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Greetings First Church Family and Friends!
I'm so glad to be back in Brooklyn! I hung out with my parents and sisters, visited seminary friends on the West Coast, and even took #FlatJesus with me to Disneyland! I appreciate everything you did to keep our community thriving while I was away, from worship leadership to attending worship. From keeping your financial giving current to praying for me, for one another, and for our world.
The elders and I worked hard before I went away to put many building, programming, and staffing plans in place. We will see the fruit of that work over the next several months beginning with the appearance this Sunday of our new full-time Director of Christian Education and Spiritual Formation, Rev. Dr. April Stace. April is exactly what our community needs as we welcome more youth and families to Henry Street but also as we think more intentionally about being church together across age and other differences that the world says should keep us separate and apart. We want to be church together, and April wants that for us too.
Other holy labor at the church that I'm excited to share with you:
- A beautiful nursery facelift is now ready to welcome all the beautiful babies born this year!
- New water pipes under the first-floor Sunday school classrooms to replace the ones that exploded during the Christmas holiday…
- The addition of another bathroom in the ladies' powder room to cut down on wait time.
- New carpet and paint from the Elliott Room all the way down the stairs to the main office. We've also built out that bottom stair to prevent any more falls.
- The Youth Room, Elliott Room and Thurman Library are cleaned, organized, and shiny.
We couldn't do this holy work without you. As you enjoy these final summer days here in Brooklyn Heights, or wherever you are in the world, know that God blesses the work of your hands and the work of our collective hands. Thank you for the ways your holy labor honors our holy God. See you Sunday!
You are loved,
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Sunday, September 2nd
Nursery is open, 2nd floor at top of stairs
Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
10:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
Following Worship
A time for Fellowship in the Peace Garden - Elliott Room (2nd floor) in case of inclement weather
Monday, September 3rd
Labor Day - Church office will be closed
Wednesday, September 5th
7:30AM - 8:30AM
Mens Fellowship Breakfast
Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West
6:30 PM in the Peace Garden
Marcus Borg Book discussion
Thursday, September 6th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Food Pantry
7:00 PM - 8:30PM
Choir Rehearsal
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Congregation and Community News
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Summer Worship Schedule: Worship begins at 10:00 AM during the Summer and resumes at 11:00 AM on September 9th. The choir will gather this Sunday morning at 9:00 AM, and resume Thursday rehearsals on September 6th.
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Upcoming Events at First Presbyterian Church
Wednesday, September 5th | 6:30 pm in the Peace Garden
Marcus Borg Book Discussion – join our community for a bite to eat and a cool drink as we discuss the summer reading Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. Elder Kathryn Gettles-Atwa and Pastor Adriene will lead. All ages welcome.
Sunday, September 9th
Blessings of the Backpacks – students, educators, and life long learners, bring your backpack, briefcase, or other symbol of learning for a blessing in worship!
Sunday, September 9th | following worship in the Gym
Sunday School Volunteer Training – join Director of Religious Education and Spiritual Formation, Rev. Dr. April Stace as she resources us for a new Sunday school year. Sunday School kicks-off on September 23rd. We invite old and new teachers to join this community of learning as we prepare to welcome back God's youngest children. Refreshments will be served.
Friday, September 14th | 6:30 pm The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination – join our community for a field trip to see some of the really extravagant ways priest have adorned themselves for worship over time. All ages welcome. $25 for adults and $17 for seniors. Meet on the steps of the museum at 6:30 pm. RSVP to info@firstchurchbrooklyn.org by Wednesday 9/12
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BROOKLYN BRIDGE CSA REGISTRATION FOR FALL SHARE IS OPEN NOW!
It's registration time for the Brooklyn Bridge CSA's Fall Season - This is the wonderful Community Supported Agriculture group, run by volunteers, that distributes food to CSA members at our church during the growing season. BBCSA has become like a partner, as they give back with unexpected monetary donations to our church, and offer to screen food justice films in our sanctuary. Any leftover fresh farm produce at the end of a distribution day is also donated to our food pantry for distribution the next morning.. (BBCSA distribution is on Wednesday evenings, the night before our Food Pantry day.)
For information and to register (due by Sept 6), please click here. Jane and Dave Ehlke have been members of BBCSA for three years, and would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions about it. Please contact Jane ( Jane.ehlke@gmail.com) with any inquiries.
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Window restoration - Double Your Impact
We are seeking offerings specifically to restore one of our glorious, historic Tiffany windows - the fisherman window on the north side of the sanctuary. A generous anonymous donor has offered to match all gifts made for this purpose, so the donor is willing to cover up to half of the estimated $18,000 cost. This restoration will bring out the incomparable beauty of another of our windows, and is necessary to prevent possible permanent harm. Please note "window restoration" on any check or payment made for this purpose, and submit it with the offering or by sending it to the Church office. Contact Annie, Rev. Adriene, or Stewardship co-chairs Odette Perriel and David Jones for more information.
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On Thursday, August 30th, our Food Pantry served 124 clients
with the help of 11 dedicated 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 10:00 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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Minister Candace Simpson preached the sermon "Missed Communication" based on 2 John 1:4-6
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Men's Fellowship Breakfast at the Park Plaza Diner on 220 Cadman Plaza West is on Summer break for the month of August. The group will reconvene on Wednesday, September 5th at 7:30AM.
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This week's eNewsletter was edited by Dianne Hutchinson. Photo credits to Jim Johnson
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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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