|
|
Following Jesus Is Not Easy
|
Greetings First Church Family and Friends,
It is no small thing to follow Jesus. In this Sunday's gospel story from Mark, Jesus tells a young man to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and come follow him. Yikes! As you might imagine, the young man can't do it. Instead he goes away shocked and grieving. Many of us would do the same!
In Sunday's interactive sermon, youth and adults will have an opportunity to think about financial generosity along with the generosity of time and talent. What is your plan for giving your money away? What about your time and talents? Is giving money a regular event in your life or do you give sporadically – when you feel moved or if you remember? How do you give the gift of yourself? Is service to the church, or any organization, penciled in on your calendar weekly, monthly, or quarterly? How does your life teach your children generosity or demonstrate to your friends the God you follow?
Whether the gift is money, time, or talent, generous people are generous because they plan to be generous. There is nothing haphazard about it. Our church offers many ways to follow Jesus in service to our own community but also to the larger Brooklyn and world communities. Think prayerfully this weekend about your giving and look for a token when you arrive at church this Sunday morning and next. We will have plenty of options for you to "spend them" in generous service to your church community and beyond. As always, ways to give financially abound. Stewardship co-chairs, David Jones and Odette Perriel will be present with me this Sunday to answer questions about generosity in all its forms. We look forward to welcoming you at 11:00 AM and answering any questions you have.
You are loved,
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday, June 3rd
Nursery is open, 2nd floor at top of stairs
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
New Member Gathering
The Gym
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Youth Choir
Rose Room
11:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
Wednesday, June 6th
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Men's Fellowship Breakfast
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
Thursday, June 7th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Food Pantry
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Choir rehearsal
Friday, June 8th to Sunday June 10th
Children Youth & Families Retreat
Holmes Presbyterian Camp
|
|
|
|
Congregation and Community News
|
Sunday 10 O'Clock Hour
Our Christian Education conversation resumes this Sunday with a two week session titled "The Second Coming" led by Elder Marta Nelson.
|
Community Check-In
Join us this Sunday June 3rd at 1:00 PM in the gym for our mid-year check-in. We want to hear from you how things are going. How has the year been? What might we be doing differently? How would you like to be involved in ministry at First Church Brooklyn? This is an opportunity to sit with Session elders, know our community better, ask questions, and share your insight. We look forward to welcoming you.
|
Brooklyn Pride Parade
Get out your walking shoes everyone, First Church is hitting the streets! For the first time ever, we are marching in the Brooklyn Pride Parade on June 9th. We are trying to get a group of volunteers to meet at the church at 4:30 PM, and make signs (and share some pizza) before heading over to the parade staging area before 7:00 PM.
Our presence in the parade represents a loving and affirming community that members of the LGBT+ community might be looking for. They should know that one such beautiful place exists on Henry Street, and this is another form of outreach that shows our congregation as an open, inclusive, and loving house of worship.
We will have buttons and bracelets to hand out to express First Church as a place, "Where all are Loved and Fed". Please reply to Patrick Tirino (tirinop@gmail.com) or Frank Arce (frankitoarce@gmail.com) by June 5th if you plan on attending, so we can finalize all details (including how much pizza to order).
Hope you will join us and share the love we have for all God's people. For more info on Brooklyn Pride, please click here (More on our relationship with the organization in next week's newsletter).
|
New Member Gatherings
Begin THIS Sunday and continue June 10, and 17 with members joining the church on the 17th. Join us in the gym from 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM as we share our faith journeys and learn what God is up to at First Church Brooklyn.
|
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.
Also consider clicking the yellow button on The Hunger Site daily to provide free food for others.
|
On Thursday, May 31st, our Food Pantry served 112 guests
with the help of 12 outstanding volunteers.
|
Opportunities to Serve
Greet and Welcome! - Create a warm environment as you welcome guests and friends at the door. Serving as a greeter is a great opportunity to extend First Church's warmth and hospitality. Share a smile, as you hand out worship bulletins, answer questions, and escort guests (if needed) to their seats. Partner with someone to extend the welcome! (Greeters are also responsible for choosing five ushers to assist with the offering).
Worship Leaders - Interested in taking part as a reader during Sunday Service? Volunteers from the congregation are welcomed to sign up!
Please email Annie Solages in the church office or call (718) 624-3770 for either of these opportunities.
|
Stay Connected to the Presbytery of NYC
Stay connected with the latest news and opportunities in and around the presbytery by subscribing to Happenings In & Around the Presbytery, the Presbytery's electronic newsletter. You will be updated and apprised of Presbyterian events, resources, grants, and opportunities. Click here and fill out the Contact Information Form to add your email address to the subscribers list. Once completed, return the form to the presbytery office or email it to Yzette Swavy-Lipton.
|
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.
|
Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us.
|
Sunday, May 20th - Our Youth Choir
|
Reminders and Looking Ahead
|
SAVE THE DATE: June 24th
All-Church BBQ following Worship. Please contact Patrick Tirino (tirinop@gmail.com) if you want to volunteer or share a dish.
|
The Men's group meet at 7:30 AM in the Park Plaza Restaurant on Cadman Plaza West. They have begun a new book, "Where Do We Go From Here- Chaos or Community" by Martin Luther King Jr.
|
CHILDREN, YOUTH, and FAMILIES (CYF)
Youth/Confirmation Sunday - June 17th.
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
|
Clark Street Subway Station Closure
The Clark Street (2 and 3 trains) subway station will be closed on weekends until Summer 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.
|
This week's eNewsletter was edited by Mark Elsenheimer. Picture provided by Amy Neuner.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment