Events
Elf & Cookies
Please join us for a FREE fun, family-friendly event!
Holiday Cookie Decorating, Story Time, and a special visit from that Jolly Ole' Elf, Santa Claus.
Saturday, December 21st 1:00 - 3:00 pm
FREE Event for children and their grownups
Second Annual Potsdam UMC Youth Car Wash
To be held Saturday, August 24th, 1 - 3pm, in the church parking lot, 26 main street, Potsdam.
All donations will benefit Helping Hands of Potsdam.
Potsdam United Methodist Church Holy Week Services 2024
Maundy Thursday - March 28th, 6pm, Worship and Silent Communion
Maundy Thursday - March 28th, 6pm, Worship and Silent Communion
Good Friday - March 29th - 12-3pm - Silent Vigil
Easter Service - March 31st - 9:30am light refreshments and Flowering the Cross, 11am Worship Service
Hop into Spring
Please join us for a FREE, fun, family-friendly event. Easter games, treats, coloring pages, and more.
Saturday, March 23rd 2:00 - 3:30 pm Bring a friend and plan to attend!
We hope you'll join us this evening at 6pm for An Observance of Ash Wednesday service.
Just in case you can't be with us in person, and since we will not be livestreaming the service, we are sharing a video Pastor Heidi made during the Pandemic, when we were all worshipping from home.
Watch Ash Wednesday at Home with Pastor Heidi REV on Youtube.
Join us for our Ash Wednesday Service, February 14th
We will offer two opportunities to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Pastor Heidi will be on the front steps of the church from 7 to 7:30am offering Ashes-To-Go. At 6pm, we will hold An Observance of Ash Wednesday service in the Sanctuary.
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
Join us for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 6pm. All are welcome.
Potsdam UMC Youth Car Wash
To be held Saturday, August 5th, 1 - 3pm, in the church parking lot, 26 main street.
All donations will benefit the Potsdam Neighborhood Center
Stop and Drop for Grace House
Grace House is a transitional, supportive living environment for women in early recovery from addictive disorders located in Canton. Friday, June 2nd from 3 - 7pm we will hold a public STOP AND DROP to collect donations for Grace House. We will collect paper products that will be used by the residents at Grace House.
Specific items requested:
- Napkins
- Paper towels
- Paper plates
- Toilet paper
- Dryer sheets
- Foil and clear cling wrap
Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Student Coffee House
Come join us at our very first Student Coffee House on Saturday April 22nd from 3 to 5pm. The event is free. Non alcoholic beverages, desserts, and snack foods will be served. An open mic will be available for those who wish to sing, dance, read poetry, perform stand-up comedy, or demonstrate other talents as entertainment during the event.
Potsdam United Methodist Church Holy Week Services 2023
LENTEN GUIDE
THE SIXTH WEEK OF LENT (HOLY WEEK)
Passion/Palm Sunday Prayer
Almighty God, you sent your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to suffer death on the cross. Grant that we may share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Mark 11: 1-11
Prayer For Monday Of Holy Week
God of strength and mercy, by the suffering and death of your Son, free us from slavery to sin and death and protect us in all our weakness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Matthew 25: 31-46
Prayer For Tuesday Of Holy Week
Holy and compassionate God, your dear Son went not up to joy before he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified. Mercifully grant that we, walking the way of the cross, may find it the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Savior. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Matthew 26: 6-13
Prayer For Wednesday Of Holy Week
Most merciful God, your blessed Son, our Savior, was betrayed, whipped, and his face spat upon. Grant us grace to endure the sufferings of the present time, to overcome all that seeks to overwhelm us, confident of the glory that shall yet be revealed; through Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Mark 13: 32-37
Prayer For Holy Thursday
O God, by the example of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, you taught us the greatness of true humility, and call us to watch with him in his passion. Give us grace to serve one another in all lowliness, and to enter into the fellowship of his suffering; in his name and for his sake. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Matthew 26: 26-29
Prayer For Holy Thursday
O God, by the example of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, you taught us the greatness of true humility, and call us to watch with him in his passion. Give us grace to serve one another in all lowliness, and to enter into the fellowship of his suffering; in his name and for his sake. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Matthew 26: 26-29
Prayer For Good Friday
Almighty God, graciously behold your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Luke 23: 24-49
Prayer For Holy Saturday
Merciful and everliving God, creator of heaven and earth, the crucified body of your Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this Holy day. Grant that we may await with him the dawning of the third day and rise in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Luke 23: 50-56
Prayer For Easter Sunday
God of life, through Jesus Christ you have bestowed upon the world the light of life. Sanctify this new fire, and grant that our hearts and minds may be so kindled with holy desire to shine forth with the brightness of Christ's rising, that we may attain to the feast of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading and Reflection: Mark 16: 1-8
Close each day with the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm
THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
Prayer for the week
Almighty God, your blessed Son was led by the spirit to be tempted by Satan. Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weakness of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
- Read And Reflect On Each Day's Scripture:
- Sunday: John 12: 1-8
- Monday: Isaiah 43: 16-43
- Tuesday: Philippians 3: 4-14
- Wednesday: Psalm 126
- Thursday: Proverbs 3: 3-8
- Friday: Matthew 6: 25-34
- Saturday: Hebrews 12: 1-2
- Palm Sunday: Mark 11: 1-11
Complete your devotions with the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm.
THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
Prayer for the week
O Lord our God, teach us temperance and self control, that we may live in the spirit and be mindful of all that Jesus endured and sacrificed for our sake, and how He was made perfect through sufferings. Help us to keep the fast that thou has chosen, that we may loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free; through the grace of Christ Jesus our crucified and risen Savior. Amen.
- Read And Reflect On Each Day's Scripture:
- Sunday: John 12: 20-33
- Monday: Jeremiah 31: 31-34
- Tuesday: Hebrews 5: 7-10
- Wednesday: Psalm 51: 16-17
- Thursday: 1 Peter 2:21-25
- Friday: Romans 8: 6-11
- Saturday: Ezekiel 3: 1-14
Complete your devotions with the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm.
THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT
Prayer for the week
Merciful father, in compassion for your sinful children, you sent your son Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world. Grant us grace to feel and to lament our share of the evil that made it necessary for Him to suffer and to die for our salvation. Help us by self-denial, prayer, and meditation to prepare our hearts for deeper penitence and a better life. And give us a true longing to be free from sin, through the deliverance won by Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen.
- Read And Reflect On Each Day's Scripture:
- Sunday: John 3: 14-21
- Monday: 2 Chronicles 36: 14-23
- Tuesday: Ephesians 2: 4-10
- Wednesday: Psalm 137: 1-6
- Thursday: John 12: 44-50
- Friday: Romans 5: 12-19
- Saturday: Jeremiah 30: 1-10
Complete your devotions with the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm.
THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
Prayer for the week
Everlasting God, because of your tender mercy toward all people, you sent your son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon himself our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all should follow the example of His great humility. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His patience and also be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Read And Reflect On Each Day's Scripture:
- Sunday: John 2: 13-22
- Monday: Exodus 20: 1-17
- Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 1: 22-25
- Wednesday: Psalm 19: 7-14
- Thursday: Luke 19: 1-10
- Friday: Romans 5: 1-11
- Saturday: Mark 19: 1-9
Complete your devotions with the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm.
THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT
Prayer for the week
O God, Your glory is always to have mercy. Be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your word, Jesus Christ your son, who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
- Read And Reflect On Each Day's Scripture:
- Sunday: Mark 8: 31-38
- Monday: Philippians 2: 5-11
- Tuesday: 2 Kings 2 :1-12a
- Wednesday: 2corinthians 4: 3-6
- Thursday: Psalm 50: 14,15,23
- Friday: Romans 4:16-25
- Saturday: Matthew 17: 1-9
Complete your devotions with the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm.
Join us for our Ash Wednesday Service, February 22nd at 4:30pm
LENTEN GUIDE TO ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE SEASON OF LENT
As the Lenten season approaches, we have time to consider what we might do during this special season of the church year that leads us to Easter.
In the early days of the church, it was a time of preparation for converts to the faith. Later in history it became a time for fasting and self-examination.
In more recent times people of faith have done things such as giving up a favorite food or taken on a service to others such as: telephone visits with those who are alone. Others take the opportunity to do a study, or to spend time in prayer.
For anyone who would like to follow the discipline of spending more time with the Lord during Lent, a daily guide will be available as an enclosure in the bulletin, and in the Weekly Church News, during the season of Lent. It consists of (1) a prayer for the week, (2) verses to read from your bible, (3) a time of reflection, and (4) a closing psalm.
It is helpful to choose a quiet place and to take a moment to turn your focus toward God before beginning. If you wish you can keep a Lenten journal of your reflections.
AN ASH WEDNESDAY PRAYER
Oh god, maker of everything and judge of all You have made, from the dust of the earth You have formed us and from the dust of death You would raise us up. By the redemptive power of the cross, create in us clean hearts and put within us a new spirit, that we may repent our sins and lead lives worthy of Your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Season of Lent
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. It is a preparation for celebrating Easter.
The First Sunday describes Jesus' temptation by Satan and the Sixth Sunday, Passion/Palm Sunday, tells of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
The Great Three Days- sometimes called the Triduum or Pasch- from sunset on Holy Thursday through sunset on Easter Day are the climax of Lent and of the whole Christian year.
During the season of Lent some Christians choose to honor the season by giving up some food or activity or by practicing a daily devotion. Lenten Devotions will appear each week in the Church News.