News for the Church, 7/21/23

Good Day to you Church!

Looks like we will be getting some big rain again this afternoon and into the night. Here’s to praying we don’t have major flooding that takes roads out again. 

Today’s newsletter is going to mainly be dedicated to discussion around the sanctuary renovation project. But first, the news.

Community Supper Next Thursday

Our next Community Supper will be held Thursday, July 27th. If you’d like to help out, contact Sharon Pickard. 

Jeff Mitchell to Preach Sunday, July 30th

I will be away at my family reunion next weekend and I’m grateful that we have an in-house preacher. Thank you Jeff for your service!

Sanctuary Renovations

Last week I reported to you about where Session was at with the sanctuary renovation plan, and explained that scaffolding has fallen out of favor with both insurance companies and contractors alike because scissor lifts are so much more economical. 

I also explained that because of using a scissor lift, the pews would have to be taken out, and because they were cheaply made, it’s not going to be possible to put them back in again once they’re taken out. (Did I mention that when we took out the back two pews to make the “kid corner” a few years ago, in the process of taking them out as carefully as possible, the seats–which are made of rough cut pine–splintered into pieces?) 

Because of this, our insurance company has given us extra money to replace the pews, and up until last week, Session had been leaning towards replacing the pews with comfortable padded chairs. 

A number of you were distraught at the idea of getting rid of our pews however, and so this week at our Session meeting, we circled back to looking at different options. 

Here’s where Session is at this week: 

1. We are looking harder at what it would actually cost to have a contractor use scaffolding. I’ve made phone calls to other churches around who have had their sanctuaries painted in the last 10-15 years, and it looks like the main contractor people use, who is willing to use scaffolding, is based out of Connecticut (because no one locally will do it with scaffolding). From what I’m hearing, he’s quite expensive, but I don’t know what this means exactly. I’m working to find out exactly how much more scaffolding would cost. Once we know the cost difference, we can decide if it’s worth the extra money to be able to keep the pews we already have. 

2. We’re looking at the possibility of having the Amish build us new pews. In our dream world, we’d like to keep the end caps on our existing pews and have them used to make new pews. 

3. We’re also looking at purchasing used pews from other churches and having them shipped here. (We priced out having brand new pews made from a company that builds them and it was going to cost $34,000 for what is equivalent to 5 of our current rows of seating. We have 17 rows at the moment, so you can see that this is not a viable option.) 

Session is eager to make sure that whatever we end up choosing (in the case of new seating), that it be movable.  Last week I mentioned that this will give us versatility in the sanctuary, but I forgot to mention another very important reason for selecting movable seating. If and when we can no longer afford to stay in our building, choosing seating that is not nailed down to the floor means that we can take it with us when we move. This will save us big money in the long run, and will give us some of the “comforts of home” when everything else will be new and different. 

Friends, that said, I know that no matter what decision Session makes about the seating, someone is not going to be happy. I want to assure you however, that Session cares deeply about our sanctuary. We’re doing our best to weigh options, take in the big picture, make sure we’re being good stewards of the money we have been given, honor the historic beauty of the building, and keep in mind both our present and future situations. 

This week we received the (free) sample chair that the chair company sent to us to look at. It’s currently in the sanctuary for people to both sit on and examine. Even if you’re dead-set on us keeping pews, I hope that you will at least sit in the chair out and try to imagine what it would look like to have chairs in the sanctuary.  Being able to see things from a different perspective is an important skill for all of us to practice (even if we’re going to do our best to make pews happen).

Once we have as much useful information together as possible, we plan to have a meeting after church at coffee hour some Sunday to make sure you are up-to-date on where things are at, can give us your thoughts, and walk through this process with us. 

What’s YOUR Favorite Hymn

The other day I got an email from Heidi Jamieson. She was reaching out to request that we sing her favorite hymn some Sunday. Having her send in this request made a lightbulb go off in my brain. 

I’d love to learn what your favorite hymns are and incorporate them into our worship services when they fit thematically with a particular Sunday’s scripture reading.  So…. lay it on me! Email me back and tell me what songs you love best (and even why, if you’d like to explain.) 

There are so many beautiful hymns in our hymnal, but they’re extra special when they mean something to us. 

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Katrina 

News for the Church, 7/14/23

Good morning to you, Church! 

What a week of weather we’ve had! I went swimming a couple days ago in the Grasse River and I’ve never seen the water this high– ever. It’s unfathomable to think how much water fell on our region this week. Our weather patterns are definitely shifting, aren’t they?

Here’s the news for the week: 

Need Coffee Hour Host for the Next Few Sundays

If you’re up for making coffee and bringing in a few cookies to share, we need coffee hour hosts for this Sunday and the following two weeks to come.  If you’d like to volunteer, send me a quick email to let me know!

If we don’t get anyone though, we won’t worry about it. We still know how to visit with one another without a cup of coffee in our hands, right? 

Welcome Home to Jean and Francoise! 

After many months of house hunting, Jean and Francoise have finally moved into their new home. Blessings to you both, as you begin to settle in! 

Celebrating Sabrina Petrie

Sabrina has been coming to our church for the last couple of years, but often watches online because of her health situation and work schedule. But soon, Sabrina will be packing up her bags to move to Buffalo to begin her Master’s of Social Work program at UB.

This is a huge undertaking for anyone, but for her it has extra meaning. Sabrina grew up in foster care, and it was out of these difficult early childhood experiences that she has decided to give back and become a social worker.  

Sabrina lives on a shoestring budget and does not have family support to bolster her in this major life change, so she’s put together a wish list of school items she will need in this new chapter of her life. Might you consider supporting (and celebrating) her by contributing something? 

*A gift card would also be welcomed, and her address is below.

Here’s the link to her registry: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/307V87IA0WAEI?fbclid=IwAR3-nKcuST95NxJ9Z1Z7KR2RHeobDl4eBCwL5ULRkrXGwrKDc9ka15sZQr8

If you’re sending a gift card, here’s her address: 

Sabrina Petrie
8 Cedar St. Upper Level
Potsdam, NY 13676

Major Changes Coming to the Sanctuary

As you already know, we are awaiting the repair of damaged plaster in our sanctuary, followed by a complete, fresh, new coat of paint to brighten things up. Thankfully, this work is being paid for by insurance money we received as a result of last summer’s leaking roof. The work will begin in November, and during that month we will have to move into the Community Center for worship. 

But! Before that…. more changes are coming that you need to know about. After many back and forth conversations with the insurance adjuster, it has been determined that to do this work, the pews will have to be replaced.

Here’s the backstory: When our pews were installed about 150 years ago, they were not designed to be taken out and then re-installed. They were custom built to stay put. 

Over the years, this has not been a problem because any time the sanctuary needed to be repaired or repainted, scaffolding was used to reach the ceiling above the pews. Fast forward to the year 2023, though– when scaffolding is no longer the way construction repairs are accomplished. These days, you can’t find scaffolding to rent because everyone uses scissor lifts (which reduce labor costs and make the job easier). This is all fine and dandy, except for one thing in our situation. In order to accommodate a scissor lift in our sanctuary, the pews have to be taken out, but to re-install the pews is going to be an effort of exponential proportion. 

To re-install the pews means labeling every single piece that comes apart, it means storing the pieces in the exact order that they come out, and then it means making sure that every single piece is put back exactly as it came out. And this, the insurance company determined, is not cost-effective.  

I’ve spent a lot of time talking through this situation with Brotherhood Mutual, and because they do not want to pay to have the pews re-installed, they are going to give us an additional $11,330 to purchase new seating. 

Dave Wells, Ron Kaiser, Session, and I have been discussing how to proceed with the seating, and we have decided that the best option for our 21st century congregation is to buy chairs that can be moved around, rather than have new pews built. 

The downside to this is that we will no longer have beautiful, wooden pews to sit in– which makes me sad. But there are many, many good reasons to opt for chairs instead. I’d like to explain these reasons to you so that you can understand the choice that’s been made. 

Firstly, even with cushions to soften the landing, pews are uncomfortable to sit on. The chairs we’re looking at purchasing are much more comfortable and relaxing to sit in. Secondly, some people are allergic to the cushions we currently have (which are filled with horse hair), and these new chairs do not cause allergic reactions. Thirdly, putting in chairs that do not have to be fastened to the floor gives us versatility. It means that we can move our seating around! We could set the chairs in a semi-circle and worship in the round–so that we can look at one another while we sing and pray. We could arrange the chairs facing each other, for a more intimate setting for chamber music concerts in our sanctuary. And we would be able to set the chairs up in a circle for group discussions, if ever we wanted to meet in the sanctuary for meetings. 

Right now, Session is in discussion with a company in Florida that custom builds these church chairs. They will have a rack underneath the seat to hold Bibles and hymnals and a pocket on the backside to hold a pencil and envelopes for offering. They’re going to be great! Here’s a picture of what they look like: 

Thankfully, Dave Wells has made an agreement with a local Amish farmer, who is willing to take our pews out in exchange for keeping them. Next week I will have him give us a short report on how that process is going to happen. 

I know this is going to be a major change for us in worship. We’ve been sitting in these pews for generations! But we can do this. We can do things differently– that’s something we learned during the pandemic. 

There will be more to share about this project next week, so stay tuned for further installments of our #Sanctuary Update! 

Our Church is ALIVE!

I have been smiling to myself all week, filled with gratitude for our congregation. Last week I visited with other pastors in Rochester who are struggling mightily with their congregations– with people who are afraid to grow and change, and with people who want to sit on their haunches and do nothing but be served by others. Our church is not like that, and I have a new-found appreciation for you this week. So many wonderful things are happening right now in our congregation, and you are the ones making them happen.  

Here are just some of those things: Dave Wells has been instrumental in the work being done on the building. Beth Grace stepped up and offered to organize food for Helen’s memorial service. Sue Waters volunteers her time in the church office every week. Keilor plays the most beautiful music for us in worship. Ivette and Diamante host Bible study each week. Brian Wilkinson, Bob Pickard, and Dave Wells make sure the lawn is mowed. Countless numbers of you show up to work in the church yard on a regular basis. Jane Wells runs our dedicated knitting group. Renee Stauffer keeps our food pantry running, and many of you donate to it on a regular basis. Sharon Pickard and half a dozen of you work every month to pull off our Community Suppers. Dale Hobson is always working in the background to keep our sound and technical support up to date. Terry de la Vega keeps Trillium on track. Joanne Hubbard helps out with potlucks. Robin Wilkinson sends cards to people in the mail. Cynthia Coleman and her crew keep the treasurer’s job up to date. A handful of you have offered to share your stories during Cloud of Witnesses or have offered to sing a song in the future. Dozens of you sign up for coffee hour and to be our liturgists each week. Jeff Mitchell pitches in to preach when needed. So many of youreach out to each other in loving concern on a regular basis. You all pledge financially to keep our church afloat. And our college students even care enough to write and check in from time to time while they are gone!

Dear Hearts– we are a church alive in the world and your presence among us makes a difference! A church is only as alive as its people, and I am so proud to be the pastor of a church where people show up to serve, rather than expect to be the ones served.  I am proud to be the pastor of a church where people care for one another and spend time together outside of worship. I am proud to be the pastor of a church where people desire to grow and learn. And I am proud to be the pastor of a church that honors God through its commitment to social justice. 

I thank God for you, Church! You are a blessing in this world. 

In gratitude for you all,
Pastor Katrina 

News for the Church, 6/30/23

Good Day to you, Church,

I’m writing to you from my back porch again today, but we shall see how long it lasts. The haze from Canada’s wildfires is definitely in the air, and I hear we might see more of it in the coming days. (Can you even imagine 30,000 square miles of fire burning across their country? That’s like the entire state of South Carolina burning up.) We definitely need to be praying for our neighbors to the north! 

*Addendum to my back porch sitting: about halfway through writing this newsletter, I had to come inside. My throat is burning and my eyes are watering. 

Here’s the news for the week: 

Membership Class This Sunday

For those participating, we will meet again this Sunday following worship. 

Pastor Katrina Away for Continuing Ed Next Week

I will be headed to Rochester this coming week to visit with colleagues from seminary and attend worship at various churches, as part of my continuing education time this year. I’m looking forward to visiting with other pastors to learn about their struggles, hear their good ideas, and spend quality time pondering church life together. 

A big thanks to Rev. Rich Hinkle, who will be filling the pulpit for us on Sunday, July 9th while I am away! 

FREE ONNY Concert in our Sanctuary Friday, July 7th

If you enjoy live music, and love a free concert, you’ll want to come to church next Friday, the 7th at 7pm. 

Sebastian Buhts will be playing with Adirondika Pro Musica. Here’s what Sebastian’s website has to say about him: “Buhts is a percussionist and conductor based in St. Louis, MO, and was recently appointed as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Lindenwood University. He also serves on the percussion faculty at Washington University in St. Louis and St. Charles Community College.

In addition to teaching, Sebastian maintains an active and diverse performance schedule. Recent highlights include performing percussion with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, conducting the St. Charles County Symphony Orchestra, and performing solo marimba for the Orchestra of Northern New York.” 

Second FREE ONNY Concert, Friday, July 14th

Then, the next Friday, our sanctuary will host ONNY’s next free concert in this 4-part series. On the 14th, Peggy Lynn and Dan Duggan will play songs from Adirondacks on guitar and hammered dulcimer, respectively. 

Help with Helen Brouwer’s Memorial ServiceJuly 14th

We will be holding a memorial service for Helen Brouwer on July 14th at 2pm, with a reception to follow in the Center. 

Beth Grace is looking for people to help provide light refreshments for the reception. Might you be willing to bring a veggie tray, small sandwiches, cookies, or other finger foods? 

You can contact Beth at bethgrace75@gmail.com

Missing Sunglasses from Last Week’s Picnic? 

Last Sunday afternoon, about 25 of us ventured out to Lazy River Playground with a handful of folks from Trinity Episcopal Church. We had an absolute blast playing shuffleboard, corn hole, putt-putt golfing, forest bathing, and roller skating. (Make sure you ask Ling Zhang about her first time on roller skates! 🙂 

Turns out, our novice shuffleboard champs, Isaiah Stauffer and Henry Hebb are ready to take any of you on in a shuffle board contest! (The idea came up that perhaps we can put a shuffle board game down in the Community Center. …What if we have a shuffleboard contest this fall and invite other college students to come play?!) 

Anyway, I digress. Someone left a pair of black sunglasses at Lazy River. If they belong to you, contact Sharon Pickard. 

Big Thanks to Dirt Movers! 

This morning a dump truck delivered 6 yards of soil to the church, to fill in ruts left by the lifts that came in to fix our roof last month. And a number of you came in the muggy haze to spread it. A big thanks to Bob and Sharon Pickard, Brian Wilkinson, Dale Hobson, Renee Stauffer, Neil Johnson, Dave Wells, and Dave Powers who came and spread the soil into the appropriate places! 

Got Plants (to Share)? 

Bob Pickard is putting out a call for native flowers to add to our pollinator garden at church. If you’ve got an overgrown clump of flowers you need to separate in your garden, we would love to add them to our collection! Just contact Bob to set up the details. 

Prayers for Cyndy Henessey

Cyndy Henessey came through knee replacement surgery yesterday with flying colors and will be heading home tomorrow. Cyndy’s family is taking care of her while she recovers, but you can still send her a card in the mail! 

Her address is: 
PO Box 345 
Colton, NY 13625 

What Are You Doing to Help with Climate Change? 

Last week, our sermon was about earth care– about recognizing that the actions we take to care for our planet are a form of worship we make to God. At the end of the sermon, Diamante Maya had a great idea. She suggested we start tallying a list of ideas to share with one another about what we each do to contribute. 

If you want to participate, please send me a list of things you do intentionally to help cut down on plastic consumption, fossil fuels use, or anything else you can think of. In addition, what areas do you know you need to work on? (For me personally, 1) I need to work on reducing how much I drive my car. Do I really need to make that extra trip to town this week? Can I find a way to share rides? and 2) I could stand to pay better attention to how far I turn the water on when I’m washing my hands or doing the dishes. Do I really need the water on full blast? A smaller water stream won’t make it any less hard to wash my hands.)

If you want to email me your contributions, we will write them all down on the list we’re keeping in the Community Center, to spark ideas and help us to see that we’re all in this together. (All submissions will be anonymous, so there’s no judging going on.) 

Finding Good News These Days

A couple of you have mentioned to me lately how hard it is to turn on the news these days. There is so much negativity happening everywhere– war, fires, floods, tornadoes, extreme heat, mass shootings, political turmoil, etc, etc. It’s enough to bring us to our knees, even when these things aren’t happening directly to us! 

Sometimes, when you find yourself being overwhelmed by the news, it’s good to just turn it off for a while. Taking a break from the news can help cleanse our souls and realign our spirits. But here’s another idea to help us, too: Find good news to learn about! 

Diamante shared some good sources with me. Check out this website:https://www.goodgoodgood.co/

And there’s this too: CBS Uplift: https://youtube.com/playlist…

I just clicked on the “goodgoodgood” site and found all sorts of amazing stories, and I feel hope in humanity once again. 

Friends, for every horrible thing happening in the world, there are also good people doing beautiful, uplifting things too! This is because, even while evil and hardship live everywhere, so does God!

Near the end of his letter to the Romans, Paul reminds the Christians there to keep up their hope. They, too, were living in heavy, dark times, and they needed the same sort of assurance that God was present. Paul writes to them:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” 

~Romans 15:13


Together, we build and hold hope for one another, through the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives! 

Holding space for you to find hope today,
Pastor Katrina

News for the Church, 6/23/23

Happy Summer to you, Church!

Well, we finally made it– summer is officially here. The air is pleasant, the flowers are in bloom, the fields are ripe for haying, and the rivers are starting to warm up. Have you been out swimming yet? I hope to go soon! 

I just got home from visiting family in Missouri this past week. We had a special time together and I am so grateful. 

Here’s the news for the week:

This Sunday = Funday

Pack your bags and bring a dish to pass this Sunday as we gather together with friends from Trinity Episcopal Church at the Lazy River Playground from 2pm-6pm.

If you’d like a ride, please email me back so we can make arrangements. 

If you have any other questions, or want to RSVP, call Sharon Pickard at (315) 212-0008. 

Membership Class, July 2nd

For those attending our membership class, we will pick back up with things next Sunday, the 2nd, after the worship service.

Music Concert Friday, July 7th

The Orchestra of Northern New York will be hosting their first in a 4-part series, in our sanctuary on Friday, July 7th. Adirondack Pro Musica will be playing with Sebastian Buhts, and the concert is free and open to the public! If you’re in town that week, you won’t want to miss it. 

*See the attached poster for information regarding the other upcoming concerts. 

Helen Brouwer’s Memorial Service Set for July 14th

If you knew and loved Helen, mark your calendars for her memorial service, set for 2pm on Friday, July 14th. Light refreshments will be served in the Center following the service.

Interested in Sharing about Your Faith Journey during Worship?

I’d like to open the floor up to anyone who might want to share a bit about their faith journey during our time called The Cloud of Witnesses. Have you seen God somewhere special in your life? Have you had a profound experience worth sharing with the congregation? Perhaps it was a struggle you’ve overcome, or a time when you really had to lean into God’s trust to see you through. 

If you’d like to formally share a story or a bit of spiritual wisdom, email me back and let me know. You have as much lived experience with God as I do, and we help each other to grow and learn when we share. 

So Many Different Ways to be Human

This week, while I was visiting with my family in the Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri, I was reminded of the fact that there are an astounding number of ways to be human on this planet. Even just within the United States, there are an untold number of cultures, belief systems, value sets, and religious traditions. 

Spending this last week with people who live differently than I do, I was struck with that age-old conundrum…. how do we get along when we see the world so differently? Especially when we think ours is the “right” way to live, and others are harmfully in the “wrong”? 

I left my time in the Bible Belt with more questions than answers. Questions like: Is it ok to let others be different from me? Is it possible to respect people who live antithetical to the truth we espouse? 

If so, how do we make room for humility? And grace? While at the same time holding to our own convictions? Is this even possible? How do we make room for it to be possible? 

What are your thoughts? Have you had any experiences that shed light on this topic? If so, I’d love to hear from you. 

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Katrina

News for the Church, 6/9/23

Good Day to you Church! 

After a couple days of being cooped up in the house from the wildfire smoke, I am grateful to be back out on my porch again breathing clean air. Boy, you don’t realize what you have to be grateful for until you don’t have it!

Here’s the news for the week: 

Hosting Presbytery in the Center Tomorrow

Have you ever been to a presbyter meeting? They’re really important in our system of governance. Presbyterians believe that we are better when churches in a local geographical areas support each other, so representatives from every Presbyterian church from Watertown to Plattsburgh, and Ogdensburg to Star Lake, come together every few months to discuss church matters, and to break bread and worship together. (Between you and me, sometimes these meetings can get a bit boring, but they’re also beautiful.)

Thankfully, different churches take turns hosting. (It’s a lot of work to host!) We haven’t had a turn in quite a few years, and I had forgotten how much work goes into this hospitality. So, I just want to offer out a shout of thanks to Sharon, Dale, Renee, Terry, Keilor, and anyone else who offered to bake muffins. Many hands coming together are making this all possible. 

Also, Here’s a fun trivia fact for you: the way our denomination governs itself– as a democratic system that relies on representatives from each church to vote on issues that relate to church governance– our system of governance caught the eye of the founding fathers of the fledgling United States back in the late 1700s. They liked our format so much that they modeled Congress on our form of governance!

Bible Study Moving to the Mitchell’s House This Week

Our Saturday night Bible Study will travel to Jeff and Susan Mitchell’s house this week, while Diamante and Ivette are away. If you’d like to come, we will be meeting at the Mitchell’s house at 6:30pm on the 10th. Their address is: 438 Old Potsdam-Parrishville Rd. Apartment #4, Potsdam, NY 13676. (They are the last townhome in the row.) 

Pastor Katrina on Vacation Next Week

I will be heading to Missouri next week to spend some much needed time with my mom, siblings, my own children, and my nieces and nephews. It’s going to be a very special time for us and I can’t wait, but I’m also feeling quite anxious about traveling. (My body does not have much appreciation for plane rides and the last time I flew, I was in excruciating pain for a week.) Will you be praying for me while I’m gone? I would appreciate any prayers coming my way. 

With that said, I am so grateful to Jeff Mitchell for offering a word from the Word next Sunday, the 18th, and I hope you’ll join your church family in worship while I’m away. 

Picnic at the Lazy River Playground Set for June 25th

Sharon Pickard has asked if folks would RSVP to her if you know you’re planning to go to our All-Church Picnic on Sunday the 25th. She needs a head count. You can let her know on Sunday at church, or email her at sharonpickard@verizon.net

Let her know if you would like to carpool and/or need a ride! (Lazy River Playground is near Hermon, and is a 30 minute drive from Potsdam.) 

News from Emma Norris

For the last month, Emma Norris, one of our college students, has been in Jamaica, working in one of the local schools, and learning how to play the djembe. She’s had a wonderful experience and has confirmed a calling to teach abroad after she graduates. You can ask Emma about her travels when she returns to school in the fall and resumes worship with us on Sundays. 

*Emma explained that Jamaica is currently struggling with teacher pay, so parish by parish the teachers are striking. She’s asking for prayers for the teachers, that they get paid fully and on time. 

Emma is the young woman in the white shirt standing in front of the tree trunk. (These pictures, which include the kids, are shared with permission.) 

Youth Group Over for the Year

Last night was the final meeting of our joint youth group with the Methodist Church, and I have to tell you– we have such intelligent, funny, thoughtful youth. Over the last year we talked about a lot of really hard subjects– racism, poverty, who and what God is, the relevance of organized religion, sexuality and gender, society, culture, social justice and God’s justice, our bodies, schooling and education, heaven and hell, and more. Our youth had insightful comments and questions to add to these discussions. And that, along with a double dose of their silly goofiness, made for a wonderful year with them. 

Thank you Pastor Hattie, Richard, Rebecca, Isaiah, and Zoya! 

To conclude my email to you today, I will offer you a wise bit of advice that 14-year old Rebecca offered a few weeks ago: 

“When you’re praying, if you’re going to tell God about your day, you should also try asking how God’s day has been. We spend too much time yacking God’s ear off. If we want to live in relationship with God, we should also stop to consider what God is going through, too.”

May you be blessed today with God’s presence,
Pastor Katrina

News for the Church, 6/2/23

Good Day to you Church! 

Did you survive yesterday’s extreme heat? Thankfully the temps will drop this weekend to more seasonal weather patterns. 

Here’s the news for this week: 

Church Ground Clean Up This Saturday at 9am

If you’re able to swing by the church tomorrow at 9am, there will be a group of people gathering to weed the flower beds, toss grass seed on open ground, and work on stumps. Might you be able to join? 

Kicking off Pride Month with a Special Sermon

Please join us this Sunday for a particularly important sermon that reflects on the LGBTQ community. We will be looking at the story of Jesus healing the slave of the Roman Centurion in Matthew 8. I’m going to leave you in suspense with this and hope you decide to show up to listen in! 

Youth Group on Thursday, June 8th

This will be our final meeting for the season. We will be going to the Indian restaurant for dinner at 6:30 to celebrate the end of school! 

Presbytery Meeting on Saturday, June 10th

I’m proud to let you know that our church will be hosting the June presbytery meeting. If you’d like to come get a taste of what happens at presbytery meetings, this is your chance! We will be meeting from 10am-1pm with a catered lunch starting at noon. 

A big thank you to those helping to pull this off—Sharon Pickard, Dale Hobson, Ivette Herryman-Rodriguez, Renee Stauffer, and Terry de la Vega! 

Free Piano Recital Concert Sunday, June 11th, 5-7pm

We will be hosting a Crane piano recital the afternoon of June 11th and it’s free and open to the public! Come enjoy the fun. 

Juneteenth—June 17th from 4pm-8pm

You are invited to participate in Potsdam’s Juneteenth Celebration at Ives Park on Saturday, June 17th

They also need volunteers earlier that day to set-up the event, staff a variety of positions, and a few people to stay after to help break-down. Might you be willing to help out? If so, please contact Laurie Lavine at (281) 639-6548, or email her at lklavine@gmail.com

Jeff Mitchell to Preach June 18th

I will be going to Missouri for a week to visit with my family, and I am so grateful to Jeff for being willing to fill in the pulpit. 

Church Picnic Planned for June 25th

Our picnic party is growing closer! Save the date!

Finding Time for Rest

Friends, as summer draws closer, I want to encourage you to find time for rest. Not just relaxation, but rest

Choosing rest in our crazy, busy culture is counter-cultural for sure, but for us as Christians, it is also a radical theological pursuit. Thousands of years ago, God taught his people the importance of rest– making sure to teach us to care for our mortal bodies, so that we would be strong to see another day. 

But theologically, there’s more to the idea of rest than just physical rejuvenation. Setting our work down and bringing our bodies to a stand-still is also an act of faith. It’s a song of confidence in God, believing that our Creator will continue to provide for us that which we are not producing for ourselves– even as the chaos of the world swirls around us. 

Choosing rest is to trust that God will cover for us– that God is big enough to keep the chaos monsters at bay while we refill our empty tanks. 

This summer, I invite you to consider what faithful rest might look like for you. Setting down our physical work is one thing, but what about setting down our non-stop thinking for a while? Perhaps real rest means turning off the news too (will the world really fall to pieces if you are not in the know of what is going on?) And what about our relational worrying? Perhaps choosing rest means taking a break from trying to change someone or something. 

When it comes to faith, rest is about relinquishing our need to stay in control. It means opening ourselves up to believing that God is big enough to stay vigilant on our behalf, so that we can rejuvenate our minds, bodies, and souls for a time before coming back to our responsibilities. 

What might rest look like for you this summer? I dare you to try it on for size and see what happens! 

Looking forward to my own summer rest,
Pastor Katrina

News for the Church, 5/26/23

A beautiful late May morning to you, Church!

I’m sitting out in the sunshine on my back porch listening to the liquid silver sounds of the hermit thrush and the wood thrush, along with all of their lively neighbors. The luscious green tree tops are offering a symphony of song bird chatter this morning! 

Here’s the news for the week: 

Pentecost This Sunday!

Wear your favorite shades of red to church this Sunday as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church! We’re going to have a special addition to our worship service to celebrate. 

If anyone has flowers from their garden they’d like to bring in– to brighten up the sanctuary–you are most welcome to do so! 

Membership Classes Set for June 4th and July 2nd

Just a quick reminder that we will be holding our first membership class after worship on Sunday, June 4th. 

Taking a Break from Church Potlucks This Summer

Session met this last week, and after looking at the summer schedule, we’ve decided to put our monthly potlucks on hold until September. 

Juneteenth in Ives Park, June 17th

Juneteenth is upon us again, and you are invited to come take part in the celebration! There will be music, dancing, booths, speeches, free dinner, and much more at Ives Park on Saturday, June 17th from 4-8pm. Come learn about the history of this national holiday and why it’s important to commemorate it.

The planning committee is looking for a few more volunteers to help set things up and take things down on the day of the party. If you’d be willing to help, contact Laurie Lavine at (281) 639-6548. This would be a way to positively support racial healing in our town. 

Also, I’m proud to say that our church has designated $100 from our mission funds to support the event. 

Church Picnic at Lazy River Playground Set for June 25th!

I hope you’re growing as excited as I am! Following worship on Sunday June 25th, we are going to load ourselves up and head out to Lazy River playground, where we will get the chance to picnic with both our own church family and the folks from Trinity Episcopal– whom we have been working with to make Community Suppers happen over the last year. 

If you haven’t been to Lazy River Playground, it’s loads of fun. They’ve got putt-putt golf, roller skating, corn hole, shuffleboard, swimming, fishing, forest bathing (where you go out into the woods with a guide and bask in the sounds, smells, and sights of the forest), and of course we will have so much yummy food to share in together! 

I know that some of us don’t have vehicles, so we will make sure to arrange rides and offer carpooling. 

If you’d like to check out their facilities, you can visit their website: 

lazyriverplayground.com.

We’ve Collected $170 to Send the Box to Malawi

What a generous congregation you are. Last week we collected $170 to ship the box of knitted baby items to the crisis nursery in Malawi. The cost was going to be somewhere between $170-$200, so if anyone still wants to chip in this Sunday, that would be welcome. 

Benevolence Fund has Officially Been Created

Hear ye! Hear ye! From time to time we find a particular individual in need of monetary support. Recently we learned that in order for these sorts of contributions to be tax-deductible, we needed to set up a benevolence fund. This has now been achieved. Moving forward, when we come across such a situation again, and you graciously offer financial support to help someone in need, you will be able to count that gift against your taxes. 

Have an Older Vehicle You’re Thinking of Selling? 

Rev. Rich Hinkle, who preaches for us on occasion, is in the market for an older model vehicle. If you’ve got one you’re interested in selling, let me know and I’ll put you in touch. 

Liv and Quinn are Tying the Knot!

I have the most lovely news to share with you this week. Liv and Quinn got engaged! Check out these sweet, smiling faces. 

The Church Being the Church

Friends, today I want to take a moment to say thank you to our Session and to Sue Waters, our church administrator. They have a special understanding of how important it is to share our church building with the community, and they go out of their way to offer hospitality to all sorts of community groups in need. 

I don’t know if you were aware or not, but all year a woman from Cornell Cooperative Extension has been teaching nutrition classes in our building. And earlier this month we were able to invite a group of out-of-town guests to stay in the Center who had come to support the Poor People’s Campaign at a major event they were holding. 

In the next couple of months we’re going to offer our sanctuary for a Crane recital, and to Gretchen Kohler, who runs a community orchestra– for her to hold rehearsals in our building and offer a free concert at a later date. A nurse is going to offer prenatal classes at a deeply discounted rate to pregnant women because we can offer her use of our building, and four times this summer we will be hosting free concerts put on by the Orchestra of Northern New York. 

This is in addition to all of the other activities already happening in our building– AA groups meet here, the girl scouts descend upon the Center every Thursday night, yoga classes are taught, tai chai happens, Zumba folks dance, people eat dinners at our Community Suppers, individuals come for mental health therapy, physical therapy, massage therapy, and reiki, and of course, our sweet little 4-year-olds go to school every day in the HeadStart classrooms. 

A few of these groups pay rent to us for continued use of our space, but many of them we now invite for either a free-will donation or a donation to the food pantry. 

Sharing the resources we have inherited, for the health and well-being of our greater community, is one way that we can support the work and mission of our church. And we are doing it! 

Thank you for being a congregation filled with such hospitality and giving spirits. Our building buzzes nearly every day with joy, hope, and faith because we are willing to share it. 

Your Grateful Pastor,
Pastor Katrina 

News for the Church, 5/19/23

Good Day to you Church!

This week I’m participating in the Festival of Homiletics (a preacher’s conference), so today’s newsletter is going to be short and to the point. 

Here’s the news for the week: 

No Bible Study this Saturday

Diamante is still recovering from surgery, so we will pick back up with Bible Study next week.

Jeff Mitchell to Preach this Sunday 

Come gather with our community this week and hear a word from Jeff Mitchell. 

Collecting Donations to Send the Knitter’s Box of Baby Items to Malawi

The Knitting group has done it again! They have enough baby sweaters, hats, and blankets to fill a box to send to the Crisis Nursery in Malawi. The box will cost $170-$200 to send. If you have a few extra dollars you could contribute to this cause it would be much appreciated. Just write Baby Box for Malawi on the memo line of your check. 

Need an Organizer for Church Grounds Clean Up

Bob Pickard won’t be here this year to organize a clean up day of the church yard. Might you be willing to set the date and gather the people together to do it? If so, let me know! The weeds are starting to grow and we need to get to them. (If you have any questions, Bob is willing to explain what he does.)

Session Meeting Next Wednesday 

For those who attend, we will be meeting via zoom on the 24th at 6:30pm. 

Community Supper Set for Next Thursday 

A reminder to those involved, our next community supper will be held at our church on Thursday, May 25th. 

Picnic Party Fun on June 25th 

Don’t forget that we will be heading out to the Lazy River for a potluck picnic party after church on June 25th. More details will be forthcoming. 

Prayers This Week 

Friends, please keep our church folks in your prayers this week– especially Diamante Maya who is recovering from surgery, Joanne Hubbard, and our professors who are in the midst of grading this week! 

May you know the blessings of love, joy, peace, and hope this week dear Hearts! 
Pastor Katrina

News for the Church, 5/12/23

A Glorious Mid-May Day to you, Church! 

Today I am out on the back porch being serenaded by calling cardinals, chattering chickadees, trilling thrushes, and staring in wonder at the magic of cottonwood tree fluff filling the air. What a glorious day, indeed! 

Here’s the news for the week: 

Senior Recognition Sunday this Week

Our students have worked so hard this semester, and I can’t wait to celebrate some of their accomplishments. This Sunday we will be celebrating with Juster, Levi, and Terrence for graduating from college, high school, and grad school respectively! 

Jeff Mitchell to preach, Sunday, May 21st

I will be off next week. I’m taking a week of continuing education leave to participate in the Festival of Homiletics (a dweeby conference for pastors who love the art of preaching)! Thankfully, our delightful lay preacher will be filling the pulpit in my stead. Thank you, Jeff! 

Pentecost Sunday, May 28th

Two weeks from this Sunday, remember to wear your cheeriest red dress or shirt to church. Pentecost is coming! 

June 4– Membership Class 

A reminder to those taking the class– our first membership class will be held Sunday, June 4th following worship. 

Roof Work Is Completed! 

Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Jack and George wrapped up their work yesterday on the roof, and ended their time with us by filling in all of the tire-ruts with topsoil that their 66′ lift left behind in the grass. What a wonderful day for our church building and grounds! 

(p.s. After the interior sanctuary work is completed this November, we will have a BIG party to celebrate these major accomplishments!)

Missing Communion Linens

Did someone take home communion linens after church one Sunday and forget to bring them back? Sharon Pickard has noted that a set of linens have grown legs and walked off. If you happen to have them, bring them back and you will be rewarded with cookies! 

Celebrating with the Mitchells

Jeff and Susan Mitchell have been bouncing around from temporary living situation to temporary living situation for over two years now, and this last week they finally found a home to call their own! They will be moving into their new house in June, and we are thrilled for them. Welcome home Mitchells! 

Prayers for DJ Jones

DJ lost his beloved cat Stormy this week to illness. Some of you who have very special pets realize what a devastating loss this can be. Please be in prayer for DJ, as he grieves the death of his closest family member. 

Loving Our Church 

I don’t know about you, but I am really enjoying our church community right now. I had the most wonderful time with you at last week’s potluck/communion meal, and worship has been extra meaningful lately. I appreciate how much you care about one another, and I can tell that you too are finding worship meaningful. After many years of struggle, are you noticing the joy and positive energy that now exists in our congregation? 

Being Silly– the Need for Play

Last night we gathered together youth group once again. The six of us walked down to Scoops for ice cream and then meandered over to Ives Park to play. Our young people ran, skipped, played tag, threw rocks into the river, played with a puppy, and squealed with laughter. 

Since I work part-time for the church, I also tutor math for kids with learning disabilities. Today was a particularly menacing day with algebra for my 15-year old student, so we decided to cut some of the tension by being silly. We spoke algebra with a French accent, and can I tell ya– it was hilarious! All of a sudden, something that seemed overwhelming and impossible became humorous and then…. possible! 

We grown-ups take life far too seriously, don’t we? We forget the power of play and the strength in silliness. Any time I spend time with teenagers, however, I am reminded about the importance of taking time to be goofy, to explore, and play

This week I challenge you to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord!” Sing a silly song, try on a French accent while doing something challenging, or throw a rock into the Raquette and revel in the splash. 

Nehemiah knew what he was talking about when he said, “the joy of the Lord gives us strength!” It truly is our super-power. 

Living foot-loose and fancy free in God’s joy,
Pastor Katrina

News for the Church, 5/5/23

Good Day to you Church,

It’s a gorgeous spring day outside– finally– and the dandelions and violets are coming into bloom. We’re predicted to have nice weather for most of this upcoming week. I hope you get to enjoy it! 

Here’s the news:

Church Potluck and Communion This Sunday

Bring your favorite dish to pass to church this Sunday and we will share a meal together after our worship service. 

During our luncheon, we will also celebrate communion together, folding it into our meal the way the early church did. 

Clarkson’s “Take It or Leave It” Tent Event, May 4-14

Clarkson is hosting a “goods exchange” under a tent on the south lawn of the ERC for the next 10 days. 

You can either drop off or take any of the following: 

  • Appliances and electronics in good working order (hair dryers, microwaves, irons, printers, computers, etc)
  • Furniture (nothing broken)
  • Household goods (but no glass)
  • Textiles (dry and clean)
  • Office supplies 
  • Electronic waste for recycling– must be labeled

This event is FREE and open to the public. 

Youth Group, Thursday May 11

If you participate in our youth group, bring a few dollars with you this Thursday. We will walk over to Jernabi Coffee shop to get a treat and then mosey over to Ives Park for the rest of the evening. 

Last Call to Sign Up for the Prison Tour

This is your last chance to sign up to visit Riverview Correctional Facility. Tours are being offered on Thursday, May 11th at 10am and 1pm. Email Dr. Nancy Lewis if you’d like to participate at lewishnl@potsdam.edu. (This tour is being offered both for people who have signed up to tutor student inmates at the prison and any local resident who is curious about what life inside a prison looks like.)

Membership Classes are Set

We currently have four people signed up to take the membership classes being offered later this spring. If you’d like to join in, we will be meeting for an hour after worship on June 4th and July 2nd. 

Picnic at Lazy River, Sunday June 25th

Save the date! We’ve made reservations at Lazy River Playground and Retreat Center for Sunday, June 25th following worship. We will be joining folks from Trinity Episcopal Church for a potluck lunch, putt-putt golf, shuffleboard, corn hole, roller skating, swimming, fishing, and forest bathing. If you’d like to check out the venue, go to their website: lazyriverplayground.com. (More details to follow.) 

Per Capita, $32

If you are an official member of our church and haven’t yet sent in a donation to cover the cost of your per capita, might you consider it? If so, write PER CAPITA on the memo line of your check. 

Church Directory

We’re closing in on finalizing our new church directory. If you’re part of our congregation (even if you’re brand new) and you want your name and contact information to be included, just email Sue Waters and let her know. You’re welcome to share your name, email address, home address, and/or phone number. Whatever you feel comfortable with. The directory will only be shared with other church members, to allow us to contact one another at home. 

Sue’s email: p1presch@gmail.com

Roof Work Continues! 

This week Jack and George built a custom-made gutter and downspout and installed them over the bell tower door entrance into the church! It’s only taken us 150 years to make this happen, but it finally came to pass. 

Taking Time to Smell the Roses

Ok, so we don’t have roses in bloom yet, but the tulips are popping, along with hyacinths, violets, and dandelions. Tree leaves are also starting to pop, and lilacs will soon be on their way. 

And my question for you today is…. have you noticed? 

One of the best gifts of community that God has given to us (aside from each other) is the earth we live upon. When we actively choose to live in communion with all of God’s creatures, great and small, it brings us into another beautiful form of worship and praise to God. Right now the earth is coming into her full splendor, and I encourage you to spend a little time out in our other church– the woods, your garden, a meadow, or down by the river. There are multiple ways to sing praises to God and endless places to encounter the Divine Presence. So spend some time close up with your flowers, listen to the birds chatter in the treetops, pay attention each day to the trees as their leaves begin to unfurl, and listen to the river flow and roar. Sit in awe, stand in splendor, smile with curiosity, and take notice of the fullness of God’s abundant Life! It’s all around us, if only we have eyes that see. 

**Just make sure you check for ticks when you’re done!

Reveling in the Beauty and the Cheer of the Dandelions,
Pastor Katrina