CONFERENCE NEWS & INFORMATION | |
From the desk of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez: 2024 appointment season
Appointment making is a year-round process made by Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, in conjunction with District Superintendents of the Upper New York Annual Conference. Appointments are prayerfully made to continue moving The Church forward with the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
This season faces unique realities that may impact appointment-making, including disaffiliations and the continued trends of contraction. These challenges also provide exciting opportunities to explore creative and collaborative approaches to pastoral leadership and congregational ministry.
United Methodists of Upper New York are urged to surround the cabinet and the appointment process in your prayers during the coming months.
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2024 Bishop's Retreat
The 2024 Bishop's Retreat is underway in Corning. Upper New York clergy and their spouses were invited to attend this three-day gathering to engage in worship, fellowship, a time of learning, participate in workshops, plus experience a little magic.
The focus of this year's retreat is clergy wellness. The Rev. Dr. Ron Bell from The Upper Room is one of the keynote speakers. The other keynote speaker is Andrew Q. Hendren, General Secretary and Chief Executive Office of Wespath.
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New episode of Spiritual Journey available
Praying the Psalms emerged from the communities of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, where reciting all 150 psalms was a common form of worship. Join the Rev. Nancy Dibelius as she dives into this ancient spiritual practice.
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UNY’s Rev. Abigail Browka featured in Compass Podcast
The United Methodist Church’s Compass Podcast featured Upper New York Rev. Abigail Browka in “Cultivating Everyday Spirituality in 2024.” The episode shares insights on tapping into creative spirituality, from the necessity of supporting one another in our spiritual paths to the role of brief, accessible spiritual practices in our daily lives. Listen to the podcast to explore the significance of daily spiritual practices, silent retreats, and the emergence of new spiritual practices and faith communities.
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New York State minimum wage/salary increase for 2024
There are new hourly and salary rates for New York State (NYS) employees effective Jan. 1. The new minimum wage rate for non-exempt employees is $15/hour and the new rate for salaried (exempt) is $58,458.40/year.
Upper New York churches serving as employers must comply and pay both non-exempt and exempt employees the new rates. In addition, an updated NYS minimum wage poster must also be on display.
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Important update to UMCOR Cleaning Buckets
Please be aware that UMCOR recently changed the Cleaning Bucket supply list to remove the option of gel air fresheners. Now, only the 4-8 oz pump spray air freshener is accepted. Click here for an example of the type of pump air freshener that is to be used.
This change was made because the gel air freshener created moisture in the bucket that could create mildew and damage the other products inside. If you have cleaning buckets at your church or community, please go through each bucket to check the quality of the products. If you find your buckets have gel air fresheners, and the products in the bucket are in good quality, please either replace the gel air freshener with the pump air freshener or bag the gel air fresheners to contain any moisture they may put off.
As a reminder, the UMCOR Relief Supply list can change frequently. Stay up to date by reviewing the item list before assembling a kit. You can review the lists for all of the current UMCOR lists here.
If you have any questions, please contact Kristina Clark, Director of Missional Engagement, at kristinaclark@unyumc.org.
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ACStats video tutorial: a step-by-step guide
Unlock the power of ACStats: your go-to resource for United Methodist Churches in Upper New York! The deadline to submit your 2023 church statistics digitally is approaching, and ACStats is here to streamline the process. Say goodbye to paperwork as you access local church insights, find pastors effortlessly, explore quick facts, and gain valuable visual insights with charts and graphs. ACStats makes submitting year-end statistics a breeze, ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Don't miss out on simplifying your church's data management – click the link below to watch the video on ACStats today!
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Sabbath Life retreats beginning in March 2024
Need to get away from the chaos of your daily routine? Join fellow clergy in the practice of Sabbath and soul care at Church in the Wild's Sabbath Life Retreat series.
Sabbath Life retreats will be held the third Monday of each month from March through November at Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The rhythm of a Sabbath Life day includes a time of welcome, engaging creation, worship and table, rest and recreation in shared silence, and time to reflect and connect. The program includes lunch and a CSA share of fresh local produce each month. Registration is for the entire nine-month series. The cost is $450.
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Casowasco's SOLID Youth Retreat
Experience Casowasco's SOLID Youth Retreat, where youth groups unite to explore how teenagers can nurture a resilient faith in an ever-changing world. Led by the Rev. Alison Schmied, four dynamic large-group sessions inspire young minds to ask tough questions, listen for answers, and align their lives with God's purpose. Between sessions, engage in high- and low-energy activities like the Stre-Ball tournament, theme night prep, crafts, and relaxation. This retreat is the ideal blend of fun and faith, providing a weekend of growth, community, and spiritual exploration for your youth group.
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Share your Together: Fresh Starts
Entering into a new year can be refreshing and empowering. It’s a time when people reconnect with practices that may have lapsed during the year or a time to try something new, such as visiting a church for the first time as a New Year’s resolution. Tell us how your church is helping people connect with the classic ethos of a new year.
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Spiritual decluttering: A fresh start for a new year
Clutter can build up in our church closets and in our personal lives. Parting with a few things for a season may help declutter your spiritual life and make room for a new movement of the Holy Spirit in the months to come. What might you set aside in the next year?
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2024 Special Sunday planning calendar available
The 2024 Special Sunday planning calendar highlights all the Special Sundays, Awareness Sundays, and Annual Conference Sundays of the year. The calendar offers tips and tools to ensure you provide all the opportunities for your church to come together and make an impact throughout the world.
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Event for young adults exploring ministry
The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry plans to hold Exploration on Feb. 16-18 at the DoubleTree Hotel near Universal Orlando in Florida. Exploration creates sacred space for young adults, ages 18-26, to be in meaningful fellowship, passionate worship, theological reflection, and practical workshops as they discern whether God is calling them to ordained United Methodist ministry.
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A changed mission reality: six major shifts
Discover the profound transformations in our evolving mission landscape as we delve into the six pivotal shifts that are redefining our world. These changes span across economic dynamics, family structures, religious paradigms, technological advancements, neighborhood dynamics, and the evolution of the church itself.
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Harnessing AI for church excellence
Join an informative two-part webinar series on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. and Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. CST, designed to demystify Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models like ChatGPT, tailored for United Methodist Church leaders and members. These user-friendly sessions offer a comprehensive introduction to groundbreaking technology, covering topics such as AI in Church Operations (Session 1) and AI for Enhanced Productivity (Session 2). The webinar series fee is $20.
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Pacific Islander church opens doors
The United Methodist Community in Las Vegas has embarked on a new ministry initiative aimed at serving the burgeoning Pacific Islander population in the city. Their community center in Las Vegas will now be the home to congregations of Tongan, Samoan, and Filipino United Methodists who originally started their journey at other United Methodist churches within the vicinity.
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Welcoming homeless to the neighborhood
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, dedicated volunteers from Richfield United Methodist Church are extending a warm welcome to formerly homeless individuals who are relocating to their neighborhood. The former Metro Inn is undergoing a transformation by Agate Housing and Services, providing permanent housing for those transitioning out of homelessness. Church members have thoughtfully assembled gift bags containing cleaning supplies and bedding, as well as crafting curtains and crocheting potholders for the new tenants.
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Phone: (315) 898-2000
Fax: (315) 898-2198
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