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| From the Transitional General Presbyter |
Friends,
At Tuesday's Presbytery meeting,
while we were reflecting on what it means to stand together with those who have been made poor during our presbytery meeting on Tuesday, Glenn Hendricksen rose to the microphone and shared a poem he had composed on the spot.
It's All Jesus' Fault
by Glenn Henricksen
If Jesus hadn't valued the poor,
It would be perfectly OK to take money from the poor
to give to the rich and large corporations.
If Jesus hadn't healed the helpless sick,
We would be justified in taking health care away from the poor.
If Jesus hadn't spoken to the Samaritan woman and rescued the adulterous woman from certain death,
It would be fine to control, disparage, and use women's lives.
In all that we do, may we follow in the footsteps of Christ.
Peter Surgernor
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"Bits and Pieces" from our Sept. 18 Presbytery Meeting!
Are you missing a black and gold bag?
Following our Presbytery's meeting on Tuesday, Holmes Camp found a black and gold bag. Is it yours? To claim it, please inquire directly with the Holmes office at
845-878-6383 or
[email protected].
And as there was a ghost in the machine on Tuesday impeding audio,here, too, is the great "What's Working" video from New Hempstead Presbyterian. Feel free to share!
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| What's Working....at New Hempstead Presbyterian Church |
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Communion Training for Elders, Sept. 30
The Committee on Ministry will offer a second training session for elders.
Download the flyer.
Sunday, September 30, 2:00 pm
at Cornwall Presbyterian Church,
222 Hudson Street, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY 12520
This training is for those elders whose training has lapsed (had training 2+ years ago)
, t
hose who haven't been trained yet
, those who have been authorized by their home-church Session (please bring a letter from Session with you to the training)
- Training in creating/officiating a service of Communion
- Introduction to the different parts of the service and what they signify
- Resource materials for creating the service
To register: Please call or email Jean Kaiser in the Presbytery office (914) 941-2100;
[email protected].
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Video Trainings for Clerks of Session & Church Officers are Now Online
The comprehensive trainings offered at the Spring 2018 semester of Hudson River
 University by HRP's Stated Clerk, Susan DeGeorge, and HRP's former Interim General Presbyter, Gavin Meek, are online.
You can use these in your own congregation to review important themes and to train others. The videos are segmented into 20 minute segments and have accompanying powerpoints embedded in them.
Check them out.
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Pastoral Sabbath at Stony Point, Sept. 26-27
Led by Rev. Leslie Mott, the
Pastoral Sabbath Retreat is a time for clergy "to come away by yourselves and rest for a while," so that we may return renewed to those we serve.
Those attending receive materials for reflection and study and have the opportunity to engage in gentle yoga class, guided meditation, group and individual spiritual direction, and prayer.
In this second year of the two year Synod Innovation grant, in order to extend the grant funding as long as possible, it is necessary to introduce tiered pricing for the Pastoral Sabbath. The cost for a participant is approximately $150.00 for accommodations and four meals. A partial scholarship of $75.00 would be offered to those whose finances would otherwise preclude them from this opportunity, and a limited number of full scholarships will be available through the Fall. Please indicate on your
registration if you are in need of scholarship funds. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Leslie Mott:
[email protected].
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The Rev. Peggy Howland to be Honored at Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Reception, Oct. 20 
Congratulations, to HRP's own Rev. Peggy Howland, the 2018 recipient of the Anne Barstow & Tom Driver Award for Excellence in Nonviolent Direct Action in Retirement!
Please buy tickets for the Celebration Luncheon on October 20th by October 6.
Celebrate Peggy and the work of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship by attending their annual reception and luncheon followed by a film "Out of Order" and featuring a keynote by Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr, "Paving a Way in the Wilderness." The Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr is a Presbyterian Minister and member of the Queer Community, who advocates and educates for an inclusive church and society - for all! Spread the word!
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Boundary Training for Pastors and CRE's, Oct. 23
On Tuesday 23 October 2018 the annual Boundary Training event for the Presbytery of Hudson River will be held at Holmes Camp and Conference Center. This mandated training is a PHR requirement set forth in policy enacted by the Presbytery.
If you have never attended Boundary Training, plan on attending from 2 PM to 8 PM. Dinner will be available at a cost of $15, by reservation. You will have received an e mail from the Presbytery office if you need to attend this training.
If you attended Boundary Training 5 or more years ago, you have reached the 5 year renewal anniversary for Boundary Training. Plan on attending from 5-8 PM. Dinner will be available at a cost of $15, by reservation. You will have received an e mail from the Presbytery office if you need to attend this training.
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Leading Intentional Change for the Flourishing of Community, Oct. 27
"Building the new is a fundamentally different task than fixing the old," wrote
David Cooperrider
in Appreciative Inquiry. The HRP Council invites you and leaders within your congregation to join us for an "HRP Leadership Deep Dive" led by Deborah Rundlett. Debbie is a gifted coach and trainer who has served in business, the academy, and the church. For the last twelve years, she has served as General Presbyter of Muskingum Valley Presbytery and the Presbytery of Chicago, respectively. She is passionate about equipping leaders to serve as agents of change for the flourishing of their communities.
What An HRP Leadership Deep Dive
Who:
Pastors, Staffs, Congregational & Community Leaders
When: Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 8:30am-12:30pm
Cost Free for HRP Pastors & Congregations
(with suggested donation of $20
per person to cover the cost of assessments.
Who should come?
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Any leader seeking to lead intentional change in their context.
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Pastors, staffs, and leadership teams.
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Cross-disciplinary teams committed to community-based transformation.
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Leaders in the workplace seeking to connect soul with Source.
Read the
flyer to learn more and plan to bring a group of leaders from your congregation to this wonderful event that will truly empower and inspire!
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Moderator Training, Nov. 10
HRP's Moderator training will be held at Stony Point Center on Saturday, November 10 from 9:00-3:00. This training is for:
- Elders who may be called on to serve as Session Moderators in churches without Pastoral leadership (especially in Regions 1 & 4); and
- Pastors not serving in pastoral positions who would like a stronger foundation for Moderating Sessions.
Learn more and share the flyer.
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PC(USA) 2019 Grants for Church Seeding and Renewal
The Mission Development Resources Committee (MDRD) has a a number of grants
:
- New Worshiping Communities Seed
- Investment, Growth & Health Insurance Grants
- Presbytery Grants for Congregational Transformation and the Sam & Helen R. Walton Awards.
Information, timelines, and resources are available at
MDRD's website
.
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HRP Youth and Youth Leaders: Save the Date for Presbyterian Youth Triennium, July 16-20, 2019
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| HRP Gets Energized for the 2019 Youth Triennium |
Triennium is a truly amazing, once-every-three-year gathering of over 5,000 of Presbyterian Youth from across the US and the world. It is open to high school age youth from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (entering 9th grade through graduated 12th grade). In 2016, the Hudson River Presbytery delegation members had a truly transformative experience as they were challenged to see all the ways that God is asking them to "GO" out into the world.
The theme of the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium is "Here's My Heart", drawn from the words of the hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Young people and their adult leaders are invited to "come experience God's love in a way so powerful and compelling that they, too, are moved to say, "Here's my heart". And together we will learn what it means to serve Christ with our intelligence, energy, imagination and love."
Please reach out with questions and interest (especially if you can help as a Delegation Leader) to Stephanie Hare, Director of Youth Ministries at FPC Yorktown, the 2019 Triennium Registrar for Hudson River Presbytery:
[email protected] or 914-826-1227.
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Presbyterians in Ricon, Puerto Rico Celebrate Worship with Hymnals and Bibles donated from Hudson River Presbytery
South Salem, Stony Point, Cornwall, Scarborough and Peekskill Presbyterian churches all donated hymnals, bibles, and financial gifts to the Presbyterian congregation of Rincon, Puerto Rico following the devastation of the Hurricane Maria. Here's a photo of our sisters and brothers worshipping! Read the
thank you from Barbara Devir who facilitated donations.
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HRPGreen Visit to Chung Yen Monastery for Christian-Buddhist Environmental Dialogue, September 28
Join HRPGreen for an interfaith exchange on ecological issues with members of Chung Yen Monastery, located in Kent, NY, less than six miles from Holmes Camp. Starting at 10:30, participants will be treated to a Buddhist welcome ritual and a tour of Great Buddha Hall and Kwan Yin Hall, followed by lunch with members of the community. After our meal we will have a Buddhist-Christian dialogue about ecological issues and the potential for joint projects to address them. The visit will conclude by 2:30.
Download the flyer.
Our host for the day will be Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, an American Buddhist.
He obtained a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School (1972) and is the co-founder of Buddhist Global Relief. Space is limited so register now by emailing Kathy Dean, [email protected].
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Youth from Rural and Migrant Ministry
Still Need Your Help!
$5,270 down, $24,730 to go!
Meet the Youth Economic Group (YEG). This innovative group of high school students in Sullivan County meet to run a youth-led cooperative and to address issues of injustice that affect us all. Their van died (with 200,000+ miles on it) which means these youth who live in isolated rural setting can no longer get to their meetings. They hope to get a new van but need your help. Donate now! Even $10 would help! Can you help with the $24,730 left to go?
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HRPGreen Video Library for Congregations 
HRPGreen has assembled a wonderful Environmental Film library which will be available for congregations to borrow beginning August 7. Housed at the presbytery office,
all HRPGreen Environmental Films may be signed out by giving name of borrower, phone, email, congregation town, name of film and sign-out date. When the film is returned the borrower must indicate return date on sign-out sheet. The film may be kept for three weeks. Checkout the catalog of films with brief descriptions. Questions? Contact Kathy Dean at [email protected].
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Gilead Presbyterian Church Celebrates 275 years Serving God and the Community! 
Join us on September 30th, for our anniversary worship service at 10:00 a.m. and our potluck party at noon, to be held under the tent. We'll have food from local restaurants as well as home cooked goodies, and face-painting and games for the young at heart.
Share the flyer!
Special guest County Executive Mary Ellen Odell will be present to recognize Gilead's historic presence and service to the community. We invite all to come and celebrate with us! If you can't be there, feel free to share your own stories about Gilead with us (
[email protected]). The celebration is free and will be held rain or shine.
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Regional and National Events
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Stony Point Center's Farm to Table Gala, Sept. 30
It's that time of year again. In just two months, the Farm-to-Table Gala will offer a chance for guest groups, neighbors and friends to support the continued development of Stony Point Center as
fertile ground
for cultivating, organizing, and transforming our world
. This year's theme is "seeding food justice" and the evening will feature the presentation of
the
Living Tradition Award
, as well as a delicious meal featuring farm fresh ingredients from our land and other local farms.
Always a down-to-earth gathering, the Gala is your chance connect with and contribute to the spirit that makes Stony Point Center shine. Please join the SPC Community from 4:00pm-8:00pm on Sept. 30th at Stony Point Center...and bring a few friends!
Purchase your tickets at
stonypointcenter.org/gala.
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A Day with Brian McLaren, Oct. 13
Join the Presbytery of Long Island for a day with Emergent Church leader Brian McLaren to explore "The Future of Christianity: Does Christian Faith have a future, and doe
s the future have Christian faith?" Members and friends of Hudson River Presbytery are encouraged to come and hear this renown Christian thinker and practitioner. The program is Saturday, October 13. Registration and breakfast begin at 8:30, Program will run from 9:30 - 3:30. Cost is $20 and include breakfast and lunch. The program will be held at Arumdaun Presbyterian Church, 1 Arumdaun St., Bethpage, NY. Download and share the flyer.
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Got Sermon? Oct. 26 at Union Theological Seminary, in NYC
Got Sermon?
, Union Theological Seminary's biannual, continuing education event designed primarily for preachers, brings the gifts of our faculty to our alumni/ae, students, neighbors, and friends who are mainly serving congregations.
Please join the Union community on Friday, October 26, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., for Truth Telling in Shifting and Familiar Seasons with Dr. Lisa Thompson, Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Dr. Phyllis Trible, Baldwin Professor Emerita of Sacred Literature, and Dr. Brigitte Kahl, Professor of New Testament.
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Holmes Annual Women's Retreat, Nov. 2-4
Every Hour of Every Day is the focus of Holmes' annual Women's Retreat, which will be led by the Rev. Dorinda Violante. Women of all ages are invited for a weekend to reconnect with God and engage with their faith. Retreats typically include large group discussions, personal time to reflect and enjoy God's creation at Holmes, and plenty of fellowship!
Learn more!
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is Looking for More Volunteers
With record numbers of natural disasters and in the wake of hurricanes and wild fires in the US, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is looking for volunteers to enlarge its ranks. Volunteers of all sorts and skills are needed.
Learn more about the need and how you can help this important ministry.
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New Online Degree and Courses from Dubuque Seminary
UDTS has introduced a new
online
degree, Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, that strengthens students' knowledge of Christian scriptures and the church's theological tradition, and equip women and men for missional service and leadership in their chosen vocations. A B.A. degree in any field is the pre-requisite. For more information, please contact Kimberly Burnett-Hackbarth, Direction of Admissions 563.589.3405 /
[email protected]
.
Click here to learn more
.
And don't miss Dubuque Seminary's online courses in Christian leadership that start June 4 and run for 12 weeks. They're a great form of education that will equip and empower church leaders.
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PC(USA) Evangelism Conference, Oct. 15-19
The 2018 Evangelism Conference is set for Oct. 15-19 at Zephyr Point in Lake Tahoe. Join fellow 1001 New Worshiping Communities leaders and others focused on renewing the church.
This retreat experience will include time for reflection and renewal. Registration is now open.
Learn more!
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Resources for Education, Liturgy & More!
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PC(USA) Season of Peace Begins Sept. 2
The 2018 Season of Peace is a five-week pilgrimage designed to deepen the pursuit of peace for congregations, small groups, families, and individuals.
Through daily "Path of Peace" reflections, "Peace Cards" for children and families, Bible and book studies for adults, children's curriculum, an intergenerational peace fair, and other downloadable resources, Presbyterians are invited to define and deepen their calling as peacemakers. This season is a time of encouragement, challenge, inspiration, and education. Access Season of Peace Resources.
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20 Million People at Risk of Famine. How you can help.
We tend to associate famine with weather-related food supply issues. However, conflict is the primary driver of "
persistent severe hunger" (
IFPRI).
Conflict often disrupts agricultural production, displaces people from their land and livelihoods, restricts the movement of goods, and impedes humanitarian relief efforts. Famine tends to be a byproduct of war, but sometimes is a deliberate strategy of war.
Currently, more than 20 million people in
Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are experiencing severe food insecurity and on the brink of famine due primarily to conflict (OCHA).
Read more.
Through the
One Great Hour of Sharing offering, the Presbyterian Hunger Program will be giving grants to help in-country organizations working to address famine on the front lines. What you give matters. While many congregations take this offering in the spring, additional donations may be sent at any time. Click the link above to contribute.
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Advent Resource from Presbyterians Today
During the season of Advent, we are invited to pray and contemplate with Mary in her Song of Praise - the Magnificat - found in Luke 1:46-53.
This year's devotional, God Lifts the Lowly, features paintings and poems are the work of Andrew Weatherly, a young Presbyterian man born with Down syndrome, who uses his gifts to raise awareness of the capabilities of those with special needs. The rest of the text - reflections and prayers for each day of Advent - is the joint work of Donna Frischknecht Jackson, pastor and editor of Presbyterians Today and sister to a man with special needs, and Krin Van Tatenhove, also a pastor who is father to a special-needs son. With great love and joy, Andrew, Donna and Krin bring God's might and Mary's "yes!" to life in powerful new ways.
Perfect for congregations, families and individuals, each day provides a Scripture excerpt, meditation and prayer to deepen the Advent experience.
Order here.
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Holy Discontentment, PC(USA) Organizing Resource 
This free, updated resource from the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness serves as a blueprint for Presbyterians who wish to engage more deeply with civic life and move their community deeper into advocacy and organizing for just public policy.
Focused on legislative advocacy, the resource also connects you to further resources for in person training and reading. It provides sample interfaith worship services and much more.
Learn how to set a meeting with your Member of Congress, host a vigil, attend a town hall, and build your advocacy skills. Download Holy Discontentment.
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Peace & Global Witness Offering, Sept. 2 - Oct. 7
The Peace & Global Witness Offering is received during the Season of Peace, which ends on World Communion Sunday, October 7.
A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering to connect with the global witness of Christ's peace. Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.
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Access resources including bulletin inserts, minutes for mission, social media images, and educational curriculum to help your congregation understand the importance of this annual offering.
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Hopewell Presbyterian is Seeking a Few Large Print Hymnals
and NSRV Bibles
Hopewell Presbyterian is look for a few copies of The Presbyterian Hymnal large print edition, along with a couple large print NRSV Bibles for immediate use to help members fully participate in worship. Might you have some hymnals and bibles to share? Contact Rev. Russ Ducan at
[email protected].
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Six, Free, Sturdy Pews
The white plains presbyterian church has six sturdy wood pews that are free for the taking!
For 50 years they served in a choir rehearsal room that is now being re-purposed as an important community room. Come and get them before they are gone! Contact the Rev. Jeffrey Geary at
[email protected].
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Choir Robes Available!
First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville has 17 choir robes available for free or freewill offering. Please contact
[email protected] for more information.
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Huguenot Memorial Seeks PT Coordinator of Christian Ed
Huguenot Memorial Church is searching for a Coordinator of Christian Education. This is a part time position that will provide a lot of freedom and support. The position involves working mainly with Children and Youth while fostering community among them and their parents. Read the full job description. Interested applicants should contact the Rev. Jacob Bolton, [email protected].
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Bedford Presbyterian Seeks Full-time Office Manager
The
Bedford Presbyterian Church
full-time Office Manager will provide administrative assistance to the Pastor, staff, and congregation and manage the church office to support the ministry and mission of BPC. Includes secretarial support, light bookkeeping, church database maintenance, facility scheduling and supervision of part time staff. Independent, can-do attitude, proficient in MS Office Suite, able to learn database and web management skills. Learn more.
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All Souls Parish in Port Chester, Seeks Full-Time Solo Pastor
The All Souls
community consists of individuals at different points on their faith journeys who come together to join in worship, fellowship, small groups, and mission activities. We are looking for a pastor who will guide and encourage our involvement in both existing and new ministry and mission initiatives that evolve as a natural outgrowth of our vision to be more involved in the issues of hunger, poverty, social and environmental justice, and peace. Please see the
All Souls Parish Website
and
our
Ministry Information Form
or email the PNC at
[email protected]
for more information.
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Presby Church of Mt. Kisco Seeks Sunday School Coordinator
Sunday School Coordinator needed to help nurture the faith of the children of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco. The position is approx. 10 hours per week with competitive salary. Experience in Christian Education in a Reformed church setting desirable. For more information, contact
[email protected]
or call 914.666.7001.
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 More informative than I am adorable, Hudson Happenings helps you and your church plug in to events, connect within and beyond your congregation, and discover useful and inspiring resources for life together.
Filled with links to local, regional and national news as well as information on fabulous educational and advocacy events, it's your "one stop" for interesting news and events in Hudson River Presbytery, Synod of the NE and PC(USA). So why not share it with your friends?! And with the link below, your friends can also subscribe to other e-updates from the Presbytery! Again, just invite them to go to http://tinyurl.com/m2l9kpj or send this sweet photo of me looking longingly their direction (the link is embedded).
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