Dear Friends of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery,
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.
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2023 Lodi Summer Camp – VBS for Refugee Children
By the Rev. Dr. Yong Ju Jee
Senior Pastor
Korean Church of Syracuse
Lodi Summer Camp, the annual VBS camp for refugee children in the area, will be held on June 26th through 30th this year. It is hosted by the Korean Church of Syracuse.
We have worked for this camp since 2010 even during Pandemic. Before the Pandemic, we had a five-day camp with about 150 refugee children and had a modified Lodi camp during Pandemic. This year we resume Lodi summer camp as before Pandemic.
Here are some details regarding the camp:
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Theme: Confess “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11)
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Date: June 26 (Monday) – June 30 (Friday)
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Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
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Location: Cornerstone Christian Church (713 Catherine St., Syracuse, NY)
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Content: Worship, Bible class, Art class, Game class, and Snacks
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Registration Fee: Free
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Contact: 315-474-8346 or info@kcsyr.org
I believe that many of you already know about “the 4/14 window Movement,” which is focused on evangelizing children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old. Every year, we have experienced how important it is to preach the Gospel to children. We have met about 150 children during this camp every year, more than 100 children among them accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior every year. This is the opportunity to follow God’s command and true blessing given by God.
Through the camp, the children can learn God’s love and Jesus Christ. At the same time, Jr. Staff (from elementary schooler to Youth group) can be trained as God’s servant by serving refugee friends.
Especially, many volunteers will join the camp to obey God’s Great Commission by serving refugee children from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, and many other places.
We pray that all children and their families meet Jesus Christ as their Savior and experience God’s love toward them. We pray that the Holy Spirit pours upon all teachers, staff, and volunteers so that they have a power of God for saving the souls.
Now we are fundraising to do this God’s work and share God’s love with refugee children.
Please payable to “Korean Church of Syracuse” (please mention “Lodi” on memo) and send to “1800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210”).
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at 315-474-8346 or info@kcsyr.org.
Thank you for your support and prayer in advance.
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We want to hear about the mission stories from our Presbytery's worshiping communities. What mission work are you involved in? How are your members working in the community? What story would you like to share with others in the Presbytery?
Send any mission stories from your congregation that you would like to share to: CaySyrNews@gmail.com.
Deadline is 12 p.m. on Wednesdays for the current week's edition of
Presbytery Matters.
We want to share your stories, missions, activities and more. Also, make sure to like our Facebook page by clicking the "Facebook" icon at the top of this newsletter.
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Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery |
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In our prayers together this week:
- Please pray for everyone who is struggling with their mental health and mental illnesses.
- 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: First, Cazenovia; First, Chittenango; United Church of Collamer; Pebble Hill, DeWitt; First United Church of East Syracuse
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.
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A Stated Meeting of the presbytery has been called for Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. THIS IS AN ONLINE MEETING VIA ZOOM.
REGISTER HERE:
To prepare for this meeting, ALL REQUESTS FOR DOCKET TIME AND ALL MATERIALS/REPORTS ARE DUE BY 9 p.m. on Monday, June 26th. Materials will be sent out shortly thereafter.
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From the Interim Resource Presbyter |
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One day while Paul was walking through the marketplace, he noticed a number of statues promoting everything the people held in value. There were statues promoting wisdom and integrity; monuments of victory over land and sea; charms marketing the affairs of the heart; everywhere Paul looked he saw statues to the peoples’ gods. Until he finally came upon a statue to an ‘unknown god.’ That was all Paul needed to begin a conversation about who he confessed as Lord of his life.
Several years ago, the Presbyterian Church developed a curriculum of biblical practices that engages participants in the historical roots of our faith while demonstrating practical means in which we can live out our faith individually and communally within the modern world. “Follow Me, Biblical Practices for Faithful Living,” offers multi-generational studies that inform and equip Christians for our life together. Each study runs 4 to 6 weeks so they can be custom tailored to fit your congregation’s educational needs. Topics include the biblical practices of hospitality, justice, stewardship and inclusiveness.
I am offering an introduction to the study next Wednesday, June 28th at 7 p.m. on Zoom to answer questions and see if this might be a study we wish to pursue together as a presbytery. It is also an opportunity for us to get to know each other. I hope you will join me.
In Christ’s Peace,
Kathy
Rev. Kathleen (Kathy) Dain
Interim Resource Presbyter
The whole purpose of the Bible, it seems to me, is to convince people to set the written word down in order to become living words in the world for God's sake. For me, this willing conversion of ink back to blood is the full substance of faith. Barbara Brown Taylor
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Announcements from our Interim Resource Presbyter |
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From the Vision & Strategy Committee |
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Grace and peace to you from your newly elected Vision & Strategy committee!
We are excited to begin our work of envisioning where God is leading our presbytery in its ministry and mission as we move into the future, and we are already busy prioritizing the tasks given to us under the new presbytery structure. One of the things we’ve heard many times over is the desire to strengthen the communication and relationships we have with one another. That includes the relationships we have within the presbytery itself (between ruling elders, clergy, congregations, committees, staff, etc.) and also between the presbytery and the community/world at large. With that in mind, here’s an intro to the work which we have begun.
At our first meeting we began with a time of worship, offering libations (a pouring out of water) in thanksgiving for all of God’s transformative actions through the use of water—from the waters of creation in Genesis to the crystal sea and river of life in Revelation. We also talked a bit about the ancient legend of the Phoenix and its symbolism of transformation. As you may recall, only one Phoenix lives at a time. At the end of its life, approx. every 500 years, the old Phoenix builds a nest atop the ancient temple of the Sun in Heliopolis. The Sun-god, Ra, ignites the nest so that the old Phoenix dies in the fire and is then reborn. In the legend, as the Phoenix rises from the ashes, a new world era begins. As Christianity emerged, the Phoenix became an obvious and traditional symbol of resurrection and new life.
Interestingly, Phyllis Tickle described in her book The Great Emergence, that it has been 500 years (the life span of a Phoenix) since the last major world and Church upheaval occurred with the Protestant Reformation. The world upheaval which we are experiencing currently, in the midst of a changing culture and society in which we are now living, has been observed and described accurately by futurists such as Toffler (The Third Wave), Naisbitt (Megatrends) and others. As the new era continues to emerge, Christian visionaries have challenged the Church to see where God is moving in the midst of these changes. As the presbytery’s Vision and Strategy Committee, it is our desire, indeed our mandate, to be sure our work is in line with the vision that God sets before us.
How do we discover God’s vision for our presbytery? One of the earliest Biblical references to vision is found in the call story of Samuel. As the story goes, it was a time when “visions were not widespread.” (1 Samuel 3.1) But then Samuel heard God calling his name. But Samuel did not understand that it was God’s voice that he was hearing, mistaking it for the voice of his mentor, Eli. When it happened for the third time, Eli realized it was God’s voice calling Samuel. He instructed the boy, that the next time he heard the voice calling, he should answer “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” When he did so, God proceeded to tell Samuel the “new thing” that was about to take place. God called Samuel to be the first prophet in a new era that followed the old era of the judges. Visions began anew and the people were blessed. And so, as we embark on a new era for the presbytery, and indeed in this changing world, perhaps the lesson we learn from Samuel about vision, is that it begins with listening.
We hope you’ll join us in listening for God’s voice and in prayer for our presbytery as we all seek God’s vision and will. Second, we want to listen to YOU. The names and emails of the Vision & Strategy committee members are listed below. If, in your listening, you have a “prophetic word from the Lord” like Samuel, or if you simply want to share your thoughts, ideas, and opinions with any or all of us, our ears are open. In an effort to increase communication, look for info and updates on our work in upcoming editions of this publication. We look forward to seeing the new thing God is doing, as we discern both the vision and the strategy we need to take to enact it as we follow the Lord’s leading into the future.
May the Lord bless and keep us all,
Rev. Deb Thomas
Vision & Strategy Committee Chair
Members of the Vision & Strategy Committee
Scott Cupp nscottcupp@yahoo.com
Steve Eidt speidt1@gmail.com
Ashley Gouger gouger.ashley@gmail.com
Rita Hooper twohoops2@gmail.com
Bill Newell bnewell44@gmail.com
Susan Smith august13SSS@gmail.com
Deb Thomas revrndeb@gmail.com
Linda Van Buskirk lvb1@cornell.edu
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Christian Nationalism: Why It's Dangerous for Democracy and the Gospel event was held earlier this month at Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church in DeWitt.
The event featured Dr. Greg Carey, a professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary. The presentation introduced what Christian nationalism is, how it works and why it poses a danger to democracy and to Christianity itself.
About 75 people attended the event, which was held online and in-person. Watch video below.
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The Rev. Anna Gheen speaks at the Cazenovia Pride March on June 17th. |
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Calling all retired pastors...
The next "Can We Talk?" gathering will be held at 10.30 a.m. on Friday, June 23rd in the Lounge behind the Sanctuary at Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church, 5299 Jamesville Road in Syracuse.
Coffee and goodies will be served.
The gathering is for retired pastors and CLP's or for folks who are about to retire. First-timers are always welcome!
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Book Release: N. Scott Cupp's "Come and See for Yourself" on sale now
N. Scott Cupp, a retired Cayuga-Syracuse pastor, has released his book "Come and See for Yourself The Gospel -- As if for the First Time." The book is on sale now.
About the Book:
People have been telling the story of Jesus ever since he was resurrected. In Come and See, author N. Scott Cupp offers a new perspective on this great story. Presenting a simplified narrative, it tells the gospel story from beginning to end in a chronological way unlike any other.
Answering a host of questions that arise throughout, Dr. Cupp shares the story as if meeting Jesus for the first time. Who was he, really? Did he really walk on water? Did he actually heal all those people? What was his message? Was he killed because he was proclaiming peace and love? Was he the message or the messenger? What is the message of the gospel for today, and how does it impact our world?
Presenting an understanding of Jesus’s life, Come and See for Yourself supplements what you’ve read and learned in your prior Christian studies. Dr. Cupp lets you decide what to think of the messenger.
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Practical Resources for Churches Webinars |
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New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars
You can take this training any time during the year
1 - 2:30 PM EDT
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
2:00 - 3:30 PM EDT
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM EST
3:30 - 5:00 PM EST
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Do you live-stream your service on Sundays?
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We are compiling a list of live-stream links to feature in Presbytery Matters. This will allow others to join in on your services.
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Join in on these services virtually on Sundays:
Faith United Oswego - Live on Zoom (Meeting ID: 207 196 571)
Isaiah's Table will send a link for people to join our hybrid worship at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. Send email to isaiahtable@gmail.com by Friday evening.
Scipioville Presbyterian Church - Live on Zoom (Meeting ID: 836 3163 8403
Passcode: SPC13147)
More to come...
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The Rev. Kathleen Dain, Interim Resource Presbyter, can be reached by emailing KDain@cayugasyracuse.org or by calling (315) 551-0413.
Sarah Buckshot, Communications Coordinator, can be reached by emailing caysyrnews@gmail.com or by calling (315) 877-8271.
Our Address: PO Box 438, Syracuse, NY 13214
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Are you hiring?
If your church is hiring in 2022 or still looking to fill a position from 2021, please send a new or updated announcement and job description to Communication Coordinator Sarah Buckshot at caysyrnews@gmail.com
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Stated Meeting - Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
Stated Meeting - Saturday, September 16, 2023. Time and Location TBA
Stated Meeting -Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
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P.O. Box 438, Syracuse 13214
(315) 632-5698
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"I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them
bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
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