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! 

In our prayers together this week:

• Please pray for Roger and Carolyn Martin in Florida. Carolyn fell and broke her hip as they were getting ready to head home after hurricane Milton.
• Please keep the Rev. Karen Green (Mexico) in your prayers. Karen's husband, Robert "Bob" Green, passed away earlier this month. Please keep Karen in your prayers during this difficult time.
• Pray for 14-year-old Jerry Armstrong who has been diagnosed with bone cancer. He attends Whitelaw Presbyterian Church with his family.
• Pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
• Please pray for unity and peace in America during an already tumultuous election season.
• All those in Ukraine.
• All those in Israel and Gaza.
• All those who are homebound.
• All those who battling addiction.
• 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.

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 special meeting of the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery was held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. The meeting lasted about 50 minutes and was held on Zoom. The purpose of the meeting was to vote on one motion, which was passed.

Motion Passed: It is moved by the CORD committee that Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery pursue merger with Susquehanna Valley Presbytery through a process of integration and collaboration until we determine if both Presbyteries want to move in that direction.

Applications are now 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 10, 2024

Please email the completed Application Form to:

Lynn Jacques at lmjacques@verizon.net

Attention Churches: Do you need event graphics created for social media and online use? Communications Coordinator Sarah Buckshot can help create graphics for you to share online. Do you need a Word Document or PDF converted to an image file for better sharing online? Sarah can help. Please don't hesitate to reach out and request a graphic at anytime! Sarah can be reached at caysyrnews@gmail.com

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.

HALLOWEEN OUTREACH: First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango's pumpkins are ready for this weekend’s village Trick or Treating.

The next "Can We Talk?" gathering will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25, 2024 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!

Rummage Sale at Liverpool First Presbyterian Church will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on October 26, 2024. The church is located at 603 Tulip Street, Liverpool, New York 13219

PRC's Fall 2024 Online events

All webinars are recorded. Click the title to register or read the description.

Truly Welcoming Environments for Today's Unchurched

Thursday, October 24, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader - Brett DeHart

Healing Fractured Communities

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leaders - Jessica L. Anschutz, Douglas Powe

Maximizing Year End Giving

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EST

Leader – Brett DeHart

Christian Nationalism and the 2024 Election

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EST

Leaders -Brian Kaylor, Beau Underwood 

This is a follow-up webinar to

Responding Effectively to Christian Nationalism RECORDED

Leaders -Brian Kaylor, Beau Underwood

The Art of Hospitality

Thursday, November 21, 2024

2:00 – 3:00pm EST

Leader – Yvonne Gentile

New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars

You can take this training any time during the year

charlaine@prcli.org

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT

Thursday, November 14, 2024

3:00 – 4:30 pm EST

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

7:00 – 8:30 pm EST

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

Scipioville Presbyterian Church seeks Organist/Choir Director

Scipioville Presbyterian Church is a small, vibrant and welcoming congregation in search of an Organist/Choir Director.

Scipioville Presbyterian Church is located at 3428 State Route 34B in Scipio Center/

Interested candidates are asked to call or text Barbara Adams at 315-246-7955 or email resume or questions to baamoravia@aol.com.

Northville United Presbyterian Church seeks pastor

Northville United Presbyterian Church (NUPC), nestled in the bucolic village of Northville, New York is searching for a vibrant, compassionate part-time to full-time Pastor to lead and accompany us on our quest to becoming better Disciples of Christ. Located on the Great Sacandaga lake in the beautiful Adirondack Park of Upstate New York, we are a small but active congregation serving the Lord and community in various outreach and inhouse programs who desire a forward-thinking pastor to preach the teachings of Christ and relate them to our daily lives. Our pastor will also shepherd our efforts in our music program, develop programs to attract youth and minister to the needs of the elderly in our midst. Read More...

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.

Stated Clerk joins other US faith leaders urging both presidential campaigns to address human rights in Middle East within first 100 days in office

Letter follows Action Alert plea to block

further military aid to Israel

By Scott O’Neill

Presbyterian News Service

The Executive Director and Stated Clerk of the interim unifying agencies, the Rev. Jihyun Oh, joined more than a dozen U.S. Christian faith leaders in signing a letter addressed to both presidential campaigns requesting each “work toward a just and permanent solution that addresses the core issues” in the ongoing violence in Gaza and Israel-Palestine.

The letter outlines five recommendations that must be addressed within the first 100 days of the next president’s administration. They include:

•    Protect Palestinian and Israeli civilian life
•    Facilitate humanitarian aid
•    Halt arms sales and military assistance
•    Prioritize regional de-escalation
•    Protect Palestinian Christian communities

The letter concludes, “We pray that whoever is elected President of the United States will demonstrate a robust commitment to the American values of promoting human rights and peace with their words and actions on day one.”

Continue reading...

Blessing of the Animals service brings in the community

First Presbyterian Church of Petaluma reaches people by blessing their pets

By Erin Dunigan

Special to Presbyterian News Service

In the heart of Petaluma, California, a town steeped in agricultural history, First Presbyterian Church has found a unique way to connect with its community: through a yearly Blessing of the Animals service. “Not only are animals a significant part of the history of our town, but the animals that we spend time with are a huge part of people’s lives,” said the church’s pastor, the Rev. John Chase.

The inspiration for the Blessing of the Animals service stemmed from Chase’s desire to incorporate more of people’s lives outside of Sunday morning into meaningful experiences within the church’s worship. “We are trying to find ways to bring Monday through Saturday into what happens on Sunday morning,” he said.

Continue reading...