Programs & Events

News from the Kitchen

by Sherry Conklin, Kitchen Coordinator

I am pleased to announce that we have six new volunteers. Jeff and Joe are experienced cooks and will be a big help with the meals. Adrian and Wendy are new for serving. Peter is helping in the pantry and is available to help people with spoken English, filling out forms, and finding our guests specialized help. Bret has joined us to help with the dishwashing.

Last month we served crème brûlée for dessert. Chef Jamie from VINES borrowed a kitchen flamer from Lost Dog’s chef and flamed all the desserts for us. This dessert was a big hit.

On March 19, the culinary students from SUNY Broome planned, cooked, and served the meal. They made lasagna, Caesar salad, carrots, garlic bread, and peach cobbler. It was exciting to see them in action. Our guests appreciated it.

The Foodbank of the Southern Tier has asked the pantries to increase the amount of food being given out in the pantries, so we have increased from 3 days’ meals to supplying enough food for 5 days at each visit.

Our pantry and two others are in a pilot program with the Foodbank of the Southern Tier to give out emergency food bags to the homeless and/or those in temporary housing. These bags consist of single serve snacks, soups, microwavable meals, paper cups, plastic flatware, cereal, and power bars. So far since January, we have given out 25 bags a month.

The UP-Center shelter is sharing the kitchen with us on nights they are open, and this is working out well.

I am looking forward to our annual-egg dyeing event on Palm Sunday. Hope to see everyone there.

My want list at this time is for can openers from the dollar stores and for reusable grocery bags. And we can always use suitcases or duffle bags with wheels to give to our walking guests, if anyone has some old ones lying around.

Finding Common Ground: an interfaith conversation

with Binghamton University Interfaith Council
Monday, April 15, 7:30pm in University Union West room 324

We’re invited to join Pastor Becky and the Binghamton University Interfaith Council for their monthly Common Ground conversations. Although specific doctrines may differ, many common themes run through our religious and spiritual beliefs. Gather with BUIC and campus community members as we explore common ground together — no expertise needed.

The theme for this month’s conversation is food. Hear about special foods that play a role in different faith traditions or spiritualities and what the stories are that go with them. We will bring some foods from different faiths for everyone to try, and you are invited to bring some to share as well! Come and join in the conversation and learn more.

If you anticipate a need for disability-related accommodations or auxiliary aids to attend or participate, please contact buic@binghamton.edu or call 607-777-3010. We ask that you provide us with at least 3–5 days of advance notice regarding your equal access needs.

Workshop on the Gospel of Mark: a consideration of Mark’s major themes

Saturday, April 20, 9:30am–12pm on Zoom

Here’s a free workshop for lay pastors and preachers and anyone else with an interest in Mark’s gospel, led by Rev. Allen L. Presby.

The Gospel of Mark is our primary gospel focus for the current lectionary B cycle. The workshop will provide an introduction to Mark, considered by most scholars to be the earliest of the four gospels. In particular, we will concentrate on the half-dozen themes that repeatedly emerge in any careful reading of Mark’s gospel.

Please register at susvalpresby.org/register
To attend via Zoom: bit.ly/3Hy1flg or phone (+1) 646-558-8656
Meeting ID: 835 2997 0546 Passcode: PSV
Questions? Email cclefchair@susvalpresby.org or call 607-323-4477

Pastor Allen Presby retired in 2011 after six years serving the First Presbyterian Church in Delhi and this year celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. Since “retiring,” he has served three part-time contracts with churches in our presbytery and is currently serving as pastor of the Nineveh Presbyterian Church. Allen recently concluded the three-year cycle of Vice-Moderator, Moderator, and Chair of Cabinet for our presbytery. Home for Allen and wife Carol is up in the hills above Unadilla.

Webinars from PRC

Practical Resources for Churches (prcli.org) is a resource that the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley’s Commission on Ministry subscribes to so all congregations in our presbytery can access their programs. You’re encouraged to check out all they have to offer and take advantage of the abundance of programs and information. Many of their programs and webinars are available at no charge to you through our paid subscription.

They also have links to resources on a wide variety of topics including caring ministries, spiritual practices, small church life, social justice, and environmental stewardship.

Here are a few webinars from PRC that are coming up soon:

Managing Investments and Endowments for Churches — Thursday, April 18, 2–3pm

Pastors and other people without a financial management background or education still have fiduciary duties. In addition, endowment and investment management can be a source of conflict within congregations. This webinar will help people navigate in what may be a foreign land for them. What are the right questions to ask? How do you evaluate the answers to these questions? What are common pitfalls and how do we avoid them? How do you bring theology into the conversation? Where can you find resources and allies? The goal of this webinar is to equip and encourage people to engage in oversight of endowments and investments. This often leads to opportunities to strengthen the mission and ministries of the congregation. Register at bit.ly/49SjEFB

Raising Kids Beyond the Binary in Church — Tuesday, May 7, 2–3pm

The church is a better, more faithful place when transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive young people are a part of it. The debate around transgender children rages, making it more important than ever for people of faith to understand God’s call to love and affirm young people in who God created them to be. In this workshop, we will talk about what it looks like to boldly, loudly, and joyfully celebrate the young people in our midst, how to advocate for them in our ministry settings and beyond, and how to create reasonably safe spaces where they can grow in their connection to God and all of God’s children. We’re not always going to get this right, but workshop leader Jamie Bruesehoff will help participants understand how we can show up in faith and grace for ourselves and our communities while protecting the most vulnerable. Register at bit.ly/49Rg52X

How to Create Transformative Ministries Through Theological Innovation — Thursday, May 9, 2–3:15pm

In this interactive workshop, you’ll be guided through the Innovation Lab’s five-phase Theological Innovation Process as a pathway for designing creative and transformative ministries in your unique context. We’ll apply the innovation process to a case study of a challenge facing people nationwide – the epidemic of loneliness in America. Together we’ll brainstorm innovative ministries that could address this challenge in a theologically-grounded way. You’ll learn a new framework for developing ministries that authentically meet the needs and engage the assets of people in your own community. You’ll also receive a resource you can use to develop transformative ministries in the future. Register at bit.ly/4chk9ea

UPC’s “Zoom room”

Modern technology is marvelous! Thanks to the Zoom meetings system, we can gather virtually even when it’s difficult to be together in person. We’ve used our “Zoom room” for worship but also for prayer groups, book studies, hymn sings, and social times.

You can join our meetings and worship services online via your computer, tablet, or mobile device by going to https://upcbgm.org/zoom. If you’ve never used Zoom before, you’ll be prompted to download the Zoom meetings app, which will ask for permission to use your microphone and your camera. We use our “Personal Meeting ID” for worship and most of our programs, so they’re always in the same familiar place.

You can also call in over the phone, if you don’t have a microphone on your device or you can’t join online. To join as a phone call, dial 1-646-558-8656, then enter our Meeting ID: 865 274 8433 #

If you have questions or need help using Zoom, feel free to call the church office for assistance.

Bible Study

Mondays, 1–2pm, in the Pastor’s Office or the Zoom room

We’re reading from Marcus Borg’s Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written, and everyone is welcome to join us in person or on Zoom.

The general format is to read the introductory material for each section, then to read through the Biblical texts and talk about what it meant for early Christians and what it might mean for us today. We try to discipline ourselves to keeping the conversation to an hour every week.

Sewing Group

Wednesdays, 10am–1pm (with Zoom lunch hour, 12pm–1pm)

by Cindy Chadwick

As many of you know, each year before the Christmas holiday the Sewing Group prepares the quilts crafted throughout the year for distribution in the community. In 2023, nearly 40 quilts and 16 walker bags were gifted to church members and the following organizations:

Camp Sunshine
Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
Good Shepherd Fairview Home
YWCA
Hilltop
NoMa (North of Main)
Elizabeth Church Manor

Ellen Berti organizes walker bags and hats for community distribution.

Quilts are rolled and sealed with a bow.

Lots of colorful quilts ready for distribution!

Some of our donations also included handmade hats, mittens, scarves, pillows, and stuffed animals.

And here are some of the heartfelt messages received in return:

“Thank you for your donations in support of our community!” — The NoMa Team

“A heartfelt thank you for the beautiful quilts from your Sewing Group. Your generosity brings warmth and comfort to those in need and we appreciate your kindness.” — Gratefully, Crystal Sackett (YWCA)

“Thank you so much for your donation of the wonderful walker bags for our ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ program! The walker bags are such a big help to the seniors! They also help brighten their days with the colorful materials and craftsmanship. Thank you! Our seniors will be blessed!” — Sandy Atwood, Home Instead Program Coordinator

We are pleased to help others and bring warmth to the community!

In other news, the Sewing Group is bidding a fond farewell to group member Marian Timson (pictured in the foreground) as she is relocating to Arizona this month. We’ll miss Marian’s warm and wonderful presence! We wish her all the best and thank her for her contributions to the Sewing Group.

If you’d like to join the Sewing Group, which meets Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm in the Upper Lounge, please contact the church office. No experience needed!

Zoom Happy hour

Friday evenings, 5–6pm

After nearly four years of “Zooming” together, our weekly social-distance gathering is still going strong. Bring your own beverage, Zoom in, and join the fun as we catch up on the events of the week and share how we’re doing. It’s a great way to keep in touch with friends near and far.

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