 |
|
Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 632-5698
|
|
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!
|
|
Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery
|
 In our prayers together this week...
- Pray for Fred Banks, husband of Gail Banks, Commissioned Lay Pastor at Amboy-Belle Isle, who is having surgery on Monday, March 19th.
- Pray for all affected by the plane crash upon landing at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. Of the 71 passengers and crew traveling from Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Flight BS211, 50 were killed with 16 survivors being treated at a nearby hospital. Prayers for families, first responders, and survivors.
- Prayers for all affected by the shooting resulting in four deaths at the Veterans Home in Yountville, California. Three women staff members of the Pathway Home, a counseling center for veterans with PTSD, were taken hostage by the gunman. Prayers for families and the more than 1,000 veterans who live there; for first responders; and for responsible, faithful solutions to the public health crisis of gun violence.
In the cycle of prayer for our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: United Church of Fayetteville; First United Church of Fulton; God's Vision Christian Church, Hannibal; Jamesville Community Church; First, King Ferry.
|
|
Other Voices from the Presbytery
|
From Martha Mills
The Jean Smith Prayer Shawl Ministry of the Weedsport Presbyterian Church took part in the American Heart Association's appeal to provide hats for newborn babies born in the month of February, which is heart month. Hospitals in forty states take part in this annual event giving every baby born in February a red hat. The purpose is to raise awareness of congenital heart defects.
During the February 12th worship service, our group displayed 174 handmade hats on heart shaped frames. These frames were made by the welding class at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES. The hats were made by members of our church's prayer shawl ministry plus some other community ladies wanting to participate in this program. The hats were presented to Gina Rivers an American Heart Association representative.
This year is the 20th anniversary of Prayer Shawl Ministry. On April 22, our group will celebrate it's tenth year together.
|
 Blues Vespers with Joanna Jewett
Please join Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church for a free jazz concert this Sunday, March 18, at 5 pm.
Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church is located at 5299 Jamesville Road, Dewitt, New York. All are welcome.
Music will be drawn from both secular and sacred sources, combined with inspirational readings.
 Alzheimer's Luncheon Education Program
There are great things happening at Faith United Church in Oswego! Recently the church joined with three other churches in the community to put on a series of educational programs on the topic of Alzheimer's disease.Each session has included a free lunch followed by the program led by a representative from the Alzheimer's Association in Syracuse.
Faith United's program on February 27 was "Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters," and 30 people attended. All programs have been open to the public. That same week, their Interim Pastor, Debbie Johnson, spent time in "jail" to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy, and the church raised $221.00 to post Pastor Debbie's "bail." See photo.Currently the church is preparing for their first Community Easter Egg hunt which will take place on March 24 on the church grounds.
Events are still being offered on March 20 (12-1:30 pm; Journey of Faith United Methodist Church, 7721 NYS Rte. 104) and April 18 (12-1:30 pm; Grace Lutheran Church, 201 E. 6th St.). The March 20th event will discuss Alzheimer's basics, such as memory loss, and the April 18th event will discuss how to have conversations about dementia.
Download the flyer.
 Boundaries Awareness Workshop
The Central New York Presbyteries Network, comprised of the presbyteries of Susquehanna Valley, Cayuga-Syracuse, Utica and Northern New York, has assumed the responsibility for coordinating boundaries awareness workshops for pastors in all four presbyteries.
The next scheduled workshop is
Wednesday, April 25, at United Presbyterian Church of Sackets Harbor. While we're still working out the details, Keli Rugenstein of Evidence Based Ministry in Rensselaer will be our facilitator. We'll be in touch with more information in the coming weeks, but wanted you to be aware that this is in the works.
Please mark your calendars; if you've attended a boundaries awareness event in the last three to five years, please let Stated Clerk Larry Beasley, statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org,
know the date and place where you attended. If you have a certificate of completion and can either scan and email or fax, that would be most welcome.
Presbytery Youth Summer Mission
Camillus/Syracuse, June 24 to June 30, 2018
We will join 400+ youth from around our country. Youth and leaders will help with home repairs at no cost for elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged people living in the Camillus/Syracuse area. Work crews will typically serve the same resident for the entire trip, creating an environment where meaningful relationships can develop. Most projects will be designed to be completed during the trip, allowing your group to experience the satisfaction of a job well done. Youth will serve the needs of others through projects such as interior and exterior painting, building or repairing porches and wheelchair ramps, building or repairing steps, weatherization, and other home repairs. No skills are needed, just passion!
Read more about the project and how you can get involved!
You always may keep abreast on happenings in and around the Presbytery by
|
|
Around the Synod of the Northeast
|
 Sharing the Table: Partnering with Immigration Youth in Social Transformation
Organized by the Northeast Region Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (NEACE)
When: Tuesday, May 1 - Thursday, May 3, 2018
Where: Linwood Retreat Center, Rhinebeck, New York
What: Participants will begin to develop a curriculum for justice.
There will be a commitment to display the hands-on-project and discuss its significance in the life of church and community back home.
|
|
Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
|
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation launches diverse children's book program
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) is excited to announce the launch of Flyaway Books, a new children's book imprint dedicated to creating titles to inspire the next generation to fly. The new imprint will offer books that carry themes of diversity, inclusion, self-esteem, kindness, compassion and care for our world. Many of the books will help children understand today's most pressing social issues and the titles will be intentionally multicultural in their artwork and characters.
Continue reading...
Hikers ministry
revives small church
Weary walkers on Appalachian Trail find a respite
By Sherry Blackman of
Presbyterians Today
Ascend the church's steep driveway on any given day during peak hiking season - March through November - and you'll see pup tents pitched on the church's grassy knoll. Flanking the driveway are plastic lawn chairs doubling as drying racks, draped with underwear, pants, shorts and soggy socks of every size and color, drying in the sun and wind. Backpacks are opened to breathe needed fresh air and an array of hiking boots, creased and worn from the sharp Pennsylvanian rocks, rest nearby, exhausted from the journey.
Inside the hostel, in the basement of the church, is a communal living room, typically strewn with gear and food. A bunk room that sleeps eight, as well as a shower room and a separate bathroom, is also in the church's basement.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
