About Us

Who are we?    How are we organized? 

The First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside, is a member church of the Presbytery of Long Island, the Synod of the North East, and the Presbyterian Church USA.  Our church is also an active member of the Oceanside Interfaith Council which includes the Oceanside Methodist Church, Oceanside Lutheran Church, St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church,  St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Temple Avodah, and Oceanside Jewish Center. 

As a Presbyterian Church we are reformed and “always being reformed”.  We follow the constitution as defined in the Book of Order.  As stated in the Book of Order “ All ministry in the Church is a gift from Jesus Christ.  Members and officers alike serve mutually under the mandate of Christ who is the chief minister of all.  His ministry is the basis of all ministries; the standard for all offices is the pattern of the one who came “not to be served but to serve”.”   The Pastor  is a Minister of the Word and Sacrament.  Elders, elected by the Congregation form The Session.  Together with the Pastor, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of our particular church as well as the church at large, including ecumenical relationships 

Deacons are also elected by the congregation and they minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith as is described in the Scriptures.

Elders and the Pastor serve on committees of Presbytery, and attend the regular meetings of the Presbytery.  The Presbytery of Long Island includes all of the Presbyterian Church located on Long Island from the Nassau County line to the eastern end of the island. 

In our church Session and the Board of Deacons meets monthly September through June and as is needed.  Each meeting includes a joint session of the two Boards at the beginning and then the group has their separate concurrent meetings.   Each meeting opens and closes with prayer as we seek to praise and seek the guidance of God and the Holy Spirit in our deliberations. 

Session at each meeting reviews and approves the agenda, minutes of previous meetings, a report from the Pastor, and the report of the finances of the church.  There are Session Committees which include the following:  Nominating, Church Life, Worship, Christian Education, Use of Building, Mission, Building and Grounds, Stewardship, and Membership and Evangelism.  The committees are led by an Elder and include members of the congregation. 

The Members of Session in 2011 include:

Moderator:   The Rev Randall Broger

Brenda Brochon                               Nancy Skoglund

Robert Aaronson                             Anita Offner

Andrew Leathem                             Bernard Gunderson

Virginia Davis                                     Marion Tilebein

Lester Bragg

Clerk of Session    Barbara Messier

The Members of the Board of Deacons in 2011 are:

Maude Aaronson, President

Christine Janosek                             Jessica Larsen

Suzie Casey                                        Virginia Goldie

Jeanette Bedell                                  Stacia Liossatos

Kurt Carpenter                                  Lillian Witte

The Deacon assignments include Paraments, Secretary, Treasurer and Care and Concern, Transportation, Ushers, Flowers, Adopt a Family , Community Service and Vice President. 

The President of the Corporation is James Leathem and the Treasurer is Ruth Williams.

For questions regarding the work of the Session or Deacons or to contact a member of either Board please call the church office at 516-766-5916.