news stories
Brown Memorial UMC engages community while sharing God’s love
May 20, 2024 / By Judy Graigmile / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In 2021, Brown Memorial UMC received a Peace with Justice grant. This grant, along with church congregant donations, allowed the church to continue Loads of Love Laundry Mission, which offers free laundry washing and drying the last Monday of every month at the Canal View Laundromat in Phoenix, NY. The church provides laundry detergent, dryer sheets, coins to operate the machines, and new 30-gallon garbage bags (for cleaned laundry) to families …more
New York State Legislative Updates: Paid Prenatal Leave, Paid Breast Milk Expression Time, and Continuation of Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave until mid-2025
May 20, 2024 / By Tracy Rickett, UNY Human Resources Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
As part of the NYS Budget Bill process, there are three legislative updates which were approved. The details for each one are listed below. If you have any questions on these legislative updates, please contact Tracy Rickett, HR Generalist, at tracyrickett@unyumc.org or 315-898-2017. Paid Prenatal Leave New York becomes the first state to mandate paid prenatal leave requiring employers to provide pregnant employees with 20 hours …more
Statement from the Council of Bishops clarifying the status of The United Methodist Church’s relationship with The Global Methodist Church
May 15, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's note: This letter was published by The United Methodist Council of Bishops on May 14, 2024 and shared with United Methodists of Upper New York. “Make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together.” (Ephesians 4:3 CEB) Holding Scripture’s call for Christian unity before us, we lament that some have chosen to leave The United Methodist Church. …more
Rome First UMC builds relationships while providing services to those in need
May 7, 2024 / By Pastor Sherry Mahar, Rome First UMC / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In November 2022, Rome First UMC received a grant from Peace with Justice which was used to support our Five Loaves Ministry and launch Saturday’s Bounty. The Five Loaves Ministry provides boxes of food for people in need; those in poverty, disabled veterans, and the elderly. We seek to impact everyone physically by feeding their hunger and spiritually by offering prayer, Scripture, and a greeting from a friendly person …more
Community working together to care for one another
May 7, 2024 / By LeAnn Childs, Westfield First UMC
I knew nothing about the commitment of the Westfield community to helping those less fortunate when I started working as the Administrative Assistant at the First United Methodist Church of Westfield (FUMC Westfield) in 2011. Part of my job was checking in food pantry clients. Since my husband is a pastor, I have been in many churches and lived in different communities and have heard about different needs and …more
From the desk of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez: Recapping General Conference
May 3, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's note: The following video and transcipt was sent to United Methodists of Upper New York on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez on May 3, 2024 following the adjournment of the postponed 2020 General Conference, held April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Click here to download and print the transcript and click here to download the video. NOTE TO APPOINTED CLERGY: Bishop …more
UNY shares observations from General Conference
April 30, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
United Methodists for all over the world are gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina from April 23-May 3 for the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Elected clergy and laity delegates from 133 annual conferences, including delegates from Africa, Europe, and the Philippines, normally meet once every four years, but that wasn’t possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which postponed the top policy-making body of The …more
Celebrating 200 years of Ministry at Penn Yan United Methodist Church
April 23, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Penn Yan United Methodist Church celebrated its 200th anniversary recently. The birthday bash began on Saturday, April 20 with a concert featuring the musical ensembles of the church: praise band, sanctuary choir, bell choir, organ solos, and trumpet duets. The anniversary festivities continued with a dessert reception, fellowship, and history displays after the concert. A unified celebration worship service was held on the following day. Sunday’s worship theme …more
Commentary: A Future of Hope for Palestine-Israel?
April 22, 2024 / By Rev. Gary E. Doupe / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Gary E. Doupe is a retired Upper New York elder and wrote the following reflection on behalf of the Upper New York Task Force for Peace with Justice in Palestine-Israel. Since retiring from full-time pastoral work, I’ve been part of our UNY Conference Task Force on Peace with Justice in Palestine-Israel. In 2012 I traveled to the West Bank, Israel, Jerusalem, and Gaza with …more
Three UNY churches awarded grant money
April 19, 2024 / By Dr. Blenda Smith, CONAM Treasurer / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) wants to thank the Upper New York churches that support Native American Ministries Sunday (NAMS) each year. This year, the Special Sunday was held on April 14. Upper New York has three Native American Methodist Churches within our Conference boundaries, including Four Corners UMC (south of Buffalo) Onondaga Nation UMC (south of Syracuse) Hogansburg UMC (northeast of …more