Friends,
 
In this unusual time of pandemic and social distancing, it is our hope to help the Clergy and Laity of the New York Annual Conference connect in meaningful ways during this Holy Week by offering two special worship opportunities during this season:
 
Virtual (Online) Communion with Bishop Bickerton on Maundy Thursday
Join Bishop Bickerton in a Virtual (Online) Holy Communion service on Maundy Thursday, April 9 at 12:30pm. All are encouraged to take part in this online celebration of communion with Bishop Bickerton; please have a small cup of grape juice and a piece of bread available when you sign on. The celebration will take the place of our regular Centering and Prayer gatherings for clergy and laity of the New York Annual Conference.
 Please click here to join the webinar on Thursday afternoon at 12:30pm. You can also dial in to listen by calling 929-436-2866.
In either instance, please note our Webinar ID: 556 976 804 and Password: 805855
 
If you would like to view or share previous Centering, Reflection and Prayer times or if you cannot attend this Thursday’s program, you can watch the video recordings on our NYAC site.
 
A Special Online Worship Celebration for Easter
We will offer a worship celebration for pastors and congregations that are looking for ways to enhance their Easter worship experiences. On Friday, we will post two videos on our website; the first is a full worship celebration with music, scripture, prayers and a sermon from Bishop Bickerton, and the second video will be the Bishop’s sermon only for use in the middle of a service.
 
The full service and sermon will have closed captioning and be available in Korean, Simplified Chinese and Spanish. To engage your congregation, we will also offer downloadable liturgy guides.
 
All appointed clergy will receive an email from the Connectional Ministries office on Friday afternoon with the instructions to access the completed videos and downloadable liturgy guides.  We will use the hymns “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” (UMH 302) and “Easter People, Raise Your Voices” (UMH 304). Scripture will be John 20:1-18 (NIV).
 
On Sunday morning, April 12, at 8:45am, we will broadcast the full service on our NYAC Facebook page and YouTube Channel for those who seek to worship simultaneously with a large group.
 
The good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection does not change whether we are physically together in a church or connected through technology. The gift of the Gospel message is available for all of us, no matter where we are. We pray God’s peace and blessings on you as you prepare to share this Good News, remembering the words of John Wesley: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Peace,

Rev. Matt Curry
Director of Connectional Ministries
NY Annual Conference