POTSDAM – Potsdam United Methodist Church, 26 Main St., and First Presbyterian Church, 42 Elm St., will sponsor a joint Lenten study group focusing on Jim Wallis’ book, “Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America.”

Co-leaders are the Rev. Brooke Newell, pastor of the United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Deb Packard, pastor at First Presbyterian.

The group will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, March 9, 16, 23 and 30, to share a potluck meal followed by discussion. The first session will be at the Presbyterian Church, the second at the UMC, third at the Presbyterian and fourth at the UMC.

Please request your copy of the study book by calling the UMC office at 315-265-7474 by March 1. The books are $3 each, payable at the first session.

Jim Wallis is a best-selling author, public theologian, speaker, and international commentator on ethics and public life. He is president and CEO of Sojourners, where he is editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine.

“As our community grapples with the issues of racism, it feels important that we educate ourselves on what the church can do and be here,” the pastors said.