nor does it address topics related to "sanctuary churches," sexual harassment, or active shooters.

This course is a prerequisite for Upper NY's Safe Sanctuaries Training of Trainers which is offered several times a year at various locations around Upper New York.

PRE-REGISTER at https://forms.gle/PJHPQ4woHsQDEoX3A

(click the link below)

https://forms.gle/PJHPQ4woHsQDEoX3A

Free Disaster Preparedness Training

Learn how to prepare for a disaster through an upcoming Connected Neighbors training workshop. UMCOR consultant, Pam Garrison, will be leading this free impactful training that will equip pastors and laity with essential skills to prepare themselves, their churches, and their communities for potential disasters. The first session will be held on November 2nd at Park UMC in Pulaski,

with a registration deadline of October 18.

Each training session runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with lunch provided. Don’t miss the chance to better prepare yourself and your community for disaster recovery.

Guidelines for Honoraria for Laity Providing Pulpit Supply

As many of you know, at our last Annual Conference in May the new Equitable Compensation passed for Clergy included an increase for pulpit supply beginning in January. There were many questions regarding compensation for Laity.

The Equitable Compensation Team works with Clergy Compensation only.

Jessica White and I were asked to submit our suggestions for Laity Honoraria for pulpit supply to the Cabinet. The Cabinet reviewed our suggestions and they approved the new suggested rates for Laity that will begin January 1, 2025. Please see the attachment for details. Please make sure this information is given to your SPRC/PPRC as well as your church treasurer.

May God continue to bless all of you in your ministry.

You can read more here

Mohawk 2024 Charge Conference Schedule

October 26, 9:30 a.m. Hosted by Hosted by Point Rock

Hawkinsville

Lee Center

Point Rock

Taberg

Florence

October 26, 1:30 p.m. Hosted by Prospect

Trenton

Ohio

Prospect

Remsen

South Lewis Parish

November 9, 9:30 a.m. Hosted by Clinton

Clinton

Utica New Harvest

New Hartford

Clark Mills

Lairdsville

Deansboro

Madison

November 9, 1 p.m. Hosted by St. Paul’s –

Sherril

Vernon

Vernon Center

Vienna

Oneida First

Oneida St. Paul’s

North Western

November 9, 4:00 p.m. Hosted by West Monroe

Cleveland

Camden

Bernards Bay

West Monroe

Constantia

November 10, 1:30 Hosted by Hosted by Frankfort-Ilion: Morning Star

Middleville

Herkimer First

Morning Star/- Frankfort

Newport

Sauquoit Valley

West Schuyler

Maynard

November 10^th 4:15 p.m. Hosted by West Moreland

Delta

Rome First

New London

Westmoreland

Lowell

Whitesboro Trinity

Northern Flow 2024 Charge Conference Schedule

December 7 10:00 a.m. Hosted by Gouverneur

Depeyster

Edwards

South Edwards

Ogdensburg

Gouverneur

North Gouverneur

October 27, 1:30 p.m. Hosted by Dekalb Jct.

Dekalb Junction

Russell

Degrasse

Hermon

Heuvelton

November 13, 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Beaver Falls

Beaver Falls

Lowville

Carthage

Beaver Valley

Martinsburg

Barnes Corners

Saturday., November 16 10 a.m. Hosted by Potsdam

Canton

Potsdam

Madrid

Brasher Falls

St. Regis Falls

West Stockholm

Brushton

Saturday. November 16, 2 p.m. Hosted by Massena First

Massena First

Massena Grace

Hogansburg

Raymondville

Waddington

Norwood

Norfolk

Sunday, November 17, 4 p.m. Hosted by Cape Vincent

Omar Fishers Landing

Redwood

Cape Vincent

Clayton

Depauville

Alexandria Bay

Three Mile Bay/Point Peninsula

Saturday, November 23^rd 9:30 Hosted by Pulaski

Belleville

Henderson

Ellisburg

Adams

Sulphur Springs

Pulaski

Sandy Creek

Mannsville/Lorraine

November 23, 1 p.m. Hosted by Watertown Asbury

Watertown Asbury

Watertown First

Black River

Brownville

Dexter

November 23, 4 p.m. Hosted by Great Bend

Harrisville

Great Bend

Champion

Natural Bridge

Evans Mills

Philadelphia

November 24 2:30 Hosted by Malone

Malone

Chateaugay

Brainardsville

Burke

Constable

Owls Head

Chasm Falls

CAN CHURCH FINANCES BE SPIRITUAL?

You may or may not know, but I am a Certified Public Accountant, and when I’m wearing that hat, I think things should balance, we should be budgeting and doing things practically. And I spent a lot of years in church Finance meetings thinking exactly that way. How about you?

Well, as my faith grew, and I started feeling a call to dedicate what I “did” to God, I started thinking a little differently. Maybe church finances isn’t just practical, but it’s also spiritual.

An article I read recently from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership opened this way: “when it comes to money matters or budgeting, does your church split into two camps? On one side are “the green eye shades” who believe the church should think and act like a business. On the other side are “the holier-than-thous” who decry any money talk as akin to money changes in the temple and believe God will provide if the church just has enough faith. These two camps often talk past each other, preventing meaningful dialogue and decision making.”[1]

It really resonated with me because I’ve been both, and sometimes at the same time! It took me a while to understand that thinking spiritually about money doesn’t throw out the practical perspective. What if we approached money from a spiritual perspective. Jesus talks about money a lot in the Bible, more than anything else, in fact. Some of this is coming back to hit me as I’m currently leading a small group of clergy in working on their financial wellness by participating in a study based on Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being put out by Wespath.

We talk about budgets and spending plan, reducing debt, increasing income, but it’s all from a spiritual perspective. Many of the worksheets and discussions have been held before in other secular budgeting and getting out of debt classes, but the approach here is so completely different that it’s made be think twice about things.

We have to put money in the proper perspective. Money isn’t inherently evil, but because living properly in relation to money is matter of spiritual importance. We are to use the resources entrusted to us by God in a way that demonstrates our faith and growth in discipleship.

Stewardship is an instrument of God’s abundance. We have faith in God, of course, but that faith doesn’t excuse us from being responsible stewards. If we believe God lovingly provides for our needs, we have to align ourselves with God’s purpose—both in caring for our own financial needs but also the financial needs of our church community.

Think about this!

If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.

I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.

Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center

We're excited to host our fall Men's Retreat November 8th - 9th

This will be lead by Rev. Bill Mudge & Rev. Nick Bufano, this will be a time to join in community with other men of faith.

Please message us on Facebook, or email Jill at office@aldersgateny.org to register!

If at any time through out the year, your church has a change in leadership please contact the district office as soon as that change is made.

This includes SPRC Chairs, treasurers, etc..

Please include all contact information including a valid email address.

Thank you!

You can send the information to tammymcadam@unyumc.org

CONFERENCE NEWS & INFORMATION

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Certified Lay Servants

Did you know you are able to take Lay Servant Courses online through Be A Disciple? They offer courses you can take that you can get credit for with your district. All you need to do is let the office know along with proof of completion and it will go in your record! For more information please click here