Churchwide Special Sundays

Human Relations Day

Jan. 20

Human Relations Day, celebrated on the Sunday before the national observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, strengthens United Methodist outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico, encouraging social justice and work with at-risk youth. The offering goes toward a Community Developers Program (administered by the General Board of Global Ministries); the United Methodist Voluntary Services Program (also administered by the GBGM); and the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program (administered by the General Board of Church and Society).

For more information, click here.

One Great Hour of Sharing

March 10

One Great Hour of Sharing, celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent, enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to live out its mission to alleviate human suffering. UMCOR responds to natural or human made disasters - those interruptions of such magnitude that they overwhelm a community's ability to recover on its own. The UMCOR ministries that provide food, shelter, health and peace do so across the globe.

For more information about UMCOR and their projects, visit their website.

For more information about One Great Hour, click here.

Native American Ministries

April 14

Native American Ministries Sunday (NAMS), celebrated on the third Sunday of Easter, nurtures mission with Native Americans, provides scholarships for United Methodist Native American seminarians, recognizes and celebrates the gifts and contributions of Native Americans. The NAMS offering enriches Native American ministries in the Conference as 50 percent of receipts go to support programs in our three Native American churches.

For more information about the Native American Ministries of the Upper New York Annual Conference, click here.

For more information about Native American Ministries Sunday, click here.

Peace With Justice

May 26

Peace with Justice Sunday, celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost, enables The United Methodist Church to have a voice in advocating for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global programs. The Upper New York Annual Conference keeps 50 percent of the receipts for Peace with Justice ministries in the conference; the remaining 50 percent is used for programs like in Liberia, where in partnership with other religious and humanitarian groups, The United Methodist Church provides a place for former child soldiers to live, recreational activities to address war trauma, and basic necessities such as fresh drinking water and medical treatment.

For more information, click here.

World Communion

Oct. 6

World Communion Sunday, celebrated on the first Sunday in October, provides scholarships for U.S. racial- and ethnic-minority students and international students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels. As U.S. demographics continue to change, the church must prepare leaders to serve an increasingly diverse population, and the scholarships funded by the World Communion Sunday nurture new leaders for church and society.

For more information, click here.

United Methodist Student Day

Nov. 24

United Methodist Student Day, celebrated the last Sunday of November, furnishes scholarships and loans for students attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities. These loans and scholarships for United Methodist Student Day are awarded on a yearly basis and can be reapplied for each year. In 2010, $515,271 was remitted for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry to administer in loans and scholarships.

For more information, click here.