Synod News Feed

Gun Violence and Gospel Values

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:30:26 -0400

gun violence

The Peacemaking Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will be sponsoring an event titled Gun Violence and Gospel Values to be held at the Stony Point Conference Center beginning at 2:00pm on Monday, September 15th and ending with lunch on Thursday, September 17th.

Speakers for the event are Catherine Snyder, Jim Atwood, Tom Diaz, and Garen Wintemute.

More detailed information, along with a brochure, will be available soon.

Scholarship Information for Racial Ethnic Students

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:20:08 -0400

College

The Presbyterian Church USA offers Student Opportunity Scholarships, which are designed to assist undergraduate students with their junior and senior year of college. Preference will be given to racial ethnic students seeking undergraduate degree with emphasis on the missions of PC(USA) in the following disciplines:
     ~ Education
     ~ Health service/science
     ~ Religious studies
     ~ Sacred Music
     ~ Social services
     ~ Social Sciences

The application forms for 2008-2009 academic year will be available in April 2008 and need to be postmarked no later than June 15, 2008.

The criteria for the for applying for a scholarship is:
~ Member of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
~ U.S. citizen or permanent resident
~ Completed second year of college
~ Enrolled full-time
~ Good academic standing (2.5 GPA or greater)
~ Demonstrate financial need

In order to be complete, applications need to contain the following information:
~ Biographical Questionnaire
~ 500-1000 word essay on assigned topic
~ Endorsement by pastor or campus minister
~ Official Transcript (Including grades through Spring 2007)

The range of the scholarship award is between $200.00-$4,000.00.

Click here for more information on the scholarship, visit PCUSA's website.

Cyclone in Myanmar

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:03:31 -0400

Cyclone

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is issuing a special appeal through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) in an effort to support long term recovery efforts as a result of the cyclone that has devastated Myanmar. An appeal card is being sent to every congregation in the next few days. In addition PDA has committed $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds to provide emergency assistance to survivors of Myanmar. The appeal card is available to download online at www.pcusa.org/pda. A bulletin insert is being created and liturgical resources are being collected. These items will be accessible online and we encourage your churches to use them as they become available. Linda Valentine, Executive Director of the General Assembly Council stated, “The PC(USA) through its disaster relief agency seeks to accompany the people of Myanmar through this catastrophe. Our mission is to heal broken lives, as well as broken homes.”

PDA is responding in Myanmar as a member of and in partnership with Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and

PDA

Church World Service. Both entities have local partners in Myanmar and will have representatives to help in the provision of relief items to cyclone survivors. Valentine also commented, “We have trust in our partners to help us be the hands and feet of Christ during this difficult time.” Communication has been widely destroyed in the region, but attempts are being made to be in conversation with our partner churches in the area including the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (located in northeastern Thailand), our PC(USA) regional liaison located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Christian Conference of Asia, and Myanmar Council of Churches.

The situation in Myanmar is dire. As of today UN and Church World Services officials have reported that close to one million people are homeless and priority needs are for water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, basic medical kits, bed nets and food. Power and water supply have been disconnected, and the price of food has multiplied since the storm. Current estimates indicate tens of thousands of lives have been lost, with tens of thousands still missing.

Cyclone Nargis, packing winds up to 120 miles per hour, swept through the country on Saturday. A storm surge with waves up to 12 feet high washed inland causing widespread destruction. The low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region, the country’s main agricultural area, suffered the most severe damage.

The full extent of the damage throughout the country has not yet been determined. An already marginal infrastructure has been further damaged resulting in poor communications and impassible roads. Power outages and scattered debris also hamper recovery efforts.

Our church’s generous gifts will help us stand with our brothers and sisters in long term recovery efforts as their broken lives and communities begin to heal.

Gifts for this disaster can be designated to DR000145 –Myanmar/Burma.

Donations may be sent through normal mission giving channels. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or online at http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/myanmarburma-index.htm . Gifts can also be made through your churches normal giving channels.

Checks payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can also be Mailed directly to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Central Receiving Services
Individual Remittance Processing
DR000145
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Or

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Central Receiving Services
Church Remittance Processing
DR000145
P.O. Box 643678
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3678

Please be in prayer for those most vulnerable and so adversely affected by this catastrophe.

Grace and Peace,
Mindy Marchal
Communication Associate for Compassion, Peace and Justice
PC(USA)
888-728-7228, ext 5212
Mindy.marchal@pcusa.org

Seminary Support Network Conference

Tue, 06 May 2008 08:55:00 -0400

Seminary Support Network Graphic

The Theological Fund's Seminary Support Network Conference was held in May at American Airlines Conference Center in Dallas, TX. Ten people within the bounds of the Synod of the Northeast attended the Conference. The attendees from left to right are: Dick Martin (Hudson River), Joann White (Northern New York), John Wilde (Utica), Doris Haring (Newton), Bisi Shofu (New Brunswick), Barbara Schwartz (Susquehanna Valley), Liz McDowell (Synod Representative), Rick Underwood (Boston), Linda Brebner (Genesee Valley), and Carson Mouser (Albany).

The Seminary Support Network serves as liaison between local congregations and our ten Presbyterian seminaries and encourages congregational support for the Theological Education Fund, the only denomination-wide support for our seminaries.

SANCTUS Exploring 2 Millenia of Musical Sanctus Settings 5/17/08 NYC

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:05:15 -0400

The Riverside Choral Society is excited to announce our spring concert: SANCTUS.

The concert features seven settings of the Sanctus, including: the entire FJ Haydn Heligmesse, settings by Villa-Lobos, William Albright, and Jan Sandström, Mendelssohn’s and a traditional setting of Heilig, as well as Handel’s masterpiece motet, Silete Venti. It will be a delight for those who appreciate classical vocal music presented by one of New York City’s leading vocal ensembles accompanied by full orchestra, and a fascinating, inspiring exploration of the sanctus and sacred texts.
Riverside Choral Society, now in its 27th year, has gained a reputation as one of New York City’s premier choruses. In addition to its regular concert season under the baton of Dr. Patrick Gardner, RCS is frequently chosen as guest ensemble. Most recently Dr. Gardner prepared the chorus to join the Mannes Orchestra in Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms at Carnegie Hall November 2007. In 2005 and 2006 RCS appeared with Kirov Opera Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic under the baton of Valery Gergiev for six concerts at Lincoln Center and NJPAC, including performances of Mahler’s Second Symphony and Shostakovich’s Symphonies 2, 3, and 13. In recent years RCS has also appeared regularly at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, and has been featured in collaborations with the Mark Morris Dance Company and at special events at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. For more information, please visit www.RiversideChoral.org.

Please post the concert announcement information to bulletin boards, newsletters, newspapers, departmental announcements, websites, event listings, classrooms, and anywhere they might be seen or searched, and forward this email to those who will find it of interest and can make such posts. Interest categories/tags: Settings of the Sanctus from the Gregorian Chant to the present, Christian liturgy, choral music, classical music, religion, upcoming concerts and events.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, although advance ticket orders are strongly encouraged.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Adam Rosenberg
Bass/Baritone

Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Holy Trinity Church 213 W. 82nd Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue)
Tickets: $35, $25 ($10 for students with ID)
ORDERING TICKETS Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.RiversideChoral.org. Night of the Performance: Cash, check, or money order made out to Riverside Choral Society will be accepted at the concert box office at the entrance to Holy Trinity Church (213 West 82nd Street) between 7-8pm.

QUESTIONS, GROUPS and SPECIAL REQUESTS: email RiverSideChoralSociety@gmail.com

PRINTABLE POSTER PDFs:
http://www.riversidechoral.org/images/SANCTUSPosterBlack.pdf http://www.riversidechoral.org/images/SANCTUSPosterWhite.pdf

2008 PC(USA) Special Offerings

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:08:00 -0400

2008 PCUSA Offerings

Currently, there are three opportunities through the Presbyterian Church (USA) to make God's love present to those in need. they are:

Pentecost Offering on May 11 - Theme: "You send forth your Spirit!" (Psalm 104)

Peacemaking Offering on October 5 - Theme: "Break the Bread of new Creation"

Christmas Joy Offering on December 21 - Theme: "Good News of Great Joy" (Luke 2:10)

There is also the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering that is done in the Spring.

Click on the name of the offering that you would like to learn more about.

Click here to download the 2008 Special Offerings to the Presbyterian Church (USA) Flyer.

Rural Life Sunday is April 27, 2008

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:50:37 -0400

Rural Community

Presbyterians are being encouraged to celebrate Rural Life Sunday on April 27, 2008, by learning about issues facing rural communities and congregations and to look for ways to support small farmers and ranchers.

As part of the annual observance, rural, suburban and urban churches are being urged to get to know one another by learning from each other and finding ways to be mutually supportive.

“Rural Life Sunday celebrates not only the richness of congregational life but the folks in the rural communities who produce our food and who basically feed America and the world,” said the Rev. Phil Tom, associate for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Small Church and Community Ministry office.

Tom’s office is providing a variety of online resources to help congregations plan services and other programs for Rural Life Sunday.

Click here to read the entire press release from April 8, 2008 written by Evan Silverstein, Presbyterian News Service.

NEW JERSEY PRESBYTERY PARTNERSHIP GROUP MEETING

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:21:22 -0400

State of New Jersey

The meeting of the New Jersey Presbytery Partnership Group will be held on Saturday, May 3rd from 9:00am to 3:00pm. The place of the meeting is to be determined.

For more information, please contact Willa Mae Taylor by email

Public Policy Advocacy Network Covenant Information

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:55:55 -0400

WHAT THE PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY NETWORK COVENANT IS AND HOW TO USE IT!

Rev. Janet Adair Hansen

PPAN is the Public Policy Advocacy Network for the Synod of the Northeast (Presbyterian Church USA) – an email “yahoo group” that individual Presbyterians, churches or presbyteries can subscribe to, with opportunity for “face-to-face” gatherings each year (usually in conjunction with synod assembly). According to the Presbyterian Church (USA) constitution, one of the great ends of the church is the “promotion of social righteousness.” We want to encourage, equip and enable every presbytery in the Northeast for our task of social witness and action in the states in which we live and in regional planning bodies of various ecclesiastical entities.

Click read more to read the rest of the information on Public Policy Advocacy Network Covenant.

Click here to download the entire flyer.
We were formed in 2000 with the support of the former Outreach Ministries and Advocacy Committee of the Synod to help each other do more effective advocacy and to address issues on a regional basis. We don't make policy -- we're a network. We're here to help each other, promote and publicize resources and events, and lift up social justice concerns throughout the Synod or within our presbyteries or PPGs.

We try to have a PPAN representative for each of the “Presbytery Partnership Groups” (PPGs) that the synod is now organized through. That person can function like a Presbyterian Women Enabler or Hunger Action Enabler – helping to communicate and interpret issues and policies from the national church level as well as keeping abreast of synod and regional peace and justice concerns.

PPAN is a good place for presbytery committees and church committees to share, to build alliances and make plans. PPAN helps make it easier for presbyteries to work together to address the statewide issues in New York and New Jersey, and to keep up with the many issues in the presbyteries of Northern and Southern New England which cover several states.

Conferences and events within the bounds of the Synod of the Northeast that are open to the larger public can also be publicized. PPAN was responsible for planning an environmental justice conference around water issues in May, 2006 at Stony Point. PPAN also has promoted and supported other conferences and consultations (such as the January 2008 Stony Point “Immigration and Globalization” gathering), and encouraged participation in “Ecumenical Advocacy Days” in Washington D.C.

Ralph Clingan of New Jersey was the original coordinator for PPAN, and continues to represent PPAN on “PHEWA” – the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association. In October 2007 Janet Adair Hansen became the new PPAN Moderator. Originally Lester Staton provided support staff for PPAN from the synod office; since re-structuring in 2006 Co-Executive Clint McCoy has been our staff link.

Ralph Jones has been the PPAN list Moderator since its inception. You can send an email comment or news to PPAN_SNE@yahoogroups.com. If you request becoming a member, you will receive postings in your Inbox or as a digest (you can state your preference), have access to the membership list and to an archive of past messages.

Rev. Dr. Janet Adair Hansen, PPAN Moderator christpres@cnymail.com

Who Is My Neighbor? Immigration & Our Churches

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:01:48 -0400

Statue of Liberty

The Presbytery of New Brunswick's Social Witness Committee is sponsoring a conference entitled Who Is My Neighbor? Immigration & Our Churches. The conference is scheduled for May 10, 2008 from 8:15am to 2:30pm and will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Plainsboro. The church is located at 500 Plainsboro Road - Plainsboro, NJ.

For further information, contact the Presbytery of New Brunswick at by phone at 609-392-8866 or by email

Click here to download a copy of the brochure.