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Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Dear Friends,

This year, I've started to enjoy gardening. I've been a late bloomer, I guess. Early in spring I gathered some seeds and some good dirt and planted a bunch of vegetables, including multi-colored peppers-some promised to turn red, others orange or yellow, even purple! What with the drought and extra-hot days, the peppers developed lots of foliage but no fruit. Every day I would walk out to my vegetable patch, gather some zucchini or beets, and ponder my peppers. Not a blossom to be found, until a few weeks ago. One by one, tiny buds formed, then one actual fruit. In jest, I said that the cost of the lone pepper actually growing was around $500 a pound, factoring in soil, water, labor and all. But now there are more, and one is as long as my index finger, and it's changing to a deep purple hue. When finally it's ripened, I'll pick it and slice it ever so thinly, arrange it on my late lettuce, sprinkle on homemade basil vinaigrette and enjoy the fruits of my waiting. That's what Advent is to me, waiting for the best part that you know is coming, waiting patiently, preparing and planning. We know Jesus will come once more; he is ready, and we need to be as well! This month, look for Advent resources to help you and your congregation plan for the season. There are many more available items in the Resource Center. Also, we've highlighted several Stewardship resources, as that is another way the church plans and prepares for Christ. Please read the update on Jubilee 2000 on page three. What is your congregation doing about this important issue? Let me know. Go in peace!

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Please be sure you have a copy of the special summer edition of "Hey! What's New," sent out in August to pastors and church educators. If you need a copy, contact the Resource Center.

Reading the Bible & the Confessions the Presbyterian Way While perusing Presbynet after General Assembly this year, I kept finding allusions to "Jack Rogers' new book." It finally arrived and I discovered why so many people are excited. In two sections, one on the Scriptures and one on the Confessions, Rogers looks at how Presbyterians have historically interpreted our foundational literature, and what our denomination teaches now. He offers 7 guidelines for using biblical interpretation for the Confessions, backing each with Reformed theology. As our church struggles with the path we'll follow into the future, this is recommended reading for all church leaders. Geneva Press, 1999. PR1.1-68

Curing Affluenza "Affluenza" is a term coined by Jesse O'Neill to describe "the American epidemic of shopping, overwork, debt and the pursuit of money." In his inimitable way, Tony Campolo leads the viewer through the mires of materialism in this 6-part video series, tackling subjects including the abundant life, money, time, possessions, finding support, and following through on our commitments to a simpler life. A family I know who watched this video last year promised each other a "recycled" Christmas; they said it was the most meaningful Christmas they had ever experienced-and fun to boot! Many thanks to the Bath church for this donation. EcuFilm. VC1.2-12(a-f)

Reformed Spirituality: An Introduction for Believers In the early days of the Reformation, Protestants held on to the belief that spirituality was a foundational part of their faith walk. Author Howard Rice asserts that somewhere along the way reformed Christians began to associate spiritual practices with Catholicism and many disciplines fell by the wayside. He stresses that there are many souls floundering, looking for direction, hungering for guidance, and this history-cum-instruction manual is an attempt to feed that hunger. As the subtitle suggests, this is a book for anyone seeking to develop a deeper spiritual relationship with God. WJK, 1991. PR4.6A42

Some time back, the Resource Center Committee decided on a new service: churches could offer videos they had purchased and used to other churches on a loan basis, using the Resource Center as an intermediary. That way video series wouldn't sit unused on shelves, waiting for a fresh group to view them. First offerings include:

From the Hornell Church:
Jesus the New Way

From the Horseheads Church:
Community Impact Seminar Series
Breaking the Code
Carpe Diem
5 Needs Your Child Must Have Met at Home Marriage-For Lovers Only
Parenting-An Attitude of the Heart
That the World May Know
Curing Affluenza
Please contact the Resource Center for more information on borrowing any of these videos. And THANKS to the Horseheads and Hornell churches!

BOOKS

New Perspectives on Christian Stewardship: A Church Vitalization Workshop offered by the Center for Parish Development, for pastors and members of stewardship committees. PR1.2-9

Imaging God: Dominion as Stewardship. Douglas John Hall challenges the traditional interpretation of the word "dominion" and suggests that this word be expressed as sacrificial service. PR1.2-12

Children & Money: A Guide for Parents. Carol Wehrheim helps parents talk with children about stewardship, with guidelines in two other closely related areas: simplifying one's life and deciding about allowances. PR1.2-13

Choices: Stewardship Youth Education Packet. This kit presents the question: How do we help young people make responsible choices as they live out their Christian faith? Eight study sessions help youth find answers. PR1.2-16

Speaking of Stewardship: Model Sermons on Money and Possessions. 23 examples in prose and poetry from a variety of theologians (mostly Presbyterian), exploring scripture on stewardship, all edited by William Carter. PR1.2-17

VIDEOS

Caesar and God: The Ethics of Stewardship - This video in six parts focuses on the ethics of money, food, caring for God's creatures, health care, and at work and beyond. VC1.2-3

Financial Campaign Strategies for Your Church. This video and study guide are designed to help stewardship committees or sessions select financial campaigns that are appropriate for their congregation. VC1.2-6

Curing Affluenza. Can we simplify, or can we learn to justify any financial excess? Tony Campolo helps you explore this national "epidemic" in a 6-part video series. See a more complete review above. VC1.2-12

Have you wondered about our Presbytery's partnership with the Presbytery of Caribe, Mexico? To help support the 15 presbyteries in the Synod of the Northeast which have partnerships around the world, the Synod will be sponsoring the conference "Many Voices, One Calling" from July 26-30, 2000, at Wells College in Aurora, on the western shore of Cayuga Lake. Contact the Synod Office, Leslie Latham or Linda Hansee (Painted Post), both members of the Design Team, for more information.

Adam Travis, member of the Dundee Church, where he serves on the Pastoral Nominating Committee, and a senior at Dundee High School, has been selected to serve on the national Design Team for the 2001 Presbyterian Youth Triennium at Purdue University. Way to go!

Last Spring, several of our churches produced children's musicals for their congregations. The Resource Center is the proud owner of many wonderful musicals, some of which are highlighted below:

The United Church in Canandaigua does a thematic Bible School all year long. Church Educator Cathy Bush incorporated the theme "The Ten Commandments" into activities throughout the year, in order to give all children a thorough understanding of what God's laws are about. As a capstone, the children performed For Goodness' Sake. It was a marvelous production, and a great way to end the year, according to Cathy.

Beth Whitbeck, of the Lyons congregation, is a talented poet and musician who often writes her own musicals. In June, she produced The Rainbow, which deals in a humorous and moving way with diversity ("Blue is it, there is no other, / I am the best of all the colors") and reconciliation. Pastor Cynthia Huling Hummel and Beth have graciously shared a copy of this musical with the Resource Center which your church may borrow.

Idelle Dillon of the Penn Yan church has produced The Troubbable of Zerubbabel several times and highly recommends the musical. This year her children will perform Oh, Jonah! for the church.

Other musicals the Resource Center owns include Adam's Apple; Shobi Shares a Miracle; A Technicolor Promise; Wise Guys; Paul & Co.; We Believe in Christmas; Barnabas and Baby Jesus and many others. Additionally, there are many pageants and dramas on the Old and New Testaments.

Chrismons Basic Series.  This resource gives the history, purpose, worship program, interpretations, materials, patterns diagrams and step-by-step directions for making Chrismons-signs and symbols which refer to God and Jesus-for a tree. PR4.3-1C6

Advent Symbols to Make. 29 pages describe and illustrate 24 common Advent symbols; included are appropriate scripture passages and directions for making and discussing symbols in classroom setting or for an all-church intergenerational event.  PR4.3-1C24

Alternative Gift Giving Guide. Meaningful options for all occasions when you want to provide a thoughtful "gift" for the recipient, and support the people or organization providing the gift or service. PR4.3-1A10

Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?  This booklet is designed to help people resist some of society's pressures during Christmas. Includes Bible studies on Advent texts, outlines for weekly Advent services at home, and guidelines for Christmas giving.  The 1999 edition has arrived! PR4.3-1A11

'Twas the Fight Before Christmas. A Christmas video from the "McGee and Me" video series. Nicholas and his animated friend McGee learn about God's love for people who are hard to love. 30 minutes. VC4.3-1C2

A Fuzzy Tale -This animated favorite goes right to the heart of the Christmas spirit by proclaiming that "things" (especially plastic fuzzies) cannot be a substitute for caring relationships. 12 minutes. VC4.3-1I

Three Presbytery committees-COWAC, Hunger and Peacemaking, have been hard at work promoting the efforts to relieve crushing debt in the poorest nations of the world. Pastors and Elder commissioners have received informational pieces in their Presbytery packets, and listened to the stirring words of Gary Campbell, lately of the PC(USA) and now a worker for Bread for the World, who spoke to us at last Spring at several events.

This month, the committees are distributing Jubilee 2000 lapel pins, a booklet of activities for children called "2000 Candles," and a petition that all of us encourage you to sign, urging Congress to sign legislation to relieve debt in the 2/3 world. To find the best course, we must educate ourselves; only then can we help relieve the suffering of so many around the world!

Don't miss out on what's happening in the Presbytery! Please contact the Presbytery Office for more information on all events.

Hey! What's New at the Resource Center?? is published during Presbytery months: January, March, May, September and November, and is distributed to Pastors and Elder Commissioners in the Presbytery packet, and mailed to all Church Education contact persons, as supplied by the 61 churches of the Presbytery of Geneva. We urge you to photocopy and distribute articles and information to members of your congregations as needed.

Any member of the Presbytery is free to copy or use any information in this newsletter in church publications without prior permission. We do ask that you let us know what you've used and how. If you know of someone who should be receiving this publication, or if you have an idea for an article, please contact Leslie Latham at the Presbytery Resource Center, (315) 536-7753, or e-mail resctr@eznet.net. This newsletter will only get better with your help!

89 Main St., PO Box 278, Dresden, NY 14441
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