Thoughts from DS Olivia
It's that beautiful time of year when the trees are changing, our favorite holidays of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas are coming, and we have the happy occasion to go to the polls. Ha! We could talk about the prime time to peep the leaves or planning for the holidays, but voting? What a mess. Take a deep breath and relax as you are reading. I'm not going to tell you who to vote for! However, I want us to think about our Christian discipleship as we approach the ballot box.
First, we must be mindful that our allegiance is to Christ and to Christ alone. When we cast a vote we are participating in the processes of government, but our government does not save us, the person in the White House or in the legislature is human just like we are, and we must not give our allegiance to any of these people. When our allegiance is Jesus first we will not be swept up into the dangers of Christian Nationalism.
Second, we must be people centered on Jesus--who He is, what He said, what He did, and how He calls disciples. We may have opinions and passions, but they all must be tested against the person of Jesus Christ. How do we do this? Spend time reading the Gospels and praying that we will be people shaped by our Savior. We must know what Jesus said and prayerfully ask how it applies to the whole of the human experience. I like to take my opinions and my passions and lay them alongside what Jesus said are the marks of His disciples. Do they line up? Or am I more swayed by what someone on the news, on social media, or behind a teleprompter says? Jesus must be the center.
Third, we need to hold tight to the truth that power in the Kingdom of God doesn't look like power in the kingdoms of this world. We want a lion, and like John in the throne room of God in the book of Revelation, when we turn to look we find we follow a slaughtered lamb. As Christians, we are to be formed by this image and then live in this counter-culture way of being. We live a sacrificial life, a humble life, a Christ-shaped life that looks so different from the me-first, arrogant, and self-centered life that is peddled to us in the kingdoms of this world. Jesus said no to power in the way of this world in His temptation, may He teach us to do the same.
There is more, but this is probably enough for now. On this day, enjoy the majesty of God's creation in the changing season in this beautiful place we call home. Prepare for family, celebrations, gratitude, and the coming of Christ at Christmas with joy and anticipation! And be reminded that we are followers of Jesus, saved by His grace, sanctified by the Holy Spirit to live differently in the world around us. As you consider voting, may it be the Jesus Way guiding you in all things. And may our allegiance be only and always to Him. Jesus is Lord!
Pastor Olivia
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October is Pastor Appreciation Month!
Check out this article from Nazarene News to find out more. We want to bless the men and women who serve us so well! Be sure to honor them in a special way. There are ideas in the article linked above and the National Association of Evangelicals has compiled a list of creative ways to bless your Pastor too.
Thank you, Pastors, for all you do!
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Ministry Team Retreat will be November 8-10. We will be gathering in Penn Yan at the Hampton Inn. Dr. Dan Boone, the president of Trevecca Nazarene University, and his wife, Denise, will be joining us this year!
Pastors, if you haven't registered and plan to attend, contact the district office as soon as possible to reserve a spot!
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Let's Pray Together on November 26th at 7pm!
Upcoming District Wide Prayer Dates:
November 26th, 7pm
January 28th, 7pm
Register for the November 26th District Wide Prayer meeting, and a zoom link will be emailed to you on or by September 24th. You can register as an individual or as a group!
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District Youth Worker Network
NYI is hoping to create a network of youth workers on the district! We believe in community and want to foster that on our district. These quarterly trainings are focused on resourcing leaders, connecting similar ministries, and dreaming up new possibilities together! These nights are great for beginners to seasoned youth workers! And don’t forget to share this with your folks who work with young adults!
Grab some snacks, join us on zoom, and let’s unite to create an incredible ministry to our young adults and teenagers on the district! Sign up at the link below.
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Peace Initiative Restorative Circle
The Upstate NY Peace Initiative will be holding a restorative circle with other pastors from our district facilitated by Pastor Elizabeth Criscuolo.
This time will be spent sharing some important components of restorative work and practices. The evening will rely heavily on sharing in order to demonstrate the circling process. We want to be able to provide this follow-up opportunity because the response of those who attended the first circle in September was so warmly received. If you have any questions please contact Pastor Liz.
The restorative circle session will be held November 19th at 6pm.
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Nazarene Missions Team Guatemala 2025 Trip!
Registration IS OPEN for our Guatemala Nazarene Mission Team trip from September 19-27, 2025!!!
We are looking to form a 20-person team from across the Upstate New York District to help build God’s kingdom. And we want YOU!! The project will include construction on a church building (flooring, electricity, roofing, siding, etc.), and personal evangelism with missionaries. No experience building, welding, installing roofing? No problem! You can learn as you go! And your gifts, no matter what they are, are welcome and needed! The exact location of the project site will be determined in the coming months, and may be remote. Some site-seeing time is also included.
The projected cost of the trip is $1,750 per person, and may fluctuate due to airfare cost changes. The deadline for registration is February 1, 2025, and includes a $250 deposit to be paid to the District NMI Treasurer, Ray Gould. Please share the attached information sheet and application with your congregations. We encourage you and others in your congregations to take time to pray and discern God’s call for you to join this team. If God is calling you, respond in faith!
If you have any further questions, please reach out to Rev. Eric Verbovszky, District Nazarene Missions Team Coordinator.
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Thank you for a Great Season!
Below are 2 of my favorite highlights from the summer. To stay in the loop with highlights like these from Brooktondale Nazarene Camp, even through the off season, sign up for our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iphtQU
Have you ever seen kids lay prostrate on the floor in worship to the Lord? I got to witness this for myself night after night at our Children's Discovery Camp. As a parent to 2 of those kids, I was blown away! And I am so glad that other parents got to see it and be a part of their kid's experience too!
Not to be outdone, our teens picked up where our kid's left off at Teen Camp. The first night's simple message led to students lingering at the altar for 2-3 hours after the service. The same thing happened on night 2... and 3... and 4. And I don't know about your church, but that first Sunday after teen camp, our altars at church were full of teenagers who continued to be drawn by the Lord. Revival is stirring in our young people, lets fan the flame.
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Sign up now!
AFLAC is a wonderful way to be supported by your church. The District is offering a one-time benefit when you sign up to help offset the cost. We are encouraging every church to find a way to pay for this emergency insurance policy for you. When a cancer diagnosis comes, or a medical emergency no one expected occurs, finances that are already tight can become tighter. This plan is a great way to add a layer of care for those who care so much for you! While this is not a district-sponsored policy, we are making it available to the district. Check out the information below about how this will work!
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Changed in the Waiting:
A Pastor's Resource
Pastors! We want to resource you well as you lead your church. One way we are doing this is to offer the Advent Pastor's Resource to you at no cost. Use the code NYRK to receive this resource for free from the district.
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Life Long Learning
Hey Pastors — We are halfway through the 2024-2025 church year!
All pastors are required to complete 20+ hours of Lifelong Learning each year. Now is a good time to update and check your registry. Please list your learning hours on the registry.
If you are new to the district or licensed ministry, please log in and update your district information.
If you are enrolled in a qualified higher education program, you may be exempt from reporting lifelong learning hours.
Email the district office if you have any questions.
| Vision Partners offers coaching, workshops, and processes to help you confidently lead in God’s plan. |
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M25 Registration is Open!
M25 is a USA/Canada Regional quadrennial Nazarene conference focused entirely on evangelism. It includes plenary speakers, break-out workshops, affinity group meetings, and corporate worship times. Pastors, lay leaders, and students will leave this conference encouraged, equipped, empowered, and ready to engage in new ways of Bringing People to Jesus.
A limited number of scholarships will be available. Please reach out to DS Olivia for more information if you have a need.
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MinistrySafe Matters
Each month you will find helpful tools to use as you seek to keep kids and teens safe in your church. We encourage every church to be a MinistrySafe church!
If you are having a hard time paying for this vital resource, reach out to the district office and we will partner with you. This should not be seen as optional for any of us! A safety plan, background checks, helpful training, screenings, and monitoring are crucial. Three helpful links can be found below.
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Follow the Upstate NY District Church of the Nazarene Facebook Page! | | | | |
