August 16, 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.

In pursuit of awareness and peaceful reconciliation

Partnership helps inspire creation of Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea

Kurt Esslinger

Mission Crossroads

Summer 2018

Soon after my wife, Hyeyoung Lee, and I began our mission co-worker assignment in South Korea, a Presbyterian elder from Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery, Linda Russell, called to tell us that her presbytery has been maintaining a Korean Partnership Team for over a decade. Linda suggested this team might be interested in our work as site coordinators of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program. We felt our excitement for the work ahead reciprocated. That began what has been a long and fruitful partnership with CayugaSyracuse Presbytery.

One member of the presbytery's Korean Partnership Team, the Rev. Earl Arnold, learned about our work through our blog. He read about a study trip we led with our YAVs to the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park, where, on April 3, 1948, as many as 30,000 people were massacred. Our blog post inspired Rev. Arnold to research other Korean massacres linked to the U.S. military. He found the story of No Gun Ri and noticed that the No Gun Ri Peace Park is very near our home in Daejeon, South Korea. Rev. Arnold made plans to visit us, and he asked if we could visit the No Gun Ri Peace Park together.

Continue reading in the Mission Crossroads magazine or by downloading the digital copy here.

Learn how to subscribe to Mission Crossroads Magazine.

The Rev. Earl Arnold gave a presentation on "Peace in Korea: History and Progress" at our Aug. 14 State Meeting.

Earl addressed the following points:

To learn more about the history of the conflict, Earl suggests books and articles by Bruce Cumings, the dean of Korean historians.

To learn more about the Presbyterian Church's involvement, Earl recommends getting involved with the Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea.

• Contact by email at Peacenetworkforkorea@gmail.com 
• Visit their Facebook page  

To get involved...

• Join the Global Campaign for a Peace Treaty.  
• Support the work of Kurt Esslinger and Hyeyoung Lee

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.

 

 In our prayers together this week...

• Continue to pray for South Sudan. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stated clerked backed a call for a day of prayer on August 12. "We have heard the cries of our Christian partners in The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and Sudan (PCOSS) as the search for peace continues. I call upon us all to join them..." -- The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson
• Pray for those working for peace in Korea, including those working with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Young Adult Volunteer program and Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea.

• Pray for Dan and Brian DeBrucker-Cota as they relocate to New York City. Dan will be attending Union Theological Seminary in September. He is pursing a dual Masters degree in Divinity and Social Work from Columbia University.

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

A Day of Kindness

Be a part of a special Day of Kindness  

to celebrate and honor the memories of loved ones on August 25, 2018.

   

 

Tractor Sunday at Sennett Federated Church  

Bring your tractor to church on August 26: toy tractors, pedal tractors, lawn tractors or any size farm tractors. Worshiping will be done outside on the lawn (weather permitting) and at the end of the service there will be a blessing of the tractors before the fall harvest.

The event will conclude with a hot dog roast. Guests are encouraged to bring a dish to share, their own picnic-ware, and a comfortable folding chair. Sennett Federated Church is located at 7777 Weedsport Sennett Road in Auburn. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to about 1 p.m. For more information, visit the church's event on Facebook.   

 

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Summer is more than 100 days and full of activities. That's more than 100 chances to help save a life and provide someone hope.  

 

Choose a day to donate blood. It only takes 1 hour of your time. Just 1 pint may save up to 3 lives. The need for blood is constant and the gratification of donating is instant.  

 

Onondaga Hill Presbyterian Church, which is located at 4797 Makyes Road in Syracuse, is hosting a blood drive from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 21 in the church's Fellowship Hall. For questions or to make an appointment, please call Jackie Guercio at 315-487-8029.  

For more information on donating or to find a blood drive near you,

By Rhashell Hunter

Presbyterian News Service

 

CONCORD, N.C. - There was something that felt perfectly right about the celebration of life of Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon at Bethpage United Presbyterian Church on Aug. 14 in Concord, North Carolina. First, there was the community that gathered. It was like a reunion of reunions for African-American Presbyterians and many others. We gathered, greeted each other, sang, praised God, read Scripture, remembered, celebrated and renewed our faith, even at a time of death of a beloved sister, aunt, friend and educator.

 

Dr. Diane Moffett, executive director and president of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, announced that a fund at the Presbyterian Mission Agency will provide scholarships for women of color to attend leadership development events. She asked for donations in honor of Katie Geneva Cannon, so that her name and legacy will continue. Those wishing to donate towards the fund should click here to donate online or include #E049991 on your check to designate the donation. 

 

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