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Pas de Trois from a 2014 performance by the New York City Ballet of the ballet Apollo, with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by George Balanchine, first created for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1928. Here the dancers include Robert Fairchild and Tiler Peck. (Photo by Andrea Mohin for the New York Times.)
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Dear friends,
I've got to admit: after all the fun we had last Sunday, with an adult baptism, three of our youth confirmed, all that great Pentecost spirit filling the church, this coming Sunday, Trinity Sunday seems to me a bit like letting the air out of the balloon. After all, Trinity Sunday is the only Sunday devoted to a theological concept - a theological concept that's not even in the Bible! And honestly, I don't have it in me, this particular Trinity Sunday, to think about a theological concept. There's too much movement around this church, and new life, and change, and promise. Plus, as much as I love the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed, which, back in the 4 th century, first described the Trinity in words the church could handle – there's a whole lot of wordy conflict in the history of those creeds. So forgive me for not going on about the creeds either.
But God is good, and God knows what we need, and God has given the church another way to think about the Trinity, other than as a creedal formulation or a theological concept. Think about it as a dance! You are, after all, about to welcome a new pastor who was a dancer before she was a preacher, right? She's going to lead you in a dance with God. And one way to get ready for Pastor Adriene is to consider the Trinity as the most creative and original dance of our faith.
That dance has a fancy name: Perichoresis, a Greek word. It's about the fluid and dynamic relationship between three partners: Father, Son and Spirit. Or Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, or … or Lover, Beloved, and the Love that flows between them, as St. Augustine was fond of putting it.
Come this Sunday to sing great hymns, like "Holy, Holy, Holy," to hear all four fabulous readings for Trinity Sunday, and to consider the joy that binds our one God together with Creation in the dance of the Trinity.
Faithfully,
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About the Photograph:
One of the landmarks of modern dance, the Stravinsky/Balanchine Apollo includes this moment of breathtaking choreography. There are three dancers, but one movement. There is one movement to which each of the three contributes equally. There could not be just one. There could not be just two. There can only be three, bending and stretching and turning with one will that moves the dance forward. For this reason, the Fathers and Mothers of the Church, from the fourth century up to the present, have been able to come up with no better analogy for the Trinity than the dance. At the inception of Creation, at the heart of the universe, God dances the triune choreography of love toward its cosmic fulfillment, in which community is paramount and no individual is ever lost. (Rob Meadows-Rogers)
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Friday, May 20th - Sunday, May 22nd
Family Retreat
Holmes Presbyterian Camp
Saturday, May 21st
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Manse Driveway Sale (see details, below)
Sunday, May 22nd
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Nursey is open
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Sanctuary
11:00 AM
Sermon, preached by Rev. Nadine:
"What's your story?"
Texts: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-16
11:15 AM
Sunday School (K-7th Grade)
12:15 PM
Fellowship Hour
Elliott Room
12:30 PM
New Members (Inquirers) Class
Thurman Room.
Wednesday, May 25th
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Men's Fellowship Breakfast
Park Plaza Diner, on Cadman Plaza West
Thursday, May 26th
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
Friday, May 27th
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Holy Mackerels Youth Group
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Congregation and Community News
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Cocoa Dios: Mythology of the Origins of Chocolate
We would love to have you join us for a fantastic evening of live entertainment in a club setting. Immersive theater - telling the orgin myth of Chocolate. Details at CocoaDios.com. Written by Chris Neuner. Produced by Mark Elsenheimer and Jill Huguet. Friday - Saturday, final 2 performances!
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Manse Driveway Sale
Manse Driveway Sale is THIS SATURDAY, May 21, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at 128 Henry Street. Furniture (sofa, chairs, coffee table, hutch, bureaus), artworks, rugs, quilts and coverlets, stereo equipment, household and kitchen items, records and CDs, lots and lots of books, lovely, and useful objects galore. Rain date is next Saturday, May 28, but we're planning to go ahead this Saturday morning and hope the rain holds off!
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Men's Breakfast Meeting, Wednesdays at 7:30 AM
To all men in the congregation:. This is an excellent time to join us since we're starting to read a new book by Jim Wallis, entitled America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America.
America's problem with race has deep roots, with the country's foundation tied to the near extermination of one race of people and the enslavement of another. Racism is truly our nation's original sin.
In America's Original Sin, Wallis offers a prophetic and deeply personal call to action in overcoming the racism so ingrained in American society. He speaks candidly to Christians--particularly white Christians--urging them to cross a new bridge toward racial justice
and healing.
Join us at the Park Plaza Restaurant, 220 Cadman Plaza West in Brooklyn Hts for a good breakfast, great fellowship and an exhilarating discussion of a book that is very timely and thought provoking.
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Focus on Hunger: The Mission and Social Action Committee has a goal to educate the entire congregation on the issues around food and hunger in our country and around the world, and why First Presbyterian is involved in alleviating the suffering associated with a lack of food.
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More than 3 billion people, close to half the world's population, live on less than 2 dollars a day.
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Connect to New York City Presbytery
Stay connected with the latest news and opportunities in and around the presbytery by subscribing to Happenings In & Around the Presbytery, the Presbytery's electronic newsletter. Click here and fill out the Contact Information Form to add your email address to the subscribers list. Once completed, return the form to the presbytery office or email it to Yzette Swavy-Lipton.
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Message from the Stewardship Committee
Do you have expertise in financial planning, estate planning and/or wills? Stewardship could use your help for a brief outreach project. Please contact Patty Watwood if you are willing to help out, email: patriciawatwood@nyc.rr.com. Thank you!
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Worship services are streamed live over the Internet. On our website we provide the worship bulletin so that you can follow along. Tune in to worship at 11:00 AM Eastern time.
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Like us. Follow us. Visit us.
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May 8th, Mother's Day Sunday
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May 15th, Pentecost and Confirmation Sunday
Spirit-led Preaching
Baptism and Membership for long-time attender, Rachelle Taylor
Welcoming 3 new Members by Confirmation of their Baptismal Promises.
From Left: Elder Denise Alexander (teacher), Eliza Heidebrecht, Spencer James, Dimitri Vinson, Ashley Renee Thaxton (teacher), James Allison-Booth (teacher and Co-Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries)
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Remember: Videos featuring some of the music from recent worship services are available on YouTube and on the Church's Facebook page. ("Like" us there, too!)
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And less recently at First Church - Elder Larry Picard found this article in The NY Times archives from 1986 about First Church calling a Pastor.
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Summer Barbeque and Celebration of Pastor Nadine!
Join us after church on Sunday, June 12, for the Annual Church Barbecue and a joyous celebration of Pastor Nadine's ministry. For more information, contact Marcia Smith, Myrtle Muir, or Marta Nelson.
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Adult Education
The Adult Education group will explore and discuss America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America by Jim Wallis beginning on Wednesday, June 8th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Rose Room. The book is available in hard cover, Kindle, and on audio CD at amazon.com, or at your favorite book seller. Led by Eric Thomas.
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Summer Worship Schedule
Mark your calendars and don't miss the extra hour of sun on summer Sundays. Worship will begin at 10:00 AM starting July 3rd and run through September 4th. During the Summer Worship schedule the choir gathers Sunday morning at 9:00 AM, no Thursday rehearsal. Also a great time for those who would like to sing with the choir in a casual environment!
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Worship Leaders
Interested in taking part as a reader during Sunday service? We welcome volunteers from the congregation to sign up as Worship Leaders. Please contact Annie Solages in the church office at 718.624.3770 or speak to Worship Committee Co-Chairs Edna Asknes or Barbara Cummings.
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Volunteers Needed
Please, volunteer to host Coffee Hour alone, with your family, or with a fellow church member. You can help create a warm environment after service, where conversations that engage mind, body and soul can happen. If you need help figuring out how to do it, there are lots of people willing to show you the way.
You can also volunteer to greet and welcome friends and meet new ones on a Sunday morning. Being a Greeter is a great opportunity to show newcomers why you are part of First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our community.
To sign-up to be a Greeter or to host Coffee Hour, please contact the church office (718.624.3770) or sign up at the bulletin board near the side door.
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First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn Social Action Committee
Criminal Justice Activities in Concert With the Church of Gethsemane
FPC continues to be active with the Church of Gethsemane.
LUNCH SUPPORT:
Sandra Turner prepared lunch for Gethsemane on Sunday, May 1.
Marta Nelson & Ronald Higgins will be preparing lunch on Mother's Day, May 8.
PRISON VISITS:
Gloria Sellers and Sandra Turner made prison visits in April, along with Rev Diane Lacey
Note: We are looking for additional FPC male volunteers to make prison visits.
LETTER WRITING:
Seventeen members of FPC wrote words of encouragement in our group letter to over 200 incarcerated Project Connect members on April 24.
SERVICE PROVIDER MEETINGS:
Dave Ehlke arranged and participated in a meeting with Chris Owens, Director, Kings County Re-Entry Task Force and his key staff members, along with Rev Diane Lacey and Minister Chibueze Okorie from Gethsemane to learn about additional referral resources for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Want to get involved?
For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact either Jane Ehlke via email or phone (781-572-6201) or Dave Ehlke via email or phone (617-512-5780).
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This week's e-newsletter was edited by Mark Elsenheimer; photos by James Johnson and Mark.
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Online Donations: Set up a recurring gift to the church through a secure online account. To set up an account or to edit an existing gift, go to First Presbyterian Church's website.
Flower Donations. We welcome flower donations of $30 or more in memory or in honor of friends and loved ones. Call Annie Solages in the Church office at 718-624-3770 or see Barbara Cummings during fellowship hour on Sundays.
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