Welcome to this week's edition of our e-letter, Presbytery Matters. | | | |
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 Doug Russell, of Baldwinsville Presbyterian Church, in your prayers as he battles cancer. Pray for strength, healing, and peace for Doug and his loved ones during this difficult time.
- Please pray 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 Cuba.
- 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: Northminster, North Syracuse; Onondaga Hill; Faith United Church of Oswego; Presbyterian Church of Otisco; New Hope, Parish
| | Online Discussion with Lead Presbyter | |
You're invited to an online discussion with Lead Presbyter Greg Garis
April 23rd & April 30th at 3 p.m.
Dear Friends,
You are invited to join an online discussion with Lead Presbyter Greg Garis as we explore Gil Rendle’s timely monograph, Re-imaging and Re-mapping the Religious Landscape: Chaos Before a New Ordering. Rendle offers a compelling framework for understanding the profound shifts taking place in the church today, helping us see our ministry challenges through a fresh and hopeful lens.
We will meet on Zoom at 3:00 PM on April 23 and April 30.
Whether you’ve read 10 pages or the entire monograph, you are welcome. Your presence and perspective will enrich the conversation. This discussion will be valuable both personally and pastorally as we seek to understand our ministry contexts within this rapidly changing religious landscape. Together, we’ll reflect on how congregations can navigate seasons of disruption, imagine new possibilities, and discern faithful next steps.
Dates:
• Thursday, April 23 at 3:00 PM (discussion on pages 1-37)
• Thursday, April 30 at 3:00 PM (discussion on pages 38-66)
Location: Zoom
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88591757613?pwd=DEUndrYhnUiTN9sKSpC5bwnHZvVEF3.1
We hope you will join us for this thoughtful and energizing conversation.
Download Monograph
| From the Focus & Coordination Team | |
You're Invited To Join Us May 16 for a
Joint Gathering of Our Presbyteries
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Members and friends of the Presbyteries of Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley are warmly invited to a joint gathering on Saturday, May 16, at First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia. This special event is designed as a time of fellowship, conversation and learning as we come together across our presbyteries.
The gathering will run from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. for registration and informal conversation. All members of both presbyteries are encouraged to attend -- come one, come all!
The day will offer opportunities to build new friendships, learn more about one another’s ministries and share ideas and questions about the life of our presbyteries. Participants will also hear about the recent merger between the Lehigh and Lackawanna Presbyteries, offering insight and perspective that may help inform conversations within our own region.
This gathering is sponsored by the Focus & Coordination Team, and lunch will be provided. A $5 donation per person is welcomed to help offset the cost of the meal.
To help us plan for lunch, please RSVP by emailing Lorrie Cooney at ljcooney1@gmail.com and include your name and the church you are affiliated with.
Your presence and voice are important. We hope you will join us for this meaningful time of connection and shared conversation.
Attention Churches: Download bulletin to invite your members.
Word Document
PDF
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Got Church Trivia? We Want It!
Help Make Our “Get to Know Our Presbyteries” Trivia Game a Success
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At our May 16 Presbytery Gathering, we’re setting aside time for connection and relationship-building with a fun “Get to Know Our Presbyteries” Trivia Game and we need your help to make it great!
We’re looking for fun, unique, and little-known facts about your church or presbytery. These could be interesting historical details from your archives, memorable stories, amusing anecdotes, or present-day trivia that others might not know.
We’ve already gathered a few great stories and are excited to share them, but we need more trivia to make the game a success!
Take a few minutes to gather your church’s hidden gems and surprising facts and send them in.
Submit your trivia to: Lorrie Cooney at ljcooney1@gmail.com
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to see what stories you share!
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Fiscal Policy Institute:
The Healthcare Affordability Agenda
Part I: The Economic Toll of Rising Private Health Insurance Costs
Key Findings
Premium Explosion
- The average annual premium for a family plan offered through private employers in New York rose from $5,300 in 1996 to $27,000 in 2024—an increase of 440% over 28 years, or roughly 6% annual growth.
Wages Lag Behind
- While average household income roughly doubled between 2001 and 2024, health insurance premiums tripled for single plans and nearly quadrupled for family plans.
Lost Compensation
If premiums had grown at the same rate as wages, workers would have earned an additional:
- $45,300 (single plan)
- $133,200 (family plan)
- If cost growth had been limited to 2% annually, those figures would rise to $55,700 and $149,400, respectively.
Rising Deductibles
- The average family plan deductible increased from $900 in 2002 to $3,400 in 2024, growing nearly 5% per year, well above inflation.
Employment Impacts
- If healthcare costs had tracked wage growth, New York’s employment rate would be 8 percentage points higher, adding 1.3 million jobs.
- Each year of 6% healthcare cost growth leads to 51,000 additional job losses statewide.
| The United States, with Israel, has entered another illegal war of regime change, this time in Iran. CFP will come together for our April Community Call on Wednesday, April 15, at 8pm ET, 5 pm PT to dive into the dangerous combination of U.S. militarism and Christian Zionism, its effects on Iran, Palestine, and the whole world, and how we might respond. Learn more... | 2026 Virtual Benefits Summit | |
Attention Pastors, Members of Personnel and Finance Committees:
Below is a message from the Rev. Luke Choi, Church Consultant for the Synod of the Covenant, Western New York presbyteries, Korean American presbyteries, and KPCA
Greetings,
By now, you’ve probably received an invitation to the Benefits Regional Summit events held in various cities across the country from the Board of Pensions. Since none of these locations are within a reasonable driving distance from you, I’ve decided to host our own condensed version of the Benefits Regional Summit virtually in partnership with the Presbyteries of Cayuga-Syracuse, Geneva, and Susquehanna Valley.
So, join us for this informative virtual town hall, through which I hope to provide important updates and insights into the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and related programs offered by the Board of Pensions to you the pastoral leaders and the congregational benefits decision-makers.
2026 Virtual Benefits Summit for Cayuga-Syracuse/Geneva/Susquehanna Valley
Thursday, April 23, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Please Register in advance for this meeting
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Among the topics you will hear about are:
- Medical Plan cost trends and changes in the healthcare system
- Dues package subsidies that would ease financial burdens for congregations, pastors, and their families
- Plans and programs that support those who serve the Church, including Assistance Program enhancements such as the new Child Care Support
You will also have the opportunity to ask questions.
Wishing God’s best for you,
Luke
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Rural Ideas Conference
June 24–26, 2026
University of the Ozarks • Clarksville, Arkansas
Hosted by Town Square Collaborative
Town Square Collaborative exists to support rural and small‑town churches.The Rural Ideas Conference is designed for pastors, lay leaders, innovators, and community partners who care deeply about the future of rural ministry.
Conference Details
Dates: June 24–26, 2026
Location: University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AR
Cost: Free
Lodging: Free on‑campus dormitory housing
(Participants may choose to book a hotel at their own expense.)
For more information please contact Mary Anderson at asst.presbyter@gmail.com
What You’ll Find Online
Visit townsquareco.org and click the Rural Ideas Conference tab to view:
• Provisional conference schedule
• Speaker and leader profiles
• Registration form
• Additional details about lodging, meals, and sessions
Registration
Space is limited, and free lodging fills quickly.
Register at: townsquareco.org
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Donations Needed
Every month, InterFaith Works hands out diapers to the young families that we work with. Throughout the month of March, we are asking for diaper donations to assist with the monthly Diaper Distribution. We will accept children's diapers of all sizes from newborn - size 6. However, many of these children are getting bigger and sizing up in their diaper needs, and we would like to put an extra emphasis on needing size 6 diapers. Please feel free to drop your donations off to our offices any time during office hours! For more information, please contact the Community Engagement Manager at communityengagement@ifwcny.org.
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The next "Can We Talk?" gathering will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026 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!
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Steeple Coffee House presents Loren and LJ
We’re happy to have Loren and LJ Barrigar back at Steeple Coffee House!
Loren, a long-time friend of Steeple Coffee House, is a highly skilled guitarist and singer whose guitar playing and composing have been significantly influenced by renowned guitarists Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel. He has composed melodies for television shows such as “ER” and “The Young and The Restless,” as well as a Christmas CD featuring legendary musicians BB King and Patti Labelle.
LJ, a self-taught musician, has been playing with his father in a finger-picking duo for the past six years. Heavily influenced by his father’s music and the guidance of his father’s friend and performing partner, Mark Mazengarb, LJ has become a virtuoso guitarist.
Loren and LJ have embarked on extensive tours across Central New York and beyond, captivating audiences with their performances. Their shows have taken them to various states, including Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Maryland, and Arkansas. Audiences are enthusiastic and often return to local shows, cultivating a loyal fan base.
If you like serious finger-picking guitars, then you’re in for an amazing show!
Where: Steeple Coffee House is in the United Church of Fayetteville at 310 E. Genesee St. in Fayetteville, NY. The venue is Accessible. Plenty of free parking behind the church with entries from E. Genesee St., Chapel St., and Walnut St.
When: Saturday, March 28th - Show starts at 7:30 PM and runs until 9:30 PM. Doors open at 7:00 PM
Cost: Suggested donation is $15-20 (cash) includes refreshments
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Increase Giving through “Story-Listening”
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT
Leader – Susan Howlett
Being Christian in a Dysvangelical America
Thursday, March 26, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT
Leaders – Alex Thornburg, Ted Foote
The Generosity Journey: From Financial Fatigue to Spiritual Momentum
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
Leader – Steve Lindsley
The Role of the Legacy Church Pastor
Thursday, April 16, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
Leader - Chris Mereschuk
When your church experiences deep hurt: practical steps toward healing
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT
Leader – Laura Stephens-Reed
When Bylaws Become Barriers
Thursday, April 23, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
Leader – Keith Clark-Hoyos
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How to contact our Lead Presbyter, the Rev. Greg Garis
Email: leadpresbyter@cayugasyracuse.org
How to contact our Assistant to the Lead Presbyter, the Rev. Mary Anderson
Email: asst.presbyter@gmail.com
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
How to contact our Bookkeeper, Kristin Schierer
Email: finance@cayugasyracuse.org
More 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 Synod of the Northeast | | Around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | | |
The church ‘cannot overlook its moral responsibility’
Just as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did more than 6 decades ago, Dr. Yoo delivers an inspiring talk at Montreat Conference Center
In our modern time, the church cannot be silent. But what should it say?
That was the question for Dr. William Yoo, Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary, who spoke at Montreat Conference Center last week. View Yoo’s chock-full presentation and the question-and-answer session that followed here.
The title of Yoo’s talk is based on something the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said at Montreat amidst the civil rights movement, on Aug. 21, 1965: “When a crisis emerges … the Church has a specific and great responsibility. It has a real responsibility in the midst of this crisis because the problems involved are essentially moral issues. The Church being the moral guardian of the community cannot overlook its moral responsibility at this hour.”
As a moral guardian, the church “is called to be an interpreter of politics rather than an agent of politics,” Yoo said.
Continue reading...
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From guns to gardens to healing the Earth
Craig Kaviar’s sculpture, forged from 124 chopped up firearms, is dedicated Sunday at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church
“Healing the Earth,” Craig Kaviar’s 6-foot metal sculpture that transformed 124 firearms and a few garden implements into a healing and handsome piece of art, was dedicated Sunday at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, during a 30-minute service that included music, prayer, and brief talks from some of the people involved in the project.
“This isn’t going to reduce violence in Louisville, but it does give people hope,” Kaviar said during the dedication, held in bright sunshine in the plaza outside the church, where with people ringed his creation. “My vision was the kind of movement we are part of, this grassroots movement. There are groups like this all over the country.”
Kaviar divulged one of the secrets for this particular piece of art: a beachball that featured the world’s land masses.
“I am not an expert mapmaker, but I bought a beachball with all the continents” on a ball the same size as what he envisioned for “Healing the Earth,” he said. He blew up the beachball and traced each continent, then transferred those to a piece of steel.
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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