Connectional Ministries e-newsletter, February 19, 2021

Dismantling Racism:
Lent Devotions by our Bishops

Each week of Lent and every day of Holy Week, a United Methodist bishop will offer a short devotion. Together, we will confess and fast from the sins of racism, discrimination, oppression and exclusion, and feast on the beauty and blessing of the diversity of God’s Church. This series is another step on our journey of repentance, reconciliation and action. Learn more

New Director of Connectional Ministries

Rev. Dr. Denise Smartt Sears has been appointed to serve as NYAC's new Director of Connectional Ministries, effective July 1.

Rev. Sears will follow Rev. Matt Curry, who has served as DCM for six years, and who will begin his new appointment to the New Canaan Church (Connecticut) in July.

Please pray for both Rev. Sears and Rev. Curry during this time of transition.

March 7 is Camping Sunday!

Good news: Camp Quinipet will be open this summer, on a limited basis, for overnight camps!

Attached to this newsletter you will find the 2021 Camping Sunday Bulletin insert for your congregation(s).

And here is a link to the Camping Ministries' new 2021 special slide presentation.

Thanks for spreading the word about our wonderful camps!

Resources and Inspiration

Planning for Holy Week: Keeping Rituals and Connecting Community. Presented by Amplify Media, this a recording of a live webinar that took place on February 11. Panelists include Kevin Bogan (Church of the Resurrection), Dr. Marcia McFee (Worship Design Studio), and Rev. Dr. Khalia J. Williams (Asst. Dean of Worship and Music, Candler School of Theology).
Leading Meaningful Digital Worship - Free webinar presented by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Tuesday, March 23, Noon (Eastern). Registration is limited to 150 participants.
Also from the Lewis Center: 7 Reasons You Must Not Abandon Online Services.
Messy Church online trainings.
The Power of a Song - Jim Patterson's article reminds us that hymns can heal, motivate us, and help us to understand our faith.
From BeADisciple.com - Growing Through Our Grieving online course.

It's UMCOR Sunday All Month Long

We celebrate UMCOR Sunday this year on March 14, 2021, but online we are celebrating all month long! UMCOR Sunday unites the church in community, invites the participation of each and every person, and underscores our shared commitment as people of God to keep walking together in mission for the benefit of those in need.
In the face of 2020’s unprecedented disasters, people like you stepped up. To give online throughout the month of March, please click here.

Be a FAN for Your Church's Health

Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) was developed with and for churches to prevent and address the most common health conditions impacting congregations and communities, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and obesity. The program focuses on physical activity and healthy eating because these two behaviors are consistently shown in research to prevent and treat these health conditions.

The Prevention Research Center will be offering a free FAN Online Training for churches, in April. If you would like more information, or to register your church's interest in participating, please reach out to Jessica Stucker, FAN Project Coordinator jstucker@mailbox.sc.edu, 877-971-5259 (toll-free)

You may also contact NYAC's Abundant Health Coordinator, Wendy Vencuss, at wvencuss@gmail.com, 860-324-1429.

News From Around the Connection

General Conference postponed until 2022
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — General Conference organizers announced that the denomination's top lawmaking assembly — long postponed by pandemic — must wait to meet another year. The global gathering is now scheduled for Aug. 29-Sept. 6, 2022, in Minneapolis. At the same time, the Council of Bishops has announced a special one-day General Conference on May 8 to deal with a limited agenda. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story

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NYAC Mission Statement

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.

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