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We Will Never Be the Same
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Greetings First Church Family and Friends,
I selected the image above because this child of God holds in her body so many of the identities that have been under attack these last many months – she is brown-skinned, she is female, she is Muslim. She might also be a refugee or immigrant. At the very least, she inhabits a body that represents folks who no longer feel safe in these United States of America. I'm not being alarmist. I'm sharing what folks have shared with me this week following the presidential election. I feel scared. I feel disappointed. I feel that my own country is not safe for me.
No matter how you voted in this week's election, things in our nation have shifted, and, for better or worse, I believe we will never be the same. Pain and suffering have been revealed in and throughout our nation in ways that we can no longer ignore. Everyone has been slashed, and if there was any doubt about the depth of the wound, give it a moment: you will feel the sting soon, if you're not feeling it already.
I ran into a Jewish colleague the day after the election and we both said, "What are you going to say to your people this week?!" I muttered something about hope, and he chided me and other Christians for being too quick to move to hope. I thought he had a point. Our God is a God of hope, but I want to be careful to sit with my feelings and shout out loud that I feel hurt and deeply outside the embrace of this country.
It is a new day in America, and I think we all may need a big ugly cry before we go back out to do God's work of peace and justice in the world, more aware now that all God's people, the Republicans and Democrats; the Independents and those who sat out from voting; are hurt people. What is getting me through the day is a prayer I found connected to an excellent article about what to tell our children about the election. The prayer, posted by Dave Burstein, bravely says this:
A Prayer for My Children
I put you to bed tonight and rubbed your backs and told you not to worry. That our country is a place where you can feel safe and where all have the right for love and peace and justice and... When we are faced with fear, we link arms and become brave. When we are faced with hate, we stand at the doors of mosques and borders and stand with our neighbors, our brothers, our sisters, and say together we will choose to love and accept and protect and see the spark of God in you. I will tell my children that good will unite us and change us and save us. I believe in hope, and joy, and struggle through pain, and the resiliency of the human spirit. I believe in us. So when you awake tomorrow, I will hold you. And the first face you will see will be one of love. And the first words you hear will be ones of kindness. And those arms that hold you will be of all of us willing to make a difference.
That's what we have for each other on Sunday – faces of love, words of kindness, and arms to hold one another until we feel ready to get back out there and make a difference. Remember, when you can't hold faith, someone at First Church Brooklyn is holding it for you. Come to church on Sunday and let's hold whatever we are feeling…together.
You are loved,
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November 11th
The Coming Week
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Friday, November 11th
Holy Mackerels in the youth room.
Sunday, November 13th
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: Our Eyes Are Watching God
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.
4:00 - 7:00 PM
Installation Service of Rev. Adriene Thorne
First Presbyterian Church - Sanctuary
Wednesday, November 16th
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Thursday, November 17th
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Food Pantry
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Sunday, November 20th
5:00 PM
Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship at Our Lady of Lebanon Church (113 Remsen Street)
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Congregation and Community News
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Holy Mackerels
Our Second Songwriting Workshop!
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 songs 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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Dr. Paul Smith, First Presbyterian Church Emeritus Pastor, has been recognized by the Cobble Hill Health Center – Life Time Achievement Award. You may join Dr. Paul at the Annual Gala Dinner Dance on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at Liberty Warehouse. For more information visit www.cobblehillgala.org
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Hurricane Relief
Two members of our church family (Keiko and Hugh, shown here at LaGuardia Airport) ) left for Cuba and will be delivering donated clothing and toiletries collected in our recent drive to aid victims of Hurricane Matthew. A similar drive will be directed toward victims in Haiti.
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BETHLEHEM: A Christmas Musical
(to be presented in the style of HAMILTON)
Get ready for some Christian Christmas Hip-Hop!
Pageant dates for your calendar:
Sunday December 4th
11:15-12:15 pmRehearsal (During Sunday School)
12:15-1:00 pm Potluck Lunch
1:00-2:00 pm Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
Saturday December 10th
12:00-2:00 pm Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
Sunday December 11th
10:15 am Arrival for Pageant Participants
11:00 am Pageant Presentation during Worship
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Sunday School Volunteers 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
Please donate any coats you feel you can give away so we can provide them those in need. We are also asking for donations of blankets. We ask for new or slightly used coats and blankets. Please donate what you can.
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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 formerly 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)
Wednesday Adult Education
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Elliott Room
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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 dollar a day.
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On Thursday, November 10th, our Food Pantry served 120 clients with the help of 20 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. .
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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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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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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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December 4th: 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. Use code PARTY30 via phone only; reserve seats at 212.967.7555 for the December 4th, 2:30 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.
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 Caleb Heidebrecht. Photos were provided by 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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