Who We Are
Payne Avenue Christian Church
Established 1888
One hundred and thirty five years ago a few men and women got together with an idea. They dreamed of what could be. They dared to risk. And, they planted the seeds which grew into the church we know today as Payne Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Since August 5, 1888 countless men and women have worked, and sacrificed, and hoped, and prayed and served, and they left behind this place.
They may have been your grandparents or your parents, your neighbors or your friends; maybe they are just names to you, but they left behind something good here at 1459 Payne Avenue, North Tonawanda. Over the years we have been known by many names, but today we remain Payne Avenue Christian Church!
We are: the factory worker, the businessperson, the policeman, the salesperson, the lawyer, the teacher, the nurse, the clerk, a parent. We are a baby, a student and a retiree. You can find us: at the plant, at the store, at the movies, on the job, on the lake, out on the town. We go to the game, the mall and school. We like to volunteer, and lend a hand, and make a witness.
We are an acquaintance, a face in the crowd, a friend. We are just ordinary folks – people called together by God to worship, learn and grow together.
We are just people, and this is our story. More than a building, it’s a faith. More than a name, it’s a heritage. More than a church, it’s a life.
Come, be part of it all… you are always welcome!
Written by the Late Jerry McGlone, Pastor
Rev. Hope Douglas Harle-Mould
Interim Minister
Pastor Hope was born on a snowy Sunday while his father, a Presbyterian pastor, was preaching. Growing up in Wisconsin, his mother was often his church school teacher, and immediately after confirmation he also began teaching church school. In Scouts he achieved the rank of Life and was senior patrol leader. At age 17 he felt called to the ministry.
Drawn to New York City to study at Union Theological Seminary, his internships included prison chaplaincy (NY) and the farmworker’s movement (CA). Ordained by the Presbyterian Church in 1978, he served as campus minister at the University of Maryland (Baltimore County) for eight years.
In 1988 he became a UCC minister while he was a two-year Interim Associate Pastor for Youth & CE in Annandale, VA. In 1991 he served as Associate Pastor in Columbus, Ohio, and in 1995 became Senior Pastor in Dayton, Ohio. Moving to West Seneca, NY, he served as Senior Pastor of St. Peter’s UCC from 1999 to 2016. He has also done volunteer service in Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Honduras.
Over the last 8 years Hope has served as a supply preacher in Disciples, UCC, and Presbyterian churches throughout WNY, except during 2020-2022 when he served as Interim Pastor of Grove Street Christian Church (DOC). His home church is Pilgrim-St. Luke’s UCC in Buffalo, where he performs original songs on guitar and serves on their Welcoming Refugees committee.
As a freelance writer his devotionals have recently appeared in The Upper Room and These Days, and his sermons, poems, and children’s stories have been published in numerous periodicals. In 2022 his first book was published: AKA Jesus: 22 Sketches for Recognizing the Present-Tense Christ, available at Talking Leaves Books in Buffalo or online through Barnes & Noble.
Hope’s unusual first name started out as a nickname at church camp when he was a young counselor for two summers at UCC/Presbyterian camps. In the fall, when friends and family continued to call him Hope, he realized that this must be his spiritual name. At age 22 he legally changed his name.
Hope lives in Kenmore with his wife of 45 years, Linda, a UCC pastor serving Pembroke Community Church (DOC & UCC), who is also a wildlife rehabilitator through Messinger Woods. They have three children (joyfully through adoption) and five grandchildren. Hope loves stargazing, hiking, reading, poetry open-mic, community theater, creating treasure hunts, Frisbee, and the Green Bay Packers (no one’s perfect!).
Pastor Hope’s vision of the Church is contained in this benediction he once wrote for one of his senior high youth groups:
May our circle… become Christ’s circle:
where all are welcome and none forgotten,
where our uniqueness is affirmed and our hidden gifts freed,
where we begin again to care for the suffering and rebuild the world,
where we deepen in faith and discover our part in the drama of God’s redeeming love.
May our circle… become Christ’s circle.
Kimberly Potfora
Music Director
Kim is a senior vocal instructor at Matt’s Music and a head coach on the Matt’s Music Vocal Performance Team and Summer Performance Squad. She also vocal directs for productions at the Lockport Palace Theatre. She is proficient in the execution of all musical genres but specializes in contemporary theatre, traditional theatre, pop and jazz.
Her students have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lewiston Jazz Festival, in various collegiate musical theater programs, and countless other events and competitions in the WNY area. Kim also performs at different local venues and was previously the Music Director of University at Buffalo’s all-female acapella group, “The Royal Pitches,” where she honed her prolific musical arranging skills.
Marcy DiPasquale
Secretary
She has been more than a secretary over the years tending to whatever needs to be done in the church, for the church and for its members. Her husband has also played a part in helping in various tasks as needed.
If you find you need anything, feel free to call or drop her a line at the church’s email address.
Outreach
Through this Mission we are continuously working to help others in any way we can, both in our own neighborhood and areas surrounding our city as well. We are supporters of the Twin Cities Community Outreach by donating nonperishable food items as well as personal needed items. We have collections for pets as they need our help as well. Recently we have worked with the North Tonawanda Knitters and with their assistance we have been able to reach out to our local schools and Pantries with offerings of warm hats, gloves and scarves. We collect school supplies and fill book bags for students in need. We have had many collections for our Veterans and their families, Friends of the Night People, and various homeless shelters. If we see or know of a need we always try to help in any way we can. We have a very caring and giving congregation which we are all grateful for.
Music
The music program at Payne Avenue Christian Church features all types of music, from traditional worship music to contemporary.
Led by Music Director Kim Potfora, our featured worship music is performed by members of our congregation, and includes a vocal choir, vocal soloists, instrumental soloists, and a bell choir. These groups perform at services throughout the year, but are seen most prominently during the fall and holiday season!
