Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY  13057
(315) 632-5698

June 6, 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.
Mission Stories

Senior Sunday was a Senior Funday


Thirty-five people gathered from Cayuga-Syracuse and
Utica presbyteries last weekend to share in Senior Sunday at Vanderkamp. 

The weather could have cooperated a little better but Senior "Funday" was deemed a success -- success enough that one just may be in the offing for the fall.

The event drew a number of people to Vanderkamp for the first time and brought back those who camped as youth. One couple who attended Senior Sunday met at Vanderkamp when they were young campers and have been happily married for more than 40 years.

You don't have to be a senior to come to camp, why not take a Sunday drive and see for yourself what a treasure Vanderkamp is for our community.

Visit the Vanderkamp Facebook page to see more photos.
 

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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.

Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery
     In our prayers together this week...
  • Pray for all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May God's love comfort them in their time of need.
  • Please pray for all those who are facing hardships due to recent flooding.
  • Pray for the city of Syracuse as issues of police brutality and police safety are debated.
In the cycle of prayer for our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individual: Amboy Belle Isle; First, Auburn; Westminster, Auburn; United Ministry of Aurora; First, Baldwinsville
 
If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact: CaySyrNews@gmail.com.

Photo of the Week
First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango had a successful breakfast on Sunday.
See more photos on the church's Facebook page.

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.
From the Leadership Team
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.

Elder Linda Van Buskirk, one of our 2018 exam readers, has prepared information about expectations and training for this role which can be found here. If you would like to be considered as an exam reader, please send your name to Leadership Team Chairperson, Lynn Jacques, at lmjacques@verizon.net by July 15, 2019.
 
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Pentecost Offering
 
The Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. Forty percent of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community.
 
  The remaining 60 percent is used to support ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency including the Young Adult Volunteers program and Triennium! We are able to send our delegation of 13 participants from Cayuga-Syracuse to the mountain-top experience of Triennium 2019 because of donations from churches like ours to the annual Pentecost Offering. Thank you!
 
The Pentecost Offering is traditionally received on the day of Pentecost (June 9 this year.) However, you can help sustain the important PC(USA) ministries and programs that are supported by the Pentecost Offering by making a gift at any time throughout the year. Donations can be made online or by mailing a check care of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to P.O. Box 643700; Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700, or by mailing a check to the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse, 5811 Heritage Landing Drive, Syracuse, NY 13057. 
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Deadline approaching: RSVP for dinner ASAP
 
What: Jimmie Hawkins, director of Office of Public Witness for Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) visits Auburn  
When: Monday, June 10, 2019 
Where: Presbyterian Event and Retreat Center, 108 South Street in Auburn 
Deadline: RSVP for dinner by noon on Saturday, June 8.   
RSVP: Linda Van Buskirk at 315-237-7115 or lpv1@cornell.edu 
 
Learn more about Presbyterian Event and Retreat Center by visiting its website or clicking here to download the center's brochure. 
 
Around the Presbytery

What:  Chicken BBQ 
When: 11 a.m. till gone on Saturday, June 8 
Where: Otisco Presbyterian Church, 1873 State Route 80, Otisco 
 
Cost:   
$10 dinner: Chicken, baked beans & salt potatoes
$5 dessert: Strawberry shortcake
$6 chicken only
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Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Multicultural melodies
Presbyterian Center worshipers try singing in unfamiliar languages and in those closest to their heart

By Mike Ferguson
Presbyterian News Service
 
 
LOUISVILLE - To celebrate Intercultural Church Day, worshipers at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville Wednesday were invited to sing verses of well-known hymns - "How Great Thou Art" and "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine!" among them - in English, Korean and Spanish, as well as in the "language closest to your heart."

Then they heard a pair of brief reflections on what the intercultural church looks like.
The Rev. Shanea Leonard, Associate for Gender & Racial Justice, told worshipers "there's something about coming together around a meal." (Photo by Tammy Warren)
The Rev. Shanea Leonard, Associate for Gender & Racial Justice with Racial Equity & Women's Intercultural Ministries, told worshipers she believes cooking "is my spiritual gift. There's something about coming together around a meal. Isn't that what fellowship is like?"

At such gatherings, "all our cultures come together and co-exist. You can bring all of you and I can bring all of me. Curried chicken and matzo ball soup show up. We don't have to leave who we are at the door," she said. "You are celebrated at the table for just being who you are."
 
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For one youth, messages have lasting value
Pentecost Offering supports Presbyterian Youth Triennium's effort  to inspire deeper faith

By By Pat Cole
Presbyterian News Service
 
LOUISVILLE- In an age when fleeting social media messages saturate the lives of teens, Kylie Carlson treasures the lasting impact of some powerful words scrawled on tiny slips of paper.

For three years, she has kept the messages that were stashed in her "Compliment Bag" at the 2016 Presbyterian Youth Triennium. They were put there by members of her small group, and the affirmations range from casual to transformational.

One member wrote to Kylie, "You are a good public speaker." These words were particularly significant for her because Kylie, who had just finished her freshman year in high school, was fearful of public speaking. The compliment came after the writer heard Kylie speak in a small group.


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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