Nominating

Nominating Committee News

Announcements

Committee Work: We thank those of you who are serving now and those who are starting their service to the church on the Session or Board of Deacons.

The committee thanks Robert Ewy for accepting the nomination to the session. He will be ordained and installed on March 29th, 2009. We are happy to have a full slate of enthusiastic officers.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2010
Julie Miller, Joe Zelinski, Bob Fraser, Peggy Burlingame, Debbie Shipp and Don Borsh. They are prayerfully considering the needs of the church, and earnesly hope that the people they contact will feel called to serve. The committee asks for prayers as they seek leaders during this transitional time.

What if we were all to come forward to serve?

Most of us have heard the old saying “What would the world be like if someone threw a war and no one came?” The whole idea of people figuring how to make things work together is definitely more appealing than its alternative.

This loosely brings us to a more close to home issue. What would a church be like if no one came forward to serve? Not likely you might say, but in actuality, it is possible. In this day and age of filled schedules and highly structured “vacations,” many mainstream churches are reporting this trend. There are many churches that are trying to survive with congregations of people who do not feel they can commit to a “full time job” with their church. Volunteers may come forward in a one time only service, but there has been a definite decline in people signing up for a longer commitment.

How does all of this connect to Potsdam’s First? One might say directly. The Nominating Committee will be getting together at the end of August to recommend people to serve as deacons or elders for this church. What does it take to be one? An elder or deacon must be a member of this congregation and want to do whatever is possible, depending upon personal schedules and other commitments, to keep the spirit alive in this church. Being an elder or deacon does not mean constant time demands. It means using time and talents to the best of your ability to keep this congregation and church alive. Making the commitment to give regular time and talent for your faith community is needed. If asked to serve as a deacon or elder, whether or not you have ever been one or the other before, figure out a personal plan so you can say, “Yes, I would like to serve in whatever capacity I can.”

For those who have thought about becoming a Potsdam’s First member, please consider this a special invitation to do so. Join us. Help us grow, change, improve. We love having you as part of our congregation and would especially love it if you became a member.

To all who are part of our congregation, help us to become the church in which all come forward to serve.

The PCUSA Book of Order describes the characteristics of a deacon as follows:

“The office of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgments should be chosen for this office…”

To be asked to be a deacon is an honor. To be asked to be a deacon for Potsdam’s First is a special honor. The work our deacons have done in the past has been a source of inspiration even to others outside our doors. They chose to do the Lord’s work and truly fit the description above.

On Sunday, May 7th, Elizabeth Eno and Barb Baker were ordained and installed to become part of Potsdam’s First deacons. When asked to become a deacon, both saw the needs of our church and said “yes” to do what they could. We welcome them to this illustrious group.

2009 Nominating Committee Report

The nominating committee is comprised of Terry de la Vega, Bob Fraser, Neil Johnson, Dianne Morrison, Joe Zelinski, and Julie Miller. Our job is to provide members of the congregation the opportunity to serve God by being an elder or deacon.

We hereby nominate Shirley Baylash, Victor Caamaño, Dianne Morrison, Debbie Shipp, and Ray Toland for the office of deacon, Class of 2012, Barbara Baker, Terry de la Vega, Robert Ewy, and Tom Longshore for the office of elder, Class of 2012, and Robert Fraser and JoAnne Partch as elder for the Class of 2010.

Respectfully submitted,
Julie Miller, Chair