As we approach the holiday season, we do so knowing that some are still metaphorically standing by the waters of Babylon, grieved by the many losses over the last 18 months. Our prayers continue for those families, businesses, and communities. We pray that they will truly experience the promise that weeping endures for the night, but...
For the first time, the Synod held Come to the Table virtually. The theme was “Standing in the Breach: Rooted in Our Faith.” What a marvelous event it was. Grounded in worship, over the course of two days we had Bible Study led by Gerald Liu, Director of Collegiate Ministries, Initiatives, and Belonging for the Global Board of Higher...
Rev. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley Today we celebrate First Nations people upon whose land we stand. As American history is told with more accuracy, the renaming of Columbus Day signifies many first steps in the right direction. We now know that the story of Christopher Columbus discovering America is biased. As is often the case, the one...
Most of us can finish the statement “When life gives you lemons…make lemonade.” Given that it is Fall, it would make more sense to be speaking about pumpkin and apple drinks. However, I cannot stop thinking that we need to think about lemonade. No one imagined that in September 2021, we would still be stymied by...
The Synod Mission and Ministries Commission met on September 17-18 via Zoom. Although a hybrid meeting had been planned, the Leadership Team determined that it was not safe to gather with the Delta Variant. We will continue to monitor the situation and determine when we can meet once again in person – certainly a desire...
From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 the United States celebrates National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. During this period the country recognizes and honors the rich history and contributions made by Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Our Latinx brothers and sisters are the largest people of color (POC) group in the United States and the third-largest POC group in the Presbyterian...
I remember watching the second plane crash into the Twin Towers and wondering what was happening. I watched with the local funeral director and others in the building of Capital Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that day. We contemplated whether the next target was Three Mile Island, a nuclear power station nearby, in fear and disbelief. From...
On July 20-21, 2021, a five-person delegation from the Synod will visit the Shinnecock Nation, SanDawna Gaulman Ashley, Transitional Synod Leader, Nancy Talbot, Stated Clerk, Lori Hylton, Administrative Coordinator, Lisa Baker, Convener for Connectional Ministries, and Paul Rack, member of Long Island Presbytery. In part, the visit is in response to the 222 General Assembly mandate...
Back in April, the Mission & Ministries Commission of the Synod awarded New England GLOW a $10K networks grant to support the development of their Regional Youth Ministry Network. This week, Lisa Baker, Convener of the Commission’s Connectional Ministries Working Group, sat down for a conversation over Zoom with Jen Slater, the Youth Ministry Coordinator from...
The following question crossed my mind many years ago: What makes some churches grow by leaps and bounds while others decline? The obvious answers to this question lie in a clear sense of mission, spiritual health, resources, context, and leadership. Without including the multi-layered factors of place, timing, readiness, context, and culture this answer is too...