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Dear Friends,
Emily Dickinson's poem "I dwell in Possibility," opens
I dwell in possibility -
A fairer House than Prose -
More numerous of Windows -
Superior - for Doors -
In the hurry and scurry of fall preparations, how might God be calling us to jettison "prose" and "dwell in
possibility?" What might lie outside the numerous windows and beyond the "superior" doors of such an abode?
The next issue of Hudson Happenings will be published on Thursday, September 17. Please send your submission along to
[email protected] by Tuesday, September 15.
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 News from the Presbytery |
Nominate Commissioners and YAADs for 222nd GA: Deadline Sept. 4
Be a part of the
222nd General Assembly in Portland, Oregon! The Committee on Representation and Nominations is excited to receive your nominations to the position of Commissioner and Young Adult Advisory Delegate to the 222nd General Assembly to be held in Portland, Oregon, June 18 - 25, 2016.
Individuals may nominate themselves or you may submit a form nominating someone else. Travel expenses, registration fees and a per diem will be provided to the Presbytery's commissioners and young adult advisory delegate. This is an incredible opportunity to see the church at work in the world!
The application deadline has been extended to September 4, 2015, at 5:00pm.
Read more details here.
Update from Interim GP Search Committee
HRP's Ministry Information Form is online at the PC(USA) website, and applications are coming in for the position of Interim General Presbyter of Hudson River Presbytery! If you know of someone you think would be a good fit for this position, please send them the link below. The committee will be meeting in early September to review the applications we've received to date. Please keep the search committee in your thoughts and prayers as they go forward. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Debbie Bronkema at
[email protected]
, or by telephone at Pleasantville Presbyterian Church 914.769.0458.
Training for Ruling Elders to Moderate Sessions/Councils, Nov. 7
On Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9:00 am - 2:00pm, at Stony Point Center, HRP is offering training to any Ruling Elders who are interested in learning how to moderate a Session/Council that is not their own. Currently there are a number of congregations within HRP without pastors and their Sessions/Councils need moderators. The training is free and includes a free lunch as well. Space is limited. Please contact Jean Kaiser at
[email protected] or 914-941-2100 to register.
Read more.
Hudson River Presbytery Has Joined NY Interfaith Power and Light 
NY Interfaith Power and Light supports and encourages congregations of all faiths in their actions to reduce global warming and protect the sacredness of the earth for all generations.
Learn more.
Mission Yearbook Will Only Be Available Online, Beginning in 2016
Beginning in 2016 he Mission Yearbook will be available only in online form beginning next year. Not only will this change spend resources more wisely, it will make the entire publication free to everyone.
Read more about this decision.
PC(USA) Launches Anti-Racism Campaign 
"Ask Me Why You Matter to Me" is a churchwide effort to recommit Presbyterians to racial justice and faithfully proclaim that the lives of people of color matter. This Presbyterian campaign affirms
Black Lives Matter. It will also create an awareness of institutional racism in our society and in the church. The goal is to create an environment where racial ethnic, new immigrant and women Presbyterians may serve fully in ministry and leadership in congregations, mid councils and other groups throughout the church.
Learn more and access resources.
Pension Boards Releases New Clergy Effective Salary Reports
The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has tabulated a range of effective salary data for 2015 to assist decision makers with reviewing clergy compensation and released two reports. The first report compares salaries by congregation size and years of service. The second report provides a comparison of salaries across synods
Memorial Service for Joan Coop, Sept. 12
You are invited to join members of the Albany Presbytery and the Synod of the NE for a celebration and memorial service for Joan Coop on Saturday September 12th at 4PM at the
First United Presbyterian Church in Troy, NY. A reception will follow.
Joan's ministry throughout the Synod spanned many years. She served as a Christian educator, and the Associate Executive Presbyter in Albany Presbytery from the mid-1970's until 1992.
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Psssst! Yeah, you. I'm talkin' to you. Have you heard?
 Now
you can invite people to subscribe to Hudson
Happenings
and other HRP E-
Updates, like those from the new Presbytery Prison Partnership or the Food Justice Network.
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 Living Our Values
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Drawing the Circle Wider: Partnership 
On May 31st, Otisville-Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church held a 5K Fun Run/Walk and raised $1,100 for PresbyBuild House No. 7. In the photo above, Deacon Brianna Moore from the church presents Deke Spierling with the check on July 26. That morning Deke spoke about PresbyBuild's ministry in worship.
In holding the Fun Run, Otsiville-Mt. Hope certainly lived out our HRP value of generosity. But they did something more. They drew the circle wider by designing an event that was community-wide and attractive to people who may never of heard of PresbyBuild and Habitat or known much about Otisville-Mt. Hope Presbyterian. As we develop and enhance partnerships in ministry, how might we keep drawing the circle wider to invite others in?
The Fun Run/Walk was, well, fun! Besides Deke, a number of members of HRP turned out to stretch their legs including Elder Sue Varden (1st Presby. Goshen) and Elder Jim Ferguson (Calvary Newburgh)...who sprinted the final 20 yards!
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| Trainings, Retreats and Internships |
Come To the Table, Oct 30-31;
the Biennial Gathering of Synod of the NE 
Don't miss "Come to the Table," October 30-31, 2015, at Silver Bay at Lake George, NY, as Larissa Kwong-Abazia, Derrick McQueen, Rick Ufford Chase, Abbie Huff and many other leaders facilitate a time of worship, fellowship, reflection and fun.
The Synod community has adopted a new missional vision, challenging all of us to share our gifts of diversity, young leadership, resources and openness to innovation as we seek a
New Way Forward together.
Join us as we listen for how God is calling us to be a community of faith in the Northeast.
Register today. And s
hare the
Come to the Table flyer
with your congregation!
PC(USA) Webinar on Education, Sept. 2
Learn how Presbyterians at home and around the world are working to transform lives through ministries of education. Find out how your congregation can be part of this exciting movement on this webinar from 1:00-2:00pm on September 2.
Learn more.
Technology and Christian Values, Webinars September - October
Living as a Christian in a digital world calls us to rethink faith values and practices with new optics. This Drew Theological Seminary series offers a new perspective on how to assess digital technology use, development, and expansion through a lens of Christian values. The first session will explore how to begin Thinking Theologically About Technology. The next three sessions will consider specific ethical issues related to technological changes, such as online activism in #TwitterActivism, Crowd Source Funding, Blogging; communication and privacy issues in Tech Etiquette; and sexting, pornography use, and cheating in Technology and Sexuality. A .5 CEU credit is available. Learn more.
Pastoral Sabbath Days at at Holmes in Sept, Oct., and Nov.
Do you need 24 hours to: do sermon planning, decompress, exercise, study, or relax? Come spend 24 hours at Holmes! Private rooms for the first 12 registrants, yoga and spiritual direction is available, and there are study spaces with Wifi. The cost is $100 for four meals, Agape lodging and space. Learn more.
Youth Group Team Building Retreat at Holmes, Sept. 25-26 
Join us for this action packed time of team building and fellowship designed as a kick off for youth groups! Jr. and Sr. Highs youth will gather at Holmes for worship, adventure, and fun that will build community within your group. Plus you'll have the opportunity to meet other Presbyterian young people. Cost is $60 per participant. Learn more, download a flyer and register online,
here.
The Just Food Conference, Sept. 24-26
The Church has always concerned itself with the essential matters of life, death, healing...and food. From the feeding of the five thousand, to the Last Supper, and to Paul's instructions on the just distribution of food in Corinth, questions about food have been central to the Christian life. The Just Food conference at Princeton Theological Seminary convenes church leaders for an essential conversation about food justice, sustainable agriculture, food insecurity, and innovative ways to change the way we relate to food. Be part of this vital gathering, where you'll see Princeton Seminary's new 'Farminary' project, learn from innovative programs, and nourish both body and soul. Speakers include Norman Wirzba, Will Allen and Noelle Damico.
Register Today
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Leading Change with Hope, Oct. 3
Hudson River Presbytery's Advocacy, Education & Networks Team (AENT), invites you to Leading Change with Hope: A Leadership Event for Elders, Deacons, & Finance Teams in Ulster, Dutchess and Putnam Counties on Saturday, October 3, from 9:30am -2:30pm.
Learn more and register. Share the
flyer!
Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference in Israel/Palestine, April 2016,
Deadline for Registration Oct. 15
We are called to be witnesses to and for peace in the Holy Land. In faithful and hope-filled response, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program's Mosaic of Peace conference, April 4-16, 2016, invites Presbyterians to experience this remarkable and troubled region, encounter its diverse people, explore its rich history and complex current situation, and engage with those who seek its peace. Deadline for registration is October 15, 2015.
Learn more.
How to Solarize your Church, Home and Community, Oct. 18
HRP Green, people of faith concerned about our children's children, invites you to a round table discussion about how to solarize your church over a pot luck dinner at Stony Point Center on Sunday, October 18 from 4:00-6:00pm. Bring food to share plus your own plate and flatware; drinks will be provided.
Please email Kathy Dean at [email protected]
if you plan to attend.
Youth Triennium is Coming, July 2016 
Get ready and get set to go to the PC(USA) Youth Triennium in Purdue, Indiana July 19-23.
Youth Triennium brings thousands of Presbyterian youth together for a wild, wonderful week of worship, fellowship, learning and more! HRP will be bringing youth so spread the word and
save the date! More information will be coming this fall.
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| Take Action |
Sign a Letter to Protect Health of our partners in La Oroya, Peru 
The struggle to protect life in La Oroya, Peru has reached a new critical stage. Last month, the Peruvian State authorized a return to more permissive air quality standards (365mg/m3 of sulfur dioxide as opposed to the previous 80mg/m3) until the year 2030 in La Oroya in the interest of finding a new buyer of the metallurgical smelter that was previously purchased and operated by New York based The Renco Group, Inc. in 1997.
Jed and Jenny Kobal, Mission Co-workers in Peru, are urging us to sign this letter to the Prime Minister of Peru and other leaders,
calling for the regional government to adopt a budget for the design and implementation of the health care program including the monitoring, enforcement and revision of environmental standards that are at the heart of such health concerns. Our signatures are important because it demonstrates that the world is watching. Learn more.
Urge PC(USA) to Divest from Fossil Fuels 
In 2014, twelve presbyteries (including HRP) sent an overture to the General Assembly in Detroit encouraging the denomination to divest from fossil fuel companies. The proposal was referred to the Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) committee, charging them with further study, and the task of reporting to the next Assembly their findings and recommendations.
FossilFree PC(USA) is encouraging your public support of the church's divestment from Fossil Fuels by
signing and sharing this petition. Please mail all petitions back to Rev. Jacob Bolton, Huguenot Memorial Church, 901 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803.
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| Resources for Education, Liturgy, Justice and more! |
Restoring Creation Loan Fund
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Children planting a community garden at White Plains Presbyterian
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The Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP) has recently approved a Restoring Creation Loan with low rates and flexible terms specifically targeted at congregations that want to do energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction financing.
Don't miss this opportunity!
Learn more
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Susan Andrews's New Book of Sermons is Now Available
CSS Publishing Company of Lima, Ohio, announces the release of "God With Skin On," a collection of Cycle C sermons for the Christmas, Advent, and Epiphany season. Written by Susan R. Andrews, honorably retired General Presbyter of Hudson River Presbytery, "God With Skin On" examines God through a twenty-first century lens, bringing a fresh perspective to a familiar story of God incarnate. Providing a rich and beautiful collection of Cycle C sermons for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Susan R. Andrews poignantly explores Biblical truths. The end result is a relevant collection of sermons that can easily extend beyond the pulpit and reach into small group study and private devotions. Call CSS at (800) 241-4056 to order your copy. Congratulations, Susan!
Great Children's Sermon Resource for Lectionary Cycle C
Looking for a creative and theologically rich set of children's sermons? Check out
Carol Wehrheim's collection of children's sermons prepared as a part of the Feasting on the Word lectionary series. Carol is a seasoned educator and beloved author of many children's books and church curricula. She has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary and lectures across the country to empower and equip Christian Educators in their work with children.
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| Events in the Life of the Presbytery |
Youth Arts Group wins Best Documentary Short for "Dreamers Among US"
Rural and Migrant Ministry's Youth Arts Group was just presented with the Best Documentary Short award for their film, "Dreamers Among US" at the Hudson Valley Film Festival! HRP extends our congratulations to all the youth who worked so hard to tell their stories and develop this moving film.
Members of the Youth Arts Group created the professional-quality, 20 minute film, which captures their belief in the passage of the NY DREAM Act. They hope the film will open the hearts and minds of everyone, especially those who have the power to make reform possible, so that all young people in New York State have the chance to pursue a higher education and reach their dreams.
If you have not had the opportunity to see the film, do not miss the screening in the Capital District on October 8th, 2015. Details and tickets.
Jonah: Greater than a Whale, a Play Written by Youth, Debuts Sept. 19 
In place of having a conventional bible study this summer, the Youth Community at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Westchester decided to write a play! The result is "Jonah: Greater than a Whale," based on their historical study and sensitive interaction with the text. The play will be performed on Sept. 19 at 7:00pm in the church's social hall (50 Pintard Ave., New Rochelle, New York 10801). So bring yourself and your youth group and join us! All proceeds from the suggested donation for admission will go towards the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Fund. Please RSVP to Daniel Yang at
[email protected].
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| Employment Opportunities and Connections |
First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Vernon Seeks a Minister of Music
The First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Vernon is seeking a musician/organist who loves interpreting the Christian faith through music, teaching, and working with a diverse congregation of children and adults of many ethnicities. Could this be your calling?
Learn more!
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