Presbytery of Western New York
E-Newsletter

May 11, 2010

Elder’s Story in New Book
On August 15, 2008, MacAlpine Elder Diane Gayles and her daughter Jennifer went to the StoryCorps booth that was set up in Buffalo to record a story. Diane told Jennifer about moving from Buffalo to Lancaster and the racism she faced in school. She especially remembered one girl, Melissa Tousley, who reached out to her. Now that story is in Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps, a collection of some of the StoryCorps memories edited by Dave Isay and published for Mother’s Day.  Diane and her husband George and Jennifer were in New York for the book launch. Look for the book at your favorite book store.  Thank you Diane, for your story.
 
Healthy Congregations Workshop to be led by Rev. James Brazel
This workshop for lay people and clergy will be May 21 & 22, 2010; Friday: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Wayside Presbyterian Church, 5017 Lake Shore Rd., Hamburg New York 14075.
Click here for a brochure with registration details. Call Mary Mohlke for more information or to let us know how many resources to order for you. 631-0979, mmohlke@gmail.com

Learn how you as a leader can influence the health of your congregation:
•    How to detect and avoid unhealthy patterns of living together in community.
•    Find out how to keep anxiety from becoming infectious.
•    Gain confidence in responding to challenges, resources, options, and future opportunities.
•    Learn how to put limits on invasive behavior, manage reactivity, and overcome sabotage.
•    Learn to focus on strengths and function as the congregation's immune system.

Representatives of Buffalo Presbyterian Churches are invited to meet to network and find out what your Presbyterian Women’s Cluster TEAM of WNY can do for you and your church.     All it takes to attend this free meeting is to RSVP to one of your Buffalo PW Cluster Leaders, Betty Johnson (MacAlpine) at 886-5097 or Sylvia Volk (Westminster) at 881-1424 or wnyjustice@yahoo.com.   

Blessing of the Animals
Faith United Church has scheduled a "Blessing of the Animals" during their worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 16.  This service will be followed by a Microchip Implant Clinic for dogs and cats at 11:30 a.m.  A veterinarian and staff will implant microchips for identification in case a pet is lost.   Cost is $25.00 or $20.00 for two or more pets and/or with a pet food donation.

50 Years of Golden Fellowship
This year Island Presbyterian Church is celebrating the 50th anniversary of our founding. On Sunday, June 13th, we will mark the occasion with a special worship service at 11:00 a.m., followed by coffee and fellowship. The church will host a luncheon at 1:00 p.m.

You are cordially invited to help us commemorate 50 years of Christian ministry on Grand Island. Please join us as we recognize the work of our founding pastor, Rev. Hal Tyson, and the pioneering efforts of our founding members, welcome old friends and new, and share the gift of fellowship with our community.

If you plan to be with us for the luncheon, please call Carolyn at 883-4695 by Sunday, June 6, to make a reservation or e-mail CA@mckibben.com.

If you cannot make it for the celebration, we would welcome any greetings or message you might want to send. The church is located at 1822 Huth Road, Grand Island NY 14072.

Summer Camp at Camp Duffield
Registration for summer camp at Camp Duffield has begun.   Registration is on a first come first serve basis.  We have summer camps for all ages.  Check the website at www.CampDuffield.org for the details of your particular age.   Moms and Dads, Grandparents, remember how important summer camp was to you, please encourage your child to attend.   Your children will grow in faith and in social confidence.   The Camp has been significantly upgraded over the last couple of years.  Archery has returned this summer. 
 
Reservations for fall and winter retreats are ongoing.  There are a few weekends left. Available weekends are on the Camp Calendar on the Web Site. Retreats are a great way to grow your church membership and develop a deeper commitment among your members.

Wild Event at First Presbyterian Church of Kenmore
Click here for a flyer about the Nickel City Reptile event and click here for a flyer about the accompanying Animals of the World dinner on June 5.

Discrimination Against Women Campaign
The Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns of the General Assembly Mission Council urges you to ask your senators to ratify CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) in honor of Mother’s Day. ACWC has a recommendation going to General Assembly that asks for the Stated Clerk to make an official statement in support of ratification of this document.
Click http://civilrightscoalition.org/campaign/cedaw2010 for more information.

Upcoming Events at First Presbyterian, Lewiston
First Presbyterian Lewiston Women will be hosting the residents from Lockport Presbyterian Home with a lunch on Wednesday, May 12th at noon.  The women of the church make dishes to share and the residents are treated to a wonderful lunch and entertainment.  This year Millie Crane will lead the Bell Choir for their entertainment.
 
Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, May 19th from 2pm - 7pm in the church social hall.  No reservations necessary but helpful.
                     
Pooch Parade
May 22nd -Saturday, is the date scheduled to walk down Center Street from 5th St. to Academy Park with a police escort. Beginning time is 10a.m. Registration is a can of dog food donated to the SPCA. The SPCA will meet us at Academy Park and will have adoptable animals looking for good homes. Think about it! What a great opportunity for all of us! Don't forget your "Pooper-Scooper."

The Presbyterian Leader
Click here for the latest issue of The Presbyterian Leader. This issue includes help on “Leading Prayer in Groups” by noted Presbyterian author Rev. Kathy Bostrom.

Winners Named in Bible Booklympics at First, Lockport

First Presbyterian Church, in Lockport, held the 2010 Bible Booklympics. Students earned a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal according to the number of books they learned. The medal winners are from left: Jackson Connor, Nate Flint, Jared Miner, Austin Dick, Michaellean Brown, Katie Miner, Jordan Pilarski, Alex Flint, Brett Stern, Spencer Dick, and Joe Guagliano. Not present: Carlin Serrianne. Congratulations to all the participants!

Blackwood Gospel Quartet at First Church, Lewiston
Click here for a flyer about their June 12 performance.

Bowling Green Collegiate Chorale at Orchard Park
Music and the Arts of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church announces The Collegiate Chorale from Bowling Green State University and Sandra Stegman, Director "In Concert" on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 7:30 pm.  Join us for this evening performance of great choral repertory.
 
The Bowling Green Collegiate Chorale is the leading choir at the College and has toured throughout the United State, Canada and much of Europe.  By invitation, the Chorale has performed at the celebrated Lucerne International Choral Festival in Switzerland with concerts in Italy, Austria, and Hungary.  Their Spring Concert Tour includes concerts in Toronto, Pennsylvania and New York which includes their appearance as part of the Music and the Arts Concerts in the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park, NY. 
 
This concert is open to the community and all are welcome to attend this program.
 
Admission by donation: $10 Suggested. 
 
Young Adult Conferences at McCormick Theological Seminary
Click here for a flyer about music and spoken word conferences this summer for African American, Latino, and Asian American young adults to be held at McCormick.

Update on work in Haiti
In response to the earthquake in Haiti in January, four members of Hamburg Presbyterian Church traveled to Haiti, March 20-27. Traveling with Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti, a team of nineteen people went to Thomassin, a village located in the mountains, about 12 miles south of Port-au-Prince. Three doctors joined the Haitian staff and served at the House of David Community Health Center, seeing over 500 patients during the week. The Hamburg volunteers went to the school in Thomassin. It had been inspected by the government and the building had been deemed safe. However, the children were still fearful of another earthquake and many were afraid to return to the school. To help them overcome their anxiety the team went to the school and encouraged the children to come. Health screenings were offered to each child and they had the opportunity to participate in singing, games, and sharing their personal stories about the earthquake. Many of the children had their homes damaged or destroyed and are living outside in tents or under tarps. In all, over 300 children came to the school to participate. It was overwhelming for the team to hear about the children’s experiences as they expressed themselves through their art work and the tender questions of the doctors.

Many churches in the Presbytery participated in this mission effort. In response to a presentation at Presbytery in January by members of HPC, nine churches responded by collecting supplies for the health center and money for the purchase of prescription medications. As a result, $4220 was donated and over 500 pounds of medicines and supplies were taken to Haiti by the volunteers from Hamburg!  We extend our thanks to the churches that were able to respond at this critical time. The Haitian medical staff was so grateful to have their pharmacy shelves restocked. 

The HPC participants in the mission trip, Dudley and Joanne Hollenbeck, Sue Rich and Susan Robinson have created a power point presentation based on their trip to Haiti. If your church is interested in understanding the magnitude of the destruction that took place, and how your church can help (or already has helped) they would be available to visit church. Contact can be made with Joanne Hollenbeck at 648-4910 or Sue Rich at 648-5785 for further information.

A Vision Exam	Water Filter Demonstration
Testing for Anemia	Examining a Child

Church  has a colorful garden thanks to Eagle Scout member
Young Timothy McLaughlin is a member of the Randolph  United Presbyterian Church and his final Eagle Scout project was to work with God to enhance an ugly area between the church building and its new addition with a beautiful rest bench and flower garden. Matthew has been preparing the soil since late winter and his flowers have begun blooming, with additional plantings planned to come on as summer arrives. He received his Eagle Scout badge in March.
Photo by Jack Berger

Register for the National New Church Development Conference
Click here for information about the New Church Development Conference sponsored by the PC(USA).

Network of Religious Communities Calendar:

DIABETES INITIATIVE
The Network of Religious Communities is partnering with the NY State Health Foundation to reduce the high level of diabetes in WNY.  This initiative will partner with local congregations in WNY to reduce diabetes among there members and within their community.  If your congregation is interested in participating in such an initiative please call 716-882-4793 ext. 201.

FOOD PROVIDER DIRECTORY AVAILABLE
Erie County Food Providers Directory in CD still available from Food For All.  Looking for a food pantry for making a referral.  You’ll find it here. Call 716-882-7750  ext. 220.        

HELP COMBAT HUNGER
Food Stamp Assistance through NRC Nutrition Outreach Program.  Host A Food Stamp Application time at your congregation or religious organization.  NRC Food Pantry open 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM Monday through Friday.  Donations welcome.  For information, to volunteer and schedule a Food Stamp event at your location call Kelly at 716-882-7705  ext. 220.
To keep up to date with Network of Religious Communities calendar events or to have an ecumenical/interreligious event added to the calendar send information to: ecustan@earthlink.net by Wednesday of each week.
For information and to comment contact: NETWORK OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
1272 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209, 716-882-4793,  www.religiousnet.org
  nrc@religiousnet.org