Worship
From The First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles
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Services
Communion is celebrated regularly on the first Sunday of the month, except when there is a theological reason to celebrate at a more meaningful time. Sunday mornings, Communion is served by elders passing the pews for members to serve one another. Evening and Special services, Communion is served by "intinction" with believers coming forward to break from the loaf and dip of the cup.
Baptism and Membership are celebrated whenever the congregation has the opportunity, as new faces are always celebrated.
Weddings: We are one of the only Churches that does weddings for members, non-members, and those of other faiths or no affiliation, provided the couple desire to be married before God all their lives, are willing and able to meet with the pastor for counseling and wedding planning, and can provide a valid NYS Marriage license. The Church does not rent out the Sanctuary for other Churches to use.
Accessibility: The Church has ample off-street parking, ramps into the Sanctuary level, an elevator to restrooms, classrooms fellowship and meeting spaces. The pews are comfortable, with padded seats and a helpful curvature, ample leg room, and arranged with a central aisle to allow the congregation to serve one another. Wheel chairs can fit unobtrusively at the ends of pews. There is a marvelous sound-system, with additional listening devices that allow the individual worshiper to sit wherever they choose. There are large print Bibles, Hymnals and Bulletins. We are presently creating online resources so those unable to attend may be fed by worship via the internet. There are no pillars, posts, rails or curtains to separate the people from what takes place in the worship of God.
Deacon Drivers: For those unable to drive themselves to worship, Deacons provide transportation to and from worship.
Children: All generations are welcome and encouraged to worship together. Half way through the hour, the pastor invites the Children to come to the Communion Table for a time specifically for them. After which if they prefer to stay with family, they are welcome. There is also a marvelous Christian Education in graded classes during the sermon. The church has a beautifully designed and apportioned nursery for infants and another for 2s&3s with a well-trained and loving staff. Then again, infants wanting to be held and comforted are a wonderful witness for our preacher during the sermon. There are also many deacons and grandparent-wanabes, who are willing and gifted at standing with your child while you worship.
Just inside the doors, members of every age offer greeting and welcome, then Deacons assist in seating, providing orders of service, assisted listening devices, large-print hymnals and bulletins. Worshippers routinely visit and greet one another. The worship service begins with the sounds of water, as our vessels are emptied and the Baptismal Font is filled, remembering that we all are claimed and called in Baptism.
Theology
In recent years, the leadership debated making significant changes. In Presbyterian style, we formed a committee to study how and why worship has evolved and what is meaningful. Then we began correcting outdated or problematic elements, while maintaining the aura of this beautiful sacred space. The Pulpit, Communion Table and Baptismal Font are central, open and available, with no altar-rail dividing the people from leadership. A new 3-manual 40 rank Cassavant pipe organ was recently installed, adding to the hand bell ensembles, adult and youth choirs, and grand piano, to allow music to support and emphasize our worship of God. Children are welcome and encouraged in worship. The running joke being how long it will take for Dr. Lindsey to take infants up in his arms to comfort them, while continuing the sermon. Years ago, someone named, we want a preacher to look us in the eye and talk to us, rather than reading a scripted sermon, so Rev. Lindsey routinely leaves the pulpit to converse with the congregation at the Table.
We believe it is a sin to bore God and bore one another! Worship is fast-paced, relevant, meaningful and fun. The Presbyterian Church has an emphasis on stimulating preaching and relevant liturgy, so the entire worship service is crafted by the preacher, worship committee and music staff for this congregation on this day, based on what is going on in the world, and as a blended whole.
The Sanctuary
All around the Sanctuary are gorgeous abstract stained glass windows. The Presbyterian Church (prior to 1920) interpreted the Commandment as "making no graven image" so these are patterned windows depicting no persons. Central above the pulpit is the Cross & Crown symbolic of the challenges of faith in society. Above the doors to the street are a script "C&A" identifying that when this Sanctuary was built in 1891 the raging religious political concern of the age was "Calvinist Pre-Destination" versus "Arminianist Free Will" and this congregation emphasized the need for "Both/And". Pre-Destination like any traditional doctrine names as foundational what is and will be unless believers enter in as a moral call to change. Free Will is not anarchy, but a responsibility to respond and act as stewards who care about what blessings we have received.
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