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Greetings First Church Family & Friends!
A college classmate shared on Facebook this week that she has carefully curated her newsfeed to show overwhelmingly positive posts. She had to unfriend negative people to get there, and she had to surround herself with those who were living the positive life she aspired to. What an exciting possibility to imagine that we might create environments that support our ability to see what is good.
Part of our human evolutionary baggage is to zero in on negativity, to notice what is bad. In our cave-dwelling past, this ability to quickly identify threats to our well-being, literally saved our lives. I suppose this default position that connects with our reptilian brain remains helpful in times of crisis, but it also means that we can and do miss out on so much that is good and even miraculous in our world. In order to see the good all around us, we are going to have to imitate my friend and curate our feed.
The sermon this Sunday will focus on Luke's gospel story of the healing of the ten lepers. One of the ten sees the healing that he experiences and his seeing leads to celebration. What could life be like if it we lived it seeing and celebrating, and how do we get there? Come Sunday and find out.
Adult education happens every Sunday at 10 am with, Eric Thomas, in the Thurman Library. You are welcome to join the choir and me for a prayer circle at 10:45 am in the sanctuary, and worship steps off at 11 am. I look forward to seeing you and to seeing miracles together.
You are loved,
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Sunday, October 9th
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
Rev. Adriene Thorne will preach the sermon, "Free Eye Exams Performed Weekly". Texts are Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 and Luke 17:11-19
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Sunday School - Gymnasium
The Parables Project with Eric Thomas - The Rose Room (*New Location)
12:15 PM
Coffee Hour follows worship in the Elliot Room.
Wednesday, October 12th
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
7:00 PM-8:30 PM
Thursday, October 13th
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Congregation and Community News
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Call For Artists
Many people experience the Holy in the beauty of our Sanctuary, the sound of our musicians and choirs, and the poetry of our prayers. If you are intested in helping the First Church Brooklyn community to experience God with movement, puppetry, dramatic presentation, fabric, flowers, writing, set design, and more, please share your interest with Pastor Adriene or call the church office. A meeting will be organized this fall to plan art for the coming year. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
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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.
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Hello friends!
Every October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is observed to bring to light an issue that effects our community in a staggering 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. Cash donations also accepted.
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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 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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1 in 7 people are enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Nearly half of them are children.
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On Thursday, October 6th, our Food Pantry served 116 clients with the help of 13 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 July, 2016.
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Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us.
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Woman's Fellowship Potluck on Friday September 30
World Wide Communion Sunday Worship (check the videos, and look on Facebook for the recording of the "Live" Prelude and Sermon)
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October 2nd: Blessing of the Animals - On the Front Steps, Following Worship
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Our designated "Murder Mystery" MC had musical accompaniment in last week's Announcement during Worship. Please plan to attend to help make this a successful fundraiser! (Click the picture to see and hear the announcement!)
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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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Saturday October 29 - Retreat Opportunity
From Westina Matthews (Good Friend of First Church):
Greetings from Savannah, GA! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 29th when I will be returning to Trinity Wall Street, NYC to lead a Spa for the Soul entitled "Gifts from God: Spirituality and Sexuality." (see flyer).
As a heterosexual married woman who continues to hold gently the tension between personal beliefs with The Episcopal Church's shift on the theology of marriage, I strongly believe that by drawing upon the rich resources of Christian contemplative tradition, there is a way to influence one's own interior life and spiritual practice for this topic and be able to personally connect through "holy listening." This retreat is my contribution and commitment to this topic.
Assisting me with the retreat will be The Rev. Dr. Tommie Lee Watkins Jr., Associate Rector and Assistant Chaplain at Canterbury Chapel, Tuscaloosa Alabama, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama School Of Social Work. He completed his Ph.D. degree at the University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Public Health with a research focus on the role that religion and spirituality plays in health outcomes among Black gay/bi-sexual males.
This contemplative retreat day will offer support to enter into your own interior life by providing guided meditation and prayer, journaling exercises, periods of silence and reflection, education, interactive sharing, and resources. We will not attempt to convince one another to adopt any view but rather offer a safe and sacred space to share knowledge, and to engage in open and honest dialogue.
Looking forward to seeing you on October 29th!
Saturday, October 29 | 10am-3pm | Parish Center, 2 Rector Street
Registration begins at 9:30am
Registration fee is $25 and includes lunch.
To register, contact the Faith Formation & Education Office at
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Save The Date - November 13
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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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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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:
The next Women's Prison Visit is Oct 15. A number of trained women from First Church will be participating. We are looking for more men to make prison visits to incarcerated men during weekdays. See Dave Ehlke if you are interested.
Lunch after Worship:
On Sunday, Oct 16, the Brooklyn Heights Interfaith Youth group will join our First Church youth in serving lunch at Gethsemane after their worship service. On Sunday, Oct 23, Marta Nelson will be serving lunch. Please contact Jane or Dave if you would like to prepare lunch for a Sunday in November.
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. The Project Connect group has expanded to over 200 from a little over 100 a year ago.
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 Mark Elsenheimer. Photos were provided by Gladys McNish, Jim Johnson and Mark Elsenheimer.
There is an opening for eNewsletter editor! If interested in this one-week-a-month ministry, please contact Mark Elsenheimer.
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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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