This year's Bishop's Convocation will be a virtual event, February 8-10, which will include a combination of pre-recorded and live components. Please watch your email for more details.
Also, we know that many of our pastors and church leaders are growing very weary as we continue to try to be creative and adaptive in a pandemic that seems to have no end in sight. To that end, the Conference will be providing a respite service on Sunday, February 14, for pastors and leaders who may need a break. Please mark the date, and watch for more information.
| Laity Celebration Highlights |
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"And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."
Colossians 3:14 (CEB)
Our January 16 Laity Celebration was a great success! To view Bishop Thomas Bickerton's address to the laity, or the book discussion on Black & White: Disrupting Racism One Friendship at a Time, by Teesha Hadra & John Hambrick, please click here.
Thank you to everyone who planned, produced, presented, and participated! |
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Interrupting Racism Preaching Workshop
February 11, 2021
9:30am-Noon
You are invited to explore how White pastors in predominantly White congregations can effectively interrupt racism through preaching this Lent.
- Discuss how and why clergy can be part of interrupting unjust racist systems.
- Share sermon models that address racism and strategies for holding the tension of congregational responses
- Prepare a Lenten sermon through an anti-racist lens
Please register in advance for this workshop:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtc-Gorj4qH9dgVQ_bjvKF0CiXVen31raa
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing Zoom information about joining the meeting.
In order to facilitate meaningful conversation and engagement, the workshop will be capped at 50 participants.
Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list.
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Sponsored in part by the New York Annual Conference, you are invited to register and participate in this webinar.
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| NYAC Addresses Food Insecurity |
Feeding the 5,000 (weekly) in New York
NYAC churches are rising to the challenge of easing food insecurities. This article by Christie R. House appeared in United Methodist News Service on January 15, 2021, and may also be found on Global Ministries' website.
Front Line Workers – NYAC Emergency Food providers
During this pandemic, our NYAC Emergency Food providers serve as a part of the many front line workers addressing the critical needs of their communities. In all kinds of weather, and under difficult circumstances, many provide not only emergency food items, but health and hygiene supplies, clothing, counseling, social work, and emotional and spiritual care, to tens of thousands each day throughout the environs of the New York Conference. If you are able to provide support, please send your gift to the NYAC, 20 Soundview Avenue, White Plains, NY, 10606, attention Fran Collins. Please make your check payable to the NYAC and include “Emergency Food Program” in the memo line.
A Conversation With (Our Own) Hannah Reasoner
February 11, 2021 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Hannah Reasoner is currently serving as a Global Missionary in Colombia with Centro Ecuménico Popular para América Latina de Comunicación (CEPALC) and Global Ministries’ Latin American and Caribbean Regional Office. Hannah has been a lifelong member of St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Manhattan. As a high schooler, she served as president of the NYAC Conference Council on Youth Ministries, Youth Ambassador in Mission in Ecuador, and worked a few summers at Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center. Hannah served as a Global Mission Fellow with CEPALC in 2017-2019. She also worked in communications with New York Justice for our Neighbors and St. Paul & St. Andrew before returning to Colombia as a missionary in October 2020. CEPALC is a nonprofit organization that works with marginalized groups in Colombia to train and empower people in communication media, radio, theater, and the arts to promote human rights, gender equality, and peace. To read more and support Hannah's mission work, click here.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89724714424?pwd=V1RhQVBWZHg4WHIrODErVmpGZy8zUT09
Meeting ID: 897 2471 4424
Passcode: 441045
To Call In: 1 646 558 8656 US (New York); Meeting ID: 897 2471 4424
Summer Youth Conversation - There's Still Time to Attend
As we embark on a new year, we are getting excited about serving God in the summer of 2021!!!
2021 is still going to be a challenging year as far as travel, so we are providing creative alternatives to help your youth group serve in the mission field within the safety of your own community.
We invite you to join us to learn more about United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth (U.M. ARMY) and what we have to offer to your youth group. U.M. ARMY is offering a virtual "town hall" meeting to review youth mission opportunities for this upcoming summer and answer any questions you may have.
No need to register! Just dial in on January 24. We look forward to meeting you and partnering in mission work together.
If you have any questions, please contact one of the Northeast Regional Directors:
Darlene Thomas - darlenethomas@umarmy.org
Gina Grubbs - ginagrubbs@umarmy.org
DATE/TIME: January 24 @ 7:00pm EST
DIAL IN:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85158007678?pwd=cjRRNVMzMHljNEF4SExiNmUwTHVqZz09 |
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Worship Design Studio Presents Journey to Lent 2021
Designed to help you prepare for Lent - whether you're still online live, pre-recorded, hybrid livestream or adapted in-person. All sessions have been recorded. Cost: $49.99 [this is already included for free to WDS subscribers and WDS Planning Retreat participants].
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Celebrate resilience: This month, the People of God campaign is celebrating our resilience. We continue to find the strength to persevere through trials and face tomorrow with God at our side. Share this inspiring message by downloading digital resources, such as worship graphics and social media images, available in English and Spanish.
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UMC-Branded Products: Inspire hope without saying a word. Browse a collection of UMC-branded shirts and cloth face masks, all of which feature an encouraging message. Choose from familiar designs and new ones, perfect for day-to-day personal use, giveaways or group apparel. Order here.
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See available online courses through
Also available is The Wesley Academy for Advanced Christian Studies, for laity or clergy, with these possible emphases:
Option 1: Certificate in Advanced Christian Study – Wesleyan Emphasis: 2 passed Methodist Identity courses required + 4 passed elective courses.
Option 2: Certificate in Advanced Christian Study – Theology Emphasis: 6 passed electives required. Methodist Identity courses not required; the other 9 course choices are not denominationally specific.
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| What's Happening in Your District? |
Catskill Hudson Connecticut
Long Island East Long Island West
Metropolitan New York-Connecticut
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We strive to share God’s love by creating safe places where all are accepted and welcomed, connecting the needs of people to the presence of God, and transforming the world through Christ.
Learn more
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