Northern Flow/Mohawk

Weekly Newsletter

October 3, 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..

There will be an In-Person Advanced Lay Servant Ministry Course

“Called to Preach"

offered at Asbury UMC, 200 Franklin Street, Watertown, NY 13601 on Sunday afternoons, October 13th & 27th from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Registration Cut-off date is October 11.

Students are responsible for obtaining their own textbook prior to start of class.

The class textbook is "From Pew to Pulpit: A Beginner's Guide to Preaching by Clifton F. Guthrie, ISBN 978-0-687-06660 and is available here

Leader is Rev. Michael Terrell

If you would like to register please contact the district office at tammymcadam@unyumc.org

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

Camp Aldersgate

Fall Work Day #2

Join us for a work day on October 26th from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

We will be packing up our sports equipment, shutting down cabins, and taking care of other end-of-season tasks!

PLANNED GIVING – COMMUNICATION AND BRAINSTORM

In continuing our talk on planned giving, I want to elaborate on the topic of communication.

I’ve spoken about the importance of planned giving, and that makes sense. If someone believes that the church’s work is important enough to support while living, of course they’d want to support it after as well.

Talk about planned giving
Prepare a tri-fold
Maybe even do a workshop to help people understand about different ways to give
But is that enough? Now, I have to be fair; that’s how I started and how I acted when planned giving was “assigned” to me in a local church.
But there’s a couple steps that I missed.

We have to communicate better. A tri-fold is great; but are you ready for some real conversations? We need to talk about why planned giving is important, but we also need to talk about how those gifts will be used.

If someone were to come up to you in the local church and ask “I have $100,000, or half a million, or a million, or just several thousand that I want to give the church; what are you going to do with it?” How would you answer that question? You HAVE to have an answer. I can almost guarantee that a nonprofit that is asked that question, has an answer, or several answers. So this leads us to the fun part of our conversation. Gather a team together (not a committee). This team should be comprised of a pastor, a lay leader, member of trustees, member of finance, and some other members of the church who LOVE the church and LOVE what God is doing through that church. Brainstorm. If money were no object, what are those things that would help the church?

Some will be capital improvements (new roof, landscaping, new doors or windows)
Others may be capital changes – new wing on the church, purchase of property
Others may be programmatic – programs and ministries that you haven’t been able to do because there just is never enough
Others may be staffing – new staff membership, training of current staff, etc.
There are so many things you could consider. Don’t worry about whether they are good ideas, or the best ideas, just start brainstorming and writing them down.
Then take some time and celebrate what you are doing and what you’ve accomplished!
Then, go through those brainstormed ideas and sort them. Some may be ideas that aren’t every going to be feasible or possible, but don’t throw them out. Put them to the side; things could change.
Then, with what’s left, sort by what are some real needs and how could monetary gifts help achieve them.
When you have a good handle on all these ideas, now comes some work:
Who are a few people (maybe from this team, maybe not) that could be the point people for planned giving and gifts? Who could people talk to if they are interested in making a gift? Have these people who have been chosen practice their responses.

Communicate some of these ideas. They may motivate people to name the church in their wills, or make some special gifts now.

Don’t just create and put out a tri-fold and hope for the best. Have someone who has named the church in their will or in a trust, or who has given a special “planned” gift talk about it.

Talk about it regularly; be available for conversation and questions.

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.

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