Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY  13057
(315) 632-5698
July 19, 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!
Watch for changes in your e-letter!
It has been a pleasure to help tell the stories and share the news of our presbytery for the last seven months. As I go on parental leave next Monday, I anticipate a new author coming on board to guide our e-letter. More on that next week!

Please email your stories, news, questions, and ideas to CaySyrNews@gmail.com, and add that new address to your contacts for your congregation's e-letter.
 
Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery
In our prayers together this week...
  • Pray for democracy and prosperity in Zimbabwe. When the people of Zimbabwe go to the polls on Monday, July 30, it will be the first time since the country gained independence in 1980 that Robert Mugabe's name will not appear on the presidential ballot. Read more...
     
  • Pray for the people of Nicaragua and our mission co-workers. Two months ago, peaceful protesters in Nicaragua were brutally attacked by forces loyal to the government. The ensuing unrest has resulted in the death of nearly 300 people, and many Nicaraguans won't leave their homes for fear of being shot. Read more...
In the cycle of prayer for our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: Northminster, North Syracuse; Onondaga Hill; Faith United Church of Oswego; Presbyterian Church of Otisco; New Hope, Parish.

If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact: CaySyrNews@gmail.com.

Wishing Mario a Fond Farewell!
It was with both happiness and sadness that we learned of Rev. Mario Bolivar's acceptance of a new call. Mario has blessed this presbytery with passion, creativity, energy, and leadership ever since he first arrived, serving on the Leadership Team and chairing the Communications Workgroup and the Presbyterian Youth Connection Workgroup. He has deepened us in joy and faith through his dynamic preaching, video talents, missional mindset, and worship leadership. He has been a friend to us, often when we needed him most. And he has given us hope for a relevant, faithful, and connectional presbytery.

Mario will conclude his ministry with First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles on July 22 before moving to Florida to become the next installed pastor of Eustis Presbyterian Church. As a presbytery, we celebrate Mario's new call and all the gifts he has shared with us over the years; we also are going to miss him a great deal!

Mario leaves us a better presbytery than when he found us. Click below or here to watch a video message from Mario.

New Ministry Call in a PCUSA Congregation for Rev. Mario Bolivar
New Ministry Call in a PCUSA Congregation for Rev. Mario Bolivar

Other Voices from the Presbytery
Ever wanted to go on a Mission Trip?
     Didn't have the time to do it?
         Didn't have the funds ?

A message from Vanderkamp
 
Have we got a mission trip for you... we're looking for a few good men and women to help with a roofing, insulation, and drop ceiling project that needs to be completed by mid-August. Drive time to the project is probably 60-90 minutes from where you live, so you won't spend a lot of time driving to get there! And it's free! You can even sleep in your own bed if you want to! Food isn't bad either! And you'll be in the company of other Christian folk looking for ways to serve their Lord!
 
Dates available:
Saturday 7/21 7:30am until.....putting steel roofing on
Monday 7/23   9:00am ceiling insulating
Saturday 8/4   8:00am ceiling insulating
Monday 8/6     9:00am until....finish insulating - begin installing drop ceiling
Saturday 8/11 8:00am until ....finish drop ceiling
 
If roofing isn't your thing - there is also the opportunity to mow lawns - we have lots of lawns to mow! Bring your own mower or use one of ours!
 
Could also use help in preparing 4 lodges for turn-over
Sunday 7/15   8am-3pm could even be done Sat. 7/14 after 5pm
Sunday 7/29   11am-3pm
Friday 7/27     9am-4pm
Friday   8/3     9am-4pm
Prior to 4pm 8/17 anytime after 8/14
 
In case you haven't guessed, our mission trip is to Vanderkamp. Your willingness to serve the Lord in this place would be greatly appreciated! Lives have been changed at VK for more than 50 years. Come and experience this change for yourself!
 
Contact Shelly Coe at 1969mcoe@gmail.com, or Vanderkamp directly at 315-675-3651 or
 
Pastors and chaplains are needed to serve Communion at Vanderkamp to young campers on Thursdays, July 19 and 26, and Aug 2 at 8pm - come anytime and spend the day with the campers or join them for dinner! For the more adventurous, a chaplain to accompany Bill and Penny James at Explorer Camp in the Adirondacks would be most welcome! Contact Bill or Penny at vkcenter@vk.org, or 315-675-3651.
 
Around the Presbytery
Next Presbytery Meeting

The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse will hold a stated meeting on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at Scipioville First Presbyterian Church, 3428 Route 34 B, Scipio Center, NY 13147, with registration at 9:30am, call to order at 10:00am and adjournment at approximately 2:00pm. More information to follow.

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Community Cookout

Park Central Church is hosting a community cookout on Wednesday, August 8, from 12-1:30pm, featuring free food and music by CNY Jazz. Look for their tent in the church's Fayette St. parking lot. Park Central is located at 504 East Fayette Street in Syracuse.


You always may keep abreast on happenings in and around the Presbytery by
checking the Presbytery events calendar (http://cayugasyracuse.org/calendars) and the

Around the Synod
Puerto Rico
Partnership Taskforce


In March, the 5 members of the Puerto Rico Partnership Taskforce (PRPT) traveled to Puerto Rico to meet face-to-face with our partners there and to witness the ongoing post-hurricane realities in person.
 
Since their visit, the PRPT has been working hard to respond to the needs and requests of our Puerto Rican partners and to determine how best to leverage the Synod's resources - both financial and relational - to support our sisters and brothers on the island.
 
To learn more about their trip, the needs of our Puerto Rican siblings, and ways to respond, read the full article.

Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Creative ways congregations are doing more to feed the hungry

By Sherry Blackman,
Presbyterians Today


Hunger is at the heart of being human. People hunger for food, for love, for belonging and for Christ himself. Feeding the hunger of humanity is why the church exists. Presbyterian churches around the country are working to creatively nourish and sustain those who struggle with food insecurity, malnourishment and poverty.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that in 2015, 42.2 million people faced hunger in the United States. Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief and food rescue organization, reports that 1 in 7 Americans are struggling with hunger. And hunger affects all ages: 13.1 million children live in food-insecure homes, meaning they are often forced to skip meals or eat less at meals. Their parents or guardians buy cheap, non-nutritious food, or feed their children but not themselves. In 2014, 5.4 million adults over age 60 were food-insecure, about 9 percent of all seniors.


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New online statistical resource launched by Presbyterian researchers

By Pat Cole,
Presbyterian News Service


Church Trends, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s new online statistical resource, has bolstered the denomination's ability to provide Presbyterians accessible, useful and timely information about their church, according to the research tool's developer.

"The church has provided this data to us, and we wanted to give it back to the church in a format that is useful for Presbyterians," said Susan Barnett, interim coordinator of the Presbyterian Mission Agency's Research Services office. Church Trends replaces two previous online resources called "Ten-Year Trends" and "Comparative Statistics."



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
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