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Our congregation by Skaneateles Lake
Our congregation by Skaneateles Lake

Worship is at 9:30 AM every Sunday at 97 East Genesee! As you approach the Church (sun, rain or snow - worship, weddings or memorials) the Pastor greets and welcomes the Village. He waves and blesses those going passed, as well as welcoming, greeting and receiving those coming to the Church. In the words of our Pastor: "People have made an effort to come to the Church, it seems the least we can do, to go out and welcome one another inside." The Church has ample off-street parking, ramped access to the air-conditioned Sanctuary, an elevator to all classroom, meeting and fellowship spaces.

Entering the Sanctuary, you see an historic sacred space, beautiful in stained glass and wood, open, bright, with the centrality of pulpit, table and font. This is a dramatic inspiring space with a new 40 rank Cassavant pipe organ whose pipes seem to reach all the way to heaven, bell choirs reverberating in the trinitarian ceiling arches, chancel and children's choirs that inspire and delight. Rebuilding this sacred space over the last 15 years, we were intentional to try to preserve the aura of what was beautiful, while correcting the problems. This Sanctuary has no specific cross or icon, instead there are crosses imbedded in the structure of ceiling and doors and wainscoting and windows, in order that when we go out into life we will not identify the Cross as only being available here at that time, but we will seek the Cross throughout the structures of our world.

This is a very real, open, community of faith, called to BE The Church in this place at this time, where the worshipping body listen, enjoy laughter, share tears, and are surrounded by the Spirit of God. Children are an an important part of our weekly worship, and actively contribute to our spiritual growth as they purse their own.

Worship begins with the Prelude, as the Acolyte (a child representing The Light of God entering the world) and the Beadle (the Bearer of the Word of God) enter the worship space, followed by the Pastor and lay leader. When the congregation has reached a critical mass, the music concludes, and the preacher takes a Pitcher of Water from the Table to the Font. The written words in the Bulletin read: "We come to this moment in our lives over-filled, unable to take in one more thing. We pour out the waters, emptying ourselves, letting go all we have stored up. We are reminded of the waters of Creation and brooding Spirit of God; reminded of the waters of our Baptism. Empty, we are then able to receive, to listen and wait for God to use us as empty vessels to be filled with life."

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This Week's Sermon

Weekly Sermon Blog

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MISSION STUDY 2010

Our Session recognized that the historic identity of this Church as a Traditional Village Church was juxtaposed against another reality, that we are a 610 member Church, active and internationally known in Mission, a patron of the Arts and of Music, and a dynamic space of faith and nurture. Our Session established 2010 as a year of learning the background and realities of the Church and Community, so as to be intentional in nurturing the growth of fruit that has never before blossomed. Using The Apostle Paul's metaphor of the Church being The Body of Christ, we recognized that bodies have births, and aging, and differing phases with differing abilities and wisdoms, and a death. But that as Christians we also believe in resurrection to new life together. In the 1990s, the Church experienced the death of an era begun in the 1920s, which thrived in the 1950s-1970s. Through an Intentional Interim, followed by an intentional period of Transformation, this Church has been reborn. The process was not easy, and was costly, as we not only did Capital and Building Programs but were challenged to rebuild our Faith Commitments and Relationships. We used the Church Building anew as a resource for Music and the Arts and Education. We reached out into the community and world in mission, witnessing real miracles. We opened our hearts to make the resources of the Church available to others whenever they need the Church. There are new problems and the growing pains of a body that is now about 12 years old, but there is new faith and hope and conviction, all related to our trust of God and our trusting one another. Where this Mission Study 2010 will lead, no one knows, but the Church we be better aware of what we have done, what has gone undone, what might be possible, and how to have fun with one another sharing the blessings of Jesus Christ.

Children @ 1st Pres

Our active youth program involves students of all ages, pre-school through Senior High. Children participate in worship each Sunday - bringing the Bible forward, lighting the candles, learning the order of worship, leading as choirs, singing the service music, giving their offerings to God, sharing in the Lord's Prayer. (Nursery Care in our beautiful new facility is always available during worship for our littlest ones, birth through age 3.) After the Children's Sermon, young people may depart for Church School, where we offer interactive story-based instruction for ages 4-6, and follow the Presbyterian curriculum, We Believe, for students in grades 2-12; while others choose to remain in worship for the sermon. A conscious effort is made to include the children regularly in celebration of the Sacraments.

Additional opportunities include our Middle School Youth Group, Confirmation Classes, Adult Education Forums, Bible Study, Family Fellowship Programs and Youth Choir.

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Announcements - Week of 7/25

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL is in session! Following the Baptisms, the children are invited to an ungraded classroom where we will learn one of the Parables of Jesus.

SINCERE THANKS to everyone who worked on Vacation Bible School. Over 140 children had a wonderful week aboard ship, coming to know the Lord from leaders in each of the churches, and developing lifelong friendships.

RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM this morning is Kyle Matthew Shih, infant son of Grant and Emily Shih; and William Gelston, infant son of Christopher and Rebecca Gelston.

OUR THANKS TO ALL who shared in the picnic last week, despite heat, thunder, lightning, hail and miscommunication, we were safe and dry and had good fellowship in Dobson Hall.

FOOD PANTRY REQUESTS The Skaneateles Ecumenical Food Pantry requests canned soups, juices, fruits & veggies. Thank You!

PWC- ON POINT FOR COLLEGE: We will collect and donate New Bed Pillows and New Bath Towels for students leaving for college in August. Please see the display in the Sims Room.

CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES to Marianne Kixmiller and Eddy Brennan, married in the Sanctuary 07/17/2010.

RECEIVED INTO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH and declaring his faith in Christ anew 07/11 is Frank Johnson.

BAPTIZED on 7/11: cousins Ella Kimball Kresge daughter of Allie and Kurt Kresge, and Jack Holden Nicolet son of Stephanie and Mark Nicolet.

ARE YOU A KNITTER WITH SOME TIME TO SPARE? Check the basket by the elevator, pick up some yarn and knit a cap for the Rescue Mission. Donations of yarn are also greatly appreciated.

CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES to Bethany Abbott and Parker Kelsey who were married 07/10/10.

CLASS of 2010 H.S. GRADUATES who are part of this congregation include: Noah Allyn, Sean Cooney, Kelly Dove, Hilary Fenner, Tessa Green, Kate Tiedemann and Aaron Weiss. Congratulations to the graduates and their families!


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The Labyrinth

The labyrinth in Dobson Hall
The labyrinth in Dobson Hall

There are limitless ways of humanity approaching God... Stimulated by Scripture and provoked in preaching; moved by rhythm and text when singing; staring into the colors and patterns of Stained Glass; quietly reflecting or meditating in prayer, grappling with understanding in education, witnessing service and commitment in mission, etc. Yet another ancient Christian method has been to go on a spiritual pilgrimage or journey; the local version of which for those who could not travel, was to walk a Labyrinth. In 2010 the Session recognized that the 1960s asbestos tile floor in the Fellowship Hall needed to be replaced, so sealed the tile beneath a new Labyrinth of the pastor's own design. When the space is occupied for a community dinner, adult forum, Vacation Bible School, or Tai Chi class, it is just a floor; but when the room is not otherwise in use, the Fellowship Hall becomes a Spiritual Labyrinth, open and available for all to use free of charge. There are problems and circumstances we can resolve through learning, and others through listening, but often we need to walk patterns back and forth, up and down through life, and round and round to unravel the core (which in this Labyrinth is the Cross). The intentional difference of a Labyrinth from an ordinary Maze, is that a Maze has deadends, cuttoffs, traps and short-cuts; while a Labyrinth is a journey without these obstacles, focused on working through the problem in faith. Constructing this Labyrinth empowered the Session to realize, our Call to Worship is like a meditation with deep cleansing breath; the singing of Psalms is an ancient Christian and Jewish form of Confessional prayer; the Assurance of Pardon is a Centering Prayer. While many of our Reformed Christian Worship elements follow a formula, they are also reminiscent of ancient faith practices common to the Human - Divine relationship.

About the Pastor

Rev. Lindsey greeting visitors on a cold snowy morning
Rev. Lindsey greeting visitors on a cold snowy morning
The Rev. Dr. Craig Lindsey came as Senior Pastor to Skaneateles, on Christmas Eve 1996, nurturing faith, hope & love. Trust has been forged as the church adopted "Big, Hairy, Holy, Audacious Goals" then surpassed these, growing new relationships and mission commitments. We have witnessed miracles through this church's involvement and prayer, locally and around the world. Worship with Rev. Lindsey is a seamless tapestry of poetry and music, of Scripture and the heart of Current Issues, woven together with faith and grace, and commitment lived out no matter what.

Dr. Lindsey has challenged the church to be open to meeting people's needs, giving the resources of faith to all who desire to receive and sharing the building, providing weddings, baptisms, and funerals; consequently we joyfully celebrate a lot of weddings and a lot of baptisms! He has challenged us to expand what we believe ecumenically, making accommodations for others to be hosted. During the sermon, we never know whether Craig will leave the pulpit to cradle and comfort a squirming child while continuing to preach; or begin barking like a dog -- for us to laugh at ourselves -- for barking at our neighbors; or repair a bicycle, then ride it off the Chancel, down the aisle, out the doors to find new believers out in the community. But we Do Know, he will model meeting us where we are on the street, being one with us and praying for us, as we laugh and cry and continue to grow in faith commitments, and then when each responsibility is done, he will tell us: “Well Done!”

Being Presbyterian

We are a Presbyterian Church, members of The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse, within the Presbyterian Church USA. While there are specific differences between Christian denominations (we are Trinitarian and Reformed, Protestant Christians) what is unique to the Presbyterian Church USA is our connectionalism. The local Church elect, ordain and install our Elders (decision-makers), our Deacons (Lay ministers), and our Pastors, from Presbyterian Congregations, for life. All of our PCUSA congregations accept one another's Church's baptism, and communion and ordination. Confident that together we can accomplish what individually could not be done. To learn more about the Presbyterian Church USA, visit the Website [1]. Every two years, there is a National gathering of the Presbyterian Church USA, to revisit changing social issues, governmental issues, and to connect with church leaders from around the world. To learn more about what happened at the 2010 General Assembly meeting visit [2].
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