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: Northminster, North Syracuse; Onondaga Hill; Faith United Church of Oswego; Presbyterian Church of Otisco; New Hope, Parish

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. "

A stated meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles and on Zoom.

All requests for time on the docket and all supporting materials are due to the stated clerk by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3. Please email reports and requests to paulrack@optonline.net.

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. 

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.

The Presbyterian Women of the Synod's LIGHTHOUSE current issue highlights many mission activities women are doing around the Synod including one from our own Presbytery--the PW at Morrisville Community Church.

Please read and pass to others in your congregation. Read Here.

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 next "Can We Talk?" gathering will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025 in the Lounge behind the Sanctuary 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!

New Breath Spirituality Center is pleased to offer a Spiritual Retreat to all who need

Space, Sabbath, Love, Retreat. For about $375 for food, lodging and Programming, join New Breath for "Loved By God' Spiritual Direction Retreat, to deepen your spiritual journey. Registrations due the end of February. https://www.newbreath.org

OUR MISSION: The LaFayette Columbian Presbyterian Church's sign inspired by the Rev. Shawn Reyburn's message.

Reinventing your Church or your Ministry for 21st Century Agility

Thursday, February 27, 2025

2:00 – 3:00 PM EST

Leader – Jim Merhaut

Change happens quickly these days; it's not your imagination. In the old days, major change in organizations happened when leadership was passed from one generation to another. Today, we can experience major organizational changes 15 times or more over the course of a career! Sometimes we change willingly through planning; other times we are plunged into it from outside forces like a pandemic. Reinvention is a field of study within the realm of managing organizational change, and it is a way to build a healthy change process into your church so that change becomes a friend and an ally that builds ministries that are powerfully transforming. It also helps you build an organizational immune system that will protect your church from those unexpected disruptions, like the pandemic. And there will be more things like that in the not-so-distant future. This webinar will help you get ready!

Jim Merhaut is an award-winning author, national speaker, internationally-known leadership trainer, and ICF-Certified Coach. He holds a Master of Science degree in Education from Duquesne University with an emphasis in adult formation. Jim has authored and co-authored several books and published dozens of articles and essays on leadership and ministry. Jim’s website is www.coachingtoconnect.com.

 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

      Wednesday, March 5, 2025

10:30 AM – 12 PM EST

        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

Help Wanted: Church Organist for Rural Country Church



Position: Church Organist/Pianist

Location: Whitelaw Presbyterian Church, Canastota NY

Job Type: Part time - 5 hours weekly

"Whitelaw Presbyterian Church is seeking a skilled and dedicated organist to enrich our worship services with music. This role involves accompanying weekly services, special ceremonies (such as weddings and funerals), and family choir rehearsals 6:30 pm on Thursday. We are looking for someone who is musically proficient, dependable, and passionate about enhancing the worship experience through music."

Key Responsibilities:

• Play organ for weekly services and special church events
• Select and arrange hymns and music pieces in coordination with church leadership
• Support choir rehearsals 6:30 pm on Thursday
• Perform basic maintenance of the organ and report any issues

Qualifications:

• Proficiency in organ performance, sight-reading, and music selection
• Previous experience in a church setting is preferred
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Commitment to regular attendance and participation in church services and events

Compensation: Depends on Experience

How to Apply: Interested candidates are asked to call Donna Chapman, CLP at (315) 447-9196. Auditions will be part of the selection process.

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.

‘Some pig!’

12-year-old seeks to make a difference through the Presbyterian Giving Catalog on National Pig Day, March 1

Just as E.B. White’s beloved spider in “Charlotte’s Web” works her web to save Wilbur the pig’s life, 12-year-old Nathaniel knows that he, too, has the power to change — and save — lives through the “humble” pig.

Just in time for National Pig Day, March 1.

And every year when the national observance comes around, the Presbyterian Giving Catalog joins with thousands of others across the U.S. to celebrate the “humble” pig, which is widely regarded as among the most intelligent of animals.

But not just intelligent. Because piglets are also critically important towards creating a sustainable source of income for families in need all across the world, the Giving Catalog chooses to shine a spotlight on pigs in honor of the March 1 holiday.

For Nathaniel, a seventh grader who attends Morningside Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, it’s all about what a simple pig can do.

"Pigs can make a real difference in someone's lives,” he said, “so I hope a lot of people donate to make that difference."

Continue reading...

God’s story and ours are powerful resources

May 2 is the application deadline for Around the Table cohorts

“Story is powerful. It does communicate across generations. It communicates across racial lines. It communicates across ancient times to modern times,” the Rev. Neema Cyrus-Franklin said Wednesday to a Community Circle for Small Churches gathering hosted by the Office of Christian Formation. Cyrus-Franklin is the director of the Around the Table Initiative, a Lilly Endowment Inc.-funded initiative through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

“We use this in everything that we do as faith formation leaders,” Cyrus-Franklin said as she introduced storytelling as a core practice for the initiative.

“We learned faith from the examples as we watched our parents or elders in the church or other people in the church,” said the Rev. Grace Kim, who discussed hearing the stories of how her elders came to faith, which touched her in a more profound way than instruction. Kim has served as a coach for one of the test cohorts for the Around the Table Initiative that began in October 2024.



Around the Table is launching two waves of cohort learning models in August 2025 and August 2026. Applications for the first wave are due May 2 and coaches will begin reaching out to their cohort members in June and July.

Continue reading...

This Beautiful Day: Daily Wisdom from Mister Rogers

Who better to speak to this time and place than everyone’s favorite Presbyterian minister, Mr. Rogers?

By Amy Pagliarella

Presbyterian Outlook

Fred Rogers

Hachette Go, 400 pages

Published December 3, 2024

Who better to speak to this time and place than everyone’s favorite Presbyterian minister, Mr. Rogers? This Beautiful Day is a simple devotional — most entries are a single sentence or two, like a tear-off calendar, with a page for each of the 365 days ahead. Yet there is nothing ephemeral about Mr. Rogers’ wisdom: the affirmations captured here are tender and include occasional snippets of his own life and lessons learned, all his gentle and hopeful voice.

These devotions touch very lightly on God, making them appropriate for the “spiritual but not religious” colleague or college student who isn’t quite sure what they believe but needs to know they are deeply loved. This Beautiful Day will fit in many Christmas stockings and into a purse or glove compartment for those who seek small doses of uplift throughout the day.

Buy book on Amazon

Read More...

Have a Blessed Week!