6a. News from Session
Highlights from Session
by Cynthia Burger, Clerk of Session
The members of Session have taken the following actions in recent months:
- Met with Sherry Conklin, Laurie Erbstoesser, and Suzanne Souza and accepted them as new members (received into membership on March 5, 2017);
- Approved several adjustments to the 2017 budget;
- Received an update on Kristie Palmer’s conversion van and directed that this information be shared with the congregation along with a request for donations.
- Agreed to a request from the Corning Museum of Glass to use line drawings of our Tiffany mosaics in a coloring book to go with their upcoming exhibit;
- Decided to celebrate worship at 5:00pm on May 7 to avoid conflicting with the annual Bridge Run;
- Learned that the positions of Media/Technology Specialist and Administrative Assistant had been filled; and
- Declared the entire UPC campus to be smoke-free, effective as soon as the staff and tenants can be notified.
Partners Together
Keep a watch out for a new group forming at UPC: “Partners Together.” This group of members will be bringing together information and resources that are indicative of our shared purpose, which will then be shared with the entire congregation.
The genesis of this group was the idea that as a community we have not conducted a traditional stewardship campaign in many years. As discussions moved forward, it was decided that we could and should do more than the usual “pledge request.” After all, stewardship is not just about generating revenue. Stewardship is about considering how to use all of our resources wisely—our money and property, our hospitality and compassion, our skills and knowledge, our time and energy. Combining all of these resources is what makes us Partners Together as we seek to live out our mission: to follow Jesus Christ by doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.
Therefore, we want to share a vision and ministry that meets the needs of our members and is generous to our beliefs. Sometime during the summer, we hope to touch base with each member either individually or in a small group setting to expand on our response and responsibility to be wise and thoughtful with what God has given to us.