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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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Prayer for World Communion Sunday
Do this and remember me. Those simple words, spoken over bread and cup, call us back to you, Lord Christ.
This is my body, given for you. In your arms, Lord Jesus, stretched on a cross the love of God embraces all the earth.
This is my blood, poured out for you for the forgiveness of sin. Lamb of God, as you empty yourself you fill our cups until they overflow.
Take, eat.
All of you drink.
Your commands, Prince of Peace, call us to come around your ever-expanding table and be welcomed. You call us to make room for more, eat our fill, no need to hold back at this family feast, there is always plenty with baskets left over.
Lord of lords, we look around and see the whole communion of the saints, some singing, some shouting, some letting loose of tears long held at bay. We come, just as we are and through the power of the Holy Spirit we are lifted into your presence. We come and find rest for our souls. We leave imbued with our belovedness and that of our brothers and sisters, too.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Lord of love, your body and blood, the gifts of God, for the people of God, for us, all of us, everywhere, united in and through you. We tremble at the cost of such gifts. And we remember.
We remember the grace, the mercy, the redemption won for us.
We remember the cross.
We remember the empty tomb.
We remember our hearts burning and our eyes opening.
We remember your promises.
We remember the grace, the mercy, the redemption won for the world.
The bread of life, the cup of salvation, the gifts of God for God's people, all over the world.
We remember, Lord Christ, as we give you thanks, with our lips and with our lives.
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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 suffering from addiction or have a family member or friend who is battling an addiction. May God watch over them and give them strength to continue to fight.
- Pray for the animals. Many "blessings of the pet" events were held recently. May God watch over our furry family members and protect them.
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.
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Signing "The Lord be with you, and also with you"
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Auburn
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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 You're Invited...
The Rev. Dr. Craig Lindsey will conclude his pastoral relationship with the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Members and friends from throughout Presbytery are invited to a special worship service and dinner at the church at 5 p.m. on October 21 to celebrate and give thanks for Craig's 22 years of service in Skaneateles and Cayuga-Syracuse.
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 Calling all Clerks of Session
Help our denomination by participating in the Clerk's Annual Questionnaire (CAQ) 2018! This questionnaire informs PC(USA) agencies about what congregations are doing and what their needs are. Complete the questionnaire by Thursday,
November 15.
Click here to take the survey.
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Attention Church Offices:
A reminder from the Board of Pensions:
If you don't submit
your Employer Agreement by October 12, your employ
ees will not be able to elect 2019 benefits during annual
enrollment. Submit your Employer Agreement now.
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Next
Presbytery Meeting
The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse will hold a stated meeting on Saturday, November 3, 2018, at United Church of Fayetteville, 310 East Genesee St., in Fayetteville. More information to follow.
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Annual Review of Session Minutes
Who: Clerks of Session
What: Annual review of session minutes
When: Review sessions scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on each of the following Thursdays:
October 4 -- TODAY
October 11
October 18
October 25
November 1
Where: Fayetteville, Fulton, Liverpool, Auburn-First, and Syracuse-Westminster respectively
What should I bring? - Session minutes for 2017 plus completed
Do I need to make an appointment? - No, simply choose one of the 10 gatherings most convenient for you.
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How ordinary people can promote diplomacy and prevent nuclear disaster
The Korean Partnership Mission and Ministry Team of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse shares the following announcement of a program on the Korea peace process led by Syracuse University professor Fred Carriere.
Mr. Carriere participated in discussions the Partnership held at SU in 2011 with SU representatives, Korean pastors and elders from our partner presbytery in South Korea.
Mr. Carriere will speak at ArtRage Gallery on Oct. 9 about the opportunities and dangers in the roller-coaster relations with the Koreas. Click here for more information.
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'A new thing': Westminster Nursery School remembered, celebrated
Auburn Citizen
AUBURN - The Westminster Nursery school was remembered and celebrated with a special service at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning.
"Today is a special day, today we celebrate and remember 66 years - 66 years of Westminster Nursery School making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children and their families," the Rev. Patrick Heery said of the school that
closed in July due to lack of enrollment.
"We gather to celebrate what was, to grieve what is, and dream of what will be," said Linda Russell, the liturgist of the service and WNS Board Chair, during the call to worship.
"We remember with joy 66 years of children loved, taught and inspired," the congregation jointly responded. "We dare to believe that this is not an ending but a new season of ministry and education."
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All You Can Eat
What: King Ferry Presbyterian Church will be hosting its famous All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast
When: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6
Where: Community Hall at King Ferry Presbyterian Church at
8821 state Route 90 in King Ferry
Come,eat and enjoy the company of friends and neighbors.
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 Seeking to Borrow a cloth Labyrinth
The Wider Parish of Southern Cayuga is hosting a Spirituality Workshop on Sunday, October 14 and is seeking to borrow a cloth (transportable) labyrinth from one of the pastors in the area.
If you have a labyrinth that could be loaned to use for the one day, please contact the Rev. Bryan Bedell at umaipastor@gmail.com.
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Wonderful Neighbors
Down the Road
Westminster Church in Auburn extends a huge thank you to
First Presbyterian of Skaneateles for responding so promptly and generously to their request for a foosball table for Westminster's new youth room.
"A beautiful foosball table now has a new home at Westminster thanks to our wonderful neighbors down the road," said Jill Fandrich, Westminster clerk of session.
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What: Annual Harvest Festival
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Where: Sennett Federated Church
7777 Weedsport Sennett Road
Admission: Canned or boxed food item for Brutus-Sennett Food Pantry
Questions: Call (315) 252-4936
The festival features games, prizes, children's crafts, vendors, bounce house, food, pie eating contest, silent auction, door prizes, raffle and more.
Entertainment by Jerry Keebler, an award winning magician. There will be two shows at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
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Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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Including the blind in worship
pastor's eyes
By Randall Otto
Presbyterians Today
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
Debra and David Trevino have shown the congregation at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newark, Delaware, that those with disabilities can be an integral part of the family of faith. Courtesy of Carol and Gene Stilz
Christians often sing "Amazing Grace" without understanding what it is like to actually be blind - either legally blind with diminished vision or completely blind. More importantly, what is it like for those who are blind when they come into a church? How are they treated? How are they incorporated into the worship service?
While serving at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newark, Delaware, I got to know David and Debra Trevino. They were each born three months prematurely, weighing approximately 1.5 pounds, and were put into incubators - the lights of which burned their optic nerves. Both attended residential schools for the blind, spending more time with fellow pupils than with their own families.
The isolation, Debra Trevino says, continued into adulthood, with many people not knowing how to interact with the blind.
"We just want to fit in, be accepted and be a part of society," she said.
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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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