The Regional Synod of New York

The Regional Synod of New York includes classes and congregations that are urban, suburban, and rural; large, medium, and small; black, white, Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial; progressive, moderate, and conservative—as well as those that don’t comfortably wear such labels. United in and through Jesus’s saving love, we rejoice in the diversity of our family of faith and we delight in the inclusive message of the Gospel. We honor Scripture as authoritative and divinely inspired, even as we recognize that we may have differences in faithful interpretation. Recognizing that our love is our response to God’s love and our grace a reflection of God’s grace, we welcome all.

STORY OF THE WEEK

Appreciation Luncheon for Elder Ellen McCullough

On Sunday, September 22, 2019, the congregation of the Church of the Master in the Bronx celebrated elder Ellen McCullough's 67 years of service to her church with a luncheon at The Wicked Wolf in Throggs Neck. Ellen (pictured second from left above) has been a Sunday School teacher & supervisor, choir member, then director and eventually our church organist. She was a member of the Women's Guild, volunteered to help out at every Pot Luck dinner and luncheon, after-service

Lenten Message: “Already/Not Yet”

I have been thinking lately about the phrase, “already/not yet.” It’s a phrase I learned my very first week of seminary in my New Testament class. The professor, Dr. Jim Brownson [1], was one of the most influential people on my journey to ordination. He taught our class about the nature of God’s kingdom or reign as already/not yet; it has already come to earth with the person of Jesus Christ and it has not yet come in its fullness --