November 12, 2020

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 and supportive. In other words, we hope that these things will matter. Your input is valued, and your comments are always welcomed.

In the cycle of prayer our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities,and individuals: Northminster, North Syracuse; Onondaga Hill; Faith United Church of Oswego; Presbyterian Church of Otisco; New Hope, Parish

Dear friends,

 

On Sunday afternoon I will activate the "away message" on my Presbytery email, and it will remain activated until the end of November. I'll be spending two weeks of vacation working on my dissertation, baking and crafting and maybe constructing an interior wall at our cabin. It's such an amazing thing ... I hit the right buttons, and PRESTO! I'm in vacation mode!

 

I crack myself up. I wish it were that easy!

 

The reality is that it always takes me days to get in vacation mode, and given the limitations of this COVID season, I won't have much of a change of scenery to help that along. I understand the deep need we all have for sabbath - both on a cellular level as well as one embedded in our covenantal relationship with God. Plenty has been written about its importance, however, I find it far easier to read about sabbath time and embrace the theory of time away than to practice it ... perhaps because the actual practice of sabbath for me is work?

 

There's also the conundrum of exactly what sort of sabbath I need at this time. I will be abstaining from work, but I know what my soul really needs is to take time apart from the regular babble of news chyrons and social media; to step away from that stream of voices for just a bit so that I might remember who I am (and Whose I am).

 

This is really hard for me. For folks who have worked with the Enneagram, I'm a 7 (with a 6 wing) which means I suffer greatly from FOMO (also known as Feelings Of Missing Out). My theme song is "What did I miss?" from Hamilton. It's bad.

 

Why is it so difficult to do what we know will bring us renewal and life? It's not just a challenge that we face as individuals who know what we need to do in order to be healthier in mind, body and spirit. This challenge also faces congregational leadership that know the changes that need to be made and yet choose instead to debate the paint color for the parlor. We avoid doing what we need to do not because we are lazy ... but because we are afraid of what we will lose in the process.

 

Am I willing to lose my ability at quick political banter (aka "snark") by stepping away from the news reels for a few weeks? Will I lose my sense of what is happening in this Presbytery if I step outside for a bit? Absolutely, however the sabbath mandate is clear and the risk of not taking this time apart is actually greater than my ignoring this call.

 

What are you afraid of losing? What is the thorn in your side? Is it worth the risk of keeping it?

 

Blessings -

 

Karen

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Did you know that Sexual harassment prevention training is required for all employees of churches (from pastors to day care workers and sextons and all in between) in NYS on an annual basis? We're grateful that our new partnership with the PRC means access to their webinar on this topic which fulfills NYS's mandates.

To register, click on the date below.  For people watching as a group only one registration is needed. Send a list of those in your group to charlaine@prcli.org 

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Stay tuned for updates. 

And who knows? They just might be part of the next Presbyterian Planning Calendar

LOUISVILLE - By way of photo submission, Presbyterians are invited to tell the world the ways their church, mid council or organization is carrying out the Matthew 25 invitation.

The Presbyterian Planning Calendar, a beloved publication of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is once again seeking photo submissions from congregations, mid councils, camps, conference centers and education centers for use in its 2021-2022 edition.

The deadline to submit photos for the upcoming Presbyterian Planning Calendar is Feb. 16, 2021.

Images to be considered for the Presbyterian Planning calendar should feature church members and friends engaged in activities including worship, mission service, creativity and the arts, and direct outreach. Calendar planners ask that staged photos of groups of people and photos of people sitting at conference or dining tables be avoided.

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November 'Call to Worship' issue explores the relationship between poverty and liturgy

LOUISVILLE - In what is believed to be a first, "Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching and the Arts" a quarterly journal produced by the Office of Theology & Worship, is focusing an entire issue on poverty.

"In 54 years, I don't think we've ever taken this topic on," said the Rev. Dr. Kimberly Bracken Long, editor of "Call to Worship."

Long said she felt an issue on poverty and the liturgy was timely, in part because of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Matthew 25 invitation. Eradicating systemic poverty is one of the three foci in the vision, along with dismantling structural racism and building congregational vitality. These Matthew 25 priorities Long said, are reflected in our worship. She believes that worship shapes how we live in the world - and that our life in the world, in turn, affects our worship.