FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LOCKPORT INSTALLS WILLIAM JAMES HARDY AS PASTOR

On Sunday, September 13, 2009, a service of installation was held at First Presbyterian Church of Lockport for pastor William James Hardy.  Participating in the service for Rev. Hardy included Rev. Donna Kay Lewis, moderator of PWNY and pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Gowanda; Rev. Robert Peck, interim pastor at Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church; Elders Nancy Shambach (Lockport 1st), Gail Oatmeyer (South Park United), and Robert Sillars (Clarence and Committee on Ministry Liaison to the nominating committee); Rev. Clarence Elliott who delivered the homily (visitation pastor at Lockport 1st); Rev. Debra Wright (moderator of South Park United); Rev. Laura Norris-Buisch (Riverside and Committee on Ministry chair); Rev. Rex Stewart (Youngstown 1st); Jeffrey Seekins, music director (Lockport 1st); Maria Goodrich, soloist; and the Celestial Handbell Choir (Lockport 1st).

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NOTES FROM CONGREGATIONS ACROSS THE PRESBYTERY

Riverside Presbyterian Church (Niagara Falls) will hold a soup lunch and book review based on Three Cups of Tea, after the 11 AM service on Sept. 27th.  Bible study groups are scheduled for Mondays at noon and Tuesdays at 7 PM.  Riverside will host the Congregational Transformation Ministry Team’s Nixon plenary session, Friday, Oct. 23rd, at 7 PM, as well as the retreat activities for new Nixon teams on Saturday.

There will be a COFFEE HOUSE and open MIC on Sunday, Oct 25,2009, from
5 PM-8 PM, at South Wales Presbyterian Church, South Wales, NY.   The featured
group is EAGLE  PSALMS - Folk/Pop/Bluegrass Trio with music of FaIth and Hope! 
(ASCAP Artist and  Publisher)  No admssion charge and FREE refreshments.  Please
join us for the entertainment and fellowship!  We are easy to find - at the End of Route
400, continue to traffic light on Route 16 and turn right on Emery Road.  The chhurch
is 5 doors down on right side, across from GOW School Athletic Center.

First Presbyterian Church (Tonawanda) will host “Mom’s Night Out,” Wednesday, Oct. 28th, from 5 to 7 PM.  Activities for kids include dinner, costume parade, caramel apples, games, and a story and a skit.

First Presbyterian Church (Westfield) hosts a series of Fundraiser Dinners on Fridays in October from 5-6:30 PM to benefit building restoration and mission/outreach.

Faith United Presbyterian Church (Kenmore) will hold a Wednesday fall Bible study series, “Joshua:  A Journey of Faith,” from 7 to 8:30 PM.

First Presbyterian Church (Lewiston) will hold a 2nd Annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 10th, starting at 3 PM.  Dinner at 5 PM will be followed by a talent show.

Amherst Presbyterian Church is celebrating and holding its 52nd annual chicken barbeque on Saturday, September 19, 2009.  The hours are 4:00-7:00 pm, eat in or take-out.  The cost is $8.50 for adults, and $5.00 for children.

Wrights Corners Presbyterian Church will host their “Famous Annual Turkey Dinner and Basket Raffle,” Saturday, November 7th, beginning at 4 PM.  The event includes door prizes.  Adult tickets are $8; under 12, $4; and under 5, free.

The Buffalo Korean Church held a chicken barbeque on Sunday, September 13 to raise funds for a new church refrigerator.  Pictured is Pastor Hyun Jin Kim with some of the college students who attend the church.  Buffalo Korean has an active young adult program and evangelizes Korean young people attending local colleges and universities.

CONGREGATIONAL TRANSFORMATION MINISTRY TEAM HOSTS PAUL NIXON IN A PLENARY SESSION AT RIVERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OCTOBER 23

Click here for the flyer that invites all congregation members and guests to a plenary session given by Paul Nixon, author of I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church.

EXTREME MAKEOVER PRAYER EDITION TO BE HELD OCTOBER 3

Prayer is at the center of our life with God. Discover ways to enhance your prayer life. Make a
reservation to attend Extreme Makeover Prayer Edition on October 3, sponsored by the Education Committee of WNY.  When you come to Ebenezer United Church of Christ, 630 Main St., West Seneca, NY 14224, you will have a great breakfast, receive the recipes, have an opportunity to walk the labyrinth, purchase gifts and books on prayer, sign up for 2 of 3 workshops, and participate in moving worship.

The event is from 9:02 AM-12:22 PM and is $15 per person. An extreme deal of $10 per person
exists for churches with 6 or more attendees.

Make reservations by calling the Resource Center 631-0979, email mmohlke@gmail.com or
mail registration form to Resource Center, 300 N. Forest Rd., Williamsville, NY 14221

Click here for the brochure.

PWNY PULPIT EXCHANGE PLANNING

Click here for the flyer that describes a presbytery-wide pulpit exchange program sponsored by the Discipleship and Nurture Team.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH BUSINESS ADMINISTRATORS  (NACBA) HOSTS SEMINAR ON OCTOBER 15

“Securing the Vision” (an in-service seminar for church business administrators) is open to any and all interested parties.  Members of NACBA include Carol Lally (Presbytery Office), Nancy Berger (Westminster, Buffalo), Peggy Ambrose (Jamestown 1st), and Debbie Babski (Orchard Park).  They encourage your participation. Click here for the flyer,

CHANGE IN DUFIELD RENTAL RATE SCHEDULE

The Board of Directors of the Duffield Camp and Retreat Center has recently reduced the rental rates of Duffield's facilities for fall, winter and spring. Instead of a flat rate for the use of Keeler Lodge or use of a cabin, the charge will be calculated per person. Thus the fee will be $20 per person per night. Instead of paying $800 for the use of Keeler Lodge for two nights, a group, for example of ten persons, would pay $200 for Friday night and $200 for Saturday night. We recognize that many youth groups are small and we seek as high a usage of Duffield's facilities as is possible. The per person rate applies both to Keeler Lodge and to the cabins. Please call Glenn Tanner (683-0523 or his cell phone -- 912-5441) or email him (vze4c5gn@verizon.net) to make a reservation for the use of Keeler Lodge or one or more of the cabins.

Recent improvements to the camp's facilities include a new metal roof for Keeler, new shingle roofs for the cabins - currently being installed, and 35 truckloads of stone for the improvement of the camp's entrance road.
Dick McConnell, board member

ATTENTION CLERGY OF SMALL CHURCHES:

Applications are now available for the Summer Collegium, a project in support of small congregations at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia.  Clergy (and their spouses or partners) from 25 small churches of all Christian denominations are invited to spend nine days at Virginia Seminary for encouragement, education, rest and renewal.  All expenses, including travel, books, meals, lodging, child care at home and pulpit supply, are paid by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. 

The theme of the Summer Collegium this year is Leadership in the Small Congregation.  Our keynote speaker will be Alice Mann, a prolific writer on congregational ministry, and John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland will join our worship team for the conference.

The dates for the Summer Collegium are June 23 - July 1, 2010.  Application forms are on our website, www.vts.edu/education/collegium or will be sent in the mail by emailing SummerCollegium@vts.edu or by calling 703-461-1760.  Applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2009, to be considered.
 
Marilyn Johns, D. Min.
Project Manager, The Summer Collegium
Virginia Theological Seminary
3737 Seminary Road
Alexandria, Virginia  22304
703-461-1760
www.vts.edu/education/collegium

CONSTRUCTION ADVICE REQUESTED FOR MARYVALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Maryvale Drive Presbyterian Church has to resolve some structural issues
with their building. They are in need of names of contractors who could be recommended for estimates by other churches or individuals who have used them.  Please contact the church by calling Rev. Dorothy Pearman at 892-4426 (M-W mornings) or at her home at 862-0200 or by e-mail: dotpear@wzrd.com.

NETWORK OF BIBLICAL STORYTELLERS TO MEET

Click here for more information regarding the Network of Biblical Storytellers workshop to be held at 7 PM, Tuesday, Sept. 29th, Lafayette Ave. Presbyterian Church.

SAVE THE DATE – NOVEMBER 7TH – FOR “TREASURE IN CLAY JARS”

Celebrate life with all generations in worship, living and engaging with the Word, spirituality, study, and song at, “Treasure in Clay Jars.’  Click here for more information about this event, sponsored by the Discipleship and Nurture Ministry Team, at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, November 7th, from 9:30 AM-1:15 PM.

BIENNIAL LABYRINTH CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 26-30

Louisville Seminary is joining with Farmington Historical Plantation to offer the Biennial Labyrinth Conference, October 26th-30th. Click here for more information about this event,  “Seeking the Symmetry of the Soul.”

PRAYER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Need a prayer resource for planning worship, devotions, study?  Click here for a list of books and video resources from the Resource Center on prayer.  Call the Resource Center to reserve a resource or call for more information. 631-0979, Mon-Fri, 9-noon, or leave a message.  You may e-mail Mary Mohlke at mmohlke@gmail.com.

PC(USA) MISSION POTLUCK DINNER FEATURES LEITH FUJII ON OCTOBER 2

The Presbytery of Western New York is participating in Mission Challenge 09 by hosting Leith Fujii, a PCUSA missionary, from Oct. 2 through 9. Rev. Fujii teaches Theology and English at Bangkok Theological Seminary in Bangkok Thailand. There will be many opportunities to visit with him during the week around the Presbytery but one of the most convenient for you is a potluck dinner to be held at North Presbyterian church, 300 North Forest, Williamsville, on the first evening that he is here, Friday, October 2. Everyone is welcome, but we want to give extra encouragement to those congregations in a short drive from North Church. Click here for a flyer. Please post it and give a copy to the pastor, your mission committee, and anyone else who might be interested in attending. Please feel free to phone me with any questions or reservations. Looking forward to seeing you there. Bill Townsend, Chair Outreach Ministry Team, (716)839-1912

PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NEW YORK TO HOST PEACEMAKER
 
From Friday September 25 to Monday September 28, The Presbytery of Western New York
will host Ms. Nazeli Vardanyan as part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) International Peacemaker Program.  The program brings six to eight people from around the world to talk
about their work in peacemaking in such areas as economic justice, Arab=Israeli relations and ecological issues.  While in the Buffalo area Ms. Vardanyan will take part in a pot luck dinner at Amherst Presbyterian, visit Reizenstein woods, participate in a conference at Daemon college and make a presentation at Riverside Salem UCC. 
 
Nazeli Vardanyan is the Director of “Armenian Forests”, an NGO whose main activities are
forestation, reforestation and forest protection in Armenia. She supervises projects on 740
hectares (1829 acres) of reforestation in Armenia, and she has also been coordinator of a working group on drafting of a forest code (forest policy) and national forest plan for Armenia. She is also president of “GOY”, an environmental/legal NGO whose main activities are environmental education, environmental rights protection, lobbying, public participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental issues. She is a licensed attorney in the Republic of Armenia. She is a member of both the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia and of the International Bar Association. As an international expert on environmental law, Ms. Vardanyan has testified at numerous international conferences and participated in drafting several international environmental conventions, e.g. the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Aarhus Convention, and other agreements. She is a lecturer at the Russian-Armenian University in the capital, Yerevan, and coordinator of the Human Rights and Sustainable Development Working Group of the Northern Alliance for Sustainable Development (ANPED).

REV. REX STEWART HONORED

Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope (NOAH) honored First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown’s pastor Rex Steward as a “Lion of Judah,” at an award dinner on Friday, Sept. 18th.

ORCHARD PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HOSTS SAXOPHONE QUARTET  CONCERT ON OCTOBER 4

Music and the Arts of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church announces the Erie Saxophone Quartet In-Concert on Sunday, October 4, 2009 - 4:00 pm 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 of standard composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach to more recent composers as Krzysztof Penderecki, spanning a broad range of styles and time periods.  Other works on the program include works by Russian composer, Alexander Glasunow; Hungarian composer, Zdenek Lukas; and contemporary minimalist, Philip Glass.  The Erie Saxophone Quartet has begun to gain international recognition among composers and now boasts over a dozen works written expressly for them and has been featured on public radio.
 
Please feel free to share this concert information widely.  Click here for the concert event flyer of biographical information and photos.  Admission by donation: $10 suggested.

CURRENT NEWS FROM PRESBYTERIAN NEWS SERVICE

Click here for the message issued by the WARC group on Accra Confession.

OLDER ADULT “LIFE-LONG LIVING CONFERENCE” AT MONTREAT, OCTOBER 12-16

Click here for information about the conference for older adults at Montreat.