Presbytery of Western New York
E-Newsletter

UPDATE ON FLOOD RESPONSE (8/21/09)

            First United in Silver Creek continues to provide meals to the community every night.  They are also providing a “Breakfast to Go” to people that come to dinner.  That continues through next Friday, August 28.

            The folks in Silver Creek have been flooded (pun intended) with food and clothing. Click here to see pictures of the response to the flood. They are out of room to store it, so at this point these are the only things they are looking for:

•    Box fans (if you want to lend one, label it and know that you will need to pick it up from the church when they are done with it)
•    Mops
•    Squeegees
•    Brooms
•    Monetary donations are always welcome.  They can be sent to the Presbytery office.

            There is a need for hot water tanks, furnaces, washers and dryers (both electric and gas).  If you have old ones to donate, that is great.  They are looking for names and phone numbers of companies/people that can sell these items at a discount and/or offer free installation.  Please contact the Presbytery office at 668-1995 or JanT@pbywny.org with this information.  Not everyone is in their homes yet, but the need will be coming soon.  We’d like to be prepared.

            First Presbyterian in Gowanda is overwhelmed with the response from Presbytery.  They will have completed the clean-up stage with the crew coming in on Saturday.  They will need destruction and construction crews in the future, but right now are good with what has been done.  They need to replace major items, so monetary donations are extremely welcome.  Checks can be sent to the Presbytery office. 

            Volunteer hours are tracked and will benefit the communities in the way of State and Federal aid.  Please contact Jan at the Presbytery office with your offers of help.  She is tracking these hours for the communities, as well as being in touch with the other response coordinators in the affected area.  We ask that you don’t go down to offer help without being connected prior to arrival. 

            ***All assistance is appreciated.  The recovery effort will be continuing for a long time, so if you are unable to assist right now, don’t worry.  We’ll need your help later, too. ***

            One way all of our churches can assist is to keep these communities in your prayers.  Monetary donations for the churches can be sent to the Presbytery office – 2060 Union Road, W Seneca, NY 14224.  Designations of one church or the other or simply for “Flood Relief” are appropriate.
   
Protest at Erie County Jail
This information was received from Rev. John Long. If you have questions you can reach him at First Presbyterian Church, Buffalo.
I've been shocked (really!) and very concerned by the (Federal) Justice Department charges against Erie County and the Sheriff about conditions in the Holding Center and the Alden prison.  Apparently there is violence, including rape, in some cases charged to staff, as well as inadequate health care, and other things, which have gone on for some time.  There is a 50 page report from the Justice Department, which is available online here . 
        I now find that there is a weekly showing of concern on Wednesdays, from 5-6pm, in front of the Holding Center and/or the Sheriff’s office, both of which are in the block of Delaware below Niagara Square -- the last block of Delaware.  I hear that a number of nuns have been present, but no other clergy.  I think it is important for church leaders, including clergy, to begin to be involved and visible in hopes of making the public take the matter seriously.  We certainly should champion decent treatment of prisoners here in our home community!
        I plan to go this next Wednesday.  I am trying to bring this to the attention of all the Presbyterians.  Of course, there are other things churches can do.
         If you want more info, I'll try to get it, but this is about what I know at the moment.  On Friday, 21 August, Donn Esmond devoted his column in the News to the subject.   

Church Choir and Music Director

MacAlpine Presbyterian Church, a small to medium sized urban congregation is looking for a Music/Choir Director. Must be able to play organ, keyboard and piano; develop and direct Adult and Children’s choirs; have experience with traditional, contemporary and gospel music. Approximately 12 hours per week.  Starting date: October 1, 2009. Please send resume to MacAlpine Presbyterian Church, 2700 Bailey Avenue,
Buffalo, NY 14215, Attn: Elders James and Sandra Pennick. No phone calls please.

Rummage Sale at MacAlpine

MacAlpine Presbyterian Church will hold its Second Annual Rummage Sale on Saturday, September 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $1 for adults 18 and over. Nearly new and neat repeats! Hot dog lunch will be available. MacAlpine is located at 2700 Bailey Avenue in Buffalo.

Ambassador Singers
The Ambassador Singer of South Korea gave a Concert at Cleveland Drive Presbyterian Church on August 18. Bill Bauza has put together a slide show of the evening. Follow this link to see it.

PW Leadership meets at Chautauqua

Members of the leadership of Presbyterian Women met at Chautauqua on August 23. Mary Lee Talbot hosted the group at her home for a light tea. These are the women who stayed for the picture!

Faithful Dialogue
Click here to see the latest from our denomination on the violence in Pakistan. Faithful Dialogue is a monthly newsletter from the Interfaith Relations Office of our General Assembly.

Frimoth Compliments Presbytery
Stated Clerk Bronwen Boswell received the following e-mail this past week.
Friend Rev. Boswell:
    Greetings from the other side of the country and Cascades Presbytery with Portland, OR in particular.  I've just finished reading 4 years of Mission Yearbook presentations for the Presbytery you serve.  Then went to your website and journeyed for a bit through the many churches that comprise the Presbytery and noted the high number of pastors with advanced degrees.   May their studies have given their callings even more of the Spirit to reach out as you have done to various places in your communities, Katrina damages and 'round the world.  Just reading the Year book each day lifts my aging spirit to know that in places like Buffalo the church is active and desirous of ministering to all with whom you contact.
    So this old geezer lifts another simple prayer of thanksgiving for your callings and a prayer that you continue to find the directions the Spirit of Christ offers.   Blessings abound in your many ministries.
    Continue to find rest and renewal in the curve of His smile,
    E.R. Bud Frimoth
ps I have a good friend just over your Presbytery bounds in Erie, PA so I'm kept partially alert to happenings in the area. Made the reading even more meaningful for me.
Director of Spiritual Nurture and Discipleship Mary Lee Talbot remembered interviewing Bud for an Article in YOUTH Magazine back in 1980.  Frimoth is a retired pastor who won the Angel Award from the Presbyterian Writer’s Guild in 2007 for best first book,  Bring in the Clowns: A Metaphor for Ministry, published by Pleasant Word, a division of Wine Press. The book, drawing on Frimoth’s years of ministry and clowning, suggests how the art of clowning offers helpful metaphors for reflecting on ministry.
Frimoth spent more than 50 years in ministry and was founder of the Peabody Award-winning radio program The Open Door. Known for its innovative ways of presenting the thoughts and creativity of youth, the radio ministry led Frimoth into clowning. 
Thanks Bud!

New Resources from the Mainline Evangelism Project
Resource Center director Mary Mohlke sent this review of “Unbinding the Gospel”

Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism. by Martha Grace Reese. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2007 is a new book in the Resource Center that I highly recommend. 

Church members and pastors that want to start living a more exciting life with God and with each other should read this book  Good news needs to be shared and main line churches can learn to evangelize. Author Martha Grace Reese is a Disciples of Christ pastor, an attorney and evangelism consultant and has a vision of hope for Mainline churches. A Lilly endowed Mainline Evangelism Project (www.gracenet.info) shows a growing number of people who have no or little contact with churches. It showed that most people would rather go for a root canal than think about evangelism.  It also notes that new and old churches can grow.
Part one looks at what evangelism is, what motivates us to do it and some statistics that show how churches  are doing.
The second part of the book focuses on stories of successful evangelism and word as to what people want to hear. People are looking to join people sharing “real life” involving relationships with God, with people within the church and with people outside the church. People want their lives transformed, to be accepted, to learn about God and to grow spiritually.
The third part deals with the barriers of sharing one’s faith, on how an individual congregation is doing, and how to proceed. One suggestion is starting with our children and their friends. Another is to look at the needs of neighbors and one’s own gifts and passions

Nine chapters have discussion questions and an exercise making it a great study book for a congregation, a board or a study group.

Two additional books from The Real Life Evangelism Series are also in the Resource Center:
A second book is Unbinding the Heart: 40 Days of Prayer and Faith Sharing. This is an all-church saturation study, a 6 week version of Unbinding the Gospel. Each week for 40 days, people will pray each day’s scripture and prayer exercise, study a chapter with a small group and worship together with sermon, music and prayers centered on the week’s chapter.

A third book is Unbinding Your Church.  It includes help in working through the study with worship resources, step-by-step planning tools and integrated web downloads. 

Presbytery Staff has Development Day

The staff of the Presbytery met for a day of development at Chautauqua on August 10. The staff heard Sr. Joan Chittister, the afternoon lecturer, talked about goals, and celebrated 2 birthdays

Vacation Bible School
August 14-16 at Allegany Presbyterian Church, “Construction Zone”
August 24-28 at Lockport First , E.D.G.E.

Benefit Walk/Run for Loaves and Fishes
Concerned Ecumenical Ministry (CEM) is holding its second annual Diner Dash 4-Miler on Friday, September 11, 2009 at 6:30 PM. The proceeds from this 4 mile run/walk will support the Loaves & Fishes Dining Room. The course is located in the beautiful Elmwood village along Elmwood and Delaware Avenues. Loaves & Fishes is a free lunch program located in the basement of Lafayette Presbyterian Church. More people than ever are finding their way to Loaves & Fishes to seek a helping hand and a listening ear. Your support helps us provide comfort and hope at a time when people are overwhelmed by anxiety and fear.
If you would like to participate in the race, download a registration form or register online at our website: www.dinerdash4miler.org . Not interested in racing? We need volunteers or will be happy to accept donations. Stop by the website for more information.

All Kinds of Carpenters
Click here to read about a ministry in Elwood City, PA that now encompasses all the churches in town.

A Weekend of Godly Play

Friday, October 23 ~ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
A Godly Play Experience for Adults and Children

A Godly Play Story, Wondering and Art Response Time for all ages together, followed by discussion for adults and play for children

Saturday, October 24 ~ 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
A Godly Play Introduction/Refresher Workshop

For teachers, parents, clergy or other adults who want to know more about Godly Play

Experience a Complete Godly Play Session

Reflect together on the Experience: What did you See? Hear? Feel? Do?

Enjoy Lunch (provided)

Look at the Practice of Godly Play
Discover the Educational Philosophy and Theology of Godly Play, and the Spirituality of the Child

For more information about Godly Play go to www.godlyplay.org

Extreme Makeover: Prayer Edition is coming
Enrich your spiritual life. Try an additional way to pray both contemplative and active. Enjoy a light breakfast and mull over or purchase prayer resources. Participate in Extreme Makeover Prayer Edition on Saturday, October 3, 9:02 am-12:22 pm at Ebenezer UCC, 6:30 Main St., West Seneca, NY. The cost is $15 per person unless 6 come from your church and then it is $10 per person. Leadership includes the Rev. Dottie Brooks, UCC pastor, Serena Graige from First Presbyterian, Youngstown, Mary Mohlke, Resource Center, Leith Fujii, a PCUSA missionary serving in Thailand. Call or email the Resource Center 631-0979, mmohlke@gmail.com to register or send in form on the flyer. Click here to see the flyer.

September Events at Faith Church
1)  Faith United Presbyterian Church, 3150 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore
     Dollar Sale - Saturday, September 12 (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
     Refreshments
 and
2)  Krolick's Chicken Dinner (half chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, dessert)
     Sunday, September 13 (11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
     Eat in or Take-out
     Adults: $9.00
     Children 12 and under: $5.00
     Purchase of tickets in advance is encouraged...
     Please contact MaryAnn MacDonald at 773-6786
     or by E-mail at mmacdonald1946@yahoo.com
3)  Bible Study:
     "Joshua: A Journey of Faith"
     Wednesday Evenings
     September 16 - November 11, 2009
     7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
     Study Guide: $6.00
     All interested persons are invited to join us in this study. 
     Please call the Church Office at 875-9550.
 
Presbyterian World - Combating HIV/AIDS in India
Click here to read the latest newsletter from International Missions of the General Assembly.

One in the Spirit - Nathan Hogue and the Giving Jar
Click here to read monthly newsletter One in the Spirit from the General Assembly Council.

Excellence in Education Ministry Congregation Award
Is a congregation in your Presbytery eligible for an “Excellence in Education Ministry Congregation Award?”
Each year Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education awards congregations for innovative ministry with special populations; ministry with children; youth ministry; Christian education; and outreach & social concern.  Since 1991, 71 churches in 26 states have received these awards.   Each of the five awards carries a $1,000 prize to support the congregation in its ministry.
For more information and/or to apply for one of the Union-PSCE Congregation Awards, download the brochure and application from our website www.union-psce.edu, request by e-mail to April Swofford at aswofford@union-psce.edu or call 1-800-229-2990, ext 206. The application and instructions are only available electronically. The deadline for the 2010 Awards is November 1, 2009.

Peacemaking Offering Video   
Click here to read about the new video available to interpret the Peacemaking Offering. The offering will be taken on October 4 this year.

Statistically Speaking
Click here to read about the statistical tracking of the denomination for the past 25 years.

Health Care Conference Call
Click here to read about the conference call on health care that President Obama held with 140,000 church members.

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