Northminster Volunteers Serve the Community with Compassion

On Sunday afternoon, members of Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Syracuse took time out of their day to volunteer at the Samaritan Center. Working together in service and compassion, they prepared and served a warm meal to 219 people in their community.

Their kindness and dedication remind us of the power of fellowship and the impact of lending a helping hand.

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:

• Pray for the victims and their families of the plane crash in Louisville.
• lease pray for pastors Steve and Saunda Thomas as Steve is undergoing cancer treatments. Please keep them in your prayers and cards can be mailed to 130 Wade Hampton Dr., Beaufort, SC 29907.
• 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 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: Columbian, LaFayette; First, Liverpool; First, Marcellus; First, Mexico; Morrisville Community Church

A stated meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 6 p.m. on Zoom.

All requests for time on the docket and all supporting materials are due to the stated clerk by noon TODAY -- Thursday, November 6th. The stated clerk can be reached via email at statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org.

Zoom registration information will be available soon.

I’ve been visiting congregations in Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery and meeting some wonderful, faithful people. I hope to begin working with some of the committees of the Presbytery and I’m looking forward to an assistant who can work with me in this ministry. 

I’ve recently finished two books that I believe are good for churches and their ministries.  

One is "Future-Focused Church: Leading through change, engaging the next generation & building a more diverse tomorrow," by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder and Raymond Chang. These writers are involved in Fuller Seminary and the TENx10 Collaboration. The TENx10 group has a mission to “Make faith matter for 10,000,000 young people in the next 10 years in the spirit of John 10:10.” (“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”) This book gives some recent data on change theory and provides a path for churches to take to move through ”here” to “there.” The authors of this book believe that checkpoints on the way should be “Relationally discipling young people, Modeling kingdom diversity and tangibly loving our neighbors.” 

The other book is titled “Remissioning Church: A Field Guide to Bringing a Congregation Back to Life” by Josh Hayden. Hayden believes that churches to be remissioning rather than revitalizing and outlines a journey for established churches to take to be remissioned. One point Hayden writes is that “The goal of remissioning is not change. The goal or hope of remissioning is new life through transformation.”  He outlines a process of “Traditioned Innovation,” which Greg Jones developed. Traditioned Innovation is a biblical way of leading that integrates the transformative work of Christ into our ongoing identity as the people of God, rooted in biblical Israel’s calling. There is a Duke Divinity School program called “Traditioned Innovation Project.”  

I’d like to know what you are reading that has helped you in your ministry. Email me at leadpresbyter@cayugasyracuse.org and let me know.  

Grace and Peace, 

Greg  

Your F&C Team has been meeting regularly. Originally called the Vision Committee, we renamed ourselves as we believe the way forward is to focus on what the myriad needs are as we seek to merge our two presbyteries but just as importantly to coordinate with and seek the wisdom of the body.

We have been working on a vision statement while also keeping a keen eye on the strategies we will need to propel us down the road of this process. Our next step is to share our vision statement with the “councils” of both Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley in a joint meeting. Our intent is to then share our work with the two presbyteries seeking your feedback and counsel as well as hearing your questions and concerns in small group meetings.

After this period of information sharing and relationship building, we will begin the detailed work of developing a merger proposal for consideration.

Geneva Presbytery had expressed some interest in joining with our two presbyteries in exploring merger and in fact came to a couple of our meetings. However, at the present time they have decided to explore other options.

We ask that you hold us in your prayers as we continue to meet and strategize our way forward. We are excited and hopeful and it is our prayer that each and every member of our  presbyteries will choose to get involved in the coming months. We can all be assured there will be much to do and it is our goal to keep you informed of our progress as well as opportunities for involvement.

Draft Vision Statement:

We follow God’s call to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The presbytery will support this vision through dynamic collaboration with and support for our congregations and their leaders, encouraging them to reflect the Spirit’s gifts of love, grace and justice in their midst, in their communities and in the world at large.

FEEDBACK: Send your feedback to the committee by emailing Ricerobbiej@gmail.com

In anticipation of the Focus and Coordination Team of Cayuga-Syracuse and Susquehanna Valley Presbyteries to discuss a vision for a new Presbytery in the future, Greg Garis interviewed and videoed Presbytery, Mid-council, and GA staff to as they answered: What do you imagine the Presbytery to become in the future?

Watch Videos:

Mid Council and GA Leaders imagining the future of Presbyteries

Steve Huston structure of NENJ Presbytery

Sallie Watson

Rev. Cindy Kohlman

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." Isaiah 32:18

With the federal government shutdown ongoing, vital supports for millions of Americans are at risk of being halted. Join us in urging Congress and the Administration to take bipartisan action to ensure support for essentials like food, energy, health care, and housing. These are not partisan programs -- they are human-needs supports that reflect our Christian call to seek justice, mercy and compassion for all. Contact your representatives here.

In October, a 4-week Bible study was held via Zoom aimed at churches without pastors. Up to eight people attended each week and all felt it beneficial and wanted to continue. The ‘experiment' was deemed a success! So we will take a few weeks off and resume after Thanksgiving.

Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 3, a 3 week Advent study, led by Gail Banks, retired CLP will start at 7pm. More information will be in next week’s C-S News. If you haven’t been able to come before or are looking to enrich your Biblical knowledge or give your spiritual life an uplift, give this short Advent study a try. Please let Rita Hooper know and she will put you on the zoom info list. Contact Rita at twohoops2@gmail.com

InterFaith Works is gathering Gift Baskets to give out to our clients that we serve through The Center for Dialogue and Action, The Center for Healthy Aging, and The Center of New Americans. These baskets will be distributed to vulnerable refugee families, individuals in nursing homes and families who receive addition support through food pantries.

All baskets must be returned to the InterFaith Works offices located at 1010 James Street Syracuse, NY 13202 by Friday, December 12.

Below are some suggestions for items to put into the baskets:

• Gift Cards (Walmart, Tops, VISA)
• Hygiene Products 
• Non-perishable food items (Kosher/ Halal Friendly)
• Blankets 
• Entertainment Items (Board games, card games, crosswords, etc)
• Toys (Balls, dolls, legos, etc)

Register Here

Steeple Coffee House to Honor Memory of Kristin Gitler

Hosts Doubleheader with Bryan Dickenson and Melissa Grace Clark

Singer/Songwriters Bryan Dickenson and Melissa Grace Clark return to the Steeple Coffee House for the Kristin Gitler Festival. Kristin shared her love of music with others through teaching, recording and playing, particularly the Mountain Dulcimer. She also played in an Irish Fiddle Tune Group with David Goldman and they released CD's and books of traditional tunes.

Bryan Dickenson has been playing music for 60 years and songwriting for 50. A winner of the Indigo Productions Songwriters Series, he was featured at Oswego Music Hall's songwriter showcase 3 times. He has over 70 songs in various genres from pop to blues to country to folk. While he gigged for many years including large ensembles and duos, he now focuses on songwriting and performs solo.

Melissa Grace Clark brings her emphatic style to a cross section of American life in music. With a blend of Country, Folk, Rock, and Blues music, her throaty vocals, and hybrid style of guitar playing, she plays familiar cover songs and her originals, which come out of the same source whether singing of traditional American values, songs of self-esteem, or simple reflection. Melissa's music welcomes the listener and offers a friendly space.

Mark your calendars and come out to hear two amazing performers sing a variety of songs ranging from pop, blues, and rock!

Mark your calendars and come out to hear two amazing performers sing a variety of songs ranging from pop, blues, and rock!

Where: Steeple Coffee House is in the United Church of Fayetteville at 310 E. Genesee St. in Fayetteville, NY. Plenty of free parking behind the church with access from E. Genesee St., Chapel St., and Walnut St.

When: Saturday, November 8th - Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Cost: Tickets are $15 (cash) and include refreshments.

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

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 

4:00 – 5:30 PM EST

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 

2:00 – 3:30 PM EST

How to contact our Lead Presbyter, the Rev Greg Garis

Email: leadpresbyter@cayugasyracuse.org

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

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.

On World Children’s Day, we invite you to join an online Christian prayer vigil for the children of Gaza and the West Bank. Through CMEP's “Let Children Live” campaign, each attendee will receive the name and age of a living Palestinian child—a child with hopes, a future, and a story. Together we will reflect on the conditions Palestinian children are experiencing, and we will intercede for your received child by name, for all Palestinian children, for God’s justice, protection, and restoration.



Learn more and register for a child's name and register for the vigil.

The Rev. Jihyun Oh is among faith leaders opposed to the Trump administration’s new policy on admitting refugees

Church World Service, a partner of the PC(USA), condemns efforts to abandon the nation’s historic refugee program

The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, is among the faith leaders to sign a Church World Service statement opposed to the Trump administration’s policy to limit refugees entering the United States mostly to white South Africans.

“As people of faith, we have watched with growing alarm the White House’s ongoing efforts to undermine this country’s proud tradition of welcoming the stranger,” according to the statement, which is here. “In our congregations, our communities, and our pews, we have long worked, advocated, and prayed in support of refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable people fleeing persecution around the globe.”

“This spring, as the Administration moved to close the legal pathways that have for decades offered protection and support to refugees and asylum seekers, Church World Service and its partners banded together to sound the alarm through an Ecumenical Declaration in defense of refuge,” the statement reads. “Issued in faith and in love, the Declaration affirmed our commitment to the centuries-old practice of Christian communities walking alongside refugees and immigrants in their pursuit of safety and dignity. Together, we pledged to restore and promote hospitality and welcome to those seeking refuge —regardless of where they are from, how they pray or what language they speak.”

Continue reading...