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:

• Continued prayers for all those who have lost their jobs and/or have been impacted by recent governmental changes in our country. Let us pray together for justice, peace and unity, especially during these times of turmoil and uncertainty.
• Prayers for peace for the people and country of South Korea.
• Pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
• Pray for all those who are struggling with current events in our community, in our country and around the world.
• 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.

In the cycle of prayer our Presbytery, please pray for these congregations, faith communities, and individuals: Port Byron Federated; First, Scipioville; Sennett Federated Church; First, Skaneateles

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. "

Ash Wednesday: A poem

By Garrett Mostowski

Presbyterian Outlook

God knows I don’t need to be reminded I’m nothing,

but it is nice to know

someone once promised—

at the beginning of recorded time—

we would all be dust again some day.

I’ve never wanted to die, but

there is something comforting

about all this talk of our capacity to pass away and disintegrate,

sink back into the universal fabrics blanketing us with grace,

where, I’m assuming, we will all just sort of fall asleep

until someone decides it’s time

to wake us up again.

I wish the person imposing upon me

the mark of eternal fate,

I wish they would write in parentheses

just above the cross

looking askance

on my forehead,

“Don’t worry. Everything’s worked itself out already.”

You may pray for me now

and at the hour of my death,

but I already know bones

can live. So, save your breath.

If you live,

then you live.

If you die,

then you’re dead.

So, whether you die or whether you live,

remember: God still gave you this breath.

A stated meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, 97 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, and on Zoom. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.

Requests to be excused should be sent to the Stated Clerk (paulrack@optonline.net or

statedclerk@cayugasyracuse.org) by March 15, 2025.

Prayer Requests should be sent to the Moderator (revhill@skanpresby.org) by March 14, 2025.

Click here to register for the Zoom meeting. Those who register will receive the Zoom link to the meeting.

Please read all supporting documents prior to the meeting.

We look forward to a productive time together!

Papers for Meeting:

Docket

January 2025 Minutes

FOR REVIEW: Book of Order Amendments

At the upcoming Stated Meeting of March 15, 2025, we will be voting on the proposed Amendments to the Book of Order, and the Ecumenical Agreement with the Episcopal Church, from the 226th General Assembly.

Here is a link to the book of amendments.

Stated Clerk Paul Rack invites presbyters and clerks of sessions to read and study them. 

The following is a message from the Rev. Karen Chamis, Bridge Pastor at Onondaga Hill Presbyterian Church and former Cayuga-Syracuse Resource Presbyter.

Dear Siblings in Christ,

In the tumultuous 1960’s, theologian Karl Barth made a statement about preachers stepping into the pulpit with a Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. The actual quote adds further clarity, stating the need for the preacher to use the Bible to interpret the newspaper… but regardless, it’s clear for Barth that both are needed.

Barth meant it!

In 1934 he helped author the Barmen Declaration (part of our Book of Confessions) in response to the context of that time. The Confessing Church movement was grappling with the impact of Hitler’s authority and that of a Christianity that placed sovereignty fully in the hands of God. In other words, Barth and others had a theological issue with Nazism and some Christian siblings that went along with him. The Barmen Declaration was written as a response.

That Confession has been utilized by folks on both sides of the aisle (seriously – any aisle/issue!), but I use it here to make the point that the church exists within a particular context and is influenced by that context. I’d further suggest that our work is to do the reverse as well – we are, after all, to be Light-bearers to that same context. If we do not interact with our context (I’m talking about getting political here!) then how can the church be “the place where a word reverberates right into the world.”

From a theoretical standpoint, I get it. Reality hits me at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning at Onondaga Hill Presbyterian Church when I stand to preach and wonder how I might faithfully hold the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

It’s risky business, this preaching thing.

I know I’ll tick off one group of folk because “politics don’t belong in the pulpit” OR I’ll lose the other folk who came to church that morning because they needed to hear a word (or Word) that spoke to their own context and world.

I believe the language here is, “damned if you do … damned if you don’t.”

Ultimately, the preacher’s responsibility isn’t to one group of folks or another in the church, but rather to the One who has Called them to preach the Gospel at this specific time and in this specific place.

This past week a few preachers from this Presbytery gathered to figure out how we might walk together in that tension. We laughed, kvetched, and planned. What came from that meeting was a desire to provide support for members in our pews that might want to do something in response to the actions of the current administration AND to find ways to support those folks who step into the pulpit wondering how to offer a prophetic word (or Word) and not feel so incredibly alone in doing so.

If either of these resonate with you – let me know (kchamis@eastern.edu). Regardless, keep our preachers in your prayers.

Blessings –

Karen Chamis

Bridge Pastor OHPC

In July 2025, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will welcome thousands of its high school age youth and their adult youth workers to Louisville, Kentucky for four days of worship, recreation, bible study, outreach, and faith formation all around the theme of “As If We Were Dreaming”. New this year are two tracks for young adults.  Young Adults (YA) who are 19-23 years old can participate as part of the “Service Track,” (formerly known as Work Crew) working behind the scenes of the event, or “Leader Lens Track,” focused on developing leadership skills, theological exploration and experiences for a new kind of church leader.

The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse is currently coordinating a delegation alongside other presbyteries in Central and Upstate NY. It is the expectation of this delegation to do a 2-day bus trip going to and from the event, departing on Sunday, 7/27 and returning home on Friday, 8/1. 

The Rev. Courtney Steininger has created an interest form for individuals to fill out if they have a youth or young adult interested in attending Triennium. This is not a commitment, but is necessary for coordinating with the other presbyteries.

Here is that form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pHaHWbelyMFtxassjzg2Yft84RbdIof0IfrOr7Op4G8/edit

SAVE THE DATE: Retreat for Ministers, Commissioned Pastors/CREs, and Lay Preachers

Friday May 9 – Saturday May 10 at Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake

This invitation is being extended to all seven presbyteries of the Upstate New York network: Albany, Cayuga-Syracuse, Genesee Valley, Geneva, Northern New York, Susquehanna Valley, and Utica.

We’re looking forward to this opportunity to get to know our colleagues in ministry as we enter into a time of greater collaboration across geographic boundaries. Stay tuned for more details to be announced in the coming weeks!

The Social Justice Committee of Cayuga-Syracuse is now meeting with the Justice in Ministry & Mission Team of the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery (now Joint Justice Team). They’ve had three meetings. 

"We believe we all need more education on the areas of change and chaos being created by the new Administration and those partnering with it," said the Rev. Monica Styron. "We know that as brothers and sisters in Christ we need to be in constant prayer, seeking the Spirit’s guidance and staying faithful to God’s calling to love our neighbor as ourselves and care for others in need."

The Joint Justice Team is inviting our readers to share the following information with your congregations:

CHILD POVERTY

New York State ranks above 46 other states in the percentage of children who live in

poverty. In 2021, the state legislature passed the Child Poverty Reduction Act (CPRA),

which was signed into law by the governor and commits the state to reduce child poverty

by 50% by the year 2031. The ACT created a CPR Advisory Council, which released its

recommendations late last December. Of the four (4) recommended areas of needed

actions, Governor Hochul’s executive budget addressed only two (2) of them, and those

way below the level of Advisory Council said was needed. Click here to learn how to get involved.

CALL TO PROTECT SNAP

Congressional leaders and the current administration are proposing extreme cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that could result in millions of people not being able to access the healthy food they need to survive. SNAP remains the most effective tool this country has to combat hunger for children and families, adults with disabilities, and veterans.

If the congressional majority had it their way, nutrition resources and the benefits they provide would be snatched away from the most vulnerable members of our communities. The Republican Study Committee’s proposal calls for a 22% cut in SNAP by rescinding the most recent modest update of the Thrifty Food Plan―the program used to determine SNAP benefit amounts―and would take food away from 41 million people per year. How generous is the updated SNAP benefit? This year, it averages only $6.20 per person per day. That’s what they want to slash. WRITE CONGRESS TODAY

PALESTINE & ISRAEL

In December the PCUSA News posted a 2-page resource on Israel, Palestine and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) We are asking that congregations share this posting with their members in their newsletter (as a link) and with their Elders and session.

Click here for link. Click here for download.

Please Note: The team heard of the plan to give GAZA to the US to rebuild as a beach front settlement. There will be more from the Joint Justice Team on that in upcoming newsletter.

NEED RESOURCES TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES….

 The Joint Justice Team attended the workshop by Cornell Farmworkers Program on “Supporting Immigrant Families in our Community.” For more information contact:

Rev. Bruce Gillette at 607-744-0761 or email: pastorbrucegilletter@gmail.com or Mary Jo Dudley, Director, Cornell Farmworker Program at 607-254-5195 or email farmworkers@cornell.edu

The recent ICE raids in our area are of great concern to families and friends, farmers and businesses throughout NY state. Here are some resources were shared, including:

• A statement from the PCUSA available.
• A study guide Denouncing Antisemitism and Islamophobia, which can help you maintain your interfaith relations while speaking out against injustice.
• The PCUSA has a recent educational resource on the situation in Palestine

LGBTQ+

The recent suicide of a Trans-Veteran in Syracuse last week has shaken the larger community. Many understood her suicide as a response to the threat of the new Administration to reverse (de-transition) members to their original gender. There is a lot of fear among millions of people who have family and friends that are affected and may be affected if this policy is taken even further. The Joint Justice Team is seeking to provide educational opportunities for congregations, elders and pastors to hear from those affected by such a policy.

CHILD POVERTY IN NY STATE

The Kairos Center for Religion, Rights, and Social Justice encourages calls to NYS Legislature to fund the recommendations of the state's Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. Information about this is available at Statement on Gov. Hochul’s Proposal Regarding New York’s Child Tax Credit - Kairos Center 

CONNECTING THE DOTS BETWEEN THE WASTE CRISIS & THE CLIMATE CRISIS

The Program explores the ways addressing the waste crisis helps in addressing the climate crisis. It covers implications for individuals and families. Learn More

Elder Chris Burger BIO: Having worked in both the energy field as well as the field of recycling and zero waste, Chris is well positioned to talk about the interconnections between the two. He established a Community Recycling Center in 1973. In 1977, he developed the first Weatherization program in the Country. In 1985, he developed a County-wide recycling program. He has co-founded and/or led a number of organizations focused on sustainability; including a Cornell University think-tank on sustainability (Eco-Justice Project) and the New York Sustainable Business Council. He is a member of Rotary International’s Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG). He also walks the talk, achieving zero waste along with his family since 1992 and designed and built a home that has been fossil free since 1998. Known worldwide, he gives talks and workshops on both zero waste and how to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. Chris currently serves as Co-Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley.

We would like to shine a spotlight on the amazing volunteers who answer the call at our Cayuga-Syracuse churches. If you would like to nominate a volunteer, please email caysyrnews@gmail.com and include the following information:

• Your Name
• Your Church
• Volunteer's full name
• Volunteer's email address
• Volunteer's duties
• Why you think this person should be spotlighted?

Nominated volunteers will be contacted via email to fill out a form and provide a photo. Spotlights will run in Presbytery Matters as they are received for the remainder of 2025.

If you have questions, please reach out to Communications Coordinator Sarah Buckshot at caysyrnews@gmail.com.

Attention Churches: Do you need event graphics created for social media and online use? Communications Coordinator Sarah Buckshot can help create graphics for you to share online. Do you need a Word Document or PDF converted to an image file for better sharing online? Sarah can help. Please don't hesitate to reach out and request a graphic at anytime! Sarah can be reached at caysyrnews@gmail.com

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.

The distinguished Wells Professor of Religion Emeritus, Dr Arthur Belinzoni once again led United Ministry of Aurora in a seminar, The Diaspora and Anti Semitism  

This thought provoking and well researched presentation and discussion examined the disbursement of the Jewish people and the effect on anti semitism. 

If you would like to view the ZOOM recording, contact umaofc@gmail.com

SPICY!: The Liverpool First Presbyterian Church held a chili cook off on Sunday hosted by LFPC Fellowship Committee and Deacons. Congratulations 1st place Braydon & Kay, 2nd place Timmy B and 3rd place Pam.

 Leadership for the Church in a Secular, post-Christian and pluralist social context.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Leader - Gordon T. Smith

We need to read the times and rather than bemoaning the changes in our culture, we turn from regret and nostalgia and ask: what does it mean to be the church at this time and in this place?  And what does it mean to respond to our circumstances with creativity, theological integrity and resilient hope?

 Gordon T. Smith, Ph.D, is the executive director of Christian Higher Education Canada, a position he assumed after several decades in senior leadership in academic institutions.  He is also a Teaching Fellow at Regent College and has a number of publications including  Wisdom from Babylon:  Leadership for the Church in a Secular Age (IVPress Academic, 2020).

 Has American Christianity Become a Threat to American Democracy?

Thursday, March 13, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 pm EST

Leader – Matthew D. Taylor

Christian nationalism has been a major force in American politics since the country's beginnings, but, within the past decade, we have seen a marked shift in the tone and tenor of Christian nationalism. Who are the leaders and what is the theology behind this change? What does this shift signal about our changing politics and the balance of church and state?

Matthew D. Taylor is senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His new book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a network of Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. He is also the author of Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christians' America (Cambridge, 2023). Taylor holds a PhD in religious studies and Muslim-Christian relations from Georgetown University and an MA in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He also serves as an associate fellow at the Center for Peace Diplomacy in New Orleans, where he works on preventing religion-related violence surrounding U.S. elections.

Deep Change is Possible

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Leaders – Joy Skjegstad & Heidi Unruh

Discover four pathways to work toward deep change: inspire change, involve more change-makers, influence decision-makers, and innovate solutions. Learn how to identify the “upstream” causes of critical issues, and how community listening and partnerships can play a crucial role in your efforts.

Inspire Change and Involve More People as Agents of Change

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Leader – Joy Skjegstad & Heidi Unruh

This session will focus on how to build momentum for change. One strategy is to raise awareness and challenge assumptions through education and storytelling. Also learn ways to engage more people in the work of deep change, with a focus on including groups that are often excluded or ignored.

Mandatory New York State Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Webinars

You can take this training any time during the year

charlaine@prcli.org

        Thursday, April 10, 2025

2 – 3:30 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

HELP WANTED: Part-time Christian Education Coordinator in Baldwinsville

The First Presbyterian Church of Baldwinsville is seeking a part time Christian Education Coordinator. 

The paid position shall be 10 to 15 hours per week and will assist in developing Christian Education programs, materials, and classes for both adults and children. This position shall work closely with the pastor in the development of a church-wide Christian Education program for everyone.

Minimum Requirements:   Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively teach Reformed Theology with knowledge of a wide variety of curriculum. Must possess the necessary theological and spiritual insights in order to prepare and present youth education and activity programs. Ability to effectively prepare lesson plans, demonstrates high organizational skills and flexibility, and has the ability to maintain a good rapport with children, their parents, and within the wider community.

Preferred but Not Required: Experience in Godly Play methodology. Prior experience in Christian Education teaching.

If interested contact us at; The First Presbyterian Church of Baldwinsville, 64 Oswego St., Baldwinsville, NY 13027. Call 315-635-9964

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.

‘Ashes are what’s left after everything has been taken away’

Culver City Presbyterian Church holds an Ash Wednesday service that centers a substance Southern Californians know all too well

For the faith community in Southern California, the ashes central to Ash Wednesday are both a remnant and a sign of destruction. As the Rev. Dr. Frances Wattman Rosenau said during the Ash Wednesday service at Culver City Presbyterian Church, where she serves, “Ashes are what’s left after everything has been taken away.”

“So why do we keep this symbol? Why would we want to wear a sign of destruction?” she asked the people in worship who would soon be wearing those very ashes on their foreheads. “Especially for people whose lives and communities are in ashes, do we really need this extra reminder?”

“I’ll tell you why I’m sticking with Ash Wednesday,” said Rosenau. “I will have ashes on my head because life isn’t curated. I don’t get to pick and choose what happens to me. Wearing ashes is the opposite of a social media highlight reel. It’s a sign that bad things happen, and I know it.”

“I will have ashes on my head because it keeps me honest. Wearing a sign of destruction allows me to acknowledge and even show the broken places in me,” she said during Wednesday’s homily. “I will have ashes on my head because I know what it’s like to feel like the remnant of what’s left behind, and on this day I don’t have to pretend otherwise.”

Ashes also remind us “how fragile and fleeting our days are,” she said. “Even the places we take refuge in, like our homes, can be gone in an instant. … Our neighborhoods are fragile, our communities are fragile, our loved ones, our own lives — all of it. All of it is dust, and to dust we shall return.”

Continue reading...

Presbyterian Outlook banned by Instagram

Presbyterian Outlook’s Instagram was suspended by Meta without explanation



Dear readers,

The Presbyterian Outlook’s Instagram account was recently and permanently suspended by Meta for allegedly violating community standards. We were not informed which standard we violated — even after requesting clarification. Our appeal was reviewed and denied within 10 minutes, leaving us with no recourse. Our account, along with all the unique content we created for it, is gone.

This happened on February 19, as our social media producer was uploading content from our recent issue on civil rights. While Meta has not explained, this timing is the only connection we can draw between our content and the suspension. We are left to assume that our account was reported by one or several individuals and that Meta’s institutional shift away from fact-checking laid the groundwork for our ban.

We want our followers to know why you can no longer find us on Instagram. We considered starting over with a new account, but there’s no guarantee this won’t happen again. More importantly, our mission remains unchanged: we are committed to publishing content that values the diversity of God’s creation, the equity of God’s justice, and the inclusion of Christ’s welcome.

This suspension is more than frustrating — it has tangible consequences. Social media is a key way we share our digital content. We’ve invested staff time and financial resources into boosting our content through Meta’s platforms to expand our reach and make Presbyterianism more digitally discoverable. While we will continue using Facebook, we are also shifting our focus to platforms like Bluesky and its new Instagram alternative, Flashes.

If you haven’t yet, we invite you to follow us on Bluesky: @presoutlook.bsky.social. Bluesky’s decentralized model puts users and communities first, with a dedicated human moderation team that reviews flagged content and responds to appeals. Meta’s centralized model prioritizes business interests through ad-driven algorithms, leaving users with little say over the content they see and little recourse to appeal flagged content. Also, Bluesky empowers creators to take their content with them if they choose to leave.

As the only independent, multimedia publisher serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we have recently enjoyed remarkable growth by embracing digital strategy and media expertise. This growth has allowed us to sustain our print magazine despite the rising costs of publication. We are grateful for your support — whether as readers, subscribers, or donors — which enables us to navigate challenges like this and continue our mission in service to Christ’s church.

Thank you for standing with us.

Gratefully,

Teri McDowell Ott

Lent is a season of reflection, repentance and renewal. It's a time to draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and faith.

"Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. " Joel 2:13

May this season strengthen our walk with Christ.

Have a Blessed Week!