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Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 632-5698
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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.
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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.
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Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery
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I
n our prayers together this week...
In the cycle of prayer for our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities,and individuals:
Minister members of the Presbytery who are engaged in specialized ministries, who are at-large members, or who are retired
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If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact:
CaySyrNews@gmail.com.
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The First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango thanks the individuals who care for the church's flower garden. Photo taken by Lillian Purdy.
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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.
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From the Resource Presbyter
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By the Rev. Karen Chamis
 Hello, Cayuga-Syracuse!
And, just like that ... I'm Installed for service and use!
If you missed the Installation, please check out the pictures and videos that Sarah has put up on
Facebook. You'll hear wise words offered by colleagues and friends who poked and prodded, but also lovingly reminded us of our mutual accountability to one another. This Installation wasn't about me ... but about US (I'm not sharing the chocolate, however*).
All of the activity of the past weekend has had me thinking (again) about how individuals collaborate in ministry and what it means to be church.
- Church is messy because it requires collaboration.
- Church is difficult because it requires us to trust others.
- Church is frustrating because the wisdom of our goals is often foolishness to another.
Yet participating in this messy, difficult and frustrating work is some of the most rewarding work any of us can do. When we collaborate, we are called out of our egos and fears and find that we have been convoked to do this work together. This convocation of folks is at the root of the Greek word ekklesia - or church.
To be convoked (it's a word, I promise!) as the Church means to let go of our own way, and to find our collective way together. It requires not just trust in God but in each other - which is a radical world-changing sort of love. To be convoked as a Presbytery is to find ways to encourage that radical love in the communities we serve. We are connected for service and use!
As I make my way around the Presbytery, there are two themes emerging. One is a deep desire to be convoked - to collaborate with our Presbyterian siblings and to be in deep partnership with each other. The other is mistrust for the Presbytery and a concern for being hurt by our siblings.
This tension is real. This tension is also, I believe, integral to who we are called out to be. The community we desire is not because of who we are... but in spite of it, and it is a witness to the transforming love of Jesus.
The Installation is complete. Now we are connected for service and use. Shall we take the risk to deepen that connection? I'm game - heck, I'll even share my chocolate.
Blessings -
Karen
*Shannan Vance-Ocampo offered the Charge to the Presbytery, but she gave ME chocolate. Nice how that worked out, eh? No, really ... I'll share.
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Resource Presbyter's Mobile Office Day
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Our Resource Presbyter, the Rev. Karen Chamis, will be working remotely at the following locations:
Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: South Valley Presbyterian Church
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: Salt City Coffee, 509 Onondaga St., Syracuse
Feel free to drop in for a conversation - or just to say hello
Karen can be reached at 315-632-5698 (option 1) or kchamis@cayugasyracuse.org
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Benevolent Care Fund Grant applications:
The Benevolent Care Fund Grant applications are now being accepted through Nov 1, 2019.
The purpose of this fund is to provide benevolent grants to institutions that assist in the care of elderly persons within the bounds of the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery.
Examples of previous requests are: food gift cards for shut-ins within the church community, senior lunch programs, "Music and Memory" program for nursing home residents, replacing dining room chairs and driveway/parking improvement at senior centers.
The application form can be
found on the our website. Completed applications can be submitted to Leadership Team Chairperson, Lynn Jacques, at lmjacques@verizon.net.
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 A Celebration of New Ministry for Adam Svereika will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 13 at the Hannibal Community Church, 326 Church St., Hannibal.
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Docketeering Deadline Approaches
 Friends, as we begin the work of preparing for our stated meeting on Nov. 2, we want to remind you that the deadline for submitting information to be included on the docket is
Thursday, Oct. 17.
The Docket Mailing will need to go out shortly thereafter to adhere to the 10-day notification deadlines.
Thank you in advance for your submissions and your cooperation.
God's Peace be With You,
Pastor Ben
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From the Associate Stated Clerk
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 Session Records Review - 17 signed up, 20 to go!
Session records reviews will be conducted this month. Clerks are asked to RSVP to Linda Russell, Associate Stated Clerk (
lsruss@aol.com
), and make an appointment by October 21st for one of the following dates and times:
Tuesday, October 22 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. @ Liverpool
Thursday, October 24 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. @ Auburn-First
Tuesday, October 29 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. @ Fayetteville
Sessions are expected to be open for 2 hours; however, the evening session may be extended to accommodate clerks who work until 5:00 p.m. If that applies to you, please register for the 5:00 p.m. session and indicate "late arrival" with an approximate time for your arrival. The records review checklist has been updated and now requires information about the church's child/youth safety policy and the church's sexual harassment prevention policy and training. The updated checklist can be found here.
Please write "Records Review" in the email subject line and include the name of the church and the name of the clerk of session in the email. Thank you!
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To all churches from the Board of Pensions...
 Time is running out. The last chance for churches to select Board of Pension benefits for their employees is Friday, October 11. Log on to Benefits Connect by October 11 and submit your Employer Agreement with your benefits selections for 2020, even if there are no changes from last year. The selections you submit on your agreement will determine the options available to your employees during annual enrollment, starting October 28. (If you have already submitted your Employer Agreement and want to add a new benefit or benefit group, you can still make changes through October 11.)
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Friday Night Shindogs & Kampfires at Vanderkamp
What: Fun Family Evenings
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Dates: October 11
October 18
Cost: $10 per person (6 & under are free)
The night includes BBQ, hayride, campfire with silly songs and s'mores.
BBQ will be served from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Kampfire begins at 7 p.m.
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 What: Harvest Ham Dinner
When: 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 12
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 64 Oswego St., Baldwinsville
Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 years old and kids 5 years old and under are free
Dinner will be served family-style
Take-outs also available
Menu: Ham, scalloped potatoes, squash, peas, applesauce, breads, pies and beverages
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 What: Benefit Day for Weedsport First Presbyterian Church at Arby's
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, October 14
Where: Arby's on Route 31 in Weedsport
Mention Fundraiser for First Presbyterian Church Youth Group
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Youth program at OHPC open to children throughout Presbytery
Does your child like to have fun, play games, worship Jesus?
Are you looking for a mid-week program that teaches about Jesus and Christian values to children in fun and exciting way?
LOGOS brings together a diverse group of Christian children from across Central New York to eat, play, learn & worship.
When:
6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, 2019
(Parents stay for dinner from 6 to 6:45 p.m.)
Where:
Fellowship Hall at Onondaga Hill Presbyterian Church
4797 Makyes Road, Syracuse
Questions:
Contact Sarah Buckshot at ohpcyouth@yahoo.com or 315-877-8271.
The LOGOS System and Program is a dynamic ministry of
Christian education, the goal of which is to nurture youth
and children into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- LOGOS is a non-denominational Christian youth program for students in 3rd to 9th grade students from ANY church or school district.
- LOGOS will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. We meet about twice a month at OPHC.
- During LOGOS, students will eat dinner together, learn a bible study lesson, play games and participate in worship.
- Students will present at our Celebration Sunday service on June 7.
- There is a fee for LOGOS. Discounts for multiple students and scholarships are available.
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What: Basket Bingo
When: 2 p.m. Saturday, October 19
Where: In the annex at The New Hope Presbyterian church, 814 Rider Street.
Make a donation to receive your bingo card(s). There will be many themed baskets (seasonal,children, pet, entertainment, etc.) The bingo games will continue until the baskets are diminished. There will also be door prizes. Refreshments available for purchase during intermission.
The proceeds will be donated to the Parish Ecumenical Food Pantry and the APW Backpack program.
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The CNY Poor People's Campaign and the congregation of Hopps Memorial CME Church invite the public on Sunday, Oct. 20, 6:00-8:00 p.m. to learn about and reflect upon the Four Hundred Years of Inequality, 1619-2019. The group will discuss the ecology of inequality - past, present, and future - and reflect on how this single event in 1619 affects all of us today, no matter the color of your skin or the amount of money in your pocket.
This event will be held at Hopps Memorial CME Church, 1110 South State St. in Syracuse. Hopps is an accessible facility with ample, private parking.
Light refreshments will be available. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Learn more about the campaign below:
The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
 By Rev. Denise Anderson
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and corrosion consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor corrosion consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Jesus of Nazareth (according to Matthew 6:19-21)
In August 2015, I attended an event at Montreat Conference Center called "Dr. King's Unfinished Agenda." This event was hosted as a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic and at the time controversial address at Montreat's Christian Action Conference.
At that commemorative event, we heard from Charles Blow, Leonard Pitts, Dr. William Barber, Congressman John Lewis and Bishop Vashti McKenzie in what can only be described as a transformational, inspiring and enlightening experience. We came away from that event reinvigorated and determined to further the cause of justice.
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What: Small Town Worship Tour 2019 with Seventh Day Slumber and Nathan Sheridan
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 6
Where: Hannibal Community Church, 326 Church St., Hannibal
Cost: Free
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Celebrating God's Call
The Rev. Karen Chamis installed at Resource Presbyter
The Rev. Karen Cronenberger Chamis was installed as the Resource Presbyter of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse on Saturday afternoon.
"In her baptism, Karen was clothed with Christ. She was ordained as a teaching elder by the Presybtery of Genesee Valley and is now called by God through the voice of the church to serve as Resource Presbyter of this Presbytery," said the Rev. Tom Oak during the installation ceremony.
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October 17-21 Mid Council Leaders Gathering, Baltimore
October 21 RSVP deadline for Session Records Review appointment
October 22 Session Records Review - Liverpool
October 23 Docket mailing
October 24 Session Records Review - Auburn-First
October 28 Leadership Team meeting, Auburn-Westminster
October 29 Session Records Review - Fayetteville
November 1 Benevolent Care applications due
November 2 Presbytery meeting, Baldwinsville
November 8-9 Synod - "Come to the Table" at Stony Point
November 21-23 Moderators' Conference, Louisville
November 25 Leadership Team meeting, First United, East Syracuse
December 23 GA commissioner names due to OGA
December 23 Leadership Team Christmas gathering, home of Karen Chamis
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Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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You can give, pray or come see for yourself
Webinar serves as update for the crisis in Haiti - and how Presbyterians are helping
By Mike Ferguson
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - Presbyterians who want to help Haitians dealing with the almost simultaneous effects of natural disaster, government corruption, fuel shortages and crop challenges have at least two choices, according to Fabienne Jean, coordinator of
FONDAMA, or Hands Together Foundation of Haiti, a network if 11 farmer organizations across the Caribbean nation currently choked with
deadly protests that have paralyzed the economy and closed businesses and schools.
"You can stay in the U.S. and give your money," she said during a Monday webinar designed to update viewers on her nation's most recent struggles, "or you can come meet the people and be in on the action."
Continue reading...
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Endowments can benefit churches
for generations
Stewardship Kaleidoscope workshop outlines endowment basics
By Robyn Davis Sekula
Presbyterian Foundation | Special to Presbyterian News Service
He started with an explanation of how endowments work - and what makes them different from other kinds of bank accounts. Three key criteria set endowments apart from other types of investments or bank accounts, Keizer said.
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5811 Heritage Landing Dr., 2nd Floor
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 632-5698
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"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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