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Greetings First Church Family and Friends!
From a distance the Rockettes look alike – same hair, same mega-watt smile, same gorgeous legs. But come in a little closer and you see variations in skin tone, body type, and height. Pull in even closer and get to know them personally, and you will discover different ages, different religions, different dreams and goals for their lives. God's dream for the good creation is for people to be like this famous kick line – one…but with variations.
In this Sunday's gospel, when Jesus prays for unity, for one-ness, he is praying for synchronicity that demands we know God and glorify God. The way that is lived out has variations. When we forget the variations that exist in our oneness, we find ourselves mourning tragedies like the bombing in Manchester this week.
Lend your special variation to the Women's Potluck that will gather this Friday evening for food and conversation at 7:00 pm. The affair is open to all women regardless of variation. Bring your unique self to our sanctuary conversation this Saturday from 5-7 pm. Join the planning process as we lean into how we might better stand with immigrants and refugees in these vulnerable times. Regardless of variation, your voice in planning the future of our church is vitally important.
Thank you for praying this week for all of God's children – the ones like you and the ones with slight variations. Looking forward to seeing you Sunday at 11:00 am.
You are loved,
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Friday, May 26th
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday, May 28th
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Nursery is open on the second floor
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Adult Education in the Thurman Room
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Youth Band in Rose Room
11:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Sunday School in the Gym
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Submerge in Rose Room
12:30 PM
Fellowship Hour
12:30 PM
Strategic Planning Committee Talkback
Fellowship Hour
4:00 PM
Youth Sunday Planning
The Manse
Wednesday, May 31st
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
Thursday, June 1st
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Choir rehearsal in the Sanctuary
Friday, June 2nd
6:00- 7:30PM
Church Wide Nominating Committee
Panel Discussion
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Congregation and Community News
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Saturday May 27 - Know Your Rights: What to Do If You're Stopped by the Police/Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Customs and Border Patrol
This training, offered by our partners at Faith in New York, informs immigrant New Yorkers, both documented and undocumented, of their rights when interacting with both immigration officers and police. All are welcome. 5-7 pm in the gym. Food will be served.
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Friday, June 2nd - Church Wide Nominating Committee
Panel Discussion for those curious about leadership at First Church Brooklyn. 6:00-7:30 pm. Contact Elder Odette Perriel for more information at cwnc@firstchurchbrooklyn.org
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Update on the 2017 Pledge Drive
As of May 4th, 2017, we have received 119 Pledge Cards for a total of $337,166.
Our goal this year is a commitment of $343,000.
We are less than $10,000 away from that target. Please help us reach or exceed our goal. Pledge today!
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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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Somewhere in the world someone starves to death every 3.6 seconds, and 75 percent of those are children under the age of five.
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On Thursday, May 18th, our Food Pantry served 100 guests with the
help of 19 volunteers.
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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 a podcast of our Sermons. Click the "Sermon Podcast" icon below to subscribe.
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Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us.
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Red Nose Day!
On Sunday, 5/21/17, members of the congregation donated $1 to the Red Nose Day Project that helps children in poverty in the US by providing free, high quality medical care.
Sunday May 21st, 2017
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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June 4th, June 18th, June 25th - New Member Classes
The next set of new member classes and installation is coming up. The dates of the classes are Sunday, June 4th and June 18th at 9:45am in the Gym with the installation on June 25th during worship. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact membership@firstchurchbrooklyn.org
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RESERVE YOUR SPOT - CYF FAMILY RETREAT
We have Holmes camp reserved for our 2017 Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) Family Retreat Friday June 9th - Sunday June 11th. Pricing will be $135 per adult and $65 per child. Scholarships may be available. We have already gotten a great turnout so if you're interested in attending please RSVP to cyfdirector@firstchurchbrooklyn.org to reserve your spot while there's still room! We hope to see you there!
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Adult Education
The Afterlife – continuing through May
Our 10:00 AM discussions will center around our perceptions of the afterlife and how these beliefs are formulated and shaped through our exposure to Scripture, the world of art, literature, and personal witness. Perhaps our interior sense of the afterlife stands at odds with everything to which we have been exposed. Perhaps we are deeply conflicted about accepted perceptions of "heaven" or "paradise." Our conversations will grow out of Easter and the many "Holy Ghost stories" that attended this singular event, including the story of the Road to Emmaus, along with the many other manifestations of Jesus, following the Crucifixion. Is it therefore inappropriate to suggest that the Resurrection is also a story about grief, trauma, and a pathway to acceptance? What are our personal experiences with the afterlife? And what does that word mean to us? Join Elder Erik Brogger (who is just as confused about all this as you may be) in the Thurman Library on Sunday mornings for this lay discussion of text and self.
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Men's Fellowship Breakfast
Join as we discuss the new book by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, "This Fight Is Our Fight," about the disappearing American Middle Class and what can be done about it.
Come join us even if you are not reading the book.
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Elder Jim Johnson Running for Governor of New Jersey
Our beloved Elder Jim Johnson has been called into public service and is running for Governor of New Jersey. The campaign is in full swing. If you are interested in joining Elder Jim Johnson and others to improve our schools, give all families a leg up and rebuild an economy that has crumbled along with its roads, bridges, water system and mass transit, please contact Amanda Clarke at amanda@jimjohnson4governor.com to find out about helping with the campaign.
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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 Chair, Barbara Cummings.
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First Church Cares
First Church's Pastoral Care Team is focused on exploring opportunities to strengthen our individual bonds with one another within our congregation. During Sunday worship, members of First Church's Pastoral Care Team ("Care Ambassadors") will be wearing a white flower boutonniere pin, and will be available to chat with you before or after worship, about how we can improve the care within our church community.
As a community, we are called to accompany each other in our joys and in our sorrow. If you are experiencing a loss, an illness, struggling with grief and questions of faith, or simply want to share a joy or request a companion in prayer, please reach out to our Care Ambassadors directly or send an email to: pastoralcare@firstchurchbrooklyn.org
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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 in concert with the Church of Gethsemane.
- Sunday Luncheon: Thanks to Tyler Abernathy and Tobias Wyss of the Holy Mackerals, who prepared or served lunch this past Sunday.
- Prison Visits: Next week, three members of FPC -- Steve deFluiter, Erik Brogger and Dave Ehlke -- will accompany Minister Chibueze Okorie to visit Project Connect members at Green Haven prison on Thursday, May 11th. On Saturday, May 13th, Rev Adriene, along with other members of the FPC team, will be accompanying Rev Diane Lacey to visit Project Connect members at Bedford Hills Women's Prison.
- Administrative Support: Ongoing administrative support has been provided by Jane and Dave Ehlke.
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This week's eNewsletter was edited by Christina Adorno. Photos from Christina Adorno.
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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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