Reservations are recommended for reception and required for dinner
Please call Renee at the Presbytery office 315-446-6110 by 10:00 am Friday May 25
Let her know how many are attending from your church [and entrée choices if applicable].

Responses to the Tragedy at Virginia Tech

From: David H. Johnson [mailto:davehj@twcny.rr.com]

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 3:28 PM
To: Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse (E-mail)
Subject: The Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Dear Friends:

I have just returned from South Korea where I was part of a delegation of our Korean Partnership to Pyongyang Presbytery.  There were seven of us
representing the Presbytery.  We were in Korea to further the mission of the Partnership and to accompany seven military veterans of the Korean War.
Three spouses of veterans also took part in the trip.  The veterans were
guests of Pyongyang Presbytery and were warmly welcomed, given great
respect, and showered with acts of kindness and appreciation for their service during the war.

We learned of the tragedy at Virginia Tech while in South Korea and also heard the report that the shooter was a Korean-American student, Cho
Seung-Hui.  Our delegation and our hosts immediately went into prayer for the victims and their families.

My words cannot adequately express how this tragedy has impacted the Korean people, our colleagues in Pyongyang Presbytery, and the Korean Presbyterian Church.

The Rev. Changman Jang, Chairperson of the International Partnership Committee and a person known to many of us because of his outstanding
leadership and many visits to our Presbytery, has asked that I share with
you three things:

First, on behalf of Pyongyang Presbytery, he extends their deepest sympathy and regret to the victims, their families, the Virginia Tech community, the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse, and the people of the United States.  It is very painful for them to know that a young Korean-American was responsible for so many deaths and injuries.  They feel a sense of national responsibility and shame.  He asked me to have you share their expressions of sympathy and regret with the churches you serve.  In my response to Rev. Jang's formal words of sympathy and regret I spoke of the strong and mutually respectful relationship that our Presbytery has developed with Pyongyang Presbytery.  I also affirmed that the shootings at Virginia Tech, like similar tragedies in the past, seems to have been the act of a mentally disturbed individual and, in my mind and heart, does not reflect on the Korean people for whom I have great love and admiration.

Second, Rev. Jang shared that prayer vigils were being held in Seoul and throughout Korea.

Third, that the General Assembly of the Korean Presbyterian Church is
communicating its deep condolences to the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church (USA).

As you prepare for Sunday worship, you might want to include the attached
prayer of remembrance and hope that was offered to the Synod of the
Northeast and the Presbyterian Church (USA) by the Rev. David Choi, Pastor
of Praise Presbyterian Church, Eastern Korean Presbytery.

I pray that God will give you the strength and gifts to minister to the
congregations you serve during this difficult time.

Dave

David H. Johnson, Executive Presbyter
The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
600 W. Genesee Street
Syracuse, NY  13204
Phone:  (315) 446-6110
   FAX:  (315) 446-0048

Attachments:

PrayerforVA_Tech.doc

OCC_Words_Of_Hope&Courage.doc

 NATIONAL ELDERS CONFERENCE
"Elder as Spiritual Leader - Reclaiming the Call."The Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council are sponsoring this first national training and networking event for some of the most important leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ? the elders in our congregations. We hope this will become a regular biennial event in the life of the church.Please join with up to 500 other elders at this event, featuring opportunities for worship, education and fellowship.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE ISSUES URGENT APPEAL FOR SCHOOL KITS
On February 27, 2007, Church World Service (CWS) issued an urgent appeal for school kits.  Donna Derr, Director of CWS Emergency Response Program, reports, "We have substantive pending requests for school kits. At the moment we have only about 200 school kits in inventory that are uncommitted for upcoming shipments.  This situation has arisen in part because requests for school kits since the first of the year have exceeded requests during the whole of last year."  She reports that partner agencies are increasingly requesting material resources to undergird their program work.
Local drop-off sites across the Upstate NY region will accept CWS Kits during the month of April prior to the annual CWS pickup in early May. 
Call the CWS Regional Office in Syracuse at 1-888-297-2767 for a listing of drop-off locations or click here to download and print a copy: http://www.cwscrop.org/newyork/pdf_files/Kitpromo06-07.pdf

HURRICANE RESPONSE UPDATES
$1.7 Million To Presbytery Of South Louisiana
The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance advisory committee recently approved a $1.7 million dollar proposal from the Presbytery of South Louisiana for the recovery work from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The plan encompasses New Orleans, the North Shore and the Lake Charles area and will provide both the structure and staffing to support a major rebuilding initiative in the New Orleans area. The goal is to rebuild 350 homes each year.  Additional information can be found at:
http://pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/gulfcoast/sla-presbytery-07reliefplan.htm

The Grapevine - 2007

This page last updated 05/17/2007