Hudson Happenings
H u d s o n  R i v e r  P r e s b y t e r y
In This Issue
November 21, 2019
Presbytery News & Events
Has Your Congregation Made its Shared Mission and Ministry Pledge for 2020?
By now all churches will have received a letter from HRP General Presbyter Deborah Milcarek encouraging you to make your congregation's Shared Mission and Ministry Pledge for 2020.

Read and share the updated Stewardship Sheet that illustrates how your congregation's Shared Mission and Ministry pledge and Per Capita giving are used by the presbytery to equip and connect the presbytery's congregations and leaders in God's service.

This year, for the first time, you can make your Shared Ministry and Mission Pledge online.  Questions?  Contact Emily Monk, HRP's financial administrator, at emily@hudrivpres.org or 914-941-2100.
GA Nominations  for Ongoing Committees; Due on December 2 
A message from Valerie Izumi, Office of the GA
 
The General Assembly Nominating Committee will bring to the 224th General Assembly nominations for nearly thirty entities-boards, committees, and commission. Learn about the committees.  
 
Nominations are due December 2, 2019The online portal is now open.
 
The Committee's process of discernment and nomination is dependent upon a diverse and deep pool of persons who are willing to share their gifts, talents, expertise, and time in service to the larger church.  
 
Your assistance in the nominations process is valuable. Please share with those in your synods, with members of your presbyteries, and with members of the congregations within your presbyteries that they have the opportunity to be considered for service on a General Assembly level entity.  Again, here is the list of committees and information about the process
 
Please assist further by encouraging individuals across the church whom you believe would serve well on a General Assembly level board, commission, or committee to prayerfully consider the possibility of elected service. Please consider whether God may be calling you to service on a General Assembly level entity.  
 
The GA nominations portal is now open. Interested persons can file an online application-a list of entities for the 2020 nominations cycle is available there. The deadline for applications is December 6, 2019. Additional information can be found online or by contacting Valerie Izumi or the member of the General Assembly Nominating Committee from your synod.
See you at Presbytery on Dec. 3rd!
HRP's next Presbytery Meeting comes up fast -- right after Thanksgiving. 



We expect all papers to be online next week.  You will get an email prompting you when they are available.  The theme is Waiting for Jesus...so send along your ideas for popular songs on the theme of "waiting" to noelle@hudrivpres.org.
Groundbreaking for Dayspring Commons
The story of Dayspring Commons is one of inspired collaboration between Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church and Westhab that illustrates the power of churches working in deep partnership with their communities. The church and the organization built something new together from the strengths that each brought to the table for the edification of the entire community.

The Good Shepherd congregation, in its final years, had hoped to develop a more robust church community that could offer needed programs in addition to religious services. But, in 2015, as finances grew tight, Good Shepherd was instead faced with shuttering its historic doors-and Nodine Hill was at risk of losing a critical community institution and large public space.  
 
Understanding that Westhab was the only organization with deep roots in the community and the capacity to invest in quality service programs, Good Shepherd turned to Westhab with a creative solution: they would sell the building to Westhab for a nominal fee and support an ambitious adaptive reuse plan to bring the building back to life as the full-service, state-of-the-art community center that Nodine Hill sorely needed. In return, the Church would continue to be allowed to congregate in the building on Sundays.
 
Read the inspiring story that led to this moment of breaking ground for Dayspring Commons and share this good news with others! 
Presbyterian Women's Quarterly Newsletter
Covering nationwide activities from August to Nov. 2019, read the PW Quarterly Newsletter to learn about the most recent programs and resources inspiring PW groups around the country, and what's on the horizon. Read a message from PW's churchwide moderator, JyungIn Lee, and one from PW's vice moderator for justice and peace concerns, Joy Durrant.

Get the highlights of PW's Board of Directors meeting in September 2019, giving trends, PW's impact in the world and much more. This file also includes copies of the 2020 Celebrate the Gifts of Women flier, the nomination form for the Women of Faith award and a bookmark highlighting ways to give to PW.
Healthy and Vital Congregations
The Rev. Gail Burger Receives Humanitarian Award
On November 7, members of Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church joined the Dutchess County Interfaith Council and community in honoring Rev. Gail Burger (Hon. Retired), as she received the Rabbi Erwin Zimet Humanitarian Award.  

Gail, now Parish Associate at Pleasant Plains, served as Executive Director of the DCIC for 15 years, building countless bridges within the faith community. At left, the Rev. Luanne Panarotti Pastor of Pleasant Plains congratulates the Rev. Gail Burger (right) at the awards dinner.
   
 Congratulations, Gail, and blessings on your continuing ministry!
Two Helpful Resources for Congregations
Union Presbyterian Church has two useful resources to share!  Church-ish can be used for new members and others unfamiliar with Presbyterianism. The Activities Review is invaluable to keep a focus and to evaluate intended purpose and outcomes of all church activities.  It's an antidote for same-old-same-old! Union Church is having great success using them and thought they would be of use to other churches, as well. They were compiled by Interim Pastor, Sandy Larson and your modifications are welcome! Do you have great resources to share?  Write noelle@hudrivpres.org.
Partnerships
Have Yourself a Green Christmas, Dec. 3
HRPGreen, the environmental partnership of Hudson River Presbytery, invites you to join them at the December 3rd Presbytery Meeting for an open space conversation "Have Yourself a Green Christmas: Tips for Reducing Impact."

HRPGreen will give tips on sustainable gift-wrapping, food, decorating and gift giving. Since every party also involves clean up, we will recommend some sustainable household products.
Rural and Migrant Ministry Announces the Launch of The Rural University of the People
Rural and Migrant Ministry is honored to have stood alongside farmworkers for twenty-five years through the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign.

 
The passage of the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act this year was about removing the barriers that kept farmworkers from the tables where decisions about their lives were being made.  
 
Now RMM announces the launch of The Rural University of the People to equip farmworkers to be full participants at the table.
 
Read more about this exciting new development!
Regional and National Events
Creative Writing as Spiritual Practice, Jan. 26-28
Exploring the Power of Words to Open Us Up to the Presence of God in Our Stories, Our Lives, and Our World is the theme of this writing workshop led by HRP's own Rev. Dr. Deborah Bronkema at Cedarkirk Retreat Center outside of Tampa, FL.

Read more about the workshop which welcomes writers of all stages and ages.

The cost is $215 and includes all meals (Sunday dinner through Tuesday lunch), snacks, materials, and linens.  Each participant will enjoy a private room with shared hallway restrooms.  Click here to register.
PC(USA) Peacemaking Seminar Trip to Philipines Hong Kong
Root Causes and Current Challenges of Forced Migration and Labor Trafficking, May 4-15, 2020 Since 1974, the Philippine government systematized its labor export program, in response to increasing unemployment and underemployment and social unrest...Almost 7000 workers per day, leave the Philippines to work in land-based and sea-based jobs. The labor force of Hong Kong domestic workers consists mostly of Indonesian and Filipina women. Learn more. Applications are due by February 1, 2020. After that date, applications will be considered as space remains available.

Too tiny?  Don't worry, click here for a full page flyer that you can enlarge to read about this great opportunity for youth June 27-July 1 at Holmes.
Resources for Education, Liturgy & More!
PC(USA) Advent Resources
"Advent" means "coming" or "arrival." During the season of Advent, we celebrate Christ's coming into the world and watch with expectant hope for his coming again.  Access PC(USA) Advent Liturgical and Devotional Resources
 
In its historical origins, the season of Advent was patterned after the season of Lent, a six-week period of penitence and preparation for Easter. Similarly, the four weeks of Advent present an opportunity for communal discernment and personal examination, as the church prepares to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord and looks with hope for Christ's return.   
 
From Advent wreath lighting prayers to hymn and scripture commentary, explore how PC(USA) Advent resources can bring the hope and justice of Advent into your church's life together.
Looking for a Gift? Why not Give Justice? 
Presbyterian Giving Catalogue
PC(USA) has a wonderful alternative gift program through which you can give a gift that will increase justice and sustainability in our world.  These gifts help Presbyterian mission partners world wide advance their important work with communities near and far. For example, above a student helps build school gardens in Haiti.  Great for birthdays, anniversaries and of course...Christmas!  Check it out.
Squeamish about Asking for Money in Stewardship Campaigns?
Charles Barton of HRP's Stewardship team invites you to check out this article and video discussing four ways to make stewardship a worshipful experience.
 
Sometimes we church people can get squeamish when making a monetary ask during Stewardship campaigns.  This video discusses that when you minimize the role of money in church, you limit what can happen when people begin to catch a vision for whole-life stewardship.  Watch and share!   

Four Ways to Make Stewardship a Worshipful Experience from the Giving Intelligence Series 
Four Ways to Make Stewardship a Worshipful Experience from the Giving Intelligence Series

Christmas Joy Offering Webinar, Nov. 26 and resources
The Joy Offering provides critical financial support to church workers and their families
The PC(USA) is offering a Christmas Joy Offering webinar for church leaders. Here is the link for the live webinar on Nov. 26 .  A recording will be posted shortly thereafter on the Christmas Joy Offering Resource Page.
 
During this webinar, denominational leaders  will share some background to the Offering, unpack the theme, hear some of the life-changing impact it has had, and explore how you can get involved and promote the Offering with your church. The offering supports the assistance program of the Board of Pensions that helps church workers and families and to Presbyterian schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
Seeking and Finding
Free Piano and/or Organ for Interested Congregation
A member of Pine Bush Presbyterian Church has a Story & Clark piano and a Wurlitzer Omni 1000 organ he would like to donate to any church who may need one. If your congregation is interested, could you please contact Pine Bush's Pastor, Russ Duncan, at pastorrsd@outlook.com or call 845-703-0723.
Could Your Choir Use 960 Anthems?!
The Presbyterian Church of New Rochelle seeks a loving home for some 960 octavos (anthems) which have copyright/publishing dates ranging from the early 1900s through the 1980s.  Most are SATB, a few are SSAA and fewer still are SAB.  The anthems have been card-catalogued and are contained in five (5) standard 15" x 52" file cabinets (shown; card catalogs are two (2) separate metal boxes atop the cabinets). 
 
We are hoping that some church will be able to make use of these octavos, many of which are composed by the great composers (Beethoven, Holst, Mozart, Vaughn-Williams, etc.).  Even the comparatively quotidian among them, composed by now-forgotten personages, offer a glimpse into well-composed, classic church music displaying sound voice-leading, before the era of pop/rock began to influence sacred short anthems sung at regular church services, and the morphing into the "Christian Contemporary" genre began.  These anthems are not relics, but more precious antiques: although some of the texts and compositional settings are clearly dated and perhaps irrelevant to our own modern worship idioms, most are timeless and would provide joy to a choir who wishes to bring their special charms to regular worship services.  Our organist has carefully reviewed every octavo!  We are hoping that they will find their second music library within a new caring church.  
 
We regret giving up this music, but, due to space considerations can no longer house them.  We would welcome a small donation for them if that might be possible. Please email me, Tamara Cashour, Director of Music at pcnrmusic@gmail.com if you are interested!
Hymnals to Give Away!
South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry has 100+ copies of The Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990 edition with a blue cover, to give away. Most copies are in excellent condition. If you are interested, please contact Anne Day at anne@anneday.org.  
Employment Opportunities
Hudson River Presbytery Seeks PT Treasurer
Hudson River presbytery is searching for a Treasurer to provide oversight for the financial activities, procedures, policies, reports and statements for HRP and its corporation.  The position is a minimum 5 hours per month with compensation. Please email Deborah Milcarek at deborah@hudrivpres.org for information.
The Presbytery of Southern New England Seeks PT Communications Manager
The qualified candidate will be interested in serving as part of a team that approaches its role of resourcing the Presbytery with energy, intelligence, imagination and love.  Pay is $25 an hour for a flexible 15 hour week.  Learn more.
Hitchcock Presbyterian Seeks Interim, Paid, PT Youth Leader
Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, NY is seeking a youth leader for 10 hours a week who will work under the supervision of the Pastor. Interested people should send their resumes to revpetejones@gmail.comLearn more.
FPC of Forest Hills Seeks Full-Time Interim Pastor
The First Presbyterian Church of Forest Hills is seeking a full-time interim pastor to exercise pastoral, administrative, and representational leadership, and to serve the needs of the church as identified in the job description, which may be redefined as needed. Full info at:  https://www.presbyfh.org/interim-pastor-search .  
Nauraushaun Church Seeks Part-Time Organist/Pianist
Nauraushaun Church in Pearl River loves its music ministry and is seeking a part-time organist/pianist. Requirements include experience planning and playing for worship services, sacred music repertoire, professional contacts and creative ideas about liturgical music; support for the choir and collaboration with the choir director; planning special music with guests, instrumental or vocal, for Christmas, Easter and other holy days in the church year; overseeing care of the instruments.  Back-to-back choir rehearsal and worship service on Sunday mornings.  Eleven-rank Wicks pipe organ. Four weeks' vacation and competitive salary.  Please contact Lise Chanin at the Naurashaun Church at 845 735 4565
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All Souls Port Chester Seeks PT Christian Educator
All Souls Parish/The Presbyterian Church of Port Chester, NY is looking for a part-time Christian Educator to facilitate our Sunday Morning children's program.  The position is four hours a week with 2.5 of those hours being on Sunday morning from 9 -11:30 am.  The salary will be $18-$20 per hour commensurate with experience.  Please send a cover letter and resume to  revkathygenus@gmail.com.
Share Hudson Happenings
Getting all the latest news from Hudson River Presbytery will make you do the fox trot!  Let your friends know that they can abreast of all things Hudson River Presbytery with Hudson Happenings! This playful, informative, splashy communique helps your fabulous friends and congregants plug in to events, connect within and beyond your congregation, and discover useful and inspiring resources for life together!  You can send the link to sign up to your session and your mission team your mother (you know she'd love it!)

Filled with links to local, regional and national news as well as information on fabulous educational and advocacy events, it's your place 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! Invite them to go to http://tinyurl.com/m2l9kpj or share this snappy photo of us doing a joyful jig (the link is embedded).