in the Kingdom of Heaven, and a source of information or exper-tise concerning the Word of God and living as a true disciple.

Resourcing is not something we do to others. It is what we do WITH others. We are all in the process of being resourced as disciples of Jesus Christ. We have room to grow and we all have gifts to help others to grow. We must all be involved in the resourc-ing part of our mission by devoting ourselves to Bibl ica l t eaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, taking care of anyone who has need, meeting together daily, and sharing fellowship together in our homes.

Pastor Jenni

feature or phenomenon that enhances the quality of human life, (d) computable wealth, or (e) a source of informa-tion or expertise.

Turning to the Bible we find that in Acts 2:42–47, the early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayer, to taking care of anyone who had need, to meeting daily, and to sharing fel lowship together in their homes.

The early church recognized that teaching, fellowship, prayer, and nurture were means of resourcing one another so that they could live as disciples of Jesus. They knew that their life resource was their relationship to God and each other. As these relat ionships were nurtured through Bible study, fellowship, prayer and caring, they found their source of supply and support, their natural source of wealth of knowledge and expertise, an enhance-ment in their quality of life, measurable wealth

The purpose of NUMC is:

“To REACH and RESOURCE people to be Disciples of Jesus Christ and to RELEASE them into ministry to the world."

In June, we looked at what "REACHING" means, and determined that we have to 1) take action, 2) exert effort, and 3) connect with others. Matthew 25:35–36 sums this up for us:

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

What do we mean by " R E S O U R C I N G " ? Webster says that Resource means: (a) source of supply or support, (b) a natural source of wealth or revenue, (c) a natural

J U L Y 2 0 1 9

The Nimmonsburg Witness Nimmonsburg United Methodist Church

918 Upper Front Street, Binghamton, New York 13905

Rev. Jenni Piatt (607) 724-5421 Nimmonsburgumc.weebly.com

We Are A Resource

Sunday

September

15th

1:00—4:00

pm

Practicing the

Privilege of

Prayer

through

Worship,

Teachings,

Fellowship

and More

P A G E 2

Lectionary Readings and Sermons July 7, 2019—Communion

4th Sunday After Pentecost—Green

Revelation 3:7-13

Sermon: “Philadelphia: The Faithful Church”

July 14, 2019

5th Sunday After Pentecost—Green

Revelation 3:14-22

Sermon: “Laodicea: The Disgusting Church”

July 21, 2019

6th Sunday After Pentecost—Green

Special Congregational Service #1

July 28, 2019

7th Sunday After Pentecost—Green

Special Congregational Service #2

There will be no Sunday School for

children during the months of June, July

and August. We will resume Sunday

School in September. If you have any

If there is enough interest, Pastor Jenni would like to begin a Lunch Bible

Study Group to be held on Mondays from noon to 1:00 pm beginning in

September. (Bring along your lunch.)

We need at least five people who are interested in attending. Please let

Pastor Jenni know if you are interested. You can call her at (716) 560-4400 or

e-mail her at churchpastornumc@gmail.com.

Lunch Bible Study to Begin in September

Lay Readers for July and August:

7/7 - Rex Decker

7/14 - Andrea Pickney

7/21 - Ed Daub

7/28 - Madeline Nemcek

8/4 - Elizabeth Button

8/11 - Lynne Ruth

8/18 - Helen Morgan

8/25 - Don Birtch

Lay Readers and Sunday School Teachers

Sunday School:

There will be no Sunday School for

children during the months of July and

August. We will resume Sunday School

in September. If you have any questions,

please contact Justin Hagerman.

NOW COMMITTEE (Nurture, Outreach, Witness) July 15th at Noon in Room 202

We need creative thinkers and caring people! Everyone is welcome to help us generate ideas and coordinate resources to meet the needs of our community and the Church. Please bring a sandwich along and we can have lunch together as we meet.

P A G E 3

BIRTHDAYS:

7/5 - Schyler Savage

7/6 - Patti Derr

Jacob Shoemaker

7/7 - Philip Kocan

7/9 - Jacob Rueffer

7/10 - William Pease

7/11 - Sarah Nell Barnes

7/12 - Elva Burke

Ellie Minett

7/18 - Lynne Ruth

Our July Celebrations ANNIVERSARIES:

7/2 - Amy & Dan Morgan

7/7 - Kathy & Chris Nabinger

7/10 - Madeline & Richard Nemcek

Judith & William Poit

7/19 - Deborah & David Hagerman

Did we miss your special day?

If so, please let us know so

we can celebrate with you!

7/19 - Juday Sanaeko

7/21 - Zachary Moyer

7/22 - Myrnie Ferro

7/23 - Marie Thornton

7/27 - Brianna King

7/28 - Mini Daub

Audrey Finch

Justin Hagerman

Gordon Justice

David Morgan

7/31 - Deaven Rought

CELEBRATING OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARYCELEBRATING OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARYCELEBRATING OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY As part of our 100th Anniversary Celebration, we would like to

publish an update to the Nimmonsburg UMC Church Cookbook which

was printed in 1997. Please submit your recipes to the Church Office

(e-mail is preferred, but not required). Make sure you include your name

and contact information, complete ingredients and instructions, and any

interesting comments that would be of interest to the reader.

Munching Methodists The Munching Methodists meet each month

on the third Thursday for dinner. This month they

are meeting on Thursday, July 18th, at 5:00 pm

at the Broadway Diner on Watson Boulevard in

Endwell.

We have a really

nice time getting

together for dinner,

and would love to

have you join us!

Please give Evelyn Erler a

call at 621-8903 if you can

attend, or if you have any

questions. See you then!

Joint Church Picnic Sunday

August 18th at

Noon

Kirkwood Park

Joint Picnic with Hawleyton UMC

and Conklin Forks UMC

Fun and games for the whole family!

Please bring a dish to share if

you are able.

Use GOODSEARCH as your internet search engine … every search you do raises $.01 for our Church.

P A G E 4

PASTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUNDS I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to those who have contributed to our Pastor's Discretionary Fund. Through this fund we've been able to purchase gift cards from area businesses to use as emer-gency help for serious and immediate needs. We've also been able to purchase groceries and help other families with rent and utilities in difficult times. Our current balance is overspent by $100, but we trust that God will provide funds to help as we learn of needs.

Memorial Bench Dedication What a wonderful and meaningful ceremony for dedicating a beautiful garden bench in Joanne's memory at Sky Lake on June 2! After the rainy Sunday morning and persistent cloudy

skies into the afternoon, the sky brightened as the dedication ceremony proceeded. The ceremony was simple but meaning-ful, joyful and honoring. And, just as Matt Williams spoke the very last word to close the ceremony, the sky opened up with a severe cloud burst of steady rain. It lasted for a good half hour before slowing down. The timing was remarkable... if not a sign of acknowledgement from above!

My family's sincere thanks to Zack Moyer and the perseverance of Marilyn and Gary Moyer for making this wonderful gift possible. The hope of Sky Lake is to create a natural meeting place or "tryst" overlooking beautiful and inspirational Sky Lake. This is just one additional step in a longer-range plan to create a gathering place for visitors that will include additional landscaping and easy access to the lake as the Camp and Retreat Center continues its journey to "transform lives” Like Joanne, let us all "be known for the work we have done". Thanks to everyone who participated in this event and made it possible.

Jim Tregaskis

Senior Social Club News

NUMC’s Senior Social Club has made headlines in

Thrivent’s quarterly periodical. Thrivent is a Christian-based

financial planning company. Thrivent members can receive a

$250 grant each year towards a mission or outreach program

they feel is important. The idea is presented to the company,

and if the company approves, it’s a go! Denise Kellett presented

the Senior Social Club idea for the past three years and it has

been accepted each time. The Board decided that Sr. Social Club

was worthy of recognition, and the article appeared this month.

Thrivent also provides a $250 grant to fund our

Community Dinners. Bruce Kellett presented the idea for the

past three years and it has been accepted each time.

In previous years, the Kelletts used grant money to start

the personal care pantry at St. Francis of Assisi (Catherine’s

Cupboard) and the personal care pantry at Glen Castle United

Methodist Church, both of which are still in operation.

P A G E 5

Annual Conference is a mix of fellowship, fun, worship, and business. It’s a time to reconnect

with clergy and laity, but also to meet new folks from our United Methodist family and see the

bigger church at work. Many decisions, motions, amendments, debates, resolutions, and

recommendations are dealt with at Conference, and it would take an extensive report to cover

them all. I have listed some highlights below. If you would like to know more, feel free to ask me

or Shelly Schaffer, Nimmonsburg UMC delegate. You can also find information at

http://www.unyumc.org/events/annual-conference-2019.

Highlights of Annual Conference 2019

Sadly, 14 church closures were approved, but at the same time $5,600 was raised for new

faith communities and a new initiative was introduced to begin some new things. Rev. Dave

Masland, Director of New Faith Communities, reported 83 new “New Places for New People”

partners who together donated more than $10,000. This campaign continues until November

1st if you are interested in getting involved.

Conference nominations were approved, with the Trustees being appropriately approved with

written ballots. Peter Abdella was officially elected as Chancellor of the UNY Conference

and Bob Flask was officially elected as Conference Treasurer.

The Conference Finance & Administration Committee presented the ministry shares budget

for 2020 and it was approved for $9,975,000.

For the 3rd year, Upper NY Conference has paid 100% of General Church apportionments.

Our lay and clergy delegates were elected for General Conference 2020.

Various offerings were taken for Mission Central HUB, Clergy Care Fund, Helping Hands

Fund, New Faith Communities, and Mission of Peace, as well as a few challenges which

raised significant funds for various causes.

We heard great preaching and teaching from Bishop Mark J.

Webb, Upper NY Area Resident Bishop, Rev. Dr. Vance

Ross, pastor of the Historical UMC in Atlanta and Dean of

the Chapel of Spiritual Life at Emory University, Rev.

Sherri Rood, Cornerstone DS, and others.

The recommendation from The Task Force on Peace with

Justice in Palestine/Israel titled “Sovereign Debt of

Countries Involved in Prolonged Military Operations” was

supported.

An amended amendment to the recommendation from the Social Holiness Team titled “Teen

Sexuality and Suicide Risk” to expand outreach to all teens, including those who identify as

LGBTQ, was supported. The recommendation was supported.

Jalen Lawson gave a moving speech on how the Black College Fund helped support her

collegiate education at Bennett College.

(Article continued on page 8)

2019 Upper NY Methodist Annual Conference

P A G E 6

Meet the Administrative Council According to The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist

Church, “The church council shall provide for planning and

implementing a program of nurture, outreach, witness and resources

in the local church. It shall also provide for the administration of its

organization and temporal life. It shall envision, plan, implement and

annually evaluate the mission and ministry of the church. The church

council shall be amenable to and function as the administrative

agency of the Charge Conference.” (P252.1)

The Administrative Council of NUMC meets monthly on the

fourth Thursday at 6:00 pm to plan and implement the programs of

the church. It is the work of this Council to handle the administrative

functions of the Charge Conference which meets annually.

If you have questions or comments about what we are doing here at

Nimmonsburg, or if you would like to be part of the planning, these are the

people to talk to. We, as the Administrative Council of Nimmonsburg UMC,

would love to hear from you.

Sincerely, Patti Derr and Rex Decker (Chairpersons)

Don Birtch, Elizabeth Button, Rachael Hagerman, Judy St. John, Paul Derr, Bruce Kellett, Nancy Oakley, Shelly Schaffer, Cheryl Weeks,

Breanen Rought, Denise Kellett, Eric Moyer, Phyllis Bartlett, Dick Oakley, Ellie Minett and Rev. Jenni Piatt

On the Fence about Joining our

Choir or Ringing Bells?

A recent study by Godfried Schlaug, Assoc.

Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, found an

“age-decelerating” effect in the brain of people who

CONSISTENTLY made music. Just listening to music may not

be enough. According to Schlaug, “Actively engaging with

music or music-making activities such as singing (or ringing)

with others or alone is where the real benefit comes from.”

Vacation Bible School July 8-12, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Nazarene Church in Hillcrest “Community Fun” for our children!

Our Endowment

Committee met on

June 17th and made

the following gifts:

1. $743.50 was

given for curtain rods for Room 101

and the Nursery;

2. $596.25 was given for Sanctuary door

locks;

3. $596.25 was given for Sky Lake

Camperships; and

4. $449.00 was given for an industrial-

strength vacuum cleaner.

Total Endowment Gifts were

$2,385.00 for 2019.

Pastor Jenni’s Book Recommendation

Do you ever wonder whether you’re really a Christian? Have you ever

doubted your faith? Do you have questions about God that you are

embarrassed to ask? You are not alone.

40 Days of Doubt: Devotions for the Skeptic is for all those sports-talk

listening, eye-rolling, Game-of-Thrones-loving, abnormal believers out there.

If you’ve ever felt that your mind and soul were fighting, you’ll find solace in

these awe and wonder-filled reflections by Pastor and author Eric Huffman.

This devotional helps us understand how we can cope with our questions, and

provides insightful answers during our times of doubt.

Check it out and let me know what you think. ~ Pastor Jenni

Meet Marge McCoy If you have walked by the

Church Office during the

week, or called the Church,

you’ve probably met Marge,

our Church Secretary. She

has been with us about five

years now and handles

general office duties including

preparation of the bulletin, newsletter, calendars,

announcements, and gives general assistance to

Pastor Jenni and all church members.

Marge has been married to Tom for 48 years and

lives in Johnson City. She has two married sons and

three beautiful granddaughters.

You can find her in the office from 9-2 on Tuesday

and Thursday, and 9-1 on Wednesday and Friday.

Endowment Committee

PASTOR’S DICRETIONARY FUNDS (for the Special Needs of our Congregation)

Thank you to everyone who is supporting this fund. You have helped a lot of people in their time of

need and made their lives a little easier. If you would like to make a donation, we have envelopes in the pews and on the shelf in the entry. Please make sure you mark “Discretionary Fund” on your envelope

and/or check. AND, if you are aware of a need, please contact Pastor Jenni.

P A G E 7

(Continued from Page 4)

The resolution UNYAC2019.1 titled “Action of Nonconformity With the General Conference

of The United Methodist Church” was brought before Conference with an explanation by

Bishop Webb as Chair that he will rule the petition out of order unless amended. Several tried

amending the petition to be more aspirational. The amendments were not supported and

Bishop Webb ruled it out of order. This decision was challenged and the Conference voted in

support of Bishop Webb’s ruling.

Petition UNYAC2019.2 titled “UNYAC Response to Actions of 2019 General Conference”

was presented and amended. This was not supported. A rule of law was requested for

UNYAC2019.2.

Petition UNYAC2019.3 “A Call for Structural Change” was supported. A rule of law was

requested for UNYAC2019.3.

Petition UNYAC2019.4 “Create a Team to Consider Processes for Future Movement” was

supported.

Petition UNYAC2019.5 “Discerning Gifts and Graces for Ministry Without Partiality” was

amended and supported.

Petition UNY2019.6 “UNYUMC AU Scholarship Named for the Rev. Ann Stanton Blair” and

UNYAC2019.7 “UNYUMC AU Scholarship Named for Virginia Phoenix” were bundled

together for conversation” and were both supported.

UNYAC2019.8 “Caring for LGBTQIA+ Ministry Candidates” was amended and supported.

UNYAC2019.9 “Assisting with the Interpretation of Speeches by Ecumenical Inter-Faith

Leaders” was referred to the Conference Planning Team and the Conference Committee on

Religion and Race.

UNYAC2019.10 “Let’s Talk About Sex” was not supported.

UNYAC2019.11 “A Call for Attention to the Worth of All Immigrants” was supported.

UNYAC.12 and UNYAC.13 were withdrawn.

UNYAC2019.14 was ruled out of order. Ruling was challenged and ruling of the chair was

supported.

GC2020.1 “A Way Forward pursuing a Considered Cooperative Schism” was supported.

GC2020.2 “Division on Ministries with Young People Reform A” was supported.

GC2020.3 “Division on Ministries with Young People Reform B” was supported.

GC2020.4 “Division on Ministries with Young People Reform C” was supported.

GC2020.5 “Reducing Resources in Construction” was supported.

CGC2020.6 through GC2020.17 were not voted on or discussed. These will be submitted to

General Conference at the conclusion of the UNY Annual Conf. by the UNY Conf. Secretary.

Please feel free to contact Pastor Jenni for additional information on any of these resolutions

and petitions. Additional information can also be found at http://www.unyumc.org/events/annual

-conference-2019. Please continue to pray for our Bishop, District Superintendents, Pastors, and

all delegates to General Conference 2020.

2019 Upper NY Methodist Annual Conference—Part 2

P A G E 8

Nimmonsburg United Methodist ChurchNimmonsburg United Methodist ChurchNimmonsburg United Methodist Church E-Mail: Phone:

Bishop: Rev. Mark J. Webb BishopsOffice@unyumc.org Ofc: (855) 424-7878

Binghamton District Super.: Rev. Dr. David Kofahl BinghamtonDistrict@unyumc.org Ofc: (607) 748-0662

Pastor: Rev. Jenni Piatt ChurchPastornumc@gmail.com (716) 560-4400

Office Administrator: Marjorie McCoy ChurchOfficenumc@gmail.com Ofc: (607) 724-5421

Chair of Trustees: Paul Derr paulderr2@gmail.com (607) 648-5471

Chair of Administrative Board Patti Derr pakderr@gmail.com (607) 648-5471

Chair of S/PPRC: Judy St. John estjohn@stny.rr.com (607) 773-0038

Nimmonsburg United Methodist Church 918 Upper Front Street Binghamton, New York 13905 (607) 724-5421

Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.

~John Wesley