There are at least four languages being spoken on this bus.
— (@pluckypresby) July 20, 2013
The bus to which the tweet refers is the bus with the group of young people from the Presbytery of New York City who attended the 2013 Presbyterian Youth Triennium.
On the streets, in the subway, and even when we travel, languages mark New York.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under New York
A wonderful, joy-filled afternoon!
The Presbytery of New York City commissioned Peng Leong for ministry at First Chinese Presbyterian Church in New York. Peng will work with children. Her ministry will focus on growing both the Mandarin and Cantonese Sunday School classes. Peng will also work with recreation and tutoring programs for you. And she will assist in the outreach program to the Chinatown community.
The requirements to become a Commissioned Ruling Elder include serving in a ministerial placement. Peng chose to serve with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. We had a blessed year together.
Peng completed all the requirements in decency and orderliness. In May, the presbytery voted to commission her. And today, in an act involving Peng, First Chinese Presbyterian Church, and the Presbytery of New York City, the commissioning took place.
Adolfo Griffith and Sera Chung sang. Anne Conroy and Joseph Collazo provided the charges. Dr. David Ofori moderated. Nathan Lim, Betty Jones, James Tse, and Polly Lewis helped lead the service. Ryan Smith and Ricky Velez-Negron from our office attended along with many of Peng’s family members and members of the congregation and presbytery. It was a great day!
Me? Peng honored me with an invitation to preach.
Thanks to Ryan for the photo.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Friends, New York, Photo, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
This post contains links to blogs written by Presbyterians affected by Hurricane Sandy and to materials provided by mid-councils and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance with information about responding to the storm.
Some disclaimers and parameters:
I do not know all the blogs that should be included. Suggest other blogs either in the comments section or via email. This post remains a work in progress.
Bob Brashear – West-Park Press
Christine Davis – Journeying Alongside
Jeff Geary – Pastor Jeff’s Blog
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette – When Waters Roar and Foam (hymn)
John Edward Harris – Summit to Shore
Andy James – bluedrift
Presbyteries in New Jersey on Facebook
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance – Give to support immediate assistance and long-term recovery in the United States and in the Caribbean nations affected by this storm
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance – Share your story
Presbytery of New York City on Facebook
Finally – Mark Koenig – Along the Graybeard Trail
As I mentioned earlier – help me build the list.
See you along the trail.
Filed under Current Events, New York, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Yes.
The Presbytery of New York City has issues.
Presbytery meetings can prove frustrating.
The presbytery experiences
dysfunction
disconnection
disruption
challenges
brokenness.
But …
today as the presbytery gathered one more time,
I had the privilege
to help celebrate communion.
I led the great prayer of thanksgiving
and I helped serve.
I stood there holding the platen
that held the bread
as the members of the presbytery
came forward
to receive the Body of Christ:
people of many races,
people of different ages;
people who walked spryly,
people who used canes;
people I knew well,
people whose names I read from their name tags;
each one my sister, my brother,
all sisters and brothers to each other.
Again and again
my voice cracked,
my tears welled in my eyes
as the wonder
the grace
the love
of it all
near overwhelmed me.
See you along the Trail.
I was in Louisville on September 11, 2001. I had just returned from the World Conference against Racism. A friend flew into town from the same conference – scheduled to arrive on the evening of September 10. Because of flight issues, my friend ended up taking a taxi from Cincinnati that arrived at the Louisville airport early on the morning of September 11. A phone call from another friend later that morning brought me the first word of the day’s event. It was a dazed day, even at that distance. In many ways, I continue to sort through the day and its meaning.
Now as the 10th Anniversary approaches, I find myself living in New York. The proximity fills the day with new meanings that lead me to ponder more deeply and work through in new ways.
I have not been to the World Trade Center site yet. Ever. I plan to take part in the events commemorating September 11 including the worship service of the Presbytery of New York City. I think I will go to the site before September 11.
I have helped the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gather resources for the anniversary. I have promoted the work of Prepare New York.
Today, in a worship service at the Church Center for the United Nations led by the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, we adapted a liturgy from the National Council of Churches created by written by the Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner and the Rev. Jon Brown. In the places where the services suggested lighting candles, we invited people to write prayers of remembrance, comfort and hope on simple red ribbons. Ryan Smith read scripture; Peng Leong led the time of prayer; Kevin O’Hara from the Lutheran Office for World Community led the benediction. Thanks to all my friends who helped me pick a song!
These ribbons will become part of the Ribbons of Hope display in Battery Park on the weekend of Septmbe 11, 2011.
To paraphrase the blessing from the liturgy:
May memory now reside in us at peace. May comfort companion us in all our days. May hope spring forth in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we serve God in all that you do and say, witnessing to the reign and realm of God to come. Amen.
See you along the Trail.
The highlight of the day was a meeting with the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of New York City – a step in transferring membership. It was actually quite enjoyable. Lots of questions – but fun questions to answer. I believe that seeds were planted for future conversations as well. I think that gathering small groups of folk to talk about ways to partner in ministry may be worth pursuing.
In terms of goals – I ate well again; got a normal blood sugar reading; and walked 10,236 steps. I have not gone to the gym or engaged in concerted walking as I have a couple of sore spots on my feet. I am taking care of them and am seeing some progress so hopefully the exercise/walking will commence soon.
I got home from the COM meeting soon enough to watch Ohio State play in the Sugar Bowl. It would really be good for them to win – or at least I know many folk who would like that – I assume there are many folk who would like Arkansas to win, I just don’t know as many in that position. Things started really well, but the tension is rising. Ohio State just went on fourth down and came up short giving Arkansas good field position. This could ugly for Buckeye fans.
Tomorrow there is a meeting with the Eckerd College group; then I will do some work on the Interfaith Harmony Week; and then head to Louisville where I will stay in the Shire West for one night with a CPJ coordinators’ meeting on Thursday.
Along the Graybeard Trail 