Merry Christmas ADVOCATE. I know I can t get it all done UNYAC flood recovery director takes on huge task

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1 Merry Christmas ADVOCATE www. Being God s love with our neighbors in all places A PUBLICATION OF THE UPPER NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Volume 2, Issue 12 - December 2011 I know I can t get it all done UNYAC flood recovery director takes on huge task Inside this issue By Beth DiCocco Advocate Writer On Oct. 18, some five weeks after the Southern Tier was declared a federal disaster area in the wake of devastating flooding, the Advocate spent a day on the job with UNYAC Recovery Director for Flood Recovery Operations Greg Forrester. Forrester, who serves as the Volunteer in Missions (VIM) coordinator for the Northeastern Jurisdiction, pointed out that seven of the 10 annual conferences in the NEJ are in active disaster areas. The recovery will take years, Forrester acknowledges, and will be a strain on both those affected by the flooding and those coming to their aid. I know I can t get it all done, he said, adding that he s turned the problem over to God, and takes care of a little piece. On this day, that little piece is two homes in Apalachin, a community about 15 miles from Binghamton that was hit hard by the flooding. 8:15 a.m. In Cortland, Forrester meets with three experienced volunteers: Ron Bailer, Deb Williams and Jim Cole from Cortland UMC, who will help supervise a group of students who will be doing the recovery work. Forrester drives a large red pickup truck with a silver trailer attached. The trailer Photo by Beth DiCocco Greg Forrester, the UNYAC recovery director for flood recovery operations, working on a home cleanup in Apalachin in the Binghamton District. The community was hit hard by flooding in August and September. We followed Forrester through a typical day. Pictured with him are flood volunteer Deb Williams from Cortland (center) and Rev. Sara Baron, pastor of Park Terrace UMC in Apalachin. About Greg Forrester Greg Forrester is the Upper New York Annual Conference recovery director for flood recovery operations. He oversees and coordinates disaster recovery operations in the affected communities. He s been Volunteer in Missions (VIM) coordinator for the Northeastern Jurisdiction since 1999, and continues to serve in that capacity. Certified by the American Red Cross for both domestic and international disaster response, he attended the UMCOR Basic Academy and taught the Emergency Response Teams course following Hurricane Katrina. Forrester served as a New York State Trooper for 10 years, and has operated a construction/remodeling company in the Cortland area since holds everything from extra boots and tools to masks to filter mold and a small generator, which will be needed in this community where electricity is still limited. Dressed in a sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers (untied more on that later), Forrester is ready for a day of what will be dirty work. This is the second round of cleaning out, Forrester says, addressing the needs of people who didn t seek or didn t get help immediately after the flooding. Continued on page 6 Getting your church s tech on Churches talk about using technology Also: some tips on smartphones and the Web Page Africa University is UNYAC s 2012 Lenten focus Area Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews urges all churches to participate Page 3 Meet: Ted Anderson Genesee Valley District Superintendent Page 2 November events included Urban Summit I, CCYM gatherings Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, interim pastor of outreach ministries at Asbury First in Rochester, was among those who participated in the conference s first Urban Summit, which took place Nov in Rochester. SEE STORY PAGE 3 The Conference Council on Youth Ministry s Fall Gathering was Nov in Rochester. SEE STORY, PHOTOS PAGE 4 CCYM Fall Do-ing was Nov SEE STORY, PHOTOS PAGE 5 REMINDER: ITEMS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION ARE DUE ON THE 5TH OF EACH MONTH FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH S ISSUE.

2 Page 2 December 2011 How to Reach Us Bishop s office Upper New York Area Episcopal Office of The United Methodist Church 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY Phone: (315) Fax: (315) Adirondack District Superintendent William Mudge 396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY (518) x11 Fax: (518) AdirondackDistrict@ Albany District Superintendent Brolin Parker 396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY (518) x10 Fax: (518) AlbanyDistrict@ Binghamton District Superintendent David Masland 53 McKinley Ave. Endicott, NY (607) Fax: (607) binghamtondistrict@ Cornerstone District Superintendent Sherri Rood 663 Lakeview Ave. Jamestown, NY (716) Fax: (716) cornerstonedistrict@ Meet Genesee Valley DS Ted Anderson By Beth DiCocco Advocate writer It s part of the fabric of my existence. That s how Genesee Valley District Superintendent Ted Anderson describes The United Methodist Church. Anderson was raised in Upstate New York, and said his parents, as well as his extended family, were very involved in church life. My mother was the best Sunday school ANDERSON teacher I ever had, said Anderson. I was getting lessons from the moment I was born until... even now. Anderson, who said that he felt the call to ministry at just 8 years old during a worship service in Cortland, became a full elder in 1982 and district superintendent in I grew up in The United Methodist Church, he said, and felt like the church was a DISTRICTS Crossroads District Superintendent Darryl R. Barrow 324 University Ave. 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY Phone: (315) x312 Fax: (315) ; toll free: (855) Crossroadsdistrict@ Finger Lakes District Superintendent Richard Barton 1 Franklin Sq., Suite 301, Geneva NY (315) Fax: (315) fingerlakesdistrict@ Genesee Valley District Superintendent Theodore Anderson 1100 South Goodman St. Rochester, NY (585) Fax: (585) geneseevalleyumc@crcds.edu Mohawk District Superintendent Sung Ho Lee 105 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY (315) Fax: (315) mohawkdistrict@ Mountain View District Superintendent Cathy Stengel 65 E. First St. Corning, NY (607) Fax: (607) mountainviewdistrict@ place I was supposed to be. Anderson s parents were his youth group advisors, and he has followed that family tradition by working with the Conference Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM) and serving as Northeastern Jurisdiction Mission of Peace coordinator. It s something that has always drawn me, he said of youth ministry. I like youth. I like the energy,... the openmindedness (about) doing things differently. The feeling of the church being a family that is supportive, positive and encourages everyone to be all we can be in terms of what God calls us to be Anderson said, is what everyone should experience growing up. Anderson offered some insights into how The United Methodist Church can make that happen for more young people by being a place that is welcoming to them. A big part of doing that, Anderson said, is to be flexible and open to change. It seems to be everybody likes to do things like they ve Conference office Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY Phone: (315) ; toll free: (855) Fax: (315) always done things, he said. I enjoy not changing as much as I used to enjoy changing. I m not blaming people my age, it s just the nature of the church; maybe it s human nature that we get used to doing things a certain way and nobody else s way. Drawing in young people, he said, requires a willingness on part of the people who are the church to be open to them and their ideas and their thoughts; but that s not all, it also means being willing to put some of (those ideas) into place. Making the church a place that looks inviting to young people, he said, does not mean abandoning tradition. There are certainly places doing a good job of attracting young people that have very traditional worship services, he said. Reaching young people or anyone else for that matter is about building relationships, he said. All of ministry is about relationships, and so is youth ministry, he said. Youth will The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Niagara Frontier District Superintendent Wayne Butler 131 John Muir Drive West Amherst, NY (716) Fax: (716) niagarafrontier@ Northern Flow District Superintendent Rebekah Sweet 95 E. Main St. Gouverneur, NY (315) Fax: (315) northernflowdistrict@ Oneonta District Superintendent Jan Rowell 66 Chestnut St. Oneonta, NY (607) Fax: (607) oneontadistrict@ RESOURCE CENTERS Amherst Office 131 John Muir Drive West Amherst NY (716) sheilarader@ Endicott Office 53 McKinley Ave. Endicott, NY (607) dianealexander@. come to a place where they feel welcomed; where their church aunts and uncles want to have relationship with them. That means not starting off the relationship by suggesting someone cut his hair or cover her tattoo. Too often, youth feel like the relationship got started with someone saying Don t do that, he said. Instead, he suggests, form good relationships where the primary focus is not on differences, but on becoming brothers and sisters in Christ who appreciate our differences. Once that relationship is established, you can suggest the haircut, he said. Ultimately, the Church s message is a strong one. The Church, at large, has the best news ever for everybody; we have what everybody s looking for, he said. The United Methodist Church has got that for sure. I feel blessed to have been born a Methodist and grown up with Methodists. ADVOCATE STAFF EDITOR/PUBLISHER Rev. Maidstone Mulenga Director of Communications x307 maidstonemulenga@ DEPUTY EDITOR Beth DiCocco Conference writer/editor x319 bethdicocco@ DESIGNER/WRITER Christian Vischi Communications associate x313 christianvischi@ E-ADVOCATE/WEB Ashley VanSickle Multimedia/ Web Coordinator x320 ashleyvansickle@ ADMIN. ASST. to the director Karen Campolieto x304 karencampolieto@ MARKETING ASSOC. Rebecca Lo Kohler x321 rebeccakohler@ IT MANAGER Clyde Wolford x322 clydewolford@ STORY IDEAS? The Advocate is always looking for news and story ideas. If your church is doing something you would like to share with Advocate readers, let us know about it. story ideas to bethdicocco@. Please include a phone number so that we can follow up. Or you can call (315) ext To submit photos, them to the same address. Photos should be at least 300 dpi at full size. UPPER NEW YORK UNITED METHODIST ADVOCATE RESIDENT BISHOP Marcus Matthews EDITOR/PUBLISHER Maidstone Mulenga. Upper New York United Methodist Advocate is a monthly newspaper of the Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, whose mission is to be God s love with all our neighbors in all places. Materials in the Advocate may not be reproduced unless the item is accompanied by a copyright notation. Subscriptions $15 per year paid in advance. 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY Call or visit www. ~ PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID ~ SYRACUSE, NEW YORK USPS POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Upper New York United Methodist ADVOCATE 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY We reserve the right to edit or decline any items submitted for publication.

3 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate During Lent, churches are urged to plant Seeds of Hope for AU This year during the Lenten season, the Upper New York Annual Conference will be planting Seeds of Hope for Africa University through Sunday worship at the local churches. During its three-year campaign to create a $1 million scholarship endowment fund, the Scholarship Committee wants to spread the word about the wonderful work taking place at Africa University and the students who reap the benefits of an excellent education. Next year, the university will celebrate 20 years, said Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews, who has served on the Africa University Board of Trustees for six years, and is currently its vice chair. Thanks to the support of United Methodists, all of the buildings on the campus are debt free. Our goal, as the Upper New York Annual Conference, continues to be that of raising funds for scholarships and the endowment fund in order to position the university and through its work, its students for a sustainable future. The AU focus begins in local churches on the first Sunday in Lent, Feb. 26. Each Sunday throughout Lent, churches are asked to lift up the university through the Seeds of Hope worship aides including litanies, recommended music and other resources that will be available at the end of this month. Bishop Matthews is encouraging each local church member to put aside $1 a day during Lent for an offering that will be taken Palm Sunday, April 1. On Conference AU Immersion Day, March 25, all Upper New York Area churches are asked to celebrate the conference s commitment and connection to AU by making AU the focus of worship that day. Selected churches will be inviting an AU speaker to join their Sunday worship that day. More than 30 guest speakers, some AU graduates and some members of the AU Advisory Board, will be speaking throughout the 12 districts. About AU In 1984, two African bishops, from Angola and Liberia, urged The United Methodist Church to create a university on the continent of Africa to provide educational opportunities for students from all corners of Africa, to produce good leaders for Africa, and to recognize and support the growth of United Methodism in Africa. The Church accepted the challenge, and 1,545 acres of land at Old Mutare Mission was given by Zimbabwe Methodist for that purpose. Africa University was born Photo by Matthew Williams Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews enjoys a performance by the AU Choir during the 2011 annual conference session. in a scrub field in 1992, with 40 students meeting in renovated farmhouses for classes in theology and agriculture/ natural resources. Today, nearly 20 years later, it has a full-time annual enrollment of about 1,200 students from 26 countries studying in six undergraduate and five postgraduate programs. Your church s Shared Ministry giving provides a foundation for AU s operation: almost all of its students need some financial assistance. The $1 million will endow eight student scholarships annually. This is the first broad mission initiative of the new Upper New York Annual Conference, and embodies being God s love with our neighbors in all places, and all churches are urged to participate. Go to to learn more and begin planting Seeds of Hope. Photo by Matthew Williams The AU Choir members, like most of the university s students, rely on financial aid to be able to attend AU. The UNYAC s $1 million endowment would support eight students each year. The choir performed at the annual conference session and at churches throughout the Area this June. December 2011 Page 3 City pastors gather to build a strategy KEMPER By Nelson Price Our congregation has grown by reaching out to immigrants, Holly Nye, pastor of Emmaus Church in Albany, told the Upper New York Annual Conference s first Urban Summit. Pastors in Syracuse are appointed to the city, and then to their congregations, said Craig French, pastor of University UMC there. (It s) a new model of ministry. We are better at providing services than creating relationships, another participant Rev. Lawrence Hargrave of Rochester. observed. About 60 leaders from large and small urban areas attended the summit Nov in Rochester. Representatives came from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Schenectady, Endicott and Jamestown. I was very pleased with what I saw and heard at this event. It was honest, but positive, said Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, director of Connectional Ministries. I m particularly encouraged by the grassroots nature of the Urban Summit. This event was conceived, supported and carried out by lay and clergy urban ministry practitioners. Our conference connections provided the connecting links, but pastors and lay folks serving in urban settings brought the insight and passion. They even found their own consultant and funded his work with them. That kind of initiative and commitment is just what we need moving forward, and not just with urban ministry. The summit was organized by the Metro Branch (think tree branch) of the Genesee Valley District. The Rev. Ann Kemper, pastor of Covenant Church, was coordinator. District Superintendent is Ted Anderson. This first summit was designed to allow leaders to share their stories of ministry and service to families living in poverty in our neighborhoods and served as a time of getting acquainted in our new conference, according to organizers. What would Wesley do? was the overarching question in the conversations that took place. Methodism s founder, John Wesley, is well-known for having moved out of the church building in order to reach the poor. The summit s program included a video tour of Buffalo s 10 United Methodist churches and their neighborhoods as well as descriptions of vacant houses and joblessness in IBM-deserted Endicott in the Southern Tier, where a high percentage of urban children often go home not knowing what they will eat, where they will sleep, or how safe they will be. Dr. Fred Smith, professor of urban ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., and consultant to the summit, challenged participants to think of their buildings not only as burdens but as assets to the community; to become asset-minded, not liability minded.... see people are assets. We don t even realize what assets we have in our people! We need to start counting our assets.... take the inward journey of fasting and prayer to create and sustain your passion your fire in the gut.... be the voice for the voiceless in places of power.... to be in relationship person to person. How many people (whom we serve) have we invited into the church? The second summit, planned for March in Syracuse, will focus on strategies. Those who are interested can contact the visioning and strategy team through French at University UMC at uumc@twcny.rr.com or (315) SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM URBAN SUMMIT I AT THE UPPER NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE S FACEBOOK PAGE.

4 Page 4 December 2011 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate God is Here... at CCYM Fall Gathering 2011 Photos by Maidstone Mulenga More than 200 youth from United Methodist churches across the Upper New York Annual Conference participated in the annual Fall Gathering Nov at the Radisson Hotel in Rochester. Under the theme God is Here, the youth celebrated the principles: God is here... Love matters here... Hope lives here... Joy abounds here... Peace begins here... through worship, fellowship and workshops. The gathering came a week after youth had spent a weekend helping with flood recovery efforts in Schoharie County (see page 5). At the gathering in Rochester, the youth also celebrated their Mission of Peace trips and their commitment to helping the Africa University Scholarship Endowment campaign with a $1,000 pledge. Guest speaker Ezra Kim, of the State Street UMC in Fulton, testified about how God had saved him from a road accident, and urged fellow youth to put their trust in God not in the world. Our security is in God, not in the world. God will not give up on you, he said, cautioning the youth against doing stupid things like jumping off hotel roofs. On Saturday, the youth participated in workshops, including: Dee Finch God is mingler Mary Anderson Hope lives here Accepting ourselves Phil Phaneuf God in movies Chelsea Aiosa and Allison Mallard Peace begins here Mission of Peace trip to China Youth Service Fund Dylan Stowe SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM CCYM S FALL GATHERING AT THE UPPER NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE S FACEBOOK PAGE

5 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate December 2011 Page Fall Do-ing: CCYM helps with flood recovery This year, in response to the floods that ravaged communities along the Schoharie Creek late in the summer, the Conference Council on Youth Ministry s annual Fall Gathering for the Albany area became a Fall Do-ing. CCYM Co-Chair Anna Malone reflected on how difficult the decision was to make, but it was so right, and so clearly what God was calling us to do. Some 20 members of the CCYM leadership team met Nov. 10 to prepare for the 80 or so youth and adults who would arrive the next day. The Middleburgh UMC, a disaster relief site for its community since the flooding, graciously accommodated the extra people. Their fellowship hall became a dance and game space, their choir room a prayer chapel, the Sunday school and youth rooms turned into sleeping quarters, and their nightly community meal expanded on Friday to include the CCYM leadership. Their hospitality toward us made this an easy event to hold, despite our late changes in planning, said Co-Chair Paul Sweet. On Friday, Nov. 11, the CCYM leadership team spent a morning working at a site in the village of Schoharie. They returned to the church to clean themselves up, and prepare to greet the youth who attended the event. Worship on Friday night and Saturday morning centered on the theme God is Here, in song, prayer, testimony and sermon. They concluded with Communion before all the youth groups headed out to work. As they worked uncovering household items and debris, the youth were touched by the simple everyday items that were lost and now found: A woman s purse, a baseball card, a child s teddy bear, a cookie tin, a set of pocket knives. To see the loss others live with every day following a natural disaster puts one s own life in perspective. The Fall Do-ing is now a memory, but one that is sure to stay with these teens and adults for a long time to come. Sharon Rankins-Burd Photos courtesy of Sharon Rankins-Burd 1. Erynn Motak, Eden UMC, moves debris from the flood zone. 2. About 100 youth and their advisors, together with the CCYM, worked to clear a stretch along the highway. 3. At the church where the kids had worship and workshops. Rev. Sharon Rankins-Burd led prayer for those going on the MOP 2012 trip to Nicaragua. 4. Chelsea Aiosa, Massena First UMC, and Ezra Kim, State Street UMC (Fulton) were the emcees of the event. Here, they are dressed as fictional detectives Carmen Sandiego and Sherlock Holmes. 5. Amanda Markessinis, McKnownville UMC, sorts salvageable goods from trash. 6. Wacky Olympics: Teams competed in games such as ring toss, magic carpet, and pass the Lifesavers. 7. More Wacky Olympics. 8. Items like these stairs, which were found among the debris, show the power of water. 9. Among the debris was this manger scene. 9

6 Page 6 December 2011 The Upper New York Un A working day with the UNY Annual Conferen Continued from cover Maybe because they thought they could do it on their own, he said, but now have run out of steam. It s pretty overwhelming. If United Methodist churches can be there to help, and do it well, he said, It makes them viable again; in disaster, (the church) is not just a building people drive by every day. 9 a.m. Arrive at Park Terrace UMC in Apalachin, where Forrester meets the student volunteers from Moravia and Groton central schools student councils. Forty is a big group, Forrester said, which is harder to manage than a typical group of eight to 12 people, but I didn t want to turn down kids from the high schools. Besides needing any available hands, Forrester has two reasons for wanting to encourage this group to volunteer. Most of these kids are unchurched, he said. They can experience a different way that church works... it s not just about sitting in a church building. Also, the two schools are long-standing rivals, and Moravia Superintendent Michelle Branter said she saw it as an opportunity to bring the two groups together. As they stamp their feet to keep warm, Forrester thanks the students for volunteering and reminds them about safety. He gets a couple of them to help load his trailer with some equipment from a United Methodist Men trailer parked at the church. The students then board the bus, which follows Forrester to the work site. 9:30 a.m. Arrive at the first home. At first glance, it seems like a typical workingclass neighborhood of singlefamily homes until you notice the washer and dryer sitting on one lawn and the kitchen cabinets on another. There is debris in front of nearly every house on the block. This is where the untied sneakers come in Forrester slips them off to put on work boots before stepping into the mud and dirt that seem to be everywhere. The door is locked, but Forrester finds an unlocked window, and lets the crew into the home. The house is empty, Forrester shows students how to remove a shower surround to allow the walls underneath to dry. the walls have been stripped of their sheetrock, so that the wood can dry out. The students get their work gloves and disposable masks designed to filter out the mold and dust. Time to rock and roll, Forrester says. Some of the students will be working outside picking up debris and raking the yard. Students inside will be pulling nails and screws out of the studs. Let s go for a walk, Forrester says as he leads the second group to a house a couple blocks away. As he walks, Forrester points out the brown lines on the sides of homes that indicate the high-water mark. One home he singles out, belongs to a couple in their 80s; it was knocked off its foundation. Moving around the area during the day, it s apparent that Forrester knows the story behind a lot of the homes and businesses he passes. The second home also needs debris removed from the yard; but the largest task here is inside: The home s attached garage was converted into living space, and a floor that is about a foot above the original has to be removed so the soaked and moldy insulation can taken out. A bathtub surround also has to be removed. Students arrive in Apalachin, where they will work at two homes. Forrester points out the path of the water through the neighborhood. The homeowner clearly tried to save the door casings, but if it s damp underneath and mold grows, that will ultimately be more costly than replacing them, Forrester said, and tells the students to remove them. It s tough, Forrester said, for homeowners who have lost so much to accept that we have to destroy your house in order to put it back together. 10:30 a.m. Williams and one of the teachers will do some assessment work in the neighborhood. This is the first step in helping residents meet them, find out if they want help and assist them in filling out the form. Forrester checks paperwork that indicates which homes still have not been visited. The form they carry includes the following directions for volunteers: Ask if help is needed. Listen. Do not make promises. Help residents fill out the sheet indicating what they need. Listening is critical, Forrester says. Designated porch sitter is how Forrester describes his role as listener being there to hear people s flood stories, their memories and their hopes for the post-disaster future. Back in the house Forrester encourages the students working on the floor project to cooperate. Work together, he said. Talk to each other. I see myself as a trainer, Forrester said. We have a lot of talented people in our churches just waiting to be asked (to help). They can t do it on their own, they need a system to plug into, he said, and creating that system means training and equipping them well, and ensuring they understand their roles as volunteers. The homes are only slightly warmer than the outdoors, but the students are working hard, and it doesn t take long before some have stripped off their sweatshirts. One of the student volunteers and Forrester remove moldy insulation from under the floor of what was once a garage. 11:42 a.m. Lunch. Students sit in the home s driveway with the lunches they ve brought. Forrester reminds them all to use hand sanitizer before they begin to eat. Hand sanitizer is one of the staples Forrester keeps in his truck. He grabs a PB&J from a box, and heads to a weekly meeting of the Broome County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) meeting at the United Way building in Vestal. Noon Forrester takes a call from his oldest, Maddie, 20, who is a student at SUNY New Paltz. A member of the field hockey team, she talks about the reaction to her recent black eye. Forrester and his wife, Gracie, also have three sons, Zachary, 16; Benjamin, 14, and Samuel, 10, and one Congo African Grey Parrot, Mad Max the Wonder Bird. Forrester says his children are used to his schedule and have helped with projects Benjamin helps build handicapped accessibility ramps; Maddie has taken mission trips. But when I m home, I m home, he said. He s even managed take some time to enjoy a recent anniversary present: Flying lessons. The importance of taking time for himself is something he learned in his 10 years with the State Police (he left in 1999). If you don t make it through the disaster, you re not going to do anyone any good, he said. At the meeting, those involved in the recovery effort share information and discuss how best to share/deploy resources. The meeting is in progress; Forrester grabs a bottle of water, and listens to the report by a FEMA representative. When FEMA reports that 2,200 businesses have sought assistance, Forrester mouths Wow. A question is raised about how to get in touch with those who may want to help, and For- Piles of debris like this one are common in the fl

7 ited Methodist Advocate December 2011 Page 7 ce s flood recovery director Photos by Beth DiCocco Despite the fact that the houses have no heat, the work is demanding, and it s not long before students take off their sweatshirts and jackets. rester talks about the students volunteering that day, and makes the suggestion of asking the BOCES classes, where students may have some construction skills. During the course of the meeting, Forrester steps out four times to take phone calls. 1 p.m. Time to head back to the job sites; the students are scheduled to head back to school at 1:30. Did you sense the tension? he asks as we leave. They re tired, worn out, he said of those working on behalf of the gathered organization. This is the point, he said, when the red tape starts to wear people out. That s likely why the six volunteers from AmeriCorps who were introduced at the meeting were greeted with applause. Their arrival is behind schedule, Forrester said, but fresh volunteers are welcome. 1:30 pm. Students are back on the bus, and Forrester heads into the house to make a final check and lock up. Running behind Heading to a meeting with Bill Bebe, a UMVIM team leader from Pennsylvania. Forrester s appointment is for 2 p.m., but he is running about 20 minutes behind. Bebe will be doing work on the former Wyoming Conference Center building in Endicott that is being converted into a volunteer center. It needs showers and bathrooms as well as smoke alarms and other work to be ready for spring. The center, which is located dead center of the affected areas, Forrester said, will be able to house 24 volunteers. It s important, he said, for volunteers to have a place to get away from the disaster to help them cope with the difficulties of the work. Having churches host volunteers will work in the short-term, but much like having company at your home, their presence wears thin on everyone after awhile. As winter approaches, the number of volunteers will slow to a trickle, Forrester Forrester discusses plans for the volunteer says, but efforts will pick up center with UMVIM volunteer Bill Bebe, who again in the spring. That s why will help renovate the former Wyoming Conference Center in Endicott. it s important to have the volunteer center up and ready by then. Forrester describes the flood response as being in three phases: emergency, recovery and rebuilding, and offers the following formula for approximating how long the recovery and rebuilding will take: In this case, seven days of emergency multiplied by 10 equals 70 days of recovery; multiply those 70 days by 10 and you get the duration of the rebuilding phase: 700 days or nearly two years. But factoring in Upstate winters, Forrester said, the rebuilding is likely to take three or four years. 3 p.m. Forrester is waiting at the volunteer center for Rev. Alan Jagger, pastor at nearby Owego UMC. That church sustained extensive damage, ood-ravaged neighborhood. and Jagger is coming by to pick up some office furniture to replace some of what the church lost. Forrester helps Jagger and his son load a couple of file cabinets, a desk and bookshelf onto Jagger s trailer. Forrester says pastors like Baron and Jagger, who are not only charged with helping people through the disaster but are also affected by it, should probably be appointed somewhere out of the disaster area in two or three years. We ve lost a lot of pastors to spiritual and emotional burnout, he said. 4:10 p.m. We return to Park Terrace UMC to put some tools that will be needed by crews working over the weekend back in the UMM trailer, and then head to Baron s house to drop off the trailer keys. 5:05 p.m. Forrester visits the Westover and Laotian Good News UMCs, which share a church in Johnson City. This area was another that was hit hard by the flooding. I haven t been there yet, he said. When we arrive, the parking lot next to the church is piled with folding chairs and tables. The church is empty, but unlocked, and Forrester tours the basement, where about four feet of sheetrock has been removed from the walls. They had just renovated down here, he said; the disappointment clear in his voice. He characterized the state of the church, however, as better than I thought I d find it. 5:19 p.m. As we leave, recovery workers wearing orange vests cross the street. BAE, a British defense and security company, is using paid workers to do the flood cleanup at its Westover location. The company s parking lot is a minicity of trailers and equipment. If you have money, that s what you do, Forrester said. In November, the Binghamton area s10th-largest employer, according to the Press & Sun Bulletin, announced that it will not return to its Westover facility, but not where it will go. 5:33 p.m. $3.58 for gas, let s get some, he said. Forrester said he travels between 150 and 188 miles in a typical day. He was fortunate, he said, that he had purchased his red truck, which is capable of pulling the trailer, just a week before the disaster. He grabs a cup of coffee in the convenience store, and is back on the road. One last stop Forrester decides to Forrester makes a stop at Westover and Laotian Good News UMCs to check on the extent of damage there. stop at Nimmonsburg UMC in Binghamton on his way back to Cortland. Driving into the parking lot, he points to the water line. In 2006, the church had 3 feet of water; this year it was 4.5 feet he said. Since the church parking lot is full, he leaves for home without stopping inside. Heading home On the way back to Cortland, we pass the Broome County Emergency Operations Center, where they have been offering supplies to nonprofits. Forrester says he stops by when he can to grab more masks. Even if he has a surplus, they can be traded for example at the meeting COAD Chairman Greg Jenkins has mentioned he has Tyvek suits (disposable protective clothing), and Forrester would like to get some of those. You have to be like Radar O Reilly, he said referring to the M*A*S*H character known for his ability to find whatever was needed. Part construction manager, part counselor, Forrester s work is many things, but it is not, he says, just a job. I ve been at this awhile, and I love it, he said. When it gets to be a job, I ll find something else to do. Forrester loads office furniture from the volunteer center for Rev. Alan Jagger of the Oswego UMC; that church was heavily dammaged. One of the student volunteers wears a mask to filter out the mold and dust.

8 Page 8 December 2011 HANDS4NY The United Methodist Church has long worked to combat hunger. The year-long HANDS4NY project is highlighting some of the work being done by UNY Area churches. If you have a story to share, contact Beth DiCocco at bethdicocco@. Sense of duty, fun keeps weekly meal ministry cooking for 25 years By Beth DiCocco Advocate writer When Charlie Lord and four others from First United Methodist Church in Bainbridge (Oneonta District) got together to start a Saturday lunch program, he told the group: Don t start unless we keep it going. You see so many instances where an organization will start something... but it only lasts for a few months. If you re going to get these people accustomed to coming here for a meal, you have to keep offering the meal; you can t just start it and stop it. They heeded his advice; the program marked its 25th anniversary in November. And Lord, 83, has been there the entire time. Of his long service, Lord said: I would have to say that I started out Photo courtesy of Mary Drachler Bainbridge Soup Kitchen volunteers, from left: Mary Drachler, Charlie Lord, Martha Gill and Beverly Thornton. at home being brought up, my sister too, we were taught that you had to help out the community, so we did a lot of work through the church and various other organizations. Led by Doug Smith, Lord, his sister Tess Grippin, Martha Smith and Jerry Butler approached the church s Administrative Council with the idea. They asked for no money, Lord said, and used a church coffee fund of about $45 to get the lunch program started. On Saturday, Nov. 8, 1986, they served 18 diners. By the end of the first year, they were averaging 50 diners, Lord said. Now the program serves some 200 meals a week. Most of those meals are takeout, but the church has space for about 50 diners, and the fellowship afforded by the meal is one of the benefits, said Mary Drachler, who has volunteered with the program for 11 years now. Lots of people come in just for the fellowship, Drachler said. Seniors need that; they need to have a place for good food and good fellowship. That goes for the volunteers as well. The camaraderie among them is one of the things that keeps the ministry going, Drachler said. It s got to be the personalities, she said. People work well together, and have a sense of duty. The meal is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday; they offer two soups, two sandwiches, an entree, salad and dessert. In addition to working on Saturdays, a group of volunteers gets together from 7:30 to 9 p.m. every Friday to do the prep work of making sandwich fillings, chopping veggies, sorting bread, etc. Lord said the variety offered may be unusual, but the group made up our minds from the beginning a soup and sandwich wouldn t do it. And Lord, who makes the sandwiches on Saturdays, has strong feelings about which sandwiches will do. Ham, egg or tuna salad are fine, but he s happy to report they haven t served PB&J in awhile now. I don t like making them; they re a lot of trouble, he said, adding he s not fond of peanut butter unless it s covered in chocolate. Their broccoli soup, however, is famous throughout the valley, Drachler said. Along with the volunteers from the church, the program is helped by area high school students who are fulfilling their community service requirement. Some local judges also have assigned volunteering as part of a community service obligation. It s just a good time and a good service, Drachler said. I come home tired, come home disgusted sometimes, but it s really amazing that it s held up for 25 years. It keeps the dream that Doug Smith had alive. A bilingual Bible study at Brown Memorial UMC in the Crossroads District is just one of the many ministries funded through the Upper New York Annual Conference s Microgrants for Ministry program. See a column by Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, director of connectional ministries, about the microgrants on page 9. The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Ministries get a kick start with grants By Christian Vischi Advocate Writer Community beautification, development of a Biblical Storytellers group and a new training program in spiritual direction were among the diverse ministries that got their start this year, thanks in large part to the Upper New York Annual Conference s Micro- Grants for Ministry program. A funding mechanism was created to provide financial support for three grant types: Empowering Local Churches, Leadership Development and Spiritual Formation, and Reaching our Neighbors. In March, 13 microgrants were awarded with 2011 funding of $69,668. For the July round, 22 projects were approved for a 2011 allocation of $74,285. The per-grant funding maximum was $8,000 per application per year, but applicants could request renewal for up to three years for a total of $24,000. Members of the conference s Mission Oversight Teams (MOTs) comprised of two Conference Leadership Team (CLT) members, one associate conference lay leader and three at-large members from the Conference had the task of discerning which projects to underwrite. CLT member Jan Rothfuss, who served as co-chair of the Leadership Development and Spiritual Formation Team with Rev. Elizabeth Quick, said one of the difficulties for the teams was selecting the programs to fund. There were two funding rounds in 2011; deadlines were March 1 and July 31, and as word of the funding spread, the July cycle had more requests for funds than the March one. I would hope that folks realized that there were many more requests for funding than were available funds, Rothfuss said. When reviewing the applications, it was obvious that these programs represented the passions of our local churches. As we reviewed the documentation that was submitted, it brought to our MOT a clearer understanding of how the priorities of leadership and spirituality are taking form in our conference. The 2011 micro-grants were awarded to groups across our conference, from Albany to Bemus Point. Some grants will help to develop a group of Biblical Storytellers, a program for the spiritual development of women, a new family ministry and a training program in spiritual direction.... The hardest part of our MOT s effort was that we had to choose. And, even as we selected those to receive a micro-grant, we had to balance all of the approved requests so that we stayed within the limits of the available funds. CLT member Rev. John McNeill said he found commonality among the applicants that ultimately would be funded. What I found compelling in the grants I thought were worthy of funding was demonstrated local support in terms of people and finances, cooperation among several churches/groups, and evidence of thinking through the potential pitfalls the project or effort might face, said Microgrants awarded to date McNeill, who served on an interim basis on the Empowering the Local Church Team. Rev. Roosevelt Baums, CLT member on the Reaching our Neighbors Team, found similar veins in the applications, and said he was encouraged by meeting the influential leaders of the submitting churches. I personally told church leaders about this grand opportunity that our beloved conference had established so that our many churches could dream big and reach into their neighborhoods, Baums said. We received approximately 51 applications (for the July deadline round). During the selection process, we had the pleasure of meeting with some of the most influential people of our time through the applications submitted for funding. (And) I believe their work will touch and elevate every life they touch in some way.

9 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate December 2011 Page 9 Opinion Helping the poor major goal for microgrant applicants GOTTSCHALK -FIELDING As you can see from Christian Vischi s piece on the micro-grant program (page 8), over the last year, our conference has been able to help fund a variety of new ministries in areas of leadership development, congregational vitality and reaching our neighbors. The Conference Leadership Team had goals for this program. The first was to provide a way to put financial resources behind a variety of Letters to the Editor Tithing a demand of grace, not law I read with interest the reflection on tithing (Rev. Thomas Pullyblank, September issue). He writes that he articulates after several weeks of Bible study, prayer and reflection. I am 84, and have been preaching and teaching for 67 years. Here s my thoughts: The very fact that there is no such command in the New Testament to tithe indicates that the believer is under no such obligation. He is, in this respect, as in all others, not under law, but under grace. However the demands of grace are, surely, far more exacting than law. There is a tendency, as in Luke 16, for us to seek to reduce the amount when asked: How much owest thou unto the Lord? Nothing smaller than 100 percent will do. This the poor widow realized, and she cast in all her living; not, as with the others, a fraction. The farmer knows that to sow sparingly is to reap sparingly; in giving to the Lord, the affections should be the controlling guide. We should give according to our ability, and that takes into account income and liabilities. Each should purpose new ministries throughout the conference. The Conference Leadership Team wanted to empower some creative ways of enacting our conference vision. The second goal was to learn what kinds of ministries our new conference had a heart for. Nearly 100 separate micro-grant applications were submitted by individuals, groups and churches this past year. Each and every one was read and considered by one of the three Ministry Oversight Teams (MOT) established by the Conference Leadership Team to oversee the microgrant process. Though much more will be learned as we reflect on this review, a few preliminary observations have already begun to influence in his heart before the Lord what he will give. No one has a right to legislate for the other. We must remember tithing was in force before the law was given. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek and is commended. In the present dispensation, the command is very plain and definite: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. (1 Corinthians 16:2). The particular reference here is to the work of the Lord and ministering to the needy. As God hath prospered suggests some kind of standard and that standard is evidently to begin with the tithe, for we read in Romans 8:4, that the righteousness of the law demands the giving of the tithe. Therefore, a consistent Christian cannot fulfill that righteousness by giving less than the tithe, but as God enables, will gladly give more under grace than he would be obliged to give if he were a Jew living under law. Much is said about giving liberally and joyfully and 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 teaches that the rewards in the Day of Christ will be commensurate with the degree of our sacrificial giving now. I am a Bible-believing the work of the Conference Leadership Team as it moves forward, chief among them our conference s deep desire to be in ministry with the poor. In fact, dozens of applications were received for projects focused on the needs of neighbors living in poverty, ranging from literacy training to clothing programs to financial counseling. Coupled with the response to the recent HANDS4NY Feed a Million emphasis and the recent Ministry with the Poor Summit with conference agencies, it is clear United Methodists in Upper New York have heard a call to help persons break free of poverty. Indeed, the Conference Leadership Team believes preacher and teacher of the Word, and have been in fellowship with the Saints at the Clifton Park UMC for the last 20 years. Rev. Henry Palmieri Mechanicville Bible says much on judging others When I read the letter from Karl in Peterboro in the October issue of Advocate, I was so incensed I almost wanted to withdraw my Methodist membership! We talk about open hearts, open minds, open doors, etc. We do not discriminate against different races or ages, but do not allow homosexuals? Please! This is not a lifestyle choice that can be changed at will. I firmly believe homosexuals should be allowed to have relationships, and, if they wish, to marry within the church. Anything less is hypocrisy to the nth degree. Karl quoted some Bible verses; well, how about Luke 6:37: Judge not that you be not judged, for example, or James 4:12: There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor? or Leviticus 19:18: Love your neighbor as yourself. And, just as a final thought, remember who are the soldiers that are defending your right to write letters like that and this? Roberta Barrett Beaver Falls United Methodist Church Change hurtful stance on gays I am using my full name for I am not afraid of stating my beliefs and understanding. I am also proud to say that I call Oneonta First UMC my church home. As an United Methodist, I hold to the Methodist Quadrilateral of Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience. This means that all four inform my active faith; no one is more important than the other. So it troubles me that a person holds up clobber verses, which are used incorrectly and are intended to hurt gay, lesbian, bi- and transgendered people. The last letter that John Wesley wrote was to William Wilberforce in which he stated, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away. He further said, The oath of a black against a white goes for ministry with the poor should be among the top three priorities for our annual conference during the next quadrennium. The micro-grant program has had an important role in these early days of our new conference. It has helped us get resources into the hands of new ministries and provided a way to look into the heart of the conference and test its passions and commitments. Though the Conference Leadership Team has decided not to seek new applications in 2012, several projects approved this year are multiyear projects. After an evaluation process is completed, these projects will be eligible for additional funding. I think from the Conference Leadership Team s perspective, about the only downside to this process was the need to say no in order to say yes. We simply had more projects than dollars. The hope is, even if an application was denied, the project might still move forward with dollars generated at the local level. Indeed, this is just what I heard from several applicants. We ll just find another way, because it feels like God is behind this thing. That kind of initiative is very encouraging. Keep checking these pages for updates on how UNYAC s micro-grant funded projects are bearing fruit. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding is director of connectional ministries for the UNY Annual Conference. nothing. What villainy is this? At the time, John Wesley s contemporaries stated that the Bible condoned slavery. Wesley saw it as villainy. Today, people see the bullying, the ridicule and, yes, the booing of even gay soldiers as heinous. It is with deep shame that The United Methodist Church still holds to these prejudiced views. Our tradition and our reasoning tell us we can change this hurtful stance and not only welcome all people into the UMC, but let them serve as pastors and marry those whom they love. Rev. Richard A. Breuninger, retired Oneonta A note on letters All letters written in response to the Council of Bishops Nov. 10 position statement on homosexuality and The United Methodist Church have been forwarded to the Council of Bishops and will not be published in the Advocate. To reach the council directly: cob@umc.org or write to: Council of Bishops Office 100 Maryland Ave. NE Washington, D.C LETTER GUIDELINES The Advocate is accepting letters to the editor. You can discuss specific content in the Advocate or any issues within the Conference or Church. Letters should be kept to 250 words (longer letters may be published when space allows). We reserve the right to reject or edit letters. The deadline is the fifth of the month for the following month s newsletter. Letters submitted must include your name, address and a daytime phone number. Letters can be published using only a first name if the writer requests, but the full details must be included for verification purposes. news@. with letter to the editor in the subject line. Or mail your letter to: Upper New York Annual Conference 324 University Ave. 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY Attn: Letters to the Editor Thoughts on peace and justice I want to raise some questions on faith and justice, on peace and on living the life of a Christian, on charity and mercy, and on basic Christian values. The church has been speaking eloquently for a long time about justice, peace and mercy. We have been formulating creeds and writing articles and sharing stories and passing resolutions on them. Yet are we not still lacking in the practice of justice, and peace and mercy? Rev. Sinnathamby Thevanesan, from a sermon he gave at the fall meeting of the General Board of Church & Society s Board of Directors. Read the full sermon at www.

10 Page 10 December 2011 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Can churches embrace technology and tradition? By Beth DiCocco Advocate writer From the GPS in our car to the smartphone in our pocket, technology surrounds us. It s in our offices, schools, homes and more and more, it s in our churches. United Methodist churches are increasingly facing the question: How do we incorporate 21st-century technology into church traditions that began in the 18th century? Asbury First in Rochester and Saratoga Springs UMC both use technology extensively, but the two churches have different ideas about how to go about it. What we re currently doing... is trying to figure out how best to use technology at this point, said Rev. Phillip W. Phaneuf, pastor for youth and young adults at Asbury First. One of the areas that we re seeing at Asbury First, is not in terms of worship potential but in education offerings that we have. The education piece is a wonderful spot to embrace as much technology as possible. The church has begun a distance learning course using an online course management system called Moodle, and uses ipad and Apple TV technology in the senior high Sunday school classes. During the week, one of the youth will choose for example, a YouTube video to lead the discussion for the youth group during Sunday school hour. It s fascinating, Phaneuf said. They are feeling empowered to use (the technology) in the class. While there is a monitor that displays a slide show about Asbury First as people enter the church, the decision to keep technology out of the sanctuary, is one that fits the character of the congregation, Phaneuf said. It s interesting it s not generational as much as about the appropriate time and place for it, he said. When talking with the youth and young adults in regard to technology in worship, there s a very strong Phaneuf crying out that that s not the appropriate place for technology. That s because the demographic interested in worship at Asbury First s traditional gothic sanctuary has the expectation of a traditional form of worship. Jumbotrons and twitter feeds live on screen in the sanctuary just doesn t sit, Phaneuf said. But those things do sit well with the congregation at Saratoga Springs UMC, which installed a big screen in its sanctuary in On World Communion Sunday, Saratoga ran a twitter feed of prayers from around the world during communion, said Pastor Michelle Bogue-Trost. It gave this sense that we are united not all alike but united in something much bigger than ourselves, and this was a really tangible way to show people that. Rev. Dr. James Fenimore and Bogue-Trost were appointed to Saratoga in July. Bogue-Trost served as associate pastor in Saratoga in 2001; she said the decision to install the big screen was made carefully after two years of education and talking about it. What we bring is facility with technology... and willingness to say that to be church in the 21st century, we need to be conversant (with technology) as part of our vision as leaders. Fenimore said: Use of a screen in worship enhances traditional worship. It s about creating a metaphor. He used the example of Jesus saying I am the vine, you are the branches Eric Seiberling, church strategy and marketing blogger ( is a member of the General Commission on Communication, and through United Methodist Communications discussed what churches need to know about today s mobile society: Many people believe mobile is just a fad the data suggests otherwise. Whether for teens in the United States or people in the Philippines, mobile devices are becoming the primary method to connect, communicate and relate to one another. Mobile provides real-time connectivity, 24/7, in the palm of a hand. In every region of the world, smartphone penetration is growing exponentially. Cisco Systems Inc. forecasts that global mobile data traffic will grow 26 times over the next five years. Mobile is here to stay, and here is the proof ( ready-or-notmobile-is-coming. html). Are you ready to place your church within an arm s reach? In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to reach out to all nations even when it means trekking into unfamiliar territory. We need to reach people wherever they are. A mobile strategy can help connect people to your church. More than 40 percent of users access the Internet through their phones. We need to create our websites in a format accessible by smartphones and other mobile devices. If Wordpress powers your website, try BuddyPress, WPTouch Pro or WordPress Mobile Edition. Look at Mashable s article for other tools to create a mobile website. There s an app for that. If you want to go one step beyond a mobile website, try making an app. AppMaker provides an easy way to make an iphone app. Appsbar can help create apps for both ios and Android operating systems. Reach out and text someone. Text messaging is becoming the primary method of communication around the globe, especially for youth and young adults. You can use tools like Txt Signal, Tatango or Church Texting Manager to send mass text messages to advertise events, send reminders and request prayers. Photo by Christian Vischi Rev. Michelle Bogue-Trost and Rev. Dr. James Fenimore, pastors at Saratoga Springs UMC, conduct workshops for churches that want to employ technology. Contact them at: (518) or via at: michelle@ saratogaumc.org or jim@saratogaumc.org. (John 15:5). Effectively using technology with that parable is not a matter of putting a bunch of vines on the screen, but rather making the metaphor more accessible by asking, If Jesus was telling this today, in this culture, what metaphor would he use? then finding a video, image or piece of music that illustrates that. Jesus was the master of metaphor, he said, that s what we re reclaiming. Concerns about whether those modern images would be appropriate came up in the church s discussions, Bogue-Trost said, but it s a matter of having trust in leadership to develop meaningful usage of (the technology). Why should the secular world get all the good toys? she added. Cyberspace One of the good toys pretty much everyone has is Facebook, which according to the company, has 800 million active users worldwide. Phaneuf, who is co-teaching a class on the church in the digital age at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, says he sees a lot of potential for connectionalism on the Internet. People expect news to come to them, Phaneuf said, and in the tradition of Wesleyan field preaching, instead of hoping someone will show up, go out to where they re at and give them the information, news, updates; that s where we can plant a seed and get them connected to church. Fenimore said one use of Facebook is people checking in when they get to church: It says this is where they are, and you can see all the people who are checked into this church. They can have a faith conversation, and it puts the church name out there. While there ought to be a face-to-face physical presence on Sunday morning, Phaneuf said, groups meeting online for Bible study, etc., during the rest of the week is a great idea. Continued on page 11 Technology in hand: Make your church smartphone smart Connect via QR (Quick Response) Codes. QR codes are two-dimensional matrix barcodes that can be scanned or read with your iphone, Android or other camera-enabled smartphone. The codes can link to digital content on the web or activate phone functions, such as , instant messaging and Short Message Service (SMS). You need to generate a QR code (using a QR code generator like Kaywa) and decide where to connect it. It could link to a special-events page to promote a church outreach event or to a YouTube video. Use it to offer directions to your church, Like your Facebook page or even send a text message to your church SMS account. Put a QR code on marketing materials, church signage, vacation Bible school registration forms or wherever you want people to find more information or to act. The individual can use a QR Code reader app like i-nigma (all smartphone OS) or Qrafter (ipad) to scan it with their camera and access the call to action you created. GroupMe (and others). One helpful tool for church staffs, youth groups and other teams is GroupMe. This online tool allows you to create a group of 25 people and then do group text messaging and conference calls. It also allows photo sharing. Four to 10 people is the best group size. Create several groups to make communication manageable. GroupMe and other online tools can help your team coordinate events or improve collaboration. Continued on page 11

11 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate MyCom: Web ministry top 10 In its enewsletter, MyCom, United Methodist Communications (UMCom) offered these best practices for web ministry ( 10. Keep up-to-date with technology trends, new tools, resources and training. UMCom s web and Internet technology forum (umcom. org/witforum) can help you stay current. 9. Promote and display your online presence in the offline world and your offline presence in the online world. Put your church s physical address and contact information on all websites, blogs and social networking sites, and put your website address and other Internet locations on your printed materials. 8. Adopt clear policies and terms of use, privacy, safety and copyright guidelines for your church s online presence. Create and follow the procedures and protocols you develop for a safe and appropriate online experience for your members and visitors. 7. Keep all of your Web content up-to-date and relevant. Nothing is more unappealing than a website with out-of-date content. Use a content-management system and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to schedule new content. 6. Select web and Internet technology tools and resources to meet your specific purposes and goals and reach target audiences. What Is Web Ministry? is a free online course; visit umcom.org/wm100 for more information. 5. Employ the usercentered design process for your Web ministry. 4. Use a consistent brand image for your church s online and offline presence. This reinforces to members and visitors alike that your church has a unified, integrated approach to ministry. 3. Design seeker-specific experiences through your church s Web presence, and enlist church members Churches take different approaches... Continued from page 10 Bogue-Trost said the Cloud is also a way to conduct church business storing records, keeping a Google calendar for meetings that not only allows information to be accessible, but is green as well. But despite the different approaches at their respective churches, they have one important idea in common: Technology, however it is employed, is not the message, it s the messenger, and it won t at least not by itself revitalize a church. Technology in hand... Continued from page 10 Test learn rinse repeat. Mobile marketing is not a cure-all for your church, but it can help you connect with your community. Try different approaches and see what works. Start small by using mobile marketing techniques around a single event like your children s Christmas program. We are tempted, Phaneuf said, to say: Let s embrace technology as quickly as possible so it will bring people into church, and we ll (do) the theological reflection later. That s putting the technology cart in front of the theological horse, he said. Fenimore agreed, saying, Churches that adopted visual technology to fix a decline in membership particularly among young people are going to fail. Putting up a screen in the sanctuary isn t going to draw people in, he said; using technology effectively means to meet seekers when the online experience leads to offline participation. Start this aspect of Web ministry by updating your church s Find-A-Church profile at find-a-church.org. 2. Know your target audience groups and develop ways to reach them. Continually request feedback and adjust your Web ministry to keep people engaged. 1. Develop a Web ministry team. Don t go it alone. Share the excitement and responsibility of working together in ministry using the tools of the Internet. Learn more about all aspects of Web ministry at org/site/c.mrlzj9pfkmg/ b /k.9e17/web_ministry.htm Create a micro-site using Wordpress and then use WPTouchPro to make it mobile. Next, create an app that includes videos, songs the children will sing and pictures from the event. Include QR codes on all posters, invitations and signage for the event. Take the time to test and refine your approach. This is your opportunity to bring your church within an arm s reach of your community. Does your church have its tech on? making it a seamless part of what we do and using it to create access points to the Gospel story. It s important, Phaneuf said, to ask: Do we have a theological rational for the implementation of technology? Bogue-Trost agreed that employing technology requires reflection and planning, but that shouldn t put people off: We don t have to be a church of the 50s to thrive, she said. We have the technology, and we know how to use it. If your church is doing something innovative with technology or has some advice or tips to share with others in the conference, send us an news@, subject: Tech ideas. By Christian Vischi Advocate writer More than 10 million children and youth attended summer camp last year, according to the American Camp Association (ACA). If your child was one of those who attended one of the Camp and Retreat Centers of the Upper New York Annual Conference, they were in elite company in terms of national standards for health and safety. Of the more than 12,000 camp facilities in the United States and Puerto Rico, less than 2,400 have received ACA accreditation. Mike Huber, associate director for Camp and Retreat Ministries of the conference, was recently notified that Aldersgate and Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Centers have received ACA accreditation renewal. The key benefit for the public is that knowing that ACA accreditation means a camp meets the industryaccepted and governmentrecognized standards. All of the Camp and Retreat Centers of the Upper New York Annual Conference are permitted by the New York State Department of Health, and four of them meet the rigorous ACA accreditation standards. Both Sky Lake and Aldersgate have been accredited for quite a few years, according to Huber, and Casowasco and Skye Farm are also ACA accredited. December 2011 Page 11 Getting an A : Camp & Retreat Centers renew accreditation poverty war terrorism hunger the economy unemployment abuse addiction healthcare depression violence racism Where sexism isolation do bankruptcy crime war terrorism poverty hunger the you economy see racism unemployment abuse addiction healthcare sexism violence racism isolation reality? bankruptcy crime poverty war terrorism hunger the economy unemployment abuse addiction healthcare depression violence racism sexism isolation bankruptcy crime The women and men who enroll in the Master of Divinity program at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School come from diverse faith traditions and communities. However, they share the belief that Christ s greatest calling is to engage the real world as it is in order to transform it. Engage reality. Call Visit facebook.com/crcds All six sites meet the mandatory standards, said Huber, and the CRM (Camp & Retreat Ministries) Board has set a goal of bringing the other two facilities into full accreditation within three years. Sites displaying the ACA Logo meet the highest standard in professional camp and retreat ministries. I am pleased that the staff at Sky Lake and Aldersgate were successful at achieving reaccreditation, said Huber. The Upper New York Annual Conference strives to offer premier camp and retreat opportunities to campers and guests. The accreditation process educates camp owners and directors on key aspects of camp operation, program quality, and the health and safety of campers, guests and staff, according to ACA s website. This process also helps organizations to establish needed policies, procedures and practices. For more information about the Camp & Retreat Centers of the conference, visit their website at www. campsandretreats.org. For more information on ACA, visit org.

12 Page 12 December 2011 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Hundreds celebrate the life of Rev. Margie Mayson By Maidstone Mulenga Advocate editor In a four-hour emotionfilled ceremony, hundreds of mourners, including Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews, gathered Nov. 19 at St. Paul s United Methodist Church in Ithaca on to celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Margie Mayson. Rev. Mayson, who was born on Oct. 26, 1950, died on Nov. 8, 2011 of an aneurysm. From the testimonies of the many whose lives she touched during her 34 years in ministry, it was evident that Rev. Mayson was a loving, spiritual, caring and gifted pastor. Her husband, the Rev. Dr. H. Wes Perkins, in his personal reflection, said it simply: Margie was a 10 in all she did. The Rev. Robert McCune, a retired district superintendent and acting pastor at the church, conducted the service that was richly spiced with all types of music and reflections. Dr. Perkins, a professor of sociology in the department of anthropology and sociology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, was the last speaker; he talked about how he and his wife had promised to conduct each other s services. I was sure she was the one who was going to conduct mine, he said. Dr. Perkins brought those assembled to tears as he read part of his wife s last sermon, preached on All Saints Sunday. It reminded listeners of our Photos by Maidstone Mulenga ABOVE: The Rev. Margie Mayson s smiling face graces the altar during the celebration service of her life and ministry at St. Paul s United Methodist Church in Ithaca on Nov. 19. Rev. Mayson, pastor of the church, died of an aneurysm during a trip back from Portland, Ore., on Nov. 8. RIGHT: The Rev. Dr. We Perkins explains to Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews the significance of the white prayer shawl he was going to wear during the celebration service. It was given to him by the neighboring Tibetan monks, who held a service in Rev. Mayson s honor at the church a day earlier. Rev. Mayson was well known for her ecumenical services and connections. mortality and the need to live our lives to the fullest, knowing that we could die at any moment. Speaking through tears, daughter Kiah recounted the last moments of her mother s life, noting that the two had observed some moments of silence as they admired God s creation along the route back from Portland, Ore. Known for her love of labyrinths as a way of deepening one s spiritual life, Rev. Mayson had finished making a labyrinth in the gym of St. Paul s UMC a week before she died. Kiah noted that it was no mere coincidence that Rev. Mayson was taken to a hospital that has a labyrinth. Daughter Jessica, who is in ministry in Uganda, Africa, also talked about her mother s love for labyrinths, and her having created one at her home in Rochester. Both thanked their mother for bringing them up in the Christian life. Rev. Mayson s sister and her nephew shared stories about her generosity and loving nature, and about how she always looked out for others. On behalf of the Upper New York Annual Conference, Bishop Matthews thanked the family for allowing her to serve several United Methodist churches including Tremont charge in Pennsylvania, Liverpool, Branchport, Bluff Point, Branchport, Clifton Springs, Asbury First, Penfield and St. Paul s. Scores of clergy and laity expressed their feelings about Rev. Mayson, a pastor who changed lives including those of people who later became pastors themselves. She was thanked for being affirming and saving lives, and hailed for reaching out beyond the doors of the church to other pastors and other denominations. The closing prayer expressed it this way: Holy God, who is known to us in heartbreak and hope, and is revealed in the spirit that fills this sanctuary today as we celebrate Margie s life, help us to hold fast to her blessing in our lives. As we continue to work for justice and peace, give us the courage to combat intolerance, bigotry, and the ills of poverty, and keep us ever mindful of the practice of hospitality in our lives. Oh God, we place our hope and trust in You, and we again give thanks for all You have given us. Our hearts are especially grateful for the life of your servant, Margie. Amen Folts Homes launches 2011 Angel Appeal The Folts Homes in Herkimer (Mohawk District) has launched its 68th annual Angel Appeal. The Angel Appeal continues to be a fundamental fundraising source for the Folts Homes, which provides care for seniors affected by debilitating health issues with a special emphasis on caring for those diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease. United Methodist Deacon Catherine Lee serves as chaplain at Folts Homes. For every gift received, a model angel is placed on the Holiday Blessing Tree in the main lounge and family gathering site. The angels provide a meaningful way to honor an individual, express a condolence or simply convey good wishes. Donations to the Angel Appeal enable the facility to purchase specialized healthcare equipment, as well as provide upgrades and enhancements to various programs and services. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it Hebrews 13:2. To make a donation, visit and click on the donation link or mail your donation to: Folts Foundation, 104 North Washington St., Herkimer, N.Y Troy Conference history available The Enduring Flame, the history of Troy Conference , published by the former Troy Conference Commission on Archives and History in 2010, is available for purchase. The book also includes a history of the former conference s camping program, beginning with the camp meeting days ( ). Written by retired pastor Rev. Ralph Marino, the book focuses on major decisions and ways the conference responded to societal forces during its last decades. The editorial team included Marino s wife, Jacqueline, copy editor, and Rev. William Pattison, photography editor. Additional materials were prepared by Karen Staulters, UNYAC archivist. This book is the sequel to the 1982 publication A Flame of Fire The Story of Troy Annual Conference by The Rev. Charles D. and Ouida Schwartz. The cost is $15; $18 if shipping is required. To order a copy, send a check, payable to UNY Annual Conference with the memo line Archives and History, to: Karen Staulters, UNYAC archivist, 396 Louden Road, Saratoga Springs, N.Y Concert benefits flood relief effort Rev. Judy Humphrey-Fox, pastor of First UMC in Lake Luzerne and South Corinth UMC (Adirondack District), with help from Lake Luzerne church musician George Van- Dusen and church members Linda McCoy and Jan Weeks, performed a concert to raise money to aid the flood recovery effort. Approximately 30 people attended the Nov. 13 concert that raised $613. I have thought for some time that I would like to use my gift of singing in broader ways, said Humphrey-Fox, who performs contemporary Christian music. This fall as I preached about being good stewards of all that God has given us, I felt convicted that I needed to do more with this gift of music. When I saw the devastation from the tropical storms Irene and Lee and knew that it was impacting our churches and parsonages, as well as so many people in communities across our state, I knew it was the time to act. Sarah s Shop opens in Binghamton Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church in Binghamton has opened Sarah s Shop: Today s purchase changes tomorrow s story. The mission of Sarah s Shop is to promote God s loving and generous spirit by providing clothing and household items at a reasonable price for those in need. Clothing is sold by the bag for $2 or $5. Each month there is a drawing for a free $2 bag of clothing. Profits from Sarah s Shop will be shared with community agencies that value and serve the community surrounding Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church. For example, in November profits will be shared with Habitat for Humanity. Profits will also be shared within the church community. Sarah s Shop is located at 308 Main St., Johnson City. Hours are 3:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday. For more information, call (607) Dates to remember For the most complete, upto-date information, check the conference calendar at Dec Christmas in the Woods at Aldersgate Dec. 12 Upper New York AC Trustees meeting Conference office, 324 University Ave., Syracuse Dec. 25 Merry Christmas Jan Family Winter Weekend at Sky Lake Feb. 26 Lent begins; AU Lenten focus Seeds of Hope begins at churches April 1 Palm Sunday AU Offering April 24 - May General Conference Session