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Greetings First Church Family & Friends!
On this Reformation Sunday weekend, I find John Calvin's words encouraging for our life together: The Lord has given us a table at which to feast, not an altar on which a victim is to be offered; He has not consecrated priests to make sacrifice, but servants to distribute the sacred feast.
We are setting a table and distributing God's sacred feast at First Church Brooklyn. For those within our community and for those who will come. We are the servants of God making plates for God's people in the warmth of our welcome, in the joy of our worship, in the commitment to our interfaith relationships, and in the food for thought of our Christian education programs.
At First Church Brooklyn, we are the feast. International visitors say there is nothing like our worship in the places they come from. Neighborhood visitors say we are the place that welcomes everyone and means it. You say that here you feel seen and loved. First Church feeds God's people. In song. In word. In deed.
We set a table at First Church Brooklyn every week and this Reformation Sunday we begin planning our menu for 2017. Who will be coming through our doors? Who needs to feel invited into God's household? How will we serve up God's lavish love and compassionate justice? Who will prepare the feast, and how will we pay the bill?
In the four months that I have been your pastor, we have considered our relationship with faith and money. We have asked courageous questions and done the even more courageous work of telling ourselves the truth about our finances. And that work is far from over. I am working with financial experts that I know and trust to speak with our community about faith and money. The first to join us, this coming Wednesday, is my financial advisor, Ainka Munroe. http://www.ainkamunroe.com/ Ainka and I will lead a workshop entitled Yea, Though I Walk Through the Valley. It focuses on our mortal body, the end of life, and what we hope our story will be, both from a faith perspective and a financial perspective. We begin at 6:45 with a potluck meal and wrap-up at 8:30.
As God's people, we all are invited to be part of the feast in the household of God. To plan the menu. To invite the people. To satisfy our own hunger. To serve the meal. And yes, to help pay the bill. Next Sunday, November 6th is pledge Sunday - a time that creates anxiety and raises questions in churches all over the world. How much should I give? Should my gifts be only to the church or can I give to other worthy causes? Why does pledging matter? I am happy to meet or speak via phone this week, and throughout the year, on these and other questions about financial giving. And I encourage you to be in prayer with the God of your understanding around this important aspect of faith and life together.
Elder Ken Andrichik will speak briefly in worship about our church budget and he will stick around after the congregational meeting to present, Mysteries of the Church Budget Revealed. I hope you will stick around for this more comprehensive conversation and that you will ask the questions you need to find answers for.
Worship begins at 11 am and, as always, you are in my prayers whether here in person or away for the weekend.
You are loved,
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Friday, October 28th
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Women's Ministry Potluck
Sunday, October 30th
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
Sermon: A Reformation of Values
Scripture Texts are Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 and Luke 19:1-10
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 Elliott Room.
Elliot Room
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Elliott Room
Thursday, November 3rd
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Congregation and Community News
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Murder Mystery Dinner Fundraiser
A very sucessful event!! Thank you so much to everyone that came out and participated! We raised $25,000 for the church! Again thank you so much and thank you to the Murder Mystery Actors that helped make this event such a sucess!
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BETHLEHEM: A Christmas Musical
(to be presented in the style of)
Get ready for some Christian Christmas Hip-Hop!
Pageant Dates for your calendar:
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- 10:15 am Arrival for Pageant Participants
- 11:00 am Pageant Presentation during Worship
In the next few days we will be sending out a survey asking if you (or your children / youth) will be able to participate in the pageant and its rehearsals so watch for that email!
Holy Mackerels this Friday, October 28 6-8pm (meeting in the gym)
We're so excited about this year's Christmas pageant that we want our youth to be involved in it's creation! This Friday, Elizabeth will be inviting the Holy Mackerels to eat pizza and brainstorm ideas for the finale of the Christmas pageant. No prior lyric writing experience required! Bring your friends and RSVP to let us know if you can join us!
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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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Blankets and Winter Coats
As we are switching our wardrobes from summer to fall/winter if there are any coats you feel you can give away, please donate them to the church so we can hand them to those that need them. We are also asking for blanket donations to keep those bracing for the winter warm. We ask for new or slightly used coats and blankets. Please donate what you can.
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Cuba and Haiti Relief
Donations of clothing and toiletries will be accepted through the end of this month for both Cuba and Haiti. Donations can be sent directly to the church at 124 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, or dropped off during normal business hours.
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Movie Night
On Wednesday, November 16th, we will show the movie "Rikers".
Rikers, a film from acclaimed journalist Bill Moyers, is the first documentary to focus exclusively on people for merly detained in New York City's notorious Rikers Island Jail and give them the opportunity to tell their compelling stories, direct to camera. The film captures their vivid memories, revealing the violent arc of the Rikers experience from the trauma of entry, the extortion and control exercised by other inmates, the oppressive interaction with corrections officers, the frightening beatings and stabbings, the torture of solitary confinement and the psychological challenges of returning to the outside world.
Showtime is 6:45 PM. Please RSVP so we can save you a seat!
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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 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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Roughly one out of every four American children is on food stamps.
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On Thursday, October 20th, our Food Pantry served 121 clients with the help of 21 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's 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 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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Congrats Caroline!!!!
Murder MysteryDinner Party
Someone's gonna get murdered!
Detective is on the case!
It was Elizabeth! I knew it!
Sunday 10/23
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Food as Medicine: Basic Fermentation with Emily Neustadt
October 30th at 12:45 PM
We'll learn to make probiotic rich sauerkraut and briefly share stories of fermented foods from around the world.
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Mysteries of the Church Budget Revealed
with Elder Ken Andrichik
October 30th following worship, in the Elliott Room
Come and learn the ins and outs of funding ministry at First Church on the way to our planning and programming work for the 2017 year.
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Retreat Opportunity
Saturday, October 29th
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 to personally connect through "holy listening."
Assisting me with the retreat will be The Rev. Dr. Tommie Lee Watkins Jr., Associate Rector and Assistant Chaplain at Canterbury Chapel, Tuscaloosa, AL, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama School Of Social Work.
This contemplative retreat will provide guided meditation and prayer, journaling exercises, periods of silence and reflection, education, interactive sharing, and resources.
Looking forward to seeing you on October 29th!
Saturday, October 29 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Parish Center, 2 Rector Street
Registration begins at 9:30 AM
Registration fee is $25 and includes lunch.
To register, contact the Faith Formation & Education Office at
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SAVE THE DATE: Pastor Adriene's Installation Celebration
Sunday, November 13th, at 4:00 PM
Register through Eventbrite or call Annie in the church office.
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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 4th, 3:00 PM show. LIMITED TICKETS so order soon!
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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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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.
SPECIAL EVENT: Monday, Nov 14th, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Gethsemane will be hosting a program entitled "Life after Life in Prison" that will highlight a photo exhibit of four women, each serving from 17 to 35 years in prison, followed by a panel discussion. Mark your calendars.
Criminal Justice Activities in Concert With the Church of Gethsemane
First Church continues to be active with the Church of Gethsemane.
Prison Visits:
On Saturday, Oct 15, 4 women from FPC ( Jane Ehlke, Mary Lynn Fiske, Diane Grimes and Gloria Sellers) joined Rev Diane Lacey and 5 other women to visit the Women's prisons in Bedford Hills.
We are still looking for more men to make prison visits to incarcerated men during weekdays. See Dave Ehlke if you are interested.
Special Presentation
Mark, Monday, November 14 7 PM for a special presentation and photo exhibit at the Church of Gethsemane about 4 formerly incarcerated women.
Lunch after Worship
Sunday, Oct 16, the Brooklyn Heights Interfaith Youth group joined our First Church youth in serving lunch at Gethsemane after their worship service. The Gethsemane congregation enjoyed a special treat by having members of our youth group full in as the choir. On Sunday, Oct 23, Marta Nelson and David Jones served lunch and presented an update on Criminal Justice reforms.. Please contact Jane or Dave if you would like to prepare lunch for a Sunday in November.
New Project Connect Family Support Program launched with NYU School of Social Work:
Gloria Sellers will be spending one day/week managing 2 Masters student interns from the School of Social Work at NYU, together Rev. Diane Lacey and Minister Chibueze Okorie to provide support services to families of incarcerated Project Connect members. This is a brand new program and expands the scope of Project Connect. Thanks to Jane Quinn for introducing us to a Professor at NYU last year that enabled this program to get launched. A special thanks to Gloria Sellers for taking in this responsibility.
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:
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 Christina Adorno. Photos were provided by Steffy Jolin, Christina Adorno and Colin St. Rose.
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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