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

Who We Are

quick links to news and announcements from...

Elected Boards: Session, Deacons
Committees: Buildings and Grounds; Christian Education; Congregational Life; Finance; Mission; Nominating; Outreach; Personnel; Stewardship, Wills and Memorials; Worship and Music
Interest Groups: Adult Study Group; Book Group; College Group; Knitting Group; Ladies Guild; Movie Group; Peacemaking Study Group;  Youth Group
(N.B. an underscored name leads to that person's e-mail; other underscores lead to more information)


Heritage Sunday

The First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam was established on June 9, 1811. We are almost 200 years old! Each year on "Heritage Sunday" in June, we honor those people who have been members of this church for 50 years or more.  See who are the members in our Fifty Year Membership Club. 


History

A Brief History of First Presbyterian Church
Potsdam, New York


Affiliation

We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), located in the Synod of the Northeast and in the Presbytery of Northern New York (see recent issues of their newsletter - East-Wind). We are governed by a group of elected elders and the pastor, called the Session. We also elect a Board of Deacons to minister to the people in and outside of the congregation.


Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Richard Will

Pastor Rich began his ministerial work at this church in May, 2003.  (More...)  (E-Mail Pastor Rich) 


Our Congregation

Our congregation is a diverse group of people who come from a wide range of backgrounds and who hold a wide variety of views, but we are united in our faith and in our firm belief that we are "a community gathering in Christ and ministering as God leads." We live in a rural region of upstate New York (in "The North Country"), just a few miles from the Canadian border. Our community is shaped not only by our rural roots, but also by the four colleges and universities in this area (Clarkson University, SUNY Potsdam College, St. Lawrence University, and Canton College). We are a caring yet fun-loving church with a long tradition of education, music, and community and world service.

Church Family

  • News about our church family
  • Prayer concerns
  • Announcements
  • Upcoming events

Congregational Milestones

  • Birthdays this month
  • 50 years (or more) membership list
  • Special milestone events

Church Officers 2009

SESSION

  

BOARD OF DEACONS

D. Richard Will, Moderator   Richard Partch, Moderator (2010)
Ranota Hewitson, Clerk (2010)    Joyce Yianoukos, Vice Moderator (2010)
Terry de la Vega (2012)   Shirley Baylash (2012)
Joanne Partch (2010)   Helen Brouwer (2009)
Kristin Brown (2011)   Debbie Shipp (2012)
Cynthia Coleman (2011)  

Mary Ellen Frackenpohl (2011)

Martin Heintzelman (2011)   Dianne Morrison (2012)
Julie Miller (2011)*  

Jennifer McDonald (2011)

Barbara Baker (2012)   Radmila Zuman (2011)
Robert Ewy (2012)  

Wanda Paro (2011)

Robert Fraser (2010)   Eleanor Hopke (2010)
Thomas Longshore (2012)   Ray Toland (2012)
Devon Shipp (2011)   Elisabeth Eno
Victor Caamaño (2012)



Committees and Chairs 

NOMINATING

Julie Miller,  Chair Joe Zelinsky
Peggy Burlingame Dianne Morrison
Don Borsh Terry de la Vega
Bob Fraser

 

SUSTAINABILITY

Martin Heintzelman, Chair Ken Visser
Peggy Burlingame Mary Ellen Frackenpohl
Ray Toland Dawn Bartow
David Beck Dave Wells

WORSHIP & MUSIC

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS

Julie Miller, Chair Robert Ewy, Chair
Laura Toland
Dave Powers
Eleanor Hopke
Pam Whittet
Bob Fraser
   

STEWARDSHIP, WILLS & MEMORIALS

FINANCE

Martin Heintzelman, Chair Martin Heintzelman / Ranota Hewitson -
Co-Chairs
Connie Zelinski Gordy Theisen
A. George Davis Mike Nuwer
Michael Nuwer
Peggy Burlingame
 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

PERSONNEL

Ranota Hewitson,
Chair		 Marcia Reutershan, Chair
Ruth Kreuzer
Ray Toland A. George Davis
Ken Visser Mary Ellen Frackenpohl
Sharon Pickard  Peggy Burlingame

MISSION

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE and OUTREACH

Kristin Brown, Chair Terry de la Vega, Co-Chair
A. George Davis Shirley Baylash
Marilyn Johnson Julie Miller
Eleanor Hopke Phil Paro
Jane Wells Laura Toland (kitchen)
Helen Brouwer Betty Fraser (kitchen)
Connie Zelinski Eleanor Hopke
Fran Shaw  Ruth Kreuzer
Amy Walker
Art Frackenpohl
   

Groups and Contact People

YOUTH GROUP

COLLEGE GROUP

Pastor Rich Eleanor Hopke
   

LADIES GUILD
Laura Toland Fran Stowe Helen Brouwer
 Cynthia Coleman Eva Barrett  Pam Whittet
Pam Whittet Amy Walker Gail Schaberg
Shirley Warden Fran Shaw

ADULT STUDY GROUP Leaders:
Pastor Rich Will George Davis Dianne Morrison
   

BOOK GROUP

MOVIE GROUP

Terry de la Vega
   

KNITTING GROUP

 RENOVARE
Jane Wells Terry de la Vega
Dianne Morrison

 

Other Personnel and Volunteer Staff

SECRETARY

WEB SITE MANAGERS

Cindy Bowen Dale Hobson
  Ruth Kreuzer

SEXTON
Ron Kaiser

 ORGANISTS

 Laura Toland
 Arthur Frackenpohl

TREASURER
Cynthia Coleman

PIANISTS

Laura Toland

Arthur Frackenpohl

ASSISTANT TREASURER

Kirk Severtson

Julie Miller

Mary McGreevy