2024 Lodi Summer Camp – VBS for Refugee Children

Lodi Summer Camp, the annual VBS camp hosted by the Korean Church of Syracuse for refugee children in the area, was held at Syracuse Myanmar Baptist Church July 1st through 5th.

"This year again, we all experienced the amazing grace, love and joy that God pours upon us," said the Rev. Dr. Yong Ju Jee, the Senior Pastor of the Korean Church of Syracuse.

This year, we had a total of 213 children participating in the camp from 18 different countries, including Burma, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, Eritrea, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, USA, and Uganda. Of the 125 children who attended on the last day, 116 accepted Jesus as their savior.

Children learned God’s creation, sins, the blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection, and growth in Christ with wordless book through the camp by attending Bible class, art class, and game class together. Teachers prepared activities based on the five colors in the wordless book every day, and the children learned the gospel through activities that reflected the meaning of these colors for five days.

This year, as usual, many volunteers who came from many different places participated in this camp to serve for God’s mission. Although people from different regions, different ages, and different denominations gathered, we worked together and served together with joy in spreading the gospel of God. All of this was God's grace and work. God made us become one and cooperate.

Since 2007, Lodi Summer Camp has served more than 1,913 refugee friends and immigrants, and reached out to a total of 42 countries at the moment (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Palau, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and USA).

Lodi Summer Camp uses the “them-to-them” method to share the Gospel. Children 6 to 13 years old participated as junior staff members, and they participated in all of the training and orientation, prayer and worship and preparing class. They shared Gospel to their aged group friends. Also, we had special teachers who attended this camp before as refugee children and now they serve this ministry with us as assistant teachers or staff for another refugee friend. Even though they came to the United States as refugees, they who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior share the Gospel to their people.

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." (Isaiah 43:5-7)

"God invited us to His great work for salvation and gave us wonderful opportunities to glorify Him," the Rev. Jee said. "God gave a Great commission to each church and His people to share gospel to neighbors who came from all nations. God also gave us the Great commandment to love our neighbors. The Great commission is the same with the Great commandment because the best way to love your neighbor is to save their souls through the gospel. If you open the door and go out, you will meet your next door neighbor who came from all nations."

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

"As a missional church, our church has served our community and neighbors who come from all nations, and we hope to serve continuously. We thank God for providing everything that we need," Rev. Jee said. "We welcome the churches that want to join us for God’s Great Commission. Also, we welcome any individual or church who would like to support us financially."

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 Douglas Russell's daughter Mary who suffers from RSD and is having a very difficult time with it right now.
• Pray for Ed and Brenda Peck. Ed is in the VA Hospital with dementia waiting to be transferred to a long-term care facility and his wife Brenda is suffering from RSD and multiple complications.
• 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. "

The Presbytery is putting together a bulk order for 2024-2025 Presbyterian Planning Calendars to get a reduced cost. Please use this link to let us know how many 2024-2025 Planning Calendars you would like. Calendars will be $9.75 + $0.60 S&H. Once your order is placed, Kristin Schierer, Presbytery Bookkeeper, will invoice you.  Orders are due by September 27^th, and calendars will be distributed at the Presbytery meeting in November.

Ordering Link: https://forms.gle/6tHmezwR5NHZ8X169

Communications Coordinator Sarah Buckshot will be on vacation from Sunday, August 25th to Saturday, August 31st. An abbreviated version of Presbytery Matters will delivered electronically on Thursday, August 29th. Thank you for your patience.

From the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley: You're Invited

Axioms of Teaching in the Church:

Affirmations & Reflections with the Rev. Dr. Donald Griggs

Tuesday, August 27, 1 p.m. on Zoom

All are invited to an online “coffee chat” with Don Griggs focused on his recent book, “Axioms of Teaching in the Church: Affirmations of a Veteran Church Educator”.

“Axioms” summarizes a lifetime of insights and experience teaching children, youth, and adults in the church, creating lessons and Bible resources, and training teachers and pastors.

In Don’s 60+ year career as a church educator, he has served in a variety of roles. They include:

• Associate Pastor at three large churches
• Professor at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education
• Implemented the Workshop Rotation Model at Westminster Presbyterian, Sacramento
• Popular seminar leader and teacher trainer
• Co-editor with his wife Pat of the Faith for Life LOGOS curriculum
• Kerygma Editor and Board Member
• Co-author of the Bible from Scratch series
• Publisher and writer at Griggs Educational Service with his wife Pat
• Author of numerous books and Bible studies with Westminster-John Knox and Abingdon Press

Don is perhaps best known as a workshop leader, teacher, and author who guides participants, students, and readers with theories, activities, and resources that they can implement in their own settings.

For nearly three generations, Don’s creative lessons and gentle leadership have been a gift to Presbyterians and church educators across the denominations.

Please register at https://susvalpresby.org/register or click this link:

https://forms.gle/gC9WmZeALDX7Yfta7

To join the Zoom meeting online: https://bit.ly/4cu6KP5

To call in on the phone: (+1) 646-558-8656

Meeting ID: 873 2903 0001

Passcode: PSV

Questions? Contact Ruling Elder Scott Kindig at cclefchair@susvalpresby.org or call the presbytery office, 607-323-4477.

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.

COMING TOGETHER: United Church of Fayetteville members prepared and served another breakfast for Isaiah’s Table last week!

Theology Basics at Marcellus First Presbyterian Church

September 18th at 6:00 p.m. the Marcellus First Presbyterian Church will begin a new Wednesday night study focused on Christian theology. The study will be referencing Shirley Guthrie’s “Christian Doctrine.”

Here are a few of the topics the study will be exploring:

• How can we find God?
• What does God want with us?
• What are we doing here?
• And much more…

"So come join us as we explore, discuss, and deepen our understanding of God. Church affiliation NOT required, ALL ARE TRULY WELCOME!"

PRC's Summer & Fall 2024 Online events

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

Intergenerational Ministry Interest Session with GenOn

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leaders: Liz Perraud, Betsy Dishman

Hope is Here! Spiritual practices for pursuing justice and beloved community

Thursday, September 19, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader - Rev. Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr.

Wait, is this racist?

Thursday, September 26, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Kerry Connelly

Managing Stress Before it Manages You

Thursday, October 3, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Charles Stone

Healing Fractured Communities

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leaders - Jessica L. Anschutz, Douglas Powe

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

New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars

You can take this training any time during the year

charlaine@prcli.org

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT

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

Join the Synod-Wide Indigenous Mission Day!

Get ready for an incredible day of service, connection, and cultural immersion! We are excited to announce the Synod-Wide Indigenous Mission Day on September 28, 2024, and we invite you to be a part of this transformative experience. The Synod-Wide Indigenous Mission Day is a dedicated day of action and solidarity, where we come together to support our Indigenous brothers and sisters. The event will feature hands-on building repair projects, opportunities to build meaningful relationships, and immersive cultural experiences.

Why Should You Get Involved?

1. Make a Tangible Impact: Participate in building repair projects that directly benefit Indigenous communities. Your skills and efforts will help improve living conditions and community spaces.
2. Build Lasting Relationships: Engage in activities that foster understanding and partnership with Indigenous community members. Learn from each other and build friendships that go beyond this one day.
3. Experience Indigenous Culture: Immerse yourself in the rich traditions & stories while celebrating their heritage and resilience within the community.

How Can You Help?



We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join us. Whether you're an expert or just willing to lend a hand, your help is valuable. Bring your skills in construction, carpentry, painting, or general handyman work to help with repair projects.

Spread the Word & let's make the Synod-Wide Indigenous Mission Day an unforgettable and impactful event, together!

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

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.

A rally cry for lifelong formation

Christian Formation Week begins Sept. 8

By Beth Waltemath

Presbyterian News Service

With the start of the new school year, churches often reimagine how to focus on Christian formation. For some churches with dedicated times for classes and small groups, this may mean a big celebration; for others, it may mean an intentional space in worship and special decorations during fellowship time. No matter what the size of the program or the celebration may be, there is a shared sense of the renewal made possible through the Christian life.

The PC(USA)’s Office of Christian Formation has collected and updated resources for congregations of all sizes wishing to celebrate Christian Formation Week, whether it be the designated week of Sept. 8–14 or before.

“The best part of the new Christian Formation year is the noise!” said the Rev. Rachel Watson, associate pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton, Virginia. Watson noted the shift from quiet summer Sundays and dark, empty classrooms to a more boisterous space.

“On Rally Sunday, we hear laughter and chatter and movement in the Christian Formation wing,” Watson said. “We get to catch up with our friends and hear the stories of Flat Jesus, who’s been traveling all over the place with our families.”

Continue reading...

Confronting Christian Zionism webinar moderator reflects on series, speakers and advocacy

Final webinar registration open

to first 500 attendees

By Scott O’Neill

Presbyterian News Service

The PC(USA)’s Christian Zionism working group, which includes PC(USA) national staff, congregation members and grassroots Presbyterians connected to the Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), will present its third and final webinar on Confronting Christian Zionism.

The well-attended previous webinars covered the history and basics of Christian Zionism; the final in the series, titled “Discipleship, Christian Nationalism, and Settler Colonialism: Faithful Preparation for the U.S. Election,” will focus on how the Christian Zionism theology manifests itself in today’s highly politicized faith practices. To participate in the Zoom webinar, which is scheduled for noon Eastern Time on Thursday, Sep. 19, register here. Webinar participation is limited to 500.

Continue reading...