South Presbyterian Church in Yonkers adds new ministries in 2008. The year of 2008 brought an awakening to our congregation in terms of its responsibility for the surrounding communities. We are after all a congregation committed to serve all peoples.
Besides the ongoing ESL and SSL programs already offered, programs of computers, culture, health, immigration, family life, and counselling were added. All these added programs composed two main ministries at South Presbyterian Church: The Social Justice Ministry and the Family Ministry.
The Social Justice Ministry
The Immigration Clinic. The immigration clinic gathers several volunteers in building a true return of South Presbyterian Church to its identity: an immigrant church serving the immigrant community.
The Language Classes. For 5 years South Presbyterian has offered language classes of English and Spanish for the neighborhood. This year we also added Portuguese.
The Computer Lounge. One of our newest ministries. Thanks to several donors, a computer lounge has been dedicated to teaching basic and professional computer skills.
The Family Ministry
The Cultural Nights. The cultural nights oppened with classes of samba. Brazilian and Caribean cultures brought our community together for food, music, dance and lots of fun.
Family Counseling . Life as immigrants and in our community is not always easy, and families take a bigger hit. Workshops and programs for couples and families aim to support them.
Couples Retreat . Few days in a nice environment, with good food, relaxing atmosphere and plenty of spiritual and emotional support. Couples have a new chance together.
Welcome to our 2008 Year Review in Pictures. We started 2008 actually with our 2007 Centennial Celebration. So many got together for our celebration. But we continued with an intense calendar of joint multicultural worships integrating not only our cultures but also the use of Art for the glory of God.
The Year of 2008 in Review
We could make several highlights of the year 2007 in our church's life. Here we share just a few of them, each with its own memorial of images.
December 6th & 7th 2007 - The Centennial. With a service that gathered over 100 people and representatives of Hudson River Presbytery and sister churches, South celebrated its 100th year of ministry. A banquet followed with sister churches presenting cumpliments, dance and music.
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May 31st 2008 - The Community Health Fair. On May 31st, several agencies, health plans and volunteers got together to offer neighbors free screenings, nutrition, information and tips on health. More than 60 blood and pressure screenings were taken. Children had special activities including receiving free baloons.
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June 14th 2008 - The Picnic Day . The churches of Bryn Mawr, Good Shepherd and South Presbyterian gathered again for their joint picnic day. Over 200 people traveled in buses and cars to Holmes for a fun and envigorating day of fellowship.
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June 28th 2008 - The Couples' Retreat . A new ministry at South Presbyterian, the couples and family ministry is an innitiative of elders Reynaldo and Sonia Chamorro. Both elders have extensive training and interest in counselling. A very good day of retreat gathered 10 couples in Stony Point.
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July 18th 2008 - The Training of Volunteers for the Immigration Clinic .On July 18th we did a testing clinic in cooperation with JFON. Several volunteers enrolled and were then trained to respond and serve the various immigrant groups surrounding our congregation.
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July 19th 2008 - Oppening of the Cultural Nights. We opened a series of Cultural Nights offering music, dance lessons, food and insights from the cultures of the various membrs of our congregation. The first night was of Brazilian and Caribean cultures.
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September 15th 2008 - The Computer Lounge Opens . Thanks to donnations of individuals and companies we oppened our Computer Lounge to the neighborhood. The area is equiped with 10 computers in network, internet and a good resource area with books and periodicals on computers, family, and general interest.
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September 20th 2008 - Presbytery's Stewarship Workshop. Over 7 churches got together to consider the vision and ministry of Stewardship. Members of the Stewardship Committee of the Presbytery led the event in a full day of fellowship and sharing.
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October4th 2008 - The Faith, Politics and the Elections Forum . In preparation for the presidential elections, Drs. Michael Dash and José Pezinni from Atlanta visited leading conversations on the issues of Faith, Politics and the Elections. Our church and neighbors had the chance to engage the issues of the economy and of immigration.
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October 18th 2008 - The Spanish Couples Workshop . Rev. Miriam Shelton, a doctoral candidate from CUNY led a fantastic workshop on couples and family relationship for Spanish speaking people. My Sisters Place was also present offering information to women and interested.
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October 17-18th 2008 -Sheik Mohamad Ahmad Saleem Wahab: A Celebration of Life . From June 21, 1934 to October 14, 2008 Mr. Saleem Wahab was a blessing in the lives of his wife, children and his church. We got together to celebrate his life, and the Christian hope of resurrection..
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December 31st 2008 - New Year's Vigil Service . Our church opened the year of 2009 in prayers. A good group of members and visitors gathered for our first New Years vigil in years. Songs, testimonies and prayers keot all of us together. It was a blessing.
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