CAZENOVIA — On Sunday Oct. 31, The First Presbyterian Church in Cazenovia will celebrate the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Jack Heins will play the bagpipes and plaid tartan ribbons will be handed out in honor of the church’s Scottish heritage. Morning worship begins at 10:00 am. The Rev. Dr. Sam Pendergrast will deliver the message titled “Listen! The Hand Bell Choir will play “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, arranged by Tammy Waldrop; “Holy, Holy, Holy”, arranged by Kevin McChensey and “Celebration No.3 in F” arranged by Michael Keller.
School-aged children will be dismissed to a special Sunday School mid-way through the service.
Piper Jack Heins started piping at the age of 15. He competed with all the Pipe Bands in the Central New York area, until he formed the City of Syracuse Highland Pipe Band in 2003. The Highlanders perform at Parades, Sporting Events, Fundraisers for various events, Music in the Parks Performances, etc. During the weekends you will find Piper Jack performing at various Weddings, Funerals, Parties, etc. in and around the Central New York area. If Jack’s not performing in a Church, you might just find him playing the pipes at the Lafayette Apple Festival, 9/11 Ceremonies all across Central New York, Cancer Relays for Life, Shamrock Run/Walk, Paige’s Butterfly Run/Walk, Bikers for cancer, too many others to mention! Jack is a veteran Technology Educator of over 34 years, and couldn’t have asked for a more fulfilling profession. After retiring in 2017, Piper Jack spends most of his time, doing what he loves . . . Bagpiping.
The Presbyterian Church celebrates Reformation Sunday on the last Sunday of October, commemorating a significant event in the history of the Reformed tradition. It was on October 31, 1517, that Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Martin Luther was protesting against the corruption of the Church in Rome and the great abuses attending the sale of indulgences. Luther, a German priest and professor, is credited with starting the movement known as the Protestant Reformation.
Some twenty years later, a French/Swiss theologian, John Calvin further refined the reformers’ new way of thinking about the nature of God and God’s relationship with humanity in what came to be known as Reformed Theology. This theology proved to be the driving force of the Reformation, particularly in Germany, France, the Netherlands, England, and Scotland.
John Knox, a Scotsman who studied with Calvin in Geneva, took Calvin’s teachings back to Scotland. The Presbyterian Church traces its ancestry back primarily to Knox in Scotland and to England. The First Presbyterian Church is Cazenovia was started in 1799.
If you are looking for an open and friendly place to celebrate Sunday morning worship, the Cazenovia Presbyterian Church welcomes you. For more information contact the church at 315- 655-3191 or cazpres.org.
