Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY  13057
(315) 632-5698

Feb. 21, 2019
Dear Friends of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery,

Welcome to this week's edition of our e-letter, Presbytery Matters. Our goal is to highlight things going on throughout the Church: within our Presbytery, in our congregations, as well as in the Synod of the Northeast and across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We hope that these are things that will be helpful, informative, challenging, encouraging, supportive. In other words, we hope that these things will matter. Your input is valued, and your comments are always welcomed.
Mission Stories

Providing Warmth & Joy

The First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles "Evening Ladies Circle" was busy collecting items for 70 "break bags" to be given to the second grade students at Frazer Elementary School in the Syracuse City School District.

The "break bags" give the children warmth and entertainment over their February break.
   
 
   
   
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We want to hear about the mission stories from our Presbytery's worshiping communities. What mission work are you involved in? How are your members working in the community? What story would you like to share with others in the Presbytery?
 
 Send any mission stories from your congregation that you would like to share to:  CaySyrNews@gmail.com.  
   
Deadline is 12 p.m. on Wednesdays for the current week's edition of
Presbytery Matters.  
 
We want to share your stories, missions, activities and more. Also, make sure to like our Facebook page by clicking the "Like us on Facebook" tab at the top of this letter.

Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery
    In our prayers together this week...
  • Pray for the victims of gun violence in the city of Syracuse. Comfort their families and friends. Pray for all those who are affected by senseless acts of violence.
  • Sending healing prayers to all those who are battling sickness from the back aches to broken bones and the flu to cancer. Pray that God helps to heal those who are suffering.
In the cycle of prayer for our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: Port Byron Federated; First, Scipioville; Sennett Federated Church; First, Skaneateles

If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact: CaySyrNews@gmail.com.

Photo of the Week
The church sign was inspired by a picture seen on the Instagram of actress Roma Downey of "Touched By An Angel"
See more photos on the church's Facebook page. 


To have your photo considered for "Photo of the Week" post it to your church's Facebook page and tag the Presbytery of Cayuga Syracuse's Facebook page.
From the Leadership Team
Good News from the Leadership Team...
 
As of the end of January, 94 percent of our 2018 per capita has been collected. Thank you to all the churches and congregation members who made this possible. Your efforts and support of our presbytery are greatly appreciated.
 
To-date 35 of our 37 churches have submitted their Annual Statistics Reports. In an email sent from OGA to all stated clerks in our denomination on Feb. 12, Cayuga-Syracuse made the list of the top 10 presbyteries for best completion rate. We were Number 8 (out of 170) at 95 percent. With a little effort on our part and a grace period from OGA we have a very good chance of making 100 percent. Kudos to all the clerks of session, pastors and others who helped make this annual project so successful.
 
The Leadership Team welcomes with joy three new members elected at the Stated Meeting of Presbytery on Feb. 9. Ruling elders Karen Fay (Liverpool) and Jackie Murphy (Parish-New Hope) will join us immediately as they are filling vacancies in the class of 2021. Ruling elder Craig Williams (Park Central) was the first member elected to the class of 2022. The next Leadership Team meeting is scheduled for
Thursday, Feb. 28 at Robinson Elmwood.
 
In November 2018, our presbytery committed to joining the Synod sponsored CNY Missional Structures Working Group charged with discerning how the mission and ministry of Presbyterian churches in CNY might be carried out in collaborative, new and creative ways not necessarily confined by our current geographical understandings of our presbyteries. Moderator Shawn Reyburn and representatives of the Leadership Team were charged with identifying 2-3 people to represent us in this effort. We are very pleased to announce that Cayuga-Syracuse will be represented by the Rev. Jenna Heery, Elder Nancy Wind and the Rev. Garrett Anderson. The Rev. Tom Oak will also participate as one of the resource persons for this Synod working group. Please hold our representatives and the entire working group in your prayers as they try to discover what new thing God has in store for Central New York.
 
There is still time for students to sign up for Triennium 2019, which runs from July 16-20, 2019. Our Presbyterian Youth Trienni um Team will meet in the next week or so to finalize details on cost, transportation, registration, payment deadlines and group preparations. Our PYT Team is being led by Leigh Anne Herd, registrar (315-727-0178, laherd02@gmail.com ), and the Rev. Shawn Reyburn, PYT advisor (315-677-3293, sdreyburn@gmail.com)

Around the Presbytery
What: Slow Smoked Pulled Pork Dinner  
When: 4 to 7 p.m. March 2  
Where: Sennett Federated Church
              7777 Weedsport-Sennett Road, Sennett  
Cost: Adults: $10
          Youth (5 to 15 years old): $5
          Under 5: Free   
Menu: Pulled pork with roll, salt potatoes, coleslaw, homemade applesauce, dessert and beverage.  
Take-outs available.  
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Pastors Lunch
 
The next Pastors Lunch will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 in the Robinson/Elmwood Church. The group will be discussing the book "Canoeing the Mountains"
 
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What: Loren Barrigar in Concert 
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10 
Where: Jamesville Community Church, 6300 E. Seneca Turnpike 
Cost: Adults are $12; Children 16 and under are free
 
Complimentary refreshments will be served during intermission.
   
 
Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Charlotte church participates in  
Hands and Feet Initiative in Baltimore
Participants call visit a life-changing experience

By Rick Jones
Office of the General Assembly

When Mary Bowman came to Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, nine years ago as associate minister for missions, the church went through a discernment process. Active in missions, the congregation was trying to determine the best course of action for engaging with community.

"As we continue to go through discernment, we would like to have more opportunities of being with and working with our neighbors," she said. "We seek to balance out some of the ways we are giving and standing with our neighbor. That's how we think about mission."

Bowman heard about the Center in Baltimore and its work with migrant congregations and those living in poverty. Its mission mirrors the questions Selwyn members were asking: "To inspire and equip churches and individuals to engage boldly with their neighborhoods-to get involved where Christ's love and justice are already at work."

Continue reading...
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The 'New Old': 
Seniors bring new life  
to the church
Redefining golden years and ministry

By Paul Seebeck
Presbyterians Today
 
Baby Boomer Pat Baker has been working in the field of aging for 45 years - mainly with the federally funded Older Americans Act programs, which have been providing seniors with services such as meals, caregiver support and transportation since 1965. When she first started, she was seeing people in their 60s and 70s participating in the senior programs. But now, as she herself retires, she has noticed a change. Participants are now in their 80s and 90s.

"People from 60 to 75 don't seem as old as I remember when I got into this," Baker said. "I saw more active people in their 90s than I saw in my first 20 years of work - and more people over 100 are participating in the senior center's activities."

Continue reading..

5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY  13057
(315) 632-5698
"I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them
bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
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