Welcome to this week's edition of our e-letter, Presbytery Matters. | |
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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 "Facebook" icon at the top of this newsletter.
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Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery | |
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In our prayers together this week:
- Please pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
- Keep all those who battling cancer in your prayers. Please ask God to be by their side and to be with their doctors and families.
In the cycle of prayer our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: our Presbytery, the Synod of the Northeast and General Assembly staff.
If you'd like to share a particular joy or concern with the Presbytery, please contact: CaySyrNews@gmail.com. Please note, prayers will be featured for three weeks, unless a specific time frame is requested.
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NEW YEAR'S PRAYER
God of all time, as we start a new year, we look back with thanksgiving for your grace woven throughout each moment, every challenge, all of the joys of the past 365 days.
When the unexpected shook our faith and inevitable change caused us to be anxious, your promised presence never failed to bring mercy and compassion.
Before we race into a new season with resolutions or resolve, anticipation or resignation, we stop to reflect on where we sensed your providence, your provision, your sustaining love and transformative power in all that has brought us to where we are right now.
As we recognize your all-encompassing care for all creation, we look ahead with hope, trusting that no matter what triumphs or tragedies unfold, no matter how exhilarating or mundane the day, no matter how delightful or daunting we find this world, you never abandon us, you always seek us. You want nothing less than abundant life for all of us.
As we turn the page on another calendar year, make us instruments of your grace, stewards of your mysteries, the salt and light and leaven that preserves, illumines and grows your goodness in our portion of your time. Amen.
By Jill Duffield
The Presbyterian Outlook
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Registration is required.
Click Here to Register
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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From the Interim Resource Presbyter | |
New Year’s Resolutions
I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed a number of weight loss products being advertised lately. I presume the influx of Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and Peloton ads have far less to do with our overall health than with our obsession for New Year’s Resolutions.
We look upon this yearly tradition as the time to get things right, to correct the errors of our ways or at the very least to try to do better. Theologically, we call this repentance, when we turn from the habits of our past life toward the new life promised through God.
John the Baptist must have been a sight to behold. Dressed in camel hair and leather belt, one can almost hear the hum of locusts that dreaded his approach. Still, the Bible tells a story of the people coming to the wilderness not for John’s wild appearance, but for what he offered. They came with repentant hearts — willing to turn from the fruitless pursuits they had been following to the pathway that led to wholeness and reconciliation.
As members of the presbytery, we are resolved to follow God’s call. Part of that resolution is our desire to be more intentional in our witness to God. Over the coming months, we are resolved to provide more opportunities for our membership to engage with the greater church.
On January 9th we’ll hold our first Clergy Network gathering. This opportunity provides our clergy with a time to share ideas, collaborate, and witness to how God is working within our particular congregations. In February, we’ll host our first Leaders Summit. This is an informative event for church leaders led by church leaders to better equip all for carrying out the Great Commission in 2024. More details on this event will be in next week’s e-news.
New Year’s Resolutions take effort. Our lectionary this week recalls Jesus’ baptism by John. Yet, no sooner had the Spirit descended with the words, “You are my Son, the Beloved,” than Jesus was driven into the wilderness. It took resolve on his part, trusting in his identity as the beloved, to stay the course that brought us freedom. Let’s resolve to share that message in this New Year.
In Christ’s Peace,
Kathy
Rev. Kathleen Dain
Interim Resource Presbyter
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Interested in joining a Bible Study Group? Here are few available now!
In 2024, PW Churchwide’s Justice and Peace Committee is hosting book discussion groups again. Consider participating in one or all of the book discussions! The discussions will be held on Zoom, bimonthly, on the second Monday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It’s free to participate, but registration is required. You will receive questions for reflection/discussion and a Zoom link 24 hours before each session. Learn more.
Scipioville Bible Study - "Beverages and Bibles" meets at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in December. Register Here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing needed information.
Isaiah’s Table meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. It is part of their adult education program and concentrates on Spiritual Nurture and Social Justice. During Advent they have been reading The First Advent in Palestine by Kelley Nikondheha. Join Zoom.
Meeting ID: 838 0808 2621
Passcode: 203109
A Presbyterian Women’s Group (that sometimes has men join them) began during COVID to keep PW of C-S together … The group includes members from New Jersey, Connecticut and Iowa, and about half are Presbyterian. (God does have a sense of humor!) The group focuses on books that tend to deal with discrimination. Sometimes they even read novels! Contact Rita at twohoops2@gmail after the first of the year if you would like to check this out! They meet Thursdays at 7 p.m.
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Does your church have a Bible Study, book clup or topic study group and are willing to have others? You are asked to send your information to:
Rita Hooper
210 Meadowbrook Circle
Fulton, NY 13069
or
twohoops2@gmail.com
For questions, text or call her at 315-706-3564.
Information Needed:
Book of Bible you are studying
Bible Study you are using (Title, Author, Publisher) if you are using one.
Topic you are studying eg: the border, Palestine-Israeli situation, Ukraine, Christian Nationalism, literacy,homelessness, refugees, aging, discrimination of any and all kinds etc
When the group meets eg. third monday at 10am, weekly on Tuesdays at 7 pm etc.
Where they meet - church name and location
Zoom information
Contact information (name, phone, email) of person who is responsible for this group
We are family and we are better together … help us share the good things happening in Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery.
Don’t wait for someone else to do it … if you know the info, please let Rita know, she would rather get it 5 times than not at all!
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Interim Resource Presbyter Announcements | |
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Under the new guidelines from the Book of Order, boundary training is required every three years for: Ministers of Word and Sacrament, Certified Christian Educators (CCE), Certified Christian Ruling Elders (CRE) and Inquirers before moving to candidacy.
The presbytery has contracted with SafeGatherings https://safegatherings.com for the online boundary training course. To learn more, or to register for the course, please contact your committee chair or the interim resource presbyter.
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Background checks for incoming Ministers of the Word & Sacrament are now conducted through Praesidium.
https://www.praesidiuminc.com
To request a background check, please contact your COM liaison.
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Park Central Church in Syracuse received a ReKindle Grant from the Columbia Theological Seminary which allowed the church to provide a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)training with their congregational leadership and members this fall. The funding also gives the church the ability to offer this training in the Spring to congregational leaders from other local Presbyterian churches.
The trainings are in-person for 5 weeks and end with an all day in-person retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center in Syracuse.
Two virtual information sessions have been scheduled for Monday, January 8 at 11 a.m. and Thursday, January 11, at (new time) 7 p.m. You only need to attend ONE of the information sessions. If you are interested in learning more about the trainings please send an email with your desired information session date/time to Marissa Saunders at niaministriesworldwide@gmail.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.
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Fellowship Hall Rental
The Collamer United Church fellowship hall is available for rent for special occasions, meetings, and other activities. Maximum capacity is 140. We have seating for 122 people. We also have a very nice commercial kitchen which is available for an extra charge.
Please contact the church office for information.
Collamer United Church
6865 Collamer Road
East Syracuse, New York 13057
(315) 463-4939
collamerunitedchurch@verizon.net
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Practical Resources for Churches Webinars | |
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Our Address: PO Box 438, Syracuse, NY 13214
Click Here for Staff Contact Information
Click Here for a list of Live Streams from our churches
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Part-time Pastor Search
My sheep, pastured in Fulton, 40 minutes north of Syracuse have come together as a united flock of American Baptists and Presbyterians. They are looking for a part-time, interim, bridge, tentmaker shepherd who has that spirit of adventure and is looking for new fields to share their skills and talents with.
If you would like to talk about this position please contact me at 1Godlovesya or my assistant Rick Casella at rickccasella@gmail.com or 315-440-9115.
Hoping to hear from you,
Thanks, God.
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Seeking Nursery School Director in Baldwinsville
The First Presbyterian Nursery School of Baldwinsville is beginning a search for a nursery school director for the Fall 2024. The position is part-time from 8:30am-12:30pm on Tuesday through Friday. A qualified candidate will ideally have a Bachelor’s degree in the field of education and experience working with 3,4 and 5 year old children.
Some of the responsibilities performed by the director are as follows:
- Organize and maintain all student files
- Oversee the preschool program and offer support and guidance to classroom teachers
- Collect and keep tuition records & expense records for the school
- Assemble and mail all summer communications to families
- Day to day operations of program and building
Email resume to Baldwinsville Presbyterian office: admin@presbville.com
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Two East Syracuse churches seek to share Presbyterian pastor
The Collamer United Church and the First United Church of East Syracuse are two separate churches seeking to share a full-time solo Presbyterian pastor. Our churches are both located in East Syracuse, New York, only 2.3 miles apart. We are both united Presbyterian and Methodist denominations. We are blessed to have a hard-working core of active participants in both churches who manage the church business, coordinate the worship services (one at each church building), and hold mission events. We are working together and sharing some staff and resources. We believe this to be a very supportive environment. In addition, we believe that Central NY can provide an attractive quality of life, with our parks, culture, and quality schools.
The pastor’s duties would include worship leadership and preaching, pastoral care, oversight of Christian education, moderating the Sessions, guidance with mission projects, and representing the congregation to outside groups. We are mindful that we are two churches and do not expect a pastor to provide full-time services to each church.
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Are you hiring?
If your church is hiring, please send an announcement and job description to Communication Coordinator Sarah Buckshot at caysyrnews@gmail.com
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VISIT OF THE MAGI: Northminster Presbyterian Church's narthex is prepared for Epiphany. | |
Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | |
Presbyterian podcast looks at the harmful effects of church patriarchy
Liz Cooledge Jenkins was the guest last month on ‘A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast’
By Mike Ferguson
Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — Liz Cooledge Jenkins, author of a new book on the perils of patriarchy, said on a recent episode of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” it can be “a long journey” for churches to determine just who gets to be considered a leader, a theologian or a biblical scholar. But many have found it’s a journey worth taking.
Jenkins, a Presbyterian and the author of “Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism,” published last month, was the guest on the weekly podcast hosted by Simon Doong and the Rev. Lee Catoe. Listen to their 35-minute conversation here.
“Just seeing a woman in the pulpit is huge,” said Jenkins, a former campus pastor who calls herself a “recovering evangelical.” Even the ways that men and women read scripture are often different, she said, “because we’ve been socialized to notice different things and read in different ways.”
In fact, the gospels depict women “as some of the most devoted followers of Jesus,” Catoe said. “Women were there at the tomb, and they stayed at the cross.”
Continue reading...
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Historic African American PC(USA) church to host Matthew 25 Summit
‘I hope that the church at large will
experience New Life’s passion for community justice,’ church team leader says
By Beth Waltemath
Presbyterian News Service
Open the doors of New Life Presbyterian Church on any day of the week and you will find people active and engaged in all sorts of life-giving activities.
“If you came on a Monday and Wednesday, you’d probably see our vibrant seniors in their walking club. What you’ll see on a Tuesday or Thursday of the week is a dedicated group of people who have for years opened the doors of New Life to meet the needs of the community by providing them with nutritional food and other resources and connecting them with social service agencies,” said the Rev. Hodari Williams, team leader of New Life Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.
According to Williams, New Life gives more than 600,000 pounds — 300 tons — of food a year, thanks to generous donations from the congregation and partnerships with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Midwest Food Bank. When Williams began his tenure as team leader, the church became the site of the Legacy Academy, a school offering affordable quality education to children ages 4 through 8. “Our hope is to expand,” said Williams, recognizing the importance of early childhood education in closing the opportunity gap for children in South Fulton, Georgia. “We do our best to service those children and provide them with a strong educational foundation.” On the campus of New Life is a community garden and a lot they plan to develop into a community center. There have also been discussions about developing affordable housing in the area.
Continue reading...
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P.O. Box 438, Syracuse 13214
(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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