Matthew 25 in Action: Nourishing Bodies and Souls at First Presbyterian Church of Chili

In the heart of the community, the First Presbyterian Church of Chili Food Cupboard embodies the spirit of Matthew 25:35, turning compassion into action by addressing both hunger and spiritual needs. Grounded in their church’s mission of being "Rooted in Faith, Growing Together, Caring for the Community," the Food Cupboard has become a cornerstone of outreach since its inception in June 2021.

A Vision of Sustenance and Hope

The Food Cupboard was established with a vision to provide emergency food assistance, fostering hope and a pathway to self-sufficiency for those in need. From its humble beginnings, the initiative has blossomed, driven by a commitment to nourish not just the body but also the spirit of the community. Every distribution day, which occurs once a month, sees their volunteers distributing vital food supplies such as fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and meat, sourced in partnership with Foodlink. These supplies are carefully selected to ensure a family can be sustained for at least a week.

In addition to physical nourishment, the outreach extends to spiritual support. During food distribution, they invite clients to share prayer requests, which are then communicated to the congregation for collective prayer, reinforcing their community bonds.

Record-Breaking Outreach

This past April, the Food Cupboard reached a new milestone, serving 111 households and 345 individuals — the highest ever since the program began. This increase is a testament to the growing need within their community and the trust and reliance that the community places in the church’s efforts.

Cooking with Miya: Educating and Engaging

Adding a new dimension to its mission, the Food Cupboard recently introduced "Cooking with Miya," a quarterly cooking class that combines food education with practical cooking skills. Each class, led by a representative from Foodlink, focuses on maximizing the nutritional benefits of fresh produce. The classes have proven immensely popular, with attendance nearing capacity and participants eagerly taking home new culinary skills and the ingredients needed to recreate healthy recipes at home.

The first class featured a Sweet Potato and Red Bean Chili, emphasizing the nutritional value of beans and their versatility, while the second class focused on Zucchini Pizza Boats, coupled with education on how to read nutrition labels effectively.

Growing Together

As we reflect on the impact of the Food Cupboard, it is clear that this initiative is more than just a food distribution center. It is a place where the community comes together to support each other in need, learn new skills, and foster deeper connections. Looking ahead, our focus remains on sustaining and expanding this vital community resource, ensuring that we continue to meet the evolving needs of our community.

The journey of the First Presbyterian Church of Chili Food Cupboard is a profound illustration of what it means to live out the Matthew 25 invitation. It is through these acts of service and love that they truly embody their calling to care for the least of these, making a tangible difference in the lives of many.

This initiative under the Matthew 25 umbrella continues to show that small acts of kindness and community-oriented projects can have a profound impact, echoing the core values of the Genesee Valley Presbytery and the Synod of the Northeast. Through initiatives like these, the members of the Synod of the Northeast are building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism, and eradicating systemic poverty, one step at a time.

EMI 2024 Contributions

The Early Ministry Institute (EMI) is proud to announce the generous contributions from several Presbyteries for the upcoming event. Each year, our 19 Presbyteries are asked to contribute $400 towards EMI, and this year, the following Presbyteries have already sent in their contributions:

• Eastern Korean Presbytery
• Presbytery of Albany
• Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
• Presbytery of the Highlands New Jersey
• Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley
• Presbytery for Southern New Jersey
• Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey

EMI extends its heartfelt thanks to these Presbyteries for their support in nurturing the next generation of church leaders. Their contributions ensure that the Emerging Pastors attending EMI receive the guidance and support they need to flourish in their ministries.

This year, EMI will be held from May 20-24, 2024, at the picturesque Silver Bay YMCA Retreat and Conference Center. We are thrilled to have 21 Emerging Pastors participating, each bringing their unique gifts and callings to the program.

EMI 2024 promises to be an enriching experience for all involved, with plenaries and workshops covering a range of topics essential to early ministry, including Boundaries, Loneliness for the Solo Pastor, Negotiating Your Call, Community Organizing, and much more. These sessions will equip Emerging Pastors with the tools and insights they need to navigate the challenges and joys of ministry.

We look forward to welcoming our Emerging Pastors to EMI 2024, as we continue our mission to support, educate, and empower the future leaders of the Synod of the Northeast. 

Synod Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) Gathering and Trial | April 2024

The Synod PJC met April 15-17 2024 for its first in-person trial since Covid. One post-Covid change is that the PJC now meets for trials and appeals in a church rather than in a hotel. Meeting in a church is far less sterile than a hotel. It reminds everyone as they go through what is often a difficult process who we are, whose we are, and the sacredness with which we hold judicial matters within the church.



This trial took place at the Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, New Jersey, and was an open meeting. Not only was this a perfect space in terms of the various rooms we needed, but the staff was so welcoming to us throughout our three days. The Interim Pastor, Rev. Jan Ammon, stated that she believed offering the church space to the PJC was a way to live out the fact that we are a connectional church. It certainly felt that way. Holding a trial in a church requires finding audio/visual people who can provide a high-quality recording of the proceedings and a caterer to keep the PJC well-fed as they work hard for three days. Thanks to recommendations from church staff and the Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey, we were able to find wonderful people to work with the Synod. Because of the length of the trial, the PJC is still in the process of completing their Decision and Order. We hope to hear from them soon. Thank you all who participated in this trial and the meeting of the PJC.

General Assembly

Training Session

The Office of General Assembly staff is sponsoring a training session for all GA commissioners and advisory delegates from the 19 presbyteries in the Synod of the Northeast on May 14th 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. via Zoom.

The session will be a time for general questions and will conclude with an OGA facilitated mock online meeting session. In order to attend, please register at this link:

An alternate date for those who cannot attend on May 14th will be determined shortly. We will share the date and time when it becomes available.

Donation from Coastlands Presbytery

Recently, at the request of Coastlands Presbytery Council members, the Presbytery of the Coastlands voted to send a contribution in the amount of $20,000.00 to the Synod of the Northeast designed for Indigenous Mission Support. Throughout our Synod there are several Indigenous congregations that have struggled to survive, yet, have continued to be faithful in their work and witness within the PCUSA. The contribution of Coastlands Presbytery will assist in needed building repairs that will soon be underway with several of these congregation and further support of mission in their communities.