Job Opening: Part-time Pastor

Wrights Corners Presbyterian Church in  Lockport is looking for a part time Pastor.  More details can be found by clicking here for the job description, or by contacting Lynette Soulvie, Clerk of Session.  She can be contacted by email: wcpc6515@verizon.net or phone 716-751-9383.

"Because of seminary..."

Kimberly Rogers, nee Smith, grew up in the FPCEast Aurora from the age of 5 months.  She is graduating from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary this May.  When she was in 6th or 7th grade Kim attended the organizing of the Fellowship of the Carpenter and participated until she left for college in 1993.  She went to camp at Duffield  for Music Camp and Senior High Camp and has been a CIT and a counselor.  For 3 or 4 years she has brought her daughter up from Texas so they could both go to Duffield.  She attended Univ. of Texas in San Antonio and received a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Counseling.  After working for Child Protection Services and Community in Schools, a counseling program for at risk children in depressed school districts, she decided to become a minister.   Her husband Don and daughter Samantha agreed to fully support her choice of vocation and they moved from Bandera, TX, near San Antonio to Austin. 

Sometimes, our church colleagues wonder if a seminary education is still important and relevant in an era of increasing lay leadership in churches, declining memberships, and questions as to whether Greek and Hebrew are really necessary when, perhaps, we should be teaching Spanish.

"I was really scared about the biblical languages.  I remember the first time I translated an entire Bible passage from Hebrew into English.  I had chills all over because it was just such a phenomenal feeling to be able to see this passage, this story of creation, in the words it was written in.  It opened up the meaning.  I look forward to taking my enthusiasm for scripture into Bible studies, to help people really wrestle with the meaning of scripture.  Some texts are really hard and don't make sense.  Others make sense, but are hard for us because we're not able to live into them and fulfill what we're called to do.  You can't ever stop learning from scripture.  I can look at a text at different points in my life and have the Spirit speak to me in a completely different way.  The bible is not just a book; it's a living, breathing document that's still being written.  That's the most exciting part: God continues to speak to us."

Kimberly says: "Austin Seminary has shown me what it means to be in a community of people who care for each other, and that's what I will take into the church with me.  I think, as Christians, that's the most important thing that we do.  In the church, we experience God in community." She says:  "One thing I'm really excited about is meeting people where they are and helping them connect with others who are in that same place.  Or even connecting people with others who have a broader understanding of their faith and spirituality who can mentor people who are new to the church or are young in their faith... I think churches do a really great job of welcoming people but then sometimes people get lost after that.  They're not really sure where they fit in.  Whatever church I am in, I want everyone who walks in the door to feel they have a place."

Honoree information due now for annual Network of Religious Communities Appreciation Dinner

The 33rd Annual Network of Religious Communities Appreciation Dinner less than three weeks away and your honoree information is due now if you wish to have your honoree's name included in the Souvenir Journal.

If you have the form please fill it in and send it in today.  If you need a nomination form you can download it here.

If you need a form mailed to you call the NRC today and we will mail you one. 882-4793 ext 201.

Need a ticket order form?  Download it here.

Wish to place an ad in the souvenir journal?  Download it here.

SUPERSTORM SANDY LONG-TERM RECOVERY MISSION TRIP

May 12-18, 2013

Here I am, Lord.  Send me!

An opportunity to be involved in hands-on mission!

We have a reservation for 12 volunteers at a PDA host site -

Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church, NJ.

Please contact Stephanie Hill, OMT Chair,

at (716) 933-6150 or gmamahill@gmail.com.

Sometimes the only way you hear if God's knocking

is if you are standing right by the door -ready to go!

Can the Church be effective in facilitating social change . . .

seeking to change not just laws, but the cultural norms and

ways of thinking about gun violence?

"GUN VIOLENCE, GOSPEL VALUES:  Mobilizing in Response to God's Call," is the social witness policy statement adopted by the 219th General Assembly (2010). The 33-page magazine includes a four-week format for study and online resources.

"TRIGGER:  The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence"

takes an in-depth look at how one shooting impacts individuals, families and communities, while also giving voice to the questions and insights that arise from these conversations.

Copies are available through the Outreach Ministry Team.

Please contact Stephanie Hill at (716) 933-6150 or gmamahill@gmail.com. 

Fredonia Presbyterian Church

Sunday mornings only

Contact 679-1501

Attention Teachers and
Mental Health Workers!

A Mission opportunity to Haiti with Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti (FLM/Haiti). 

Experienced teachers are needed to bring a week long seminar to preschool/elementary teachers of Haiti, June 28 - July 6.

Teachers in Haiti often have little opportunity for professional development.  Few teachers have more than a secondary education and some no more than sixth grade before they are put in front of a class.  Teachers are hungry to learn the basics of lesson planning, classroom management, educational psychology, brain development, educational rubrics and much more. Teachers have also specifically asked for basic mental health training. 

FLM/Haiti is an ecumenical Christian ministry based in Pittsburgh, PA.  It has a beautiful guest house located in the mountains in the village of Thomassin which is about a one hour drive southeast of Port au Prince.   Team members will find the Haiti/American cuisine delightful and will rest well in the comfort of the dormitory type setting.  Thanks to innovative solar power, there are even hot showers!  Check out the FLM website at flmhaiti.org

Mission volunteers working with Haitian teachers in June 2012.

For more information please contact:

Sue Robinson, FLM/Haiti Vice President at  smr76@verizon.net She is a member of Hamburg Presbyterian Church. Sue has been going to Haiti for 13 years. 

Molly T. Golando FLM/Haiti  Board member and Education Team Leader at mollygolando@yahoo.com.  

Footnote: Members of Hamburg Presbyterian have been going to Haiti with FLM/Haiti since 2003. This past January, Rev. Buddy Hubbard, pastor at First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora and his son Dan, and wife Rev. Jan Hubbard (interim pastor at Hamburg Presbyterian church) participated in an FLM mission trip. FLM/Haiti is seeking to involve more churches in the Presbytery in their outreach to Haiti. Medical teams and construction teams will also be going at different times during the year. 

Randolph Church Hosts Webinar on Evolution and Faith

The United Presbyterian Church of Randolph, NY is hosting Not Afraid of Darwin or Christ, a webinar to continue the discussion of the relationship between evolution and theology on Wednesday evening, April 17.  Refreshments and registration begins at 6:30 p.m. The webinar is from 7-8:30 p.m.

The presenters of this online conference  coming  from the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton are  Dr. Conor Cunningham andDr. Agustín Fuentes both currently fellows at the Center.  Cunningham is a specialist in Darwinism, evolution, metaphysics, and systematic theology. He is assistant director of the Centre of Theology and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham, England, author of Darwin's Pious Idea, and wrote and presented the acclaimed BBC documentary Did Darwin Kill God?

Fuentes  is an American primatologist and biological anthropologist whose work focuses largely on human and non-human primate interaction, pathogen transfer, communication, cooperation, and human social evolution. He is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, author of Evolution and Human Behavior, and Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You: Busting Myths about Human Nature.

Subjects to be discussed in the workshop include:   What is Theology & What is Evolution-with an eye towards clarifying misconceptions and enhancing thoughtful reflection.     Why are some Christians afraid of Darwin and why are some scientists afraid of Christ?  How can we get it right? A discussion on human nature and the interface between faith, knowledge, and the quest for understanding.  

This is the fifth in a series of workshops on science and faith at the United Presbyterian Church.  They have been supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Please call the church at 716-358-4255 to register for the event or for more information.  

Sexual Misconduct

Prevention Workshop

Saturday, April 20, 2013

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church

2085 Union Road,
West Seneca, NY 14224

The Discipleship & Nurture Team is offering a workshop for elders, personnel committee members and other interested church leaders on Sexual Misconduct Prevention Policies. 

This workshop will be led by Rev. Laura Norris Buisch.  Church leaders who attend this workshop will receive templates and other resources to write their church's own Sexual Misconduct Prevention Policy. 

Click here for a registration form. 

New Translation of the Heidelberg Catechism:

At the May meeting our Presbytery will vote on whether to adopt the new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism. 

Pastors around the our presbytery will hold four classes to look at both the old and new translations of this catechism.   Please join the class that fits into your schedule.

- Rev. Howard Boswell will offer a study at Kenmore Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 27th from 10AM to noon at Kenmore Presbyterian Church.  People should RSVP to Rev. Boswell at 875-7600

- Rev. Justin Marple will lead a study at 7PM, April 30th at Niagara Presbyterian. Please RSVP to Rev. Marple at 297-3585.

- Rev. Cynthia Wickwire Lundquist will lead a study at Fredonia Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 4th from 10AM to noon. Please RSVP to Rev. Lindquist at 679-1501 if you are planning to attend her class. 

Download the Book of Confessions by clicking here.