April 25, 2018

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!

Think your church needs 100 people to make a difference? Jesus changed the world with just 12.

Not too long ago our presbytery meeting was held at a cathedral-like church with thick stone, intricate stained glass and a grand, high pulpit. As I climbed the steps to the pulpit, I swear the air got thinner. When I got to the top and behind the mic, I felt like I was commanding a starship. There was a smooth wooden shelf encircling the area, like an expansive console surrounding me, but without flashing computer screens. I felt like I could pilot the church straight to heaven. As I looked down upon my colleagues something inside me felt strange. Then I realized what it was. I had pulpit envy.

Everything that pulpit represented flashed through my mind - a big church, with possibly a big endowment. In my momentary reverie, I thought about all the members who would surely fill boards and committees, do outreach and take on meaningful mission projects in the community and around the world.

It's not just pastors who suffer from pulpit envy. Many members look at other churches and think that surely things are going better in that bigger church down the road. We think about the choirs bigger than our congregations, the computer-run lighting systems and the hip programming - all of which can make us feel like we are worshiping in Grandma's faded living room by comparison. And truth be told, some of our furniture was donated from Grandma's living room.

Up there in my temporary command center, I remembered the small church I serve. The pulpit I use each Sunday is mostly packed with audio equipment. Every so often during worship I disappear to bend down and fiddle with the audio levels if we have a special singer or if the mic has suddenly stopped working. Instead of a calm and powerful commander standing at the helm of a big church, I'm more like the busy conductor waving a stick at a small musical ensemble that is sometimes missing a few instruments.

Continue reading...

 In our prayers together this week...

• Pray for the unfolding crisis in Nicaragua. The death toll has risen to at least 30 over the past several days. Learn more.
   
• Pray thanks to God for the return home of Fred Banks this week, husband of Gail Banks, Commissioned Lay Pastor at Amboy-Belle Isle. Fred had surgery on March 19th and has been in rehab.
   
• Pray for all affected by the van that struck pedestrians in Toronto, Canada, this week. Nine people have died and 16 were injured as a result of the attack. The driver is in police custody. Prayers for the injured, for families and first responders. Prayers for a world without violence.
   
• Pray for Afghanistan and all affected by the suicide bombing in a government office in Kabul that killed 52 people and injured 112 people who were registering to vote. Prayers for peace.

In the cycle of prayer for our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: Taunton, Syracuse; Westminster, Syracuse; First, Weedsport; Whitelaw.

If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact Patrick Heery: pastor@westminsterauburn.org.

We wanted to send you information about upcoming events/information, which include:

The Souls of Poor Folk Audit and the Demands from the National Poor People's Campaign:  https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php/audit/;

https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php/demands/

Nonviolent Direction Action Training: Saturday, MAY 5, 10AM-5PM  

@ Atonement Lutheran Church, 116 W Glen Ave, Syracuse 13205  

Want to learn more about nonviolent direct action? Thinking of participating in the May 14 civil disobedience action being organized by the Poor People's Campaign in Albany, NY or in followup actions for the campaign? Experienced trainers from the Syracuse Peace Council will facilitate this experiential training. It's important that participants plan to attend the full training. Format will include small and large group discussion, role-plays and other interactive exercises. We'll provide a resource packet, coffee and tea, and a simple lunch. Please dress comfortably.  There is no fee to attend the training, but we will collect donations at the event to help cover material and lunch costs.  Please contact  315.472.5478  or  spc@peacecouncil.net  if you have questions.

Mark Your Calendars: 

• Sunday, May 13  Mass Meeting Watch Party at University United Methodist Church, 1085 East Genesee Street in Syracuse. Time TBA.
   
• Monday, May 14  Press Conference, March and Rally, Non Violent Direct Action in Albany, NY.  Training for Direct Action begins at 11AM.  Additional details to follow.
   
• Sunday, May 20  Mass Meeting Watch Party at University United Methodist Church, 1085 East Genesee Street in Syracuse. Time TBA.

Interested parties can be added to the email list by responding to: cnypoorpeoplescampaign@gmail.com. 

To find out more about the Poor People's Campaign, please visit their website, or the website of their partner, the Kairos center.

To find out about local State action, check the NY State Poor People's Campaign page or contact Beth DuBois, svpcpastor@gmail.com or 315-380-0745.

It's really too bad that Vanderkamp summer staff don't like their jobs...

They LOVE them!!!

by Paul Seebeck, 
Presbyterian News Service

Five years in the making, the 2018 Book of Common Worship (BCW) for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be in the hands of customers in the coming weeks. There are three new sections in the BCW - on creation and ecology, justice and reconciliation, and interreligious events. Included in these sections are services for:

• Blessings of the Animals
• Resources for prayer and worship after a violent event
• Guidelines for gathering neighbors of other faiths or no faith for times of celebrations, or when there is conflict or crisis