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Presbyterian Church USA logoFirst Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, New York

A community gathering in Christ and ministering as God leads
42 Elm Street, Potsdam, NY 13676 • phone (315) 265-9434 • email p1presch@twcny.rr.com

Sundays and Weekly Events

Sunday School. During the school year there is Sunday School for children.  The younger children (up through grade 3) attend the beginning of the service with their family, then depart for Sunday School (in the Church Center) following the "Children's Message." Grades 4-8 will meet with the Pastor in the Conference Room after worship (and after getting a snack at coffee hour). On the first Sunday of every month, all the children are the "greeters" and they stay at the entire service to learn more about communion (and to partake of it, with their parents' permission).  (More...)

Sunday Worship

  • Our worship time is 10:00am on Sundays: VISITORS ARE WELCOME AND EXPECTED!  (Nursery provided)  NOTE: Worship Service is held in the Sanctuary during spring, summer and fall. During the cold of winter (i.e. after the Christmas Season), Worship Service is held in the Church Center (returning to the Sanctuary on Palm Sunday at the latest). Worship Service Hours: 10:00am (9:30am - beginning the first Sunday in July and returning to its 10:00am start time on the last Sunday in August.)   
  • Coffee Hour is held in the Church Center following the worship service.  ALL ARE INVITED!
  • For New-Comers to Our Church.  We welcome you and invite you to coffee hour after the service. We are strengthened by your presence, and hope that being here brings blessings to you. If you would like to become a member of the church, please speak to Pastor Tom, who will be happy to help you get the process started. There are three ways to become a member: profession of faith, reaffirmation of faith, or letter of transfer.


"Worship joyfully
the One who awaits your praise!"

This Week

Sunday January 22

  • Deacons Meeting - 8:45am, Conference Roon
  • Westminster Choir Practice - 9:00am, Room 4, Church Center   

10:00AM - WORSHIP SERVICE (worship bulletin) Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

    • Worship Leader: Rev. Dr. Tom Ballard - Interim Pastor
    • Reader:  Ruth Kreuzer
    • Organist:  Laura Toland
    • Prelude: "Rhosymedre" - R. Vaughn Williams (Arr. Arthur Frackenpohl)
    • Introit: "If You But Trust in God" - D. Cherwien (Westminster Choir)
    • Anthem: "Lord, Have Mercy on Us" - Michael de LaLande
    • Sermon: "The Day God Repented" - The Rev. Dr. Tom Ballard
    • Offertory: "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow" - Arr. Rudy Davenport
    • Postlude: "A Short Piece for the Harpsichord" (vol.7, no.9) - Samuel Wesley  
  • Greeters: Art and Mary Ellen Frackenpohl
  • Coffee Hosts: Cynthia Coleman / Kathy and Gordon Batson 
  • Counters: Rob Ewy / Vernice Church
  • Deacons on duty this week: Victor Camaaño / Josie Severtson 
  • Zumba - 1:00pm, Church Center
  • MOVIE: "Who Stole My Cheese" - 3:00pm. Includes a pizza snak, Conference Room, Church Center
  • Bible Study  - 7:00pm, Conference Room, Church Center

Tuesday January 24  

  • Bible Study - 10:00am, Conference Room, Church Center
  • Worship and Music Committee Meeting - 11:15am, at Shirley Baylash's residence
  • Knitting Group - 3:00pm, Church Center
  • Session Meeting - 7:00pm, Conference Room, Church Center

Wednesday January 25  

  • Westminster Choir - 7:00pm, Room 4, Church Center 

Thursday January 26

  • Deadline for Pairsh Paper  afticles - 12:00 Noon

Upcoming Week

Sunday January 29    

  • Westminster Choir Practice - 9:00am, Room 4, Church Center  

10:00AM - WORSHIP SERVICE (worship bulletin)

    • Worship Leader: Rev. Dr. Tom Ballard - Interim Pastor
    • Reader:  
    • Organist: 
    • Prelude: "
    • Special Music: "
    • Sermon: "" - The Rev. Dr. Tom Ballard
    • Offertory: "
    • Postlude: " 
  • Greeters: 
  • Coffee Hosts: ANNUAL MEETING  -Soup and bread luncheon
  • Counters:
  • Deacons on duty this week:
  • ANNUAL MEETING of the CONGREGATION (with soup and bread luncheon) - immediately following worship, Church Center
  • Zumba - 1:00pm, Church Center
  • Bible Study  - 7:00pm, Conference Room, Church Center

Tuesday January 31  

  • Bible Study - 10:00am, Conference Room, Church Center
  • Knitting Group - 3:00pm, Church Center

Wednesday February 1   

  • Westminster Choir - 7:00pm, Room 4, Church Center 

Thursday February 2

  • Parish Paper folding - 9:30am, Conference Room, Church Center

Photo: First Presbyterian Church, Potsdam, NY
First Presbyterian Church, Potsdam
Two hundred years of faithful service

Welcome!

Whether you are looking for a church home, a place to explore your faith, or a place to volunteer your time and make a difference, the Potsdam Presbyterian Church welcomes you to join us in our mission in the community and in the world.

You are encouraged to participate in worship, to join any of our groups and to take part in all the activities of the church. Our church family welcomes new members and new friends.

(More...)

We will be looking for you!

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Ballard, Interim Pastor

Home Page Features

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

January 22 - Movie: "Who Stole My Cheese" - Pizza snack - Conference Room, Church Center

January 29 (following worship) - ANNUAL MEETING of the CONGREGATION / Soup and Bread Luncheon - Church Center (More...)

February 5 - Souper Bowl of Caring - Youth helpers will be stationed at the doorway after the service. Toss your bills and change into the soup pot as you leave. All monies collected will be donated to a local charity. Help keep this more than twenty years tradition going. (Nationwide over $71 million has been collected this way!)

February  20 - Book Group - 10:00am, Church Center (Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin)

LINK to Christmas Pageant photos

ANOUNCEMENTS

PASTOR'S NOTES

The class on "Who Are These People - Presbyterians" meets on Sundays at 9:00am.

(Pastor's day off is Friday)

 

NOTE: Annual contribution statements available in the narthax Sundays 8th and 15th, and in interim they are in the office. Have a mail box at church? Your statement is in there.  Cindy Bowen, Secretary

NOTE: Starting January 15 Sunday church services will be held in the Church Center (to conserve on the fuel bill)

Starting January 15 - ZUMBA resumes - Sundays 1:00pm, Church Center

Sundays, 7:00pm or Tuesdays - 10:00am - Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew -  (choose the date / time that suits you best; come any time) (More...)

Pulpit Nominating Committee: Victor Caamaño, Don Borsh, A. George Davis, Sue Waters, Devon Shipp, Sharon Pickard, and (from the floor) Dianne Morrison.

LINK to "Cottage Group Meetings Report"

NEEDED:

ADULT VOLUNTEERS to provide nursery coverage during Sunday services. Sign-up sheet is posted on the door of classroom 1.

BOTTLE REFUNDS TO HELP FUND THE ROOFING PROJECT: Return your bottles to CJ's in the SeaComm Plaza on Market St - and tell them to send your refund to our ROOFING PROJECT.

HOSTS FOR COLLEGE DINNERS - If you would like to host a dinner in your home spring semester, 2012, contact Eleanor Hopke, Julie Miller or Terry de la Vega.

ROOF pledges needed for ongoing renovations. All additional donations also received with gratitude. (More...)

HP and Lexmark spent ink cartridges for recycling perks (More...)

The January Parish Paper is now online. (Articles for the February Parish Paper are due on or before Thursday, January 26 at noon)

BICENTENNIAL NOTES

IN 2011 WE CELEBRATE OUR 200th YEAR!
A BICENTENNIAL HISTORY OF POTSDAM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
(excerpts from documents and photos in our archive)

Chapter One: Establishing Our Church, 1811-1820


VISIT THE BICENTENNIAL WEB PAGE

ON SALE
(during Sunday coffee hour or at the church office 1-4 M-F):
Bicentennial Cookbook - SPECIAL SALE PRICE - $8 
Bicentennial Slate -- a genuine piece of the church with the bicentennial logo on it - $15

NEW! 2-CD's OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC
(recorded at our church)
COST $15 (More...)

MORE MUSIC CD's - $10 each
Vol. 1 and Vol. 2: "Praising the Lord with Our Music" - two CD's featuring the "Westminster Choir," "Philhymnonic," "Handbell Choir," "Ring 'n Sing" children's choir, and the youth "Chapel Choir" along with various solo and ensemble groups
One volume: "Bicentennial Music Celebration" (recorded live on April 3, 2011)

LINK to some photos of our Bicentennial Banquet on Pentecost Sunday, June 12, 2011.

MISSION

New Donation Methods for Helping Hands - fill up the shopping cart in the narthax.  (More...)

HELPING HANDS: FOOD Items needed in January: spaghetti sauce and canned fruit. In addition, a BLANKET DRIVE has been started, Household items (towels, sheets, pots/pans, etc, even gently-used furniture gratefully accepted. Also looking for FIREWOOD. The federal Heating Asistance Program has been cut in half and many North Country folk need your help to keep warm this winter. (More...)

CORC Store Needs Trash Bags
The CORC store is in need of 13 gallon tall completely clear kitchen trash bags. Drop off your donated bags Tues-Sat. 11am-5pm. Thanks!

MINC Emergency Funds Needed!  The Fund is very low and the heating season is  upon us. We ask for your generous support four our neighbors. Send contributions to: Marilyn Johnson, 46 May Road, Potsdam, NY 13676 or  mail or hand deliver your check...