A prayer for

World Communion Sunday

The first Sunday in October is designated as World Communion Sunday. Recognized by the PC(USA) as well as other denominations, it celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our siblings around the world.

By Molly Spangler

God of seeds and soil, your feast begins long before a morsel of food touches our lips.

You begin with dirt and dust, with water and sun: ingredients that you supplied from the very beginning, knowing we would be hungry, understanding that we would be thirsty.

You nourish us and provide for us before breathing life into us.

You, O Great Creator, started providing your gifts for us from the very beginning.

You began this feast in the soil with your hands, And for that, we give you thanks.

God of grain and grapes, you continued preparing for the feast by sending your son, Jesus Christ. You sent him to feed us; by his words and deeds, through his death and resurrection, he became the bread of life and the wine of compassion. Christ is the one who gathers us in, who calls each of us by name, who sets a place for us.

For the invitation, for the nourishment, and for Jesus Christ, we give you thanks. God of wheat and wine, long after your son first gathered his friends around a table in an upper room, your Holy Spirit has continued meeting us at tables: hand-crafted tables painted with intricate designs and weathered park benches that serve as a place to eat when needed; tables that are covered with homemade casseroles and tables with quickly opened fast food bags being passed around; tables that are surrounded by friends and families and tables where only one seat is filled. No matter what each table looks like, the food that is served, or the people gathered around it, your Spirit meets us still. For your ever-present Spirit, O God, we give you thanks.

God of second helpings, you promise abundance. Like a mother who heaps another spoonful onto our already full plates, you give more than we need. Yet, despite your generosity, there are those whose bellies are still empty, and those whose thirst is never quenched. As we celebrate your joyful feast today with our siblings in Christ around the world, we are aware that no amount of singing can hide the sound of grumbling stomachs and parched throats. Help us to trust in your promises. As we eat this bread and drink this cup, may we trust that there is enough to go around. Keep us from hoarding what you have provided so that all of your children might taste and see, drink and be satisfied.

God of tables and chairs, we pray for all eating spaces around the world today, where believers are gathering despite risk and suffering. We pray for chairs that are empty where loved ones used to sit: for tables in places of conflict where bullets fly and bombs rain down; for spaces that have been ravaged by hurricanes, floods and fires. We also pray for eating spaces that are emotionally unsafe this day: tables where tensions are high and certain topics are off limits; placemats that are not set for someone because of the way they look, who they voted for or who they love. For all these spaces, tables and chairs where your children gather, Lord, we pray for your peace.

God of the joyful feast, today in the north and the south, in the east and the west, we are grateful as we meet you around tables full of gifts you have given us. Continue to pour out your Spirit upon us so that when the meal is over and we leave this table, we might be a part of extending every table around the world. Help every meal we share look more and more like your heavenly feast; everyone welcomed, everyone fed, everyone nourished.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

A hands-on welcome

Marcellus church members take part in its 5th Sunday Mission Project

Following its tradition of “getting out of the pews” when there are five Sundays in the month and into the community for a hands-on mission experience,16 volunteers left the Marcellus First Presbyterian Church parking lot after worship on Sunday, September 29 for the InterFaith Works (IFW) warehouse in East Syracuse. After a brief orientation by IFW staff, two groups of volunteers headed to two apartments, which will soon house incoming refugee families. Furniture was arranged, beds made up, curtains hung, bathrooms readied, and the kitchens cleaned and stocked with dishes, pots and pans and

cooking utensils.

Jennie Prouty, Senior Volunteer Coordinator for the IFW Center For New Americans, shared that the InterFaith Works Refugee Resettlement program welcomed 1,015 refugees last year and set up 314 apartments for incoming families. The Center For New Americans assists with housing, schooling for the children, English as a Second Language (ESL) training for the adults, cultural orientation, job searches and medical assistance.

Marcellus First Presbyterian Church has a long history of mission emphasis and has for many years supported IFW with collections of school supplies, household supplies, winter coats and socks. To participate in setting up apartments for new arrivals added a new insight to the process of welcoming refugee families to our community and left volunteers feeling grateful to be a small part of the process.

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 everyone impacted by the deadline Hurricane Helene. See below to help.
• 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: First, Cazenovia; First, Chittenango; United Church of Collamer; Pebble Hill, DeWitt; First United Church of East Syracuse

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. "

DONATE to help Presbyterian Disaster Assistance respond to people affected by Hurricane Helene. GIVE GENEROUSLY TODAY – Text HELENE24 to 41444 or visit https://www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/dr000169/

Board of Pensions

Deadline Looming

By the end of this week pastors and the congregation they serve need to let the Board of Pensions know what plan they are taking. 

If you do not let them know pastors will be automatically placed in the Transitional Plan, which might cost a bit more than anyone involved is expecting. The one outlined at the last Presbytery meeting is the Pastor's Participation Plan. 

The deadline is Friday, October 4. 

No money involved yet, just the direction you are headed.

WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION: Westminster Presbyterian Church's communion table is draped in fabrics from other cultures in preparation for World Communion Sunday this weekend!

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.

Isaiah’s Table to Benefit from This Year’s Greater Syracuse CROP Walk

Isaiah’s Table received some great news- they will be one of the local missions to receive a grant from this year’s Greater Syracuse CROP Walk. With the local event, 25 percent of the funds raised remains locally, shared with 5 Syracuse-area agencies: Isaiah’s Table, Interreligious Food Consortium, Epiphany Parish SJW Campus, Samaritan Center and In My Father’s Kitchen.

The CROP Walk this year will be held at noon on Sunday October 6^th at Onondaga Lake Park at Willow Bay. It’s a great way for groups or individuals to help make a difference for local people around the world who are food insecure.

Let’s get our congregations involved! Why not organize a team from your church – it’s a great fellowship activity! Walking encourages us to think about our neighbors, both locally and globally, who must walk for water, food, and medical care.

The website provides loads of information about how to promote the walk including worship resources, bulletin inserts and sample announcements. They make it easy to have a successful Walk with your faith community.

You can also go to the Greater Syracuse CROP Hunger Walk website to join a team and/or to donate to a team. Your support will be greatly appreciated.  Questions? Contact: Bob Graves-Co-Chair at rlgraves313@gmail.com or 315-427-6054

WALK……GIVE…..Help make a difference!

Ham Dinner Drive-Thru

Saturday, October 5, 2024

4:00-5:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church of Baldwinsville

64 Oswego St, Baldwinsville

Menu: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Hubbard Squash, Peas, Banana Bread, Pumpkin Pie 

Cost: $12

Presbytery members invited to 10-week church history class at Westminster in Auburn

Rev. Larry Bell will be offering a ten-week church history class on Monday evenings at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Auburn starting October 7 at 7:00pm. The classes will cover the history of the church from Jesus to the present day. It is part of a course of study for aspiring American Baptist lay pastors, but it is open to Westminster members and others in the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse. There is no fee to audit the course. Completion of the assigned reading is encouraged but not required. Please contact the church office at office@westminsterauburn.org to register and receive a syllabus. The course is being offered both on Zoom and in person. Larry pastored churches in New York State for 23 years. He studied church history at Cornell, and participated in an archeological dig at Tel Zeitah, Israel.  Since retirement he has served as historian for the Howland Stone Store Museum, curated historical museum exhibits, published numerous genealogical and historical articles—and continues to preach at area churches. 

Do you have a baby or a toddler and you're looking to teach them that about Jesus' love? Onondaga Hill Presbyterian Church is launching a new class this fall called Jesus Loves Me Toddler Time, where parents/guardians stay with their children (birth to 4 years old) to hear a Bible story, do a craft together and dance to some music! This is class is open to the public and it is free. Pre-Registration is required. Classes start October 13th!

PRC's Fall 2024 Online events

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

Managing Stress Before it Manages You

Thursday, October 3, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader – Charles Stone

The Writing Is Part of the Work: Crafting a Meaningful Anti-Racism Policy

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leaders - Anna Kendig Flores, John H.G. Curtiss

Intergenerational Ministry Interest Session with GenOn

Thursday, October 10, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leaders: Liz Perraud, Betsy Dishman

Truly Welcoming Environments for Today's Unchurched

Thursday, October 24, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leader - Brett DeHart

Healing Fractured Communities

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Leaders - Jessica L. Anschutz, Douglas Powe

Maximizing Year End Giving

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024

2:00 – 3:00 pm EST

Leader – Brett DeHart

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

The Art of Hospitality

Thursday, November 21, 2024

2:00 – 3:00pm EST

Leader – Yvonne Gentile

New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars

You can take this training any time during the year

charlaine@prcli.org

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

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

Morrisville Community Church seeks office staff member

Morrisville Community Church is looking for a part-time office worker. The job is 15 hours a week and the pay is New York State minimum wage. 

Interested candidates are asked to call Jeff Gay at (315) 684-3314.

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.

Charlotte clergy organize to deliver help and hope in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath

Grassroots efforts by North Carolina congregations witness to Christ’s love in the midst of widespread devastation

By Emily Enders Odom

Presbyterian News Service

As longtime ministry colleagues in the Presbytery of Charlotte in North Carolina, the Rev. Dr. Lori Archer Raible and the Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee have maintained a close friendship through the years, united in their love of neighbor and their shared passion for justice.

Both of which propelled them into immediate action this week in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“If we have a relationship with the pastor in the affected area and they let us know exactly what they need, we deliver on those immediate needs,” explained Raible, who serves as pastor/head of staff at Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. “In this case, our church responded to a request from [the Rev. Dr.] Allan Purtill at Tryon (North Carolina) Presbyterian Church. We’re going out again [Thursday] to First Presbyterian Church of Spruce Pine (North Carolina), where they are really struggling. We know that any action we’re taking this week is triage in the hope that larger efforts will kick in by the end of the week.”

Barbee, a ministry engagement advisor for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) based in Charlotte, had only just returned home from vacation to heavy rains, strong winds and a loss of power and internet service when she immediately contacted her friend at Selwyn Avenue.

“I knew we had to do something,” Barbee said, “so when Lori told me that they were gathering supplies to bring to the folks in Western North Carolina, I started talking to neighbors. There’s also a bike shop across the street from the church, who saw the ongoing effort and offered the use of their van. And since even with that I saw that they still didn’t have enough transportation, I volunteered my own, huge pickup truck.”

Continue reading...

Panelists decry divisive rhetoric against refugees and other newcomers

Tolerance and mutual understanding are encouraged during Church World Service webinar

By Darla Carter

Presbyterian News Service

Despite rhetoric to the contrary, there are many people making positive contributions to their communities after migrating to this country, and churches can do more to serve as allies.

Those were some of the messages conveyed during a recent webinar by Church World Service (CWS), a faith-based organization that works with partners around the world to protect people experiencing hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. It’s also a national resettlement agency.

During the webinar called “Demystifying 21st Century Migration: What We Know and How We Can Best Prepare,” a three-member panel noted that refugees and other newcomers, such as asylum seekers, are sometimes painted in a negative light that portrays them as a drain on the country.

Continue reading...