Welcome to this week's edition of our e-letter, Presbytery Matters. | |
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It was a beautiful Holy Week around our Presbytery! | |
Mission: Free Clothing Giveaway! | |
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The First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport is operating a free clothing giveaway at the church. It is open today - Thursday, April 4th - from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
All clothing is free and people are encouraged to take anything they can use. No questions asked.
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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!
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Joys and Concerns around the Presbytery | |
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In our prayers together this week:
- Please continue to keep Karen Chamis in your healing prayers. Our former Resource Presbyter broke her leg in February and suffered complications.
- Pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
- 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: United Church of Fayetteville; First United Church of Fulton; God’s Vision Christian Church, Hannibal; Jamesville Community Church; First, King Ferry
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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Synod's Innovation Grant Deadline | |
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Reminder, if you are applying for an innovation grant from the Synod the deadline is Monday, April 8.
Be sure to allow sufficient time so that the interim resource presbyter, Kathy Dain, will have time to complete the Presbytery portion.
Please notify Kathy when you are ready for her to review.
The Rev. Kathleen Dain can be reached via email at KDain@cayugasyracuse.org or phone at (315) 551-0413.
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Cayuga Syracuse Leadership Update | |
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"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Eccl. 3:1
A message from Moderator Garrett Anderson and the HR Committee:
Sadly, the time has come for us to bid farewell to two of the Lord's servants in positions of leadership in our Presbytery.
Our resource Presbyter, Rev. Kathleen Dain will complete her one year contract in early June and our Interim Stated Clerk, Amy Loving-Austin, will complete her six month contract on April 30th. We are thankful to both of them for their hard work.
Kathy has helped visualize more fully PCUSA's Matthew 25 and has helped us work on becoming more organized. She has also offered her insight as to the structure of Presbytery and has given recommendations, some of which can be found in Kathy's "Presbytery Matters" entry from March 21st. We are grateful for her abundant energy and her willingness to reach out personally to meet with the leaders of all of our churches - no small feat!
Amy has helped us in many ways also, to include updating our Bylaws and Standing Rules to ensure adherence to the Book of Order. She has been delightful in keeping us doing things
"decently and in order!" Amy's knowledge and guidance have been extremely valuable. At this point, three jobs may be a bit too much since Amy also serves two churches and is the part-time Stated Clerk for Geneva Presbytery.
Kathy's vacancy presents an opportunity to actively explore shared leadership which has been a topic for several years. Conversations have been taking place and a conference with multiple Presbyteries will occur in late April. Please stay tuned!
A temporary Stated Clerk has been secured for our May meeting and ongoing discussions are taking place for day-to-day coverage of this position.
Thank you for your faithful patience and prayers as we navigate to where God is leading us.
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From the Nominating Committee | |
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Greetings from the Nominating Committee,
The Nominating Committee greatly appreciates the work and dedication of all who serve on committees and commissions of the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery. We recognize that we cannot hope to live into God’s mission for us as a collective body without those who feel called to serve.
The Nominating Committee needs to establish a broader pool of names for consideration as we seek to populate committees and commissions. We are asking that pastors/churches provide the committee with a list of elders, especially those who are willing to serve on a committee on the presbytery level.
Currently, we are seeking people to serve on the following: Commission on Ministry, Committee on Representation, Social Justice, Human Resources, Finance and Property, Nominating Committee. Suggestions can be emailed to the Nominating Committee at lynchshavonn@yahoo.com.
Shavonn Lynch
Nominating Committee Chair
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Interim Resource Presbyter Announcements | |
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The Ethiopia Mission Network of the PC(USA) invites you to attend the seventeenth annual Ethiopia Mission Network conference at the Oromo Fellowship Church of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 16 – May 17, 2024.
The Ethiopia Mission Network meets to:
- Share information, experience and wisdom and discuss common strategies and common interests
- Provide useful connections to anyone in a missional relationship with Ethiopians
- Make contact with all who share a common vision of relationship with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)
- Invite new participants into the network and encourage each other in the work of mission
Download Invitation
Download Registration Form
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Under the new guidelines from the Book of Order, boundary training is required every three years for: Ministers of Word and Sacrament, Certified Christian Educators (CCE), Certified Christian Ruling Elders (CRE) and Inquirers before moving to candidacy.
The presbytery has contracted with SafeGatherings https://safegatherings.com for the online boundary training course. To learn more, or to register for the course, please contact your committee chair or the interim resource presbyter.
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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.
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Through Middle Eastern Eyes: A Life of Kenneth E. Bailey, by Michael Parker, was just published.
A Presbyterian missionary for 40 years in the Middle East (1955-1995), Bailey served in Egypt, Lebanon, Israel-Palestine, and Cyprus. He was also a distinguished New Testament scholar, who taught us all the need to view the parables and life of Jesus through the lens of Middle Eastern culture. His ground-breaking interpretations can be found in 10 books, including such popular titles as The Cross & the Prodigal (1973/2005), Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes (2008), and The Good Shepherd (2014). A lucid and fast-paced narrative, the biography provides the context in which Bailey’s insights were formed and developed over the course of a long and often fraught career.
Parker’s book is based on extensive research in the Bailey Papers at the Yale Divinity School library and is now available at Amazon.com.
Here’s the link: Through Middle Eastern Eyes: A Life of Kenneth E. Bailey: Parker, Michael: 9798385207794: Amazon.com: Books.
Also, check out Parker’s website, which includes several short videos on Bailey’s life and importance as a scholar: MichaelParker.info.
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This retreat opportunity will be led by Presbyterian ministers the Rev. Mary Anderson from Cayuga-Syracuse and the Rev. Laurel Nelson from Genesee Valley. Download flyer HERE. | |
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Joy & Justice Education Series
Park Central in Syracuse received a ReKindle Grant from the Columbia Theological Seminary, which allowed the church to provide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) training with their congregational leadership and members in 2023. The funding also gives the church the ability to offer this training for FREE in the spring to congregational leaders from other local Presbyterian churches.
The trainings are in-person at Park Central for five weeks, ending with an all day in-person retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center in Syracuse and is limited to 16 participants with two leaders from each church. There is required reading of two books, “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo and “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. Additionally, participants are required to take the online Intercultural Developmental Inventory Assessment that identifies their individual level of cultural awareness. You can read more about this assessment at https://www.idiinventory.com.
The sessions, which will be held on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. with dinner provided at 6:30 p.m., will start on April 15th and end on May 13th. The retreat will take place on May 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Light refreshments and lunch will be included.
There are spaces still available but they are limited. To register please send an email to niaministriesworldwide@gmail.com. Please indicate if you will need the books.
Many have expressed that they know this is something their church needs to do but have said ‘not right now’. Please do not think that you have to ‘be ready’ to do this work. If you accepted the call to become a Matthew 25 Church then the time is NOW. You will not be alone in this as other believers and followers of Christ will be with you. It is time for us all to take the risk in doing more than saying or thinking we are doing the right thing and actually learning whether or not that is true. My question to you is, if I were to come to your church right now…would I feel welcome and how would you know if I did?
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Practical Resources for Churches Webinars | |
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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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Westminster Church, Auburn seeking Temporary Pastor
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Auburn is seeking a Temporary Pastor to work with the church while it seeks a new installed pastor. The church will consider either a full-time or part-time position with responsibilities and compensation negotiated and adjusted accordingly.
Position tasks include worship leadership and preaching, moderating the Session, pastoral care, serving as head of staff, administrative leadership, assisting boards, committees, and teams, and other duties as needed (funerals/weddings, representing the congregation with outside organizations, assisting with communications, occasional leadership of educational programs, assisting with mission, outreach, evangelism efforts, etc).
Effective Salary will be commensurate with experience, with benefits and mileage to be included as negotiated individually. Ideal starting date is May 1, 2024 but a later starting date will be considered. Please send a letter of introduction and resume to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St, Auburn, NY 13021 Attn: Temporary Pastor Search Team or by email to office@westminsterauburn.org. For more information or questions, call 315-253-3331 or email office@westminsterauburn.org.
Information about the church can be found at www.westminsterauburn.org or facebook.com/westminsterauburn.
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Children Worship Center position at Westminster, Auburn
Westminster Presbyterian Church of Auburn currently has an opening for a Children Worship Center Leader. Successful candidate would lead and effectively interpret our Children & Worship program for children ages 3 - 2nd grade. This position will also assist our Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator in planning and coordinating extracurricular programming, outings & community service projects. This is a year-round, every Sunday position, normally 5 hours/week. Rate of pay is $20./hour. Interested applicants are asked to respond to our posting on Indeed.
Interested applicants are asked to respond to our posting on Indeed.
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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.
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Around the Synod of the Northeast | |
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The Wurffel-Sills Scholarship and Interest-Free Student Loan program is open to full-time undergraduate students, and full and part-time (at least half-time) seminary students (MDiv, MRE), who are members of any church within the Synod of the Northeast.
The deadline for 2024 applications is April 30.
Information and the online application can be found at Wurffel-Sills Student Aid — Synod of the Northeast, or contact Stacy Gallloway at Stacy.Galloway@synodne.org or 315-446-5990.
Wurfell-Sills scholarship funding in the amount of $6,500 was awarded to Cayuga-Syracuse member(s) last year.
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Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | |
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Speakers offer advice on financial security and wealth building for women
Commission on the Status of Women event promotes planning ahead for retirement and sharing intergenerational wisdom
By Darla Carter
Presbyterian News Service
Women should consider their life expectancy — and the fact that they tend to live longer than men do — when thinking about and planning for their financial futures.
Those were some of the takeaways from “Empowering Older Women as Consumers,” a virtual event held in conjunction with the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The March CSW68 summit included delegates from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Presbyterian Women as well as women from around the world.
The empowerment webinar was among the scores of parallel events held in person and online during CSW68. It featured Dr. Suzanne Shu, a Cornell University marketing professor in the SC Johnson College of Business, and Dr. Charlene Dadzie, an associate professor of marketing and quantitative methods in the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama.
Shu, a faculty research fellow with the National Bureau of Economic Research, used a life expectancy tool to provide an estimate of how many years a 65-year-old woman might need to plan ahead for. Though the hypothetical woman’s expected age of death is 87, “this woman has a probability of living to age 90 of 40%,” and could live past 100, Shu said during the webinar, which was sponsored by the International Association for Gerontology and Geriatrics and the NGO Committee on Ageing.
Continue reading...
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Praying and paying for college
Student benefits from PC(USA) support ‘to an immense degree’
By Beth Waltemath
Presbyterian News Service
Mel Smith is inside the Presbyterian Chapel of Austin College in Sherman, Texas. (Photo contributed by Mel Smith)
Now is the time eager applicants await their college acceptance letters. Individuals and families start to consider not just what institutions to attend but also how they will realistically pay for them. Churches around the country add these young adults and their families to their prayer lists and prepare to celebrate the members graduating in May or June. But for many seeking a degree, the PC(USA) can do more than just pray for their acceptance and ongoing education.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency provides scholarships to up to 100 college students per year. The basic scholarship award is $4,000. There is also a $2,000 Supplemental Award for People of Color.
For Mel Smith, college has been a time of expanding their faith, theology and commitment to a more just world. As a member of a PC(USA) church, Smith applied for and received the Presbyterian Grant for Undergraduates to help with the expenses of their higher education.
At Austin College in Sherman, Texas, Smith has gained a better understanding of their faith and what it means to be Presbyterian. “My faith has encountered a more diverse array of beliefs than I was exposed to in my hometown. This exposure has allowed me to better understand what I believe,” said Smith, who describes their hometown church as having very few people their age and appreciates the larger Presbyterian community at college where they feel welcome. For Smith, being a part of the PC(USA) means “I am a part of a church that is open to people of all stripes and beliefs, working together to make the world a kinder place.”
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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