Mission

Mission Committee News

Announcements

Heifer International Project - 2010 The children earned for Heifer International this past winter: $435.70. They sold used books and collected coins over the course of several weeks. Their choices for animals to help families were: honeybees, chickens and shares toward a goat, heiger, llama, and pig. Many thanks to the children. They are growing in Mission!

Bicycles for Malawi - 2010  At the request of our partners in the Synod of Livingstonia, the Presbytery of Northern NY is helped to provide bicycles for Presbyterian ministers in Malawi. These are necessary tiools as each minister needs a bicycle tot ravel to the Preaching Points and to serve their parish.Last November there was a class of 14 new ministers who  each need transportation.  The funding for each bicycle was about $65.00. Our Youth Group generously decided to provide funding for two such bicycles!

Dr. Barbara Nagy was in the pulpit on October 4, 2009, telling us about the health conditions in Africa. Dr. Nagy is a specialist in internal medicine and pediatrics and serves as a physician at Nkhoma Hospital, an institution of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Nkhoma Synod.  Dr. Nagy lives there with her three children: Melia, Anna and Happiness.  (Read  more about Dr. Nagy and her mission.)

MINC Emergency Fund - ongoing Since January 1, the Emergency Fund has disbursed $7855 for heating fuel, home repair, other housing, transportation, food, taxes and utilities. The balance remaining has fallen dangerously low. Your generous donations are urgently needed. Please send contributions to: Marilyn Johnson, Emergency Fund Treasurer 46 May Road, Potsdam NY 13676 Please make checks payable to MINC, and write "Emergency Fund" on the memo line.  God Bless!

St. Lawrence County Telephone Reassurance Program. Do you know someone who needs a daily call to check on their welfare? (health, heat, food, medicine) Can you help make daily telephone calls to elderly or disabled individuals this winter to check on their welfare? If the answer to either of those questions is YES, call the Office For the Aging at 386-4730 to submit a name to be called or to volunteer to make phone calls. And even if you can't volunteer for this program, please check on your elderly neighbors!

Overseas Mission Projects - ongoing The Hellers.  The Mission Committee and Session have made a pledge to support Paul and Darlene Heller from Plattsburgh, missionaries in Malawi. They are additionally sponsored by the Presbytery of Northern New York and the General Assembly. The Hellers will be working at the Mzuzu Crisis Nursery which takes care of orphans and high risk babies during the first year, with the goal of returning them to family members as soon as possible.  Our church will be pledging $1000 per year for the next 3 years, with monies to come from the Mission budget and/or golf tournament proceeds.

MINC - Rural Rehab - ongoing Rural Rehab continues the work of helping people be warmer, safer and drier in the North Country.  It is a blessing to be able to repair floors, porches and plumbing, replace leaky roofs, doors and windows, build needed ramps, and more, for people with no other means to accomplish it, and a greater blessing to see how God changes lives through hope restored.  Local groups of volunteers, along with volunteers from congregations in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, are spending part of their summers here in Northern New York. Your continued support helps make this happen.  Send your checks to this part of the MINC ministery to treasurer: Joan Merritt, 48 Demot Rd., Hammond, NY 13646.

Mission Allocations 2008 Did you ever wonder where your mission dollars go? The Golf Tournament amount of  $4,000 was allocated: $1000 for MINC Emergency fund, $1000 for Helping Hands Emergency fund, $1000 for TRIAD Handicapped van, $1000 for Hellers ministry in Malawi for 2009 In addition, the Mission Committee allocated $200 to the MINC Foster Children's Christmas program (for teenagers), $350 to Second Table Ministries in S. Africa, and $350 for Marion Medical Mission for shallow wells. Earlier in the year, we gave $750 to the Brees (missionaries) in Pakistan and $500 to Simon Bennett in China with Campus Target Ministries. The Mission Market brought in $165 for Helping Hands. Thank you to all who, through your pledges, support the missions of this church and of the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. Four times a year, we participate in offerings endorsed by the General Assembly: One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost Offering, Peacemaking Offering, and Christmas Joy Offering. From time to time, the Mission Committee or the Sunday School/Youth Group will sponsor offerings for specific missions, such as Heifer International, Souper Bowl, UNICEF, and Church World Service. Is this a lot of giving? Yes, but we can do more! We can be proud of our tradition of mission giving, both locally and around the world. But the Session would like to eventually increase the percentage of our mission giving back to 12%. And the Mission Committee would like to see our church sponsor a missionary and support the local effort to obtain a handicapped van for Potsdam. To do this we need your generous pledges so that we can balance the budget and go even farther in ministry to our community and the world.

UNICEF Trick or Treat Party - 2007 The UNICEF Trick or Treat Party was a huge success! Thanks to the Middle School & College-Aged Groups, the Youth Group and some of our own Sunday School teachers, over 40 individuals from pre-school to senior citizens participated in this intergenerational event. A great time was had by all! $115 was raised and because we are sending it in right away, it will be doubled by a Unicef sponsoring organization.  (Photos)

Rural Rehab Ramp Project (Just one project we did in 2006) A 40-year-old woman who suffered a stroke and cannot walk now has a ramp so that she can easily leave her house! Thanks to our church for providing money for the materials from the local Mission budget. In about 5 hours of work by her friends, husband, sons, and a person from Potsdam's First, a ramp was built, and a son wheeled her up the ramp on her maiden voyage. Both had a look of sheer joy and excitement on their faces, but it her face was especially lit up! It had been so stressful for her to get to physical therapy that she couldn't go regularly. Now she can. Another son said that he wants to take his mother to the library. Now he can. This womans' health problems have been life-changing. Because of the love shown by people donating labor and money for materials, her life will again be changed by making it possible to have much easier access to the world outside her home. Thank you! P.S. Another work day is being contemplated for the fall. Please watch for information about this opportunity and volunteer to help. You'll be glad you did!

The Star Lake Project (Just one of the projects we did in 2005) The Problem: 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 Solution: 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 supervision 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.

Helping Hands Food Pantry. If you would like to donate to the Helping Hands food pantry, the items needed for the month of September are: peanut butter and crackers - school supplies are also greatly appreciated. Please place your donations in the bin on the floor below the coat racks in the Church Center. Housewares; Furniture. Also as you do your spring cleaning, please remember that housewares and furniture are always needed.  Bibles. Helping Hands has received a few used Bibles which we have passed on to clients. If any one comes across an extra Bible that isn't being used, Helping Hands will be glad to take it and pass it along. People who have received them were very pleased to be given one. Thanks for your support. Be blessed, Jane

4th Annual Helping Hands Golf Tournament: NOTE: The Session voted to send $100.00 to Helping Hands for sponsoring a hole at their golf tournament. on July 31st at the Potsdam Country Club.  If you would like to contribute directly to help with this effort and offset the expense please send a check with a note that it is for Helping Hands golf to our secretary.

Helping Hands Community Garden. Helping Hands will be starting a Community Garden in order to offer our neighbors-in-need fresh garden vegetables as well as provide the families with an opportunity to learn about and participate in gardening. There will be first and second planting days on Saturday May 8th and May 29th from 9 am – 12 noon. Anyone who would like to volunteer some time toward this project can call Helping Hands at 268-0633. Thanks! Be blessed, Jane. 

Helping Hands Furniture and Housewares Allianace. Please be aware that Helping Hands has a Furniture and Housewares Alliance for which they accept good quality used furniture and housewares such as sheets, blankets, dishes, pots and pans, small appliances, curtains, towels, etc. to be passed on to those in need. Please check your basements, attics and closets for unused goods and keep Helping Hands in mind - and in your prayers!

CORC Store News

CORC Summer Bag Sale - September 2 (11am-5pm), September 3 (11am-4pm) and September 4 (11am-5pm) Your local CORC Thrift Store at 8 Willow Street, Potsdam, announces its annual Summer Bag Sale, Thursday Sept. 2 11 – 5, and Friday Sept. 11-4. On Saturday, Sept. 4, open 11-5, the entire store will be restocked with all New, slightly used items for Fall. A full bag is only $3. The CORC Thrift Store is a local non profit church ministry that serves Potsdam and local area with high quality used clothing for adults as well as some household items. If you would be interested in serving ni this ministry, please contact Jane Wells or the Mission Committee.   CORC Thrift Store Need New Representatives from Our Church The CORC Thrift Store has served our community for many years. Not only do they offer good quality used clothing at very reasonable prices but they provide an excellent opportunity for our community to recycle. They also support area organizations with financial donations. Betty Smith and Jane Wells have been long time representatives from First Presbyterian Church. At this time we are looking for two new representatives from our church to serve on the CORC board of directors. Please contact Jane Wells or the Mission Committee.   CORC Store Needs Some Knowledgeable Volunteers The C.O.R.C. Thrift Store at 8 Willow Street has been actively serving the Potsdam community for over 30 years. C.O.R.C. is short for “Council of Religious Concern”, a consortium of area churches, including First Presbyterian, and is managed by a board of trustees. Our mission is to provide good, used clothing and household items to the needy in the Potsdam area, reflecting a spirit of concern for the welfare of others. In order to continue providing for the community, we are interested in developing a vision for our future and invite members of the community to assist us in creating a plan. We have been in our present building since 1985 and would profit from some updates to the design. The C.O.R.C. Board of Trustees welcomes anyone who is interested in our mission and/or has expertise in grant writing, real estate, construction, retail business or community ministry to join with us in building our future. If you are interested, please contact your church representative, Jane Wells, or Andrea James, store manager at 265-3940, or Lisa Lazenby, C.O.R.C. Board President at 386-4341.

A Three-Way Partnership Formed.  The Mission Committee has a new project. The CORC Thrift Store has been struggling with the big expense of waste removal. Many items are donated and the stock needs to be circulated so after every quarterly sale, the shelves and racks are emptied and disposed of. Seaway House members now takes the otherwise unused clothes and boxes them according to strict specifications and then moves them to storage at Helping Hands, Inc. in Hannawa Falls to await shipping. A trucking company was found that gives us a wonderful reduced rate; CCX Trucking out of Plattsburg takes the boxes to Pylesville, Maryland to a Church of the Nazarene distribution center where the clothes are shipped all over the world. The Mission Committee of our church covers the shipping costs. This is a wonderful partnership. Thanks be to God!

General Assembly Grant Recieved
Our Mission in Action emphasis for last November was Malawi. The Northern New York Presbytery is engaged in a partnership with the Synod of Livingstonia in Malawi, in sub-Saharan Africa. Through our budget allocation for mission, your pledges help provide emergency assistance for famine relief, training of pastors and The Chapin Living Water Drip Irrigation Project. The Chapin Living Water Drip Irrigation Project permits home gardening for vegetables, netting for malaria prevention and medical supplies. In addition, our Presbytery sponsored an overturn at General Assembly, which was approved, to bring together organizations, talent and resources to attack the problem of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. We hope to bring in a speaker who has been to Malawi recently to update us on the Malawi partnership.

The Mission Committee recently learned that we received a grant from the General Assembly in the amount of $1,000 to build ramps for elderly and needy people in partnership with MINC Rural Rehab. We applied for the grant last spring from the “unassigned funds”. The work will need to be done during next year.

Community Dinners MORE HELP IS ALWAYS NEEDED - at our church and at Trinity Episcopal!  The 3rd Tuesday community dinners are held at our church.  The 2nd Tuesday community dinners are being held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Fall Island. Volunteers always are needed for Community Dinners at our church on the 3rd Thursdays.  If you would be interested in helping or know of a service group that could do this, please let Kristen Brown or Debbie Shipp know.  This is an important outreach to the community.  We have been serving about 60-70 people at each dinner.  Please reserve your month if you are planning to host a dinner this spring.  Please join us for the following community dinner:  September 16th (Bring a friend!)

Pentecost Sunday

May 31st is Pentecost Sunday. The Pentecost Offering is one of the four special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The 2009 theme is: "The Holy Spirit will teach you all things." (John 14: 26 RSV). The Pentecost offering is used for ministries for children, youth and young adults. 40% stays in our community for local ministries with children at risk. 50% goes to General Assembly ministries with youth and young adults and 10% goes to child advocacy at the national level. You can use one of the envelopes in the pews for your offering. Thank you!

One Great Hour of Sharing

A big thank you to the congregation for your generosity in the One Great Hour of Sharing offering which was received on Easter Sunday.  This offering goes to support the  for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Hunger Program and Self-Development of Peoples.

For more than fifty years, Presbyterians have joined with Christians throughout the nation in supporting One Great Hour of Sharing, responding to Christ's love for all people by joyfully sharing that love with people in need. The refugee and the stranger have found food and safe shelter; those stunned by the aftermath of disasters have found relief and help rebuilding; and communities seeking to take control of their future have found partners in development. Presbyterians' gifts support the work of The Presbyterian Committee for the Self-Development of People, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and the Presbyterian Hunger Program. The hundreds of millions of dollars Presbyterians have given over the last half century have enabled a powerful witness to the love of the One who came that all might have life more abundantly.

Within the PC(USA), programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing have evolved over the last half century along with our understanding of how best to stand with people in their suffering and offer an authentic witness to God’s healing love. Like our ecumenical partners, we focused our early efforts on those in acute need as a result of wars or natural disasters. Through the programs that have become Presbyterian Disaster Assistance we saw the importance of swift response with local grassroots partners who can get help quickly to the people who need it most; we also learned that staying with people as they begin to rebuild their lives is an important witness to God’s faithfulness. For both those people and those experiencing chronic poverty, hunger, or oppression, we learned that development ministries are an important component of our response and that to be done effectively, they must be carried out as a partnership with the people in need, not imposed from the outside. The Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self-Development of People were both created in the early 1970s to work in such partnerships with communities of people in need. Today each of these programs receives approximately one-third of the offering, except for about four percent that is used, currently through Presbyterian Hunger Program, to address homelessness and affordable housing. All three programs help people address the results of past injustice or misfortune by looking to the future with hope and creativity. Together they witness to the love that Jesus Christ has shared with all and that he asks us to share with one another.

Contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing make a difference in the lives of people. Whether they take the form of immediate relief to people experiencing a time of crisis or of partnerships with communities, focused on long-term solutions to chronic problems, those gifts are a powerful, tangible witness to the healing love of Christ for all people. Our One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Easter Sunday, April 8.

For more information about this offering visit the One Great Hour of Sharing web page at www.pcusa.org/oghs

2009 Mission Committee Report

Members: Kristin Brown, Chair; Eleanor Hopke, Marilyn Johnson, Shirley Warden, Jane Wells, Connie Zelinski, Louise Heintzelman, Pamela Whittet

Local Mission:

• MINC Rural Rehab: $350 dues, $2000 regular allocation, $600 donated towards the emergency fund
• Hosted work team from Clearfield, PA in July 2009
• Helping Hands: $600 donation for expenses and families in need 
• REACH OUT: $300 for a suicide prevention training 
• Community Dinners: these are provided the third Thursday of every month. 
• Golf Tournament: This raised approximately $4000.

World Mission:

• Marion Medical Ministry Shallow Well Program: $350 for clean water in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia 
• The Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery in Malawi: $1000 pledge for the Heller’s ministry. Multiple boxes of diapers, medicine, blankets and other items were shipped in November with the help of members from this congregation and First Presbyterian Church in Ogdensburg. 
• Dr. Barbara Nagy preached in October and shared stories of her work in Malawi providing medical care as a volunteer physician.

Highlights from 2009:

In September, the Heller’s visited from Malawi and gave a fascinating slideshow about their mission at the crisis nursery after a delicious potluck dinner. Members from the Potsdam and Ogdensburg congregations attended and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening.

In October the Annual Spaghetti dinner was well attended by members of the congregation as well as community friends. Entertainment was provided by several Potsdam High School students as well as Martin Heintzelman and Victor Caamano.

The Annual Golf Tournament was a big success and the money raised will be used in 2010’s mission budget.

The children and young adults of the congregation were active in raising money for various mission projects including Heifer International, Souper Bowl Sunday, and UNICEF.

Special collections including One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peacemaking, and Christmas Joy raised funds for various local and worldwide missions.

Respectfully,
Kristin Brown, Chair