Hi! Thanks for stopping by to meet our staff here at OHPC. I am Andrea Pollock, the Administrative Services Coordinator since 2008. Born in Kansas City and originally from the Midwest, I have been enjoying what Central New York has to offer for the last 20+ years, including the temperate summers, snowshoeing in the winter, a superlative education at Syracuse University, the Symphony (Symphoria!), Opera, Syracuse Stage, Everson Art Museum, and excellent green spaces, especially the Erie Canalway trails and parks. My professional background includes art, business, and property and production management, all useful skills in my position at OHPC. Bicycling, yoga, garment sewing, vegetarian cooking, animal rescue, and reading are some of my favorite avocational pursuits.
Andrea Pollock – Administrative Assistant
Always willing to go the extra mile |
Email address – ohpcgrow@twcny.rr.com |
My name is Sarah (Moses) Buckshot and I’ve been the youth educator since July 2011. I was born and raised in Nedrow and I graduated from Onondaga Central High School. I attended Syracuse University to study newspaper journalism, psychology and Native American studies. I earned my master’s degree from Syracuse University in 2010 with a degree in cultural foundations of education. I worked for The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com for 12 years as a breaking news/community reporter. In 2019, I left journalism and I became the public information specialist for the Baldwinsville Central School District. I’m also the Communications Coordinator for the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery. I became a mother in November 2021 when I welcomed identical twin girls and 15 short months later, I welcomed boy/girl twins in February 2023!
Sarah Buckshot – Youth Director Youth Education
Her heart belongs to the youth |
Email address – ohpcyouth@yahoo.com |
Hello my name is Andrée Clesse (Andrée pronounced ON’-dray….and Clesse which rhymes with dress for all you non-francophones). I was born in Québec Canada where such names are not unusual, of Belgian heritage. My husband’s name is Ted, who supports me in all things and even changes my guitar strings. I love crisp tart apples, snow when it twinkles, and Hawaiian sunsets.
I have the honor at OHPC of leading some enthusiastic people known as the Praise Team who share their musical talents and spiritual gifts at worship and beyond. Their dedication and willingness to serve in so many ways is what makes my ministry such a joy.
I joined the staff as Praise Team Director in February 2004 after reading a want-ad in the newspaper.
For the record, I never read the classified section of the paper. At that time I was frequenting a physical rehabilitation facility near my home. One day when walking on the treadmill, one of the physical therapists had some music playing in one of the treatment rooms. I started to ask about the music and it led to a conversation about all things music and then about all things church (what else is there to do when walking on a treadmill?). I asked: “What church do you go to and what kind of music do they have there?” He replied that there was a Praise Team but the leader was leaving and they were in the process of looking for a replacement. I asked: “where is this church?” “Oh it’s on the other side of town, Onondaga Hill Presbyterian Church.” I said: “the white one, with the steeple?” “That’s it” he said.
I replied: “Yeah, well I just applied for that job!” and with the same breath I asked: “could I use you as a reference, George?”
That weekend, I came to worship at OHPC to get a better sense of what I might be getting myself into.
I figured I’d sit in the back and blend in. That didn’t work out as I had planned. During the passing of peace, strangers approached, introducing themselves. I felt welcomed. I was moved by the music,
the prayerfulness, and the preaching. When Pastor Bob gave the benediction….”you go nowhere by accident, wherever you go God is sending you….” I nearly fell out of my chair.
And thus began my “you go nowhere by accident” journey. But I was on that journey before I had even heard Bob’s benediction. God was already there…waiting for me to catch up.
I hope that he is patient and waits for me…..it’s hard to run while singing and playing the guitar.
Andrée Clesse – Praise Team Director
Will get you clapping to the beat |
Email address – aclesse@twcny.rr.com |
Although my full-time career is being a high school math teacher, I have been involved in church music ministry for about as long as I can remember. When I was in middle school, the pastor of the church where I grew up would take me to hymn sings in the community on Sunday evenings, where I started to sing with the choir. By the time I was in high school, I was the pianist at another small church, and I have served at least 3 other churches of various denominations and musical tastes since then.
After my son was born, my wife Tara and I began discussing the fact that we could no longer drive 30 miles to church several times a week. Although we had visited OHPC, we had not had any communication with them for a year when Pastor Bob called me out of the blue because they were looking for an organist. Sometimes, God really has a way of kicking you in the rear to move you along His path!! The rest, as they say, is history. I have been at OHPC since the fall of 2005. It is a great community for us to raise our son and daughter, Carter and Skylar.
Kermit Buckman – Choir Director
It’s a joy to listen to him tickle the ivories |
Email address – kermitbuckman@gmail.com |