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Greetings First Church Family and Friends!
Someone once said that if you need a prayer, read the Book of Psalms until you find something that fits. The Book of Psalms contains 150 songs – songs of praise, lament, trust, thanks, and more praise. Psalm 91 is my go to psalm for times of difficulty – I prayed it almost daily during seminary and return to it often when I'm feeling out of sorts.
Theologian, Walter Brueggemann, says the psalms reveal the hearts of a people who allowed God into all areas of their lives, including the messy parts. Life is about balancing loss and gift, Brueggemann continued, and the psalms are powerful because they invite us to focus on those topics that are typically ignored in our society, both on personal and public levels. The psalms invite us, and even demand of us, to look at life with no filter. No room for denial and self-deception.
The Psalter, as the book is known, parallels our life's journey with loss and gift. It will be our worship focus for the entire month of July, so I encourage you to explore the psalms this month both as prayers you read and as song. The hope, over the next five weeks, is to find a window into a deeper, richer, prayer life.
With the official kick-off to summer, we begin our summer worship hours this Sunday, July 2nd at 10 am. If you are travelling or far away from home this Sunday, know that you are in our prayers. Please keep us in yours
You are loved,
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Friday, June 23rd
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Farewell to Elder Larry Picard, all are invited.
Elliott Room
Saturday, July 1st
8:30am
Brooklyn Samaritans Half Marathon Group Run
Meet at the church
Sunday, July 2nd
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Nursery is open on the second floor
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
10:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
Sermon to be preached by Rev. Adriene Thorne "Let's Get Loud!"
11:00 AM
Fellowship Hour
Tuesday, July 4th
The office will be closed
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
Thursday, July 6th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Friday, July 7th
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Spring-Summer Potluck
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Congregation and Community News
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Save the Date!
Friday June 30th 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM - farewell gathering for Elder Larry Picard, please join us in the Elliot Room. All are invited.
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Clark Street Subway Station Closure!
The Clark Street (2) (3) subway station will be closed on weekends from June 16 to Spring 2018. People who normally take the subway to First Church need to walk from Borough Hall or take the B25, B26, B38, B41, B52 or B103 bus.
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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 the first Sunday of every month, 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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#CLOSErikers Campaign Information Event s
This past Wednesday, The Social Action and Adult Education Committees hosted an informative discussion about the status of closing Rikers Island jail. Brittany Williams and Sarita Dafftary-Steel, Community Organizers from JustleadershipUSA and the #CLOSErikers Campaign led the session attended by 18 people, including 12 from FPC.
Origin of mass Incarceration: A short film was shown highlighting the 13th Amendment, which in effect continues slavery in the form of mass incarceration for people convicted of a crime, which disproportionately impacted people of color.
Steps needed to reduce Jail Population: The session provided a basic understanding surrounding the Rikers island jail complex, including recommendations about how to close rikers from the very comprehensive one year Lippman Committee report. These include lowering the jail population by: decriminalizing low level offenses, pre-trial diversion for mental health, and substance abuse treatment and community service instead of incarceration. #CLOSErikers is advocating for ending "broken windows" policing which eliminates the many short stays at Rikers, Bail bond reform including giving an arrested person 12 hours and the use of their phone after arraignment to arrange bail instead of demanding it immediately at arraignment, and speedy trial legislature.
Mayor deBlasio Plan The session also addressed the hypocrisy of Mayor deBlasio's supposed support for closing Rikers by his not embracing the recommendations of the comprehensive Lippman Commission report but instead spending 90 days to produce his own roadmap for closing Rikers in 10+years, when he and current politicians are long gone. His plan does not mention racial disparities, pre-trial diversion, broken windows policing and does not include directly impacted people to be included in the taskforce.
#CLOSErikers Preach-In Aug-18-20: FPC was the first faith-based organization to hold a #CLOSErikers information event. The campaign is now calling on all faith –based institutions and leaders to join in the struggle to end mass incarceration. They are asking for a commitment from supportive congregations for a "Preach-in" on the weekend of August 18-20, 2017 focused on reducing mass incarceration and #CLOSErikers. Action steps for this weekend could include a congregation rally or speak-out, vigil, memorial, letter writing and installing #CLOSErikers signs.
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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.
Volunteers needed Wednesday evenings from 7:15-8:00 pm to receive fresh fruits and vegetables for our food pantry. If you are available to come to First Church Brooklyn and receive donations from our partners at Brooklyn Bridge CSA and Sweet Pea CSA, please call the church office to be connected to pantry coordinator, Jane Woland.
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In 2015, 42.2 million Americans lived in food insecure households, including 29.1 million adults and 13.1 million children.
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On Thursday, June 29th, our Food Pantry served 132 guests with the
help of 21 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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Sunday June 25th, 2017
Love...
Is Love...
Is Love!
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Brooklyn Rock and Roll Half Marathon Training
Group runs are Mondays at 7:00 PM and Saturdays at 8:30 AM. Meet in the Peace Garden and run with our team: Brooklyn Samaritans
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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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CHILDREN, YOUTH, and FAMILIES (CYF)
Sunday School is on hiatus for the summer and will resume Sunday, September 10th. All God's children will worship together throughout the summer. The nursery remains open to provide wee care to children 4 and under. CYF Director, James Allison-Booth, will lead volunteers in the FPC Kid's Corner located in the front right corner of the sanctuary. Biblical based books and crayons are available for people of all ages on the bookshelf in the narthex. Help yourself to materials, and thank you for returning them so that others may enjoy them in the future.
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Worship Leaders
Interested in taking part as a reader during Sunday worship? 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 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.
- Group Letter writing: This Sunday, July 2 we will be writing our composite letter to Project Connect members during fellowship hour.
- Sunday Lunch after Worship. We are looking for volunteers for the July 9, 16, 23 or 30.
- Prison Visits: Next week, we will be announcing our next dates for both Mens and Womens Prison visits.
- Administrative Support: Ongoing administrative support has been provided by Jane and Dave Ehlke. The Project Connect database has been expanded to 225 members in 30 different prisons.
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This week's eNewsletter was edited by Christina Adorno. Photos provided by Colin St. Rose.
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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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