Presbytery of Western New York
E-Newsletter

February 16, 2010

7th Annual Gospel Celebration
MacAlpine Presbyterian Church, 2700 Bailey Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. Sponsors 7th Annual Gospel Celebration for area Choirs, Feb. 26 Fri, 7pm. For more information: call 893-0208.

FESTIVAL OF FAITHS :
LEARN ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR’S FAITH TRADITION
PRESENTED BY THE NETWORK OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2010
Old Main Hall, Canisius College
Main Street, Buffalo, NY
Presentations include: 
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Baha’i, Buddhism, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Pentecostal Christianity, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and Sikhism. 
Adherents of the particular religious tradition will lead each session.
Each workshop will be presented twice so those attending can learn about two different traditions.  Time provided for questions and answers. Program is free and open to the public. For additional information call 716-882-4793

Stewardship helps
Are you looking for stewardship resources? Try the Christian Leadership Alliance e-newsletter.  Go to www.christianleadershipalliance.org.

Go HUNGRY for HAITI FAST
The Network of Religious Communities is asking congregations and families to fast one meal each week for the next six months and send the price of the meal to help the Haitian Relief Effort.  “Go without a little..help a lot.”
Congregations and individuals can send the funds to the relief agency associated with their particular religious tradition or to the Network of Religious Communities ad we will forward them to the American Red Cross on a regular basis.
Please let us know if your congregation and or family decides to participate in the Go HUNGRY for HAITI FAST.  Call 716-882-4793 ext 201 or email nrc@religiousnet.org.

Sue Robinson in Haiti
Since February 10, 2010, Sue Robinson from Hamburg Presbyterian Church has been in Tomassin, Haiti. Her planned January trip was cancelled. She traveled with Building Goodness who will inspect the buildings Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti (FLM) uses so they can assure Haitians that buildings are safe to enter. She is also with Rev. Leon Pamphile, PhD, Executive Director of FLM. Sue and Leon are evaluating conditions, considering rescheduling the January trip. There is also a trip in July. Sue took pounds of antibiotics and pain medications with her to help patients at the FLM clinic whose shelves were bare. There is great need for medicine as well as food and shelter.  Sue gave a presentation at the January Presbytery Meeting about this mission in Haiti.

Fish Fry at Lockport Home
There will be a Fish Fry at the Lockport Home on Friday February 26 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.  Cost is $8.00; $7.50 if you preorder by February 22. Questions, please contact Toni Parada at 434-8805 ext. 13. Click here for a flyer.

Resource Center Open House
Visit the Resource Center Open House on Wednesday, March 3, 4:30-7:30 pm to preview new DVDs, books, ask questions, and borrow resources. Instructions for some Lent activities will be available. Come enjoy the refreshments and bring along someone who hasn't used the Resource Center. Additional Lenten reflections will be available at North Presbyterian Church's Soul Feast "Receive God's Lavish Love" Spirituality Centers. Remember to bring back overdue resources. The Resource Center is in North Presbyterian Church, 300 North Forest Rd., Williamsville, NY 14221. For further information, call Mary Mohlke at 631-0979 Mon. - Thurs, 9-noon. or email hr at mmohlke@gmail.com.

Incredible Journey Retreat
There is still time to register for the Incredible Journey Retreat for Eighth and Ninth graders. The retreat will take place on February 26-27 at First Presbyterian Church, Buffalo. Click here for a flyer. If you have questions call Mary Lee Talbot at 716-961-8447.

Christians in “Muslim” Lands
On February 28 North Church, Williamsville is sponsoring a potluck supper followed by a panel discussion using “the Lost History of Christianity by Philips Jenkins.  Jenkins contends that Christianity was centered in Asia for its first 1000 years, not in Europe. How did Christianity finally lose out to Islam in the Middle East and North Africa? What is the current condition of the Christian church in the Middle East and North Africa? What implications do these have for Presbyterians in mission?  The panel will include Nader Awad, Stuart Chen, Mary Lee Talbot and Timothy Wadkins.  The supper begins at 5:30. To make reservations call the church at 839-1912.

Lay Academy Continues Education Leaders
The Rev. Lance Brown, H.R. taught the fall Lay Academy class on the New Testament.  He asked Ed Newton, one of the students, to share the paper he wrote for the class so that others can see the caliber of work being done in the Academy. Click here to read the paper.

Western New York Apologetics
You are invited Sunday, February 21 at 6:30pm for our next Apologetics Roundtable at Whitehaven Road Baptist Church (Grand Island). Our guest speaker will be Dr. Gerald J. Erion, philosophy professor at Medaille College. Dr. Erion, an expert in the field of media studies, will present a lecture titled, "Rational Dialogue in the Age of Entertainment: Amused to Death?” Christianity emphasizes the unique importance of the written word (Romans 15:4).
Historically, this inspired American culture to value literacy and the serious, rational media and entertainment (TV, Internet, video). Has this re-shaped the way we see and discuss our world? Expanding on Neil Postman's classic book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, Dr. Erion will explore the effects of our changing media environment on our public discourse, including our dialogue on faith. For more information, click here for a flyer or visit www.wnyapologetics.com.

Dessert Party
There will be a dessert party at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 7 from 11:30-2:00.  Click here for a flyer.

Presbyterian Calendars
2010 – 2011 Presbyterian Planning Calendar orders are now being taken.  The deadline for order (with payment) is April 1, 2010.  Click here for the order form.

Servant Leader Nomination Form   
The Office of Congregational Leadership of the PC (USA) is seeking to identify persons, who are neither governing body executives nor pastors, who may represent the sixteen synods as participants in a Christian Discipleship Network gathering October 28, 2010 at Stony Point Conference Center, towards the goal of fostering a deeper sense of spiritual direction throughout the denomination.  Towards that end, the Synod has been asked to identify and recommend someone who will be part of this network.
This servant leader specialist whom we are asked to recommend will be someone who:
•    Has been effectively active as a leader in a congregation, presbytery, or a synod for the last five years
•   Is interested in participating in national and international mission experiences
•         Can obtain a letter of recommendation from his/her current pastor or governing body executive
•         Can obtain two written paragraphs from members of his/her congregation, or staff, about why he/she could be identified as a servant leader
•         Is able to facilitate quarterly networking and training sessions within our region
•         Is not a pastor or a governing body executive

Click here for a two-page form by which a recommendation can be made.  Please return your recommendation no later than February 22, 2010.

Calling All Music Worship Leaders: Network Meeting

All pastors and other music worship leaders are invited to meeting of the PWNY Worship Music Leaders Network, as follows:

Monday, Feb. 22nd, 4:30-6 PM
PWNY, 2060 Union Rd., West Seneca
A light supper will be served.
RSVP janitab@pbywny.org

The agenda items will include:

1. Planning for the "Music Conference" part of Presbytery Day, Oct. 2, at North PC (Williamsville)
- Bill Carter and Presbybop
- Area-wide children's choir
- Parent workshop
- Creating music/hymns/lyrics
2. Parameters for loan of musical instruments
3. Identification of resources needed to address grant components:
- Technology
- Expanded repertoire (particularly Native American and Hispanic/Puerto Rican music)
- Residencies
4. CD project
- "Old Favorites"
- "The Best of the Best"

Please contact Janita Byars (janitab@pbywny.org, or 604-6374) with any questions, suggestions, or additional agenda items.

Tech-Savvy People needed for Workshops
Facilitators are needed next fall  for a set of workshops that will help churches tell their story using up-date- media. If you are one of those tech-savvy people (or know one) who want to share their expertise with other churches, let Mary Mohlke, at the Resource Center,  know by sending your information to mmohlke@gmail.com.  The workshops will be sponsored by the Education Committee of WNY.  Click here for the flyer for more information.

A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees and Displaced Peoples
Jesus had no place to lay his head. Neither do tens of millions of migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Be a part of an action weekend addressing this global injustice. Join hundreds of faith-based advocates in taking action on U.S. legislation that will welcome immigrants, protect refugees and prevent displacement for millions.
 Below is the link to the 2010 Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 19-21, Washington, DC.  Please note that the Peacemaking team is offering grants to help participants defray the cost: $200 each for three participants.  Registration should be sent in now; application for the Peacemaking grant is available at the Presbytery office.
Registration is $160; goes up to $175 after Feb. 19t!
http://advocacydays.org/conference/glance.php

Third Presbyterian Church, North Tonawanda
The little white church in the middle of Felton Street with the big, big heart.

On Super Bowl Sunday our church collected several cans of soup and money for the food pantry in North Tonawanda.
Our church is preparing hygiene supplies and first–aid kits for the Haiti. We will also be taking a weekly collection during Lent for Haiti.
Ash Wednesday Service on February 17, 7:00PM.We will welcome our new organist at our worship service. In addition, the distribution of ashes will take place.
Lenten Soup Supper: Wednesdays, 5:00pm, February 24, March 10, 17, 24. Christian Story Teller Carol Ann Gleason will present Lenten messages through stories and parables.
Saint Patrick’s Day Dinner on March 13, 5:00pm. A special Irish musical program will be performed by the distinguished musician, Ramundo. The menu will consist of corned beef, cabbage, potato, buttered carrots, Irish soda bread, dessert, coffee, tea, and pink lemonade. In addition, there will be a basket auction.
Our church hosts the Sunday radio program “Taste of New Wine.” It is broadcast every Sunday on WJJL, 1440AM, at 9:00AM. Rev Dr. Jeffery L. Grove delivers a weekly sermon on this station which reaches all of Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada.

Listen Up!
Because of overwhelming response  PCUSA World Mission will hold another webinar on Monday, February 22 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Click here for registration information. Space is limited so register soon.

Synod of the Northeast E-newsletter
Click here to read the latest issue of the Nor’easter.

Eckhart Toole Study Group to view “Practicing Presence”
"Practicing Presence"- "A Guide for the Spiritual Teacher and Health Practitioner" is the title of the next DVD by Eckhart Tolle that the WNY Eckhart Tolle study group will be viewing and discussing at their upcoming meetings Sat. Feb. 20th 6:30pm and Tues Feb. 23rd 7:15pm. This DVD will teach people how to develop a deep presence and peace in themselves and how to teach others to do the same. You do not have to be a practitioner or spiritual teacher to attend these classes but after viewing this DVD you may want to become one soon! Over 50 enthusiastic folks have joined this free and enlightening group already! The meetings are held at the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church 4369 South Buffalo Rd. O.P. NY 14127. Call Dan Hay at 812-0179 or Carol Murphy at 662-6138 for more info or go to http://www.meetup.com/WNYEckhart-Tolle/.