Tuesday, September 7
The Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley
New York
As a part of a recent revisioning process, the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley committed itself to the principle of mission from the bottom up, agreeing to encourage clusters of churches and teams of people to create projects and bring proposals for mission that would meet the needs of churches and communities at a grassroots level. Clusters and teams are encouraged to apply for grants from a pool of mission dollars set aside by the presbytery as a source of funding.
Two of the initial proposals from clusters that were funded by the presbytery and subsequently completed generated a lot of excitement. Under the leadership of Elder Susie Little from First Presbyterian in Delhi, thirty-seven youth and thirteen adults representing seven congregations from rural Delaware County traveled by bus to Columbus, Ohio, to participate in the Dare-to-Share Program with 6,000 other youth from all over the eastern United States. The youth worked together to raise funds and met several times for prayer and preparation. They returned from their late January weekend in Columbus excited and inspired about their faith and eager to reach out to their peers. Susquehanna Valley contributed a $5,000 mission grant to help fund the trip, helping to make possible an experience that might not have happened without the efforts of the cluster.
Another cluster-generated event was the “Healthy Leaders/Healthy Congregations” elder/deacon training held at Conklin Presbyterian Church. The Bainbridge, Conklin, Endicott First, Endicott Union, and Johnson City Presbyterian churches clustered to plan and conduct a day of worship, fellowship, vision, encouragement, and equipping. A total of 150 church leaders from twenty-seven churches participated in the event, selecting from ten different workshops. Susquehanna Valley contributed a $1,000 mission grant to help offset expenses. The event was received with enthusiasm.
The Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley has 51 churches and 5,853 members.
Let us join in prayer for:
Presbytery Staff
The Rev. Dr. Cheryl Ann Elfond, interim executive presbyter for transition and transformation
The Rev. Dr. Janet Adair Hansen, stated clerk
Christine Rogalski, office administrator/bookkeeper
Elder Jack Bell, treasurer
PC(USA) Agencies' Staff
Creston Parker, PAM
The Rev. Michael Parker, GAMC
Prayer
Gracious God, you lavish on your people a profusion of gifts for mission and ministry, evangelism and outreach. Continue to inspire us as we sharpen those gifts, strengthen our churches, and serve our communities for Christ’s sake and for the sake of the gospel. Energize and equip us for those tasks to which we are called as Christ’s followers in a hurting world. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 42, 146 and Ps. 102, 133
Job 29:1–20
Acts 14:1–18; John 10:31–42