Presbytery of WNY
E-Newsletter November 3, 2009 TREASURE IN CLAY JARS CANCELLED The November 7th event, “Treasure in Clay Jars,” has been cancelled. This area of focus and related activities will be incorporated into a future program. CHURCH HEALTH CONSULTANT PAUL NIXON RETURNS TO PWNY From Thursday through Saturday, October 22nd-24th, the Congregational Transformation Ministry Team (CTMT) hosted consultant Paul Nixon in a series of events. On Thursday night, pastors and congregational transformation teams met at a reunion dinner at Kotecki’s in West Seneca. Nixon engaged the teams in a series of questions that facilitated self-reflection and sharing. On Friday at noon, Nixon met with members of the CTMT to discuss the overall program and leadership strategies. On Friday night, Nixon led a plenary session that was open to all pastors and congregations. He led the audience through a series of slides addressing his six choices for church health. Click here for a copy of the PowerPoint. On Saturday, pastors and teams from four PWNY churches were engaged in a series of workshops, activities, and worship. Riverside Presbyterian Church (Niagara Falls) and Rev. Laura Norris Buisch hosted both the plenary session and Saturday events. Participating churches and pastors included the following: Westfield – First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Stephen Morse
Niagara Falls – First Presbyterian Church, Rev. David Crapnell
Alden – First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Katherine Evans
Niagara Falls - Riverside Presbyterian Church, Rev. Laura Norris Buisch Team-building exercises were led by Lafayette Presbyterian Church minister and CTMT chair, Rev. Drew Ludwig. Rev. Dr. Mary Lee Talbot led a workshop on spirituality, and Dr. Janita Byars, on congregational transformation. Worship services were led by Revs. Lowell Avery (Cleveland Drive Presbyterian Church) and Lynette Sparks.
REV. JANE DASHER TO BE INSTALLED Click here for an invitation to the installation of Rev. Jane Dasher at Trinity Lutheran Church, East Amherst, Sunday, November 15th, at 4 PM. NEWS FROM ACROSS THE PRESBYTERY Clarence Presbyterian Church is hosting the area-wide Community Thanksgiving Service, November 25th, at 7 PM. In addition the Senior High Youth Group is hold a pie sale. Contact the church at 759-8396, for more information. Amherst Presbyterian Church (Williamsville) has designated November 8th as Consecration Sunday. The worship service will focus on the theme, “How does our garden grow?” A dinner is scheduled, following the service. Randolph United Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a pie sale, in advance of Thanksgiving. Home-baked pies must be ordered by Nov. 15th for pick-up on Nov. 22nd. RUPC also contributes to the Ecumenical Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner through cooking and driving as well as serving and cleaning up. RUPC is sponsoring a “Cookie House,” December 5th from 9:30 AM to 12 noon. It is the largest fund-raiser for the Mission Committee. Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo) is running a Spiritual Life series from 9:35 to 10:45 AM on November 8,15, and 22: Cultivating Wholeness: Body, Mind and Spirit in a Fractured World. Christians are called to bear witness to God's presence and goodness, even and especially in the midst of a fractured world. How might we cultivate wholeness, body, mind and spirit? What are the practices we might nurture individually, in our relationships and in our community? Ellen Bean, Judith Brown Bryan, and Trevor Watt will present six approaches for Christian living. Come add your wisdom and voice to the conversation. CORRECTION IN E-MAIL ADDRESS Please note the correct e-mail address below for Westminster’s ENERGY Tutoring Program Coordinator, Rebecca Severson:
724 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo NY 14209-2294
e-mail: rseverson@westminster-bflo.org
Church office 884-9437, extension 322
Cell phone 715-2670 LOOKING FAR AHEAD University Presbyterian Church (Buffalo) runs an annual book sale on Saturday, December 12th. All donations are welcome. Call Melinda Hutchison at 731-3170. On the same day, UPC has its Christmas Cookie Sale from 10 AM to 2 PM. SUMMER MISSION TRIP Are your youth interested in being part of an exciting summer youth mission trip, and joining with a fellow Presbyterian youth group to do it? The youth of First Presbyterian Church in East Aurora are going to Cortez, Colorado, July 24 - August 1, with Youthworks (a youth mission organization out of Minneapolis), and would love for you to join them. The overall cost is $800 per person, but the youth group is working on fundraisers to reduce the cost to $400. They will be working on houses and with children's ministry in the southwest corner of Colorado. They will also explore Ghost Ranch (a PCUSA retreat center), Native American archeological sites, and the Grand Canyon. The trip will be led by Rev. Buddy Hubbard. If you'd be interested in a wonderful opportunity of mission for your youth, please contact Buddy at 652-0160, or fpcea@aol.com. HOLY LAND TOUR SPONSORED BY WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (BUFFALO) Click here to read the complete invitation from Westminster’s pastor Tom Yorty to join in the nine-day trip to the Holy Land. CONCERTS IN EAST AURORA, NOVEMBER 8TH AND 15TH The Villa Chorale, directed by Dr. Lukaszewski, will offer a concert at First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora, Main Street (20A) East Aurora, at 3 PM, on Sunday, November 8th. A free will offering will be accepted. The Ecumenical Music Ministry of East Aurora will present the second annual "Pipes of East Aurora," a tour of Pipe organs in East Aurora, beginning at 2:30 PM on Sunday November 15th, at Christ the King Seminary, Knox Road, East Aurora (Alan Lucas, organist). The concert will continue with a performance by Jeff Thompson, organist at Baker Memorial Church, Main Street at Center Rd. Next is First Presbyterian Church, Main Street (20A) where organist Clary Burgwardt will perform. The event will conclude at Nativity Lutheran Church, 970 Main Street, East Aurora, where organist Barbara Hanson will perform. A reception will follow. For more information, call the First Presbyterian Church at 652-0160, or Betty Pitcher at 652-6885, or write Kathleen Keenan-Takagi at keentakagi@aol.com. SPIRITUALITY WORKSHOP Passionate spirituality has been the most frequent minimum factor in hundreds of churches over the past few years. Christian Schwarz is coming to America to reveal the results from over three years of intensive research and mentoring by nine spiritual mentors. Pastors, church, health team members, NCD coaches and denominational leaders will learn together how to strengthen this quality characteristic both personally and in the life of the church. We have made these workshops affordable: only $25.00 per person or $100.00 for a team of five - and accessible in six cities in the USA. Please register today at www.churchsmart.com. PC(USA) MISSION NEWSLETTER Click here to read about PC(USA)’s mission work throughout the world. NEWSLETTER FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND Click here to read the news from the Presbytery of Northern New England. | 
