Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY  13057
(315) 632-5698
April 30, 2020
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 and supportive. In other words, we hope that these things will matter. Your input is valued, and your comments are always welcomed.
Mission Stories
A message from the Rev. Dr. Katie Griffin from Argentina:  
 
Blessings to the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery, from afar! I am deeply grateful to Karen Chamis and Ben Fitzgerald-Fye for opening up a worship and reflection encounter via Zoom on Sunday evenings for the Presbytery. It has been a wonderful and meaningful way to be a part of the Presbytery again from so far away.
 
As a clergy member of the Presbytery, working beyond (way beyond) the bounds of the Presbytery, I am writing to you from the greater Buenos Aires area of Argentina. The government here took almost immediate and strict measures to try to stall the spread of COVID-19 here, but the virus has its way of disregarding both the best and the worst of human intentions.
 
I started participating, last year, in the Waldensian community in the barrio of Flores in the city of Buenos Aires. It is a one hour train ride from my home, and since the lock down in mid-March, I have not been able to go in person. However, I am working on remaining a part of that community from home.
 
Flores is the neighborhood in the city that has been most affected by the coronavirus. The general greater metropolitan area of Buenos Aires has also seen a dramatic increase of the dengue virus that is transmitted by mosqu itoes. And Flores is a neighborhood where the socio-economic inequalities that are notorious in Latin American cities are rampant. With the lock down, more families are without any kind of income whatsoever, and thus, more families are in the streets, or grouped together in overcrowded conditions in one apartment. These are conditions that help dengue to spread, not to mention hunger, anxiety and violence.
 
The Waldensian Church in Flores is doing what they ca n to share a bit of light in the  
midst of the darkness:
 
Iglesia Valdense de Flores - Lux lucet in tenebris
Iglesia Valdense de Flores - Lux lucet in tenebris
The pastor of the congregation is Alfredo Servetti, one of my former seminary students. The Waldensian Synod here in the River Plate region (Argentina and Uruguay) as well as the Synod in Italy, are suffering severely, in different ways, due to the pandemic. The pastors here will receive their final paychecks this month, until further notice. Fortunately, Alfredo and his companion are very resourceful and talented people and will continue to have other kinds of income, working from home.  
 
Translation of the few words in the video:
  • Lux Lucet in Tenebris: Light that shines in the darkness (the motto of the Waldensian Church)
  • Hermanas y hermanos trabajando juntes en comunidad: Sisters and brothers working together in community
  • Como hermanos y hermanas: Like brothers and sisters
  • En el barrio: In the neighborhood
  • Todas y todos: All of us (women and men)
  • Para vencer al miedo: In order to overcome the fear
  • Venciendo al egoísmo: Overcoming selfishness
  • Sororidad fraternidad: Sisterhood brotherhood
  • Y un gustito por el trabajo compartido: And a little treat for the shared work
  • Iglesia Evangélica VALDENSE de Flores: Evangelical Waldensian Church of Flores
  • Lux Lucet in Tenebris: Light that shines in the darkness
 
God grant us all the grace to be light in the growing darkness!
 
Shalom,
 
The Rev. Dr. Katie (Kathleen) Griffin
 
******************************************************************************** 
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
I n our prayers together this week...   
  • Pray for all the doctors, nurses and medical staff on the front lines fighting to save COVID-19 patients.
  • Please pray for all those who are sick with COVID-19 and all those who have lost loved ones.
  • Pray for all those who feel lonely and disconnected during this time of social distancing.
  • Pray for everyone in self-isolation or quarantine.
In the cycle of prayer our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities,and individuals: Isaiah's Table, Syracuse; Korean Church of Syracuse; Park Central, Syracuse; Robinson Elmwood United Church, Syracuse; South Valley, Syracuse
 
If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact: CaySyrNews@gmail.com.

Photo of the Week

The First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia thanks Kevin for being the video Liturgist recently, and to Kristin for being his videographer and human teleprompter! The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse sends a huge thank you to everyone who has made virtual Sunday services possible during this pandemic.
 
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 Resource Presbyter 
Hello, Cayuga-Syracuse,
 
I've been reading good theologians and social scientists that are urging the global "us" to consider if we want to return to a normal that in many ways is unjust. In so many ways, "back to normal" runs a parallel course with "great again," and it ought to give us pause. Certainly, as we reconstruct our world post-pandemic shouldn't we make it a place where we pay attention to the effects of climate change as well as systemic racism?
 
I'm on board. I don't need to be convince that this isn't a turning point for all of us.
 
And, I'm exhausted.
 
It's not just the work of resourcing others (I now wear my Resource Presbyter title with newfound understanding, as well as a amazement at the prescience of the Presbytery!), but multiple levels of grief. Trauma, which we are suffering on a global scale, requires a tremendous amount of energy.
 
My body and spirit feel a bit like an old house where I've tried to plug in the hair dryer, toaster and coffee maker at the same time. Ever the Energizer Bunny sort, this is a new experience for me. I don't like it one bit.
 
I also don't like the idea of simply going back to what was, and pretending that we haven't seen the impact of corporate greed or the sight of the Andes mountains now that the smog has cleared.
 
So, what's someone who is tired of the injustice but also bone-tired to do?
 
I unplug the toaster.
 
I begin (I think!) by practicing what I preach, and making sure I spend time at deliberate rest. I return to the Well of the various spiritual disciplines. I spend time outdoors. I spend time being creative.
 
I evaluate if I really needed the toaster in the first place.
 
I believe the next steps include starting small ... "let peace begin with me" and all of that. If I'm not willing to engage in my own audit of how I spend my resources, it becomes much more difficult to ask others to do so.
 
I find ways of tapping into the energy of others ... as well as sharing what I have so that all might have toast.
 
Finally, I need to acknowledge that although my energy is needed toward the rebuilding, it doesn't rest on me alone. I need to seek out those who share similar vision (as well as those who poke me a bit!) I also need to lean in a bit on the Source of all that energy.
 
Blessings -
 
Karen
 
Resource Presbyter's Virtual Gatherings 

Our Resource Presbyter, the Rev. Karen Chamis, will be holding virtual office hours from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesdays.

 
Karen will be available for drop-in conversations on Zoom. Come say hello, share concerns or learn a bit on how to use this important tool.  
 
or call 
One tap mobile 
+16465588656,,839671809# US (New York) 
+13126266799,,839671809# US (Chicago)
 
************************************************************************
All church leaders are invited to participate in a Book Group to discuss "Disaster Spiritual Care" by
Stephen Roberts and Willard W. C. Ashley.
 
Although the book is aimed at Clergy, those serving as Elders and Deacons may also find it helpful.   
 
The meeting will be held at noon on Thursday, May 7.
 
   
************************************************************************ 
 
Pastoral leadership is invited to a Thursday morning Virtual Coffee for connection, support and fellowship.  
 
The Zoom meeting will start at 10 a.m.  

Join Zoom Meeting: 
 
Meeting ID: 510 749 428
 
 
************************************************************************  
 
Interactive Worship Service for all: 
 
Karen and the Rev. Ben Fitzgerald-Fye, our stated clerk, will hold an interactive worship service on Zoom every Sunday evening at 7 p.m. Register in advance for this meeting: 
 
 There is no weekly home liturgy this week. For a copy, please contact Karen.
 
Dates to Remember
May 12              Presbytery Gathering (Zoom) Learn more...
June 9               Presbytery meeting (Zoom)
June 20-27       General Assembly 
July 23-24         Board of Pensions Thrive Seminar (for clergy age 50+)
August 11         Presbytery Stated Meeting, TBD  
November 14    Presbytery Stated Meeting, Westminster-Auburn
Around the Synod of the Northeast
The Synod of the Northeast has two webinars coming up that may be of value to you:

Online Giving with Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelly
Join us to learn about the online giving platform available through the Presbyterian Foundation. The presentation will provide a demonstration of what donors see when making a gift.
2 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Enter Zoom meeting HERE 
or save link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85710166959
 
Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Older Adult Week begins Sunday
Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network encourages churches to celebrate aging people of all generations

By Paul Seebeck
Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - As president of the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network, Michele Hendrix has long been an advocate for the PC(USA)'s Older Adult Week Sunday, which falls on May 3 this year.

This special emphasis week for those 65 and above has been around since it was adopted by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly in 1992. "We want all generations in the church to view aging as a natural part of living - as part of the lifespan," Hendrix said.

To help churches understand reasons for celebrating older adults in the church, POAMN will host an online conversation, " Stronger Together: Intergenerational Relationships," at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday.

This intergenerational relationship theme was also the focus of POAMN's most recent national conference, which Hendrix highlighted in the 2020 Older Adult Ministries planning guide, a valuable resource published by POAMN each year for planning worship and other activities during Older Adult Sunday Week.

This year, because of COVID-19, Hendrix encourages people to go the POAMN website for this year's worship service, which is currently being adapted for online worship. She also suggests looking at previous planning guides to adapt what might work for worship in a congregation's particular context.

 _____________________________________________________
 
A prayer tree grows
Youth create way to pray for one another
 
By Donna Frischknecht Jackson
Presbyterians Today
 
At the end of March, when schools, businesses and churches began closing their doors to curb the spread of COVID-19, the youth of Myers Park Presbyterian Church came up with an idea. The Charlotte, North Carolina, teens wanted those in the community to know that they weren't alone.
 
"The youth of the church wanted a way to represent our collective faith, grief and need for God and each other," said the Rev. Michelle Thomas-Bush, associate pastor for youth and their families. And since the youth had experienced the power of prayer in spirituality centers created within the church's walls, they had several creative ideas for outside the church.
 

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
Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.