Today I am in the middle of a ten-day trip to the Synod of the Northeast, my longest Vice-Moderator trip to date. I began last Wednesday as I flew from Raleigh to Islip Regional Airport to visit with the Presbytery of Long Island. There I spoke to the Shepherding Council (similar to a Presbytery Council) about my view of the Presbyterian Church and where we are going. The Presbytery also has a mission partnership with Cuba and I met a female pastor who just arrived from Cuba to spend a month in the US. Long Island Presbytery is going thru a process of realigning their work and how they carry out mission and Ellen Marquardt is doing a great job as Interim Presbytery Executive! I also saw Creighton Berry, a commissioner who was on the Assembly's Church Orders and Ministry Committee with me. He told a powerful and moving story about overcoming discrimination during our committee time. It was great to see him again!
The next day I met with the Presbytery of New York City. Their offices are located inside The Interchurch Center at 475 Riverside Drive. Back before reunion it was the offices of the United Presbyterian Church in United States of America (UPCUSA) but now other denominations as well as local universities have offices there. I spoke to about 18 people about the state of church from my travels. Then I was taken over to Hudson River Presbytery to speak with a small group of Presbyterians at The Presbyterian Church of White Plains where Rev. Urla Eversley is the Interim Pastor and Rev. Susan Andrews is the General Presbyter and Moderator of the 215th General Assembly. All of us had a good time discussing the church and its challenges in the future.
On Saturday, I flew to Ithaca, NY to visit within the bounds of Geneva Presbytery. After being diverted to Syracuse due to weather issues, I was met at the Ithaca airport by Nancy and James Yao, the pastors of two yoked churches in Hector and Lodi, NY. I was there to participate and preach the Hector Church's 200th Bicentennial Celebration.
(Left - Hector Presbyterian Church and Right - Lodi Presbyterian Church)
(Left - Woman dressed in 1800's clothing; Right - Hector Church Choir members singing during afternoon celebration).
I had a great time during the Saturday afternoon celebration and preached to a packed house on Sunday morning. I also worshiped at the Lodi Church, being in the midst of faithful members of God's house. After spending time in Watkins Glen (where I saw the NASCAR race track!), I traveled to the new Geneva Presbytery offices in Penn Yan, NY where I was hosted with a reception. Great times were had and met lots of wonderful people and facebook/twitter friends ;-)
Today I am here in Queens, NY with my friend Andy James, the pastor of First Presbyterian of Whitestone where I will stay for a few days. I am being hosted for a discussion with members of his congregation tonight and have other activities this week until I return home on Saturday, October 17. I'll let you know more in a few days!
If you make it to the Genessee Valley, tell those good friends I said hello! Fabulous hospitality in that presbytery.
Posted by: Jeannie Dixon | October 13, 2009 at 07:22 AM