Author: Rev. Katrina Hebb

Good Morning, Church!

It’s a soggy, wet morning today, but it comes at the end of a full week of sunshine. I hope you enjoyed the string of sunny days we had. I have to admit, every morning I woke up this week, I couldn’t believe that we had yet another day of blue skies to enjoy. It’s funny how our bodies grow accustomed to the usual rhythm of cloudiness. But I love it when the sunshine interrupts “business as usual!” 

This is going to be a busy week! Here’s what’s ahead: 

Thinking about Pledging

This Sunday, Dale Hobson will be talking to us about deciding what we are able to pledge to our church family for the coming year. Following that, pledge cards will be sent out to your home. Please be praying about what God might be calling you to give in this coming year. If you have means to give, we’re hoping that you can turn in your pledge card by Dec. 15th.

Men’s Lunch

This month, the men will be meeting at Jake’s in Hannawa Falls, this coming Wednesday, the 17th at 11:30am. If you plan to attend, please let Bob Pickard know so that he can make the reservation.

Women’s Lunch

The very next day, Thursday, Nov. 18th, at 11:30am, the women of the church are invited to meet up at Jake’s as well. If you plan to attend, please let Sharon Pickard know so that she can make the reservation. These lunches are a chance for us to visit and socialize together. 

*If you need a ride, please either email me back or get in touch with Sharon Pickard, so that we can arrange for someone to come pick you up. 

Learn to Sing Like a Professional

A one-hour online program featuringDr. Colleen Skull, assistant professor of voice at the Crane School of Music, sponsored by the Potsdam Interfaith Community.

Many faith traditions provide opportunities for congregational singing, but most congregations don’t sound like the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square, or the Sistine Chapel Choir. For any individual who sings in a congregation or a choir, or for those who want to learn to sing, Dr. Colleen Skull, assistant professor of voice at the Crane School of Music, will provide you with the tools necessary to develop or improve your own singing voice.

Join Dr. Skull online on Thursday, November 18 at 7 p.m. for “Learn to Sing Like a Professional,” for a one-hour, interactive program that will be held via Zoom.

The program is sponsored by the Potsdam Interfaith Community as part of its online learning series. It is free and open to the public.

 ZOOM LINK: https://potsdam-edu.zoom.us/j/84183265650?pwd=V2o3d3VtZXh2NnRhaXFKL0JUSWJRQT09

Last Call for Books for Kenya

If you still planned to bring in a book to donate to Rev. Enoch’s children’s library at his church in Kenya, this is the Sunday to bring it in. We’ve got a nice cache of books to send, and Sue will be packaging them up next week to ship off. 

Looking Ahead: 

Our next Big Shift Conversation will take place after worship on Sunday, December 5th.We’ve been meeting on the third Sunday of the month, but since Thanksgiving is coming, Session decided to move it to after the holiday. 

PIC Game Night: We will be hosting a game night at the church on Thursday, Dec. 9th at 6:30pm. 

Care Packages for Nurses on the 3rd Floor Med Serg Unit: On Dec. 12th, following the worship service, we will be gathering to put together Christmas care packages for our nurses one more time. We will need to bring granola bars, dried fruits, nuts, candies, and crackers to put together these small gift bags. If you plan to donate items, please either let me or Sharon Pickard know. (Each bag has a $5 cap for goodies.) 

Praying for Each Other

Friends, there are many of us who are struggling right now– in our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and our circumstances. As a church family, we are called to care for one another, and that includes lifting each other up in prayer. Will you spend some time this week praying for someone you know? Will you take a moment to reach out to this person with a kind word or deed? (Our actions are as much a part of our prayers as our thoughts are.) 

Ecclesiastes tells us that:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 

So let us care for one another this week! 

Holding You in the Light,
Pastor Katrina

Good afternoon, Church!

It’s a beautiful sunny day outside. Are your cats laying in the sun beams? Are you sitting in the sun beams? 

Here’s today’s news: 

Daylight Savings Time

Tomorrow night daylight savings time ends. Make sure you turn your clock back an hour– otherwise you’ll be an hour early for Sunday worship! 

2022 Pledges

It’s time to start thinking about your pledge for the coming year. Next week Dale Hobson, our trusty stewardship chair, will be sending a letter to you in the snail mail asking you to consider your giving for 2022. Will you be in prayer about what God is calling you to give this coming year? 

We’re hoping that you’ll be able to return these pledge forms by the end of November. The reason being– Session will be putting together a budget in December for the coming year, and we need to know what we have to work with financially. 

PIC Game Night

The Potsdam Interfaith Community, which we participate in, will be hosting its annual Game Night at our church on Thursday, December 9th at 6:30pm. Folks from the congregations that participate in PIC are invited to come and play board games in the Center. Would you like to join in the fun? We’re going to spread tables out across the room and have different games going on in all the corners. 

*Masks will be required. 

Another Round of Care Packages for Nurses at CPH

Remember the wonderful care packages we put together for the 3rd floor Med Serg unit at the hospital last month? PIC has decided to do one more round of appreciation for nurses and janitors at the hospital for the holiday season. Would you be able to bring in a few more granola bars, nuts, candies, chocolates, and dried fruits on December 12th? (There’s a $5 limit per bag, so we don’t need to go crazy on items.)

We will stick around after the service that Sunday to assemble the care packages and write our notes of appreciation. 

If you remember, one of the nurses from our unit actually came to church the next Sunday to say how much they appreciated this gift– so we know that we’re bringing joy to their lives! 

Holiday Blues? 

Friends, the holidays are growing near. Sometimes this season is welcomed in our lives, and other times it’s not. If you’re one of those folks who isn’t looking forward to celebrating the holidays, just know that you’re not alone. This is a time when our greatest sorrows often rise to the surface. And it’s a time when our family conflicts can start to rub in uncomfortable ways. 

Today I invite you to consider what you need to do to help care for yourself in the next six weeks. Do you need to work on a relationship? Do you need to say “no” to an invitation? Do you need to say “yes” to doing something different? If your current holiday traditions don’t serve you or the needs of your family, you have the opportunity to do something that does. God gives us the ability to make changes for ourselves when we need them. God created us to be adapters! So put some thought into what would be life-giving this holiday season, and then may God give you the courage to seek it out. 

I hope to see you at worship this Sunday!

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Katrina

Good morning to you, Church!

It’s real fall out there– nippy and frosty this morning! Thankfully the sun is shining today, but jack frost is still frolicking in the shaded areas. 

It’s a sure sign that winter is on its way. Are you ready for it? I hope you’ve located your ice scraper and that you’re beginning to button up your homes for the cold weather coming. (I’ve got the wood stove going this morning in our house, so it’s toasty warm.) 

Here are this week’s announcements: 

Last Week’s Big Shift Conversation

Last week we had 18 people stay for our second Big Shift conversation, and it went well. This time we talked about harder things. We brainstormed possible ideas for what we might do to alleviate the financial strain of living in a building beyond our financial means. Here were some of our ideas: 

Could we sell the whole building and meet as a church in a different (less expensive) location? 

Could we sell the sanctuary and keep the community center, and meet as a congregation in the center? 

Could we raise enough money to create an endowment that would keep the building going? 

Could we sell our organ and use the money to start that endowment? Or sell the organ and stay in the building for a few more years? 

Could we find other congregations that might want to move into our building and split the costs of maintaining it? 

We don’t get to know right now which of these ideas might be the right choice for us, but at least we’re starting to think about it. Dick Lunt, who has attended a Quaker church with his wife Lora for many decades, explained to us that their Quaker congregation has lived its life in Potsdam for over 50 years without actually owning a building. Over the years they have met at the Newman Center, our church building, and are currently housed in the Christian Science Church’s building. In his explanation to us of how the Quaker church operates, he offered a model for how we might be able to find a different way for ourselves in the future. 

At our meeting we also talked about our finances. Back in December of 2020, Session put together a budget for this year. Because there were so many unknowns with Covid at the time, we planned for a worst-case scenario, which included an $80,000 deficit. Thankfully, now that most of 2021 is over, we’ve discovered that our deficit currently stands at less than $10,000 for the year (with two more months of the year to go). This is good news!! Because we haven’t been spending our assets at such a high rate, it means we will have more time to figure things out. At the beginning of 2021, it looked like we had a 2-3 year time frame to make a substantive shift, but that time line extends further when we don’t dip into our endowment at such a high rate. 

One thing we do know is that our deficit spending will increase by about $25,000 at some point in the “near” future. Currently, because of my physical conditions, the PC(USA)’s Board of Pensions offers me disability pay, which offsets my part-time pay from the church. (This has been a contributing factor to our lower deficit spending than was anticipated.) I don’t know yet when I will be able to return to full time work, but when I do, I will go off of disability and the church will have to pay for my entire salary. In the meantime, we give thanks for this financial silver-lining, which has cushioned our finances! 

During our meeting, a woman who has recently started attending, brought up the possibility of inviting more folks to join our congregation. She had some helpful ideas to offer– like starting up with Sunday School again! (She and I are on the same brain wave!) Right now however, because of Covid, we’ve had to put this idea on hold. But she’s definitely right! We can work towards inviting new folks to join our family. My hope is that when the Delta virus dies down we will be able to make a concerted effort towards this goal. 

In all reality though, even if we do get a number of new folks coming (and pledging), it won’t be enough to boost our finances to the point that we could afford to stay in our building as we have been. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t put ourselves out there and try! We can certainly do both things at the same time– work on making a Big Shift and invite folks to join us! I hope that when the time comes, we can start having bi-annual “Bring a Friend to Church Sundays,” where we celebrate our friends and neighbors and share a delicious meal together afterwards! Would you be up for that?  

Office Administrator

Our office administrator, Claire Geagan, has come down with Covid and will be out of the office for the next 10 days. Please be patient with us if phone calls are not returned in a timely manner until she returns. If you need to get a hold of someone in the meantime, the best way to do it is via email. The church’s email is p1presch@gmail.com. 

Bell Ringers! 

This Saturday (the 30th) at 6pm you are invited to come and take a turn at pulling the giant rope in the bell tower that rings our church bells. From 6-6:30pm, churches all over the world will be ringing their bells to warn our communities about climate change. This is in anticipation of the next Climate Change Summit happening in Glasgow, Scotland, which begins on Sunday the 31st. 

As people of faith, it’s our spiritual duty to work on reducing our emissions. God has given us this earth to care for and tend to, and we need to start making some big shifts in our fossil fuel consumption, if we’re going to have a healthy planet to live on in the future! 

Reformation Sunday!

This Sunday, October 31st, we celebrate our reformed heritage and Pastor Rich Hinkle will be preaching and leading worship for us this Sunday! 

Making Changes

Friends, whether it’s at the church level or the global level, we are on the brink of needing to shift how we live in the world. Our habits, our institutions, and our social structures all need to shift in new ways if we’re going to live into this moment of history in healthy, life-sustaining ways. Fortunately for us, we serve a God who is always doing new things, and who has created in us the capacity to adapt and to change. Did you know that you’re capable of doing things differently? 

When we are little kids we’re always trying new things, but by the time we get to be adults, it’s easy to turn our habits into ruts. Ruts are ok to live in as long as they nourish life. But when we find that our ruts do not nourish us, and when they do not nourish our planet, we have the power to make new patterns and habits– ones that will create well-being. 

Today I wonder if you’re stuck in unhealthy ruts in your own, personal life. Are there things that are not sustainable in your life? Relationships perhaps? Financial patterns? Eating habits? Do you need to make some changes? God’s good news for today is that we can change!!! We have the ability to make things better for ourselves, if we decide we want to. Making changes comes with consequences, of course, and sometimes those consequences can be uncomfortable and even painful at times. But we serve a God who can help us over the hump of consequences, and help us to thrive. 

In the book of Isaiah we read that the people had been banished into exile because of unhealthy choices they had made for themselves. But God wasn’t going to let them languish in despair forever. God had a plan for change! God told the people:

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

~Isaiah 43:19

This is always God’s promise to us– to help us to do a new thing; to make a way in the wilderness and create life out of death. If only we would choose to join God in the effort. Will you join me in stretching out your “change” muscles? Together, with God by our side, we can do this! 

Stretching Out My Own Change Muscles, 
Pastor Katrina

Good Afternoon, Church!

Well, we’re finally having some typical October weather. Today is cold and rainy. Are you snuggled up inside on this damp day? I hope so!

I’ve got a few things to tell you about this week.

Memorial Concert for Lonel Woods

Tomorrow night (Saturday, 10/23), at 7:30pm, there will be a special musical event being held at Hosmer Hall to remember the late Lonel Woods, the man of “peace & love.”

Big Shift Convo

This Sunday after the worship service, we will pick up with our monthly Big Shift conversation. This month we’re going to do some preliminary brainstorming— getting creative and imagining what options might exist out there for our future. I hope you will join us for this conversation and bring your creative minds with you! When we’re faced with a major unknown, sometimes it’s helpful to fill the worry that that blank space creates in our minds with an imagined idea of what could be. The “could be” might never materialize in real life, but in the interim period of time, it can help to calm our nerves.

Hospital Fundraiser

In November, the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Guild will be using our Community Center to organize for their holiday fundraiser. This year they’re selling holiday wreaths and swags. If you’re already planning to purchase a wreath for your home, this is a great way to help support the hospital. If you’re interested, orders are due by November 2nd. (See the flyer.)

Free Yoga for Healthcare Workers at Trillium

Terry de la Vega is teaching a special Yoga class at Trillium on Fridays, 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm, and making it free for any healthcare worker. If you, or someone you know, is a healthcare worker, feel free to take advantage of this special gift! (See the flyer for details.) 

Check In

Friends, how are you holding up today? Are you finding joy in your pandemic life? What are you doing that is meaningful and brings purpose to your life? If you feel stuck in a rut, I encourage you to offer yourself up in prayer to God. Ask for guidance. Ask for what you need. In his letter to the Phillipians, Paul explains the secret of how to make it through life. He says:

“I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

~Philippians 4:10-13

When we lean into God for our strength, we find our way! 

Holding You in the Light,
Pastor Katrina

Good afternoon, Church:

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! The leaves are starting to show their colors and the air is crisp and clear. I hope you take some time to enjoy the glories of the season! 

I don’t have much to share with you today, so this will be short and sweet. 

Mary Ellen Frackenpohl Memorial

Tomorrow we look forward to celebrating and remembering the life of Mary Ellen Frackenpohl. The service will be held at the church at 2pm, and include special music from Keilor Kastella, Brian Dunbar, the Lunts, and Julie Miller. And the Rev. Scott Barton will be with us as well. 

George Davis Interment 

Next Saturday, Oct. 9th, you are invited to attend the committal service for George Davis, to be held at the A. George Davis park at Clarkson University, at 2pm. 

Support for our Nurses and Janitors

For those of you joining in to help put together care packages for the nurses at CPH, we will be meeting together on Sunday following the worship service. 

I’m not sure when else in life so many different worshipping communities would find reason to come together to work on a project like this, but this is one of the silver linings of the pandemic. Nine congregations are joining in to offer support and encouragement to over 140 nurses and janitors at the hospital. Presbyterians, Catholics, Mormons, Christian Scientists, Muslims, Methodists, Jews, and Unitarian Universalists from both Potsdam and Canton are working together to make this happen! Thanks be to God! 

Friends, if you are struggling this week with life– whether because of Covid or because of your own personal struggles– I invite you to bring your struggles and your sorrows to God, who meets us where we’re at and offers us comfort and strength. 

Jesus says to us:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

~Matthew 11:28-29

May you find rest for your weary soul this day. 

Blessings, 
Pastor Katrina

Good day to you, Church! 

Happy Fall Y’all! This week marked the fall equinox– the day of the year when we experience equal amounts of light and darkness. Did you celebrate in any way? I sat outside and listened to the wind rustling in the trees, savoring the sound for just a little while longer. Soon enough, the leaves will put on their colorful display and then bid us adieu! 

Today I have just a few things to tell you about. 

Big Shift Discussion

We held our first Big Shift conversation this last Sunday at church. Twenty-two people came to participate and we had a constructive dialogue. At the end, I asked everyone to go around and give one word to describe how they felt at the end of the discussion. Many people used words like “hopeful,” “connected,” and “curious.” If we can choose to stay in this sweet spot of trusting in God’s grace for us, I truly believe that we will make it through this process of finding a new way to be church. 

Our next Big Shift conversation will take place at the end of October. I hope you’ll consider joining us!

New Office Administrator Coming

Kate Waters has served as our trusty office admin for the last couple of years, but now it’s time for us to say good-bye. Kate will be moving to Connecticut at the end of September and we wish her well! She’s kept us organized and on schedule, and we appreciate all she has done for us.

To fill her shoes, we’ve hired a young woman named Claire Geagan. Claire recently graduated from SLU and has the skills necessary to keep us on our toes. She’s currently training with Kate and will take the reins on her own at the beginning of October. If you see her around, pop in and introduce yourself! (She will likely be in on Mondays and Fridays/Saturdays). 

Rev. Montovani to Preach this Sunday

Rev. Marti Montovani will be preaching and leading worship for us this Sunday, September 26th. 

Supporting our Nurses at CPH

The Potsdam Interfaith Community (PIC) is getting close to having enough congregations involved in this service project to shower the entire nursing staff and environmental services staff at CPH with love and encouragement. 

Our church had originally signed up for the OB unit, but after having to shuffle some things around, we are now the proud adopting congregation of the 3rd Floor Med/Surg Unit, which has 17 nurses and CNAs. 

I know that some of you had planned to whip up batches of brownies and cookies to show your love, but because of concern for Covid it’s (unfortunately) been decided that we need to refrain from making home-made goodies and purchase things instead. 

To keep things from getting too expensive however, PIC has decided to put a $5 cap on each package. So we will be purchasing small things like granola bars, candies, nuts, dried fruit, and pre-packaged cookies, etc. 

If you had originally signed up to bake, but can’t afford to buy goodies instead, don’t worry. I think we will have enough people who can donate money to cover the cost of the packages. But we still need people to do the shopping, and we’ll need a group of us to come together one day to write note cards and assemble the packages– so there will still be jobs to volunteer for if you’re interested! 

Sharon Pickard will be holding a short discussion after church on Sunday to go over details. If you’d like to participate, make sure you talk with her.  

I recently spoke with a friend of mine who works on the 3rd Floor Med/Surg Unit. She said that nurses at CPH are tired and weary, stressed out, and frustrated right now. So, this is the perfect time for us to hold them in the light of God’s love!

Passing Through HeadStart Classrooms 

I received an email this week from one of the teachers at HeadStart. They’ve noticed that things in their classroom have been disheveled the last couple of weeks after we’ve passed through their space on our way to the sanctuary. Last week we had young visitors who didn’t know that they weren’t supposed to be playing in the classrooms (which explains why toys had been played with), but this is a general reminder to all of us to “keep it moving” as we walk through their classrooms. If you have a bulletin to recycle or trash to toss, please do it at either the bell tower entrance or in the Center. Thanks! 

A Word of Covid Encouragement

The other day I heard a little girl bemoan, “But I’m so tired of living through a historic event!” 

Friends, are you feeling downcast right now? Maybe you’re feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed. Maybe you’ve lost your energy and you’re experiencing a case of the “blah’s” right now. If this is you, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Many of us are having a hard time at the moment. We’ve run out of steam. And that’s normal. 

When we get this way, however, it’s important to notice what’s happening to us and make it a priority to take care of ourselves. 

A good question to ask is, “What do I need right now?” 

Do you need a hug? Or a visit with a friend? Maybe you need to get out of your house and breathe some different air. Perhaps a long walk or some exercise would help. Do you need to turn the news off and watch a funny movie? Or get on your knees and offer your burden to God? 

Someday things won’t be this hard, but for right now we need to be serious about having tender, loving care for ourselves. And this is the time to surrender our needs to God and ask for help to see us through. 

Psalms reminds us:

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 32:7-8 

This week, I encourage you to ask God for help when you need a hiding place or a song of deliverance. And remember that God gives us what we need to get by– we only need ask for it. 

Holding the faith line,
Pastor Katrina

Good afternoon, Church!

Have you been enjoying the lovely fall weather we’re having? The sun’s been shining and the air is warm and inviting. I hope you’re soaking up these beautiful days! 

I want to remind you that we will be having our very first Big Shift conversation in the Center following worship on Sunday. We’ll have a few minutes to chat and visit right after the service, and then we’ll head over to begin our work. To kick off such a special and important event, session has been working on a fun project that will be unveiled during the worship service. I hope you plan to join us! 

Also, as quick reminders:

— Rev. Marti Montovani will be preaching and leading worship Sunday, September 26.

— A memorial service for Mary Ellen Frackenpohl will be Saturday, October 2 at 2 pm.

Today I want to tell you about an exciting opportunity we have to be part of supporting our greater Potsdam community. If you weren’t already aware, our church participates in the Potsdam Interfaith Community (also known as PIC). PIC includes a group of 7 to 8 worshiping congregations in Potsdam who are committed to supporting one another, teaching each other about our particular faith/denominations, and working on service projects together.

After talking with local nurses at the Canton-Potsdam Hospital, some of us at PIC have come to learn that morale is low and exhaustion is high as a result of the continuing pandemic. So at our latest PIC meeting, we discussed collectively supporting both the nurses and the environmental services staff at CPH. 

The idea is for each congregation to “adopt” a unit/department of nurses or janitors at the hospital, and offer notes of encouragement and small care packages while Covid continues to carry on— to let them know that we care about them.

This is a gargantuan undertaking, given how many people work at the hospital, and it’s why the whole PIC community is needed to pull off this project. Thankfully, nearly all of the congregations involved in PIC are participating— some taking on large rolls and others small rolls. 

Since we are a small congregation at the Presbyterian Church, I signed us up for one of the smallest units, the obstetrics unit. The idea is that once a month (during this time of Covid) we would make care packages for the eight nurses that work on this unit and deliver them to the front door of the hospital. We can make cards, perhaps include a picture of our congregation waving our thanks, and include both homemade treats and store-bought goodies.

Would you be willing to help with this effort? Might you be willing to make a batch of cookies? Or go to the store and buy chocolates, fruit, or nuts? Would you be willing to write a note of thanks and gratitude? If so, will you email me back and let me know that you’re willing to participate in some way? 

I’m really proud that we can be part of this effort. We will be joining the Catholic Church, the Methodist, the Mormon Church, the local Majid, the Christian Science Church, the Lutherans, and the UU church in Canton. 

It’s not every day that people with such differences in faith choose to work together for the betterment of our community, but this is something we can all do together to support our healthcare workers. 

On another note, Gail and Roy Schaberg recently let me know that a former member of our church, Floyd Callahan, has passed away. Perhaps some of you knew him and have fond memories. I have an address for Floyd’s family if you’d like to send a card. Just email me back and I’ll forward you the address.

Friends, Covid numbers are still very high in our county and the hospital is filled to near capacity. Even if you do not choose to help support our nurses with care package items, please keep them in your prayers. Whether or not they work directly with Covid patients, they’re tired and weary. So let’s hold them in the light of God’s love. 

And finally, for those of you who are also tired and weary, I will offer this word from the Word: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.“

Psalm 31:24

Yours in Faith,
Pastor Katrina

Good Day to you Church!

It’s a true fall day outside– oscillating between sunshine and clouds. When the sun peaks out it’s warm and cozy, but when it disappears the air is cool and breezy. Do you love this weather? Does it make you anxious? Autumn has a certain set of feelings that accompanies it. I don’t know how to describe the stirrings that it creates within, but our bodies definitely absorb the change in seasons with mixed emotions. What are your favorite aspects of fall? I’d love to hear, if you have the desire to share. 

Here’s the news for this week: 

1. This coming Thursday, the 16th, at 11:30am, the men’s group will meet for lunch at the Potsdam Golf Club. 

2. Next Sunday, September 19th will host our first monthly all-church discussion around our church’s forthcoming “Big Shift.” We will meet following the worship service in the Center for this discussion. 

As you know, we are living under deficit spending, and will likely run out of money within the next 2-3 years if we do not make an intentional shift in how we live as the church. (The short story is that our congregation is too small to support our old, expensive building.) So what might God be calling us to next? What could “church” look like for us in the future? None of us knows the answer to these questions right now, but together we will begin to decipher God’s new vision for us through these Big Shift discussions. 

Now, some of us get a lump in our throats even thinking about this topic, but I want to assure you that even though this can be a scary experience, God is going to be with us. And it’s OK to be going through this process. Before I came to be your pastor, I worked for two different congregations in Rochester that both went through this experience. It was hard work for them to face their reality and look to a new (and different) future, but by the end of their process, more than one person had decided that this challenge was the best thing that had ever happened to their congregations. It brought them together as a family, it revitalized their commitment to living the gospel, and it created new energy and excitement for being God’s church. 

Sometimes, the hardest, most terrifying things we might ever do in our lives turn out to be the best things that could have ever happened to us. I feel confident that this could be our story, and I believe with all my heart that God will carry us through– no matter what happens next. So, no matter how worried, scared, angry, or distraught you are at our current situation, I hope that you will be brave enough to join us for these conversations. Our church needs you right now– we need your listening ears, your thoughtful ideas, and your faithful commitment. Together we will discern God’s new chapter for us. 

3. Sunday, September 26th, the Rev. Marti Montovani will be preaching and leading worship. 

4. Mary Ellen Frackenpol’s memorial service will be held Saturday, October 2nd at 2pm in the sanctuary. The Rev. Scott Barton will be co-officiating with me, and we will have special music to commemorate Mary Ellen’s life. 

5. Saturday, October 9th, at 2pm, there will be a small gathering to inter the cremains of George Davis down at the A. George Davis Park, on the Clarkson campus (down by the river). You are invited to attend. *Please note that we will be having a full memorial service for George next July at our church. 

6. Here is an Update Regarding Progress of High School Students Supported in Kenya, by Dave Wells.

It is a pleasure to report progress on the following Kenyan high school students supported from Potsdam. These students were identified by Joanina Gicobi some time ago and we have been able to continue support for their education since they commenced high school.

1. Eric Nyaga Njagi was a senior this past year at Tharaka Boys High School and successfully completed his studies. He is now a high school graduate and no longer requires our support!

2. Stella Kainda Charles was a senior this past year at Rubate High School and successfully completed her studies. She is now a high school graduate and no longer requires our support!

3. Christine Kawira Njeri is currently a senior at Rubate High School and her annual fee of $388.00 is in the process of being met. This will be an important year for her to earn excellent grades if she is to pursue further education following high school, however she is expected to satisfactorily earn her diploma this year.

4. Caxton Koome Kiura is currently a senior at Tharaka Boy’s High School and his annual fee of $405 is in the process of being met. His academic progress continues to be excellent and he is expected to earn his diploma this year. We are hopeful that he will continue his pursuit of education following high school.

5. David Mutugi Macharia is currently a junior at Tharaka Boy’s High School and his annual fee of $405 is in the process of being met. His academic progress continues to be excellent.

6. Annicy Kaimuri Gichovi is a junior at Njuri High School and her annual fee of $406 is in the process of being met. She is working very hard to improve performance so that she will be able to continue her education following high school.

For obvious reasons such as Covid, this has been a most difficult year for each of these six students and we are so grateful that they continue to make good progress with their education.

These students have come into our lives as a result of the relationship we have built with Joanina Gicobi and her younger sister, Juster (who is currently a student at Clarkson). We met Joanina through Bob Donaldson, whom some of you may remember. Bob Donaldson graduated from Clarkson in chemical engineering in 1951, and attended our church during his time in Potsdam. After graduating, he went on to serve in the Army, worked in industry, and became involved with mission work through the Presbyterian Church congregation where he was living. That connection took him to Kenya a handful of years ago, where he was introduced to a young, promising student named Joanina. He made it possible for Joanina to attend Clarkson, and she attended our church and sang in the choir during her four years in Potsdam. As you may be aware, Joanina is now in the middle of her PhD pursuit at the Mayo Clinic working in immunology.

Since then, Joanina has helped our congregation identify other Kenyan high school students worthy of support in their pursuit of a diploma. A few years ago, Joanina gave us a presentation on how enabling a Kenyan student to attend high school can raise the standard of living for that student’s entire family. Currently, a group of us are supporting four students as they continue to progress toward graduation from high school in Kenya. 

Additionally, we also have Juster Gichovi commencing her junior year in Chemical Engineering – she is a younger sister of Joanina and attends our church. You have seen updates regarding her progress as she completed last semester with a course overload on Dean’s List!

September 18th-19th, Bob Donaldson will be in town with family members, along with Joanina and her husband Chris, to celebrate Bob’s 70^th class reunion, and also to further promote the Bridges to Africa program at Clarkson. Bob and some of his family will be worshiping with us that Sunday. Please come and welcome Bob back and take a moment to consider how careful efforts can have such a long-lasting positive impact.

Regards,
Dave Wells

Friends, be safe this weekend as you enjoy the fall weather! I look forward to seeing you in church!

Blessings,
Pastor Katrina