iVoice - October 14, 2009

10/14/2009

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 of Mission & Outreach in PA -
    • Anti-Racism Workshop in Troy Conference -
    • Stewardship Foundation Town Meeting -
    • More on Job Postings for New Conference in NY -
    • Rethink News -
    • News from United Methodist News Service -
Dates to Remember
 
Tuesday, October 20:      Laity meeting with Bishop Matthews at 7 p.m. @ Elm Park UMC, Oneonta
Wednesday, October 21: Clergy meeting with Bishop Matthews at 9:30 a.m. @ Afton UMC
Wednesday, October 21: Laity meeting with Bishop Matthews at 7 p.m. @ Owego UMC
Thursday, October 22:     Clergy meeting with Bishop Matthews at 9:30 a.m. @ Vestal Center UMC
 
Tuesday, October 27:      Listening Session regarding New PA Conference at 2 p.m. @ Bethany UMC
Tuesday, October 27:      Listening Session regarding New PA Conference at 7 p.m.@ Chinchilla UMC
Wednesday, October 28: Listening Session regarding New NY Conference at 1 p.m. @ Park Terrace UMC
Wednesday, October 28: Listening Session regarding New NY Conference at 7 p.m. @ Endwell UMC
 
Tuesday, November 10: “What Did Paul Really Say?” Seminar at 9 a.m. @ Nimmonsburg UMC
Saturday, November 14: “What Did Paul Really Say?” Seminar at 9 a.m. @ Chinchilla UMC
 
Conference Center Closed
 
The Conference Center will be closed on Wednesday, October 28, 2009, from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. The staff will attend the Listening Session regarding New NY Conference at Park Terrace UMC.
 
New Additions to Fall Safe Sanctuaries Training Schedule
 
Below is the updated Fall – 2009 Safe Sanctuaries Training Schedule. The October 29th class at Apalachin UMC and the November 14th class at Lake Como UMC are new additions. The registration deadline for the Basic class at New Milford UMC is NOW and for the Advances class is very soon. Go to the conference website and click on Safe Sanctuaries to see the schedule or click here. 
 
Safe Sanctuaries Training Schedule – Fall 2009
 
BASIC LEVEL "Nuts and Bolts" Training
 
Tuesday, October 20 - New Milford United Methodist Church
          6:00-9:30 PM – arrive; sign in, fellowship, and pre-class activities
          Training – 6:30-7:00 PM
          Register today!! Click here to register on line.
 
 
Thursday, October 29 - Apalachin United Methodist Church, Pennsylvania Ave. Apalachin, NY
6:00-6:30 PM – arrive; sign in, fellowship, and pre-class activities
          Training – 6:30-7:00 PM
     Registration is required. Click here to register on line.
          Please register by October 22.
 
Saturday, November 7 - Plains UMC, 133 North Main Street, Plains, PA
        8:30-9:00 AM - arrive; sign in, fellowship, and pre-class activities
        Training - 9:00 AM - noon
    Registration is required.  Click here to register on line.
          Please register by November 1.
 
Saturday, November 14 - Lake Como UMC, Lake Como, PA
        8:30-9:00 AM - arrive; sign in, fellowship, and pre-class activities
        Training - 9:00 AM - noon
    Registration is required.  Click here to register on line.
          Please register by November 7.
 
ADVANCED LEVEL TRAINING - This class is designed for church leaders who wish to provide the Basic Level training in their own church/charge.  The Basic Level class taken any time since fall 2007 is the prerequisite - no exceptions. 
 
Tuesday, October 27 - New Milford United Methodist Church
        6:15-6:30 PM - arrive and sign in     Training – 6:30-9:30 PM
        Minimum class size: 6 participants
     Registration is required.  Click here to register on line.
          Please register by October 20.
 
Friends of Zimbabwe Seek to Help Orphans
 
The Friends of Zimbabwe in the Wyoming Conference is working to support one hundred orphans in the Makoni/Buhera District of Zimbabwe. Funding from the group helps children, orphaned by HIV/AIDS, to remain in their own villages with a caregiver. It provides school fees, books, pencils, tablets, school uniforms, shelter, basic food and provisions, materials for recreation and spiritual support. Often, these children have been forced to become heads of households, caring for younger siblings.
 
Friends of Zimbabwe hopes to raise $50,000 to send to an Orphans Trust, administered by the District Superintendent of the Makoni/Buhera District. One local church in the conference recently held a talent show, collecting $540.00 toward that goal. If this is a project your congregation, or groups within your church would like to support, send funds collected to Kristin Mahoney, Wyoming Conference Treasurer, PO Box 58, Endicott, NY 13761-0058. Checks should payable to “Wyoming Conference” and contain a memo indicating they are for Friends of Zimbabwe, Orphans.
 
Tips for Dealing with H1N1 Flu
 
As concern rises over the spread of the H1N1 Flu, information is being offered to help churches deal with concerns over keeping people safe as they gather to worship. It is natural that church leaders and members are wondering about the risk of participating in worship, including hand-shaking, hugging, and sharing the bread and cup of Holy Communion.
 
The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) has several pages dedicated to ideas, practices and resources pastors and other worship leaders can use to help worshippers feel safe. You might want to start by reading"H1N1 Virus/Swine Flu Fall 2009 Update: What's the Deal, What to Do and What Not to Do in Worship" by by Taylor Burton-Edwards. In this article, he provides a list of helpful do's and don'ts. You can find it by clicking on the title above.
  
Another article on GBOD's Worship site offers numerous links to approaches you can take to minimize the risk of spreading the flu or other diseases during worship. Click on "Swine Flu, Hygiene, and Holy Communion" to access this information.
  
Flu.gov, a federal government Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, includes a document entitled "H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations" You can find it by clicking here.
 
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also offers a website with helpful information. Among the advice offered by the CDC: Take everyday actions to stay healthy: cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it; wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaners, especially after you cough or sneeze; avoid spreading germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. You can find more of what the CDC has at: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/
 
New! Interpreter Enrollment - The Time is Now!
 
Helping you and other leaders in your conference do their ministry effectively is important to United Methodist Communications. We are pleased to offer each local church five print and five digital subscriptions to Interpreter magazine, the official ministry magazine of The United Methodist Church.
 
Interpreter's goal is to inform, inspire and engage clergy and lay leaders through innovative ideas presented in interesting, practical articles. The content of Interpreter is focused toward both lay church leaders and clergy. Please encourage pastors in your conference to respond with the names of ten persons in leadership positions and designate which ones would get print copies and which ones would get electronic copies.
 
Many leaders will miss the valuable ministry information this magazine provides if they do not take the first step of completing the enrollment form -- paper or online -- in a timely manner.
 
Enroll online now by clicking here for 2010 Interpreter magazine before Nov. 20 to receive the January/February issue on time. If you have questions, please contact customer service at (888) 346-3862.  For convenience you may also:  Fax updated enrollment forms to: (615) 742-5499 or Mail updated forms to: Interpreter, P.O. Box 440229, Nashville, TN 37244-0229
 
Impact Community
 
Beginning November 1, 2009, United Methodist Communications will launch Impact Community. This is the progression of the previous Matching Grant program and will partner with church clusters, districts and conferences to reach beyond their church buildings and actively engage with community volunteers to impact their neighborhoods and towns. 
 
Each grant awarded will associate with an Impact event and once again, assist with the promoting and advertising of the event.
 
This new initiative is part of the Rethink Church 2010 strategy urging churches to move out into their communities, creating doors of entry to engage the unchurched.  
 
Support tools offered by United Methodist Communications include:
    • Media planning, placement, design, customization and funds
    • Event planning resources and assistance
    • Event registration software
    • Public Relations tips and strategies
    • A training module specifically for event day volunteers. 
The online application process (November 1, 2009) and criteria can be found at umcom.org/impactcommunity or email us at [email protected].
 
World Methodist Evangelism Institute Invitations
 
It is our pleasure to invite Methodist and Wesleyan clergy and laity to attend our two coming international events next year and to invite you to publicize these events in your conference.  Only 15 spaces are reserved for North American delegates for each seminar.
 
The India Evangelism Training Seminar (January) and the Brazil Evangelism Training Seminar (August)
   
The theme of each conference is: “That the World May Know Jesus Christ: Developing Missional Congregations”, and will focus on God’s witness through our worldwide Methodist and Wesleyan movement.    Please pray for our plans and recommend these conferences to your clergy and lay persons. 
 
The India Evangelism Seminar will take place from January 5-12, 2010, in Delhi, India, preceded by a post-conference tour.  The early bird registration deadline with a $250.00 registration fee and a $100 airfare deposit is November 1, 2009, and regular deadline of December 1, 2009, based on a first-come first-served basis.  The $350.00 per person room/board/tour costs and the rest of airfare are due by December 1, 2009.
 
The Brazil Evangelism Seminar will take place from August 10-17, 2010, in San Paulo, Brazil, preceded by a post-conference tour.  The early bird registration deadline with a $250.00 registration fee and a $100 airfare deposit is March 1, 2010, based on a first-come first-served basis.  The $450.00 per person room/board/tour costs and the rest of airfare are due by June 1, 2010.
 
Delegates should register on our website at www.wmei.ws or email us at [email protected] or nominations may be sent by email. 
 
NEJ VIM – Celebration and Training Event – 2009
 
"Where is Your Jerusalem?"
Developing missions in your neighborhood
 
On October 16 - 17, 2009 at Fatima Retreat Center, Dalton, PA
 
 There is still time to register!!
 
Opening Plenary Speaker:  Rev. Marcelle Dotson, currently serving in Wilkes-Barre developing new inner-city ministry.
 
Workshops: Rev. Tim Patterson - East PA conference 
                    Developing a presence in serving others
 
ReThink Church workshop - leaders are Rev. Ken Sloane and Jennifer Rodia from
UMCOM 
 
Other mini - info sessions:
    •         Re-Tasking, Re-purposing discontinued churches
    •         Identifying missions needed in your neighborhood
    •         Reading and understanding the demographics and what they "dont" tell you
    •         Setting up the Hosting to receive teams
    •         National UMVIM NEJ site - Dulac, LA - keeping the relationship
    •         International UMVIM NEJ site - Cartegena, Columbia - South America 
COME AND CELEBRATE WITH US IN THE VITALITY AND GROWTH
OF THE UMVIM MOVEMENT IN THE NORTHEASTERN JURISDICTION!!
 
Registration contact:  Download registration form at www.umvimnej.org under "NEJ Rally 2009” or for more info email or call: Greg Forrester, UMVIM NEJ coordinator [email protected] , Ph (607-756-7799)
 
The Future of Mission & Outreach in PA
 
Anyone interested in being involved in the discussion of how we will move forward in missions together in the new Susquehanna Conference in invited to a gathering on October 31. Members of the Wyoming Conference Mission and Outreach Ministry Table will meet with the Central Pennsylvania Conference Board of Global Ministries. The meeting will take place from 9:00 to 3:30 at Trinity UMC in Williamsport.
 
In the morning, the groups will share information about current ministries and begin visioning for the future.  The afternoon session will feature breakout sessions and opportunities to meet with counterparts in the two conferences.
 
Lunch will be provided.  Please RSVP at [email protected] or 717-766-7968 by October 26th.
 
Directions to Trinity UMC can be obtained by going to their website at:
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/trinityumcwilliamsport/
 
Anti-Racism Workshop in Troy Conference
 
The Troy Annual Conference is inviting anyone in the upper New York area interested in dismantling racism to attend an Upstate New York group meeting that will be exploring: "Where to from Here?" Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Shenendehowa UMC, 971 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065. This will be a coming together of those involved in this journey across conference lines. We welcome youth, adults, Commissions on Religion and Race, Eric Law participants, Huperatai and all those who seek to pursue anti racism into the new conference. To that end, a very special day is planned including Bible study, discussion of our hopes and concerns, viewing a DVD/movie "Making Whiteness Visible", and prayer. Lunch will be provided. Car pooling can be arranged by calling Blenda Smith at 607-692-7194.
 
The group won't meet very often so please try to experience this on the 31st. Please RSVP by October 29th to [email protected]  or Janet Foster [email protected]  (after Oct.27th) so we may plan on resources and food for all participants. Please feel free to pass this invitation to others.
 
Stewardship Foundation Town Meeting 
 
Reminder of the Town Meeting presented by the Stewardship Foundation of the Central Pennsylvania at the Dallas United Methodist Church, (9:00 -coffee) 9:30 to 11:30 on Saturday, October 24th. Presenters will be the Rev. Phyllis M. Bowers, the Executive Director of the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation of Central Pennsylvania, and Stephen L. Foust, CFP, CLTC who chairs the Foundation's Investment Management Committee. Laity and Clergy are welcome.
 
To register, go to www.umstewardship.org, send your e-mail to [email protected] or call 717-766-7343 or 1-800-272-0113. (Directions will be sent with your confirmation.)
 
More on Job Postings for New Conference in NY
 
The Rev. Bill Gottshalk-Fielding, New ACT Convener, has posted a blog explaining the rational behind the decision seeking to fill the four senior executive positions outlined in last week's announcement. Bill calls the piece "Staffing for a Good Start." You can read it and subscribe to follow his blog for updates on the work of New ACT by clicking here or going to www.uppernewyork.org and clicking on "Discussions and Blogs" at the top of the page.
 
The four positions New ACT hopes to fill are Director of Connectional Ministries, Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services, Director of Communications and Conference Benefits Officer. You can learn more about each position and how to apply by clicking here. 
 
Rethink News
 
Watch for weekly Rethink news from the New ACT Communications Team. Keep up with the latest information about the Upper New York Area. To ensure that you receive these emails, please add [email protected] to your address book or safe sender list. The email news will also be posted on our website  or go to http://uppernewyork.org.
 
If you would like to receive the Rethink news but are not sure if you’re on the list, please write to [email protected] and ask to be included. We’ll be happy to add your name and email address.

iVoice is sent to clergy and lay leadership in the Wyoming Annual Conference and its local congregations. Please feel free to use this information in your bulletins, local church newsletters, or as announcements during worship services.

If you have information that should be included in an iVoice, please send it to Don Perry at [email protected] or Nancy Conklin at [email protected]. Please do not send information on fundraisers such as breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, yard sales, etc.
 
News from United Methodist News Service
 
United Methodist legislators disagree on health reform
Members of Congress fall in line with their parties, agreeing on the need for reform but differing on how.
 
'Little church with big heart' catches Yankees’ pitch
United Methodists in the Bronx serve uneaten food from concession stands to area residents.