Sundays
- Worship starts at 10:00am. (9:30am in July - until near the end of August when we return to our 10:00am service time). The Church, as well as the Church Center, is handicap accessible, and there is handicap parking in the lot near the back entrance to the church (entrance off Lawrence Avenue / HWY 11) (more...). Assisted hearing devices are available during worship services (ask a greeter for one). Nursery care is available during the service. Children are always welcome in worship; we provide "worship bags" with quiet activities for the children, and there is a special Children's Sermon for them during the service.
- Sunday School with classes for children ( who leave the worship for Sunday School in the Church Center after the Children's Sermon); and with classes for adults (at 9:00-9:45am, i.e. before the worship service) (childcare is provided for the youngest children so that parents can attend the adult class).
- Coffee Hour follows the worship service
Finding Potsdam First Presbyterian
Worship Bulletins - from the most recent church service and past holy days (.pdf)
Most recent Sunday Sermon available
Sunday Readers and Greeters
Daily Devotionals from PC (USA)
- Daily Lectionary This lectionary resource is provided by the Office of Worship, Theology, and Discipleship of the General Assembly Council. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Daily Devotionals This online resource is from the 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Emerging Worship
In addition to our Sunday services we occasionally have an Emerging Worship service. This type of service is described in the following excerpts, taken from the website http://www.emergingworship.org:
"Emerging Worship refers to any practice of worship that is expressive, faithful to tradition, and attentive to local context. The name "Emerging Worship" itself suggests a cutting edge of growth and change, for its broad scope and organic nature set it apart from earlier, more defined movements. People from different denominations, liturgical traditions, theological perspectives, musical backgrounds, social and geographical contexts, are included in Emerging Worship. Thus, Emerging Worship is not a label for a specific form, liturgy, or style of music. Emerging Worship is intentionally ecumenical and multi-cultural, in purview, celebrating the broad expressions of worship that are continually growing and developing. Emerging Worship is a way of recognizing, articulating and developing worship that seeks to be authentic to our ancient faith while being appropriate to our current context. Along with new technology, internet resources, global and local artists, musicians, and poets, the Book of Common Worship and its supplemental material, the Presbyterian Hymnal and its supplemental material are examples of important resources for Emerging Worship."
Worship and Music Committee News
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During the school year, The Westminster Choir  sings most Sundays, and The Handbell Choir and the Orchestra each plays usually once a month. During the summer, worship service music is provided by soloists and ensembles. Invited musicians often lend their musical talents to our church services. Special musical programs have included such things as choir workshops, organ recitals, and choral performances such as...
 "A Festival of Hymns: The Writers Tell Their Stories"
by Hal Hopson (not to be confused with Dale Hobson)
Recorded Sunday, April 18th, 2004
Full Concert, Readings and Photos
Link leads to the "Concert Hall" section of NCPR (North Country Public Radio) web site.
Westminster Choir
The Westminster Choir is continuing to grow. Students who attend the local colleges are welcome to join; they add lots of youthful enthusiasm to the Westminster Choir.
- For Teens and Up
- Weekly Rehearsal: Wednesday evenings, 7-8 p.m. in classroom 4
- Warm-up Rehearsal: Sundays, 9 a.m. in classroom 4
Handbell Choir
- For teens and up (we will train new ringers, but ringers must have some music reading skills)
- Rehearsals: Sundays, following worship, in the balcony
Philhymnonic Orchestra
The Philhymnonic is under the direction of Art Frackenpohl, who arranges the music for any combination of instruments and voice! Please contact Art if you would to participate. Playing in the Philhymnonic is a delightful intergenerational opportunity to enhance our worship.
Contemporary/Praise Group
A contemporary/praise music group has been formed to play and sing for our own enjoyment as well as occasionally contributing to worship services and other church events. Anyone who plays an instrument or sings - teens and up - is welcome. Bring your instruments or just your voice, as well as ideas for music to sing. If you are interested in joining this group, contact Pam Whittet jwhittet@verizon.net.
Church Organ
We have an exceptionally fine pipe organ and we are striving to build an interest in learning how to play the organ. We invite the community to come to our organ programs. We encourage the Potsdam High students to continue to take field trips to our church to meet the "King of Instruments." Three young musicians associated with our church have won  scholarships from the American Guild of Organists. They are continuing their studies on our organ, contributing their talents to our worship services from time to time. Organ lessons are available; contact Laura Toland.
If you have questions about any of these groups or the music program at Potsdam Presbyterian, please call Laura Toland at 265-0650.
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First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, New York