Matthew 25 In Action: Celebrating Love and Inclusion at the First Annual Presbytery-Wide Pride Service

On June 1st, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church will make history by hosting the 1st Annual Presbytery-Wide Pride Service, an event that embodies the heart of the Matthew 25 Initiative—affirming that what we do matters to God and how we treat others is important to God. Rooted in the gospel call of Matthew 25:31-46, this vibrant gathering uplifts congregational vitality, actively works to dismantle structural racism, and affirms LGBTQIA+ people who have long been on the margins of church life and society.

A Joyful Invitation to Celebrate

Churches, pastors, members, and allies are invited to join in a morning of worship, music, and celebration. This isn't just a service—it’s a joyful declaration of God's inclusive love.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, June 1st
• Time: 9:30 AM
• Location: Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 875 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
• Communion will be served

Rather than holding regular worship services, congregations are encouraged to attend as one unified body. Wear your brightest rainbow attire 🌈 and bring your full, open-hearted selves to this sacred space of welcome.

More Than Worship: Pride in Action

Following the service, participants will step out onto the church lawn to witness—or march in—the local Pride Parade, which will pass directly in front of Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian. Those who wish to walk in the parade may join University or Westminster Presbyterian Church’s groups as visible witnesses to God’s love for all.

What to Bring:

• Friends and fellow worshipers
• Lawn chairs or picnic blankets
• Snacks/lunch and plenty of water
• Rainbow gear to show your pride
• Cash for local vendors and donations
• A spirit of joy, justice, and inclusion ❤️

Inclusive Options for All

• Livestream the Service: Watch from home or host a viewing at your church at 9:30 AM.
• Recorded Service: Available around 10:30 AM for post-event playback.
• Alternative Liturgy: Resources are available for congregations who cannot attend but wish to participate in the spirit of Pride and inclusivity.

A Living Witness to the Gospel

This Pride Service affirms the dignity and belovedness of LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ. It reflects the Matthew 25 commitment to dismantling the walls of exclusion that have too often silenced queer voices in faith communities. It calls the church to be a living witness to radical hospitality, boldly proclaiming that all are welcome in God’s house.

When the Body of Christ gathers—diverse in identity, united in love—congregational vitality flourishes. In standing against discrimination and lifting up the marginalized, we move one step closer to the kin-dom of God.

Let us worship, celebrate, and march—not just for Pride, but for justice, unity, and the boundless love of Christ. 🌈✝️

For questions or to RSVP for the shuttle, contact Rev. Holly Clark-Porter at holly@fredoniapres.org or 302-530-3221.

Sources:

Presbytery of Western New York Newsletter : Presbytery of WNY Pride Service and Parade

Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church

875 Elmwood Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14222

Presbytery of Western New York

3014 Delaware Avenue, Unit 4126

Kenmore, NY 14217

Urgent Action Alert: Oppose House Reconciliation Budget Proposal

Oppose Devastating Cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and Clean Energy Tell Congress: Vote NO on the House Agriculture Committee’s Budget Reconciliation Proposal

As members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we are called by Christ to care for the most vulnerable among us. From the Hebrew prophets to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Scripture consistently commands us to feed the hungry, protect the poor, and uphold justice for those on the margins. This moral imperative is central to our Reformed tradition and is affirmed in PC’s (USA) social witness policy, which urges the church to support systems that nurture human dignity and economic fairness.

Right now, Congress is considering a budget reconciliation package that deeply contradicts these values. The House Agriculture Committee’s proposal includes historic cuts to federal food and healthcare programs, totaling nearly $1 trillion in reductions over ten years. If passed, this bill would:

• Slash $296 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—the largest cut in the program’s history,
• Eliminate the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which protects families and seniors from extreme weather,
• Impose new barriers that would deny food assistance to older adults aged 54–64,
• Shift significant costs and administrative burdens to already under-resourced state governments,
• End federal support for states that offer healthcare to immigrants with legal standing in the United States—and remove federal eligibility for food and health programs for these individuals.
• Expand oil and gas drilling while eliminating investments in clean energy, threatening public lands and environmental justice.

These changes will harm children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, low-wage workers, and immigrants—those already struggling to make ends meet.

Our faith compels us to resist this injustice. The PC(USA) affirms that access to food, healthcare, and essential services is a human right and a reflection of God’s justice and compassion. In our 1997 policy, A Call to Restore the Public Purpose of Welfare, we affirmed that balancing the budget through cuts to critical social programs, while preserving tax breaks for the wealthy, is morally indefensible.

As Isaiah proclaimed:

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to lose the bonds of injustice… to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house?” (Isaiah 58:6-7)

Now is the time for Presbyterians to raise their voices to defend our neighbors.

Contact your Representative and urge them to vote no on the House Agriculture Committee’s Budget Reconciliation Proposal.

Tell Congress Today: We will not stand silent while the most vulnerable among us are made to bear the burden of budget cuts.

Let us act in faith and solidarity, remembering Jesus’ words:

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

April Synod Mission and Ministries Commission Summary

Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley reported. The Synod is bringing people together to serve in public ministry -- how we live in the world and spread the gospel as partners with others. During the conference at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, NY in March, eighty-five people came, with presenters from across the denomination, to talk about what it means to be a partner. The Synod received very positive feedback from participants. We are considering doing this again and expanding it, perhaps out in the Western New York area. Our Synod is a PCUSA model of a hybrid programmatic Synod using flexibility. We are moving to implementation, mobilizing direct services, repurposing church buildings, working with government, and grant writing. Several articles were written about the Synod for the Presbyterian News Service. We are already looking ahead to a community organizing cohort of people who want to learn the skill set of public theology and community organizing, led by Rev. Patrick OConnor. 

Pathways to Mid-Council Leadership was held in Princeton, NJ. There is a high turnover of Mid Council leaders, which the conference and other initiatives seek to address. The event allowed people to learn about the various aspects of Mid Council leadership and gave them the opportunity to discern whether this is an area they might wish to pursue. 

The Commission VOTED to approve a $20,000/year grant for three years to the Iglesia Evangelical Presbiteriana Nueva for them to participate in the Small Church Residency Program, the first church to participate in this program.

Stated Clerk Rev. Nancy Talbot reported that the Leadership Team had approved Rev. Kyungmoon Yoon, from Boston to complete the required number of Synod Permanent Judicial Commission members. The Commission VOTED to ratify her election. She will serve on the PJC as part of the Class of 2030.   

Elder Virginia Champlin, Moderator of the Synod Presbyterian Women reported. They are active, busy, and fulfilling their purpose. The new Bible Study is out and available. 

The Commission VOTED to approve the following recommendations presented by the Administrative Working Group of the Commission: (a) to receive the Treasurer's Report, (b) to transfer restricted Wurffel-Sills money from Lipe and Dalton to New Covenant Trust Company when the Investment Review Committee determines the time is appropriate, (c)

to elect Rev. Marjory Roth, Elder Rob Heinze, and Rev. Ezequiel Herrera to serve on the Audit Committee; and Rev. Pieter Fischer, Elder Pat Osterhoudt, and Rev. Sarah Craven to serve on the Wurffel-Sills Review Committee. 

The Commission VOTED to approve an Emergency Migrant Grant request for the El Shaddai church in the amount of $5000. Rev. Brandi Wooten, Convener of the Connectional Ministries Working Group reported that Indigenous Mission Day at the Jimerson Presbyterian and Wright Memorial Presbyterian churches in Western New York is scheduled for June 14, 2025. It will be a good time for relationship building and encourage people to sign up for the day. All are welcome.

At the recommendation of the Mission Working Group the Commission VOTED to move the Youth Service Night application to the Young Adult Leadership Development category and use the unused funds from the previous cycle to fund this application, totaling $4,000.

The Commission VOTED to accept the recommendations of the Mission Working Group to fund the applications below for the 2025 Innovation Grants.

2025 Innovation Grant Recommendations

INV-25-01-04 | New York City Presbytery

Cook and Eat: Building Community Through African and African Diaspora Culinary Heritage Bethel Presbyterian Reformed Church

Year 1 | Awarded: $12,000

INV-25-02-04 | Utica Presbytery

Utica Presbytery Participation in Plentiful Gifts

Churches of the Presbytery of Utica

Year 1 | Awarded: $9,600

INV-25-05-04 | Hudson River Presbytery

Well-Being Trauma-Informed, Personal Empowerment Workshop for Formerly Incarcerated Women 

Interfaith Prison Partnership

Year 1 | Awarded:  $7,700

 INV-25-07-04 | Northeast New Jersey Presbytery Glo Girls Empowerment Club

Institute of Music for Children

 Year 1 | Awarded:  $5,000

INV-25-08-04 | New York City Presbytery

Firelight Community

First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn

Year 1 | Awarded: $12,000 

INV-25-09-04 | Southern New Jersey Presbytery

Calvary Presbyterian Youth Service Night

Calvary Presbyterian Church Riverton New Jersey

Year 1 | Awarded: $4,000

INV-25-10-04 | New York City Presbytery 

Bedford Central-First Brooklyn P.C. Immersive Music Experience

Bedford Central Presbyterian Church

Year 1 | Awarded: $5,000

INV-25-13-04 | Coastlands Presbytery  

Trinity Community Wellness Center

Trinity Presbyterian Church

Year 1 | Awarded: $4,500 for Feasibility Study

INV-25-15-04 | Coastlands Presbytery

People & Place --Reclaimed Worship Project

SueAnn Shiah

Year 1 | Awarded: $5,000

INV-25-03-04 | Southern New Jersey Presbytery    

Reconnecting Community:  Uniting Through Arts and Music in A Welcoming Space

Memorial Presbyterian Church of Wenonah 

Year 1 | Awarded: $5,000 

INV-25-21-04 | Northeast New Jersey Presbytery   

The Great Adventure at Central Young Family Ministry Initiative

Central Presbyterian Church

Year 1 | Awarded: $5,000 

INV-25-14-04 | Coastlands Presbytery

Cemetery Project

First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury

Year 1 Grant: $10.000

Year 2 Awarded: $17,600

INV-25-12-04 | Susquehanna Valley Presbytery

Jeremiah Pottery

United Presbyterian Church of Walton

Year 1 Grant: $5,000

Year 2 Awarded: $5,000

INV-25-16-04 | Coastlands Presbytery

Trenton Microloan Collaborative (TMC)

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Year 1 Grant: $15,000

Year 2 Awarded: $15,000

INV-25-17-04 | New York City Presbytery                         

Asylum Support Clinic at Rutgers Presbyterian Church

Rutgers Presbyterian Church

Year 1 Grant: $10,000

Year 2 Awarded: $12,600

INV-25-18-04  | Susquehanna Valley Presbytery   

Hospital Chaplaincy Outreach, Education, and Mentorship

Broome County Council of Churches

Year 1 Grant: $6,000

Year 2 Awarded: $5,000

INV-25-19-04 | Coastlands Presbytery                              

Food Pantry Expansion

First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen

Year 1 Grant: $11,000

Year 2 Awarded:  $4,000

INV-25-20-04 | Hudson River Presbytery

Drumming for the Soul

First Presbyterian Church of Ossining

Year 1 Grant: $9,000

Year 2 Awarded: $5,000

INV-25-11-04 | Southern New Jersey Presbytery

Disability Ministry: Beyond Limits Ministry

First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield

Year 1 Grant:  $5,000

Year 2 Awarded:  $5,000

Join us for a day of faith in action at the upcoming Mission Day on Saturday, June 14, hosted at Jimersontown and Wright Memorial Presbyterian Churches! This is a meaningful opportunity to come together in service, fellowship, and community as we support these vital congregations through hands-on projects and shared ministry.

Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or stepping into mission work for the first time, there’s still time to sign up and lend a helping hand. From building repairs and cleaning to outdoor work and organizing, there’s a task for everyone—and your presence will make a difference.

As part of this special weekend, a joint worship service will be held on Sunday, June 15 at Jimersontown Presbyterian Church, with Executive Presbyter Joshua Trautman leading us in Word and Sacrament. All are welcome to come and celebrate the Spirit's movement in our shared mission.

Let’s be the hands and feet of Christ together. For more details, please contact the Synod's Administrative Coordinator, Rev. Dr. Nichol Burris via email: nichol.burris@synodne.org or by phone (315) 460-5282.