News and Updates
Want to learn more about peace-building in the holy land?
Destiny Magnett from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and Suzan Sahori from Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans will be in the Albany area November 2 and 3. These two will be presenting on topics related to peacebuilding and economic justice, with particular focus on the current tensions in Israel-Palestine. With handmade crafts available for purchase, the night will offer a unique opportunity to support Christian-led Palestinian craftspeople while fostering dialogue about shared paths toward peace and justice in the Holy Land.
You are invited to join us at one or more of the following events:
Sunday, Nov. 2: 5:30 PM
Delmar Reformed Church 383 Delaware Ave. Delmar NY. All are invited to gather and contribute to an "appetizer" themed potluck at 5:30 pm, or simply join the presentation from 6:15-7:00 pm.
Monday, Nov. 3 7-8:30 PM
Niskayuna Reformed Church. 3041 Troy Schenectady Rd., Niskayuna NY. Refreshments provided.
These presentations and discussions will help us:
Gain deeper understanding of life in the Holy Land beyond headlines
Learn about the critical situation of decline facing Christian communities in Holy Land
Discover how supporting artisans creates sustainable livelihoods in marginalized communities
Support local artisans through economic empowerment and storytelling
Connect personal faith journeys with the pursuit of justice and reconciliation
Learn approaches for peacebuilding in your own context and community
About the presenters:
Destiny Magnett is the Programs and Outreach Manager at Churches for Middle East Peace where she serves as the primary liaison for church partners. She will be leading a CMEP trip to the West Bank for the Christ at the Checkpoint conference in May 2026.
Suzan Sahori is a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem who serves as the executive director of the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA).
Learn more about the Peace by Piece tour at this link.
Updated: Aug 28, 2025
The Transition Teams working to create Middle Assemblies which will best serve the churches in our region are up and running. The Transition Team of the Upstate NY Middle Assembly (UNYMA) met for an in-person meeting on Saturday, August 9. See photos below! And the second Transition Team initiated by Montgomery Classis will be meeting in-person next week.
These initial meetings are focused directly on discussing and discerning the identity, vision, and values of their respective Middle Assemblies. By having these in-person meetings, members are able to get to know each other, seek the Lord together, and combine their different experiences and outlooks as they begin to craft the way all congregations of the RSA can move forward in ministry within the new structure.
Each team will be working diligently over the coming months. We have an aggressive, but doable, timeline. You can read more about the work assigned to the teams and the timeline in a letter from Albany Synod president, Dirk Gieser, published in our July Newsletter. The first public output from each team will occur at the October meeting of the Regional Synod of Albany.
The Upstate team members are: Nancy Landrigan, Trey Tirpak, Patti Varga, Amy Katt, Randy Karcher, Steve Meyer, Amy Burdett, David Vander Wal, David Walsh, Richard Dykstra, David Patterson, Noreen Fargione, and Immanuel van Tonder.
The second team is made up of: Jeff McIlrath, Brian Engel, Matt Draffen, Jeff Kelley, Marian Engells, and Dirk Gieser.
Lindsey De Kruif and Bob Hoffman are staff to both Transition Teams, and Sherri Meyer-Veen is serving as an additional resource person.
If you have feedback or questions for either Transition Team, please contact Lindsey De Kruif, Albany Synod Program Coordinator.
