E-MAIL: MohawkDistrict@unyumc.org

WEB SITE: http://www.mohawkdistrictumc.org/

This is the weekly e-news of the Mohawk District.

You are able to include news emailed to the District Office by Tuesday.

This information can be shared with congregations verbally and in print.

To subscribe, send email address to District Office, mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org.

Pray, Fast, Give

Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews is challenging United Methodists during this Advent season to:

- take five minutes every day to pray;

o take one day each week during Advent to fast; and

§ to donate those funds saved by the fasting to your local church for missions and ministries and to help flood recovery efforts.

Read the full letter on the UNY Conference Website: http://unyumc.org/news/detail/895

Africa University Scholarship Endowment Bulletin Insert – ALL CHURCHES ARE ASKED TO USE

A bulletin insert describing the work of the Africa University Scholarship Endowment Fund Task Force and its 3-year campaign to raise $1 million for scholarships at Africa University is provided for you . Please use this insert sometime this fall. The inserts highlight events that are coming up in the campaign. Attached are color and black and white versions; the PDFs are also available for download from the AU scholarship web page at www.unyumc.org/auscholarship.

Feeding 1 Million People in 1 Year

Hello Mohawk District!

Reporting

I have heard that some churches are experiencing difficulties reporting their information about their feeding activities. I hope this link helps

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHBLSkFsbGFnc3R5LXVHLUl3TndEYmc6MQ

Here is how I got there if that doesn’t work. Go to the conference website: unyumc.org then go to mission and ministry to find the reporting form. There are many things that your church is most likely already doing that will help us reach our goal. CROP walk counts!!!!! Please report it. If you have not reported anything yet, get a rough estimate and report it the first time you do any reporting. Remember we started this in July and it will run to July 2012.

Thanks,

Brian Fellows

2012 DATES FROM the BISHOP’s office

Please do not plan weddings or church functions for the following dates in 2012.

Please put these dates on your calendar today!

May 19^th – Clergy & Laity Session - time & location TBA

May 31-June 2 – Upper New York Annual Conference

May 18^th – Retirement Luncheon – time & location TBA

May 19^th – Pre-Conference Briefing 9:00 am-12:30pm – location TBA

May 19^th – Clergy & Laity Session - 12:30pm-5pm- location TBA

May 31-June 2 - Annual Conference

The 2012 Annual Conference Session will be shorter – Thursday to Saturday, May 31 to June 2, in Syracuse. The session will officially begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, and will include one full day of holy conferencing on Friday, June 1. The service for those being commissioned and ordained will be Saturday afternoon. Thursday’s events include the extension ministry luncheon and the ordination rehearsal.

New Information - Acts 29 Gathering – Learning and Growing with Clergy Peers

Tuesday, December 6, 9-11:30A.M.

New Hartford UMC

All clergy are invited

Those, who were not able to make it on November 14, are still invited to learn and grow together with peers.

Agenda

1.Building collegial bond and relationship and envisioning our journey together

2.We will visit the upper room where the apostles received the Power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 to understand what it was and how to experience this in today’s world.

3.Discussion – How can we lead our congregations to have the Pentacost Experience?

4.Planning on studying Adam Hamilton’s “Leading Beyond the Walls,” which is an excellent book for developing skills and leadership to lead congregations effectively. Books will be available at the gathering.

5.Introduction to adaptive leadership which is a kind of leadership for making changes.

For more details, read the attached document, “Acts 29 Gathering.”

Meeting Schedule (changed from the previous notice)

Due to the conflicts with other events and the seasonal life of the church, we will be meeting only once in the months December and January:

Tuesday, December 6

Tuesday, January 17

9:00-11:30A.M. at New Hartford UMC

New Information - Fellowship, Celebration and Covenant Renewal for New Year

Clergy and Families to Gather in celebration of Epiphany

This year the district clergy will be gathering again in celebration of Epiphany. It is time for fellowship, celebration of the gift in Christ for the world and renewal of our covenant with God for a new year.

Sung Ho invites all clergy and families to gather at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 11, at Trinity UMC, 8595 Westmoreland Road, for an Epiphany celebration. There will be a meal and worship and fellowship. Kindly make your reservations by Dec. 31 to the Mohawk District Office, 315-797-1777, mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org.

Forms for 2011 due Dec. 1

Churches of Mohawk District,

A gentle reminder that many of your *annual reports and forms are due Dec. 1. All church and clergy profiles and advisory forms are to be completed online at: http://uny.umconline.org by 12-1-11. The *advisory forms should be printed, signed and sent to the District Office.

If your charge conference has taken place, the following *reports not yet submitted are overdue:

*Report of the Pastor

*2012 UNY Clergy Compensation Report

*Parsonage Review Report – if church owns a parsonage

*Report of the Finance Committee

*2012 Budget

*Report of the Trustees

*Minutes of the Charge Conference form

*Lay Speaker’s Annual Report – if church has lay speakers

*Local Church Representative for Native American Ministry

If you need help locating copies of these *reports, see the attached Finding ChConfForms2011.

*Please note: All reports, forms and e-mail of any kind can be sent to the District Office e-mail: mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org.

If you wish to e-mail confidentially to the District Superintendent about non-report-related matters, contact the office for a different e-mail address.

From November 29 E-Advocate

Share your food ministry story

In this next phase of our HANDS4NY project, we want to make www.hands4ny.org a resource for those who want to give – food, money or time – and those who need to receive food assistance. To do that, we need information about what your church is doing. Please take some time and complete this simple form by Dec. 8.

Do you think your church is welcoming?

In a short video, United Methodist Communications offers some tips to help make church visitors feel welcome – click below to see it. Are there specific things your church does that you think makes it inviting to newcomers? If you have some tips you'd like to share with other churches in the conference, please send them to news@unyumc.org, and we'll post them on our website. DETAILS

2012 DATES FROM the DISTRICT office

January 11 – District Clergy and Family Epiphany Gathering 5:30 p.m.

March 10 – District Clergy Pre-Conference Briefing, 9 a.m. to Noon, Lairdsville UMC

March 17 – District Laity Pre-Conference Briefing, 9 a.m. to Noon, Lairdsville UMC

IMPORTANT REMINDER - Lay Speakers reminded to complete annual report

All Lay Speakers are reminded that they need to complete an annual lay speaking report. The report requires signatures of the Pastor and Church Council Chair. Reports can be turned in at the annual charge conference. If reports are not turned in at that time, please get them to the District Office as soon as possible. If you need a report, visit the Conference website: http://www.unyumc.org/forms/detail/445.

UMCOR is offering Disaster Case Management

Assisting our neighbors impacted by flooding is shifting from cleanup to recovery. There is much to be done. How will our support continue?

UMCOR is offering Disaster Case Management training at Cobleskill United Methodist Church on December 5-7. Semi-retired or retired folks, unemployed folks, and folks with contracting, community relationship, building trades skills....who understand how to network and connect, etc. are encouraged to participate.

This in-depth course is designed to prepare caring helpers for their work in guiding survivors through to their recovery. UMCOR’s model for disaster case management is a holistic approach, which incorporates the unique perspective of the faith community with an understanding of the emotional, spiritual and physical impact of the disaster on survivors. The course teaches how to identify and address unmet needs of all survivors, particularly people who were vulnerable before a disaster. UMCOR’s Disaster Case Management Trainings are consistent with relevant standards of practice.

Schedule: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday and Tuesday; 9 a.m. to Noon, Wednesday

To register or for more information contact Rev. Alan Rhodes, alanrhodes25@gmail.com or 518-875-6279.

Christmas Bazaar at Newport

The Newport United Methodist church will be holding their annual Christmas Bazaar, Luncheon and Bake Sale on Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a variety of treasures for sale, including crafts, deli items, our famous Christmas Cookies and other baked goods. The Luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. The menu consists of chili, soup, sandwiches, beverage and dessert. The church is located on Route 28 at 7488 Main Street in Newport. For more information, call 845-8311.

Basic Safe Sanctuaries Training at Sherrill for ALL PEOPLE

KEEPING KIDS SAFE, a presentation on implementing a Safe Sanctuaries policy at your church, will be offered at Christ Church, Park St. at E. Noyes Blvd., Sherrill, NY, 13461, Saturday, December 3^rd, from 10 a.m. until Noon. Pastor Jack Keating, who has spent 20+ years working in the church insurance industry, will be leading the presentation and the material provided will allow local churches to begin setting up their own Safe Sanctuaries policies. We'll discuss hiring, screening and recruiting practices, conducting background checks, proper supervision and developing a congregational response plan as a part of our time together. Come with your questions and an open mind as we discuss this important information for your church! For registration, please e-mail kay@christchurchsherrillny.com with an approximate number of folks attending so enough material is provided.

Art and Craft Show in Canastota

The United Church of Canastota will be holding its annual Christmas Art & Craft Show on Saturday, December 3^rd from 9 am – 3:30 pm at the church, 144 Center Street in Canastota.
A wide variety of crafters and artisans will be on hand offering homemade products, and the church will feature "Grandma's Attic" with gently used items for sale. As always, there will be delicious crock-pot meals for sale, as well as homemade cookies and candy for sale by the pound. Free admission and parking. Wheelchair accessible. We hope you can join us!

New this year: Bring your own camera to take photos with Santa! Also, children can make a craft (free of charge) at the kid’s craft table while their parents shop.

Christmas Cookie Sale

The First United Methodist Church of New Hartford is offering their annual Christmas Cookie Sale on Saturday, December 10, in the church narthex at 105 Genesee Street in New Hartford from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cookies are sold $7.99 per pound. Ample free parking is available. Please come and enjoy the treats of the season.

Cookie Sale at Delta UMC

Delta UMC is hosting their 8th Annual Christmas Cookie Sale on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 9 a.m. until sold out. Cost is $8.00 per pound. Choose your selection of cookies from over 50 varieties made. Boxes and gloves are provided. New varieties will be added this year. Our consignment shop also will be open. For more information please call 315-336-1940. We are located at the corner of Hawkins Corners Rd. and Rt. 26 N. Delta is handicap accessible.

Bishop calls for donations of funds, storm kits

Cathy Lee and Brian Fellows have been busy moving kits along the pipeline to help our neighbors in need. We have delivered 47 flood buckets, 64 school kits and over 127 health kits. Way to go, Mohawk District!

In a letter to the members of the Upper New York Conference, Bishop Marcus Matthews appeals to support the relief effort in the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. To read the letter visit the conference web site, www.unyumc.org.

Donations can be sent to UNY Conference Center, (324 University Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210) designating your gift to fund #4200 (Upper New York Conference Hurricane Recovery). Additional cash donations can be sent to UMCOR for wider area needs. Designate US Disaster Response #901670 on your check and send them through our Conference office. UMCOR contributions can also be made online.

Cleaning Buckets and Health Kits (formerly known as Flood Buckets) are also collected. Rev. Brian Fellows, Mohawk District coordinator of disaster response team has arranged the sites for collection as follows:

Central Location:

Rome First UMC, 400 N. George St. Rome 366-1740

Regional Locations:

Boonville, Physical Loc. 200 Main St. Boonville 942-2626

New Hartford, 105 Genesee Street, New Hartford, 733-4227

Oneida: St. Paul's UMC, 551 Sayles Street Oneida 363-1921

Herkimer UMC, 127 N. Prospect Street, Herkimer 866-1349

Eventually all buckets collected at the regional sites will be brought to Rome UMC. So it will be appreciated if you could bring buckets and kits to Rome First UMC.

Lists for Health Kits and Cleaning Buckets are attached.

End of this week’s news