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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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n our prayers together this week...
- Pray for those impacted by the outbreak of the Coronavirus and for those who lost loves ones to the virus and other flu strands.
- Pray for those in Tennessee who are impacted by the tornado.
- Pray for all those who are struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.
- Pray for Jim Russell as he continues his fight with esophagus cancer.
In the cycle of prayer 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
If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact:
CaySyrNews@gmail.com.
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Scenes from Sunday's worship service at First United Church of East Syracuse. The Rev. Deb Thomas sent thanks to Anne (Eve), Greg (Angel) & Paul (Devil) for illustrating temptation so well.
More photos on the church's Facebook page.
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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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 Hello, Cayuga-Syracuse!
I've been your Resource Presbyter for six months. It's not always been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. The ministry that is being done throughout this Presbytery humbles me ... and I wanted you to know that I see you.
I see the pride in your eyes as your children come forward for the Children's message, or how your eyes light up when you declare every last cookie has been sold at the bake sale. I see your passion for ministry and mission, and the amazing amount of energy and love that you bring to your lives together. I see the countless number of communion cups prepared and anthems rehearsed. Each and every Sunday, each and every day, your church thrums with life.
I also see that there are times when you are tired. It's hard to find teachers ... and it's sometimes even harder to find students. You're struggling to make ends meet, and you fear the questions you need to ask next. You're not sure what will give out first ... the boiler, the roof or your heart.
Our churches are all a compilation of the above: faithful folk trying to worship and serve God in their specific context dealing with complex challenges. I also know that one of your deepest fears is that folks will only see where you are deficient, and not where your deep histories and trust and faith for the future.
I see you.
I'm grateful for you, challenges and all.
As we move into the next six months, if there are ways that I can resource your ministry ... please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You continue to be in my prayers.
Blessings --
Karen
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 What: Implicit Bias Training
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, March 13
Where: First Presbyterian Church of Oneida, 304 Broad Street
Presented by Office of the General Assembly Colleagues Jihyun Oh, director of Mid-Council Ministries and Molly Casteel, manager of Equity and Representation
Who should attend: Leadership Team, members of COM, Leadership Workgroup, Church PNCs, those engaged in anti-racism training in local congregations.
What to expect: In this 1-day training, we will first learn and discuss concepts to help build frameworks and mental maps that enable us to engage in equity and cultural proficiency work, then we will apply key learnings to our own contexts. Finally, we will reflect on how both the concepts and the application might help to build Christ's kin-dom in our communities.
To register, please contact: kchamis@cayugasyracuse.org
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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: Thursday, March 5
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Place: Freedom of Espresso,
128 W. Genesee St., in Fayetteville
Date: Tuesday, March 10
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place:
Faith United Church of Oswego, 12 Mark Fitzgibbons Drive, in Oswego
Date: Monday, March 16
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Place:
Salt City Coffee, 509 W. Onondaga St., in 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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What:
Co
ronavirus Informational Gathering
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10
Where
: Liverpool First Presbyterian Church, 603 Tulip Street, Liverpool
Dr. Phil Kreitzer, a retired urologist from Syracuse, will be sharing information on the Coronavirus and how we can protect ourselves in our daily actions. This gathering is open to the public. No RSVP is necessary.
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 Annual Lenten Soup & Bread series
The annual Lenten Soup and Bread series has begun. Each host church provides a hearty variety of soups and bread for supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program. Previous programs have included singing hymns, assembling care packages, listening to instrumental concerts and participating in liturgical services.
The host schedule for 2020:
March 11:
Otisco Presbyterian Church
March 18:
Columbian Presbyterian Church
March 25:
Apple Valley United Methodist Church
April 1:
Onativia United Methodist Church
There's always plenty of food and worship! Please join us.
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Applications are being accepted for the Wurffel-Sills Scholarship and Interest-Free Student Loan Program now through April 1, 2020. Members of any church within the Synod of the Northeast, who are pursuing full-time undergraduate or seminary studies leading to a Masters of Divinity (MDIV) or Masters of Religious Education (MRE) are welcome to apply. Part-time studies, non-credit or certificate courses are not eligible to apply.
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March 23
Leadership Team Meeting
April 27
Leadership Team Meeting
April 27 Docket items due for the May 12 meeting
May 12
Presbytery Stated Meeting, Robinson Elmwood United Church
June 4 Spring Senior Fun Day at Vanderkamp
June 20-27
General Assembly, Baltimore
July 23-24
Board of Pensions Thrive Seminar (for clergy age 50+)
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Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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Coronavirus: Faith not fear
PC(U.S.A.)'s Theology and
Worship office issues pastoral statement on the coronavirus
By Tammy Warren
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - Many people worldwide have
questions about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), first detected in China and now in more than 60 locations internationally, including the United States.
Within the U.S., the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website currently shows confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in 12 states: Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Florida and Georgia.
In a March 2
World Health Organization statement about COVID-19, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's director general, said the number of cases continues to decline in China, with 206 cases reported the day prior, the lowest level since Jan. 22. The epidemics in the Republic of Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan are of greatest concern, he said.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance reaching out after destructive storms in Tennessee
Donations sought for those impacted in Nashville and beyond
By Darla Carter
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - Churches within the
Presbytery of Middle Tennessee sustained little to no damage from destructive storms that ravaged the state early Tuesday morning, killing at least 22 people, according to an initial assessment.
"A lot of the
 communities have been devastated, so we're waiting to hear what the needs are at this point," said Robin Thomas, who is co-executive presbyter for the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee with her husband, Ray.
"PDA quickly notified us this morning of the possible grants that we can apply for," she added. "They're willing to come down to be on the ground with us, but we just don't know what that need is yet."
A tornado tore through parts of Nashville and nearby counties, resulting in extensive damage and loss of life, numerous collapsed buildings and broken trees.
Fatalities include at least two deaths in Davidson County and at least 16 in Putnam County, according to
The Tennessean.
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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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