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Dear Friends,
Robert Frost in the poem "Not All There" writes,
I turned to speak to God,
About the world's despair;
But to make bad matters worse,
I found God wasn't there.
God turned to speak to me
(Don't anybody laugh)
God found I wasn't there-
At least not over half.
What do we mean when we say God is present or absent? How might God be longing for us to be truly present? What would that look like in our lives?
The next issue of Hudson Happenings will be published on Thursday, October 13. Submissions are due no later than Tuesday, October 11 and may be sent to
[email protected].
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| From Your Interim General Presbyter |
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Transition Team to Propose Revised Structure 
As all those who are pastors, CRE's and Clerks of Session know, an email came out from your Transition Team (TT) seeking feedback on the three identified Ministry Goals around healthy, vital communities of faith, strong leadership, and partnerships around people's and congregation's passion. These Ministry Goals were discerned from HRP's Mission.
Sessions are being asked to take time during their meeting September or October meetings to brainstorm their ideas for the initiatives, events, resources for healthy, vital congregations and strong leadership; about their partnerships and what partnerships they'd like to be a part; what might be missing in our goals; and how they, their Session and congregation, would participate in these Ministry Goals. Read more.
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| Presbytery News and Events |
IMPT: Pension Boards Deadline for All Churches, Sept. 30 
The Board of Pensions has made a number of significant changes to the Benefits Plan and the way employee benefits are priced and structured. There have been many communications about the changes from the Board, but there are many churches that have not either heard or understood the actions all churches are required to do by September 30.
Please read and take action.
Working Group on Healing the Wounds of Racism
All who feel passionately that racism is an urgent concern in our church and in our world and who would like to be a part of the Working Group on Healing the Wounds of Racism, please contact the Advocacy, Education, and Networks Team Chairperson, the Rev. Lynn Dunn at
[email protected]. And spread the word among your congregations about the group's formation. We hope to convene soon to begin our work.
HRPGreen Logo Design Contest 
HRPGreen is calling on all artists to design a logo for our Presbytery-wide environmental group. A grand prize of $200 will be awarded for the chosen design. Participants must be connected to a Hudson River Presbytery Congregation one way or another - membership in a congregation is not required.
The winning logo will be announced and displayed at the December Presbytery meeting.
Entries should be submitted to Kathy Dean at
[email protected]
by November 15, 2016.
HRPGreen's new mission statement is: HRPGreen is a faith-based partnership of individuals and congregations throughout the Hudson River Presbytery dedicated to raising awareness and securing engagement around environmental and climate change issues. We want to ensure the survival of Mother Earth.
Boundary Training for TE's and CRE's, Oct. 18
On Tuesday, October 18, the annual Hudson River Presbytery (HRP) Boundary Training event will occur at Stony Point.
New TE's and CRE's members of HRP, who have not attended a Boundary Training event in HRP should plan to attend from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. (lunch included).
Continuing TE's and CRE's needing renewal... who haven't attended a Boundary Training event within the past five years, plan to attend 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
This is an HRP requirement set forth in policy enacted by the presbytery. More information will be forth coming, but please mark your calendars now!
HRP Honorably Retired Ministers and Spouses Lunch, Oct. 24
Honorably Retired Ministers of Hudson River Presbytery and their spouses are invited to a luncheon at Holmes Camp and Conference Center on Monday, October 24, 10:00am-2:00pm. Interim General Presbyter Gavin Meek and others will lead a conversation about the future of the presbytery and answer questions. There will also be time to share stories and update one another on life events. To make reservations to attend, please contact Jean Kaiser at [email protected] or 914-941-2100.
Fossil-Free Investing with the Presbyterian Foundation 
The PC(USA) is now offering fossil free investing strategies to presbyteries, congregations, and other institutional investors through the Presbyterian Foundation's subsidiary, New Covenant Trust Company.
Learn more.
Schedule your Stewardship 101 Training Now!
As you're finalizing or launching your congregation's stewardship campaign for this year, you've probably discovered areas where your team could use some expert advice or creative new ideas for next year. Well Providence hath provided! HRP's Stewardship Team offers three-hour Stewardship 101 workshops to interested congregations, free of charge. These comprehensive workshops have been lauded nationally at the PC(USA) Kaleidoscope event and HRP's team of trainers has been invited across the country to equip congregations for effective and theologically grounded stewardship. And to think - they're right in your own back yard! So while these issues are at the forefront of your mind and others, why not reach out to schedule a workshop for this coming Winter. To learn more, just contact Charles Barton at
[email protected]. P.S. They also offer workshops on Planned Giving!
Blouses and more!
If you're a faithful reader of Hudson Happenings, you know HRP's Presbyterian Women have donated sewing machines to help start a women's sewing cooperative in
Singngat, India. These blouses that were sewn this month not only are beautiful, they help support families with needed income. Want to support this mission? You don't have to be a Presbyterian woman! Anyone can! Contact Judy Wason at [email protected].
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| Events in HRP Congregations |
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You're Invited to a Birthday Celebration, Nov. 12
Have you a) passed your 80th birthday; or b) not yet had your 80th birthday? If so: you're invited to join the family and friends of Harriet Sandmeier for a birthday celebration. Drop in anytime between 1pm and 5pm on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Yes, anytime is fine. If everybody shows up at once we might get in trouble with the fire department.)
Where? 222 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. (It's the big white building with a steeple.) No: gifts. Yes:
RSVP before October 20 (you'll be very sad if the cookies run out before you get there.)
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Regional and National News
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PC(USA) Stated Clerk Releases Letter on Police Killing of Terence Crutcher 
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson began his open letter with the refrain from Psalm 13, "How long, How long; How long O God?" Exhorting,
The church must become agents of change in this militarized culture of policing. Maybe, it is time to advocate for citizens' review boards in local communities. It appears that sensitivity training is not enough. In cities where citizens' review boards are formed, common people have a role in assuring accountability in various areas of the police department, including determining the proper use of force in incidents involving police and other citizens. I am not suggesting that all police are bad. However, there is enough bad policing to create credibility questions for those who are good at their jobs. Read the letter in its entirety.
Congregations Encouraged to donate 25% of Peace Offering to Funding PC(USA) GA Action to "Address the Worsening Plight of the African American Male"
The executive committee of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted August 25 to direct designatable funds from its fall board meeting's
Peace & Global Witness offering to the "
On Taking Specific Action to Address the Worsening Plight of the African American Male" initiative. The move is in support of the overture approved by the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the PC(USA).
"This is an encouragement to the whole church to take the
 General Assembly's action seriously and to formulate a coherent and structured response on the part of our denomination to the needs of African American males," says Tony De La Rosa, interim executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. "This, I believe, is a form of denominational response to the Black Lives Matter movement, where we show our attempt to bring about fundamental change and exhibit the kingdom of God, as our Great Ends call us to do."
Congregations are encouraged to contribute the 25 percent of the Peace & Global Witness Offering they would normally retain for use in their settings to funds established by the Presbyterian Foundation through which monies will be disbursed equally to presbytery programs in each of the five pilot cities. The overture specifies a target goal of $5 million, $1 million for each of the cities, and support from PMA and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance resources. Read more.
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Regional and National Events
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Creative Writing Retreat, Sept. 25-27
Stony Point Center invites you to a Creative Writing as a Spiritual Practice Retreat led by HRP's own Rev. Dr. Debbie Bronkema, pastor of Pleasantville Presbyterian Church. Come away from the busyness of life to explore the power of words to open us up to the presence of God in our stories, our lives, our world. This retreat is interactive with lots of opportunities to write in community and on your own. Learn more.
1001 New Worshipping Communities Gathering, Oct. 15
Are you sensing God's call to start a new worshipping community? Join other NCW leaders and seekers at a one-day, free gathering in Philadelphia featuring PMA Director of Evangelism, Ray Jones.
Learn more.
Women's Prison Visitation Training, Oct. 16
Woman 2 Woman, Bedford Presbyterian Church's visiting program at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, is continuing to grow. We now have nearly 50 women visiting at Bedford Hills (and a few across the street at Taconic as well). We will be offering another training session on Sunday, October 16th from 2-4pm at Bedford Presbyterian Church.
Please note that in order to become a Woman 2 Woman visitor, you must
attend a training session. Learn more.
Save the Date: Holmes 70th, Oct. 20 
This year Holmes Camp and Conference Center celebrates its 70th year of ministry. On Oct. 20, they will hold their annual fall benefit dinner and silent auction at Snug Harbor from 6:30-9:30pm which will feature a keynote on sustainability by Charles Garlow. Invitations will follow soon.
Pastoral Care Conference, Oct. 21-22
The American Association of Pastoral Counselors Regional conference will be held in Williamstown, MA on October 21-22, 2016. The topic, "Living, Caring, and Ministering in a Culture of Fear," will be presented by Dr. Nancy Kehoe, Licensed Psychologist, Assistant Professor of Psychology, and a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart. The AAPC is an association is for all who integrate the spiritual and social sciences in their clinical or pastoral work, and pastors are especially invited.
Learn more.
Shaping Solidarity in the Search for Social Justice, Oct. 22
On occasion religious leaders lift up calls for peace and justice. Here and there the steps of legislatures and courts are also forums for civil society and communities of faith to witness and resist. There are few opportunities for a purposeful gathering of scholars and activists to discuss their shared commitments and understanding. Not all who stand in solidarity with calls for social justice consider themselves "activists". Not all who seek a deeper grounding of their understanding of peace and social justice in scripture and research consider themselves scholars. The academy can seem like an ivory tower full of empty talk; the streets can seem full of noise and desperation without evidence of progress; the occasions for Multifaith exploration is still extremely rare. These topics and more will be explored as the Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice convenes an international conference, Oct. 20-22 at the Stony Point Center. Learn more.
Middle Eastern Panel Discussion on Mission,
Oct. 28
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The Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki the head of the Protestant community in Egypt and the General Manager of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services CEOSS
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On Friday, October 28, the PC(USA) Office of Middle Eastern Ministries will welcome a delegation of
24 Egyptian pastors visiting New York, led by the Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, the head of the Protestant community in Egypt and the General Manager of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS). The delegation will participate in a panel discussion: Mission in the 21st Century. The event which will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in New York City, will begin with a Middle Eastern lunch at 11:00am and the panel will commence at 1:00pm. Read more and RSVP.
Union Presbyterian Seminary Leadership Trainings
Union Presbyterian is offering a series of continuing education programs that would be of interest to clergy, church educators, treasurers and administrators, as well as a specific online course called Pathways to Ministry to deepen congregational leaders and train Commissioned Ruling Elders. Check out all these opportunities at the seminary's Leadership Institute website.
Courses and Resources from the Ecumenical Stewardship Center
From conferences, to videos, to online discussions with authors and online courses on many topics related to stewardship, the Ecumenical Stewardship Center is a clearinghouse for church-centered resources.
Check out all the Center's offerings.
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| Living Our Values |
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Living Our Values During the Election Season
In late August, Naurashan Presbyterian Church released a public statement by their Session on Faith and Politics. This statement was shared with both presidential candidates, the Office of the Stated Clerk of the PC(USA), local newspapers and on social media. Jim Uleman, Ruling Elder, at Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, explains how this came about and what they hope the statement will accomplish.
One of our session members suggested that the current Presidential campaign has uncovered more bigotry and hatred than we've seen in a long time, in a national forum. These values conflict with the core of what the PC(USA) has come to represent -- since the reunification of the Presbyterian church nationally, following our split over slavery; and since we accepted the ordination of women, and then LGBTQ persons. So it seemed appropriate for our session to speak out on behalf of our recently-discovered values, and to point to the better parts of our traditions in support of them.
Our statement is not directed so much at a particular candidate as at supporters who have been legitimized and emboldened in their desire to reject and condemn whole classes of people. That kind of divisiveness and hatred cannot have a place in a truly democratic society, which this nation aspires to be and which our church's governance traditions modeled before this nation's founding, albeit imperfectly. Read Nauraushan Statement.
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| Take Action |
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CIW will be in Rockland, Westchester, and NYC for
Wendy's Boycott education and action, Oct. 15-19 
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers are going to be in the Hudson River Presbytery area on their Northeast tour to educate and involve consumers in the Wendy's boycott. Notice all the smiling Rockland Presbyterians above at the last Wendy's action: working for justice is joyful! Join with farmworkers and other consumers to ensure human rights in the agricultural fields by urging Wendy's to join the Fair Food Program.
More information will be coming soon. Contact Lori Hylton (
[email protected]
) to get involved. In the meantime, you can add your name to the
Wendy's Boycott Petition
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Help Incarcerated Individuals by Donating Calendars and Computers
This time of year many of us receive beautiful calendars in the mail. They are sent to thank us for donations to many worthy causes. If you have more calendars than you need, please donate them to men and women in prison. Presbytery Prison Partnership will be collecting calendars between now until November. Calendars may be
dropped off at Peekskill Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian (Ossining), Scarborough Presbyterian Church or the Presbytery office.
If you have an old laptop and don't know what to do with it, please consider donating it to Hudson Link. It will be wiped clean of all your information and refurbished for someone who has been released from prison. It can be old; it just needs to be able to access the Internet. And the computer donation is deductible up to $400. Contact Barbara Devir at [email protected] or 914-923-3517. Please take a moment to read
Barbara's full letter to understand the significance of these donations in the lives of our sisters and brothers who are incarcerated.
Help PDA Respond to Gulf Flooding 
Starting August 11, 2016, regions in Louisiana and Mississippi experienced 10-20 inches of rain. FEMA reports that there were 6 fatalities, over 8,000 people in shelters and over 10,000 residential and commercial structures affected.
PDA has reached out to the Presbytery of South Louisiana and the Presbytery of Mississippi to offer assistance. Six National Response Team members will deploy to the Presbytery of South Louisiana to do assessments, and two will deploy at the request of the American Red Cross to provide Disaster Spiritual Care. An initial grant and a church damage grant has been sent to the Presbytery of South Louisiana. Once Long Term Recovery Groups are organized on the ground, PDA will begin sending volunteers. Learn more about how you can give financially to assist in recovery and be put on the list to serve as a volunteer when the time is right.
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| Resources for Education, Liturgy, Justice and more! |
PC(USA) Study Guide on Voter Suppression 
At the direction of the 221st General Assembly (2014) the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Office of Public Witness created a discussion and study guide titled,"We Shall Not Be Moved -- Advocacy in the New Age of Voter Suppression."
The document provides individuals, church groups or classes, and pastors a resource to explore the history and context of systemic patterns of voter suppression in the U.S. Read more.
A Season of Peace and the Peace and Global Witness Offering
A Season of Peace is a four-week pilgrimage designed to deepen the pursuit of peace for congregations, small groups, families, and individuals. Through daily peace reflections, family activities, Bible studies, youth activities, an exciting intergenerational Peace Fair, and other online resources, you will be invited to enhance and expand your focus on your calling as a peacemaker. Expect encouragement, challenge, inspiration, and education.
These resources were created to culminate in the receiving of the Peacemaking and Global Witness Offering, traditionally taken on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October. However, they are appropriate for any time. The Offering gives us a concrete way to contribute locally and nationally to the work of peace. It is the offering that funds the Peacemaking Program for our denomination, enabling us to bring in International Peacemakers, share conferences, advocate for active nonviolent solutions to conflicts, and provide resources like these for congregations.
Movie on Peru Sets Context for PC(USA) Joining Hands Partnership 
Jed Koball, mission co-worker for PC(USA) in Peru, invites Presbyterians to view a new documentary "When Two Worlds Collide." The recently released, award-winning documentary tells the dramatic story of the 2009 massacre in Bagua, Peru that shaped the context of modern day politics and development in Peru and also helped set the course of advocacy for our Joining Hands partners there. Read more!
New Resource On Calling An Educator
The revised On Calling An Educator manual from PC(USA) is now available online in downloadable format. The manual is designed to be a resource for churches who are considering calling an educator to be a part of the church staff. In addition, this is also a resource for Christian educators who are responding to a call from God to educational ministry in the church and are seeking a position. Congregations and educators will find guidance in these pages for their separate and mutual journeys toward providing the best leadership for the important task of education. Download the On Calling An Educator manual or read the PDF online.
Order PC(USA) Advent Calendars Now!
During Advent-the time before Christmas-we watch, wait, and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. We read Scriptures and practice church traditions that have been around for 2,000 years. This 2016 devotional is a journey of memories-of the many sights, smells, tastes, and sounds that point to the promises of God in Jesus Christ. These are the daily incarnations of our faith. When does a touch remind us of Jesus? Can a candle bring God's hope to a dark room? Can a smell take us to a holy place? Place an order.
Presbyterian World Mission Stories
Need a story for Sunday school? Looking for a sermon illustration? Find stories from PC(USA) mission workers. Missionary in residence, Nancy Dimmock, used letters and stories from mission co-workers to create links for each Sunday New Testament reading for the Revised Common Lectionary. Access the stories!
Recurso sobre discipulado cristiano disponible en agosto
En este tiempo en donde puede ser tan difícil organizar una clase para nuevos miembros en la iglesia, es bueno tener un material que sea fácil de adaptar y que pueda ser utilizado no solamente como material de estudio grupal, sino individual.
Te recordamos que
Nuevos/as miembros: un llamado al discipulado es un manual de trabajo que puede ser utilizado de diferentes maneras: como un auto estudio, como un recurso de estudio grupal, o como una referencia rápida para la reflexión personal. El material también ofrece planes de lecciones sugeridos para el estudio grupal. Podrás conseguir este estudio, en agosto en
pcusastore.com.
Guide for Young Adult Ministry
Presbyterian Today
's Guide for Young Adult Ministry
is a must-read for everyone who wants to better understand young adults and engage them in worship, education, and service. Learn more.
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| Seeking and Finding |
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Holmes Farm Seeks Tools and Homes for Chickens
The Farm program at Holmes camp is being reconfigured for next summer.
In preparation Holmes is looking for donat
ions to help with the program:
Used or new garden tools - broad forks, pitch forks, spades, hoes, harvesting knives, etc.
Rototiller - have one sitting in your shed that is not being used? We will come pick it up.
Wheeled row cultivator
3 point hitch rototiller
Agricultural tractor
Hay wagon
The farm also has chickens who are about to begin laying if you would like to give them a home.
For more specifics call 845-878-6383.
Free Office Furniture
Due to a local office going out of business Holmes Camp has 4 office desks, cubicle partitions and some lateral file cabinets free to anyone who will come and take them away. Contact
Peter Surgenor if you are interested.
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| Employment Opportunities |
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Reformed Church of Bronxville Seeks Senior Minister/Head of Staff
Interim Stated Clerk, New York City Presbytery
The NYC Presbytery is a racially and culturally diverse presbytery seeking a qualified Ruling Elder or Teaching Elder to fill the position of Interim Stated Clerk. The position is part-time and comes with Board of Pension Benefits. Read the job description and application process. (N.B. though the link takes you to the New Brunswick presbytery, the description is for the NYC Presbytery).
South Church Dobbs Ferry Seeks Organist
South Church, a progressive congregation in Dobbs Ferry, NY is seeking a choir accompanist and supple musician capable of coaxing the best out of our well maintained and updated 1898 Austin Organ, as well as playing our Steinway piano. S/he should expect to work closely with our two Choir Directors who tag team alternating services. Musical styles are very eclectic ranging from the expected (Bach, Handel, Faure, Rutter, Hopson, etc.) to global music (South African justice songs, South American liberation theology songs, Taize and more),to traditional hymnody to the somewhat unexpected (Hank Williams, U2, Randy Newman, the Sherman Brothers, etc.) Read the job description.
South Church, Dobbs Ferry Seeks Sexton
The church is looking for someone to live on campus, and be responsible for the care of the campus. Housing is part of the compensation. Read the job description.
Rural Women's Assembly Assistant Coordinator
The Destiny Rural Women's Assembly and Rural Women's Network offer rural women the opportunity to gather together and work for change. This position with Rural and Migrant Ministry is part time (15 hours), with a flexible schedule. The Assistant Coordinator will need to be at the Assembly in Binghamton the first weekend in December. Salary commensurate with experience. Read more (scroll down after linking to the new page).
Rural and Migrant Ministry Long Island Outreach/Education Coordinator
Working hand in hand with the Long Island Coordinator, as well as the Executive Director, the Long Island Outreach/Education Coordinator (LIOE) will take the lead in establishing a new rural worker education center in Suffolk County. This is a full-time position with flexible hours and days. Read more.
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| Share Hudson Happenings |
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It's easy to share Hudson Happenings and let others know about our church's commitment to love that is strong, compassionate and courageous. HH is a tiny map to the plethora of events and opportunities in our presbytery to learn, connect, give, advocate, and heal.
Let your friends know that they can subscribe to Hudson Happenings and other HRP E-Updates, like those from the Presbytery Prison Partnership or the Food Justice Network.
Just share the photo (the link is embedded) or this URL
http://tinyurl.com/m2l9kpj Check "general interest" to subscribe to Hudson Happenings. They'll jump for joy!
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