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See Differently
Andy Goldsworthy
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Greetings First Church Family and Friends,
I grew fond of the artist/naturalist, Andy Goldsworthy, when I was in seminary. He took ordinary items from the natural world and turned them into beautiful, but temporal, works of art. Where others saw a pile of autumn leaves, Andy Goldsworthy saw the magnificent piece above. He saw differently.
The story of Joseph that we will examine this Sunday is a story of seeing differently, an ability that made Joseph a major player in God's story of salvation through Jesus Christ. A story that would have gone another way if all Joseph could see was a pile of autumn leaves. God is calling us, on this last Sunday of Advent, to see the word differently and to make something beautiful.
I gathered with an interfaith group of religious leaders this week to plan and strategize a faith-rooted organizing response to these unprecedented political times. We were reminded that "half of being able to tackle a problem, is being able to see it differently." These words helped me leave the gathering with my Advent hope renewed. Seeing differently is what the people of Standing Rock are doing as they protect the water. Seeing differently is what we at First Church do as we interrogate our relationship with intentional diversity. Seeing differently is what faith has always been about – seeing what others cannot see and bringing it into focus.
This Sunday, representatives from the Women's Press Collective will join our community in worship and during fellowship hour with an invitation to see the world differently. WPC believes that the voices of marginalized and disenfranchised communities need amplification, and so they train people to use a printing press. In this season of Advent light, WPC seeks volunteers for their grassroots work. If you want to be a part of seeing the world differently, stop by the WPC table this Sunday for more information.
With many demands on your time in the lead up to Christmas, I am grateful that you make space to gather with your community of faith. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
You are loved,
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Friday, December 16th
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Setup for Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 17th
9:30 AM & 11:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa | 9:30 AM and 11 AM
Sunday, December 18th
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
Worship in the Sanctuary: Last Sunday of Advent
Sermon Title: What About Joseph?!
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
The Parables Project in the Rose Room
12:15 PM
Coffee Hour follows worship in the Elliott Room.
6:45 PM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday, December 21st
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
Thursday, December 22nd
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Food Pantry
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Carol of the Bells: An Interactive Music and Light Installation on the front entrance
7:15 PM
Christmas Caroling and Potluck
Meet in the Sanctuary, dress for the weather
Saturday, December 24th
7:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship in the Sanctuary
Sunday December 25th
11:00 AM Christmas Day Worship in the Sanctuary
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Congregation and Community News
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Update on 2017 Pledge Drive
We have received 87 Pledge Cards for a total amount of $274,301.
Our Goal this year is 110 pledges and a total commitment of $343,000.
Please help us meet our goal and submit a pledge today!
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Hello First Church Family - It is nearly time for our 8th annual Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday December, 17th!
This fun and fabulous event with St. Nick is a major fundraiser for the Children, Youth, and Families programming and we would love your support.
First - Come! Whether you have children or just a kid at heart, come eat pancakes and have a good time.
Second - Invite a friend! or hang up our attached flyer in your child's school, in your building or on a community bulletin board.
Third - Volunteer! We can always use more hands.
Here are the event details:
WHAT: Pancake Breakfast, Christmas Music, Crafts & a Picture with Santa!
WHEN: Saturday, December 17th. Two Seatings - 9:30 am and 11:00 am
WHY: Enjoy a family friendly, stress-free visit with Santa!
WHERE: First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, 124 Henry St. @ Clark St.
TICKETS: $10 per person or $40 per family
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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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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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According to one recent study, approximately 21 percent of all children in the United States were living below the poverty line in 2010. In the UK and in France that figure is well under 10 percent
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On Thursday, December 15th, our Food Pantry served 87 guests with the help of 22 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. We are reading Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance.
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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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Your generous donation of toys have been delivered to the Farm Workers Center on eastern Long Island.
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Coat and Blanket donations (139 of them!) were delivered Saturday to the 84th Precinct for distribution to those neighbors in need this winter.
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Wednesday evening Adult Education has been expressing their creativity
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Saturday night December 10th was our first ever Grown-Up Christmas Party. Amazing music, wonderful food, scintillating conversation, inspired dancing, and making new friendships abounded! Additional pictures are here, and videos are on Vimeo.
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Sunday December 11th was our Christmas Pageant presented by the Sunday School and young people of First Church, ages 4-20. Bethlehem: A Christmas Musical (in the contemporary style of Hamilton). Dedicated in loving memory of Dick & Dottie Turmail, it was a rousing success!
So many wonderful pictures and videos were taken we can paste them all here. One collection of pictures is a here, with addition content on Vimeo and Facebook.
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Advent and Christmas at First Church Brooklyn
December 17th: Breakfast with Santa | 9:30 AM and 11 AM
Call or e-mail the office for tickets - $10 per person and $40 per family
December 22nd:
Carol of the Bells: An Interactive Music and Light Installation | 6:00-7:30 PM
Join us at the front entrance for this annual Christmas delight. Composed by Chris Neuner. Ken Thompson, saxophone.
Christmas Caroling and Potluck | 7:15 PM
Meet at 7:15 PM in the Sanctuary. We will provide song packet. Potluck at the manse after. Please bring something to share. Come a few minutes early to ring bells!
December 24th: Christmas Eve Worship | 7:00 PM
Plan to be with your First Church community for worship at 7 PM.
December 25th: Christmas Day | 11:00 AM
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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 interested 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.with the following activities:
- Monthly group letter to over 200 Project Connect members incarcerated in NYS Prisons
- Monthly Prison Visits to Project Connect members in Women's prisons in Bedford Hills
- Monthly lunch preparation and serving after worship
- Support for family members having incarcerated members pilot project.
- Administrative support
- Project connect Peer Group participation with formerly incarcerated Project Connect members
- Donation of clothes for formerly incarcerated members
- Re-entry support
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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 Mark Elsenheimer. Photos were provided by Christina Adorno 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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