July 11, 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.

    In our prayers together this week...

• Pray for the family of the Rev. Pamela Gnagy whose mother, June Gnagy, age 93, passed away on June 28th
• Please pray for our Presbytery's delegation and all who are participating in Triennium, that they will discover an even closer relationship with God who loves them.
• For safe travel for our Global Partners as they come from South Korea and for the Triennium delegation as they travel to and from Indiana.
• Pray for Pastor Benjamin Fitzgerald-Fye and the Rev. Karen Chamis as they prepare their hearts, bodies and minds to take on new roles in August.
• Pray for all those who are struggling with depression. Pray for all those who are thinking about suicide. Pray for comfort for all those who lives have been impacted by a loved one's death due to suicide.
• Pray for the family of Ari Ase, Mya Ase and John Savage. Pray for the first responders who were called to the scene of their deaths. May God's healing hand touch the hearts of all those who need to be comforted after such an unimaginable tragedy.
• Please pray for Dick Tuttle, husband of Sharye Skinner, who is battling pancreatic cancer.
• Please pray for Jim Russell, the brother of elder Douglas Russell. Jim is battling esophagus cancer.

 

Inspiring Statements, Unanimous Approval

 

A special meeting of the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery was held Wednesday morning at the First Presbyterian Church of Liverpool.  

 

The meeting was called to examine Benjamin Fitzgerald-Faye for ordination and membership, and for approving the call of First Presbyterian Church of Scipioville to Fitzgerald-Fye as their pastor. Presbytery members also were asked to approve the call of the Rev. Karen Chamis to serve as our Presbytery's Resource Presbyter.  

 

Both motions were met with excitement and unanimous approval.  

 

 

Benjamin Fitzgerald-Fye shared his statement of faith, the story of his spiritual journey and his call to ministry with those gathered. He took questions from the audience and gave inspiring answers that made everyone in attendance excited for his new role in Scipioville. But it's safe to say that Scipioville Presbyterian members Linda Van Buskirk and Jeanne Herst, were the most overjoyed by the presbytery's approval.  

 

Fitzgerald-Fye will begin on Aug. 1.  

 

 

The Rev. Karen Chamis also shared her spiritual journey and career path during the meeting. Her excitement for the position as our Presbytery's Resource Presbyter was matched by the excitement of those who voted unanimously to approve her call.  

 

"As a resource presbyter, my hope would be that my work is in resourcing you," Chamis said during her statements at the special meeting. "There's parity. We're on the same level. In fact my service is to you and not the other way around. That excites me."

 

Chamis attended the meeting with her husband Bill. She said returning to Central New York is a homecoming for her and she's excited to begin work. She starts on Aug. 12.  

 

To read documents from the special meeting, visit the Presbytery's website.

To see more photos, visit our Facebook page.  

  

Four students from South Korea arrive tonight to join our Presbytery's youth delegation to Triennium. The young women, Ju Eun IM and and Eun Ji KIM, both 19 years old, come from the city of Jeonju. The young men, Mujin AN, 18, and Myungjun JANG, 22, come from Busan. They are being hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Liverpool, and before and after the trip to Triennium they will enjoy home stays with the families of Mike and Leigh Anne Herd, and Melissa and Jason Beerman.

 

This is the seventh time we have hosted Triennium Global Partners from South Korea since Cayuga-Syracuse began its international partnership with Pyongyang Presbytery in 2000. The Partnership is grateful to the members of Liverpool church for their generous hospitality in providing homes, a full schedule of activities, and the opportunity for building special relationships with our brothers and sisters in South Korea as we come together to worship God as "partners in Christ's service." For more information about the partnership or our Global Partners, contact Linda Russell at 315-730-6930 or lsruss@aol.com.

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Triennium: "Here's My Heart"

Thirteen people from Cayuga-Syracuse will participate in the Presbyterian Youth Triennium (PYT 2019) being held on the campus of Purdue University July 16-20, 2019 including four students from Liverpool: John Pfeffer, Kaleb Pfeffer, Simon Van Houte and Samantha Gallagher; three students from LaFayette: Carolyn Redmore, Jenna Reese and Rebekah Reyburn; four Global Partners: Ju Eun IM, Eun Ji KIM, Mujin AN and Myungjun JANG; and two adult advisors: The Rev. Shawn Reyburn (LaFayette) and Marianne VanHoute (Liverpool). They will join the delegation from Susquehanna Valley Presbytery for the overnight bus trip to and from Triennium, leaving early on Monday, July 15 and returning home on Sunday, July 21.  

 

The theme for Triennium 2019 is "Here's My Heart."

"Here's my heart" -- our young people are saying to us, to the church, to the world. "Here's my heart" -- God says right back to us.

Triennium truly promises to be a "mountain top" experience for all involved and we give thanks to God for such opportunities.

PC(USA) Ordination Exams 2019: 

Each year presbyteries are required to submit to General Assembly the names of persons willing to read ordination exams. As part of the Northeast Region, Cayuga-Syracuse readers will be evaluating exams the week of October 7-11, 2019 and we have been asked to provide one (1) ruling elder, one (1) teaching elder, and one (1) alternate reader.

The Leadership Team will appoint exam readers at its meeting on July 22, 2019.

• About 20 hours per week
• 14 hours in July and August
• Coordinate operations of church office
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, social media, & technology skills required for newsletters, weekly bulletins, database & website entries
• Must be self-motivated, organized, exhibit teamwork & confidentiality
• $15 per hour
• Job description can be found on the church's website. 
• Respond with cover letter and resume by July 22 to employment@theucf.org

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What: Blessing of the Animals

When: 10 am. Sunday, July 14

Where: First Presbyterian Church of Mexico, 4361 Church Street in Mexico

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PC(USA) Mission co-workers Charles and Melissa Johnson

to present at Liverpool First Presbyterian Church

First-known minister of Gun Violence Prevention installed 

The Rev. Deana Hollas will work for Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

By Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

Special to Presbyterian News Service

DALLAS - On Sunday the Rev. Deanna Hollas became the first-known minister of Gun Violence Prevention following a service held at her home church in Dallas.

Sponsored by Grace Presbytery, which includes congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in north and northeastern Texas, the service of ordination was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dallas.

"In the last 100 days, 10,000 Americans have died from gun violence and 22,000 have been injured," said the preacher for the service, the Rev. Dr. Clay Brantley. "Deanna's call is a sign of the great persistence and wisdom of God."

In her new call, Hollas will serve as the Coordinator of Gun Violence Prevention Ministries of Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, serving a network of over 800 local Presbyterian gun violence prevention advocates in all 50 states.

Continue reading...

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Caring for the Caregivers

A growing need presents  

ministry opportunities

 

By Erin Dunigan

Presbyterians Today

 

The Rev. Sharyl Dixon is now in her sixth year serving Kingston Presbyterian Church in Kingston, New Jersey. When she started serving the church - be it visiting the women's Bible studies or shaking hands at the door after a service - Dixon realized that what she was witnessing, in different forms, was caregiving. For some in her congregation, it was caring for a spouse with dementia. For others, it was caring for ailing parents. For still others, it was caring for children with special needs. Dixon realized there was a need to care for those offering care to others. She began to wonder what might be done.

"To meet weekly seemed too much for those who are already scraping for any amount of time for themselves," Dixon said.

So, three years ago she created a monthly gathering on Saturday mornings - a time when it seemed that caregivers might be able to get away for a few hours to simply check in, ask questions and connect. At one of the gatherings, Dixon read a poem by John O'Donohue called "For One Who Is Exhausted." A few of the women attending asked her to read it again.

Continue reading..