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Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 632-5698
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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.
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Medicine & Faith
Cayuga-Syracuse minister at large volunteers in Guatemala
In February, the Rev. Dr. Craig Lindsey, minister at large, volunteered as the Spiritual Director of Faith in Practice's Surgical Mission to Guatemala.
The team completed 100 gall bladder and hernia surgeries, 30 tonsillectomies, more than 100 hearing aid implants, 100 plastic surgeries, 50 gastrointestinal surgeries and 100 dental procedures, while Craig prayed to God and acted as a nurse.
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Patch: Why is Westminster Presbyterian Church offering
culinary classes?
By Chris Patch
Special to The Auburn Citizen
AUBURN, N.Y. -- One of my fondest childhood memories is Sunday dinner at my grandparents' house. The smell of fresh bread in the oven and the sight of homemade spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove was the highlight of my week. I couldn't wait for my family to gather around the table for dinnertime, and once there, I never wanted our time together to end.
As a former chef, I tried for years to recreate the recipe for my grandmother's sauce. I bought the exact same ingredients, simmered the sauce all day and still the taste was never quite the same. As I grew older, I realized it wasn't the recipe I was unable to duplicate, it was the experience. The food is what brought us together, it is what we enjoyed and shared, but my memories were really about family, tradition and love. Over the years I have prepared many meals for family and friends, and as a chef for people whose faces I would never see, but with each plate I gave a part of myself, my family, my culture, my heritage and my heart. Preparing food for someone is a loving, humbling and meaningful gesture. As Cesar Chavez said, "If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him. ... The people who give you their food give you their heart."
Unarguably, food is an important part of life and culture, and the Bible weighs in on the topic as well. In the New Testament, multiple verses teach us that food is more than a substance for life. Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine. (John 2:1-11) He fed a crowd of 5,000 with fishes and loaves, and broke bread with his disciples at the Last Supper (Matthew 14:20-21, 26:26). In each occasion, Jesus used food to teach a greater spiritual lesson while encouraging a more intimate relationship with his followers. Jesus used food to cross the divisions of language, politics, religion and socioeconomic status by sharing a meal.
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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.
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Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery
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 In our prayers together this week...
- Pray for all those who are missing someone who has passed away or missing someone who has moved away. Pray for all those who are hurting for those they miss. May God comfort them in their time of grief. May God put people in their lives that can comfort them.
In the cycle of prayer for our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: Isaiah's Table, Syracuse; Korean Church of Syracuse; Park Central, Syracuse; Robinson Elmwood United Church, Syracuse; South Valley, Syracuse
If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact:
CaySyrNews@gmail.com.
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Eleven people traveled last week to Campeche, Mexico for the
Latin American Mission Partnership.
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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.
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There is still time for students to sign up for
Triennium 2019, which runs from July 16-20, 2019. Our Presbyterian Youth Triennium Team is finalizing 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)
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Our Presbytery's Korean Partnership team was instrumental in starting the Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea. The PPNK is holding a meeting on March 25-27 in Stony Point. Linda Russell, chair of the Leadership Team, plans to attend the gathering. Below is a call to action for peace on the Korean Peninsula from the Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness.
Ask Congress to support Peace on the Korean Peninsula
As President Trump arrives to Hanoi, Vietnam, Rep. Ro Khanna, along with eighteen Democratic Members of Congress, have introduced a resolution calling for a final settlement of the Korean War, now officially in its 69th year.
The resolution -- which is backed by former President and Nobel Peace Laureate Jimmy Carter and a range of Korean-American and pro-diplomacy organizations -- urges the Trump Administration to provide a clear roadmap to achieve a final peace settlement while highlighting the importance of reciprocal actions and confidence-building measures between the parties.
"Historic engagement between South and North Korea has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to formally end this war," said Rep. Ro Khanna, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "President Trump must not squander this rare chance for peace. He should work hand in hand with our ally, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, to bring the war to a close and advance toward the denuclearization of the peninsula."
"I commend this important resolution that will help bring this nearly 70 year conflict to a close," said President Jimmy Carter. "I have visited North Korea several times to talk with their leadership and study the best path forward for peace. Ending the threat of war is the only way to ensure true security for both the Korean and American people and will create the conditions to alleviate the suffering of the ordinary North Koreans who are most harmed by ongoing tensions."
The resolution is endorsed by organizations including the National Association of Korean Americans, Ploughshares Fund, Women Cross DMZ, Korean Americans in Action, United Methodist Church - Global Ministries, Win Without War, Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Just Foreign Policy, Beyond the Bomb, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Presbyterian Church (USA)
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 Memorial Garden Bricks
Collamer United Church is looking forward to springtime with the start of a Memorial Garden. To begin the project the church is selling bricks, which will be part of a paved pathway to the garden. The bricks, which cost $50, can be engraved making them a lovely remembrance to honor a family member or loved one.
Everyone is welcome to purchase the bricks -- it is not necessary to be a member of the church. For purchasing forms or for additional information, contact the church office at (315) 463-4939.
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 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.
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What: A concert presented by the Illinois Wesleyan University Collegiate Choir
When: 7:30 p.m. March 13
Where:
First Presbyterian Church, Skaneateles
The Illinois Wesleyan University Collegiate Choir has established a long history of
excellence through its on-campus performances, annual tours and recordings.
The Collegiate Choir is composed of student musicians representing the School of Music and other areas of the university and is dedicated to the performance of the finest sacred and secular choral music spanning six centuries and a variety of languages.
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Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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More benefits than you can shake a palm at
Across the U.S., more than 1,000 PC(USA) congregations celebrate Palm Sunday with Eco-Palms
By Rich Copley
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - Like many churches across the country,
Irvington Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis celebrates Palm Sunday with people in the congregation waving palm fronds to commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem shortly before his death and resurrection.
But at Irvington, and in many other churches, there's more to those palms than their utility in the celebration to start Holy Week.
Earlier this decade, Irvington started buying its palm fronds through
Eco-Palms, an ecumenical fair trade program in which the palms are harvested by farmers in Guatemala and Mexico to be shipped to congregations around the United States for Palm Sunday.
Continue reading...
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Worship service celebrates the many gifts women bring
Fortunately for us, God's grace has no boundaries
By Gail Strange
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - On March 3, the church will observe Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday as we honor women who exhibit grace that knows no boundaries.
On Wednesday during chapel service at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, worshipers gathered to hear the Rev. Dr. Rhashell Hunter, director of
Racial Equity & Women's Intercultural Ministries, preach in observance of the special day. The theme for the 2019 Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday is "The Grace of God Has No Boundaries."
Continue reading...
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5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 632-5698
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"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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