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Greetings First Church Family and Friends,
"When you grow up you tend to get told the world is the way it is, and your life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family… Have fun… Save a little money.
That's a very limited life.
Life can be much brighter once you discover one simple fact: everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use. Once you learn that you'll never be the same again."
The above is a quote from Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, that has incredible relevance for Sunday's gospel reading. Nicodemus came to Jesus in the dark of night and encountered "the Light," and followed the Light and was never the same again. Nicodemus shows up three times in the gospel of John – the final time at the cross to help prepare Christ's body for burial. He goes from doubter of Christ to lover of Christ. Nicodemus is the poster child for someone who "thinks different."
As we step into our annual meeting this Sunday, but most importantly, as we step into the future of Christ's church as it is lived out in Brooklyn Heights and beyond, my invitation to you is to stay curious and think different. We are all in for a powerful transformation. Looking forward to seeing you Sunday at 11:00 am for worship and for the Annual Meeting following worship.
You are loved,
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Sunday, January 28th
Nursery is open, 2nd floor at top of stairs
10:00 AM - 10:55 AM
Sunday Morning Bible Study in the Thurman Study
11:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
Sermon: "Think Different" - Rev Ariene Thorne, preaching
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday School
Following Worship
Fellowship Hour in the Elliott Room (2nd Floor)
Hosted by the Prison Visit Volunteers, collecting messages for the monthly Project Connect letter.
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Elliot Room
Thursday, February 1st
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Choir Rehearsal
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Congregation and Community News
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REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR WINTER BLANKET
AND OUTERWEAR DONATIONS
The Social Action Committee is coordinating our church's annual drive to collect winter blankets, coats, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks, and boots to be distributed to people of need in our extended community. Outerwear can be for male and female, children and adult sizes. New and used items - in good condition and clean.
Please bring your donation items during open church office times, or Sunday morning, and leave them in the back, right hand pews.
This donation drive will continue throughout our cold weather weeks.
Please contact Jane Ehlke if you can help to sort and/or transport donated items, or if you have questions or suggestions - jane.ehlke@gmail.com
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Mens Prison Visit Activity
On Thursday, Jan 18, the FPC Men's Prison Visit team comprised of Steve DeFluiter, Erik Brogger, Jabe Ziino, Caleb Heidebrecht and Dave Ehlke joined Minister Chibueze Okorie from the Church of Gethsemane to visit Project Connect members at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining NY. We will be scheduling our next visit. In February. To join the team, please contact Dave Ehlke at Dave.ehlke@gmail.com.
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First Church Brooklyn Community Workshop
Learn how to make fermented food to support your health adn diegestion.
Make sauerkraut. It's easy!
Everyone is invited to make some to take home
We love our community. Please come.
All are welcome
Wednesday January 31st, 2018
6:30pm Potluck (bring something to share)
7:pm Workshop
Enter throught the Peace Garden then go upstairs to the Elliot Room.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is in touch with presbyteries in the affected areas from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and the Earthquakes in Mexico. PDA is standing by with resources and National Response Team members ready to deploy wherever it is safe to do so.
For those who wish to support PDA's emergency response and recovery efforts, gifts can be designated to specific disaster response, or where needed the most, via the form here. We need your help. Please give generously.
If you prefer to mail a check, you may send it to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
PO Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA, 15264-3700
You may also call Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), at 1-800-872-3283 to donate by phone. For updates, please go to pda.pcusa.org.
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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 Church is involved in alleviating the suffering associated with a lack of food.
Volunteers are needed Wednesday evenings from 7:15 PM - 8:00 PM to receive fresh fruits and vegetables for our food pantry. If you are available to come to First Church 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, 59% of food-insecure households participated in at least one of the three major federal food assistance programs in the prior month:
–Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-formerly Food Stamp Program),
-The National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the
-Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
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On Thursday, January 18th, our Food Pantry served several guests
with the help of some amazing 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.
Missed a week, or want to hear a Sermon again? We have a podcast of Sermon audio. Click the "Sermon Podcast" icon below to subscribe.
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Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us.
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Women's March
Saturday January 20th 2018
Members of First Church Brooklyn in attendance
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Clark Street Subway Station Closure
The Clark Street (2 and 3 trains) subway station will be closed on weekends until 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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CHILDREN, YOUTH, and FAMILIES (CYF)
Sunday School is in full swing, with additional programs available for younger members of our community. Those with school-aged children are encouraged to register for the separate CYF Weekly Updates newsletter at http://tinyletter.com/cyfdirector
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Men's Fellowship Breakfast
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Presbytery of NYC Justice Ministry Events noted by Dave Ehlke
January 29, 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Korea: Working for Peace and Reconciliation, a presentation by Kurt Esslinger, PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker in Korea; Broadway Presbyterian Church (601 W 114th St, New York, NY 10025)
January 30, 10:30 am - Noon - Korea: Working for Peace and Reconciliation, a presentation by Kurt Esslinger, PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker in Korea; at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church (85 S Oxford St, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
February 3, 2:00 – 5:00 pm, Home Is a Verb, a play on the challenges formerly incarcerated people face when returning home, developed by the Rehabilitation through the Arts Reentry Project. Carnegie Hall's Weill Terrace Room, entrance at 881 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019. There is no cost, but RSVPs are critical for entrance. RSVP to info@rta-arts-org by January 29.
February 7, 1:00 – 6:00 pm, - Social Justice with Politically Diverse Communities, a seminar sponsored by the New York State Council of Churches, the Presbyterian Network to End Homelessness, the Committee on Witness to Society and the World and others. Faith leaders, unions, advocacy groups, government officials, and interested citizens are invited to spend a day conversing together about doing social justice in congregations, city suburbs and rural areas which are politically very diverse. What are the possibilities of working together and how can we encourage others to do justice? There will be a focus on issues related to housing. The event will be held at Flatlands Reformed Church, 3931 Kings Hwy, Brooklyn, NY 11210. Registration is open; a $15 donation is suggested.
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This week's eNewsletter was edited by Christina Adorno. Photos provided by Rev. Adriene Thorne and William Norton.
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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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