Our Leadership
Greg Jenkins
Leon Austin, Director of Music
Leon Austin, Director of Music
Greg Jenkins is a Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP)/ Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) who came to be our Pastor in the summer of 2022. Greg also has another ministry called Voice In The Wilderness, an outdoor worshiping community in the Utica Presbytery. Greg is also singer/songwriter. He attended Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and
Greg Jenkins is a Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP)/ Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) who came to be our Pastor in the summer of 2022. Greg also has another ministry called Voice In The Wilderness, an outdoor worshiping community in the Utica Presbytery. Greg is also singer/songwriter. He attended Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and has completed the course of study through the Learning Academy of the Utica, NY Presbytery. As an avid outdoors person, Greg enjoys all sorts of outdoor adventures and activities. Greg is enjoying life in the love of God with his wife Joanna, dog Tucker, and cat Nutmeg.
Leon Austin, Director of Music
Leon Austin, Director of Music
Leon Austin, Director of Music
Leon is a 1975 graduate of SLCS & has studied music at Onondaga Community College, is married and lives in Lowville. He has been playing piano and organ for over 40 years. Leon plays for weddings, funerals and special occasions.
About Us
Sarah Hoag - Office Administrator
Sarah Hoag - Office Administrator
Sarah Hoag - Office Administrator
Hello everyone! I am happy to now be your new Office Administrator at the First Presbyterian Church of Lowville. I plan to be in the office Wednesday 12pm-3pm and will also be working from home. Here is a little about myself. I am originally from St. Lawrence County. I met my husband while in college at SUNY Canton. I have an Associate's
Hello everyone! I am happy to now be your new Office Administrator at the First Presbyterian Church of Lowville. I plan to be in the office Wednesday 12pm-3pm and will also be working from home. Here is a little about myself. I am originally from St. Lawrence County. I met my husband while in college at SUNY Canton. I have an Associate's Degree in Accounting and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. I have lived in Lowville ten years now and have been married to my husband Matt, for nine years. I have a seven year old named Cora, and a three year old named Gabriel. I enjoy time with family and friends, and am an active member of the Lowville Lions Club. I am excited for this new opportunity and hope to meet many of you soon!
Rodney Hill - Custodian
Sarah Hoag - Office Administrator
Sarah Hoag - Office Administrator
presbyterian ruling elders
Mary Anne Kingsley
Clerk of Session/Elder
Mary Anne and her husband Jim and children Molly and Jeremy moved to Lowville in 1996 to call this community their home. Shortly after that they visited the First Presbyterian Church and that too was home. Mary Anne is the treasurer for the Presbyterian Woman, has been a Sunday School teacher, and is the Clerk of Session as well as an Elder. Mary Anne is a Secretary at Lowville Academy High School where she has worked for over 20 years.
Jim Schlieder
Patrick Weiler
Patrick and Michelle Weiler have been members of the First Presbyterian Church for about ten years. They live in the village of Lowville with their three children, Jenna, Joshua and Jordyn. Patrick has been an elder for several years and Michelle is in her second stint as a deacon. Patrick works as a teacher at Lowville Academy and Michelle is an assistant principal at Carthage Central Schools.
Kelly Clark
Sixteen years ago Kelly chose to make Lowville her home so she is relatively new to Lowville and Lewis County. After living here for a couple of years, the Lowville Presbyterian Church became her choice for thoughtful, kind and friendly worship.
This is Kelly's 4th term on Session starting very shortly after she joined the church. She works for a small non-profit company as their accountant so it is probably not surprising that her focus while on Session has been
the Finance committee.
In addition, Kelly is an active member of the Lowville Lions Club and as such, she is active in the club, district and state. Kelly has two children, Casey lives in London and Alex lives in Denver.
Heidi VanZandt
Heidi is a Lowville native who became a member of the church upon her marriage to Eric Virkler. She operated a local flower shop for 23 years and now has a home based health and wellness business and works part time as a Graphic Designer for a local news organization. Heidi loves art and floral design, and is very passionate about natural health and the environment.
Eric Virkler
Eric has been a resident of Lowville for much of his life and an active member of the Lowville First Presbyterian for most of his adult years. He is married to Heidi VanZandt. Eric is serving on the Session for his second stint. He is currently the elected Treasurer for Lewis County and for a hobby he runs, bikes and competes in triathlons.
presbyterian deacons
Phyllis Rohr
Phyllis has been a member of FPC for almost 20 years and has served served in various capacities over those years. She has been a Sunday School teacher, a member of the choir, and has been active in the Presbyterian Women in our church here in Lowville as well as in the Utica Presbytery as secretary of the Coordinating Team.
She is currently serving as a Deacon.
A native of Massachusetts, Phyllis attended schools in her hometown of Swampscott and is a graduate of Colby Junior College and Syracuse University. After moving to New York she taught elementary school (kindergarten and fourth grade) in Carthage Central School District, retiring after 33 years.
Phyllis enjoys reading, walking, knitting, making Ukrainian Easter eggs (pysanky), and especially spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Julie Fields
Jan Cook
I was born and raised in Queens County in the Big Apple. I moved to Lewis County in 1971 when my sons were pre-school age. I joined the First Presbyterian church of Lowville around 1980 when I relocated to Lowville from Copenhagen.
I have been a choir member ever since I joined the church. I also sing in the Adirondack Community Chorus on various occasions.
I am an ordained Elder and am presently an ordained Deacon. I have 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. I was the Treasurer of the Utica Presbytery for Presbyterian Women, and currently a member and treasurer of the
Mary-Esther Circle.
I attended JCC and obtained an AAS degree in Executive Secretarial Science and have worked in the secretarial field throughout my working career. Years ago, I worked at the local Humane Society to care for the stray cats and dogs and presently have 3 cats of my own.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading biographies, crocheting, collecting photos of my grandchildren and great grandchildren and most of all, quilting. I find quilting to be very relaxing and therapeutic and I usually make them for friends and family.
Jackie Schlieder
Michelle Weiler
Michelle and Patrick Weiler have been members of the First Presbyterian Church for about ten years. They live in the village of Lowville with their three children, Jenna, Joshua and Jordyn. Patrick has been an elder for several years and Michelle is in her second stint as a deacon. Patrick works as a teacher at Lowville Academy and Michelle is an assistant principal at Carthage Central Schools.
Carolyn Johnson
Carolyn became a Deacon for FPC early in 2021, after becoming a member of FPC in 2020 after coming to this church her sister introduced her to nearly 15 years ago, after moving from Queens County in New York City where she grew up and worked as a librarian at the NY Botanical Garden Library, Pace University Library and St. John's University Library, while going to Trinity Reformed Church in Ridgewood, Queens County. Carolyn is a freelance Internet librarian; and a writer of educational items. She has published items in The Christian Librarian, articles in Nature Place Journal (on people experiencing nature), and book reviews, plus has had books published that are Internet-based educational aids for secondary school students. She also writes poetry.
