New York Conference Happenings

Inspired to Serve God Inspired to Serve God New York Conference United Church of Christ ‌ ‌ Visit our Website Annual Meeting Registration is Now Open! June 10-12 Silver Bay on Lake George “Family Reunion: Release, Rest, Rejoice!” “For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 Click here for more information HAPPENINGS March 23rd, 2022 In this week issue: My Thoughts Service of Healing and Solidarity UCC Webinar—Getting Ready for Earth Sunday New York Conference Updates Prayers requested Conference Board Begins Anti-Racism Book Study Spring Meetings of New York Conference Associations Registration is Open for NYSOM’s Church History Retiree Boundary Awareness Training 2022 Boundary Awareness Training Culturally Responsive Ministry Training Commission on the Global Church: David Southard, Sr. Award for Excellence in Global Mission Work, Dr. Gordon Comstock Healthcare Award Keeping in Touch and Staying Safe PRC’s Webinars for March/July 2022 A Special COVID-19 Happenings will be sent this Friday. My Thoughts Mind the Gap is often a physical sign or sometimes a verbal warning to passengers riding the Tube in London (the equivalent of the Subway) to pay attention to the uneven or open space between the train and the landing. In the book called “The Fray” by UCC pastor and theologian Walter Bruggeman- the spiritual space between God and humanity or uneven struggle between known heartache and unknown joy is called the Fray. Bruggemman would point out that this in-between, this liminal space, of minding the gap moment is a time that brings importance to our collective spiritual journey. Psychologist would say that much of our character and our integrity is found in how we manage the times in-between during the major chapters of our lives. Think about the chapters you have had in your life: Birth, Family, Vocation, Children, Aging, Death Moments that become pivotable and memorable are often ones you can point to as you look back: A birth cry, taking off the training wheels, an adolescent crush, a First kiss, saying “I Do” What is your moment? One of my favorite hymns is by Natalie Sleeth called a “Hymn of promise” or “In the Bulb there is a Flower.” (NCH #433) For me it speaks to the struggle of the Lenten journey, the in-between of fear and faith, and the transition from sorrow to hope. The third verse is echoing in my mind this year as it says “In our end is our beginning: in our time infinity: in our doubt there is believing: in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection: at the last a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see” May the rest of your Lent be full of moments where you can ponder the in-between mempries, where you can glimpse the next chapter of your life, and know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God will be with us. In the Greatest of Hope ~ Ryan Rev. Ryan W. Henderson Associate Conference Minister for Communication and Online Community rhenderson@uccny.org This Friday is a special opportunity to unite for a Service of Healing and Solidarity with those affected by Typhoon Odette. Please gather to offer your prayers and presence. Friday, March 25 at 8:00pmEST/ Saturday, March 27 at 8:00amManila . Zoom ID: 868-5483-9901. Passcode: 708610. Please share with friends and family. Thank you for your blessed witness! Pastor Janet and Pastor Phyllis UCC Webinar—Getting Ready for Earth Sunday: Resources for Congregations. With the recently released report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the dire situation faced by our world has never been clearer. To help meet this moment, Creation Justice Ministries has created an ecumenical resource to assist churches. The resource is entitled “Weathering the Storm: Faithful Climate Resilience.” It specifically helps churches respond to the question, “How can our churches be hubs of resilience, helping our neighbors weather the physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis?” The resource can be used year-round and is also particularly useful in preparing for Earth Sunday (April 24th). In this webinar, Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, will introduce the resource and talk about specific ways churches can deliver a powerful message and experience on Earth Sunday. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1 pm ET on Wednesday, April 13th, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now! NEW YORK CONFERENCE UCC UPDATES The New York Conference learned yesterday that one of our Western Association Churches, Pilgrim-St. Luke’s United Church of Christ was broken into over this last weekend. This is the third break-in they have suffered in 3 years. Although the alarm system interrupted the break-in, significant damage was sustained to 4 interior doors as the perpetrator(s) tried to move through the office suite. Please keep Pilgrim-St. Luke’s UCC in your prayers, and if you feel moved to help, please contact Rev. Nancy Rojas at pastor@pslucc.org. Conference Board Begins Anti-Racism Book Study On Wednesday, March 23, the UCCNY Conference Board of Directors will begin a five week book study of dear white peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace, by Osheta Moore. The discussion will be facilitated by Rev. Gary Smith, Director of the Center for Racial Justice, and Courtney E. Williams, MPH, a doctoral candidate and the Huel D. Perkins Fellow in the Department of Sociology at Louisiana State University. During the study, the Board will have an opportunity for honest conversation about the power and manifestations of racism within ourselves, and our Conference. The Board is dedicated to this work as an expression of our commitment to fight racism and educate about white privilege as we live into our 2018 pledge to become an Anti-Racism Conference. Spring Meetings of New York Conference Associations Genesee Valley Association Date: Saturday, April 30 Time: 9 a.m – 12 p.m. (no lunch) Place: First Congregational Church of Canandaigua, UCC 58 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 Please join us in worship and celebration! Oneida Date: April 30 Time: 9 am to noon Place: Faith United, Oswego Susquehanna Date: April 30th Time: Place: Via Zoom  Hudson Mohawk Date: April 30 Metropolitan Date: April 30th Time: 9:00am-12:00noon Place: – Broadway UCC & via Zoom Susquehanna Date: April 30th Time: 9:00-1200 noon Place: Via Zoom Western Date: May 1 Time: 1pm Place: To be announce Black River-St. Lawrence Date: May 1st Time: beginning at 3:00p.m. Place: Our current intention is to meet at Emmanuel Congregational UCC in Massena. Depending on the percentage of Covid cases in the area, we may decide to live stream. Reformed Association Date:May 19th Time:6:30 pm. Place: Via Zoom Registration is Open for NYSOM’s Church History Registration is now open for the third 20-hour core ministry course of spring 2022, “From Resurrection to Reformation: A History of the Christian Church (1-1650).” Rev. Steven Johnson, Ph.D., will be teaching it on 9 Wednesday evenings from 6:45 – 9 pm, beginning after Easter, on April 20. For more information, click here . If a scholarship would help you participate, reach out to Marjorie Purnine at mpurnine@uccny.org. Learning event and short course information will be coming soon. COMING SOON RETIREE BOUNDARY AWARENESS TRAINING The New York Conference will be instituting a new Boundary Awareness Training (BAT) curriculum designed to meet the specific needs of retired ministers who are still engaged in occasional ministry tasks like pulpit supply, weddings, and funerals. This training will also be open to active ministers who are contemplating retirement within 18-24 months. The training content will assist “soon-to-retire” ministers with skills for a successful personal and professional departure from ministry as well as provide tools for maintaining healthy boundaries with a former congregation. For currently retired ministers, this training will fulfill your association’s boundary awareness requirement. For those “soon-to-retire” ministers, continuing education units will be provided, but it will not substitute for your association’s BAT requirement. This Retiree BAT Training will be conducted online via Zoom and registration will be $25. Registration for upcoming 2022 sessions will begin in April. Watch the weekly Happenings for the registration link. Should you have questions about BAT requirements, please contact your association Committee on Ministry. 2022 NEW YORK CONFERENCE BOUNDARY AWARENESS TRAINING For March and April, and May uccny.info/BAT2022 Click on the link for the calendar then click on each training for more information and to register COMING SOON CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MINISTRY TRAINING In 2017 the Thirty-First General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a Resolution that “calls upon all the judicatory and educational settings of the denomination to include the study of cultural diversity/sensitivity and institutional racism in clergy preparation and continuing education, and as a requirement for maintaining standing for all persons engaged in authorized ministry within and on behalf of the United Church of Christ.” (GS-31 Resolution #10) In support and compliance with this General Synod Resolution, the New York Conference has developed a Culturally Responsive Ministry Training (CRMT) program for all authorized ministers. The entire diversity curriculum will consist of 3 distinct cultural training modules, with a different module offered every two years. The first module, “Culture & Race” will be offered beginning in April 2022. Subsequent modules, “Culture & Sexuality/Gender” and “Culture & Disabilities” will be offered in 2024 and 2026 and all will continue a rotating basis thereafter. Each Association Committee on Ministry in the New York Conference has now adopted this training program as a mandatory requirement for all authorized ministers. Each 6-hour CRMT session will be conducted online via Zoom and registration will be $55 per authorized minister. A variety of training dates and times will be available and registration for upcoming 2022 sessions will begin in April. Watch the weekly Happenings and the conference website for upcoming registration links and information. Should you have questions about this new training requirement, please contact your association Committee on Ministry. Commission on the Global Church With the approach of our Conference’s Annual Meeting, it is once again time to seek candidates for our Commission’s two awards. Each of the gentlemen below was a dedicated member of our Commission; we have chosen to honor them by presenting the two awards below to deserving candidates. David Southard, Sr. Award for Excellence in Global Mission Work Dr. Gordon Comstock Healthcare Award The Southard Award is specifically intended for churches. The process of applying for this award is informal. It is entirely appropriate for churches to nominate themselves. A narrative list of your achievements and participation in global mission work is all that is required. The Comstock Award is specifically intended for individuals. Purposely, the term ‘healthcare’ is quite broad to include anyone who has served with distinction and competence in this field. Again, the process is informal – a narrative list of this person’s achievements and participation in the broad healthcare field is all that is required. Our deadline for the submission for each of these awards is Thursday, March 31st. Please e-mail your materials to bobwelcher@verizon.net by the above deadline. Thank you. Keeping in Touch and Staying Safe Your conference staff is available to you on Wednesdays for Virtual Office Hours from 11am – 12 noon at zoom.us/j/422208515 We are here to listen, to have you bounce ideas off of us, to ask for specific resources, to pray and perhaps even to laugh together. All are invited. FREE WEBINARS Does your church need a sabbatical? Tuesday, March 22, 2022 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Leader – Larry Doornbos A Messy Church for a Messy World Thursday, March 24, 2022 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Leaders – Roberta Egli and Johannah Myers DWELL: Help Kids Find Their Place in God’s Big Story Tuesday, March 29, 2022 2:00 – 2:30 PM Eastern Leader – Jill Benson Overwhelm for Judicatory Staff Thursday, Mar 31, 2022 3-4:30 PM Eastern Our team of experts: The Rev. Heidi C. Heath The Rev. Callie Swanlund Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed Creative Adventures Through the Bible Thursday, March 31, 2022 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Leader – Harriet Wilkin Eight Game Changers for the Post Pandemic Church Tuesday, April 5, 2022 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Leader – Kay Kotan What’s Next In Christian Education Workshop Thursday, June 9 2 – 3:30 PM Leaders: Elizabeth Christie, Debbie Kolacki, Karen Smith Best Practices for Church Accounting Tuesday, June 14, 2022 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT Leader – Elaine Sommerville How to Recognize and Deal with Church Bullies Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:00 – 8:00 PM Leader – David Woolverton Support the New York Conference Amazon Smile Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the New York Conference of United Church of Christ whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. 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