PC(USA) Co-Moderator of the General Assembly Vilmarie Cintron-Oliviera, will be with us at our January 28th Presbytery meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown. This is a great opportunity for members of your congregation to experience the connectionalism of the PC(USA) -- the way in which we work together as congregations, presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly to further God's love in our ministry and mission.  Details and registration coming soon!

Friends, please look at this five-day Mediation Skills training event for all church leaders, specifically the session to be held in Scarsdale May 4-8.

This is the same training that your HRP Mediation Team members have received, and it is excellent, not merely for becoming mediators, but learning about Family Systems Theory and conflict management in general.  The facilitators from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center are excellent, and you will not regret your time invested in this educational opportunity.  It's not often that the training is presented in our own backyard.  Please jump in!  Questions?  Martin McGeachy, Presbytery Mediation Team Chair, [email protected].

By now all churches will have received a letter from HRP General Presbyter Deborah Milcarek encouraging you to make your congregation's Shared Mission and Ministry Pledge for 2020.

Read and share the updated Stewardship Sheet that illustrates how your congregation's Shared Mission and Ministry pledge and Per Capita giving are used by the presbytery to equip and connect the presbytery's congregations and leaders in God's service.

This year, for the first time, you can make your Shared Ministry and Mission Pledge online.  Questions?  Contact Emily Monk, HRP's financial administrator, at [email protected] or 914-941-2100.

Bring your whole Confirmation Class to Holmes of exploring faith and enjoying fellowship with youth from other churches. Retreats will be held in Nunemaker, our youth retreat building with cabin-style rooms of bunk beds and shared bathrooms, with common areas for our sessions and fellowship. Church groups will be split as evenly as possible to create the small groups for the retreat.

The retreat is designed for confirmation classes, their leaders, and adult mentors from their church. Together we will ask and affirm the big questions about how our own spiritual development is relevant as we navigate and explore our own journeys and the way they intersect with family, community, service, church, and our choices.  Learn more and register!

Stony Point Center's "Farm the Land, Grow the Spirit" Summer Institute is a free annual program that gives young adults the opportunity to practice living and working together in peace across their religious differences, in what Dr. King describes as a world house.  The Farm the Land, Grow the Spirit Summer Institute experience consists of three foundational pillars: intentional community living; farming, land, & faith; and intentional learning community to grow the spirit. Learn more. 

Applications will be accepted until all program positions are filled. Only completed applications, including one letter of reference, will be considered. Please address questions to  [email protected]

Winter is one of the best times to book a retreat, event, or conference at Stony Point Center! If you are a new group or a group that hasn't booked Stony Point Center since 2017, we have a winter promotion for you. We are taking 20% off your group's retreat, training or conference if your event takes place December or any month up until March 31, 2020. This promotion can be used for groups with 20 or more individuals and for weekend or weekday stays. Simply contact our Group Sales Manager, Mary Romano, at 845-786-5674 ext. 101 or [email protected] and specify which promo code you will use for your booking. New groups are invited to ask for promo code #welcomerate and groups who haven't been here since 2017, ask for promo code #returnrate.

Exploring the Power of Words to Open Us Up to the Presence of God in Our Stories, Our Lives, and Our World is the theme of this writing workshop led by HRP's own Rev. Dr. Deborah Bronkema at Cedarkirk Retreat Center outside of Tampa, FL.

Read more about the workshop which welcomes writers of all stages and ages.

The cost is $215 and includes all meals (Sunday dinner through Tuesday lunch), snacks, materials, and linens.  Each participant will enjoy a private room with shared hallway restrooms.  Click here to register.

PC(USA) Peacemaking Seminar Trip to Philipines Hong Kong

Save the date for New York Landmark Conservancy's Sacred Site Open House on May 16 as congregations of many faiths open their doors to visitors so the wider community may appreciate church history, architecture, and current ministry.  Some HRP congregations have participated in the past and many congregations have been assisted by the NY Landmark Conservancy.  If your congregation is interested in participating or you just want to learn more visit the Sacred Sites 2020 webpage.

HRP's Stewardship team recommends you take a look at this article -- even if your giving didn't go down!

 

If your giving in 2019 wasn't what you had hoped it would be, you're not
alone.  Giving to religion fell by almost 4% in 2018 (inflation adjusted),
largely because Christians continue to shift their giving away from the
church to other non-profit organizations. It is likely this trend repeated
itself in 2019.

Don't lose hope. A number of churches experienced significant growth in
ministry funding in 2019 simply by paying attention to key generosity
leverage points. Is your church fertile ground for these kinds of changes?
The following post offers nine questions you can ask yourself to determine
if your church is ready for a banner year in 2020.

	Rev. Helivao Poget

Register now to attend the webinar. All registrants will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device.

It is good to take stock of the congregation in the present moment; what gifts, passions, and skills they bring as assets for ministry. It is wise to consider emerging needs and opportunities for service beyond the church walls as well as within the congregation. Consider current neighborhood and community needs and congregational statistics within the context of multiyear trends. This kind of annual taking stock contributes to congregational vitality and can avoid being caught in a cycle of simply repeating what has been done in the past by merely shifting calendar dates. Read more.

A member of Pine Bush Presbyterian Church has a Story & Clark piano and a Wurlitzer Omni 1000 organ he would like to donate to any church who may need one. If your congregation is interested, could you please contact Pine Bush's Pastor, Russ Duncan, at [email protected] or call 845-703-0723.

We regret giving up this music, but, due to space considerations can no longer house them.  We would welcome a small donation for them if that might be possible. Please email me, Tamara Cashour, Director of Music at [email protected] if you are interested!

South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry has 100+ copies of The Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990 edition with a blue cover, to give away. Most copies are in excellent condition. If you are interested, please contact Anne Day at [email protected].  

The First Presbyterian Church of Allentown invites applications from college students or seminarians for two, paid, summer internships to work with youth.  The positions run from May 27 - August 8, 2020.  Deadline to apply is March 2, 2020.  Flyer with information.

The Union Church of Pocantico Hills, in Tarrytown, NY, is seeking a responsible self-starter to oversee its administrative and financial affairs under the supervision  of the interim pastor. The position requires 30 hours per week.  The salary will be $20-23 per hour depending upon experience. Interested persons should send their resume to the Rev. Dr. Lindley G. DeGarmo, [email protected].

The Student Pastor work as a part of the ministry team, cultivating relationships with the students and their families at The Reformed Church of Bronxville to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to nurture them toward spiritual growth. This person should have high spiritual maturity, strong relational and communication skills and experience in leadership and administration.  The RCA is in full communion with the PC(USA).  Learn more.

Irvington Presbyterian Church is seeking a Youth Group Director; an energetic and positive person to work with the Director of  Christian Education in organizing activities for the church's youth.  Must be willing to work  toward creating a safe and nurturing environment for our young people where they can develop relationships and learn and practice Christian values.  The position requires an estimated 7 hours per week, $25 an hour, September through May.  If interested, please contact [email protected].

Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, NY is seeking a youth leader for 10 hours a week who will work under the supervision of the Pastor. Interested people should send their resumes to [email protected].  Learn more.