North Country Fellowship
by chuckofish
I’m a little late posting today but I have a good excuse. This morning I had to take the Session records down to Evans Mills, NY to meet with other Presbyterian clerks (and/or assistant clerks) of the Session and get the books approved. This yearly event is surprisingly painless. You exchange books so that no one is reviewing his own and then you sit there and check them against a long list of requirements. That part didn’t take more than an hour, but the drive was an hour each way — hence the delay.
We met at a one-room church in a small village called Evans Mills near Watertown.
What makes this church particularly intriguing is that it is both the First Presbyterian Church-LeRay and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church-Evans Mills. Apparently they joined forces back in the early 70s and have been going strong together ever since. As one who was raised Episcopalian but has lately turned Presbyterian I was kind of tickled by the combination. I’d never come across anything like that before.
Though the village was as nondescript and uninspiring as the landscape in the area, which is flat, featureless farmland, I was pleasantly reminded that in all of these places kind, thoughtful people live, work, and worship. They are dedicated to making good things happen for their communities and, yes, all of them are above 45 (most above 55). So let’s hear it for overlooked people everywhere, who are diligently serving the Lord. And cheers to Evans Mills Episcoterian Presbypalians!
Okay, as Saturday adventures go, it doesn’t stack up to the city sister’s gallivanting, but it infinitely better than this,
which is how I get to spend the rest of the weekend. What fun things are you up to?




I love the term Episcoterian Presbypalians! That is so great. The church in Evans Mills is very pretty (and I assume you did not take that picture with the blooming flora). I think I need to find a Presbypalian church.
“Episcoterian” and “Presbypalian” sound like trendy new diets.
Lovely, lovely, lovely! I have spent/am spending my weekend immersed in all-things High School lacrosse. It is the “Jamboree” weekend which consists of lots and LOTS of short, half hour scrimmages. It’s so much fun and it makes me feel young again! π
Ha! As if you’re not young? I think it’s awesome that you are coaching — I bet you’re great at it!
[…] the annual review of the books. You’ll recall that I posted last year about my trip to Evans Mills for the same purpose. I love all the nice, old churches in the North Country. The First […]