Welcome to this week's edition of our e-letter, Presbytery Matters. | | | Powered by Faith ... and the Sun! | | |
Scipioville Presbyterian Church embraces renewable energy as a way to be good stewards of God's miraculous creation.
"As a rural church, we see the beauty all around us and we intend to do our part to preserve it," the church wrote on its Facebook page.
God’s will is made known in the moral law, which teaches humanity’s
duties toward God and neighbor. This includes the command to
honor God’s creation and use it rightly.
Westminster Larger Catechism
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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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We are asking our churches to share this newsletter with your members each week. Click the button below to forward the email or to obtain the newsletter link.
Thank you!
| | Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery | | |
In our prayers together this week:
- Please keep Camille Bach (Whitelaw Presbyterian) in your prayers during her breast cancer treatment.
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Please pray for Jerry Armstrong (Whitelaw Presbyterian) Jerry is 15 years old with recurrent bone cancer.
- Prayers for peace for the people and country of South Korea.
- Pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
- The voiceless.
- All those who have been separated from their families.
- All those in America.
- Our brothers & sisters in Haiti.
- All those in Sudan.
- All those in Ukraine.
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All those in Lebanon.
- All those in Israel and Gaza.
- All displaced people.
- All those who are homebound.
- All those who battling addiction and their loved ones.
- Keep all those who battling cancer and other chronic illnesses in your prayers. Please ask God to be by their side and to be with their doctors and families.
- Please pray for all those who are dealing with the painful grief of losing a beloved family pet.
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
| | Summer Educational Webinars | | |
Sponsored by the Joint Justice in Ministry and Mission Teams of Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley Presbyteries
Palestine-GAZA & West Bank
History & Update with Professor Dr. Osamah F. Khalil
Monday, August 25, 2025
7:00 p.m.
Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church
5299 Jamesville Road, Syracuse, NY
This event will also be livestreamed on YouTube
.A recording will also be available at this link.
Dr. Osamah Khalil is a Professor of History at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, chairing the International Relations Undergraduate Program. And Senior research Associate, Middle Eastern Studies Program.
Khalil is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and the modern Middle East. He is the author of "America’s Dream Palace: Middle East Expertise and the Rise of the National Security State" (Harvard University Press, 2016), which examines the influence of U.S. foreign policy on the origins and expansion of Middle East studies and expertise from World War I to the Global War on Terror. It was reviewed widely, including in the London Review of Books, Al Ahram, Publishers Weekly, the CIA’s Studies in Intelligence, Commonweal, and was named by Foreign Affairs as a Best Book of 2017.
He has also been a frequent media commentator and contributor, including for the Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Hill, Al Akhbar, and Al Jazeera. He teaches courses on the history of U.S. foreign relations, the Cold War, the history of international relations, America and the Middle East, and the Vietnam War and popular culture. In 2018, he received the Chancellor’s Citation for Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction.
His most recent book is A World of Enemies: America's Wars at Home and Abroad from Kennedy to Biden (Harvard University Press, 2024).
Khalil is a frequent media commentator and contributor for local, national, and international media. Also, he was the Justice Committees featured speaker at our Annual Presbytery Meeting on May 17, 2025.
KEEP WATCH FOR THE UPCOMING PRESENTATION ON RACISM
Program Director Rev. Ashley Detar-Birt from the Center for Jubilee Practice will be our presenter.
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We're Hiring: Assistant to Lead Presbyter for Transformation
The presbyteries of Cayuga Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley are seeking an individual to support the work of the Lead Presbyter as the two presbyteries begin their collaboration efforts in a merger process. They will work with the Lead Presbyter in spearheading these efforts between the two presbyteries, be capable of working with and assisting Pastor Nominating Committees in conjunction with the COM’s and develop and assist in elder, deacon and CRE training.
Qualities needed include a strong commitment to the vision of the presbyteries as they move forward, an independent thinker but also a team player, familiarity with the structures and committees of a presbytery, a clear communicator and a faithful disciple to the teachings of the good news of the gospel.
The successful candidate will be either a Teaching or Ruling Elder in the PCUSA. The position is 25 hours per week.
Read Job Description
Interested persons should forward their resume, cover letter and references to ldaboll1929@gmail.com.
| | Special Joint Presbytery Meeting | | |
The Executive Team of the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery and the Coordinating Council of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse held a special joint presbytery meeting on Thursday, August 14 via Zoom.
During this meeting, the Finance and HR Committees of both presbyteries presented a motion to vote on a proposed job description and compensation package for the Rev. Greg Garis to serve as a shared Lead Presbyter for Transformation for both presbyteries. Both presbyteries approved the motion.
In addition, both presbyteries approved a motion to accept a job description and compensation package for an Assistant to the Lead Presbyter for Transformation. See position information above.
Papers from the Meeting:
Docket
Lead Presbyter for Transformation job description
Assistant to the Lead Presbyter for Transformation job description
Presbyter Salary Levels
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The Presbytery has bulk ordered 2025-2026 Presbyterian Planning Calendars to get a reduced cost. The cost is $12.50 per calendar.
Please note that the planning calendars have a new orientation: The calendar grid is now vertical instead of horizontal and will span across two pages for double the writing space for personal dates and notes. We have ordered 55 calendars, and they will be available on a first come, first served basis. Order Form: https://forms.gle/RB8XpA9Ft88bTcbz9
Questions can be directed to Kristin Schierer, Presbytery Bookkeeper at finance@cayugasyracuse.org.
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A number of the churches in Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery are without a pastor; and some of them have been without a pastor for quite a while. Some churches may have a supply pastor or a pastor that has a limited schedule. One of the issues of concern for these churches is that Bible Study may not happen when there isn’t a pastor.
First United Church of Fulton is one of those churches. They are undertaking a ‘test project’ to hopefully solve this issue for the Fulton Church and others in similar circumstances. Gail Banks, Certified Lay Pastor, retired has agreed to do a four week Bible Study beginning October, 8 at 7pm,via ZOOM entitled HEAR JESUS’S WORDS.
Before Retirement, Gail served Amboy-Belle Isle Church. She held weekly Bible Studies for that congregation. Also, she led several retreats for the women of Morrisville Community Church. In 2006 she served as Moderator of Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery.
Throughout the years, Gail also preached at many churches as Pulpit Supply. If you as an individual or part of a church group are interested in taking part in this ‘experiment,’ or want more information, please contact Rita Hooper, 315-706-3564, twohoops2@gmail.com
It is hoped that if this experiment works we can continue it on into the future!
BETTER TOGETHER!
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Hymnals Available
Westminster (Auburn) has multiple copies of the The Worshipbook (1972, hymns and liturgy) available to give away to any church, senior living center, organization who might want them.
Please contact office@westminsterauburn.org if you’re interested.
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First Presbyterian Church Mexico Seeks Supply Leadership
An Important Message from the First Presbyterian Church Mexico:
Mexico First has joined the many congregations within our Presbytery who are in
transition. We know it is summertime as well and many are taking vacations during this
time.
We are seeking someone who could commit to at least one Sunday per month ongoing.
Any persons should contact Elder Susan Silliman Smith by text at 315-591-4623 or
email at august13sss@gmail.com. Text response is preferred. If responding by email, please put Supply Preaching in subject line.
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Professional Development
July is a great time to evaluate, refresh, and prepare for the programmatic year ahead. Some of our favorite recorded picks to help you get the resources you need are:
Recorded Webinars: Ready to go whenever you have time! Pro tip- pop in an earbud, bring it up on your phone, and listen while you
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How to contact our Stated Clerk, the Rev Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
Office Phone: 315-291-0360 (call or text)
Email: statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org
Mail received at:
Scipioville Presbyterian Church
Attn: Pastor Ben
3428 State Route 34B
Scipio Center NY 13147
More staff contact information is linked below.
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Our Address: PO Box 438, Syracuse, NY 13214
Click Here for Staff Contact Information
Click Here for a list of Live Streams from our churches
Click Here for a list of Past Editions of Presbytery Matters
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Are you hiring?
If your church is hiring, please send an announcement and job description to Communication Coordinator Sarah Buckshot at caysyrnews@gmail.com
Please Note: Hiring announcements will run in Presbytery Matters for 3 weeks and then moved to our website. If you have a hiring announcement from 2023 and are still looking to fill it in 2024, please send a new announcement.
Thank you, Sarah Buckshot, Communications Coordinator.
| | Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | | |
Taking our seat for a new season of ‘Around the Table’
Two new editions of a podcast designed to nourish faith formation have dropped
“Around the Table,” the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) podcast series designed to nourish faith formation, is now in its third season.
With the Rev. Michelle Thomas-Bush, associate pastor for youth and their families at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Rev. Cliff Haddox, pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio, as hosts, “Around the Table” from the Office of Christian Formation has seen two new episodes drop this month. Access them on Spotify or Apple Podcasts here.
Around the Table is a Lilly Endowment Inc. funded initiative in the PC(USA) that engages faith communities, parents and caregivers in innovative practices of sharing stories that grow intergenerational communities to support household faith formation.
The third season opens with the hosts talking with Gregory Rawn, the founder of Spirit & Truth Publishing. Asked what faith formation means to him, Rawn said the gift of faith is “God coming to us and creating a transformative relationship with us. It’s our response to that relationship. God starts it, and we respond.”
Faith formation “is human effort. It’s looking at the relationship God forms with us and informing our response with that understanding, that set of beliefs.” He defines faith as “every action, experience or relationship that nurtures a transformative relationship of trust with the triune God and shapes the way we see and interact with God’s world.”
Continue reading...
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New toolkit and webinar video empower global vaccine advocacy
Young Adult Volunteer Isabella Ramos creates a toolkit for those interested in advocating for low-cost vaccines
The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations (PMUN) has released a new Vaccine Advocacy Toolkit to support global vaccine access, especially in low-income countries. The digital guide is one of two new resources now available to help faith-based advocates push for life-saving immunization programs. Both are free and available to anyone.
The Vaccine Advocacy Toolkit was created jointly with the Presbyterian Malaria Vaccine Advocacy Team (PMVAT), an initiative of the Africa mission networks related to the PC(USA). The online booklet includes practical tips for digital and in-person activism, a library of readings, vaccine news updates, personal stories, and spiritual practices centered on advocacy.
Access the toolkit here.
A second new resource is a 20-minute video of highlights from the April 25 World Malaria Day webinar. Sponsored by PMVAT, PMUN, and the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness (OPW), the video features experts in public health and human rights. It focuses on the rollout of two new malaria vaccines and urges continued advocacy for large-scale vaccine distribution.
Watch the video here.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, childhood vaccines prevent about 4 million deaths each year. Still, 1 in 9 children worldwide and 1 in 5 children in Africa lack access to basic immunizations. In remote areas, some children receive no routine vaccines at all. Diseases like malaria, measles, and tuberculosis continue to kill hundreds of thousands of people each year.
Continue reading..
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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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