by Judy Hartley | November 23, 2019 | | Blog
Life for this Scottish Presbyterian began on the prairies of the Midwest on a farm just north of Peoria, Illinois. Yes, I had a herd of sheep and a horse. After graduation from Monmouth College, a Presbyterian school, teaching in elementary schools in Chicago suburbs... Read more
by Rev. Kate Kotfila | November 22, 2019 | | Blog
On November 19th, a new moderator (our friend Michael Burkley) began his term as Moderator of Albany Presbytery, and I became a Past Moderator of Albany Presbytery. While I am surprised by how much I have enjoyed serving this year, I am ready to be done. I’ve been a... Read more
by Rev. Michael Burkley | November 22, 2019 | | Blog, News
At the November 19 Presbytery Meeting at Schoharie United Presbyterian Church, Kate Kotfila and I were given a matching task—not the same task but matching in the way that two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle fit together as a part of a greater whole. Our two pieces were... Read more
by Rev. Beth Illingworth | October 14, 2019 | | Blog
One of my favorite ways of exploring the essential nature of things is to study the origins of significant words. For instance, when I accepted the position of Temporary Chaplain for the Presbytery, I researched the etymology of the word “chaplain”. I was enlightened... Read more
by Rev. Alexandra Lusak, HR | October 14, 2019 | | Blog
Throughout July, August, and much of September 2019, I was preparing for sale the home in Troy where I have lived for 19 years. Needing to cull much of what I accumulated during 28 years of ordained ministry and 75 years of life, I wanted to undertake the project in a... Read more
by Rev. Kate Kotfila | October 13, 2019 | | Blog
Caught in the spiral of a gymnast’s ribbon, generosity and gratitude dance ever closer to the Image of God. Generosity begets generosity and it elicits gratitude. September’s meeting invited us into gratitude’s and generosity’s dance. Open Spaces introduced the Small... Read more
by Rev. Paul Randall, HR | September 4, 2019 | | Blog, Peacemaking Task Force
“Can these bones live?” (Ezek. 37:3) may be THE most urgent question for the future of planet earth in the coming decade. The question reflects the accelerated extinction of plant and animal species, including humans, from the earth – especially extinction caused by... Read more
by Rev. Larry Deyss, HR | September 1, 2019 | creation care | Blog, Peacemaking Task Force
In January of this year, the Peacemaking Task Force presented a document to the Presbytery, “A Way Forward for Creation Care”, which was well received. The document opened with twelve brief statements of belief followed with a lifting up of the four key areas of the... Read more
