Annual Brass and Bells Holiday Concert

To Raise Funds for Educational Needs in Northeast Haiti

On Sunday, December 10, at 3 p.m. the United Church of Fayetteville Handbell Choir and the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble will perform their annual holiday concert in the church sanctuary. A free-will offering will be taken for its Haiti Educational Mission (HEM) to fund educational needs in Paulette, Haiti, for some 100 students. Concertgoers are also encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item for the F-M Food pantry. (Checks can also be made out to the United Church of Fayetteville with “Haiti” in the memo.)

The Syracuse University Brass Ensemble, directed by Dr. James T. Spencer and Craig Elwood, is composed of about thirty-five accomplished brass and percussion musicians from its faculty, students, staff, and alumni, the SUNY Upstate Medical University faculty and staff, and musicians from Upstate New York Communities. See: www.SUBrass.com for more information about this award-winning year-round band.  SU Brass has twice placed 1st nationally in the North American Brass Band Association.  United Church of Fayetteville’s Handbell Choir, directed by UCF Director of Music, Jonathan Bergman, is part of the church’s music ministry program and is composed of 12 musicians who ring Schulmerich Handbells for worship and community programs.

Some of the pieces on the program will be: Festival Bell Flourish, The Holly and the Ivy, A Muppet Christmas Carol, Let the Bells Ring and 12 Days of Christmas among others. The concert will also include an audience carol sing-along.

Invite friends, relatives and neighbors for this joyous event! United Church of Fayetteville is located at 310 E. Genesee Street and is accessible. See: www.theucf.org or call: 315-637-3186 for more information and directions.

In our prayers together this week:

• Please pray for the family and friends of Anne Reynolds. Anne was a former moderator of the Presbyterian Women of the Synod of the Northeast. She was a PWSNE mentor for 20 years and active in the synod for decades. Funeral arrangements to be announced.
• 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: Northminster, North Syracuse; Onondaga Hill; Faith United Church of Oswego; Presbyterian Church of Otisco; New Hope, Parish

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.

A prayer of thanksgiving

By Letarshia C. Robinson

Creator of the universe,

Creator of the heavens and the earth,

Creator of waters, sky, grass and trees,

Creator of creeping things and every animal of every kind,

Creator of every person everywhere,

We give you thanks and we give you praise.

Holy God, for your faithfulness,

For your mercies that are new every morning,

For your grace that finds us along our way,

We give you thanks and we give you praise.

Loving God, who endures with us,

Who rejoices with us,

Who weeps with us,

Who finds us when we are lost,

Who cares for us when we are broken,

Who listens as we pour out our hearts to you,

We give you thanks and we give you praise.

Righteous God, for your Holy Spirit,

Who refreshes our hearts,

Who fills us until we overflow with abundance of joy, love, and peace,

We give you thanks and we give you praise.

Eternal God, for your Son Jesus the Christ,

In whom you have delivered us,

In whom you have forgiven us,

In whom you have reconciled us and given us life everlasting,

We give you thanks and we give you praise.

By Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley

Over the last several weeks my work has taken me around the Synod. I have had the pleasure to lead worship in congregations, attend the installation service for Rev. Dr. Greg Garis of Susquehanna Valley Presbytery, and to attend the historic inauguration of Rev. Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton as Princeton Theological Seminary’s first Black President. In September, I joined representatives from Connectional Ministries and other Synod staff members in visiting Wright Memorial and Jimersontown Presbyterian Churches of the Seneca Nation in Western New York. With the completion of this visit we have now engaged in conversation with all Native congregations in our region. In 2024 the Synod will raise money to support building repairs for the four congregations as well as invite the larger community to join together in a mission day experience.

The Doctrine of Discovery, the moral mandate for colonization, stayed front of mind as we engaged the third visit to meet our Native siblings. The impact of those who conquered and seized more and more indigenous lands continued to surprise and confirm in my mind the continuing impact of the Doctrine of Discovery on current laws and our political divisions today. Some engaged in expanding their territory based upon an incomplete theology or at least a skewed understanding of Scripture. The story of a manifesto to build the wealth of one group on the backs of less dominant groups rewrites itself in the repeated history of our nation. The facts are undeniable that to justify Christian colonial conquest, the Church was an active partner in perpetrating the idea that European peoples, culture, and religion was superior to all others. These realities change the story of the first pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock and the story of Christopher Columbus. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) is grappling with how to right the wrongs and wrongdoings throughout the pages of our history.

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“Many hands make light work...”



The Vision & Strategy Committee is in the process of forming two working groups of 3-4 people each in support of our committee work.

1. Community & Fellowship Workgroup. The focus of this group is to develop ways, programs, events, etc. to foster a sense of community and connection between all the members of presbytery—that is, all of you--those who work, serve, and worship in the congregations that make up the body of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse.

2. Communications Workgroup. The purpose of this group is primarily to support our Communications Director in her work of reaching out to churches and sharing information and good news with our congregations.

We would appreciate volunteers and/or suggestions of people to ask to serve on these workgroups.  Contact: Rev. Deb Thomas email/text/call: revrndeb@gmail.com or 315-657-0147

Worship the Lord in gladness and make a joyful noise!

Thank you to all who participated in November’s presbytery worship service. Vice Moderator Lynn Jacques gave an inspiring sermon on resilience and flexibility, calling us to have deep roots of faith and bend in the storm like the palm tree. The communion liturgy was sung by Lynn and enacted by Rev. Ken Wonderland with the congregation singing in response. AND our new choir debuted under the direction of Mary Heather Harrington setting a worshipful tone with Dona Nobis Pacem and leading us in a joyful song of thanksgiving. We ended by passing the peace after standing on the promises instead of “sitting on the premises.”

If you would like to join your voice to the choir at the next presbytery worship, please give a call or send a note to Mary Heather to receive info about upcoming rehearsals. No long term commitment required. maryheatherharrington@gmail.com or 607-793-0430.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14

Congratulations to the following people who completed the Basic Preaching Class for Elders with flying colors:



Betty Armstrong (Whitelaw)

Sam Dance (Onondaga Hill)

Tom Eckrote (Baldwinsville)

Eliezer Hernández (Auburn Westminster)

Lynn Jacques (East Syracuse)

Jill Kilts (Whitelaw)

Susan Smith (Mexico)

Missed it??

Another class may be offered in the spring depending on interest. Topics covered are Sermon Preparation, Sermon Writing, Sermon Delivery and Foundations of Reformed Theology. Class size will be limited. The purpose of the class is to equip elders with tools, skills and confidence to fill in at their own church with invitation by their pastor or session. Those who complete the class may choose also to apply to COM for permission to be on the pulpit supply list. To find out more, contact Rev. Deb Thomas. revrndeb@gmail.com or text/call 315.657.0147.

At a recent meeting of the Presbytery Vision and Strategy Committee, there was much discussion around communication and connections, two things that come up regularly in both church and non-church groups. To facilitate communication and being a connectional church, Rita Hooper has volunteered to find out what churches have a Bible Study or topic study group and are willing to have others, who are not part of their worshipping community, join them. These groups may be live and in person or via Zoom or be a hybrid model. 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! 

Your Story

If a photo is worth a thousand words, than a video is worth a million!

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.

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.

The Rev. Kathleen Dain can be reached via email at KDain@cayugasyracuse.org or phone at (315) 551-0413.

We've extended our deadline:

Applications are still being accepted

for the Benevolent Care Grant Funds.

“The purpose of this fund shall be to provide benevolent grants to assist in the care of elderly persons within the bounds of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery.”

Criteria:         

1. Applications must be submitted by churches/sessions/boards or institutions. If an institution, a worshiping community within the Presbytery must indicate concurrence with the request.
2. A financial need must be clearly stated. i.e., sample budget
3. Grants will be awarded for benevolent care of the elderly residing within the bounds of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery.

Download Application HERE

Applications must be received by November 26, 2023.

Please email the completed Application Form to:

Lynn Jacques at lmjacques@verizon.net

Westminster welcomes temporary pastor

Westminster is pleased to announce the arrival of the Rev. Dr. Pamela Masten as our Temporary Pastor beginning January 1! Pam will be with us for a four-month period January through April 2024 to provide full-time pastoral leadership while the Pastor Search Committee continues its search for a new installed pastor. We are delighted to welcome Pam and pleased to introduce her to you. 

Pam is a “reverse snowbird”! She comes to us from Fort Lauderdale, FL, but she is a native of Cayuga County. She grew up in the Scipioville Presbyterian Church, where her parents are still active members. She’s been in Florida for most of her adult life, earning her BS from the University of Florida and her MBA from the University of South Florida. She also earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) from Drew University.

Rev. Shawn Reyburn from the Columbian Presbyterian Church in LaFayette is wondering if there are other congregations who would be willing to share the 25 count offering envelopes. Shawn says his congregation does not need all 25 and wants to split the cost and the envelopes with another congregation in the same spot. 

Interested? Contact Shawn Reyburn at (315) 663-6851

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

Presbyterian Women of the Synod of the Northeast - Read the Special Edition of The Lighthouse HERE

Horizons Bible Study

On April 3, 2020, the Presbyterian Women’s Bible study committee selected Olive Mahabir’s proposal to write a study about the person and work of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts. The result of three years of hard work—during the pandemic no less—is Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts.

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New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars

You can take this training any time during the year

charlaine@prcli.org

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Do you live-stream your service on Sundays?

We are compiling a list of live-stream links to feature in Presbytery Matters. This will allow others to join in on your services.

Please send links to CaySyrNews@gmail.com

The Rev. Kathleen Dain, Interim Resource Presbyter, can be reached by emailing KDain@cayugasyracuse.org or by calling (315) 551-0413.

The Rev. Amy E. Loving-Austin, Acting Stated Clerk, can be reached by emailing statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org

Sarah Buckshot, Communications Coordinator, can be reached by emailing caysyrnews@gmail.com or by calling (315) 877-8271.

Kristin Schierer, Bookkeeper, can be reached by emailing finance@cayugasyracuse.org

Our Address: PO Box 438, Syracuse, NY 13214

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.

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

Seeking a Creative and Caring Pre-School Teacher

Friends in Faith Christian Preschool is seeking a compassionate, and creative individual to team teach three-year-olds. Individuals who love working with children and creating an educational experience that develops curiosity and kindness for others should apply. The position requires experience working with children, a commitment to modeling love and respect, knowledge in child development, and effective communication skills.

The position is 8 to 10 hours per week with a salary range of $15.50 to $16.00 per hour. Please submit resume to Tracie Folley, Director, Friends in Faith, 603 Tulip Street, Liverpool, NY 13088 or fifcps@gmail.com

First United Church Fulton seeks pastor

First United Church Fulton is a small Presbyterian and American Baptist congregation, 40 minutes north of Syracuse. They are seeking a pastor who is looking for a part-time, interim, bridge, tentmaker position. 

The church's last permanent pastor retired 8 years ago. Since then they have had two transitional pastors, Covid, one short time, installed pastor and a series of Sunday pulpit supply.

"Flexibility and change have become our middle name," according to a church spokesperson.

Please contact Rick Casella at rickccasella@gmail.com or (315) 440-9115 for more information. First United Church Fulton is located at 33 South Third St in Fulton.

A BEAUTIFUL RING: First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango celebrated its Bell Choir the "Chittenango Chimers for Christ" last Sunday. The church says they "are truly blessed to have such a dedicated and talented group of ringers to call our own." Watch a video on their Facebook page.

A message from Nancy Talbot, Synod Stated Clerk:

As you know all councils of PCUSA are now required to have Anti-Racism and Harassment Policies that have been approved by the council. In an effort to make sure that each individual council does not have to start from a blank page, a group of mid council leaders without our synod came together and developed draft policies for your presbyteries and churches to use in whatever way you see fit. They are basically templates that allow you to include the information you deem appropriate and necessary as you develop your policies. 

Download Anti-Racism policy

Download Harassment policy

Many thanks to the people who gave their time and effort to provide these templates to the rest of us. The groups even met during meals at the Polity, Benefits and Missions Conference in St. Louis to accomplish this task. Steve Shussett, facilitator, Kate Jones-Calone, Kathy Dain, Becky Kindig, Mary Westfall and Jean Woodman created the Anti-Racism policy template. Steve Houston, facilitator, Becky Kindig, Steve Shussett, Mary Westfall, and Jean Woodman created the harassment policy. As you can see, there was a quite a bit of overlap of these dedicated folks between the two groups.  

Check out the Presbyterian connection in ‘Rustin’ on Netflix

Film critic and Presbyterian pastor Edward McNulty makes the connections for a film you can see at home over the holidays

By the Rev. Dr. Edward McNulty

Special to Presbyterian News Service

Virtually every adult American knows that Mahalia Jackson sang at the 1963 March on Washington and that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech there on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

But who can name the genius of organizing the massive event, without whom there would not have been a march? A man who had worked with union leader A. Philip Randolph back in 1941 to organize a similar march of 100,000 to go to Washington and demand that African Americans be employed in the defense industries — and who called it off when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order commanding that “Negroes” be hired in defense plants. That man was Bayard Rustin, often called “the forgotten hero” of the civil rights movement.

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An All Souls’ Day commemoration remembers the names of incarcerated women

Presbyterian pastor’s account tells of a moving ceremony held earlier this month

By Hans Hallundbaek

Special to Presbyterian News Service

The commemoration for All Souls’ Day, also known as All Saints’ Day, is a long-held tradition to honor family members who have passed. It is a tradition which takes different forms in human cultures around the world.

In the Northern Westchester Township of Bedford, New York, members of the community have in recent years extended this tradition to include a little-known cemetery located in their midst tucked away between the two female prisons, Bedford Hills and Taconic Correctional Facilities. These two prisons together hold about 600 women and share the prison cemetery dating back to the early 1900s. About 100 graves hold the remains of women and children who died while incarcerated without families to take care of their remains. The cemetery has for decades largely been forgotten by the busy world surrounding it.

On a cold November morning in 2019, a small group of three clergy and a few community members invited by the local Interfaith Prison Partnership organization gathered at the cemetery for a first All Souls’ Day commemoration, with the aim of bringing this burial place out of obscurity.

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