Visitors Expected!
view map
Presbyterian Church USA logoFirst 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

Worship & Music

 

Worship and Music Committee News

Announcements

Link to

Music News

Worship and Musice Committee News September 2010

We are so grateful for Ben Stone and the music he provided this summer. We will miss him as he travels to Notre Dame, but we are happy to welcome Art Frackenpohl to the organ bench until Laura’s return on Sept. 5. Laura has already been hard at work around the church – she is untiring in her devotion. (click on photo to view a larger version of it)

We are interested in exploring the meaning of our sacraments, so if you have any ideas about this or another aspect of our worship, please share them with JoAnne Partch, Shirley Baylash, Eleanor Hopke, Laura Toland, Pastor Rich, or Julie Miller. At times in this and other congregations, there has been a person who has taken on the role of communion steward as a mission to the church. If this is something you would like to do, please see Julie Miller. There will be a brief hymn sing just before the church picnic on Sept. 12, so start thinking of your favorite hymns!

Elders "Doing" Worship. We were so blessed by our recent lay pastors and elders who assisted in worship services. Many thanks are extended to Mary Ellen Frackenpohl, Dianne Morrison, George Davis, Terry de la Vega, Martin Heintzelman, Ranota Hewitson, Cynthia Coleman, Tom Longshore, and Bob Fraser. It is a special experience when members of the church offer to share their faith with all of us - all three worship services were meaningful, touching, and Spirit-filled. Thank you for inspiring us

We have a great opportunity to view Steven Madeja's excellent film, Garry and Harry, at: http://netny.net/faithfilmfestival/video-clip/episode-4/ as part of the Faith Film Festival. It is a must-see portrait of brotherly love.

Seeking new members!
The Worship and Music Committee would welcome new members; we currently meet on weekday mornings. We would also welcome people, on the committee or not, who would like to contribute their time and talents to our worship life. Many jobs are available, including, but not limited to: communion steward, sound technician, acolyte, reader, provider of flowers, Philhymnonic player or crew member, and greeter. Please contact Julie Miller if you are interested in helping.

Floral Tribute To Our Loved Ones

Do you remember the "good, old days" when flowers were given in memory of/or in honor of a loved one? The Sunday school children would like to rekindle this tradition. With your help, flowers could be purchased and given in memory of/honor of a loved one. The children could "arrange" them in the sanctuary. Following the worship service, the flowers could be taken home or given to a shut-in to brighten his or her day! Please sign up on the “Flower Chart” on the bulletin board outside the church offices or contact Danielle Grant or Robin Wilkinson if you'd like to participate in this very worthwhile project.

Attention Sunday Readers
Mary Ellen Frackenpohl has graciously offered to assist anyone who is reading the Scriptures each Sunday. We can all benefit from her professional experience as we seek to lead in worship. 

A SUGGSETION FOR READERS:  Are you going to be the reader in church on Sunday? Here’s a suggestion. Once you get your reading assignment, go to the “Daily Lectionary” link on the “Spiritual Life” section of our church web site. When you click on that link you will be taken to the PC USA site. Navigate your way from the "Daily Lectionary" link to “Next Sunday” and find, copy and paste what you are assigned to read into a WORD document. Increase the font size so that it is easy to read from. Print out your assigned passages and annotate them (e.g. mark the places to emphasize as you read or where you want to pause, or write in phonetically those names that are hard to pronounce, etc.) and practice your readings at home. Consider using your printout instead of the reader’s Bible on the lectern when you read in church. You can find and practice your other readings at home ahead of time as well. Each Sunday’s worship bulletin is posted on our web site as a .pdf document the Friday or Saturday before the service; it is linked from the “Home” page and also from the “Publications” section. P.S. You don’t have to be the lay reader to appreciate the online lectionary at PC USA. Bookmark the site and go to it every day; take a “devotional break” to renew your spirits.

 

2009 Worship and Music Committee Report

The members of the committee are: Laura Toland, Eleanor Hopke, Shirley Baylash, Julie Miller, and ex officio member Rev. Will.

We are grateful that our congregation actively participated in worship; over 40 members were lay readers, and many more answered Shirley’s request to serve at greeters. The children enjoyed their special weekly sermons, and always brightened the services with their answers to Pastor Rich’s questions. Jesse Millek, Colin Borsh, Chatham Borsh, and Robert Ritchey were essential as operators of the sound system. Also important were the many anonymous helpers who performed these tasks to enhance worship: stocking the pews and children’s bags with supplies; supplying and lighting of candles; making, supplying, and hanging of Christmas wreaths, trees and decorations; watering plants and flowers; changing paraments; serving communion to shut-ins; setting up during winter months; as well as many other unnamed jobs.

The Lord’s Supper was celebrated the first Sunday of each month, as well as on Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday, Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas Eve. The committee was grateful to everyone who assisted with Communion, including preparers, servers, bakers, launderers, and all who cleaned up afterward.

Pastor Rich continued his thoughtful and loving ministry, putting in many hours planning each worship service. He also displayed uncommon grace by being easy-going when unexpected developments occurred. We were fortunate to have as guest speaker Dr. Barbara Nagy, along with our own gifted lay pastors, Mary Ellen Frackenpohl and Dianne Morrison.

Laura Toland was, as ever, a superbly-organized, inspired, and inspiring music director, also spending many hours each week planning appropriate music for each Sunday of the liturgical year. We were blessed by her talents in so many ways. She oversaw the maintenance of the instruments, and it was an especially large and exciting task this year. Art Frackenpohl and Mary Madeja also were an important part of the music ministry.

Ron Kaiser and Tammy Liscum, succeeded by Cindy Bowen, did their jobs cheerfully and efficiently, aiding our worship experience every week.

Christmas brought special opportunities to praise God through music, including the Potsdam Brass Quintet fund-raiser for Jubilee Christmas, Lessons and Carols, and the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. A small group of carolers braved single-digit temperatures to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to some of our members.

The committee would welcome new members, so please consider joining us as we worship the Lord.

Respectfully submitted,
Julie Miller, Chair, Worship and Music Committee