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We Make the Road by Walking
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Greetings First Church Family & Friends!
I hope it feels like we are on a journey, because, in fact, we are. By the time this note hits your inbox, I will have been traveling with you as your pastor for 92 days. Some of you may be asking yourselves, "Where the heck is she taking us?!!" My number one goal, since arriving on July 1st, has been to know you and to be known by you. To that end, I am spending a great deal of time meeting and speaking with as many of you as possible. I am carefully crafting permission-giving sermons that invite our courageous, truth telling and that help us imagine ourselves and our church community in new ways. I am journeying with staff and with leadership towards the location of First Church Brooklyn in God's preferred future.
Since before my arrival on Henry Street, I've been holding the questions, "Who are we?" and "Where is God calling us to go?" That means asking identity questions in my sermons about our relationship with money and faith. That means asking identity questions in adult education classes about our relationship with bodies and faith. That means asking identity questions over tea about what faith means to you and what keeps you connected to our particular community of faith. Who are we? And where is God calling us to go?
This Saturday, the session and I will take some quiet time to retreat. To listen for God's still, small voice, calling the people of this community as surely as God has been calling us since 1822. I believe in planning, and I also believe, as Spanish poet Antonio Machado wrote, that we make the road by walking.
"Caminante, son tus huellas el camino, y nada más; caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar. Al andar se hace camino, y al volver la vista atrás se ve la senda que nunca se ha de volver a pisar. Caminante, no hay camino, sino estelas en la mar."
Wanderer, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more; wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking. By walking one makes the road, and upon glancing behind one sees the path that never will be trod again. Wanderer, there is no road-- Only wakes upon the sea.
First Church, we walk and we feed God's people - bring your wine and bread for a blessing this Sunday, bring your non-perishable proteins for our food pantry. We walk and we educate God's children – I will take my turn as a Sunday School teacher on October 23rd. What Sunday will you serve? Express your interest at cyfdirector@firstchurchbrooklyn.org. We walk and we make the road – one foot in front of the other until we get to a world where all God's creatures are loved and fed in mind, body, and spirit.
The journey faith sets us on is enormous. The maps are not always clear, and sometimes we will not see the signposts until we get close enough to read the fine print. Oftentimes, we will not know, until we arrive, where God was trying to take us all along. This journey takes faith. I'm preaching about faith the size of a mustard seed on Sunday as we celebrate World Communion Sunday and remember our ministry partners in Cuba. Join us on the road at Henry Street or via our website livestream.
You are loved,
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Friday, September 30th
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Holy Mackerels in the Gymnasium.
6:30 PM in the Elliott Room
Monthly Women's Potluck.
Sunday, October 2nd
Protein Sunday: Please leave protein items and canned goods in the Narthex.
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Nursery is open on the second floor.
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary.
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Youth Band in the Rose Room.
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
11:00 AM
Communion Sunday - Please place your bread and wine on the communion table this Sunday for a blessing.
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Sunday School begins - Gymnasium
The Parables Project with Eric Thomas - The Thurman Room
12:15 PM
Coffee Hour follows worship in the Elliot Room.
Wednesday, October 5th
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
7:00 PM-8:30 PM
Thursday, October 6th
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Food Pantry
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Choir Rehearsal
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Congregation and Community News
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Sunday School Volunteers are needed!
It takes a Brooklyn Village to raise our children in the faith. Contact James and Elizabeth to express your interest at cyfdirector@firstchurchbrooklyn.org.
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Faith Night Out at The Public Theatre – Join Pastor Adriene and First Church folks for Party People at The Public. Faith conversation following the performance! Information below! Theatre company, Universes, is known for their fusion of theater, poetry, jazz, hip-hop, and politics. Party People is an explosive new work about the complicated legacies of the original Black Panther Party and the Young Lords Org/Party and is directed by Liesl Tommy (Eclipsed). Our discount code will get you $30 (half off) no fee tickets: Folks must use code PARTY30 via phone only; reserve seats at 212.967.7555 for the December 4, 3 pm show. LIMITED TICKETS so order soon!
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Hello friends!
Though we are still in September, it's almost time for Halloween (I know we're excited too)! October 1st begins the countdown to Halloween, but it is also the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Every October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is observed to bring to light an issue that effects our community in a staggereing way. DVAM is an opportunity for domestic violence organizations to connect with the community through meaningful outreach and awareness raising events. (DC Coalition)
We at First Church Brooklyn are helping Tiny Tots Express collect Halloween costumes for children ages 1-13. With the costume donations, staff will take them to a Domestic Violence Shelter and hand them out to the children living there with their mothers so they can choose what they would like to trick or treat as. All costumes are welcomed! Please drop off all costume donations to the church by October 20th. Thank you in advance for your help
You are loved!
Children, Youth, and Families
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Blankets and Coats – As you are cleaning out closets and unpacking fall clothing, please bring clean and gently-used coats and blankets to church for our neighbors in need.
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Adult Education
Sunday Adult Education
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM, Thurman Room
(Traditional bible study in relation to issues and questions of our times)
September 18 - October 3o
Is faith without works dead? These and other questions of Christian responsibility will be explored through weekly readings from the Epistle of James.
Wednesday Adult Education
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Elliott Room
October 5th: Dying for God/Christian Martyrdom: The story of Perpetua and Felicitas explores the complexities of gender in the constructions of Christian martyrdom and sainthood.
October 12th: Dying for God/Christian Martyrdom: The story of Blandina and the martyrs of Lyon and Vienne explores how the torture and confession of slaves helped shape Christian martyrdom.
October 19th: Dying for God/Latin American Liberation: A discussion of selected writings by Oscar Romero and John Sobrino whose death shaped the underpinnings of liberation theology within the histories of Latin America.
October 30th: Living for God through Dance: An exploration of liturgical movement and religious inspired choreography including sections from Alvin Ailey's Revelations.
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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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50.1 million Americans struggle to put food on the table
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On Thursday, September 29th, the Food Pantry served 114 clients with the help of 23 wonderful volunteers.
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Men's Fellowship Breakfast meets Wednesday morning
at the Park Plaza Diner, 220 Cadman Plaza West, 7:00-8:30AM. Join the men as they discuss Robert Mcaffee Brown Creative Dislocation - The Movement of Grace.
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Worship services are streamed live over the Internet. We provide the worship bulletin on the website so that you can follow along. Tune in to worship at 11:00 AM Eastern time.
We have recently added an audio podcast of our Sermons. Click the "Sermon Podcast" icon below to subscribe to audio versions of all the sermons since Rev. Thorne's arrival.
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Like us. Follow us. See us. Listen to us.
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Fall is in the air at First Church, and with everyone back, there is much activity going on! Even before service begins, there is joy as we prepare to worship together.
Flowers were given in memory of Patricia Black Davis, sister of Diane Black Greene
Rev. Adriene preached the sermon "What Does it Mean to Be Rich?", and invited us to continue our conversations on our relationships with money.
Mario and Dave shared news on the Annual coat Drive, and the Project Connect letter writing campaign, while James relayed the exciting activities going on with Children, Youth, and Families.
The room abounded with fellowship
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Our designated "Murder Mystery" MC gets into character as he prepares us for the big event. Please plan to attend to help make this a successful fundraiser!
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FUNDRAISER: MURDER MYSTERY DINNER PARTY
The annual First Church Brooklyn fundraiser will be held Saturday, October 22, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
This year, join us for a Murder Mystery Dinner Party.
Save the date.
See the play.
Solve the mystery!
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Save The Date!
Installation Worship Service
Sunday, November 13th at 4:00 PM: Installation Worship Service for Rev. Adriene Thorne at First Church Brooklyn. More details to follow.
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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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First Presbyterian Church Social Action Committee
Criminal Justice Activities in Concert With the Church of Gethsemane
First Church continues to be active with the Church of Gethsemane.
Prison Visits:
We are looking for more men to make prison visits during weekdays. See Dave Ehlke if you are interested.
Lunch after Worship:
Contact Jane Ehlke if you are interested in providing lunch in October.
Potential Family Social Work Project:
Gloria Sellers, Jane & Dave Ehlke have been meeting with Gethsemane staff on plans for a potential Family social work project in conjunction with the School of Social Work at NYU.
Letter writing to Project Connect members: Last Sunday, members of the congregation wrote words of encouragement in a group letter to those who are incarcerated.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact either Jane Ehlke (781-572-6201) or Dave Ehlke (617-512-5780).
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Children, Youth and Families
Donations sought
Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) have compiled a wish list of items that could help maximize our programming capabilities. If you have any of the below items lying around in storage, or would like to gift the CYF program by making a purchase, your donations would be greatly appreciated!
COMPUTER:
A new mac like this (we don't need a monitor), or any type of mac computer (all in one, pro tower, mini etc) made any year 2012 or later. We're looking for a fast, modern computer to do video editing, music production etc...)
PROJECTOR:
A new projector like this, or any type of projector with at least one HDMI input made 2012 or later.
PROJECTOR MOUNT:
A new projector mount like this
WII CONSOLE: Preferably an ORIGINAL (not WII U) WII console. WII remotes, accessories etc.
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This week's eNewsletter was edited by Dianne Hutchinson. Photos were provided by Christina Adorno and Colin St. Rose.
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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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