Congregational Self Study 2026: Key Findings

First Presbyterian Church of Watkins Glen
Congregational Self Study 2026

KEY FINDINGS

We began our interim time, focused on the church's history - narrowing the focus to pastors that members of the congregation had direct experience of beginning with Reverend Cartmell through the churches most recent settled pastor Reverend Milne. When comparing church membership trends to general community population changes over time, a clear pattern emerges while both have experienced declines, church membership has dropped at a disproportionately faster pace. It should be noted that sharp drops consistently coincided with leadership vacancies. Five of the last 10 pastors have been interims.

When examining the church's recent history, there have been several periods marked by conflict. Over multiple generations, internal divisions have directly correlated with the church's steepest drops in membership, demonstrating that unaddressed friction consistently drives members away. The Interim Process has served as a critical turning point by successfully bringing these long-suppressed issues into the open, initiating a healing process that continues today.

The congregation search for settled pastor is deeply shaped by the legacy of Rev. Bev, whose steady, welcoming presence alongside her well-loved husband set a standard that created unrealistic expectations for her successor. While the interim process has helped temper these leanings, the longing for a similar figure remains strong within the heart of the church. Moving forward requires honest, self-reflection and clear, mutual communication regarding the congregation's true needs, while acknowledging that the ministry belongs to the entire congregation, not just the pastor.

During the interim process, the congregation identified communication as its most critical issue – a vulnerability exposed when the passing of a cherished matriarch revealed how heavily the church relied on institutional memory rather than documented procedures. With the guidance of our Interim Pastor, significant operational strides were made, most notably the complete rewriting of the Manual of Operations to accurately reflect current committee responsibilities and workflows. To keep members informed, the monthly newsletter was expanded to include Session notes and committee summaries, while elders began sharing updates from Dinner and Discernment meetings during monthly worship announcements, and the launch of a real-time, text-based Prayer and Praise Chain for sharing joys and concerns. While engaging in the interim process has helped us establish new processes, improving congregation-wide communication remains an ongoing priority.

As we look at the current and future leadership needs of the congregation an area of concern is the lack of leadership succession planning. Currently, the aging and shrinking of our congregation is requiring members to do more tasks with fewer people. We have not set up a formal succession plan, though updating our manual of operations, procedures are better detailed for future planning. It is also important to note that our session seems to be too large for the membership of the church. At 12 elders, our session comprises roughly ¼ of our typical Sunday's church attendance. This is an area that we feel would benefit from partnering with our new pastor to address.

Congregational Self Study 2026: Intro

First Presbyterian Church of Watkins Glen
Congregational Self Study 2026

As the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Watkins Glen gathers to reflect on our history, our ministry, and our future, we enter this season of transition with hopeful expectation and steadfast faith. Preparing a Congregational Self-Study is more than an administrative step; it is a spiritual practice of discerning where God has led us and where the Holy Spirit is calling us next.

God has placed our church at the heart of Watkins Glen to be a beacon of grace, hospitality, and service. As we seek the pastor God is preparing for us, we commit ourselves to prayerful listening, open hearts, and active trust in divine leadership.

We invite our congregation, leadership, and prospective pastoral candidates to read through this self-study with a spirit of joy and discernment. We trust that the same God who has sustained this congregation through generations will faithfully guide our footsteps into this next chapter of ministry together.

As we prepare to welcome a new pastor to walk alongside us, teach us, and lead our community in worship and service, we ground our journey in God's promises:

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 
Jeremiah 29:11

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

September'26: Pastor's Corner

 From the Pastor

This is an exciting time at First Presbyterian Church. For the past month, Session members have been busy contacting as many of you as possible to collect information for our Self-Study. To date almost sixty have responded. If you have not been contacted and wish to participate, please let me know ASAP. 

A group of Elders have been assembled to begin the process of collating the data, creating charts and writing narratives to create the application that will be submitted to the Committee on Ministry (COM). They will be working diligently over the coming weeks to complete a draft document for review by Session. Once the draft document is approved by Session, it will be submitted to our COM representative Cathy Foerster for approval before being submitted to COM for approval – hopefully at their October meeting.

As we draw near the end of this process – Dinner & Discernment and Small Groups still have an important role to play. These groups will be supporting the work of the committee by summarizing the work they have been engaged in the past 15 months and writing narratives to be included in the draft document. You can support this important stage of the interim process by participating in September's Dinner & Discernment on Tuesday September 1st and Small Groups throughout the month. 

If you have any questions about this process – as always – please contact me. 

Blessings,
Pastor Lynda

July-August'26 Interim Update

Dinner and Discernment:
Update from our June 2026 Meeting

I think by now everyone realizes how much 2020 changed the landscape of the Church in America. Even before the COVID shutdown, even discounting any scandals with the leadership of other churches, more and more potential pastors have been turning their backs on The Call.

I mean, can you imagine being paid to stand at the pulpit and give the biblical response to the question "Who is my neighbor?", only then to be told that suddenly now you're a political risk for having faithfully done your job??

Nobody wants that!
We live in a horribly critical world climate.
Just as Jesus did.

That is why the Presbyterian Church in America - the PC(USA) - chose to formalize the interim process with documents and milestones; to intentionally slow us down and give us a much better chance to not only obtain, but to retain the right pastor for each congregation. And yes, in case you hadn't noticed, even neighboring churches are taking 3-5 years to go through this exact same process right now. 

But if you've been paying any attention, you've already heard all of this multiple times: from this pulpit, from our presbytery representatives from the COM (Paul Rack, then Cathy Foerester), and nearly every month at Dinner & Discernment.

With all that said, I'm personally amazed at the amount of progress we've been able to make here in an astonishingly short amount of time! And if you don't also see how remarkable the amount of knowledge and healing this church family has undergone in the past year and a half, let me ask you:
Exactly how active have YOU been in our monthly Dinner & Discernments?

Because although I'm an elder at First Presbyterian, I've only been a member here in Watkins Glen for less than a dozen years; so not only have I learned a lot during this process, but I'm actually feeling much more emotionally integrated into this congregation as a direct result of Lynda's leadership through these activities! 

All of that review last year laid the foundation for the future of this congregation. If I were to put a number on it, I'd guess we've gleaned a little over half the information we need in order to put together this new Self Study document that John King talked about last month. 

To be specific, we have all of the info we need to create a thorough study of our Past, with very little thought towards our Future. That would be more than enough to place our church on hospice care, but not quite enough to allow us to *thrive* as a congregation. Obviously, that means there's more to be done! 

I was planning to talk here about the progress we made at our June Dinner & Discernment: about this thing we did called a Congregational Asset Mapping, where we linked the church's assets to the community's needs; about the cool new programs that we proposed as a direct result of this exciting new exercise; about how we already have a brand new ecumenical "place of worship" on 5th Street, which is now labeled on Google Maps as "The Labyrinth at First Presbyterian"; and about why each of you needs to be actively participating in this process, or expect to be surprised by the actions that we take without you. 

I was planning to talk about that, but we changed course a little during sessions last Tuesday. We wheeled in a new proverbial Crash Cart to try and jolt a little new life into this process. So rather than just continuing to make these monthly appeals for all of you to become active participants, the elders will be proactively calling on each of you over the summer. We will be leading the charge to get your input!

Each elder was given a list of active members Tuesday night, along with a list of questions; and if you are an active member here, one of us will be giving you a call. In fact, if you aren't called by the end of August, grab an elder and demand that your voice be heard! Let's Thrive Together!

God bless you. And may he guide us through the rest of this process according to his timing. Not ours. Amen.

Respectfully, iliese Bowman

July-August'26: Pastor's Corner

 PASTOR’S CORNER

• For the past 14 months — you have been gathering — around dinner tables in the fellowship hall — and in small groups — to engage in honest — tender — and sometimes courageous conversations about who you are and where God is calling you. You have been doing the hard and holy work of looking at your Heritage — celebrating the faithful journey that brought you here — while honestly tending the places that still need healing. 

• You have been wrestling together with your Mission — asking what you truly stand for — what you are called to be in this community and in this world — during this season. You have been examining your Leadership — thinking carefully about how this community is organized and who needs to be equipped and empowered for what comes next. 

• You have begun identifying your Connections — remembering that no congregation is an island and that the partnerships you have formed beyond these walls are part of your calling too. And you have been daring to look toward your Future — not with fear — but with faith. 

• Heritage – Mission – Leadership — Connections — and Future — the Five Focus Areas of Interim Ministry. 14 months of faithful work carried out in Dinner and Discernment and Small Group gatherings. And yet — I want to remind you that you have not been building something from scratch. You have been joining something that was already in motion — because God was already in the field before you got there. 

• In April — our Committee on Ministry representative — Cathy Foerester — came and instructed Session about the steps involved in preparing to form a PNC. One of those steps is a Congregational Self-Study to be conducted by Session. The information gathered in the study becomes our "application" (for lack of a better word) that will be submitted to COM for approval to form a PNC. In the coming weeks — Elders will begin collecting information to complete the required Self-Study in preparation for formally requesting that COM approve the formation of a Pastor Nominating Committee at their meeting in September.

• To accomplish this in a timely manner — each Elder has been assigned 8-10 members of this community to have conversations with members regarding how each of you sees this community and what your hopes are for the future. It is Session's hope that you will accept the invitation to be part of the answer you have been seeking — by participating when contacted. The goal is to collect all the survey results by mid-August so that the information can be formatted to present to COM at their meeting in September.

• To foster good communication – and ease any anxiety around what my you will be asked – an email will be sent with all the survey questions. Additionally, if you would like to know who will be contacting you – please call, email, or text me and I will provide you with that information.

• The upcoming Congregational Self-Study is not just an administrative exercise. It is not just a box to check on the way to forming a PNC and calling a new pastor. These conversations are an act of prayer made visible. They are you saying to God — we are willing — and ready to be part of the answer. And here is what I believe with my whole heart — when you show up for these conversations — when you bring your honest voice and your hopeful spirit — you are answering a prayer that this congregation has already been praying together.

Blessings,

Pastor Lynda

June'26 Interim Update

 Interim Update - Elder Edition

June 2026 Dinner and Discernment

I think by now everyone realizes how much 2020 changed the landscape of the Church in America. Even before the COVID shutdown, even discounting any scandals with the leadership of other churches, more and more potential pastors have been turning their backs on The Call. 

I mean, can you imagine being paid to stand at the pulpit and give the biblical response to the question "Who is my neighbor", only then to be told that suddenly now you're a political risk for having faithfully done your job?? 
Nobody wants that! 
We live in a horribly critical world climate.
Just as Jesus did. 

That is why the Presbyterian Church in America - the PC(USA) - chose to formalize the interim process with documents and milestones; to intentionally slow us down and give us a much better chance to not only obtain, but to retain the right pastor for each congregation. And yes, in case you hadn't noticed, even neighboring churches are taking 3-5 years to go through this exact same process right now. 

But if you've been paying any attention, you've already heard all of this multiple times: from this pulpit, from our presbytery representatives from the COM (Paul Rack, then Cathy Foerester), and nearly every month at Dinner & Discernment.

With that said, I'm actually amazed at the amount of progress we've been able to make here in an astonishingly short amount of time! And if you don't also see how remarkable the amount of knowledge and healing this church family has undergone in the past year and a half, let me ask you: 

Exactly how active have YOU been in our monthly Dinner & Discernments? 

Because although I'm an elder at First Presbyterian, I've only been a member here in Watkins Glen for less than a dozen years; and not only have I learned a lot during this process, but I'm actually feeling much more emotionally integrated into this congregation as a direct result of Lynda's leadership through these activities! 

All of that review last year laid the foundation for the future of this congregation. If I were to put a number on it, I'd guess we've gleaned a little over half the information we need in order to put together this new Self Study document that John King talked about last month. 

To be specific, we have all of the info we need to create a thorough study of our past, with very little thought towards our future. That would be more than enough to place our church on hospice care, but not quite enough to allow us to *thrive* as a congregation. So obviously, that means there's more to be done!

I was planning to talk here about the progress we made at our June Dinner & Discernment: 

• about this thing we did called a Congregational Asset Mapping, where we linked the church's assets to the community's needs; 
• about the cool new programs that we proposed as a direct result of this exciting new exercise; 
• about how we already have a brand new ecumenical "place of worship" on 5th Street, which is now labeled on Google Maps as "The Labyrinth at First Presbyterian"; 
• and about why each of you needs to be actively participating in this process, or expect to be surprised by the actions that we take without you; 

I was _planning_ to talk about that, but we changed course a little during sessions last Tuesday. We wheeled in a new proverbial Crash Cart to try and jolt a little new life into this process.

So rather than just continuing to make these monthly appeals for all of you to become active participants, the elders will be proactively calling on each of you over the summer. We will be leading the charge to get your input! 

Each elder was given a list of active members Tuesday night, along with a list of questions; and if you are an active member here, one of us will be giving you a call. In fact, if you aren't called by the end of August, grab an elder and demand that your voice be heard! 
Let's THRIVE together! 

God bless you. And may he guide us through the rest of this process according to his timing. Not ours.
Amen. 

Respectfully, iliese Bowman

June'26 Words from the Pastor

 Often when we are in a period of transition, it can feel as though no significant progress is being made. And yet, progress is still made. This is the case here at First Presbyterian Church. For months, a number of you have met faithfully to do the work of the interim process. You have met over a meal at the monthly Dinner & Discernment and carried the momentum gathered there into small groups to further refine what was done in the larger group. There is new momentum and people are working together with renewed energy.

How we communicate has been a focus. Committees have begun revising their portion of the Manual of Operations which was last updated 10 years ago. Communication between committees has improved. A new prayer request system has been implemented and working well. 

Our new Committee on Ministry (COM) representative, Cathy Foerster, attended April’s Session meeting detailing the steps that would be required to be approved by the Presbytery to form a PNC. Many gathered were surprised to learn that a congregational Self-Study would be required. 

At May’s Session meeting I presented a Self-Study outline to Session members for consideration. While the list of areas to be covered is significant – the good news is that a considerable percentage of the information has been gathered through the monthly Dinner & Discernment and Small Group meetings. With that said – there remains work to be done. June’s Session meeting will be spent designing the framework for how the remaining information will be gathered and how the Self-Study will be written. 

So – what can you expect as we continue to move forward? In the coming weeks – you can expect another update outlining the Session approved process for gathering the remaining data for the Self-Study. Leadership’s focus – with the support of the pastor – will be to collect and compile the necessary data. Following each Dinner & Discernment an elder will present in worship a summary of the evening’s activities/progress. 

 This process works best when we all participate. There will be additional opportunities to participate as we move through the summer months. It’s not too late to contribute to the sustainable future of this congregation.

Blessings, Pastor Lynda

May'26 Interim Update

Interim Update – Elder Edition

May 2026 Discernment

I'm sure you have read and heard about our discernment process, about big group meetings and small group meetings. I'm here to give you an update.

We entered this process to prepare ourselves for a new minister by arming that person with good input from a unified faith driven congregation. Everyone was invited to take part.

So what is discernment?
It is a process for making decisions that draws on wisdom and requires opening oneself to outside sources such as friends, experts, community and literature; spiritual practices and faith in God.

The process of discerning requires us to: Slow down, reflect on our experiences, and listen to external voices. It means setting aside our ideas, wants and needs so that we can entertain new insights and see things from a new perspective. Discernment opens us up and allows for the possibility of being changed, gaining a deeper understanding, and/or discovering different pathways for living and serving God together.

So where are we?
The 24 or so folks that are taking part have worked hard together and have had fun, too.

• We are getting to know each other better. 
• Most of us started by reading the book called the "Weird Church", which provided insight on the struggles of the church today and what some churches have done to adapt.
• We have reviewed the history of our church from its beginning to the present.
• We have discussed ways to communicate better.
• We have shared what the church means to each of us and how it has impacted our lives.
• We have reviewed what things we do well and what things we could improve.
• We have explored how we can serve our community better and how we can serve our congregation and each other better.

The goal is to use all the above to gain a clearer understanding of our church's identity, what we stand for in our community and where we want to go. Then, use all that as input for a new minister.

We are well into the process – it is not too late to join in. 

Respectively, John King

May'26 Words from the Pastor

I want to take a moment to review some of what has been accomplished through the monthly Dinner & Discernment and Small Group meetings. We first began by looking at the church’s history so that we might better understand how we have come to need a pastor. At the same time participants were introduced to Change theory and Family Systems theory and how groups respond to change and the obstacles to growth that can occur. 

As we moved into the Fall – small groups engaged in Listening Circles so that we might better understand the full range of feelings experienced by the congregation as the decision was made by Pastor Cara to leave. As a result, for some, healing has begun. 

Throughout this time, we have looked at our values – both individually and as a church. We took an inventory of our personal giftings and how they might be used to help the church grow. At the same time, we identified what the church does well and should be celebrated as well as areas in need of some attention. 

Committees have begun evaluating what they do and how they do it in preparation for updating the church’s Manual of Operations. Communication between committees has increased – with tasks being reassigned based on a more complete understanding of how committees and the church work. A committee workshop day is in the planning. The new Prayer Chain app is a wonderful example of growth that came from this process. 

Cathy Foerster – our COM liaison – spoke at the April Session meeting. She explained in detail the current process for forming a PNC. Many were unaware that a Self-Study has become a requirement. While this was a surprise for many – I want to assure you that the work that has been/continues to be done during Dinner & Discernment and Small Groups has been designed to prepare the congregation to complete the Self-Study. 

While the Self-Study might feel like another box that needs to be or another hurdle to be overcome – the Self-Study has been designed to involve the entire congregation in the process of preparing for and forming a PNC. Ms. Foerster reminded us that more participation means that 

1. the pastor you call will be the best possible fit for the needs of the congregation and
2. takes some of the burden for preparing the MDP off the PNC members.

This process works best when more of the community participates.

It is not too late to begin participating in a Small Group or Dinner & Discernment.

Your voice matters!
Blessings, Pastor Lynda

April'26 Words from the Pastor

As we approach Resurrection Sunday – a question posed by Rev. Colin Pritchard during the Elder training has lingered. He asked: “What would you be willing to give up so that the next generation of Christ followers felt welcomed?” I know that's not a comfortable question. And I'm not asking it to unsettle you, however, because I believe it is – at its heart – a resurrection question. It is the kind of question that God seems to ask communities of faith at particular moments in their life together. And I think this might be one of those moments. Some of you have been part of this congregation for decades. You remember the full pews – Sunday school classrooms full of active children – programs that felt like they would go on forever. You love this church. You have poured your lives into it. And yet – something feels different now – quieter. The world outside these walls has changed. And the question before us is not whether things have changed – but rather – how we will respond.

The Text Speaks

Paul writes to the church in Rome – a community that also knew tension – that also felt the pull between old ways and new calling – and he says this. Listen carefully. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2). Notice what Paul does not say. He does not say: protect what you have built. He does not say: keep things exactly as they are. He does not say: your comfort is your calling. But rather – he says: be transformed. Be renewed. Offer yourselves – not your preferences – not your programs – not your past – but yourselves, as living sacrifices.

That word Paul uses – transformed — in the Greek is metamorphoo. You recognize part of that word. Metamorphosis. It is the language of deep, structural change. The kind of change that does not just adjust the surface but reshapes the whole. Paul is not asking the church in Rome to simply tweak things around the edges. He is asking them to be renewed from the inside out. To stop being shaped by the pressures and familiar patterns around them, and to start being shaped by something far greater.

Resurrection Is Not Resuscitation

Resurrection is not the same as resuscitation. Resuscitation brings back what was. It returns you to the condition you were in before. And it is temporary. Resuscitation buys time. Resurrection isn’t about returning to the way things were – but rather – is about becoming something new. Something the old form could never have contained.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he was recognizable, and yet different. The same – and yet gloriously and fundamentally transformed. The disciples had to learn to see him with new eyes. So, when we talk about new life for this congregation, we’re not talking about recreating a decade from the past. We are not talking about filling the sanctuary with the same faces or the same programs and the same rhythms we remember fondly. While those things were good – they are not the destination. We are talking about something the Spirit wants to bring forth that we may not yet have imagined. Purpose – not preference – is the catalyst for this transformation.

The Dying Church That Chose Purpose

Congregations decline. That is a painful truth that can’t be dressed up. Across this country, churches are facing this reality. And when faced with this reality – they tend to make one of two choices.

Some choose to preserve – using their remaining energy protecting the institution as it is — keeping the programs running – the traditions intact – the doors open just long enough to say they kept things going. And slowly, quietly, those communities fade. But others – and this is what inspires me — others choose purpose. They ask the harder questions. They ask: “What does this community actually need from us? What has God placed us here – in this place – at this time, to do? What are we willing to let go of, so that something new can live?”

And those communities — even when they are small – even when they are aging – even when the budget is stretched and the building needs attention – those communities discover that God is not finished with them. That is not a promise of packed pews next Sunday. It is – however – a promise of faithfulness. It is the difference between managing a slow decline and actively participating in resurrection. The question for this congregation is not whether we have a future. I believe we do. The question is whether we are willing to let God shape what that future looks like – even when it looks different from what we have known and loved.

As you prepare to celebrate the risen Christ – I want you to consider that you are not simply a congregation trying to manage the end of an era. You are bearers of the image of God, called to be the full embodiment of God's light and love in the world – right here – right now – in this particular place. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in this community – and that Spirit does not call us backward. That Spirit calls us forward — into transformation – into renewal – into purpose. Paul says: do not be conformed – but rather – be transformed. Be renewed.

So, the question remains – “What are you willing to let go of, so that something new can live?” I am not asking you to abandon what you love. I am asking you to trust that what you love — this community, this calling, this gospel — is far bigger than any one form it has ever taken. Remember in whose image you were created. Remember to whom you belong. And remember what you are called to do. May God give us the courage to offer ourselves – not as monuments to what was – but as living sacrifices to what is yet to come. Amen.

Blessings, Pastor Lynda

March'26 Words from the Pastor

 The season of Lent has begun – commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness. Traditionally considered a time to foster spiritual renewal, self-discipline, and closeness to God. Throughout the scriptures, the wilderness represents a place of preparation, a place of waiting for God's next move, a place of learning to trust in God's mercy.

Within scripture 40 is a significant number – appearing numerous times.

• Forty: the days and nights that Noah and his family endured the deluge on board the ark, after which God made a covenant never again to destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 7:4,12; 8:6; 9:8-17).
• Forty: the days and nights Moses fasted on Mount Sinai as he inscribed the words of God's covenant for the Israelites (Exodus 24:18; 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 9:9).
• Forty: the days and nights Elijah fasted in the desert before receiving a new commission from God (1 Kings 19:8).
• Forty: the years the Israelites wandered the wilderness in preparation for their arrival in the Promised Land (Exodus 16:35; Deuteronomy 2:7).
• Forty: the days of the season of Lent as Christians participate in Jesus' ministry and follow his way toward the cross.

Temptation of Christ

The first Sunday of Lent – Matthew describes how Jesus is led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. It is no accident that Jesus winds up in the wilderness after his baptism. He is not lost, and he is not being punished for something he has done wrong. Rather – He has been led by the Holy Spirit for a purpose – to be tempted or tested by the devil. His interaction with the Tempter acts as an assessment of his readiness for the mission entrusted to him. 

What if we saw the wilderness as a classroom and the temptations as our teacher? What if temptations are necessary for us to remember in whose image we are created and to whom we belong?

When we consider the temptation of Christ – most of would agree that he was tempted 3 times. Once to turn stones into bread. Once to test God by jumping off a building and once to accept all the worldly things the Tempter offers. But is it possible there is a 4th temptation – one that is the foundation of the other 3?

Episcopal Priest Mike Marsh writes;

"What if the fourth temptation is a universal temptation that runs through and underlies the other three? And what if it's the temptation that you and I are always struggling with? What if all the other temptations are just variations on this fourth one?"

He goes on to suggest that temptations aren't really between ourselves and someone or something else. Our temptations are almost always a struggle between us and ourselves. The fourth temptation is the temptation to betray ourselves. In some ways it's the first temptation. I betray myself before I betray you or give in to any other temptation. This is what Jesus is facing in the wilderness.

Our responses to the temptations of life – tell us something about ourselves. They offer information about who we believe ourselves to be. They reveal where we place our trust – how we see the world – and our way of being towards others. As we face of our temptations – we learn where we are empty and what it is we truly hunger for. We acknowledge the wounds we carry and see the ways in which we act out of our woundedness – rather than from love. We discover our blind spots – and feel our soul's longing. With each temptation we learn a little more about ourselves.

Jesus knew in whose image he was created – to whom he belonged – and to what he was called to do. With each temptation he remembered this truth – never betraying himself nor God. As you move through Lent – what spiritual practices might you engage in that help you remember – help you to not betray yourself or God? What are your temptations teaching you about yourself? And what will you do with that information? Let this season be one of remembering that you "are the light of the world."

Blessings, Pastor Lynda

Lent began this year on Wednesday, February 18th.

February'26 Words from the Pastor

We are living in troubling and unprecedented times. As we watch the news and scroll social media, many feel overwhelmed and heartbroken. You're frustrated – angry – grieving – filled with despair – feeling hopeless under the weight of it all. How do I know? Because I too, feel the same way. 

Like you, I wake up on an almost daily basis to a country I no longer recognize. Like you – my heart hurts at what I am seeing. Like you – I am unable to reconcile my faith with the ever-increasing violence – cruelty – and complete disregard for the sanctity of life. I – like Jesus – weep. (Luke 19:41-44) With so many claiming this to be a Christian nation – where is the love? 

If you – like me – feel this way – be heartened. Because of our faith – we can't turn a blind eye. We are called to more. So what do we do? 

First – be gentle with yourselves and each other. Rest. Read the gospels. Pray and meditate. Lament.  And when you are ready – take action. Actions don't have to be large like those who traveled to Minneapolis in subfreezing temperatures to protest and bear witness. No. They can be smaller actions educating yourself about the issues and then reach out and supporting someone in your community who is being directly affected by policies aimed at causing them harm. Participate in the Lenten Devotional – delving into how Jesus responded to a tyrannical empire and how we might use His example to take action. 

Take note of what issues most upset you and find groups/organizations that are doing that work and inquire how you might help support their efforts. Or simply sign a petition. 

On Friday, January 23rd, just one day before the murder of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the PC(USA) made the following statement – issuing a call to action with a link: 

In response to the alarming militarization of I.C.E. and the repeated violations of civil rights, we urge you to contact your Administration and Congressional representatives to demand oversight and accountability.
Join our Action Alert today.
PC(USA) social witness policy statements affirm the core principles of the U.S. democracy that every person has the right to live with dignity, speak freely, protest peacefully, and receive due process. we are called to act justly and protect all people. Micah 6:8 reminds us: "To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."
More here:
https://www.votervoice.net/PCUSA/Campaigns/133070/Respond

You must not lose heart. Allow your faith to guide you and – like Jesus – love relentlessly.

Pastor Lynda

September 2005: Pastor's Corner

When I’m asked what my favorite time of year is – I generally respond with fall. The beginning of a new school year always excited me. Done was the un-structuredness and boredom of summer and the beginning of a new year of focused learning. My love of learning has continued into my adulthood. I am the definition of a lifelong learner. 

Studies show that we are never too old to continue learning and that there are significant benefits to continued learning. Lifelong learning is not just about acquiring new knowledge, but also about fostering a mindset of continuous growth, adaptability, and resilience, which are essential for navigating the complexities of modern life. 

Learning fosters innovation and creativity by encouraging individuals to think critically and explore new ideas. It fuels curiosity and instills a desire to question. Lifelong learners become catalysts for positive change, inspiring others to think outside the box and push the boundaries of possibility. Proverbs 9:9 speaks to this. "Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." 

As we continue the Interim Process there will be two learning opportunities beginning this month. The first will be focused on the spiritual practice of prayer – in all its many forms – and how you can incorporate prayer into the Interim Process as you discern what God is calling you to as a congregation.

The second opportunity will be a book study. The book we will be reading and discussing is 

"Weird Church: Welcome to the Twenty-First Century", 
written by Beth Ann Estock and Paul Nixon. 

The authors have been church consultants for more than two decades – helping congregations to successfully navigate the changing landscape. Utilizing Spiral Dynamics as a means of framing the current changes in North American culture – Estock and Nixon explore how churches might reimagine themselves in the twenty-first century – giving numerous examples of congregations who revived themselves by becoming "weird churches."

I hope you will consider participating in one, if not both, of these learning opportunities. There will be an evening and a daytime opportunity for both.

I’d also like to extend an invitation to anyone who is unclear or unsure of what the interim process entails or is unable to participate in Dinner & Discernment gatherings to reach out to me and I will meet with you one-to-one. Everyone’s voices matter.

Blessings,
Pastor Lynda

July-August'25: Pastor's Corner

Some of the most important work in interim ministry is introducing change – even at the exact time when many congregants may feel that too much change has already happened.

As we prepare to have our fourth Dinner & Discernment gathering – hints of discomfort with the process have begun to appear. I want to remind you that this is a normal part of the process. This month, instead of writing an article, I'm sharing excerpts from an article that Jeri-Lynne Bouterse, transitional pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Upper Arlington, Ohio, wrote for the Presbyterian Outlook. I encourage everyone to take the time to read this as she explains the process – affirming that discomfort is to be expected – and that congregations willing to work through the discomfort will come out the other side with a deeper understanding of who they are and better prepared to call their next minister.

Blessings,
Pastor Lynda

 

The In-Between Time: Interim Ministry as Sacred Space

The tension in the congregation is high after the pastor announces a change in call. Questions abound: Can't we just elect a pastor nominating committee and start searching for our next pastor? Why do we need an interim pastor anyway? Isn't an interim pastor just a space holder? This is when I take a deep breath, count to 10, and begin the hard – but important – explanation of interim ministry.

I serve as the chair of the Commission for Congregational Life, which provides support for the congregations in the presbytery — including assisting churches in transition. This season of transition is the in-between time. It is a sacred space and one of our tasks is to guide and support congregations as they discern what God has in store for them next.

I have walked with congregations many times now as a presbytery representative, as well as an interim pastor. Each time it is a privilege and a challenge. In every church – big or small, healthy or challenged, rich or poor, urban or rural – there is always a sense of urgency to find the next pastor and rush through the search process. It is my job to help congregations take a deep breath, count to 10 and then understand the benefits of intentional interim ministry.

Benefits of interim ministry

The benefits to this sort of ministry are plentiful. Interim pastors provide the opportunity for churches to discern who they are as a congregation without their former pastor, and who God is calling to minister with them in the future. Every church can benefit from interim ministry. But congregations who have experienced extreme conflict with the last pastor, the death of a former pastor, or the end of a relationship with a long-tenured pastor, especially benefit from leadership that walks them through conflict resolution, healing, grieving, restoration and change. Giving an interim pastor time to help the congregation come to terms with these issues will lead to a healthier beginning with their new installed pastor.

An interim pastor's primary task is to meaningfully fill the in-between time, allowing the congregation to reflect on who they are. Every pastoral change creates a void and often that space will unintentionally be filled by a strong, trusted member who may or may not represent who the congregation is. Interims step in and impartially fill that spot. Siding with no one, supporting all. The way in which the in-between space is filled is intentional: preparing the congregation for new spiritual leadership.

Vision and identity

It is sometimes difficult to convince a congregation that re-visioning and re-visiting who they are can be the most valuable part of their search process. Bob Anderson, an instructor of interim ministry and interim senior pastor at Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Wyoming, Ohio, shared: "A common theme in almost all the churches I've served as an interim is the difficulty congregations have articulating their sense of identity as the people of God."

Yet that seems to be exactly what my colleagues leaving healthy congregations hope the interim pastor will facilitate. Being clear about who they are will help the congregation create a solid beginning with a new pastor. New ways of being the church in this new season are possible!

Allison Bauer, recipient of The Fred McFeeley Rogers Award for Creative Ministry and pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, Ohio says; "I hope any transitional pastor following a long-term pastor would help a congregation to see where they've perhaps gotten a little too comfortable and challenge them to re-imagine new ways of doing things even if they continue to do the same things they've been doing."

Other times, an interim provides an affirming, outside perspective on the current life, mission and ministry of a church. "I hope the interim pastor will take the time to observe the congregation, to see the good things they are doing in ministry, help them to recognize this and give them encouragement," stated Tracy Keenan, mission presbyter in New Castle Presbytery. However, most of the time, though, there's a need to clear old brush to make room for new growth.

Reflect, correct, protect and resurrect

Interims take time to reflect (what was), correct (change what isn't working), protect (maintain what is working), and resurrect (revitalize the ministry). Why an interim pastor? Reflection, correction, encouragement and hope. What if these things don't happen? If the congregation is unaware of who they are and where they are going, they can expect that the pastor they call will be at a disadvantage, perhaps feeling called to an illusion of the church.

Some of the most important work in interim ministry, though, is introducing change — even at the exact time when many congregants may feel that too much change has already happened. "I think the most important thing a transitional pastor does is to get the congregation to the understanding that things are changing. And to help them see into a future that is different from their recent past. Sometimes this is made extremely difficult because the pastor is beloved or is still physically in the area. It is even more important for the transitional pastor to help the congregation understand the 'end of an era,' whether positive or negative," said Brenda Barnes, the interim pastor of NuValley Presbyterian Church in Rural Valley, Pennsylvania.

"Effecting change is not easy!" My colleague Brian Harroff describes this well. "You can't do the job without ruffling feathers." Some of these changes are going to be "heavy lifting." 

When I'm asked, "How long will all this take?" I simply hold back a sigh and say: "I don't know. God's timing is God's timing."

June'25 Words from the Pastor

 As we approach our third Dinner & Discernment gathering, our focus will be on finishing the collection of the church’s history. Over the summer we will be looking at what has been collected with the goal of understanding how this community has come to this place in time. You will be asked to consider questions such as:

• What was important to the congregation during each period?
• Are there themes that appeared and continue to repeat with each new pastor? If so, are they healthy and/or promote growth?
• Was there a time when membership was disappointed by leadership? If so, what was the cause of the disappointment and why?
• If there was conflict, what was the cause? How was it addressed?
• Has the congregation experienced loss? If so, what was the cause and how was it addressed.
• Are there ongoing hurts, frustrations or differences that still exist that could be addressed and healed during the interim process?

Small groups will continue to meet as well. As we begin processing the church’s history in a large group setting, the focus of the small groups will be on our individual experiences within the larger community. Questions for consideration are:

• How long have you been a member of this congregation and why did you join?
• Why are you glad you are a member?
• What keeps you coming and engaged?
• Who do you especially respect as a person or as a leader in this congregation and why do you hold them in such high regard?
• When have you felt especially proud of some members or leaders from your congregation? What makes the incident stand out in your mind?
• How has being part of this congregation helped you and members of your family grow in faith?
• What are some examples of experiences, groups, or classes that made a difference? How did you change?
• Are there any annual traditions of which you particularly enjoy and in which you look forward to participating?

As we continue this journey – a journey that you have not engaged in with previous interims – I would encourage you to consider attending. This process is an invitation to participate in the process of visioning and defining who this congregation will be – what it values – and where it will invest its resources. The success of this process relies on the participation of everyone. If you have not yet been to Dinner & Discernment nor a small group – I strongly encourage you to join us. Everyone of you is important to the future of this church!

Blessings,
Pastor Lynda

The Interim Process

It has been 14 months since Pastor Cara left, and while we are grateful that Pastor Lynda has been with us for the past three months, many of us are getting anxious, confused about what lies ahead. In her role as interim pastor, the emphasis of Pastor Lynda’s work is both to lead us in Sunday worship and to prepare us for our next chapter. In addition to getting to know us and working with Session, her main focus is leading us through the discernment process. Presbyterian Church USA and Interim training break this down into five segments:

1. Heritage of the church – Studying how our congregation has been shaped and formed through pastoral leadership, worship style, membership, and community and world events.
2. Leadership – Assessing membership needs, studying those who have been leaders among our members, and empowering others.
3. Mission – Guiding us through discernment to redefine our identity and our sense of purpose.
4. Connection – Discovering relationships we can build with community associations beyond our walls.
5. Future – Building a vision for our future through really understanding our ministry goals and pastoral expectations as a launch for our pastoral search committee.

With Pastor Lynda’s arrival in late January, we are in our fourth month of the process, with an expectation the journey might be 24 months, requiring time and patience.

The first Tuesday evening of every month, many of us meet in Fellowship Hall, sharing a meal and digging into each of the 5 topics; later that month we break into smaller groups delving into each topic more deeply and on a personal level, sharing our thoughts at the next larger gathering. We believe after studying each of these five areas we will be ready to document the foundation for what we as a congregation want to be and form a pastor search committee to search for someone to lead us in that direction. We invite you to join us and make your voice be heard to further strengthen our future. 

 

May'25 Words from the Pastor

 A timeless message from Pope Francis while hospitalized before his death. 

“The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches...
They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those in airports...
It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor.
A privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar...
In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist...
A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care...
A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor...
It is in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design.

And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing.
The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss.
A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence.
This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people.

Do not criticize your body too much.
Do not complain excessively.
Do not lose sleep over bills.
Make sure to hug your loved ones.
Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless.
Material goods must be earned by each person—do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance.
You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect...

Listen, perfection does not exist.
A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here.
Here, we are given an opportunity to learn.
So, make the most of this trial of life—and do it now.
Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path and let go of the path others have chosen for you.

Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere.
Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely!
And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator.”
—Pope Francis 

Rev. Lynda Myers
Pastor

April'25 Words from the Pastor

We are at the midpoint in our Lenten journey. In last month’s newsletter I introduced the spiritual practice of stillness and silence as a tool for identifying habits and practices that might be distracting us – leaving us unable to hear God whispering– calling us to let go and trust that God has a plan for us and this community. Like Jesus, we are having a wilderness experience. If we follow Jesus’ example of stillness and silence – we will emerge with a clearer understanding of who we are, as God’s people, and what God is calling us to.

As we prepare to have our first Dinner & Discernment gathering – our first gathering to begin the transitional work that is the focus of my time with you – I would like to introduce a second spiritual practice. Curiosity. You might be thinking to yourself – Curiosity as a spiritual practice? In this time of uncertainty and fear, I would argue that curiosity is a powerful spiritual antidote.

Author Celeste Ng recounted that her family motto is “Be kind, be curious, be helpful” and that her son didn’t understand why curious is in the mix. She told him:

“Because being curious is admitting that you don’t know, but also that you want to know... that people you don’t know are worth knowing, that they have something to teach you. That learning about them—that encountering new ideas—doesn’t threaten you, it enriches you... That you approach the world as a trove of things to take in, rather than things you frantically, fearfully wall out.”

I am a huge proponent of curiosity. It keeps us engaged in the world around us – leaving little space for fear. I was recently asked by another pastor doing Transitional Ministry how I am able to meet and engage people when I am out in the community. I explained that I don’t do anything special – I’m simply curious and – despite being an introvert by nature – have allowed curiosity to be the driver. Albert Einstein once said,

“The important thing is not to stop
questioning... never lose a holy curiosity.”

I love that he called it a holy curiosity – that it is something sacred and essential to living and loving life.

I think Jesus appreciates curiosity. In the gospels, Jesus asks over 300 questions, but of the 183 he was asked, he only directly answered three. He preferred to answer questions with a question of his own, preferring instead to parables and metaphors. Jesus wanted people to be curious – to think – to contemplate as they discovered the meaning behind Jesus’ teachings.

Curiosity keeps us open and wondering – less likely to judge or shut down. I believe that right now, God is calling us to be curious.

What are you curious about?

How might God be calling us to be curious?

Blessings,
Pastor Lynda

March'25 Words from the Pastor

 I first want to begin with words of gratitude for how wonderfully I have been welcomed and how supportive and patient everyone has been as I settle into both the manse and my role as your Interim Minister. My heart is filled with joy, and I am excited to see where this journey will take us all.

We are just days away from entering the most sacred season of Lent. We enter Lent as a community in transition – a community that has committed itself to doing the difficult work of discerning where and to what God is calling you to. Over the coming months we will be gathering regularly to begin the discernment process. You will be asked to reflect upon your history (who you have been) – doing an honest assessment who you are in this current moment and what brought you to this place of transition – identifying what of the past needs to be released to create space for God to do something new – all in preparation for creating a vision and plan for who you will be in the future.

The season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and self-examination in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of the Lord at Easter. “The liturgies throughout Lent try to pry loose our fingers, one by one, from presumed securities and plunge us into unknown baptismal waters, waters that turn out to be not only our death tomb but surprisingly our womb of life.”*

While the work of Intentional Ministry is focused on the community – the process is benefitted when we, as individuals, engage in personal self-assessment and self-reflection. How wonderful that our work as a community begins during Lent – a season of self-reflection and transformation.

This Lenten season I encourage you to consider engaging in the spiritual practice of stillness and silence. The world is a noisy and distracting place. And yet, God speaks to us through the silence of our hearts. Create time each day to reflect and listen for what God is calling each of us to– as individuals and as a faith community.

I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 NRSV

As we enter Lent, let us fully immerse ourselves in silence – allowing the power and possibility of the paschal mystery to transform us.

Blessings,
Pastor Lynda
* Companion to the Book of Common Worship

Advent: Waiting to be Satisfied (Dec 12, 2021)

In-Person Worship Continues
Advent is Here!

Masks and Singing

In keeping with the latest CDC guidelines, masks are recommended due to the increased number of cases in our area. Both choir and in-person singing continues, accompanied by Joe Orbin on the pipe organ, Sarah Matthews on the piano, and Bob King on the trumpet.

Advent: "Waiting to be Satisfied"

Sunday morning worship service for the third Sunday of Advent, with the Rev. Cara S. Milne from First Presbyterian Church of Watkins Glen, NY.

We continue to worship in the church building, with in-person services every Sunday morning! See wgpres.org/worship for details and our ever-changing restrictions.