1. art and entertainment
2. shows and events
3. conference

Trinity United Methodist Church
8396 Morgan Road
Clay, New York 13041
www.claytrinity.org
MAY 2015
office@claytrinity.org
facebook.com/claytrinity
315.652.9186
Going on a walk with my granddaughter is a distracting thing to do. I
have thoughts and plans in my mind all the time. The walks I take are to
help the thinking process. But when we went on a walk recently, we stopped
to watch a shiny green bug. She got as close as she could just to watch. And
I watched, too.
When you are almost two years old, what you experienced a half a
lifetime ago is only the basis for discovering what is in the present.
Being a grandfather means that I have lived many years, and have a
framework for living life. My granddaughter disrupts that framework.
As that image of that shiny green bug captured the attention of an almost
two year old discovering a small part of a big new world, it captured my
attention as well. That little metallic green bug interrupted my thoughts and
thinking.
That’s what God always does with us. Interrupts our lives, and our way of
thinking and looking at the world. Our way of not just looking at green bugs,
but the way we look at poverty, and prejudice, and folks from other cultures.
My hope is that the way we worship disrupts your thinking about God.
My hope is the missions that we are about disrupts your thinking about
God. My hope is the way we are approaching a new way of being through
the merger disrupts your thinking about God.
For just maybe, like a grandfather and a two year old’s life being
interrupted by a shiny green bug, God will interrupt your life to making new
discoveries.
- Reverend Bradford Hunt
Our Worship Schedule
This is the Festival of the Christian Home, or Mother’s
Day. The scripture is
and is a continuation of the
farewell discourse. Jesus shares in a friendly way what life is
about.
Change the World Sunday
is the
scripture for the day. It is the story of the replacement of Judas
from among the twelve. It shares the idea that the mission will be
carried out, and must not be limited by the weaknesses of people.
This is Pentecost! This is the birthday of the church.
the wind and the flame and the beginning of the church.
is the story of
is the scripture for this Sunday. Six winged creatures and hot coals
reveal the good news in this scripture. The theme will center around the concept of how
God prepares us for sharing the message of hope, and of love.
Lay Servant Courses

A Basic Lay Servant Class will be held on two Saturdays, May 9 and 16 at
MANLIUS UMC, 111 Wesley Street in Manlius, from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm. If you are
interested in this course, please come to the church office and pick up your application.
Applications can be returned to: Susan Ranous, 201 Candee Ave., Syracuse, NY 13224 with a
check payable to “UNYAC” in the sum of $20.00 by April 30, 2015.

Advanced Lay Servant Course, Beginning June 1 An Advanced La y Ser van t
Course, “Pastoral Care Through Healing Prayers,” held on four Mondays from June 1
through June 22, 2015 from 7-9:30 p.m. a t MANLIUS UMC, 111 W esley Str eet in
Manlius. In this course, we will learn a biblical basis for healing the sick, how to minister to
those who need God’s spiritual, emotional, and physical healing touch and how to start the
Prayer Ministry at your church. If you are interested in this course, please come to the church
office and pick up your application. Applications can be returned to: Susan Ranous, 201 Candee
Ave., Syracuse, NY 13224 with a check payable to “UNYAC” in the sum of $25.00 by May 18,
2015.
Roast Beef Dinner
REPORT
April 25th’s Roast Beef Dinner
was another success!
The roast beef dinner was well-attended. We
fed somewhere around 420 people and
realized a net profit of about $2,000. The
Mary Circle also donated $745 toward the
base budget from the sales of their
items. HUGE thanks to all who helped...from
peeling potatoes, to kitchen cleanup and
everything in between. We would never be
able to maintain our loyal dinner attendees if
it weren't for the team effort that produces a
good meal and cheerful setting!
We have covered Rebecca’s salary for 2015!
$1,624 has been given, which exceeds the $1500 needed! We may
consider adopting yet another Home Health Promoter.
Rebecca is one of the eight home health promoters that work in Malek,
South Sudan. Trinity adopted Rebecca as their Home Health Promoter in 2013,
and now again in 2015. (2014 was a year that the war made things more uncertain, and
Rebecca and others were in refugee camps)
This is an amazing ministry that funds Rebecca to take care of basic medical needs in a place
that was once considered the worst health care system in the world.
Communication is still a problem for the Southern Sudan Health Project. We have not heard the
specifics of how things are progressing, and attempts at contact are made continually. The
information we do have says that things are okay.
Watch for more information as we continue through this phase of development.
The Next Step Towards The Merger
There was a good turnout at both sessions on April 20 an 21 for the revealing our
mission statement, surrounding the “Seek, Serve, Share” concept.
Our mission statement will be the central focus as we move forward. Mission
statements are always good, but they are most significant when an institution
shifts and changes on the basis of the mission statement. This mission statement
will be the basis for locations, use of property, and for staffing.
The proposed mission statement is:
Seek
We seek God's presence in our lives,
to help others in their relationship
with God, and to strive to see God
work through all people.
Serve
We serve God through mission,
encourage everyone on their
spiritual journey, and follow the
teachings of Jesus Christ
Share
We create opportunities for all to
share their gifts and talents, and
demonstrate openness,
acceptance, and hospitality
God With Others
On May 18th and 19th, the Design Team will offer how the Mission Statement will
be the basis for the present church owned properties. A design for the organization
and staffing will also be part of this presentation. The gatherings will be:

Monday, May 18th at 6:30pm at Trinity

Tuesday, May 19th at 6:30pm at Andrews
The Mission Statement will be the basis for the ongoing changes and
development for the merger. The merger and creation of a new way of seeking
God, serving God in expanding mission, and creating a way for those within the
congregation and beyond to share God’s love.
Plans are being made to have official decisions to be made in June.
-Rev. Bradford Hunt
Blood Drive
Tuesday, May 26th
3:00pm - 7:00pm
Fellowship Hall
Please call Ann Reed at 457-6360
to schedule your appointment!
Cradle & Beyond
Wednesdays & Thursdays : 11am-4pm
Saturdays: 10am-2pm
Upcoming Sales
Located in the basement of
Andrews Memorial UMC at
106 Church Street
in North Syracuse
Items
Effective Dates:
Shorts & Capris - .50¢ Each
May 6, 7 & 9
Pants, Slacks & Shoes - .50¢ Each
May 13, 14 & 16
Teen Clothes - .50¢ Each
May 20, 21 & 23
Shirts & Blouses - .50¢ Each
May 27, 28 & 30
$5 BAG SALE
June 3, 4 & 6
Donations can be dropped off at Trinity in the large garbage can located in the Narthex.
Brown Memorial UMC:
Weekly Tutoring Snack Donation
Listed below is April’s Schedule for Snack Donations for Brown Memorial UMC’s Tutoring
Program that takes place on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Please place donations in the
basket outside just out the sanctuary.
Week of May 10th Individually Wrapped Snack Packages
Week of May 17th Individual Packaged Pudding Cups
Week of May 24th Granola Bars
Week of May 31st Juice Boxes
“Change for Change”
Get rid of that heavy change in your pockets and purses by donating
it to this ongoing collection. All the money will go to our mission
projects so remember a little change can bring a big change to the
world. Thank you! Since starting this we’ve been able to donate
$365.00 to Southern Sudan Health Projects’
Boots, Books, Bags & Bikes Campaign!
-Christian Education
The Bridge is a communications tool designed for
local churches to stay connected to each other
and to the ministries taking place around the
Upper New York Conference and The United
Methodist Church.
What does ‘conference’ mean to
The United Methodist Church?
When you hear the word “conference” in relation to
The United Methodist Church, it refers to one of five
things: a regional body, an organizational body, Annual
Conference
session,
General
Conference,
or
Jurisdictional Conference.
1. Regional body
The regional conference is described by the church's
Constitution and The Book of Discipline as the “basic
unit” of the Church. In the United States, a conference
may cover an entire state, part of the state, or parts of
two or more states. There are also three missionary
conferences in the U.S., which rely upon the entire
denomination for funding. The U.S. has 57 conferences,
supervised by 46 bishops. There are 76 conferences in
Africa, Europe, and the Philippines, supervised by 20
bishops. The Upper New York Conference of The
United Methodist Church was created when the New
York churches within four former conferences – North
Central New York, Troy, Western New York, and
Wyoming conferences – united.
2. Organizational body
In the U.S., the conference has a central office and
professional staff that coordinate and conduct ministry
and conference business. The UNY Conference Office is
located in Syracuse. It likely has a director of
connectional ministries, a treasurer, directors of
program areas – such as camping, a communications
director, and other staff. Clergy and laypersons may
also serve on conference boards, commissions, and
committees.
3. Annual Conference session
Each year an equal number of clergy and lay members
attend their conference's annual session for worship,
fellowship, and to conduct the business of the
conference, which may last three to five days. This
year’s UNY session is four days, May 27-30, at the
OnCenter in Syracuse. For more information, visit
www.unyumc.org/events/annualconference.
During
these sessions, members of the conference hear
reports of past and ongoing work; adopt future goals,
programs, and budgets; ordain clergy members as
deacons and elders; and elect delegates to
Jurisdictional and General Conferences (every four
years). The bishop presides over these meetings. The
bishop for the UNY Conference is Area Resident Bishop
Mark J. Webb.
4. General Conference
The General Conference is an international body of
nearly 1,000 delegates that meets every four years. The
delegates – split evenly between clergy and laity –
represent conferences around the world. During
General Conference, delegates discuss and vote on
petitions and resolutions proposed by individuals,
agencies, conferences, annual conference sessions, and
other groups within the denomination. These actions
can result in a revision to The BOD, the denomination's
book of law, and The Book of Resolutions, policies of
the denomination on current social issues. At General
Conference, the Church's official stance and Church
policies are made regarding such issues as human
sexuality, abortion, war, and peace, as well as
determination of ministries and funding.
5. Jurisdictional Conference
In the U.S., The United Methodist Church is divided into
five areas, known as jurisdictions: Northeastern,
Southeastern, North Central, South Central, and
Western – the UNY Conference is part of the
Northeastern Jurisdiction. These provide some program
and leadership training events to support the
conferences. Every four years the jurisdictional
conferences meet to elect new bishops and select
members of general boards and agencies. Conferences
located outside the U.S. are organized into central
conferences, much like jurisdictions. There are seven
central conferences: Africa, Central and Southern
Europe, Congo, Germany, Northern Europe,
Philippines, and West Africa.
Thank You!
May 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
4
5
Saturday
1
2
8
9
14
• 1:00pm Mary Circle
• Trustee’s
Meeting 6:30pm
15
16
• 10:00am Preschool
Graduation &
Picnic
MISSION
WEEKEND
20
21
22
23
27
28
29
30
Notes:
3
Friday
6
•Worship
Planning
6:30pm
7
• Design Team
7:00pm at
Trinity
10
11
12
Mother’s Day
17
MISSION
WEEKEND
•Worship
Planning
6:30pm
24
Pentecost
13
• Charge
Conference with
Ad Board
Meeting to
follow at
6:30pm
18
19
• 6:30pm Design Team
Presentation at
Trinity
• 6:30pm Design Team
Presentation
at Andrews
25
26
• 12:30pm SSHP Meeting at
Andrews
31
•Worship
Planning
6:30pm
Office Closed
3-7pm American Red
Cross Blood
Drive
Annual Conference Annual Conference Annual Conference
Worship Services: Sundays at 10:15am & 11:30am