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Greetings First Church Family and Friends,
You have no idea how happy I was that Ash Wednesday fell on Valentine's Day this year, and that Easter will land on April Fool's Day. This is an embarrassment of riches for our liturgical life together! Valentine's Day and ashes reminds us that there is love in the prospect of returning to God at the end of our lives. April Fool's Day and the cross remind us that there is something of the foolish in a love that would lay down its life for us. God is crazy in love with us.
As we step boldly into the Lenten season this week, we step into love. The invitation is for us, like Lazarus, to take our leave from the darkness of the cave to take hands with the God who loves us madly. It is my hope and prayer that this Lenten season will be for you a return to love, not only this week, not only these next 40 days, but for all the days of your life. Remember mortal that you are love and to love you shall return. Blessed Lent.
You are loved,
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TONIGHT - Friday, February 16th
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Dinner, Documentary and Discussion - 13TH
Elliott Room (see flyer, below)
Sunday, February 18th
Nursery is open, 2nd floor at top of stairs
10:00 AM - 10:55 AM
Lenten Bible Study in the Thurman Library
11:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
Sermon: "We are Raised to Life" - Rev Adriene Thorne, preaching
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday School
Following Worship
Fellowship Hour in the Elliott Room (2nd Floor)
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
6:30 PM
Eat, Pray, Lent: Fireside Chat
Thurman Library
Thursday, February 22nd
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Sanctuary
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Congregation and Community News
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Sunday Morning, Lenten Bible Study - 10:00 AM in the Thurman Library
We will begin a series of meetings centered around Lent for the the next six Sundays, Starting February 18 and Ending March 25, Palm Sunday.
Marta Nelson will lead the first conversation this first Sunday of Lent. Please stay tuned as we firm up the list of weekly topics. We welcome topics and discussion leaders. Contact wpnorton@gmail.com.
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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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Men's Prison Visit Activity
We will be scheduling our next visit with Project Connect members at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, NY soon.
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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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An estimated 26% of individuals who are considered food insecure live in households that earn incomes above 185% of the poverty line, making them likely ineligible for most federal nutrition assistance programs.
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On Thursday, Feb. 15th, our Food Pantry served 63 guests
with the help of 16 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 (and video, when available). Click the "Sermon Podcast" icon below to subscribe.
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Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us.
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Ash Wednesday, February 14th
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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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Ecumenical Advocacy Days
April 20-23, Washington DC
The 2018 Advocacy Training Weekend focuses on the theme A World Uprooted: Responding to Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People. We are well acquainted with these issues in New York.
The weekend (flyer) begins on the morning of April 20 with the Compassion Peace and Justice Training Day at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. Presbyterians will look at how our church and our partners are confronting white supremacy and nativism while supporting refugee and migrant populations in our country and abroad. Plenaries and workshops will help participants analyze the global and local needs of displaced communities and offer concrete tools to address the issues people face.
After Compassion Peace and Justice Training Day, the ecumenical community gathers for Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) on April 20-23 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Crystal City, VA. EAD begins with an opening plenary on April 20. Through prayer, worship, advocacy training, and networking, EAD will focus on the uprootedness so many people experience in our world. Participants will be helped to understand current policies and identify policy changes that advance hope and overcome the devastating impacts of conflict, climate change and corruption on God's people.
The weekend culminates in "Lobby Day" on April 23, when participants visit members of Congress using the information and training gathered over the weekend.
There are a limited number of scholarships available through the Presbytery of New York City. Ecumenical Advocacy Days offers some scholarships for young adults (age 18-35). Contact Mark Koenig, Advocate for Justice Ministries in the Presbytery of New York City, at mkoenig@presbyny.org or 917-322-1221 for information about scholarships.
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This week's eNewsletter was edited by Mark Elsenheimer. Photos provided by Rev Adriene Thorne (via Facebook).
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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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