The Synod gathers every year to encourage the connection, fellowship, worship, and discernment of the leaders that make up our Synod. In the even years, we gather in Synod Assembly — to affirm our connectional identity, to set goals, and to handle necessary governance. In the odd years, we gather at Come to the Table — to learn together about and be encouraged by the missional and ministry innovation being led by Presbyterians and other partners of our regional community.

As we gather together to pray, to learn, to sing, to worship, and to enjoy the gifts of our shared community of the Northeast, our prayer is that we will feel a deeper connection to our call to experience unity in diversity. We are a community of 160,000+ Presbyterians that worship in 1,100+ congregations and gospel communities, organized in 19 presbyteries, in New England, New Jersey, and New York. Yet, we are one in Christ who leads us.

This year, we as consider the journey we are on, we take a moment to lament the losses we have endured, a moment to be thankful for the strength and resilience of our community, and a moment to cast away our cares and look forward to the next season. “Standing in the Breach: Rooted in Our Faith” is the theme that will frame our time together—considering the ways in which we have supported and continue to support one another through these seasons of brokenness, seasons of grief, seasons of joy seasons hope, and seasons of fruitfulness.

Our prayer and hope are that while we listen to what God is doing in our lives, in our communities, and in the world around us, we may be drawn together in the Spirit, inspired by one another’s passions, and moved to deepen our shared witness to the God who is, and was and shall be.