UCF Steeple Coffee House Begins Its 20^th Season!

In 2005 the United Church of Fayetteville, 310 E. Genesee St; Fayetteville, NY, conceived of an idea to bring live music to Fayetteville so Central New York musicians could have another venue for local audiences to enjoy their music. This would also give the church an opportunity to raise funds for outreach endeavors such as the FM Food Pantry. The Steeple Coffee House (SCH) was born and has continued its mission of providing a variety of music like classic rock ‘n roll, bluegrass, folk and jazz with many SAMMY-award winning artists. Seventy percent of the revenue raised pays musicians and the other thirty percent helps support the F-M Food Pantry and other church outreach programs.

Steeple Coffee House concerts are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from the end of September to May excluding December. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and performances are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The admission of $15 and sometimes $20 includes a beverage and dessert!

Opening night will be September 27, 2025 with 3-time SAMMY award-winner Hanna Richardson along with Ithaca’s first-call swing musicians playing favorites from the 1020s through the 1040s. Hanna will sing and play tenor guitar. She will be accompanied by Harry Aceto on upright bass, Dave Davies on trombone, guitar and vocals with Brian Earle on clarinet. These witty classic songs will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step!

There is plenty of free parking behind the church and the venue is Accessible. You may enter the parking lot off E. Genesee St, Chapel St and Walnut St. More information can be found at https://www.theucf.org/steeple-coffee-house-calendar

Steeple Coffee House 2025-2026 Schedule:

Date of Performance Name of Act

09/27/2025 Hanna Richardson and Friends

10/11/2025 Cayley Sheehan

10/25/2025 Bob Cannistraro’s Boulder Express

11/08/2025 Kristen Gitler Festival - Bryan Dickenson & Melissa G Clark

11/22/2025 Ashley Cox

01/10/2026 Jess Novak Band

01/24/2026 Isreal Hagan

02/14/2026 Jeffrey Pepper-Rodgers & Wendy Ramsey

02/28/2026 John Price and The Usual Suspects

03/14/2026 the bandwitts

03/28/2026 Donna Colton and The Troublemakers

04/11/2026 Loren and LJ Barrigar

04/25/2026 The Cadleys

05/09/2026 Dave Novak

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.

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 Jerry Armstrong (Whitelaw Presbyterian) Jerry is 15 years old with recurrent bone cancer that has spread to his esophagus. Please continue to pray more than ever for both Jerry and his family. Cards can be sent to Jerry Armstrong at PO Box 414 Wampsville, NY 13163.
• 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.
• 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: Isaiah’s Table, Syracuse; Korean Church of Syracuse; Park Central, Syracuse; Robinson Elmwood United Church, Syracuse; First, Weedsport; Whitelaw

Happy Fall!

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!

The next "Can We Talk?" gathering will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2025 in the lounge at Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church, 5299 Jamesville Road in Syracuse.

Coffee and goodies will be served.

The gathering is for retired clergy, clps, and retired Christian Educators - those who have served churches and those who have labored in other venues. First-timers are always welcome!

Register in advance for this meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

FELLOWSHIP ON THE WATER: Robinson Elmwood United Church members enjoyed a lunch cruise outing on Skaneateles Lake!

Why Administration Matters

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Bonnie Marden

Don’t Overcomplicate This! First Steps to Fresh Ministry Initiatives

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Brett DeHart

Purple Church Reflections: Navigating Stewardship in an Age of Polarization

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Greg Allen-Pickett

Reclaiming Confirmation

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader - Kirsten Trachsel

Online Presence in 2025 and Beyond

Thursday, October 9, 2025

7:00 – 8:00 PM EDT

Leader – Eric Seiberling

Cross-Cultural Ministries

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

7:00 – 8:00 PM EDT

Leader – Kim Pope-Seiberling

Resisting Erasure and Isolation as Pathway to Belonging

Thursday, October 23, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Leaders - Craig Lemming, Erin Weber-Johnson



Practical AI for Churches

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Leader – Eric Seiberling

Full Day VBS - it's not that scary!

Thursday, October 30, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Leader – Kelsey DeCarlo

Can We Talk? What the Bible Can Teach Us about Dialogue in a Divisive Time

Thursday, November 6, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Leader – Rev. Dr. Leah Schade

Creating Ministries for Neurogent Families

Thursday, December 4, 2025

7:00 – 8:00 PM EDT

Leader – Kim Pope-Seiberling

Mandatory New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars

You can take this training any time during the year

charlaine@prcli.org

Thursday, October 16, 2025 

10:00 – 11:30 AM EDT

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 

4:00 – 5:30 PM EST

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 

2:00 – 3:30 PM EST

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.

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

Now Hiring | Finance Clerk

To apply for this position, submit a resume with references to Rev. SanDawna Ashley at sandawna.ashley@synodne.org. This is a part-time (15 hrs. week) position located in East Syracuse, New York. The applicant must live in the Syracuse, NY area. The position continuation is subject to a satisfactory 90-day orientation period and performance reviews. In accordance with New York State Law, this position is an “at will” employment. Position description: Synod Finance Clerk Position Description

Position Opening: Music Director

The Jamesville Community Church is seeking a part-time Music Director, who can play the organ, piano or guitar. The paid position is for an average of 7-9 hours a week. The

Director will assist the pastor with Sunday morning worship, special services, lead a

small choir and congregational singing and play both contemporary and traditional

worship music.

Competitive Salary.

Please prayerfully consider joining our faith community in worshiping God together.

Interested candidates can contact Church Office at 315-492-1465 or

admin@jamesvillecommunitychurch.org

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.

WNY Connection to Transformation

Building a Partnership Culture in Faith Communities

in Collaboration with the NY State Council of Churches

October 24-25, 2025

First Presbyterian Church - Ithaca

315 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850

COST: $55

Register

Shaping Justice: A Listening Survey for LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians - What Comes Next?

We are so grateful to have heard from over 300 queer Presbyterians! Thank you for sharing your stories, your reflections, and your visions for a more equitable future.

Your responses are already being used to shape...

- Proposals to the 2026 General Assembly

- The National Queer Presbyterian Gathering in November (register here: https://hubs.ly/Q03K04M10)

- The October Presbyterian Advocacy Hour on LGBTQIA+ Issues (register here: https://hubs.ly/Q03K05TX0)

Presbyterians gather online to celebrate Native American Day

The PC(USA) is home to 98 Native American congregations and chapels in 20 presbyteries and seven synods

During Wednesday’s Chapel Service, Ruling Elder Elona Street-Stewart and the Rev. Irv Porter joined to help Presbyterians honor Native American Day, which is traditionally celebrated during the week of the fall equinox.

The service included recordings of the hymns “How Great Thou Art” sung in the Choctaw language, and “Mni Wiconi,” which means “Water is Life,” a Dakota hymn.

Street-Stewart, a member of the Delaware Nanticoke Tribe, is the executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and served as Co-Moderator of the 224th General Assembly (2020). She called the fall equinox “harvest time for many Native American tribes. For centuries, it has been a time of celebration and preparation for the winter.”

She noted that many people are surprised to learn that the first Bible off the presses in North America, the Eliot Indian Bible published in 1663, was in Natick, also known as Wampanoag, the language of Algonquian people of the present-day state of Massachusetts.

Continue reading...

Final 'Holy Shift' webinar highlights innovative ministries for young families

'Leave room for God,' says panelist

The third and final installment of the "Holy Shift" webinar series drew 125 attendees from across the country on Tuesday, offering inspiration and practical insight into innovative ministries serving young families.

Hosted by the Rev. Neema Cyrus-Franklin of the PC(USA)’s Around the Table initiative and moderated by the Rev. Libby Tedder Hugus of Resonate Coaching, the session featured four panelists whose ministries are reshaping faith formation for parents under 40. The webinar series was co-sponsored by the Office of Christian Formation and 1001 New Worshiping Communities of the Interim Unified Agency of the PC(USA), Sessions one and two are available online.

The "Holy Shift" series was born out of research conducted in partnership with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by TryTank Research Institute, a venture of the Virginia Theological Seminary. The study explored how young adult parents are shifting their relationship with church, spirituality and faith practices at home.

The first webinar focused on the research findings presented by sociologist Dr. Josh Packard. The second webinar invited participants to dream and imagine new possibilities for ministry.

In the final session, titled "Holy Shift: Part 3 – Doing the Work," four practitioners shared stories of risk, creativity and resilience in their efforts to meet the spiritual and practical needs of young families.

Continue reading...