A Message from Tom Packard,
a Program Team Member:

Heights of Joy
Sharon M. Terry

Rise up, oh souls of God,
Ascend into the heights
Nor sword nor flame
Nor stairs shall stop
Our zeal for heights of joy.

As children raise their eyes,
We see them from afar.
The challenge comes.
We understand.
Your radiance lights our way.

We lift our hands and hearts,
We bend our knees in prayer,
Our voices raised
In hymns of praise,
Empowered by your grace.

Lord lead us by your will,
And help us do our part.
Called from on high,
Inspired by love,
We lift our joyful cry.

Campaign Leadership

Leadership for the Building God's House, Extending God's Welcome campaign includes a diverse set of persons from throughout the Park Central community of faith. We thought you might be interested in knowing who some of them are and what their personal goals for this project include. (Be sure to check back frequently, as we'll add to this page as the campaign progresses.)

ANNE BALDWIN - Communication (Visual)

When did you begin attending Park Central? We are not sure. It has been quite a long time.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No. Our children grew up in Oregon.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? An increase in the vitality level of PCPC. I anticipate that renovating our upper rooms will be like learning something new or taking up an exercise regime. It will be good for our circulation!
Anything else you'd like to share? I am grateful for Park Central and especially for the good and sensitive leadership we have there both in Andrew and Sarah and from within the congregation.

BRIGID BOYLE - Program

When did you begin attending Park Central? We came to Park Central almost exactly five years ago, just after we had moved to the area from Philadelphia.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? We have three children. Andrew is 8, Annie is 7 and Park is 3.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to a building that is accessible and will let us have the space to do the mission that burns in our collective hearts.
Anything else you'd like to share? We are really blessed to have the leadership that we do in our church. There is such an abundance of energy, intelligence, imagination and love among us as we seek to follow Christ's call. It's really remarkable.

JOAN DEPPA - Communication (Print)


JANE GARRETT - Call


BEV HALDERMAN - Events

When did you begin attending Park Central? I began attending Park Central in the early 1990s. Shortly after the last capital campaign.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? I do not have any children attending Park Central.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? I look forward to this renovation making Park Central more accessable to all of its attendants. The new elevator should be a "must do". The third floor renovation is long overdo and will bring Park Central into the 21 century and a vital part of its community.

BAIRD HANSEN - Program

When did you begin attending Park Central? I returned to Park Central along with my wife in 1991. We joined about 10 minutes before our daughter Sarah was baptized here. I say that I returned to Park Central because I grew up at Park Central until I was 14. I was baptized and confirmed at Park.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to the elevator, because it is the key piece in making our building more user friendly to members and outside groups.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? Our two children, Sarah and Bairdy, have grown up at Park Central.
Anything else you'd like to share? I think this renovation creates endless possibilities for Park Central's future. We are very blessed with what God has given us. This renovation will enable us to share what we have with others.

NANCY CAPLE JOHNSTON - Events

When did you begin attending Park Central? 1995.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No.
Anything else you'd like to share? I love the music, sermons and sense of community.

DAVID KAMMER - Call


GINNY MARTY - Call


Andrew McTyre - Program

When did you begin attending Park Central? I came to Park Central in the summer of 2001.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? I'm looking forward to seeing our potential for outreach to neighborhood children and the arts community expanded.
Anything else you'd like to share? Having this faith community step forward with this project is a strong and concrete statement that we do indeed believe in having a presence of faith in this city and that we are hopeful about what God is doing both at Park Central and in our city.

SARAH MCTYRE - Children

When did you begin attending Park Central? We came to Park Central in July 2001.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to having a renewed space on the third floor. The renovations will allow us to enrich the formation of all ages at Park Central and to expand our ministry with and for children and young people in our city.
Anything else you'd like to share? It is an amazing gift to be a part of this congregation as God is calling us to prepare ourselves for the next years in our journey of faith and service in Syracuse.

Nancy Moeur - Communication (Visual)

When did you begin attending Park Central? I started attending Park Central on Easter in 2002.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? I'm really looking forward to the improved access provided by the elevator, but I think the thing I'd*most* like to see is the renovated chapel space on the third floor. I only discovered the third floor myself a couple of years ago, and I think it has a lot of potential.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No kids yet.

TOM PACKARD - Program

When did you begin attending Park Central? June of 1968!
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? Yes, our daughter Chrissy. Positive influences in the church school and mission fieldwork helped instill her flare in adulthood to help people in need.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? That one is hard to answer! There are people who cannot be as involved in the church as they would like so the elevator is a key aspect. We are investing in the future of the church as expressed through kids including our own, through outreach and through mission. Expressing our faith is a key aspect. I like how this project will enable opportunities that draw us into community and service to our Lord.
Anything else you'd like to share? Forgetting about the heavy stuff for a moment, I'm looking forward to a real elevator that people can use without my having to run upstairs and downstairs and upstairs to make the elevet (olivet?) work.

TIM SCHMIDT - Call


MARGE SCHUSTER - Children


SUE STINSON - Call


ROY TERRY - Communication (Web)

When did you begin attending Park Central? About a year ago.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? A fully accessible, usable, and wonderfully welcoming 3rd floor, where we can expand our mission to the people God has called us to serve.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No, but my wife and I have two grandchildren whom we hope will attend.
Anything else you'd like to share? Through this project, the congregation is opening itself to being used by God in wonderful and unexpected ways. This is an exciting time to be a part of Park Central!

SHARON TERRY - Communication (Print)

When did you begin attending Park Central? My husband, Roy, and I came to Park Central the second Sunday in March, 2009. The expressions of kindnesses and warmth of the people of this congregation went beyond anything we had ever experienced and continue to do so. At last, we have found a community of believers with whom we can serve in mission to those in need, whatever that need might be. The surrender to and the direction of the Holy Spirit is palpable every time we come together.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No.
Anything else you'd like to share? Being a part of the Capital Campaign gives us the opportunity to work collaboratively with like-minded people who are committed to doing what we must to make our building accessible to persons of all ages. A sense of commitment to service is strong at Park Central, and it lies at the bedrock of who we are as God's people.

Jeff Vernon - Information

When did you begin attending Park Central? 1991.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? We had 3.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? Riding the new elevator.

SANDI YINGLING - Administration

When did you begin attending Park Central? I don't remember. Perhaps 20 years ago.
What part of the renovation are you most looking forward to? Third floor renovation so we could use it for mission work.
Do/Did you have young children attending Park Central? No
Anything else you'd like to share? I have a dream that I will be able to go up and down, to and from Andrew's office, the church office, even the third floor without planning, without thinking about my knees, without grimacing. That will be wonderful. But most of all, I can imagine what we can do with the space on the third floor. We could have teenagers from other churches (as well as our own) come for an overnight mission weekend and stay together on the third floor. We could have a mission that speaks to the young people in our community ... like Carol Perry's Refrigerator Door. We could also do other missions that are not yet even to the dream stage.