Author: Rev. Katrina Hebb

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

Hello dear Hearts, 

This is some serious muggy weather we’ve been having. Are you holding up OK?

News for the week:

Rev. Shaun to Preach

Rev. Shaun Whitehead will be preaching for us this Sunday, as I will be away at my family reunion in New Hampshire.

Heating System

Merkley’s Brothers are working this week to fix the heating system in the Community Center. So far, things are going well!

The Roof

Dave Wells met with the owner of RSI construction this week to get an estimate together for a galvanized roof on the sanctuary. A couple of years ago Bob Pickard had gotten estimates to replace the roof with copper or slate, but we didn’t have an estimate for metal roofing. 

According to RSI, the good news is that the roof is in pretty good shape and does NOT need to be replaced at this time. That said, some of the shingles on the tourettes and the decking beneath them do need to be replaced. (If you’ve noticed, we have a few missing shingles in places.) RSI will put together an estimate for us for this work. 

Depending on when we get the estimate in, we may be able to apply for funding from the Rock Charitable Grant for this work— for this year’s grant cycle. (If the timing doesn’t work out well for this year however, we will definitely be able to apply next year.) Given the specifications of the grant, I am hopeful that we have a decent shot at getting funding! 

An Update on Humaira: 

As you are aware from the news, the situation in Afghanistan grows more intense by the day. Humaira is currently safe in Islamabad, Pakistan, but has grown very concerned about her family, whom she left behind. Her parents and seven younger siblings live in Kabul and cannot easily leave Afghanistan.

After being denied a visa to study in the US, Humaira put in a new visa application and received a new interview date of August 24. Senator Gillibrand’s office said they would write urgent letters to support Humaira’s application to the embassy and the State Department, but we don’t get to know right now if that will be enough to grant her a visa. Please continue to pray for Humaira, her family, the Taliban, and the whole of Afghanistan, as they all move into the next, new chapter of their history.

Big Shift Conversations

Session met tonight and decided that our first all-church forum on The Big Shift will take place after church on Sunday, September 19th. I had hoped that we might be able to share a meal together before our discussion, but given the situation with Covid, it looks like we will have to stick with conversation only. 

As the date draws closer, I’ll give you more detail about what to expect on the 19th and in the months following. 

Well, I’m headed to pack my bag and wrangle the young’uns to do the same. We’re leaving at 6 am for our travels, so it’s early to bed for me! 

Blesings,
Pastor Katrina

p.s. Friends, please continue to keep Ron Kaiser in your prayers. He has returned back to work after a stint at the hospital in Burlington earlier this week, but he still struggles with heart issues.

Good morning, Church!

What a beautiful summer day we’re having today. I had given up hoping that we might have one more burst of summer weather before fall sets in, so I am joyfully soaking up this week’s heat! 

Here’s the news this week:

News on Humaira

Humaira, the brave, young woman coming to Clarkson this fall from Afghanistan, left Kabul this week and flew into Islamabad, Pakistan, to await an interview with the US Embassy for her visa. She is currently staying in an inexpensive guest house. It is a relief that she was able to leave. The violence and turmoil in Afghanistan increase daily as the US wraps up its pullout from the country. Humaira and a Clarkson student from Pakistan are in contact with one another to discuss personal safety and housing in Islamabad.

Humaira filed her visa application last month and requested an interview with the embassy in Pakistan (at the time the embassy in Kabul was closed due to COVID). The embassy received the application and scheduled her for an interview on September 14. The trouble with that is Clarkson starts their semester at the end of August and it leaves Humaira in Islamabad for another six weeks. Humaira sent off a request for an emergency interview but that was denied. That said, Humaira’s supporters here in the North Country have had ongoing contact with Senator Gillibrand’s office about Humaira’s situation and they have offered assistance. Last week they sent a letter to the embassy in Pakistan stating their interest in Humaira’s case and requested an emergency interview for her. At this point, we are waiting to hear the embassy’s response. 

Humaira’s thoughts about life in Afghanistan – “I think if the Taliban come to power, there would be no chance for girls to continue their education. In regions that are under the control of the Taliban now, they have told people to not send their kids to school. However, in those areas everyone is just trying to save their life and their family by hiding or escaping so education is not a priority for them right now. Also, I have heard in the news that no women are allowed to go to work anymore in the areas under the control of the Taliban. So, it is clear that once they come to power, girls will not be able to continue their education as it is against the Taliban beliefs. And that is a big concern.” 

Please be praying for her and her situation, as she awaits her visa interview. And please be praying for the myriad of other Afghanis attempting to flee their country in the coming months. 

Please also be praying for Juster Gichovi, Lydia Stauffer, Connor Newcombe, and our other local college students, as they prepare for another potentially topsy-turvy year at school. They, along with our younger learners and our teachers continue to face serious challenges as they prepare for the upcoming school year.

Friends, the concerns we’re facing right now with the Delta variant of the Covid virus are concerning for all of us. Just when we felt like perhaps we could breathe a little easier, things are getting concerning again. I know that fear and worry tug on our hearts and our minds, but let us not give into their power. It is possible to hold onto joy, and peace, and meaning/purpose in our lives, even with storm clouds surrounding us. 

In the book of Nehemiah, the people have just been through major trauma– they have lived in exile in Babylon for 70 years and have recently made the harrowing journey through the wilderness back to their homeland of Jerusalem, which lies in rubble. They are tired, depressed, anxious, and sorrowful, and they bring this energy to their worship. Nehemiah, their leader, sees the countenance of their hearts and instructs them to “get up!” To shake off the darkness that holds them captive. 

He says, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

–Nehemiah 8:9-10

It reminds me of a poem by Jack Gilbert called A Brief for the Defense.

Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter everywhere. If babies
are not starving someplace, they are starving somewhere else. 
With flies in their nostrils.
But we enjoy our lives because that’s what God wants.
Otherwise the mornings before summer dawn would not
be made so fine.

The Bengal tiger would not be fashioned so miraculously well. 
The poor women at the fountain are laughing together between
the suffering they have known and the awfulness in their future, 
smiling and laughing while somebody in the village is very sick.
There is laughter every day in the terrible streets of Calcutta, 
and the women laugh in the cages of Bombay.

If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction,
we lessen the importance of their deprivation.
We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
furnace of this world. 

To make injustice the only
measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.
If the locomotive of the Lord runs us down,
we should give thanks that the end had magnitude.

We must admit there will be music despite everything.
We stand at the prow again of a small ship anchored late at night in the tiny port
looking over to the sleeping island: the waterfront is three shuttered cafés and one naked light burning.

To hear the faint sound of oars in the silence as a rowboat
comes slowly out and then goes back is truly worth
all the years of sorrow that are to come.

May we remember this day that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and may we risk delight and accept our gladness… even in the ruthless furnace of this world! 

Laughing with the poor women at the fountain,
Pastor Katrina

Good morning, Church!

I’m headed off on vacation in a bit, but I wanted to drop a quick line and let you know the results of our rummage sale. 

Beth Grace reported on Sunday morning that we made $2,025!! Wowwieee! Isn’t that amazing? What a gift! 

I want to give a shout out to everyone who came and helped make this possible. Beth Grace and Sue Waters– thank you for your organizing power and dedication to see this through. 

Thanks to Ron and Beth Grace’s son and grandsons, who set up tables and hauled things from the basement. Thanks to Lynn (Beth Grace’s daughter), Sharon, Renee, Gail, Terry, Dale, Robin, Pat, Lydia, Sarah, Isaiah, Levi, Katrina, Cyndy, Julie, Cynthia, and others for coming to get things organized, to work the sale, and then to help take everything down. (Am I missing anyone?) 

It takes a village to pull off a rummage sale, and this week the whole village showed up! 

Friends, some of you are feeling frustrated that we’re still wearing masks during Sunday worship, so I wanted to bring those frustrations to the light and explain why Session has not yet changed our mask policy. To date, St. Lawrence County is only at a 60% vaccination rate, which isn’t at the level needed to reach herd immunity (experts say we need to be at 70-90% vaccination rates to achieve that). The Delta strain is causing a rise in cases in places where herd immunity has not been reached, and while we have folks in our congregation who haven’t received the vaccine, and because we also have folks who are seriously immuno-compromised, Session feels strongly that we need to continue to mask during worship. 

As the body of Christ, it’s our collective job to make sure that church is a safe place for everybody to be. I know that it’s frustrating to have to don a mask if you’re vaccinated, especially if you’ve grown accustomed to not wearing one in other parts of your life. But our region is not yet out of the woods, and so the needs of the whole still outweigh the needs of the individual. 

Does that make sense?

Alright dear Hearts, I’ll be back in two weeks. May God bless you until I see you again!

In Faith,
Pastor Katrina

p.s. A happy birthday to Helen Brouwer, who turned 90 this last week! 

A soggy “good morning” to you, Church!

It’s been a wet few days with cool temps. Have you been enjoying these cooler days? If you’re like me you had to pull out a sweater and turn on the heat in the car! 

Rummage Sale Saturday 8:30 – 4:30

I’m headed off to help out with the rummage sale again today. Yesterday the Center was like a small beehive with people buzzing all around. It was so much fun to get to be with everyone working on a project together! And we have so many things to offer, it’s amazing. We even had to borrow a couple tables from the sanctuary, there’s so much stuff! There’s a beautiful queen size bed frame, lamps, pottery, a canoe, sporting equipment, toys, books, CDs, a sewing machine, crafts, kitchenware, baby gear, and clothes for the whole family. Whooie! 

If you have an hour to spare today, come on down to help unpack boxes and organize things. Or, come tomorrow and help manage the traffic. Or help on the other end of the weekend with cleaning up. There’s plenty of ways to help out! (And we need it. Beth Grace and Sue can’t do this alone.) 

The sale will be held on Saturday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. 

Wells 50th Anniversary

In other news, today I’d like to offer a big shout out of joyful celebration to Jane and Dave Wells. They’re celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with their kids and grandkids this weekend! 

Let’s remember to offer them our congratulations when we see them next. 

Have you been married for 50 years? Or close to it? I’d love to hear any advice or wisdom you’d have to offer to the rest of us. What’s gotten you through those years?

Friends, even with this wetter weather, I hope that you are reveling in the joys of summer. LIfe is still wearisome and hard some days I know, but it’s a good day to be alive! 

“This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

Psalm 118:24

Savoring raspberries and the sound of rustling leaves in the wind,
Pastor Katrina

Good Morning to you, Church!

Today is cool and breezy, a much welcome reprieve after the scorching temps from earlier this week. How do you do in the heat? Do you wilt like lettuce? Or, like me, do you look forward to the warmer weather?

I am saddened this week that strawberry season is coming to a close, but we ate the first 9 ripe raspberries of the season at our house yesterday, and blueberries will soon be on their way! Hooray for summer!

Here’s the news for this week:  

July Worship Schedule

I’ll be taking vacation this month, so I wanted to let you know the plan for worship for the next few Sundays.

July 4th: Rev. Shaun Whitehead will be preaching for us.

July 11th I will lead worship.

July 18th Rev. Rich Hinkle, recently retired from the Scotch Presbyterian Church, will be filling in at the pulpit.

July 25th Rev. Shaun will be back.

In August, things will be back to normal.

Humaira’s Project

We have an exciting ministry opportunity before us that session has decided we should think about getting involved with as a church. Let me tell you about it, to see what you think. 

Here is a short letter written by a young Afghani woman named Humaira. 

A handful of years ago she met Sandy Maine (who some of you may know) when they were both involved in a platform that taught English as a second language.

Sandy recognized then that Humaira was a special person— she was passionate and driven, intelligent, determined to get an education, and she desired to contribute to her country’s well being, despite living under the crushing influence of the Taliban’s patriarchy.

Humaira graduated from high school two years ago (which is a major accomplishment for a young woman in that country) and has been going to college since then, studying computer science at American University in Afghanistan (AUAF).

This year, by the grace of God and the hard work of a team of people in the North Country who are committed to her cause, Humaira was accepted to attend Clarkson University, where she will hopefully graduate in two more years. This is a timely miracle in Humaira’s life. Not only will it ensure that she continues her studies, but it very well may save her life— as American troops leave Afghanistan and the Taliban take further control.

Humaira’s family does not have the financial resources to send her to Clarkson however (she is one of 10 children). But that’s where we in the North Country come in. Clarkson has given Humaira $38,000/year in scholarships.  This is a great start, but she’s still going to need another $20,000-$40,000 per year to be able to come to school here.  Thankfully, nearly half of that money is for room and board, and Humaira’s team is seeking out families in Potsdam that might offer her housing—perhaps for a one-semester commitment.  

If housing is found, she will need $11,000 per semester (for four semesters) to cover her other expenses.

So far, there are a number of different groups of local people who have signed on to help support Humaira. The Canton UU Church is offering support, other Potsdam Interfaith Community (PIC) congregations are considering joining in, and we as a congregation are able to help some too.

Session is thinking that when it’s safe to do so (maybe this winter?), we could hold a spaghetti dinner to raise funds. There are also some of us in our congregation who are in a position to make a personal donation, and I wonder if there might be a family close to Clarkson who would be in a position to host Humaira in their home for a semester.

I don’t know the degree to which we would be able to support her, but what do you think? Do we have the energy and the excitement to put on a fundraiser dinner at some point later this year? Might you be able/willing to make a personal contribution to Humaira’s schooling needs?  Pray about it, and we will talk more about what our congregation can do later in the fall. 

In the meantime, if you’d like to make a personal pledge, see the attached letter. It has a picture of Humaira in it, more of her story, and information on where to send your pledge/donation.

Helping Humaira come to school at Clarkson is going to be a mammoth undertaking— even reaching as far as Sen. Gillibrand’s office. But together, as a whole community, we can help support this young woman as she seeks to learn skills that her country is desperately going to need in the future, and as she bravely pushes back against the toxicity of patriarchy, which seeks to strip her of her capabilities.

In the Old Testament we learn that hospitality to refugees and strangers has always been an important part of our spiritual practice. God charged the Jews to care for the stranger among them because they were once that stranger in need. That reverence for foreigners seeking shelter/help continues today. Leviticus reminds us: 

“When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”

~ Leviticus 19:33-34

I know that we as a congregation have a rich legacy of supporting students from foreign places, so let’s be in prayerful consideration of how we might join the community of North Country folks helping Humaira.

In Faith,
Pastor Katrina

Good day to you Church!

It’s the end of June— the enchanted season of fireflies, who flit in the late evening dusk. Have you seen them yet? They bring magic to the world! And today the breeze is rustling gently through the leaves of the trees, the sweet smell of cut grass is in the air, and the lilies are beginning to put on their summer show. I hope you’re savoring all that the earth is rejoicing in right now!

Just a couple of announcements to mention today for today.

Petr Zuman Calling Hours and Memorial

For those who haven’t heard, Petr Zuman has passed away. I did not have the chance to know the Zumans, but from what I hear, they were beloved church members of old. For those interested, calling hours will be tomorrow, Saturday, June 26, from 2-3 pm and a memorial service will follow at 3 pm. You can check out details at the Garner Funeral Home, Potsdam.

Rev. Whitehead Leads Worship July 4

Rev. Shaun Whitehead had been scheduled to preach this Sunday, but she and I had a miscommunication and she is unable to be here. So I will be leading worship this week and she will be filling in the following Sunday, July 4.

Also, please be in prayer for Gordon Batson, who has recently had surgery and is still in Syracuse recovering.

Consider the Lilies

Friends, even though summer is upon us, there is much in the world that is still difficult to bear. For those of us who are caught up in the cycles of “worry-warting,” a reminder from Jesus about the lilies of the fields might be a welcome thing. Here’s the Message’s translation of the famous passage from Matthew 6:

27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Looking for the lilies this week,
Pastor Katrina

Good Day to you Church!

How are you faring this week? The black flies seem to have passed on for another year, the warmer weather is beginning to hold, and summer is upon us! I hope you’re finding a way to enjoy it. I went swimming in the Grasse River a few days ago. It was definitely chilly, but felt refreshing with the hot sun beating down. 

This week Session met, and I have a few announcements for you. 

We Need You for a Congregational Meeting

We will be holding a congregational meeting after church this Sunday, June 20, to vote on using $8,000 from the Shaw Fund to use towards the heating repair work that needs to be done in the Community Center. The Shaw Fund was established to help pay for major building projects like this, but one of the requirements of being able to draw out money from it includes holding a congregational vote on use of these funds. Last year we used Shaw funds for the roofing project, and this year it is again needed if we’re going to be able to pay for the heating work that Merkley’s is scheduled to do in August. 

I know that this is short notice, but Session felt that it was better to vote now, before July hits and more folks take off for vacation, camp, etc. We need as many people here for the vote as we can get. Cynthia Coleman, our treasurer, will be at the meeting to explain how the Shaw Fund works and to answer any questions before we take a vote. 

Social Distancing No Longer Mandatory

I have wonderful, joyful news to share with you! Given New York State’s loosening of pandemic restrictions this week, Session has decided that social distancing will no longer be mandatory during Sunday worship for people who have been vaccinated. If you have chosen not to be vaccinated we ask that you continue to social distance, but the green tape separating pews will no longer be up, and it will be up to you to decide where you sit. 

For the present time, however, we are still asking everyone who comes to worship to wear a mask, and we will continue to use cantors for our congregational hymn singing. New York State as a whole has reached 70% immunity, but St. Lawrence County is only at 50% immunity, so we’re not out of the woods yet. But this shift is a wonderful change for those of us who worship together. Step by step we’re getting closer to a return to “normal!” 

For those of us who are vaccinated, these steps might not feel like they’re coming fast enough, but I need to ask you to remember that not everyone in our congregation is vaccinated. And because it’s our responsibility to ensure people’s safety when they come to church, we will continue to look out for their needs too. 

Taking a Break from Free Friday Lunch 

Church volunteers have been making lunch on Fridays for the last 5 weeks for people who could use a free, hot take-out meal. But the numbers of people coming in for lunch have been so low that we’ve decided to hit the pause button on this ministry for the time being. It’s become clear that the major draw for people coming for Free Friday Lunch is the opportunity to visit and socialize with each other, and as long as we are only able to offer the meal as take-out, they’re simply not coming. 

Sometimes people get really upset when a church stops engaging in ministry because we feel like we’ve failed in some way. But I want to give us permission to look at things differently. One thing I’ve learned about ministry is that for it to be the “right thing,” three things have to align simultaneously: (1) you have to have the right people, (2) in the right place, (3) at the right time. And if one of those things is missing, it’s just not the right moment for a ministry to happen. And that’s ok. Life is always changing, and at the present moment, this is simply not the “right time” for this ministry. Maybe in the future it will be the right time again, and when that happens, we can pick it right back up. But for now, we will listen to what life is offering, and prayerfully consider if there are other ministries God is calling us to. 

Friends, one thing the pandemic is teaching us is that being flexible is valuable– both in our daily, individual lives and in our social life together. Usually, having to adapt is something we resist. It’s hard to change how we do things, isn’t it? We crave being able to stay in control, and when external forces push us to have to redirect our habits, we often feel like we’ve somehow lost that control. That’s why we resist change. But there are other ways to engage our fears of being out of control. One way to avert being powerless in a situation is to recognize that adapting and changing can be beneficial. 

When we can look at being flexible as a useful tool in our toolbox, the curve balls that life throws our way won’t knock us off balance quite as easily. 

In Isaiah, God called out to the people to open themselves up to receive that God was doing new things–

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do 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 43:16-19

When we do not have enough of what we need– when life is not adequate to meet our needs– one tool that God makes use of on our behalf is to be able to try new things. To do things differently. There are many places in the Bible where God tries new things, and then invites us to partake of them. 

I pray that we will continue to open ourselves up to this spiritual practice– of flexibility! It can literally be a life-saver. 

Bending,
Pastor Katrina