2010 Session of Wyoming Conference Overview

 The 159th session of the Wyoming Annual Conference is about to open at the University of Scranton, in Scranton, PA. This will be the final gathering of the Conference, which began July of 1852, just a few miles away in Carbondale. You can follow what is happening at the session in tweets provided by Matt Williams, Program Director at Sky Lake. You can locate the tweets at: http://twitter.com/WyomingAC The 159th and final session of the Wyoming Annual Conference opened Friday, June...

Cowboy Church Lassos Worshipers

 A UMC.org Feature by Susan Passi-Klaus*    Once a month, the folks at Pine Mill (Pa.) United Methodist Church have a “rootin’ tootin’ good time.” Pastor Alice Pedone wasn’t sure how to respond when she was contacted by owners of a nearby stable and several church members about hosting a monthly worship service just for folks on horseback. “I wasn’t sure what Cowboy Church was, but I was pretty sure it involved horses and...

High expectations shared as Upper New York Senior Executive staff named

The Rev. Dr. Marcus Matthews, resident bishop of the New York West Area, and resident bishop of the Upper New York Area this July, expressed high expectations as he announced those named as Senior Executive Staff for the new Annual Conference in Upper New York this week. “All of these persons have a strong spiritual, disciplined life which they model in a variety of ways,” Bishop Matthews said. “Each person had a great appreciation for the mission and vision of the new...

Bishop Announces District Realignments

 Bishop Susan W. Hassinger, interim bishop of the Albany Episcopal Area has issued the following announcement for both Wyoming and Troy Annual Conferences. Some time ago, the Reverend Jan Marsi, Superintendent of the Oneonta District for the past seven years, had indicated her desire to be appointed as a pastor to a local church. (A district superintendent’s appointment is year-to-year, as is the appointment of every elder.  Superintendents’ term, as per the United...

Creative Worship Workshops Offered

Over the past year or so, many people have asked about the possibility of a workshop to learn about the use of graphics and other newer technology in worship. Here is an opportunity at a fairly low cost for those wanting to create vibrant and media-enhanced worship.   March 5 & 6 a team from Midnight Oil Productions, a leader in providing graphics, video clips and presentation software, will offer two Creative Worship workshops in Liverpool, NY. Participants can choose to attend...

Change the World Event

What if…on one weekend all around the world, 11 million United Methodists came together to work with their local communities?  What if…as we serve people locally, we unite globally to eliminate a preventable, treatable disease that kills one child every 30 seconds? On April 24 and 25th, your congregation is invited to participate in Change the World, an event that will reveal the many ways that faithful Christians everywhere are serving God. Getting Started: Consider...

Haiti Earthquake Resouces

The United Methodist Church is responding to the catastrophic earthquake that has devastated Haiti. There are many resources available to help individuals and congregations to help in a variety of ways. United Methodists have raised more than $1 million for relief work in Haiti. The donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief will support its efforts to respond to those most in need following the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake. An estimated 2 million to 3 million people need...

Leadership Workshops Cancelled

  We regret to tell you that the Laity Training Sessions at Chenango Bridge on January 9 and at Clark Summit on January 23 have been CANCELLED because of low registrations.   The planning team appreciates your leadership and your interest in becoming more effective in your service.  As an expression of that appreciation, a copy of the Guidelines booklet for the session you requested will be sent to you.  Look for the booklet early next week. Checks for the registration...

New District Superintendent Announced

Bishop Susan Hassinger announces that the Rev. Beth Jones has been named as the new district superintendent for the Scranton District in the Wyoming Conference, soon to be Susquehanna Conference, effective July 1, 2010. This appointment has been made in consultation with the Committee on District Superintendency of the Scranton District, the cabinet of the Wyoming Conference, and with Bishop Jane Middleton of the current Central Pennsylvania Conference. Rev. Jones, a native of Central...

Days of Meaning Interfaith Event

By John Goodell              On Sunday, December 6, 2009, in the afternoon, an interfaith planning group of clergy and laity that calls itself the Children of Abraham Planning Group held an event called "Days of Meaning: Shabbat, Sunday, Jum'ah"  at Temple Israel in Vestal, NY.  Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell of Temple Concord in Binghamton, Imam Kasim Kapuz of The Islamic...

Tractor Trailer Arrives with Potatoes

One thousand 50 pound bags of potatoes arrived from the state of Maine on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Hanafin Marine in Campville, New York. They came through the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) to be distributed to food pantries, soup kitchens, etc.     There were 24 volunteers, including 15 from Whittemore Hill United Methodist Church, who helped in various ways with the unloading and distribution of the potatoes. They were taken to CHOW, Open Door Mission, Meals on Wheels,...

Youth Alive 2009 Marks Growth for Youth Program

Youth from across the Wyoming Conference came together recently for the last Youth Alive. Many of the 170 teens and advisors called the event a huge success, possibly the best Youth Alive ever. The youth led gathering featured workshops, a fantastically funny fashion show and a glow in the dark dance. Four youth shared testimonies and four preached sermons during the time together at Camp Ladore in Waymart, Pennsylvania.  Conference Youth Coordinator Annette Snedaker reports, “Wayne...

Days of Meaning - An Interfaith Experience

Earlier this year, the Shared Leadership Ministry Table worked with leaders of other Christian churches along with Muslim & Jewish leaders to provide a worship experience and an opportunity for people of these descendants of Abraham to learn about each other's religions. While there are differences, there is also much in common. Those who attended the gathering at a Johnson City mosque asked for more such experiences. Planning is now underway for a second interfaith experience, this time,...

Apple Gleaning at Apple Hills Orchard

 A crew of 23 from around the area, including 10 from Whittemore Hill UMC (including little Sarah), gleaned 6 ton of apples Tuesday, October 27, at Apple Hills Orchard in Binghamton, NY. The apples were distributed to soup kitchens and hunger outreach pantries in Cortland, Norwich, Lounsbury, Sherburne, Davenport and Windsor, as well as, the Binghamton area, including CHOW. On Saturday, October 31, there were 26 students plus 2 teachers from Seton Catholic High School that gleaned...

Announcements about District Superintendents

Bishop Susan W. Hassinger announces decisions regarding the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton District Superintendents. District Superintendents are an extension of the office of bishop, and share in the oversight of the ministry of the whole annual conference, with particular focus on the churches and communities to which they have been assigned. After consultation with the Wyoming Conference appointment cabinet and the Wilkes-Barre District Committee on Superintendency, Bishop Hassinger announces...

Bishop Matthews Meets Wyoming Clergy and Laity

Bishop Marcus Matthews joined Bishop Susan Hassinger on a tour of the Oneonta and Binghamton Districts this week. On each district, the bishops held gatherings with clergy or lay people. The gatherings were part of a trip through the Albany Episcopal Area that began with gatherings in the Troy Conference earlier in the week. When the Wyoming and Troy conferences join with North Central New York and Western New York conferences next July to become the Upper New York Annual Conference, Bishop...

Bishop Hassigner Calls for Justice in Health Care Reform

Brothers and Sisters in Christ: October 20 was a National Day of Remembrance and Hope, an opportunity to call attention to the more than 45,000 people who die each year because they lack insurance that provides access to needed health care. The faith-based organization, Faithful Reform for Health Care, called for faith communities to respond to this crisis in our nation.  The right to health care for all is affirmed in our 2008 United Methodist Book of Discipline: (¶162...

Green Churches Forum Offers Variety of Tools

 (Oneonta, NY) Saturday, September 19th was a brilliant day both outside and inside Elm Park UMC for the clergy and laity from throughout New York and Pennsylvania that gathered for the Green Churches Forum. The Wyoming Conference Social Justice Network, which sponsored the forum, wanted “to give churches practical tools to begin or to continue their creation care ministries,” stated Eric Yetter, chair of the Network. One of the first tools participants encountered was the...

iVoice - October 14, 2009

In this issue: Dates to Remember - Conference Center Closed - New Additions to Fall Safe Sanctuaries Training Schedule - Friends of Zimbabwe Seek to Help Orphans - Tips for Dealing with H1N1 Flu - New! Interpreter Enrollment - The Time is Now! - Impact Community - World Methodist Evangelism Institute Invitations - NEJ VIM – Celebration and Training Event – 2009 - The Future...

2009 School of Christian Mission

The 2009 School of Christian Mission was held August 13-15, at Fatima Center in Dalton, PA. There were approximately 75 in attendance. The Theme was Together at the Table. The studies and Study Leaders included: The Spiritual Growth topic, Food and Faith taught by Rev Larry Russell, The Geographic topic, The Beauty and Courage of Sudan: Why a Dream of Peace is Possible taught by Ruth Daughtery, The General Issue topic, Giving Our Hearts Away; Native American Survival taught...