**COVID PROTOCOLS
Mask wearing is now optional. Please continue to wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if you are immunocompromised in any way. Please also continue to wear masks if that is what is most comfortable for you. If you are feeling under the weather in any way, please stay home and take advantage of watching our services on line.
CHURCH HAPPENINGS
**SUMMER WORSHIP TIME**
Church Council accepted the proposal to adjust our 2022 summer worship time to 9:00am to reflect the majority preference of respondents to the survey conducted in May. This change would only be for July/August. 10am worship will resume on September 4th.
NEW BEGINNINGS: HOMECOMING SUNDAY AND CHURCH PICNIC
Join us Homecoming Sunday, September 11th at 10am for worship. Sunday School will begin that morning at 9:30am in the History Room. After the service, we will continue the homecoming celebration with an All Church Picnic!
ALL CHURCH PICNIC
Join us at 12pm at the pavilion behind the fire station at 347 Old Niskayuna Road. Hamburgers & buns will be provided by one of our church families. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share (with a serving utensil) and a spirit of fun. There are many ways to contribute please see a list of ideas below and check the signup sheet in the Grace Kraus Lounge! Items needed in addition to a dish to share: paper plates & napkins plastic cups, forks, spoons, & tablecloths lemonade mix, mustard, ketchup, relish sliced cheese & onion hot dogs & buns.
UMCOR SCHOOL KITS
We’ll be preparing UMCOR School Kits for the new school year. The Newtonville church family will have a chance to provide needed school supplies for children in the US and around the world caught up in natural disasters, war, or poverty. In some countries, children don't have books or school supplies. Many have no schoolrooms; classes are held in inadequate or half-destroyed buildings, tents, or even the open air. School kits may be these children's only educational resources. This is a great mission for the whole family that can be accomplished while you shop the back-to-school sales! Shopping List (please stick to the list) ~1 pair blunt scissors (rounded tip) ~1 2 ½” pink eraser ~1 30-centimeter ruler ~1 pack 24 count crayons (only 24) ~1 hand held pencil sharpener ~6 unsharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers ~3 pads (or loose leaf) of 8 ½” X 11” ruled paper *All items included in kits must be NEW items.
SEEKING COORDINATOR OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
We are looking for a Coordinator of Family and Children’s Ministries. This is a part time position, approximately 8-10 hours per week, and requires Sunday morning attendance, both at Sunday School and worship. The salary for this position is $10,000 per year. The ideal candidate will have Christian Education experience and a desire to help NUMC build a strong foundation moving into the future. The position includes coordination of weekly Sunday School, and youth group leadership. Other responsibilities include planning monthly family fellowship opportunities and leadership of our yearly Vacation Bible School. A strong candidate should have a working knowledge of United Methodist theology, polity, and structure. We are looking for someone with an infectious love of Jesus Christ, who is excited about trying new programs and isn’t afraid to think outside of the box! If you are interested, please call Rev. Dr. Nick Bufano at 443-813-7584, and/or send your resume to pastornickbufano@gmail.com
NEXT BROOKS BARBECUE
Thursday, September 15th; 4pm until sold out!
Doors will open at 3:30 and we will start serving at 4:00. We will serve until we sell out.
Dinners includes
chicken, baked potato, roll, applesauce and homemade brownie.
Prices
Chicken dinner $12
Chicken only $9
Sauces $6
Regretfully we will not be selling ribs as Brooks notified us that there is a supply issue.
MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
Choir has reconvened and anyone is welcome to join in! Rehearsals will be Thursdays at 4:30pm in the choir room beginning June 23rd. Let Brandon know if you are interested in sharing your musical talents, whatever they may be, with the congregation during worship. Brandon would love to host instrumentalist and vocalist (solos, duets and so forth). Please contact Brandon with interest at brandon.malowski@gmail.com.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Each week you have the opportunity to don the altar with flowers, whether they are in honor or in memory of a loved one, or you would just like to beautify our altar. You may purchase the flowers from your own florist, make an arrangement from your garden or you can pay us and we will take care of the rest. Sign-up is in the Lounge.
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS
There is a sign-up in the Lounge for those interested in hosting a coffee hour this summer. We are in need of August hosts! Our coordinator, Wendy Spendiff, would be happy to fill you in on all of the details.
YOUTH GROUP - seeking volunteers
We are seeking coordinators for our Junior High and High School Youth Group. Please share your interests with Pastor Nick or Karin.
ACOLYTES
We are seeking children and youth to be added to an acolyte rotation for Sunday mornings. You will be responsible to light the candles during the first hymn and to carry the microphone to congregation members during prayer time. Please let Karin in the office know if you have a child or youth that would like to be added to the list. newtonvilleumc@gmail.com
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will resume in-person gatherings the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 1:00pm in Room 10; masks required.
PRAYER CONCERNS
Prayers for the family and friends of Betty Mathis (former Newtonville organist) on her passing; Beth, a friend and neighbor of Diane Davison; Karen Smith as she recovers from injuries from a car accident; those dealing with health issues; Bill Smith, Bill Rainbolt, Sally Coonley, Barb Rasmussen, Piper Toby, Eleanor Loos, Pat Loz, Christopher Biggs, Stephanie Sherman, Ann Crocker Lawton, Susan C.; those dealing with addiction and those struggling to manage anxiety and fight depression. Contact the office to add or remove a prayer request.
VISITATIONS
If you have someone that would like a visit, please contact Pastor Nick at pastornickbufano@gmail.com
DONATION / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES
UNITED WOMEN OF FAITH (formerly United Methodist Women)
United Women in Faith is a supportive, inclusive Christian membership organization where women like you grow spiritually, develop as leaders and serve and work to create a world in which all women, children and youth thrive. United Women in Faith is celebrated as the women’s ministry of the the United Methodist Church. A few of us met on Sunday, June 12th to discuss the future of this ministry of our church. We have, in the past, supported the W.A.S.H. well (wells for Africa), school and health kits, the Red Bird Mission and the Heifer project. In the past we have had dinners to support missions that help women and children in our community. Before Jeanne Chesney passed, she volunteered our church for the October 1st district UWF meeting. We will be responsible for hosting the morning breakfast with snacks, tea, coffee, and juice and to supply beverages for lunch. We also discussed having a meeting at our church for all the women of our church to understand what United Women of Faith is about and to see how many women would be interested in this mission. Is this something we wish to continue?
The purpose of United Women of Faith is
-To know God and to experience the freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ
-To develop a creative, supportive fellowship;
-And to expand concepts of mission through participation through global ministries of the church.
More info www.unitedmethodistwomen.org
ZERO WASTE CAPITAL DISTRICT
Help preserve our climate and sustain our soils!
Bring you food scraps to the Zero Waster Capital District booth at the Colonie Farmers Market (at the Crossings Park in Colonie) so they can be composted and turned into a valuable material for improving the fertility of local soils, instead of entering the landfill and generating methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The Farmer's Market at the Crossings in Colonie is open from 9am to 1pm every Saturday through the end of September. The rules for what can be composted are straightforward: no meat, no dairy, no fish, but any other food scraps or garden clippings are acceptable. Hope to see you at the Zero Wates booth for composting!
More info at: https://www.colonie.org/departments/parksandrec/thecrossings/farmersmkt and https://www.zerowastecd.org/
IMAGINE NO RACISM
The “Imagine No Racism” curriculum was created by the General Commission on Religion and Race and adapted by the Upper New York Conference Commission on Religion and Race. The curriculum is meant as a beginning, a set of small group sessions to launch the ongoing work of addressing and, ultimately, dismantling racism. Please get in touch with me if you are interested in this course, and I can contact one of the coordinators to ask that the course be held via Zoom. My email is below.
Grounding principles include:
Session 1: includes a theological overview, foundational definitions.
Session 2: The Call of Baptism to Imagine No Racism
Session 3: Implicit Bias
Session 4: Deepening the Conversation
Session 5: Deconstructing White Privilege (includes discussion on microaggressions)
Session 6: Taking the Next Step
Nancy Goddard
bngoddard@davespc.net
RISSE UPDATES
Thank you all for your patience while RISSE locates a new Volunteer Coordinator. Geety Saadat, who was hired earlier this year, found a wonderful full-time job in her field of human resources. I'm happy to be back as a volunteer myself this time around.
Training for any volunteers who would like to become English language tutors is online, free and available. Intake to Outcomes training for our purposes involves completing 2 online modules in about 3 weeks time. If you are interested in trying it, let me know and I can register you with Literacy New York. We have many requests for individual tutors from refugees and immigrants who are unable to attend any of our in-person or online classes.
The most recent request for tutoring is from a Spanish speaker in Troy who would like to meet once a week at the Troy library. She speaks English conversationally but would like to improve her skills to help her obtain a better job.
The RISSE Summer Enrichment Program for children ages 5 to 13 will be offered July 11 to August 19 on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Mornings will include some academics and projects with outdoor and club activities and field trips in the afternoons. Volunteers are welcome to help mornings, afternoons, full days--just let us know your preference and we will arrange a schedule.
Volunteers are also welcome for the rest of the school year in the Afterschool program. Some of our regular staff and volunteers are finishing up their college semesters and leaving so we have several opportunities in the program which runs from around 2:45 pm to 6 pm each weekday.
RISSE is piloting a new conversation group for community members interested in practicing their English language skills in an informal setting. The drop-in group will meet in the church on Fridays in June from 11 am to 1 pm. "Conversation starters" will be provided. Please let me know if you would like to participate. We plan to provide tea and cookies or some such refreshment and that can also be a no-contact volunteer opportunity if you would like to provide them.
If you would like to mentor a refugee family in the area, there are opportunities to provide transportation, to help with navigating schools, medical care, mail, banking and other intricacies of American culture. If you are interested we can discuss the finer details.
Again, thank you for your support. RISSE could not provide the services it does without help from our dedicated volunteers. Your donation of time is invaluable.
Ann Krischer
Interim Volunteer Coordinator
Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus
240 West Lawrence Street
Albany, NY 12208
call/text 518-424-6663
SUPPORT THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE IN UKRAINE
United Methodists and others wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.
Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made in the following ways:
The United Methodist community in Ukraine, though quite small, is actively engaged in assisting neighbors in need. Global Ministries is in touch with the church’s leadership as well as with church leaders in countries welcoming those who are fleeing from violence in Ukraine.
MUSLIM DONATION CENTER
For those wishing to donate clothing to refugees, please consider the Muslim Donation Center, 350 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Latham. Clothing must washed and not be stained or ripped. All underwear, socks , pajamas must be new and never worn . Bedding must be clean and no stains or rips.
They accept donations on Tues & Sat, 10-12. Tues: 5:30-7:30 PM.
CAPITAL CITY RESCUE MISSION
Newtonville United Methodist Church is presently doing an outreach program for the Capital City Rescue Mission.
We have volunteered to serve dinner on the 2nd Monday of each month from 5:00 – 7:30pm. There are 5 volunteers needed each month to serve the guests. Young volunteers must be at least 16 years old and accompanied by an adult.
Parking is available across from the Mission in a closed DMV parking lot; the group that served in November met at NUMC to car pool. Mandatory: face masks, hair net, gloves and apron, which are all part of what the Mission supplies to the volunteers.
Please contact me if you are interested in this program or have any questions: Gail Cotler, 518-441-4853 phone/text or gailcotler@gmail.com.
REQUEST FOR COMMUNICATION WITH UNITED METHODIST SENIORS
“I am writing in hopes of getting some virtual volunteers to write letters or send cards to our wonderful residents who are of the Methodist faith. Also if there are any links the church has where services are posted online or have different prayers etc. listed I would love to share that with our residents. We have been doing non-denominational services throughout COVID but our residents have asked for a connection with members of their Methodist faith. I would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have and look forward to hearing from you by phone or email.” Cynthia Ellison Activity Director Hudson Park Rehab & Nursing Center 325 Northern Blvd. Albany, NY 12204 (518) 449-1100 ext. 3519 CEllison@hudsonparkrehab.com
IMMIGRANT ASSISTANCE MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES
If you have a heart for the oppressed and displaced person in this world, you need go no further than Albany, NY, to be of service. The people you will meet, both refugees and volunteers, will warm your hearts. Two organizations I can endorse from personal experience are USCRI {U. S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants} and RISSE {Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus}.
Broadly speaking, USCRI is a federally contracted refugee resettlement agency, the front line receiver of families providing initial case management for the 90-day period after arrival. USCRI will meet the families at the Albany Airport, secure and pay for their initial housing, provide furniture and household necessities, assist families with transportation to clothing centers and medical visits and provide other basic services. The organization also operates numerous post 90-day programs to help facilitate refugees’ transition to their new lives in America.
RISSE assists families with paperwork; English-language acquisition for adults and children; citizenship; after-school programming; youth summer activities; and more. RISSE has a strong need at present in the Afterschool program for teaching professionals, retired or otherwise, to tutor children.
Both organizations require applications and background checks for volunteers who work directly with refugee families. There is a great need for good quality furniture to include tables and chairs, couches, lamps, and area carpets. Also, toiletries, towels, kitchen items, paper products, soaps (personal, dish & laundry). Money donations allow the most flexibility.
Volunteers are needed to muster supplies, make deliveries, ferry people, repairs & cleaning, organizing goods, etc. The ability to assist on very short notice is especially valuable, but more predictable opportunities are also available.
To help out at RISSE, which is located at the Emmaus United Methodist Church at 715 Morris St, Albany, you may contact Ann Krischer, volunteer coordinator, at: volunteer@risse-albany.org or call 518.424.6663.
To help out at USCRI, contact Jennifer DeMarco at jdemarco@uscrimail.org.
If you would like to visit either organization or get more information, you may also contact Brian Hayesbrian.m.hayes6@gmail.com or call 518.791.9454.
OTHER NEWS
THE RESPONSE (UMW Magazine)
The Response magazine is an award-winning publication, is the official magazine of United Methodist Women and is published by the national office. Each issue will touch your heart, stir your soul, and challenge your mind. Topics and issues cover spiritual growth, mission outreach and reports on our local, national and international work. Here is the link: https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/response Password Newtonvilleumc@gmail.com; zip code 12110
GENERAL CONFERENCE
The Commission on the General Conference has announced that the 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church rescheduled for Aug. 29 - Sept. 6, 2022, will not be held. Instead, the next General Conference will take place in 2024.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Annual Conference will be postponed to Oct. 6-8, and it will be a virtual gathering. The plan is to use the same technology that was used at the 2021 virtual Annual Conference gathering, which was relatively well received.
Postponing Annual Conference creates a new set of logistical concerns to address and the decisions about those concerns will be shared once they are made. In the meantime, anyone who has already registered for the planned in-person Annual Conference gathering will receive full refunds. The processing of refunds will start immediately but could take a couple of weeks to complete. If you made a hotel reservation, you should contact the hotel directly to cancel.
UPPER ROOM
Daily Devotionals are available at https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals. There is an app available for both Upper Room and Alive Now, so you can get them right on your phone or tablet. Printed copies are available in the elevator alcove.
Are you or is someone you know in need of financial assistance? The church has received gifts from individual's stimulus checks to use the funds to help those who may be in financial need during this difficult time. If you know of someone who may be struggling to feed their family, pay utilities, or otherwise meet basic expenses, please Karin in the office. If you are interested in adding to this fund please send your gift to the church, attention: Kathy Franklin. All donations and distributions will remain fully anonymous.
Food assistance is available through food pantries throughout the Capital Region. If you or someone you know is in need of food, you can locate a food pantry serving your community here: www.thefoodpantries.org
The NUMC Little Food Pantry is available 24 hour per day/7 days per week for anyone in need of emergency food or personal care items. If you would like to donate simply leave your items in the food pantry cabinet, located in the rear parking lot.
Financial offerings can be mailed to the office, either in your regular offering envelopes or marked "Attn: Kathy Franklin" to P.O. Box 7, Newtonville, NY 12128. The GivePlus app is another option that can be downloaded to either iPhone or Android. Simply search by zip code 12128. For electronic giving on a regular basis, please contact the church office and we will put Kathy in touch with you to set that up through Vanco. We sincerely appreciate your continued financial support.
Mask wearing is now optional. Please continue to wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if you are immunocompromised in any way. Please also continue to wear masks if that is what is most comfortable for you. If you are feeling under the weather in any way, please stay home and take advantage of watching our services on line.
CHURCH HAPPENINGS
**SUMMER WORSHIP TIME**
Church Council accepted the proposal to adjust our 2022 summer worship time to 9:00am to reflect the majority preference of respondents to the survey conducted in May. This change would only be for July/August. 10am worship will resume on September 4th.
NEW BEGINNINGS: HOMECOMING SUNDAY AND CHURCH PICNIC
Join us Homecoming Sunday, September 11th at 10am for worship. Sunday School will begin that morning at 9:30am in the History Room. After the service, we will continue the homecoming celebration with an All Church Picnic!
ALL CHURCH PICNIC
Join us at 12pm at the pavilion behind the fire station at 347 Old Niskayuna Road. Hamburgers & buns will be provided by one of our church families. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share (with a serving utensil) and a spirit of fun. There are many ways to contribute please see a list of ideas below and check the signup sheet in the Grace Kraus Lounge! Items needed in addition to a dish to share: paper plates & napkins plastic cups, forks, spoons, & tablecloths lemonade mix, mustard, ketchup, relish sliced cheese & onion hot dogs & buns.
UMCOR SCHOOL KITS
We’ll be preparing UMCOR School Kits for the new school year. The Newtonville church family will have a chance to provide needed school supplies for children in the US and around the world caught up in natural disasters, war, or poverty. In some countries, children don't have books or school supplies. Many have no schoolrooms; classes are held in inadequate or half-destroyed buildings, tents, or even the open air. School kits may be these children's only educational resources. This is a great mission for the whole family that can be accomplished while you shop the back-to-school sales! Shopping List (please stick to the list) ~1 pair blunt scissors (rounded tip) ~1 2 ½” pink eraser ~1 30-centimeter ruler ~1 pack 24 count crayons (only 24) ~1 hand held pencil sharpener ~6 unsharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers ~3 pads (or loose leaf) of 8 ½” X 11” ruled paper *All items included in kits must be NEW items.
SEEKING COORDINATOR OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
We are looking for a Coordinator of Family and Children’s Ministries. This is a part time position, approximately 8-10 hours per week, and requires Sunday morning attendance, both at Sunday School and worship. The salary for this position is $10,000 per year. The ideal candidate will have Christian Education experience and a desire to help NUMC build a strong foundation moving into the future. The position includes coordination of weekly Sunday School, and youth group leadership. Other responsibilities include planning monthly family fellowship opportunities and leadership of our yearly Vacation Bible School. A strong candidate should have a working knowledge of United Methodist theology, polity, and structure. We are looking for someone with an infectious love of Jesus Christ, who is excited about trying new programs and isn’t afraid to think outside of the box! If you are interested, please call Rev. Dr. Nick Bufano at 443-813-7584, and/or send your resume to pastornickbufano@gmail.com
NEXT BROOKS BARBECUE
Thursday, September 15th; 4pm until sold out!
Doors will open at 3:30 and we will start serving at 4:00. We will serve until we sell out.
Dinners includes
chicken, baked potato, roll, applesauce and homemade brownie.
Prices
Chicken dinner $12
Chicken only $9
Sauces $6
Regretfully we will not be selling ribs as Brooks notified us that there is a supply issue.
MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
Choir has reconvened and anyone is welcome to join in! Rehearsals will be Thursdays at 4:30pm in the choir room beginning June 23rd. Let Brandon know if you are interested in sharing your musical talents, whatever they may be, with the congregation during worship. Brandon would love to host instrumentalist and vocalist (solos, duets and so forth). Please contact Brandon with interest at brandon.malowski@gmail.com.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Each week you have the opportunity to don the altar with flowers, whether they are in honor or in memory of a loved one, or you would just like to beautify our altar. You may purchase the flowers from your own florist, make an arrangement from your garden or you can pay us and we will take care of the rest. Sign-up is in the Lounge.
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS
There is a sign-up in the Lounge for those interested in hosting a coffee hour this summer. We are in need of August hosts! Our coordinator, Wendy Spendiff, would be happy to fill you in on all of the details.
YOUTH GROUP - seeking volunteers
We are seeking coordinators for our Junior High and High School Youth Group. Please share your interests with Pastor Nick or Karin.
ACOLYTES
We are seeking children and youth to be added to an acolyte rotation for Sunday mornings. You will be responsible to light the candles during the first hymn and to carry the microphone to congregation members during prayer time. Please let Karin in the office know if you have a child or youth that would like to be added to the list. newtonvilleumc@gmail.com
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will resume in-person gatherings the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 1:00pm in Room 10; masks required.
PRAYER CONCERNS
Prayers for the family and friends of Betty Mathis (former Newtonville organist) on her passing; Beth, a friend and neighbor of Diane Davison; Karen Smith as she recovers from injuries from a car accident; those dealing with health issues; Bill Smith, Bill Rainbolt, Sally Coonley, Barb Rasmussen, Piper Toby, Eleanor Loos, Pat Loz, Christopher Biggs, Stephanie Sherman, Ann Crocker Lawton, Susan C.; those dealing with addiction and those struggling to manage anxiety and fight depression. Contact the office to add or remove a prayer request.
VISITATIONS
If you have someone that would like a visit, please contact Pastor Nick at pastornickbufano@gmail.com
DONATION / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES
UNITED WOMEN OF FAITH (formerly United Methodist Women)
United Women in Faith is a supportive, inclusive Christian membership organization where women like you grow spiritually, develop as leaders and serve and work to create a world in which all women, children and youth thrive. United Women in Faith is celebrated as the women’s ministry of the the United Methodist Church. A few of us met on Sunday, June 12th to discuss the future of this ministry of our church. We have, in the past, supported the W.A.S.H. well (wells for Africa), school and health kits, the Red Bird Mission and the Heifer project. In the past we have had dinners to support missions that help women and children in our community. Before Jeanne Chesney passed, she volunteered our church for the October 1st district UWF meeting. We will be responsible for hosting the morning breakfast with snacks, tea, coffee, and juice and to supply beverages for lunch. We also discussed having a meeting at our church for all the women of our church to understand what United Women of Faith is about and to see how many women would be interested in this mission. Is this something we wish to continue?
The purpose of United Women of Faith is
-To know God and to experience the freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ
-To develop a creative, supportive fellowship;
-And to expand concepts of mission through participation through global ministries of the church.
More info www.unitedmethodistwomen.org
ZERO WASTE CAPITAL DISTRICT
Help preserve our climate and sustain our soils!
Bring you food scraps to the Zero Waster Capital District booth at the Colonie Farmers Market (at the Crossings Park in Colonie) so they can be composted and turned into a valuable material for improving the fertility of local soils, instead of entering the landfill and generating methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The Farmer's Market at the Crossings in Colonie is open from 9am to 1pm every Saturday through the end of September. The rules for what can be composted are straightforward: no meat, no dairy, no fish, but any other food scraps or garden clippings are acceptable. Hope to see you at the Zero Wates booth for composting!
More info at: https://www.colonie.org/departments/parksandrec/thecrossings/farmersmkt and https://www.zerowastecd.org/
IMAGINE NO RACISM
The “Imagine No Racism” curriculum was created by the General Commission on Religion and Race and adapted by the Upper New York Conference Commission on Religion and Race. The curriculum is meant as a beginning, a set of small group sessions to launch the ongoing work of addressing and, ultimately, dismantling racism. Please get in touch with me if you are interested in this course, and I can contact one of the coordinators to ask that the course be held via Zoom. My email is below.
Grounding principles include:
- Everyone is capable of doing something to resist racism.
- As Christians we have an external and an internal responsibility to resist racism.
- There is a difference between guilt, shame, and responsibility. Responsibility says, “I have the ability to respond (response-ability).”
- There is a difference between Intercultural Competency and antiracism. Intercultural competency is the knowledge, motivation, and skills that help us:
- Learn about other cultures without trying to make them “like” ours;
- Honor other cultures without trying to take them on as our own;
- And ultimately, to honor the gifts and personhood of one another.
- Recognizes, interrupts, and dismantles racism wherever it exists, in all of its forms;
- Only seeks to understand racism for the purpose of dismantling it;
- And realizes there is no honor in honoring racism, or any of its forms.
Session 1: includes a theological overview, foundational definitions.
Session 2: The Call of Baptism to Imagine No Racism
Session 3: Implicit Bias
Session 4: Deepening the Conversation
Session 5: Deconstructing White Privilege (includes discussion on microaggressions)
Session 6: Taking the Next Step
Nancy Goddard
bngoddard@davespc.net
RISSE UPDATES
Thank you all for your patience while RISSE locates a new Volunteer Coordinator. Geety Saadat, who was hired earlier this year, found a wonderful full-time job in her field of human resources. I'm happy to be back as a volunteer myself this time around.
Training for any volunteers who would like to become English language tutors is online, free and available. Intake to Outcomes training for our purposes involves completing 2 online modules in about 3 weeks time. If you are interested in trying it, let me know and I can register you with Literacy New York. We have many requests for individual tutors from refugees and immigrants who are unable to attend any of our in-person or online classes.
The most recent request for tutoring is from a Spanish speaker in Troy who would like to meet once a week at the Troy library. She speaks English conversationally but would like to improve her skills to help her obtain a better job.
The RISSE Summer Enrichment Program for children ages 5 to 13 will be offered July 11 to August 19 on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Mornings will include some academics and projects with outdoor and club activities and field trips in the afternoons. Volunteers are welcome to help mornings, afternoons, full days--just let us know your preference and we will arrange a schedule.
Volunteers are also welcome for the rest of the school year in the Afterschool program. Some of our regular staff and volunteers are finishing up their college semesters and leaving so we have several opportunities in the program which runs from around 2:45 pm to 6 pm each weekday.
RISSE is piloting a new conversation group for community members interested in practicing their English language skills in an informal setting. The drop-in group will meet in the church on Fridays in June from 11 am to 1 pm. "Conversation starters" will be provided. Please let me know if you would like to participate. We plan to provide tea and cookies or some such refreshment and that can also be a no-contact volunteer opportunity if you would like to provide them.
If you would like to mentor a refugee family in the area, there are opportunities to provide transportation, to help with navigating schools, medical care, mail, banking and other intricacies of American culture. If you are interested we can discuss the finer details.
Again, thank you for your support. RISSE could not provide the services it does without help from our dedicated volunteers. Your donation of time is invaluable.
Ann Krischer
Interim Volunteer Coordinator
Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus
240 West Lawrence Street
Albany, NY 12208
call/text 518-424-6663
SUPPORT THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE IN UKRAINE
United Methodists and others wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.
Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made in the following ways:
- Online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450
- By toll-free telephone: 888-252-6174
- By check made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with “Advance #982450-Ukraine” written on the memo line, either mailed and addressed to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087-9068 or given at or through any United Methodist church
The United Methodist community in Ukraine, though quite small, is actively engaged in assisting neighbors in need. Global Ministries is in touch with the church’s leadership as well as with church leaders in countries welcoming those who are fleeing from violence in Ukraine.
MUSLIM DONATION CENTER
For those wishing to donate clothing to refugees, please consider the Muslim Donation Center, 350 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Latham. Clothing must washed and not be stained or ripped. All underwear, socks , pajamas must be new and never worn . Bedding must be clean and no stains or rips.
They accept donations on Tues & Sat, 10-12. Tues: 5:30-7:30 PM.
CAPITAL CITY RESCUE MISSION
Newtonville United Methodist Church is presently doing an outreach program for the Capital City Rescue Mission.
We have volunteered to serve dinner on the 2nd Monday of each month from 5:00 – 7:30pm. There are 5 volunteers needed each month to serve the guests. Young volunteers must be at least 16 years old and accompanied by an adult.
Parking is available across from the Mission in a closed DMV parking lot; the group that served in November met at NUMC to car pool. Mandatory: face masks, hair net, gloves and apron, which are all part of what the Mission supplies to the volunteers.
Please contact me if you are interested in this program or have any questions: Gail Cotler, 518-441-4853 phone/text or gailcotler@gmail.com.
REQUEST FOR COMMUNICATION WITH UNITED METHODIST SENIORS
“I am writing in hopes of getting some virtual volunteers to write letters or send cards to our wonderful residents who are of the Methodist faith. Also if there are any links the church has where services are posted online or have different prayers etc. listed I would love to share that with our residents. We have been doing non-denominational services throughout COVID but our residents have asked for a connection with members of their Methodist faith. I would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have and look forward to hearing from you by phone or email.” Cynthia Ellison Activity Director Hudson Park Rehab & Nursing Center 325 Northern Blvd. Albany, NY 12204 (518) 449-1100 ext. 3519 CEllison@hudsonparkrehab.com
IMMIGRANT ASSISTANCE MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES
If you have a heart for the oppressed and displaced person in this world, you need go no further than Albany, NY, to be of service. The people you will meet, both refugees and volunteers, will warm your hearts. Two organizations I can endorse from personal experience are USCRI {U. S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants} and RISSE {Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus}.
Broadly speaking, USCRI is a federally contracted refugee resettlement agency, the front line receiver of families providing initial case management for the 90-day period after arrival. USCRI will meet the families at the Albany Airport, secure and pay for their initial housing, provide furniture and household necessities, assist families with transportation to clothing centers and medical visits and provide other basic services. The organization also operates numerous post 90-day programs to help facilitate refugees’ transition to their new lives in America.
RISSE assists families with paperwork; English-language acquisition for adults and children; citizenship; after-school programming; youth summer activities; and more. RISSE has a strong need at present in the Afterschool program for teaching professionals, retired or otherwise, to tutor children.
Both organizations require applications and background checks for volunteers who work directly with refugee families. There is a great need for good quality furniture to include tables and chairs, couches, lamps, and area carpets. Also, toiletries, towels, kitchen items, paper products, soaps (personal, dish & laundry). Money donations allow the most flexibility.
Volunteers are needed to muster supplies, make deliveries, ferry people, repairs & cleaning, organizing goods, etc. The ability to assist on very short notice is especially valuable, but more predictable opportunities are also available.
To help out at RISSE, which is located at the Emmaus United Methodist Church at 715 Morris St, Albany, you may contact Ann Krischer, volunteer coordinator, at: volunteer@risse-albany.org or call 518.424.6663.
To help out at USCRI, contact Jennifer DeMarco at jdemarco@uscrimail.org.
If you would like to visit either organization or get more information, you may also contact Brian Hayesbrian.m.hayes6@gmail.com or call 518.791.9454.
OTHER NEWS
THE RESPONSE (UMW Magazine)
The Response magazine is an award-winning publication, is the official magazine of United Methodist Women and is published by the national office. Each issue will touch your heart, stir your soul, and challenge your mind. Topics and issues cover spiritual growth, mission outreach and reports on our local, national and international work. Here is the link: https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/response Password Newtonvilleumc@gmail.com; zip code 12110
GENERAL CONFERENCE
The Commission on the General Conference has announced that the 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church rescheduled for Aug. 29 - Sept. 6, 2022, will not be held. Instead, the next General Conference will take place in 2024.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Annual Conference will be postponed to Oct. 6-8, and it will be a virtual gathering. The plan is to use the same technology that was used at the 2021 virtual Annual Conference gathering, which was relatively well received.
Postponing Annual Conference creates a new set of logistical concerns to address and the decisions about those concerns will be shared once they are made. In the meantime, anyone who has already registered for the planned in-person Annual Conference gathering will receive full refunds. The processing of refunds will start immediately but could take a couple of weeks to complete. If you made a hotel reservation, you should contact the hotel directly to cancel.
UPPER ROOM
Daily Devotionals are available at https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals. There is an app available for both Upper Room and Alive Now, so you can get them right on your phone or tablet. Printed copies are available in the elevator alcove.
Are you or is someone you know in need of financial assistance? The church has received gifts from individual's stimulus checks to use the funds to help those who may be in financial need during this difficult time. If you know of someone who may be struggling to feed their family, pay utilities, or otherwise meet basic expenses, please Karin in the office. If you are interested in adding to this fund please send your gift to the church, attention: Kathy Franklin. All donations and distributions will remain fully anonymous.
Food assistance is available through food pantries throughout the Capital Region. If you or someone you know is in need of food, you can locate a food pantry serving your community here: www.thefoodpantries.org
The NUMC Little Food Pantry is available 24 hour per day/7 days per week for anyone in need of emergency food or personal care items. If you would like to donate simply leave your items in the food pantry cabinet, located in the rear parking lot.
Financial offerings can be mailed to the office, either in your regular offering envelopes or marked "Attn: Kathy Franklin" to P.O. Box 7, Newtonville, NY 12128. The GivePlus app is another option that can be downloaded to either iPhone or Android. Simply search by zip code 12128. For electronic giving on a regular basis, please contact the church office and we will put Kathy in touch with you to set that up through Vanco. We sincerely appreciate your continued financial support.
