12
Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness so that the devil might tempt him. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was starving. ~Matthew 4:1-2 Wilderness… We are all very acquainted with wilderness. Wilderness is where the wild things are, where the day-to-day rules don’t apply, where life feels out of our control. To be in the wilderness is to speak of a sense of being lost, to have no markers for our path, to be uncertain of which direction we should go. It is frightening, especially when night comes and the darkness is intense. No street lights. No buildings to escape into. No vehicles passing by. Empty. Vast. Hostile, at times. We are left feeling vulnerable and alone. Wilderness is a good word for speaking of the state of things in our world, in our denomination, and for many of us, in our lives. Impeachment, Refugees and Immigrants on our border with parents and children separated, acts of hate and prejudice, mass shootings, natural disasters, environmental crises; all these and more leave us feeling that the world is out of control, wild, chaotic, and frightening. How do we respond to any of these deeply urgent matters? Is there any way to work together as a nation? As a community? We are tempted to shrink away from the headlines and find a safe place to hide. The United Methodist Church is in the wilderness. The denomination is anything but united and we seem to have lost our method-ism that was a hallmark of our connection. Our future is uncertain. We don’t know what direction to turn. People are in pain, especially our LGBTQIA+ siblings, who are wounded by the words and actions of the denomination daily. What will the UMC look like after General Conference in May? Each of us can point to areas in our own lives and the lives of our families where wilderness has taken over. However, wilderness is also the place where transformation occurs, where new beginnings are born, where God’s grace abounds like bread from heaven. Through the wilderness, slaves from Egypt became God’s partner people. In the wilderness, the people of God were washed by John and started a new journey of faith. Embraced in wilderness, Jesus proclaimed boldly his trust in God’s way, not the easy ways offered. Wilderness can be that for us St. Paul's United Methodist Church, a Reconciling Congregation Pastor’s Note 1,3 Lectionary 2 Wilderness Poem 3 Worship Series 4 Prayers and Loving Care Notes 5 Calendars 6,7 News & Notes 8-10 Youth Ministry Update 10 UMC Update 11 A Note of Thanks 12 Lent 2020 Pastor’s Note Continued on page 3 → St. Paul’s is a compassionate community, led and transformed by the Spirit. Rivière, Briton (1898). The Temp- tation in the Wilderness [oil on canvas]. Guildhall Art Gallery, London. Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki /File:Briton_Rivi%C3%A8re_- _The_Temptation_in_the_Wildernes s.jpg

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Page 1: Pastor’s Notestpaulsithaca.org/.../01/...Letter-Lent-2020-COLOR.pdf · God is in the big sky and in my worried heart. God is the sidewalk cracks where new life starts. God is in

Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness so that the devil might tempt

him. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was starving.

~Matthew 4:1-2

Wilderness… We are all very acquainted with wilderness. Wilderness is

where the wild things are, where the day-to-day rules don’t apply, where life

feels out of our control. To be in the wilderness is to speak of a sense of

being lost, to have no markers for our path, to be uncertain of which direction

we should go. It is frightening, especially when night comes and the

darkness is intense. No street lights. No buildings to escape into. No vehicles

passing by. Empty. Vast. Hostile, at times. We are left feeling vulnerable and

alone.

Wilderness is a good word for speaking of the state of things in our world, in

our denomination, and for many of us, in our lives. Impeachment, Refugees

and Immigrants on our border with parents and children separated, acts of

hate and prejudice, mass shootings, natural disasters, environmental crises;

all these and more leave us feeling that the world is out of control, wild,

chaotic, and frightening. How do we respond to any of these deeply urgent

matters? Is there any way to work together as a nation? As a community? We

are tempted to shrink away from the headlines and find a safe place to hide.

The United Methodist Church is in the wilderness. The denomination is

anything but united and we seem to have lost our method-ism that was a

hallmark of our connection. Our future is uncertain. We don’t know what

direction to turn. People are in pain, especially our LGBTQIA+ siblings, who

are wounded by the words and actions of the denomination daily. What will

the UMC look like after General Conference in May?

Each of us can point to areas in our own lives and the lives of our families

where wilderness has taken over.

However, wilderness is also the place where transformation occurs, where

new beginnings are born, where God’s grace abounds like bread from

heaven. Through the wilderness, slaves from Egypt became God’s partner

people. In the wilderness, the people of God were washed by John and started

a new journey of faith. Embraced in wilderness, Jesus proclaimed boldly his

trust in God’s way, not the easy ways offered. Wilderness can be that for us

St. Paul's United Methodist

Church, a Reconciling Congregation

Pastor’s Note 1,3

Lectionary 2

Wilderness Poem 3

Worship Series 4

Prayers and

Loving Care Notes 5

Calendars 6,7

News & Notes 8-10

Youth Ministry Update 10

UMC Update 11

A Note of Thanks 12

Lent 2020

Pastor’s Note

Continued on page 3 →

St. Paul’s is a compassionate community, led and transformed by the Spirit.

Rivière, Briton (1898). The Temp-

tation in the Wilderness [oil on

canvas]. Guildhall Art Gallery,

London. Wikimedia Commons,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki

/File:Briton_Rivi%C3%A8re_-

_The_Temptation_in_the_Wildernes

s.jpg

Page 2: Pastor’s Notestpaulsithaca.org/.../01/...Letter-Lent-2020-COLOR.pdf · God is in the big sky and in my worried heart. God is the sidewalk cracks where new life starts. God is in

St. Paul’s Letter 402 N. Aurora Street

Ithaca, NY 14850

Phone: (607) 273-5971

E-Mail: [email protected]

www.stpaulsithaca.org

St. Paul’s Letter 2

February-March Lectionary Readings

February 2

Micah 6:1-8

Psalm 15

1 Cor. 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

February 9

Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)

Psalm 112:1-9 (10)

1 Cor. 2:1-12 (13-16)

Matthew 5:13-20

February 16

Deut. 30:15-20

Psalm 119:1-8

1 Cor. 3:1-9

Matthew 5:21-37

February 23

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 2

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

February 26

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Psalm 51:1-17

2 Cor. 5:20b-6:10

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Volume 84, Issue 1

St. Paul’s Letter (USPS 477-060) is published for free by

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 402 N. Aurora St.,

Ithaca, NY 14850. Copy deadline is the 15th of the

month.

Postmaster: Please send all address changes to: 402 N.

Aurora St. Ithaca, NY 14850. Periodical Postage Paid at

Ithaca, NY 14850-9998

Organist/Pianist

Caleb Bates

Children’s Music Group

Directors

Jessa Dauria

Emily Plummer

Festival Chimes Director

Dorothy Preston

Custodian

Suzanne Orzel

Pastor Emeritus

Robert J. McCune

Ministers

All The People

--

Child Care

Sunday

9:15 am - 12:00 pm

Worship

Sunday

10:30 am

Senior Pastor

Rev. Teressa Sivers

Pastor of Loving Care

Ministries

Rev. Debbie Allen

Administrative & Building

Ministries Coordinator/

Bookkeeper

Michelle Eells

Hospitality and Connections

Ministries Coordinator

Anne Horst

Children’s Ministries &

Childcare Coordinator

Delvin Collier

Youth Ministries &

Communications Support

Coordinator

Alexa Allmann

Choral & Ensembles Director

Emily Preston

March 1

Gen. 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Psalm 32

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

March 8

Gen. 12:1-4a

Psalm 121

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

John 3:1-17

March 15

Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 95

Romans 5:1-11

John 4:5-42

March 22

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Psalm 23

Ephesians 5:8-14

John 9:1-41

March 29

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 130

Romans 8:6-11

John 11:1-45

Find more lectionary readings at

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/ or find

the link to the Revised Common Lectionary on

the Services page of our website!

Remember:

Daylight Saving Time

starts March 8!

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3 St. Paul’s Letter

too, individually and communally.

This Lent, we are invited into the wilderness together for 40 days of prayer, contemplation and scripture.

Together we can face the wildness in our world, in our United Methodist Church, and in our own lives, facing

our vulnerability and fears that are natural in wild places, while also embracing the wild and wondrous Spirit

who journeys with us there, who transforms us there. Let us be reminded that we are never alone

in the wilderness.

Blessings,

Pastor Teressa

I’m not the first.

That’s what I tell myself when I

wake up in the wilderness—

Big sky, worried heart,

wondering which way to start.

I have been here before.

We have been here before.

For as long as there has

been creation,

There has been wilderness.

First it was an endless void,

Until God and God’s paintbrush

painted the sky gold.

And then it was all that lies

east of Eden,

Which is everywhere that our

story unfolds.

So like a child memorizing

their home address,

You’d think I’d learn my way

out of this wilderness.

But like the Israelites who

wandered for forty plus years,

I think I’ll spend most of my

day to day here.

For the wilderness is

everywhere that I start

to grow.

Cracks in the sidewalk, daisies

take hold.

And the wilderness is every

single place of unknown,

Or when shame and fear move

into my home.

And the wilderness is where

dusty feet tread,

Familiar with the truth that we

have days left.

So where is God, you ask?

God is in the big sky and in my

worried heart.

God is the sidewalk cracks

where new life starts.

God is in the realization that I

am not the first.

So may we take these limited

days left

And remember that we’ve been

here before—

God and I and this untamed

world.

God and the Israelites and the

gathered assembly.

God and the horizon and the

new day beginning.

Poem on Wilderness

“The Wilderness is Somewhere We’ve Been Before” by Sarah Are

Sanctified Art Wilderness Devotional

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4 St. Paul’s Letter

Lenten Worship Series and Activities

Wilderness: State of the Wild

from A Sanctified Art, sanctifiedart.org

February 23—Transfiguration Sunday—After morning worship, come to the dining room to participate in

creating artist adornments for our sanctuary during Lent; tables will be set up with all the materials

needed to create Lenten vases: bare branches, rocks, clear glass vases, moss. Join with your church

family at one of the tables, read the poem and follow the simple directions for creating simple and

powerful artist elements for our Lenten worship experience. It is a spiritual experience for all ages.

Want to help plan, gather materials and create? Let Pastor Teressa know!

February 26—Ash Wednesday: Day of the Lord—Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Prayers & Ashes in the Memorial Room from 12:00 to 3:00 PM

Worship Service at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary

March 1—First Sunday of Lent: Spirit Led—Genesis 2:15-16; 3:1-7, Matthew 4:1-11

March 8—Second Sunday of Lent: Wilderness Song—Psalm 121, John 3:1-17

Daylight Saving Time Begins

March 15—Third Sunday of Lent: Through Samaria—Exodus 17:1-7, John 4:5-42

March 22—Fourth Sunday of Lent: Through the Valley—Palm 23, John 9:1-41

March 29—Fifth Sunday of Lent: Unbind Me—Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 11:1-45

April 5—Palm Sunday: From Palms to Passion—Matthew’s telling of the Passion Story

Five Dramatic Readers are needed for this powerful service.

Let Pastor Teressa know if you are interested.

April 9—Maundy Thursday: Singing Through the Wilderness—John’s telling of the Passion Story

Worship at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary

April 10—Good Friday: Stations of the Cross available for guided meditation in the Memorial Room

12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Visio Divina Bible Study: Guided Visual Meditation & Prayer

Visio Divina, Latin for ‘divine seeing,’ is a method of meditation, reflection, and prayer through a process of

intentional seeing. Visio Divina extends the 6th century Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina by the use of

visual imagery. Traditionally, Visio Divina was accompanied by Benedictine iconography and illuminations,

however, different faith traditions have adapted the process over time, utilizing both secular and nonsecular

images. We will be using artwork created by A Sanctified Art to enhance our Lenten lectionary readings.

Join a Visio Divina group:

Mondays through March at 6:30 PM in the Memorial Room with Pastor Teressa

Thursdays through March at 10:30 AM in the Memorial Room with Pastor Debbie

If you would like to lead a Visio Divina at another time and place (in your home, perhaps, or another quiet

location), let Pastor Teressa know. She can share with you all the materials and the very simple structure. It is

easy to ‘lead’ this time of contemplation.

Lenten Devotional: A Sanctified Art ministry created a beautiful Lenten devotional for our wilderness

journey. Each week contains the unique artwork created by Sanctified Art artists, scripture reading, prayer,

poetry, space for journaling, and thoughts from the artist. Be sure to pick up your copy before Ash Wednesday

on February 26. They will be available outside the sanctuary, across from the Church Office.

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5 St. Paul’s Letter

At some point in our lives, the awareness that we

will not live forever becomes more real. We may

experience a serious illness, the death of a loved one,

or more gradual changes that limit what we are able

to do. Questions and concerns arise during this

phase of our lives that we have never faced before.

Florida Scott-Maxwell describes the elder years as an

intense and varied experience, almost beyond our

capacity at times, but something to be carried high.

If it is a long defeat, she says, it is also a victory…

What grounds us and gives meaning as we move into

the unchartered territory of these years?

In the month of February, you are invited to

participate in four sessions on aging and planning for

the end of life. We will meet on Thursday

mornings – February 6, 13, 20, 27 – from 10:00 to

11:30 AM in the Memorial Room. Dur ing these

sessions we will reflect together on our fears about

getting sick and needing medical care, past

experiences (our own or those of people close to us)

that have affected how we feel about medical

treatment at the end of life, and what makes the life

circumstances we are given meaningful. We will

also be looking at an advanced care directive called

Five Wishes that helps us think more concretely

about what we want and don’t want in end-of-life

care. And finally, we will spend time talking about

memorial services and other decisions we can make

now that will help our loved ones in our absence.

You are welcome to attend all or some of these

sessions, however, it is hoped that you will come to

as many as possible so that a sense of community

and trust can be established. For planning purposes,

please let me know if you wish to participate.

The words of Jane Kenyon in her poem, “Let

Evening Come,” are a gentle reminder of the natural

cycle of life and God’s presence in our midst:

Let the light of late afternoon

shine through chinks in the barn, moving

up the bales as the sun moves down….

Let it come, as it will, and don’t

Be afraid. God does not leave us

comfortless, so let evening come.

May God’s comfort fill and surround you wherever

you are on life’s journey,

Pastor Debbie

Pastor of Loving Care Ministries

[email protected]

Office Hours:

Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Loving Care Notes

Prayer at St. Paul’s

Prayer is an important part of the St. Paul’s community. It is the way in which we share our concerns and joys

with God and with each other. We welcome requests and expressions of gratitude as part of the Gathered

Prayers that are spoken in worship. This is a public form of prayer. For prayers that are more private, you

are invited to use the Prayer Chain email group which is made up of people who commit themselves to

regularly praying for each other and for the people for whom prayers are requested. Information shared within

this group is confidential.

Contact Pastor Debbie Allen, [email protected], if you have prayer requests for the Gathered Prayers

or the Prayer Chain. Please specify which of these prayer options you are requesting.

Our sympathies:

to the family of John Van Valen, Dottie Scott’s nephew, on the loss of their son, Jonathan Van Valen.

to Jolene, Dick and Eunice Tabor’s daughter, and her husband, Scott Nonemaker, whose mother,

Ginny Kellar, passed away on December 17, 2019.

to Jane Demakos whose mother, Sonja, passed away.

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8 St. Paul’s Letter

St. Paul’s Directory Update

The directory information was submitted to Lifetouch on January 15 and printed directories will be distributed

in March. St. Paulians who have a photo in the directory will receive a free copy, others may purchase a copy

for approximately $6. Thank you for supporting this project!

Reconciling Sunday - February 2

Join your St. Paul’s family in celebrating our inclusive spirit. Enjoy special treats at coffee hour

following worship. Celebrate with us by wearing your St. Paul's t-shirt and rainbow stole!

Come to Iran for an Hour…

February 2, After Worship, St. Paul’s Dining Room

"Change rooms in your mind for a day..." - 14th century poet, Hafiz

Spiritually beautiful, physically dazzling, Iran offers plenty of wisdom and knowledge! Immerse yourself for an

hour in Iranian culture and history with Iranian-American socio-cultural anthropologist and Cornell graduate

student, Natalie Nesvaderani, and retired Ithaca College Professor of Politics, Beth Harris. Also, Professor

Harris and Katherine Skura (St. Paul’s) will briefly share their experiences as peace delegates in Tehran,

Isfahan and Shiraz late last year. Join us all for fellowship, reflection, and light, healthy, allergen-free

refreshments. Please RSVP: Katherine, [email protected]

When It’s Hard to be Human: Lessons from the Rescuers of the Holocaust

February 2, 3:00 PM

Ithaca College Whalen Center for Music (Presser Room)

Authors Eva Fogelman and Roald Hoffmann will guide a panel discussion, moderated by Dan Schwarz. They

will explore why some bystanders and perpetrators risked their lives and resisted. What role does conscience

and moral courage play in confronting hate today? Free and open to the public, followed by a reception and

book signing.

End of Life Planning

February 6, 13, 20, 27

10:00-11:30 AM, St. Paul’s Memorial Room

These sessions will cover a discussion of living wills, planning a memorial service, and other issues related to

aging and being prepared for changes that take place later in life. Your ideas are welcome. Please indicate

your interest to Pastor Debbie, [email protected] or 607-273-5971.

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St. Paul’s Letter 9

Join the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

February 7, 7:00-9:00 PM, Rochester, NY.

At the Mass Meeting, we will hear from community members directly impacted by systemic racism, poverty,

ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the corrupt moral narrative. We will also hear

from Rev. Barber and Rev. Theoharis, Co-Chairs of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral

Revival. The campaign is organizing a 25-state We Must Do MORE National Tour from September 2019 to

May 2020. This tour will lead into the Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington, where

thousands of poor people and moral agents will gather at the nation’s capitol on June 20 to demonstrate our

power. We will demand the implementation of our Moral Agenda and call all people of conscience to engage

in deeply moral civic engagement and voting that cares about poor and low-wealth people, the sick,

immigrants, workers, the environment, people with disabilities, first nations, the LGBTQ community, and

peace over war. RSVP: actionnetwork.org/events/rochester-new-york-mass-meeting-we-must-do-more-tour

OAM Shrove Pancake Brunch

February 25, 11:30 AM, St. Paul’s Memorial Rooms

The Older Adult Ministries at St. Paul's will observe the beginning of Lent with a Shrove

Tuesday Pancake Brunch. Plan to join your friends at 11:30 AM on February 25 in the

Memorial Rooms at St. Paul’s. Postcard reminders will be mailed with a follow-up telephone

call to take your reservation.

Ringers Needed

Have you ever thought about ringing bells? Festival Chimes is in needed of two full-time

ringers and substitute ringers to ring periodically when others are away. All are welcome.

The only requirement is that individuals should be able to read music. Technique will be

taught. If you are interested, contact Dorothy Preston (607-229-4888;

[email protected]) or Cindy Allen (607-227-3457; [email protected] ).

New Attendee at St. Paul's? An Invitation to Dive Deeper

We at St. Paul's are glad you have started coming for worship, and we're here to help you as you proceed

along in your spiritual journey. Would you like to know more about life at this church, be more connected or

ask questions that have been crossing your mind since you started coming? Would you like to inquire about

what church membership means, especially in the current political climate of the Methodist church? Join the

lay leaders, Pastor Teressa and Anne Horst, for a meal and conversation to dive deeper into your spiritual

journey supported by the church body at St. Paul's, and if you feel moved to do so after the discussion, become

a member. If you're interested in either the conversation or joining and one of these dates doesn't work for

your schedule, please let Anne know, we might be able to make accommodations.

Meeting and luncheon dates:

Thursday, February 27, 6:00-7:30 PM

Sunday, March 1, 12:00-1:30 PM

New members join the church: Sunday, March 8

Contact Anne Horst: [email protected], 607-273-5971 x 223

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10 St. Paul’s Letter

Available for Pick-up:

2019 Year-end Financial Statements and 2020 Offering Envelopes

Due to a new USPS rule, we are no longer able to mail statements at a bulk postage rate. In order to save

postage costs, please pick up your 2019 year-end financial statements on the table outside the sanctuary.

In order to help reduce our carbon footprint and costs, we will not be ordering pre-printed boxed offering

envelopes. If you would still like to have weekly envelopes, please contact the church office,

[email protected] or 607-273-5971.

Thank you to all of the adults and older children who helped with the

Christmas pageant this year! Many hands make light work and things went

very smoothly thanks to your willingness to jump in!

With Gratitude,

Alexa

Youth Ministry Coordinator

[email protected]

Updates on Youth Activities:

We have begun serving the middle/high youth with their own reflection time during service. Each Sunday, the

youth are invited to the Durham Room to learn a bit about the week's Bible passage (matching what is heard

in the main service) and have time to break it down and ask questions (all with snacks, of course). We

encourage your family to discuss the passages together during the week and maybe even discuss the "For

Reflection" questions on the back of the bulletin. For full dates, please visit the calendar on the St. Paul’s

website (under the Resources tab).

Remaining Youth Group Dates:

Youth Group is designed as time to play games, burn off energy, and hang out with friends after worship. The

dates for this year were set with the parents at the Kick-Off event last August. Don’t miss out on these 2020

gatherings:

February 2

March 1

March 29

May 3

May 31

Stay up to date with St. Paul’s news, calendar events, and more by signing up for our weekly email!

Three easy ways to get on the list:

1. Head to our website and fill out your information on the popup (stpaulsithaca.org)

2. Click “Join Our Email List” on the St. Paul’s Facebook page

3. Send an email to [email protected] indicating your interest

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11 St. Paul’s Letter

United Methodist Church Update

Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation

At the beginning of January, the above named protocol was released to the world. This protocol was developed

by 16 key leaders in the UMC, guided by the prominent lawyer, Kenneth Feinberg, who offered his services

pro bono to help the UMC. This protocol has no official status. Despite reports from the secular media, the

church has not split. This protocol must be submitted to our global governing body, the General Conference,

which meets May 5-15 in Minneapolis. What makes this protocol significant is the commitment of key leaders

from progressive, conservative, and centrist to promote and support it to the exclusion of any other separation

or restructuring plans.

The protocol allows local churches and annual conferences to vote to leave the United Methodist Church and

join a new denomination or denominations created through this protocol. It allows churches and conferences to

keep their property, assets and liabilities. Essentially, this protocol allows the conservative group, self-named

the Wesley Covenant Association (WCA), to exit the UMC and create their own denomination, retaining their

property and such, and with a financial settlement of $25 million, and additional monies set aside to support

historically vulnerable congregations during times of transition for both the UMC and the new denomination.

Another $2 million is placed in escrow in the event more denominations are formed under this protocol. This

plan also urges the denominations to find ways to work together through mutual missional interests. For more

information, visit the Methodist News page on the St. Paul’s website (on the homepage and under the

Resources tab).

New Regional Districts in our Upper New York Annual Conference

The Upper New York (UNY) Conference will be instituting a Regional Superintendency Plan effective July 1,

2020. The conference will continue to have 12 districts, but these districts will be grouped into 3 regions, 4

districts to each region. The regions will be served by 3 district superintendents.

We retain our same district, the Finger Lakes District, and our district office in Seneca Falls, and our district

administrative assistant, Pam Deckard, remains the same. We will be assigned a new district superintendent,

one of those listed below. Our new superintendent will work with their partner superintendents to care for the 4

districts. The regions that the UNY Conference will have are as follows:

Region 1 consists of the Albany, Adirondack, Northern Flow, and Mohawk Districts.

Region 2 consists of the Crossroads, Finger Lakes, Genesee Valley, and Niagara Frontier Districts.

Region 3 consists of the Oneonta, Binghamton, Mountainview, and Cornerstone Districts.

In meeting with the District Committees on Superintendency, Bishop Webb shared that his intention is to

appoint the following District Superintendents to these respective regions:

Region 1: Rev. Debbie Earthrowl, Rev. Abel Roy and Rev. Michael Weeden

Region 2: Rev. Nola Anderson, Rev Vonda Fossitt and Rev. Carlos Rosa Laguer

Region 3: Rev. Nancy Adams, Rev. Suzanne Block and Rev. Dr. Jeffrey McDowell

To learn more, visit https://www.unyumc.org/about/districts.

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St. Paul's Letter

402 N. Aurora Street

Ithaca, NY 14850

(607) 273-5971

[email protected]

www.stpaulsithaca.org

Periodicals Postage Paid

Ithaca, NY 14850

~A Note of Thanks~

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your recent gift of $4,198.50. The generosity of Reconciling Communities like yours

makes possible the lifesaving ministries of creating safe sanctuaries and just policies for people of

all sexual orientations and gender identities.

These are difficult times. We find hope and energy in the fact that new churches are moving

forward to become reconciling everyday! Our movement is very strong. Keep up with all the

ways you are helping RMN at www.rmnetwork.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/

RMNetwork. Please do not hesitate to contact my colleague Kathy Cheney-Egan at

[email protected], if you have any questions or comments.

We will put your gift to good use right away. Thank you for your reconciling Community's inspiring

support!

Many Blessings,

Jan Lawrence

Interim Executive Director