The Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, New York in Wayne County near Rochester, NY is composed of people called by Jesus Christ to be His representatives in the world. We strive to: • Inspire worship in our hearts, minds, and actions in honor and celebration of Christ. • Provide a sanctuary of faith for all people where support, empathy, and a sense of community are realized. • Cultivate spiritual growth by encouraging each congregant to independently discern God's presence and guidance. • Be a catalyst for growth and relevance of the local and extended Church. • Be Christ’s disciples through both local and global mission efforts. • Guide, nurture, and support the youth of our congregation and community. • Promote and sponsor youth-based programs including CanalTown Nursery School.

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Welcome to our new Pastor, Reverend Ho Dong Hwang.

Click below for Ho Dong’s: • Biography

• Information Sheet

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The current Deacons Ministry Team is dutifully served by Randy Kennard, Sandra McMenamin, Linda Pulcini, Nancy Talma, Madelyn Jaggar and Sara Bush. The weekly prayer lists in our Sunday bulletin reflect their call for prayer and visits. We fulfill daily prayer requests for congregation members and many others. Our published list is very fluid, with weekly additions and removals. We pray for lost loved ones and those who grieve. We pray for God to be at the side of those serving our military. We pray for those among us who are expecting to give birth to God’s wonderful creations. We joyfully pray at their birth. There is a continual need to pray for the acutely and chronically ill, those for whom age has taken its toll, and for God’s care and safe return of those who travel afar. It’s very uplifting to read cards and letters we receive in response to our prayer ministry. Deacons minister to those who are shut-in and hospitalized. It’s truly an awesome and yet humbling feeling, knowing how receptive they are for our visits. Typically, we are joyfully invited to return. We repurpose and deliver flowers that have served their purpose in our church, to uplift spirits and hopefully bring a smile. Poinsettias are placed in the sanctuary during Advent by our church families. Those that are not reclaimed serve that purpose. At each monthly meeting, we add scripture and notes to note cards, provided by Sandy McMenamin. They are mailed to individuals on our extended care list. And, throughout the year, Linda Pulcini mails cards to congregation members and others, in celebration and to offer comfort. Our Sunday School children offer their talents too, by creating beautiful greeting cards in celebration of Valentine’s Day and the birth of Jesus Christ. They are delivered to our shut-ins and others. During Advent, we place items in gift bags to accompany those beautiful cards. The Deacons do not have a budget supported by congregation pledges. We rely on free will donations to finance our annual endeavors. Deacons Fund envelopes are placed in the pews for that purpose. We were blessed in 2015 to have enough funds on hand to fulfill a monetary request in support of a Good Neighbor Fund assistance application. Deacons are responsible for preparing the elements for communion each month, and for special liturgical occasions. They then clean and put away the silver pieces and communion cups afterward. The communion counts, another responsibility, are shown in the accompanying activity table. Deacons Activities, 2015 Month Date Communion Visits Cards Notecards January 01/11 85 33 25 18 February 02/08 86 15 20 25 March 03/08 80 19 36 18 April 04/05 177 34 43 17 04/19 108 ---- ---- ---- May 05/10 106 20 24 20 June 06/14 77 16 29 20 July 07/12 59 21 22 20 August 08/09 75 18 28 20 September 09/13 81 14 25 20 October 10/04 114 15 27 18 November 11/08 98 20 52 18 December 12/24 145 14 40 25 Total 1,291 239 371 239 Respectfully Submitted, Terry Goodwin, Chairperson

The Fellowship Ministry Team set up monthly activities for the congregation to participate in. Some Highlights of 2015: On Sunday, January 4 th , we celebrated Epiphany with a pot luck luncheon. On February 15th, we celebrated Sweet and Treats with a Valentine theme. In March, we tried to have a game night but the weather won out. On April 5 th , we handed out jelly beans with the jelly bean prayer to the children at Easter. May 17th was our church picnic. Members brought a dish to pass, while the team provided hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks and ice cream sundaes. This date worked so much better because it was the last day of Sunday school. On August 16 th , some of the congregation headed out to the Red Wings Stadium for our annual afternoon of baseball. On September 13 th , our team sponsored a coffee hour. During this time, we talked about what was happening the rest of the year for the Fellowship Ministry Team. In October, invitations were sent to all of the congregation who have been members for 50 or more years. We had two new members: Sharon Marr and Ellie Giles. A wonderful example and affirmation of faith for us all. Each new member received a beautiful corsage. We also gave a corsage to Pat Nash for being the longest-term Western Horizon member. We then had a pot luck luncheon in their honor with cake. November 21 st was our annual game night. This year euchre, Banana-Grams, and a new game, “5 Crowns” were played. On November 28 th , we decorated the Mary Griffin Room and Fellowship. On December 13 th , we hosted the coffee hour and a cookie exchange. We had a great time trading cookies. We on the Fellowship Ministry Team wish to thank all of you who participated and helped make possible the aforementioned activities. We have received positive feedback from the participants and as always welcome any new ideas or suggestions. It has been our hope and goal to strengthen the bonds of our congregation, through the fellowship provided by group activities. In this age of impersonal electronic communication, this type of person to person contact within our church family becomes even more critical in achieving a positive spiritual outcome. We hope many more of you will join us in faith, unity, and growing fellowship in 2016. Yours in Fellowship, Deb Trombino Roxie Kachel Co-Chairs

Nominating Report January 2016 Ruling Elders for each team are bolded and elected for 3 years. The numbers in parentheses are the final year of their term. Other members of the ministry teams are for 1 year terms. Thank you to everyone who signed the sheets to serve. Ministry Teams Fellowship: Deb Trombino (2017), Roxanne Kachel (2017), Sue Pringle, Norm Underwood, Ray Marr, Terry Gendron, Val Gendron Property: Doris Chriswell (2016), Amie McMullin (2017), Steve Kennard, Phil Opdycke, Don Dantz, Ed Plesa, Dave Pinkney, Bill Hassler, Bob Kirchhoff, Pat Pinkney, Lynn Malboeuf Finance: Dick Kirchhoff (2016), Bill Bush, Gary Haigh, Randy Kennard, Irene Fadden Worship: Sue Leonard (2016), Sharon Marr, Courtney Marr, Mary Beth LaBerge, Carol Sloan, Kelly Babcock, Jane Culver Social Concerns and Mission: John Cook (2017), Rena Haigh (2018), Sally Chase, Lou Callerame, Ruth Dantz, Jan Taylor, Janet Barager, Jonnie Fontaine, Edie Chapman Christian Education: Jody Pruitt (2016), Lynette Cogan (2018), Lou Callerame, Rose Prober Deacons: Terry Goodwin (2017), Sandy McMenamin (2017), Linda Pulcini, Nancy Talma, Sara Bush Canal Town Nursery School Board: Chair: Phil Opdycke (2016), Vice Chair: Sara Bush, Carol Sloan, Andy Sloan, Betsy Goodwin Nominating: Carol Campbell, Lois Pratt, Ray Marr

Communications Task Force Members: Muffy Beato, Rev. Nancy J. Farrell, Terry Goodwin, Rena Haigh, Lynn Malboeuf, Amie McMullin In 2015, the Communications Task Force deliberated over the changing nature of current culture and society and the ways involvement in the church is impacted. We sought to identify ways to build and encourage opportunities for members of the congregation to participate in the church’s work. The notion that Session and its component teams are tasked with welcoming participation by the congregation guided our efforts. The “brand” document developed through our work with the Ad Council continues to provide a guide to our work. We established a format for presenting “projects” that had clearly defined scope and allowed members who are unable to accept a long-term commitment to participate. In 2015, we identified a number of projects (logo development, audio/sound project, name tags, rear entrance rehab) that were posted on the bulletin board outside the church office. The name tag project has been implemented. Currently teams are working on logo development and audio/sound. Additionally, in response to requests from a number of members, a binder was created to house team/committee minutes as well as Session minutes. The binder is located on the credenza outside the church office. Respectfully Submitted, Lynn Malboeuf

Confirmation at Western Presbyterian Church As our Presbyterian Directory of Worship states: “The church nurtures those baptized as children and calls them to make public their personal profession of faith and their acceptance of responsibility in the life of the church.” This takes place after a period of instruction and examination by the Session. At Western Presbyterian Church confirmation class for young people in seventh or eighth grade begins in November. Over the course of the next six months these young people meet regularly with a carefully chosen adult mentor and explore their faith. The student/confirmand also selects a fifteen hour service project. Both the pastor and a volunteer service coordinator meet monthly with the youth to offer instruction and help them accomplish their goal. Areas of learning include: the identity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, worship and the sacraments, the Bible, the Confessions, and life in the Church. The young people at the end of this experience meet with the Session, report on their service project, and make a personal statement of faith.

Useful Member Links Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Daily devotionals Work of the 221st General Assembly Presbyterian Church USA Presbytery of Geneva Camp Whitman Synod of the Northeast Presbyterian Women in the Synod of the Northeast Our sister Presbyteries

History The town of Palmyra was created in January 1789. It was developed from land obtained in the Phelps and Gorham Purchase in 1788 on mounds left from the prehistoric Adena Culture. The land currently known as Wayne County was purchased by General John Swift and was originally known as Swift's Landing. Soon after settlement started the town became the District of Tolland. In January 1796 the official name "Palmyra" was proposed and adopted from the ancient city Palmyra in Syria reportedly to impress a new school teacher. The town had a population of nearly one thousand people by 1800. The village of Palmyra was incorporated in 1827. Palmyra began to prosper when the first newspaper of Wayne County, the “Palmyra Register” printed its first issue in 1817 giving the community an inexpensive means of communication and with the governor’s decision to build the Erie Canal. Palmyra had been a large part of the Underground Railroad in the mid 1800’s and by 1900 it had become a railroad and industrial center. Palmyra Activities and Traditions There are plenty of opportunities to engage in Palmyra with a variety of activities and traditions through the year. These would be Hill Cumorah Pageant, Palmyra Canaltown Days, Palmyra Pirate Weekend, Curling on the Canal, Trick or Treat on Main Street, Holiday Open House, Palmyra Farmer’s Market, Movies-in-the-Park, Community Garage Sale, Summer Concert Series, Historic Palmyra Cemetery Tour and the Wayne County Fair. Community Organizations Those wishing to serve on a civic organization have many choices such as; Palmyra-Macedon Rotary Club, Palmyra-Macedon Lions Club, Palmyra-Macedon Kiwanis Club, The Green Angels, VFW, American Legion. There are also opportunities to serve on the boards of our Community Library, Palmyra-Macedon School, and Community Center to name a few. Economic Climate The Palmyra area (which includes Macedon) encompasses approximately 70 square miles in southwest Wayne County. These towns are basically "bedroom" communities for Rochester as many residents live here and work in Rochester for Kodak, Xerox, PayChex, University of Rochester including Strong Hospital and the Wegmans Food Store chain. Major industries in the Palmyra-Macedon area include Garlock Packing Co., Berry Plastics, Unique Automation, and JRLon. There are also several machine shop operations which employ 10-20 employees and service the larger industries in Monroe County/Wayne County area.