First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, New York

A community gathering in Christ and ministering as God leads

42 Elm Street, Potsdam, NY 13676 • phone (315) 265-9434 • email p1presch@twcny.rr.com

Who We Are

Mission News

The Star Lake Project

A young family: mother, father and 2 children ages 3 1/2 years and 6 months, moved back to Star Lake. Their doublewide trailer needed much work before winter, Rural Rehab came to the rescue by insulating and skirting the trailer.
The Story: On Saturday, Sept. 24th, a group of 8 Potsdam Presbyterians, joined by graduate students in Environmental Engineering and some members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, all from Clarkson University, journeyed to Star Lake. They left Potsdam at 7:45am, and were joined in Star Lake by 2 men from the Western Adirondack Presbyterian Church. Under the superision of JoAnn Mathews, MINC Rural Rehab Work Coordinator, they skirted a trailer for a young family. The husband and wife joined in the work, and the wife prepared lunch for all 25 workers. The group worked so well and efficiently that the job was completed by 2:30 in the afternoon. We thank God for the energy, spirit and service of all who participated.

Community Dinners

Beginning this month there will be TWO Community Dinners each month in the Church Center (on the 2nd and 3rd Thursdays), 5:00-6:30 p.m. This month's Community Dinners will be held on January 12 and January 19. The second Thursday's dinners will be prepared and served by Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity of Clarkson College. We hope to see you at these dinners. Feel free to bring a friend or neighbor.

So many people in the congregation have worked on the Community Dinners! We thank God for the enthusiasm and willingness of people to organize, cook, serve and clean up the meals every month throughout the year. We are starting our 4th year of these dinners and they have become bi-monthly. They provide food and fellowship to 60-85 people each time. It has been an expression of God's love and our commitment to the work of Jesus in our community. Thank you to all who have participated so generously in so many ways.

Crop Walk - Thanks!

The CROP Walk was a wonderful success again this year. Overall, the total amount raised was $4668.80. Our Church raised the most with $1,670.00. Congratulations goes to Mary Theisen who raised $370.00; The Caamańo family who raised $290.00; and the Grant family who raised $201.00. A big thanks goes out to everyone that contributed in anyway to make this so successful.

MINC Thanksgiving Dinner Project

Potsdam Presbyterian’s contributions to the MINC Thanksgiving Dinner project were:

10 cans of "other" (not green) vegetables
Ingredients for 5 fruit salads
5 units of potatoes
10 desserts
5 jars of condiments
20 other food items

MINC congregations from Adams to Waddington all contribute to create complete Thanksgiving boxes for needy families. Recipient families are not limited to farm families, though this is a project of the Farm Committee. People brought food to church; contributed donations of money were put towards the purchase of gift certificates for the purchase of meat (or fish). The goal this year was to help 40 families. There was a box in the hallway as you enter the Center, clearly marked MINC Thanksgiving, for donations. On Sunday November 13, MINC met at the Crary Mills church to assemble the boxes, then they worshiped together and enjoyed fellowship and planning for winter events.

Rural Rehab Challenge Met

Thanks to everyone who responded to Rural Rehab's urgent need for funds at the end of the summer, we report that the $1000 challenge was met, and the bills were paid. Please keep Rehab in your prayers through the fall and winter, especially in light of the rising fuel costs.

Rural Rehab Group Was Here

The Clearfield Presbyterian Church Rural Rehab Group stayed in the Church Center July 9-16 while participating in a Rural Rehab project. Volunteers provided food dishes for the Sunday noon meal on July 10th.

Special thanks go to the following contributors: C. Coleman, G. Davis, A. Frackenpohl, B. Gravander, R. Hewitson, E. Hopke, M. Johnson, P. Paro, R. Partch, S. Pickard, A Savitskie, J. Wells, J. Whittet, L. Will, C. Zelinski.

Tanzania Student

The Mission Committee, with the backing of Session, will be financially assisting Prudence Rukwago, the Tanzanian student we funded through secondary school, with his first year's tuition at Hubert Kairuki Memorial University. Prudence's goal is to become a Physician.

Heifer Project

In 2004, the Sunday School raised $850 for Heifer International. The Mission Committee matched the funds raised. The children designated how the $1,700 was to be distributed (which animals to "buy") to Heifer International. We will do that project again early in 2006.