First Presbyterian Church - Helena, MT

Dear friends in Christ,

I am delighted to begin serving as your pastor in August through the Synergos Pastoral Residency. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to meet with your leadership team in May via Zoom to learn more about you, your community, and your ministry together as a congregation, and the warmth and connection that I felt during that conversation made me excited to get to know you more very soon!

I grew up in Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in May with a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in New Faith Communities. Prior to attending seminary, I studied Adventure Education and Biblical & Religious Studies at Messiah University near Harrisburg, PA. I started sensing a call to ministry in high school, and my sense of vocation has expanded through the intercultural and adventure experiences that I have had since then. I hope to integrate my passions for the Church, Adventure Education, and intercultural education in my ministry, and I believe that following that vocation will take different forms throughout my life. I am excited to take this next step in my vocational journey of being immersed in congregational ministry. 

In my free time, I enjoy whitewater canoeing, long-distance running, and hiking. I can’t wait to explore the mountains and trails in and around Helena! I also enjoy intercultural learning and have spent semesters in Uganda and Jordan in addition to shorter trips to several other countries. One of my most recent intercultural experiences was spending last summer researching how Christian communities in South Sudan, South Africa, and the Philippines are practicing hope and healing amidst collective trauma. My intercultural experiences have certainly shaped my view of God’s work in the world.

I look forward to meeting you soon and worshiping together, sharing meals, hearing your stories, learning with you and from you, and discerning how we can most faithfully participate in God’s work in the world in this season of ministry. Please keep me in your prayers as I serve this summer on the staff at Ghost Ranch, a PC(USA) retreat center in New Mexico. You are in my prayers as well.

Grace and peace,

Emily Cowser