A tale of two clinics

Transcription

1 Upper New York www. ADVOCATE Our vision: To live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God s love with our neighbors in all places A PUBLICATION OF THE UPPER NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Volume 5, Issue 9 - SEPTEMBER 2013 A tale of two clinics Rural and urban church each provide much-needed care Geneseo Parish Outreach Center Executive Director Linda Weaver and her husband review medical forms before they are added to the electronic database. This church-based rural clinic is the only one of its kind in New York. Photo by Christian Vischi. By Christian Vischi Advocate Writer Each day, registered nurse Linda Weaver dons her scrubs and stethoscope and heads to the office where she averages about 35 hours of work per week. Sounds pretty typical, but Weaver s a volunteer and the free rural clinic she works at is a rarity only 10 such clinics exist in the state. Even more remarkable, this clinic, housed at the Geneseo United Methodist Church (Genesee Valley District), is the only one of its kind in New York. What started with an expenditure of only $300 in the church library has blossomed into the Geneseo Parish Outreach Center (POC), the only free rural health clinic in the state based at a church. Weaver is its executive director. The clinic takes all comers. Patients are asked to make a $5 donation for each visit to the POC. If a patient is referred to a partner service, the Geneseo UMC POC pays for those services and asks its patient to reimburse the POC 50 percent of those costs. The POC serves people in 11 different counties; though Weaver is quick to point out that the POC has no geographic boundaries, the majority of its patients come from Livingston County, where over 7,000 people are uninsured, Weaver said. Dr. Paul Frame, family practitioner, is one of the eight volunteer doctors on staff now. It is interesting for me to see the demographics, he said. (Our patients) don t tend to be the elderly or the poor, it is really that in-between group that are trying to get a job, or are in school, or have a job that doesn t pay much or have had their hours cut back and are in this big trap, Frame said. They are people that are really trying. Continued on page 6 Registered Nurse Diane Donatelle takes a blood pressure reading of a young boy at the Asbury UR Well Clinic, a ministry of Asbury First UMC, that serves folks in the city of Rochester. Photo by Christian Vischi. Asbury First UMC in Rochester By Christian Vischi Advocate Writer Registered Nurse Diane Donatelle was strapping a blood pressure cuff onto the arm of a young boy wearing a bright orange Mario Brothers T-shirt. As she started to squeeze the bulb, his eyes grew wider; although he didn t utter a word, his mouth gave away his apprehension. The squeezing is normal, it s OK, she reassured him. She released the air valve and the pressure dropped, and slowly he allowed a smile to creep onto his face. He was one of a handful of patients seen recently at the Asbury UR Well Clinic, a collaborative program of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester (Genesee Valley District). The clinic is a place where underand uninsured patients in the greater Rochester area can go for both acute and chronic conditions. Approximately seven to 10 patients walk in between 6 and 8 p.m. every Thursday; no appointments are needed. There are also special clinic hours each month for physicals, Spanish-speaking patients and dermatology. Similar to the rural medical clinic housed at the Geneseo UMC (see companion story), the clinic at Asbury First started out monitoring the blood pressure of church members. The plan to expand the reach of the clinic beyond the church s membership was an idea of then pastor the Rev. Dr. W. Mark Ralls; he is currently appointed as a member of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference to the Centenary UMC in Winston-Salem, NC. Ida Hickman, staffing coordinator at the clinic, said Rev. Ralls had a Continued on page 6 INSIDE MEET STEVE HUSTEDT Upper New York s new Director of Communications Page 3 UNY HOSTS COLLEGE OF BISHOPS 16 bishops from NEJ gathered in Canandaigua Page 5 SKY LAKE S FIRST 5K Page 8 CCYM Registration under way for Fall Gatherings Page 7 MISSION TRIPS Share your stories Page 4 REMINDER: ITEMS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION ARE DUE ON THE 5TH OF EACH MONTH FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH S ISSUE.

2 Page 2 September 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate From the desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb Here s a simple question worth asking often A new season is about to emerge. It is a season filled with familiar sights and rituals: The appearance of yellow school buses on the streets of our communities; the sounds of fans and marching bands at Friday-night football rivalries; cooler nights that offer a subtle hint of what is to come as summer gives way to autumn. It is a new season in the life of many churches as well. It is season of new beginnings, as familiar programs return, and new ideas for helping people connect more deeply to Jesus Christ and their community emerge. This summer, one of the books I read was entitled, Missional Map-Making: Skills for Leading in Times of Transition by Alan Roxburgh. Using the metaphor of map-making, the book explains the perspective and skills needed to lead congregations and denominations over unfamiliar terrain in a time of radical change, as churches change their focus from internal to external. Roxburgh uses the first two-thirds of the book to 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) help readers understand how we have formed the predominate maps that have guided our understanding up to this point. He then discusses eight currents of change that are propelling the Church into a new territory that requires new maps and new map-making skills. Throughout the book, the author raises questions about how the Christcommunities of the 21st century can discover the context in which they live and then develop a core identity related to that context, beginning with the question: What is the Spirit up to? That sounds like a simple question yet it is a question of great significance and power. There are amazing things happening through the people of God called United Methodist in Upper New York. Our churches continue to seek God s best as we strive to be faithful in living the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. But I continue to believe that in order for us to offer the great lifegiving Good News of Jesus Christ there is more for the Church to imagine, more for the Church to become and more ways to be discovered! What is the Spirit up to? What is the Spirit of God up to in your individual life? What is the Spirit of Christ up to in the life of your congregation? What is the Spirit of God up to in the lives of the people of the Upper New York Annual Conference? My hope and prayer is that each of us and all of us together will not be afraid to pose this simple yet profound question. We need to ask it often, and be ready to hear the voice of God proclaim the response. More importantly, we must be willing to step into the place where the Spirit of God is at work. Oh, it may get uncomfortable, it may hold great risk, but that is where obedience is lived out and where we experience fruitfulness and effectiveness as disciples of Jesus Christ. A powerful quote from Roxburgh: In this time of radical discontinuity, the key theological notion guiding our path is that God calls a people, and among the people, the imagination for a new future can be born. May we be those people; may we discover the imagination necessary to be the Church of Jesus Christ in I recommend the book to you; it is worth a read. But even more, I recommend the question: What is the Spirit up to? I hope you will ask it frequently and be willing to step boldly into the answer. 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) DISTRICTS ADVOCATE STAFF EDITOR/PUBLISHER Steve Hustedt Director of Communications (315) x307 stevehustedt@ DEPUTY EDITOR Beth DiCocco Conference writer/editor (315) x319 bethdicocco@ DESIGNER/WRITER Christian Vischi Communications associate (315) x313 christianvischi@ E-ADVOCATE/WEB Ashley VanSickle Multimedia/ web coordinator (315) x320 ashleyvansickle@ ADMIN. ASST. to the director Karen Campolieto (315) x304 karencampolieto@ Adirondack District Superintendent William Mudge 396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY (518) x2 Fax: (518) AdirondackDistrict@ Albany District Superintendent Richard Weihing 396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY (518) x3 Fax: (518) AlbanyDistrict@ Binghamton District Superintendent David Kofahl 53 McKinley Ave. Endicott, NY (607) Fax: (607) binghamtondistrict@ Cornerstone District Superintendent Sherri Rood 663 Lakeview Ave. Jamestown, NY (716) Fax: (716) cornerstonedistrict@ Crossroads District Superintendent Darryl R. Barrow 324 University Ave. 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY Phone: (315) Fax: (315) Crossroadsdistrict@ Finger Lakes District Superintendent Richard Barton 1 Franklin Square, 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@ MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, NY Diane Miner, media resource center coordinator (607) dianeminer@. Mountain View District Superintendent Cathy Stengel 65 E. First St. Corning, NY (607) Fax: (607) mountainviewdistrict@ Niagara Frontier District Superintendent Wayne Butler 247 Cayuga Road, Suite 70 Cheektowaga, 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@ DO YOU HAVE A STORY IDEA? The Advocate is always looking for news and story ideas from our churches and members. story ideas to: unyadvocate@. Please include a phone number so that we can follow up. Or you can call Beth DiCocco, Advocate deputy editor, at (315) ext Photos can also be sent via . Please send hi-res versions, at least 300 dpi at full size. UPPER NEW YORK UNITED METHODIST ADVOCATE RESIDENT BISHOP Mark J. Webb EDITOR/PUBLISHER Steve Hustedt, Director of Communications 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. 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3 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate September 2013 Page 3 Meet Communications Director Steve Hustedt Stephen J. Hustedt has been a United Methodist communicator for 13 years, but has been writing stories for much longer than that. He knew he wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember, he said. Before I knew how to write, I would make my mom write down stories for me, Hustedt said. She said I wrote a lot about cowboys as a little kid. Maybe they were circuit riders, he joked, but I didn t know what to call them. Hustedt took over as the Upper New York Annual Conference s Director of Communications on Aug. 1, He comes to the Conference from Phoenix, AZ, where he had been serving as Director of Communications for the Desert Southwest Conference; prior to that, he was Writer/Editor for the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Telling stories is still the primary focus of his ministry, said Hustedt, who found United Methodism through the Wesley Foundation at Southern Illinois University as an undergraduate. He majored in English with an emphasis on creative writing. Telling the stories of what s going on at the local church level, I m very passionate about that, he said. The big stories are easy to find, he said, but it s important to seek out the stories about the small local church that feeds 20 people every week and is making a big difference in their community by doing that. His role, he said, is not only to write those stories but to support people in their ministries by helping them to learn to tell their stories effectively. The more of us who are telling the story the better, he said. And the more likely it is that people will hear it. Every ministry has a great story to share; it s just a matter of knowing how and where to tell it. With the burgeoning of the Internet and social media, the where to tell the story has changed significantly in recent years; Hustedt said being willing to adapt is crucial, and that s a skill he brings to Upper New York. Communicators have to be flexible, Hustedt said, and can t fall back on doing something because we ve always done it this way or this is what we re comfortable with. The reality in the modern communications Steve Hustedt became the Upper New York Annual Conference s Director of Communications on Aug. 1 He most recently served as Communications Director for the Desert Southwest Conference. Photo by Beth DiCocco. environment is that it doesn t matter how I think people should receive information; they need to receive it the way they want to, or they will just go somewhere else, said Hustedt, who studied marketing at the University of Illinois, where he earned an MBA. For example, he said, he s not a big fan of bulletin inserts, but he realizes that there are plenty of people who want to get news about their church that way. Just because I don t like it, doesn t mean we don t do it, he said, If you don t, you re missing an opportunity to share a story with someone. With that in mind, Hustedt said he expects to begin by focusing on electronic media, developing a new method for sending blasts and improving the Conference s website. There s a solid foundation in place, he said. I m going to spend the next six months to a year dreaming, looking at how far we can grow what s been planted. Another goal, he said, is to process a communications study that s been done and analyze the recommendations that come out of that. He will also be reinstating the Conference Communications Commission, which serves as an advisory committee to the Communications Ministry Team. Hustedt invited anyone who would like to be part of the commission to contact him. Hustedt said he was attracted to Upper New York because he had experience in his previous roles coping with a couple of the challenges that face this Conference, namely the merging of four conferences into one (Illinois Great Rivers) and serving a Conference that is large geographically (Desert Southwest, which includes all of Arizona and part of Nevada). After praying about it with his wife, Tricia, he said they felt this is where God was calling them to be. Still, it wasn t easy to make a cross-country move. Tricia is eight months pregnant with the couple s third child; due Oct. 12, he will be named Cole David Curtiss. Their daughter Page Elisabeth is 5, and they have a son Logen Warren, who s 2. Being a dad and husband takes up a majority of his free time, Hustedt said, and is also what he enjoys most. They like to travel, he said, and want to explore the Northeast beginning with a Labor Day weekend trip to Boston. The family has settled in Liverpool, where Page will begin school in the fall a season that makes a lot more sense to her now, Hustedt said, since he s explained it s when the leaves turn color and fall off the trees. The change of seasons is something the central Illinois native is looking forward to after seven years in the Southwest. Back at the office, his emphasis will be on people. First and foremost, I will be focused on the people, and secondarily on the systems creating ways to do things that are consistent, he said, adding that it s important to remember that every element of the system is a human being that needs to be responded to and shown the love we show to everybody as representatives of Christ. He is eager to get to know the people of the Conference, he said, he doesn t think it will be difficult for them to get to know him. I m known for being blatantly honest, Hustedt said. I always say I m a terrible liar, so I just don t do it. It s easy to know where I stand. Reach Hustedt via at stevehustedt@ or via phone at (315) ext. 307 or on his cell phone at (315) Bishop Webb tours the Conference s camps See more photos from the bishop s camp tour on the Conference website www. and our Facebook page ABOVE: Bishop Mark J. Webb (left), Skye Farm Waterfront Director Shelley Collier, and Camp & Retreat Ministries Director Mike Huber. Photo courtesy of Mike Huber. RIGHT: Bishop Webb spoke with Olivia Martin, 7, whose father, Jim (right) is codirector with Dave Rockwell at the West Shore at Sky Lake. Camping was a major part of my faith formation, Bishop Webb said. Camp is a life-transforming experience. These places become very sacred. Photo by Beth DiCocco.

4 Page 4 September 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Path 1 Summer Roadtrip comes to Upper New York By Beth DiCocco Advocate writer New Church Starts (Path 1), the denomination's new faith community building effort, is on a Summer Road Trip but this is no vacation. From June through September, nine Path 1 new church strategists and associates are visiting each of the Church s five U.S. jurisdictions. New Church Strategist Paul Nixon is covering the Northeastern Jurisdiction and Virginia. On July 25-26, he was in Upper New York to talk with clergy and laity about what's happening here and offer his advice and expertise. "We are basically trying to raise awareness about what s going on," Nixon said, "as well as immerse ourselves in the current state of what is. We seek to be relevant." It takes three to five years, he said, for a new faith community to "take on altitude." "You need time to figure it out," Nixon said, "before throwing cash at it or pulling the plug and declaring defeat." On July 25, Nixon met with a small group of clergy and laity who have a passion for planting, led by Conference Director of New Faith Communities the Rev. Dave Masland. "The leadership team is trying to identify planters," Rev. Masland said. "Something we want to teach planters to do is to discern what are the gifts New Church Strategist Paul Nixon came to Upper New York as part of the New Church Starts (Path 1) Summer Road Trip. From June through September, nine Path 1 new church strategists and associates are visiting each of the Church s five U.S. jurisdictions to learn about planting efforts and offer expertise. Photo by Beth DiCocco people have and how can we deploy them." The Conference has set a goal of planting 100 New Faith Communities during this quadrennium. "That's a lot of people," Nixon said, explaining that he believes planting is best done by teams rather than individuals. During the July 25 meeting, Nixon offered advice on how to find those team members and prepare them for the work of planting. Leadership, he said, is more critical than money is in creating and growing a new plant. One of the points he made was that not everyone who can contribute to the planting and growing of a new faith community will be a planter themselves. People may have other gifts that can contribute a great deal to the effort, which is why he favors a team approach, he said. The Rev. David Piatt, pastor at Ogdensburg and Morristown UMCs and his wife, Jenni, a certified lay minister and pastor at Heuvelton United Methodist Church, attended the July 25 meeting with Nixon. Rev. Piatt described his community as "quite well churched," but, he said, "There are some real needs there that are not being met." And a new faith community may be "another way to do that." Jenni Piatt said when she saw the "Planting" video at charge conference, it generated a lot of excitement, and spurred an idea for an outdoor ministry. Church members could invite their friends who like outdoor activities but are not coming to church to share an outdoor activity, some devotions and communion as an opportunity to grow through spiritual and physical activity. She said a recent event, kayaking, drew eight participants; an event the month before drew 12. "We're trying to figure out what to do next," she said. "We have a start. I'm here to see where to go next." The Conference has developed a planting process guide that Rev. Masland said is designed to be "supportive and give permission not stand in the way of something God is trying to do.... God is already working in the lives of people in our neighborhoods who are not in churches; this process is to come alongside God." Rev. Masland said that as the New Faith Communities ministry moves forward he hopes that everyone will join him in "Praying every day for this work we are trying to do." RESOURCES Visit the Conference website, to learn more about the New Faith Communities initiative in Upper New York. Read Rev. Masland s blog about new faith communities in Upper New York at Learn more about Path 1 at North Country mission team helps out in Buffalo By Rev. Greg Stierheim Following worship on Aug. 4, 2013, a team of 14 youth and adults from four different churches left the North Country and headed to Buffalo for an opportunity to serve others and meet people different than themselves. Their destination was the culturally diverse community around the Asbury Shalom Zone on Buffalo s lower west side. This area of the city has become a haven for people relocating to the United States from all around the world. There are currently 63 different languages spoken at the local high school. Kenmore United Methodist Church served as base camp for the group to sleep, eat, shower and worship during their weeklong trip. The team: Rev. Gregg Stierheim, Rev. Heather Stierheim, Morgan Bush, Allie Forbes, Meredith Forbes, Elaine Marschean, Scott Marschean, Allyson Millard, Sarah Millard, John Nordeau, Owen Nordeau, Nicolea Rufa, Mira Singhal and Josh Van Guilder. The Asbury Shalom Zone, a ministry of The United Methodist Church, serves the community by offering low-cost clothing and home goods at its thrift shop, providing English as a second language classes, a GED program, life-skills classes, and HIV/AIDS education. A Congolese church is hosted on the second floor of the nearly 200-year-old building. Self-storage units located on the third floor provide some income to support operational expenses. The work mission was to scrape, repair and paint deteriorating stairwells. It was necessary to make the building more welcoming and safe. After four days of work, approximately 30 gallons of paint, and nearly 400 people-hours, the job was completed. Some members of the work team also volunteered in the thrift shop, answered phone calls, assisted in organizing an upcoming health fair, and staffed a free craft table on the street The work mission was to scrape, repair and paint deteriorating stairwells at Asbury Shalom Zone in Buffalo. Photo courtesy of Rev. Greg Stierheim. corner for children in the neighborhood. The mission of presence and understanding included walks and conversations through the neighborhood and visits to local restaurants. Visits to area attractions such as Niagara Falls and the Anchor Bar (birthplace of buffalo chicken wings) provided memorable experiences. However, these paled in comparison to the many ways that God was experienced on the trip. Members of the mission team had this to say about how their faith was impacted: The people of the Shalom Zone saw the love of God poured out through our work. I realized this week, I have the choice and ability to do that every day! It is easier to love a stranger when you both love the Lord. Realizing that people can come together and do just a small job to show God s love and that it can mean so much to someone. Seeing and being a part of this was amazing. God has great plans for everyone. Sometimes it takes a lot of work (and paint) and cooperation with other people for that to happen. share news of your mission trip We want to hear about your recent mission trip. Send us an with some details about the team, the work you did along with a photo or two to news@ umyumc.org. Please put mission trip news in the subject line. These stories will be posted on the Conference website. It s easier to love God when you are doing something God wants you to do no matter if you don t like it. Seeing the people in the city of different cultures coming together. God speaks all languages and one that makes us all sing... LOVE!... Jesus! For more information or to get involved, contact the District Youth Coordinator Rev. Gregg Stierheim at pastorgreggumc@gmail.com. NEW NEJ UMVIM coordinator Paul Nick Nicholas has been named the new United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Coordinator for the Northeastern Jurisdiction effective Sept. 1. He replaces Greg Forrester, a member of this Conference, who is now UMCOR assistant general secretary for Disaster Response in the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean. Nicholas is a deacon from the Chicago area. His ministry has been focused on missions, primarily with youth and young adults; he has planned and led 25 national and international work trips over the past 17 years. Nick will bring a lot of experience and enthusiasm to the position, said Sylvia Reimer, Upper New York UMVIM coordinator. I am especially excited about his love of youth ministry and some of his plans for expanding the VIM experience to our youth and young adults. Nicholas plans to relocate to southeastern Pennsylvania in order to be centrally located within the jurisdiction. Contact Nicholas at deaconnick23@gmail.com or (630)

5 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate September 2013 Page 5 NEJ College of Bishops visits Upper New York Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb hosted the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops for its most recent meeting Aug The NEJ College of Bishops is comprised of all active and retired bishops who currently serve or have served one of the episcopal areas of the Northeastern Jurisdiction. Paragraph 48, Article IV of the United Methodist Constitution charges the College of Bishops with the following:... shall arrange the plan of episcopal supervision of the annual conferences, missionary conferences and missions within their respective territories. The College of Bishops meets three times each year to worship together and conduct business including getting assignments to NEJ committees. Bishop Webb is now assigned to the Boundaries Committee. Sixteen bishops, along with some of their spouses, came to Canandaigua for this gathering. From left, back row: Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, Pittsburgh Area; Bishop Martin McLee, New York Area; Bishop Peter D. Weaver and Bishop Ernest S. Lyght; middle row: Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, Boston Area; Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb, Bishop F. Herbert Skeete, Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, West Virginia Area, and Bishop Peggy Johnson, Philadelphia Area; front row: Bishop Jeremiah J. Park, Harrisburg Area (He served as pastor of the Korean UMC in Rochester); Bishop Marcus Matthews, Washington Area (who served Upper New York until 2012); Bishop Jane Allen Middleton and Bishop Susan W. Hassinger. LEFT: Bishop Mark J. Webb, who hosted his colleagues on the NEJ College of Bishops for the first time. RIGHT: Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, Boston Area, left, has ties to Upper New York; he served as district superintendent for the Ontario District in the former North Central New York Annual Conference; at right is Niagara Frontier District Superintendent Wayne Butler. Photos by Steve Hustedt ABOVE LEFT: Providing entertainment for the evening were students from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. ABOVE RIGHT: Some of the bishops spouses also attended. From left, back: Michael Johnson; middle row: Jodi Webb, Prema Devadhar, Barbara Matthews, Linda Weaver, Eleanor Lyght and Jack Middleton; front row: Lisa Park and Shirley Skeete.

6 Page 6 September 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Rural clinic meeting a tremendous need Continued from cover God provides In early 2004, then pastor the Rev. Nadine Graham, an elder of the Upper New York Annual Conference currently serving on extension ministry at Christ UMC in the Texas Annual Conference, called a meeting for anyone in the church with a medical background and a spirit to volunteer. We prayed about what did God want us to do, said Weaver. And we ended up deciding we could do blood pressure checks for our congregation. They started performing blood pressure checks in September 2004 with no start-up money, no facilities and no equipment. We had no idea where God was going to lead us, but we took it one day at a time, Weaver said. In that first year of operation, the new ministry spent a total of $300, a far cry from the POC s current annual budget of $99,000. The important thing, Weaver said, is that we were able to offer those services.... Every time something came up that needed money or a provider, God seemed to provide for those needs. While taking blood pressure readings Weaver would ask patients if they were visiting a doctor. The usual answer was yes, but when asked Are you buying your medications? the answer was almost always No. The need for a rural health clinic was so apparent, Weaver and a prospective POC team traveled the 32 miles to Rochester to visit the Mercy Outreach Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy for some advice. That initial POC team also borrowed ideas from the Health Ministry of the Southern Tier in Corning. The Geneseo UMC did not have an exam room. Or a lab. Or even a reception area. But it did have a library and several volunteers with construction experience. Materials were donated by the congregation. To outfit the rooms with new equipment would have cost tens of thousands of dollars, but Weaver said she was connected with InterVol, a community based non-profit in Rochester that recovers and distributes medical supplies and equipment to facilities in need. The exam room at the Geneseo Parish Outreach Center, located at the Geneseo United Methodist Church (Genesee Valley District). Photo by Christian Vischi. We were able to get our exam tables, our EKG machine, our cupboards, supplies, blood pressure cuffs, gloves, all free of charge, Weaver said. We had to go there and sort through stuff for a half an hour, but we were able to get as much as we wanted. We can still go there. All along, Weaver said, God has provided funding when they needed it. Initially, funding came from individual donors. Then they formed a speakers bureau to visit area civic organizations, such as Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, and several churches also provided financial support. Today half of the POC s budget comes from a $50,000 Livingston County Community Services Block Grant. Weaver said United Way and the New York State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) also have been important contributors to the POC s budget. Along with eight volunteer doctors, the staff now also includes 10 nurses, 28 college students and over 100 paraprofessionals. The college students are part of the Community Health Alliance (CHA) at SUNY Geneseo, a service organization committed to creating healthier communities locally and globally. Frame, who has been licensed to practice medicine since 1971, started at the POC in January; he said he enjoys working with the premed students. It is always fun, it is always extremely stimulating, Frame Asbury clinic part of larger outreach plan said. Lots of times they ask questions that make you think a little bit.... It always raises your energy level a little bit and makes things more exciting. As a physician, Frame had concerns about the limitations of a small practice like the POC. I had a little bit of trepidation that I would see the patient for an acute problem and we would be sort of forced to drop the ball, but indeed I have been impressed that Linda has resources to get the patient a colonoscopy, a pap smear, Frame said. I have been very impressed with the breadth of services, from podiatry to the pain, to the diet stuff. I didn t realize they do as much as they do. The POC has partnered with nearby hospitals and other providers to offer reduced-rate services. About 500 people walked through the POC s doors in 2012, and Weaver said she only sees that number going up in the years ahead. The need is there and this population needs help, Weaver said. I think God is calling people who are fortunate to come and help the less fortunate, and it is our duty to provide that care. Continued from cover clear vision for us and the clinic was ready, up and started to go, within a matter of months. The next thing I knew the clinic was open, she said. I couldn t believe it happened so quickly. Part of that swift transition was due to the fact they had lots of equipment just sitting over there doing nothing, Hickman said, referring to surplus equipment at the University of Rochester. Hickman was not sold on the idea of the clinic at first. Actually, she said, she wasn t sold on the idea of adding one more thing to her plate. But to make the transition even easier she was handed this list of people that they had already recruited, and she was onboard. The six nurses on rotation, the 20 volunteer greeters, the 25 administrative positions from finance and budget to paperwork, the eight to 12 physicians and the more than 80 students from the University of Rochester School of Medicine all volunteer their time and talent. Medical supplies and overthe-counter medications come, in part, from donations through the university. The $700 annual budget comes primarily from the church s Memorial Committee and goes toward non-medical expenses, such as window screens and fans. Patients are also assisted by four volunteer social workers. The social workers, who are full-time employees at Strong Memorial Hospital, help clinic patients locate housing, navigate the paperwork of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly food stamps, and find prescription insurance coverage among other tasks. Part of a larger effort The Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, pastor of Outreach and Connectional Ministries at Asbury First, said the clinic is part of a larger outreach plan of the church. The Dining Center next to the main Asbury campus building feeds on average 125 homeless and hungry people six days per weeks. The Storehouse on the eastern side of the campus is one of the few places in Rochester where people, who have made an appointment with Rev. Hargrave, can go pick out clothes from infant-sized to adult. The grocery bag ministry offers 75 bags of groceries each month to area churches, that do not have the means, for distribution in their communities. We have a population that we serve already that has needs, and it is a matter of connecting them (with Asbury s services), Rev. Hargrave said. There is no religious requirement for anyone (to use these services).... We feel it is important that service is a part of worship. It is important to note, Rev. Hargrave says, that under- and uninsured does not mean poverty. Several of the clinic s patients have insurance, but a high deductible or co-pay makes getting care cost prohibitive. There are a lot of working poor, Rev. Hargrave said, individuals who may be holding down several part-time jobs without an offer of health insurance from their employer; or full-time minimum wage earners who aren t offered coverage; or employees who are offered a health plan but can t afford the monthly subscriber cost. I have really enjoyed doing this, Hickman said. There are some days when I am tired, but I get here and I am thinking if we weren t here these people would be turned away, and their ailments would not be met. We have people come back on a day when they are not (here to be seen) and they bring a gift, like a cake. One person brought us $20 and said he didn t have much but really appreciated us taking care of him.... They are just so happy that their child or themselves have gotten relief from something that was bothering them. Rebecca Levinn is the clinic director for the academic year and a fourthyear medical student at the University of Rochester. Although the clinic sees patients for both acute and chronic conditions, one of the main goals is to connect patients with a primary physician that they can see on a regular basis and connect with on the long term, she said. That s not always financially possible for the patients, but the clinic has a network of various providers of services, equipment and pharmaceuticals that patients can be referred to. A chart of costs is updated often, Hickman said. High blood pressure and diabetes top the list of the most frequently seen conditions, and the culprit for an uncontrolled condition is usually financial. We have had people come in with high blood pressure and diabetes, Hickman said, and they had their medication. But they were taking it every other day or breaking it in half (to save money). The Asbury UR Well Clinic succeeds, according to Hickman, because it focuses on people, on building relationships both between the patients and the clinic staff, and between the church and the University of Rochester. One of the reasons Hickman returns to the clinic each week is joy. Joy is one of them. And just meeting new people, she said. I see people in the clinic and (then) if I am out in the neighborhood or shopping and someone says, Hey or Hello. I know you... and we start a conversation it starts a connection, like a new friend, and it feels like I have been given something. I have spread the joy and it makes me feel happy that I have helped make someone happy. I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. Helping someone. For more information, go to the clinic s website at One of the clinic s physicians (left) walks a student from the University of Rochester School of Medicine through a range of motion series. Photo by Christian Vischi.

7 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate September 2013 Page 7 Sign up now for Fall Gatherings an adventure with God Fall Gathering East 2013 Fall Gathering East will take place Nov at First United Methodist Church, 603 State St., Schenectady The registration fee of $35 per person includes floor space at the church for sleeping, all programming as well as breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Workshops, late-night options being planned By Katie Shumway After meeting in June for the first time since UpWord, CCYM decided on the theme Called to Catch Fire: an adventure with God. When asked what the theme meant to them personally, each CCYMer was given time to pray and reflect on his or her own. As we wrote, drew and shared ideas, plans for our future events began to fall into place. We are scheduled to meet again on Sept in Camillus. There we will finalize our new workshops and worship for both our fall events and UpWord! In June, I sat with the Gathering Organization Committee to learn more about what they have planned for our future workshops and late-night options. Shumway They discussed having a fellowship mingler, Super Sunday Shalom Bible study, Nooma video presentations, and an interactive Bible study: Catch the Fire. As we prepare to meet again soon, we pray that we remember to invite God into our lives, and know that He has a love like fire burning in all of us. Called to Catch Fire: a reflection By Emily Parisi Ups and downs, twists and turns, and the unexpected. All of these components together create an adventure. It comes with the good and the bad. Love and heartbreak, joy and sadness, pain and relief, but through it all we are not alone. We are being guided, loved and cared for. And whom you may ask is doing all of that? It s simple, God. He gave us our life and with him we are in an adventure. He is the light of the world and whether you realize it or not the light of your life. He s our fire. Bright and burning and erupting with flames of Parisi love for you. Believe it or not, he is calling to you to openly acknowledge his presence and invite him in! He wants you to feel him with you in all situations and know you are not alone. Feel Him, believe Him, and answer to Him. Called to Catch Fire, an Adventure with God. Registration Deadline is Nov. 1, 2013 (mailed registration forms must be postmarked Nov. 1). Fall Gathering West 2013 Fall Gathering West will take place Nov at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 414 Dewey Ave., Rochester. The registration fee of $35 per person includes floor space at the church for sleeping, all programming as well as breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Registration Deadline is Nov. 8, 2013 (mailed registration forms must be postmarked Nov. 8). For both events Registration can be completed online at the Conference website LEARN MORE ONLINE www. keyword CCYM If you would like to register, but cannot access the Internet, contact Judy Hipes at (607) for a paper registration form. Checks should be made payable to the Upper New York Annual Conference. Have questions about registration? Contact Judy Hipes at tandj3905@hotmail.com or at (607) Have questions about the Fall Gathering? Contact these folks: Rev. Ted Anderson at ted@crcds.edu Rev. Tony Hipes at tjhipes@gmail.com Pastor Sharon Rankins-Burd at pastorsharon@windstream. net DON T FORGET UP!WORD April 4-6, 2014 NOTE: Unless you request otherwise, attendance at CCYM events grants the organizers permission to reproduce your image, likeness and voice in CCYM and Upper New York Annual Conference print media publications and online.

8 Page 8 September 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Hit the trails for Sky Lake s first 5K On Oct. 6, Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center will host its first 5K Trail Walk & Run to benefit Sky Lake Campership Fund. The Sky Lake 5K (formerly Fall Festival) is the primary fundraising effort for the fund, which helps make it possible for children and youth as well as those with special needs to attend camp. More than 100 children, youth, adults, and persons with special needs rely on the Campership Fund and the funding from local churches and organizations in order to have the opportunity to spend a week at camp. The 5K is also a way for people from around the Upper New York Annual Conference to meet and get healthy together. About the course The 5K (3.1-mile) course will wind through several of the wooded trails around Sky Lake and through the campground. The wooded trails will have numerous roots and portions are apt to be wet or muddy. Participants are urged to wear appropriate footwear. There will be a modified course around the family campground for those unable to walk or run the main trails. Strollers will only be allowed on the modified course. Photo by Matt Williams if you go... Sky Lake 5K Trail Walk & Run When: 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 Where: Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center, Windsor Website: join-us/event/2808 How to participate If you d like to run or walk, visit the website event/2808 to download and complete the Participant Registration Form. There is no set registration fee; however, a $25 donation is required to receive a Sky Lake 5k T-shirt. (To register as a family, please include an additional $10 for each T-shirt along with the $25 donation.) Folks can also support the 5K by becoming sponsors or volunteers; vendors are also invited to participate. Visit the website to complete the appropriate form. For more information about the event, contact Annette Snedaker from Plan Ahead Events, via at Annette.Snedaker@planaheadevents.com. There s still time to register for Bishop s Retreat Bishop Mark J. Webb invites pastors and their families to join him for a time of renewal during at the Bishop's Retreat, In the Potter s Hands, Oct at the Radisson Hotel in Corning. Registration deadline is Sept. 25. The Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, general secretary of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), and her husband, potter Russ Harris, will be the spiritual leaders for the retreat. Using the text from Jeremiah 18:1-6, we will "go down to the Potter's house" as we explore how we are formed, shaped, and re-formed by the Potter's hands. The cost is $295 per person (double occupancy). Childcare will be available if requested by Sept. 25. Questions? sprice518@aol.com or suerussell@asburyuny.org. Visit the Conference website for a tentative schedule or more details. Calendar Bishop Webb s District Days Oct. 1 Albany District Oct. 2 Niagara Frontier District Oct. 10 Binghamton District Oct. 16 Northern Flow District (see the website for more dates) Oct. 1-3 Primetime at the Lake: Ageless Spirit Asbury Oct. 5 Archives and History meeting Buffalo Oct. 5 Conference Leadership Team Syracuse Oct Quilt by Faith Retreat Casowasco Oct In the Potter s Hands Bishop s Retreat (see above) Nov Generations VII: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafting Retreat Findley Nov. 23 Hand to Plow Peer Learning groups various locations For more details and the most up-to-date information, visit our website Remembrances Keith McIntyre, 77, died July 25, He was the husband of the late Rev. Linda McIntyre, who served Adirondack District churches including Ellenburg UMC, Whiteface Community UMC and First UMC in Saranac Lake. Long-time volunteer wraps it up Phyllis Lange, a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island (Niagara Frontier District), made her last trip as a volunteer to the Central City Cafe, a Buffalo soup kitchen, on July 27, Lange, 86, is the widow of the late Rev. James Lange. In 1982, they helped create the Good News Dining Room at the now-closed Asbury Delaware UMC. Lange recruited volunteers for Good News until it closed in From January 1991 until this last visit on July 27, Lange volunteered at the Central City Cafe, recruiting others from Trinity to go with her each month. When asked why she did this work, Lange said: I ve been so blessed in my life that I just try to be a blessing to others.... My excitement and passion for this ministry has never waned. Among the volunteers who accompanied Lange is Chris Hipp, right. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Paul Robinson.