First Presbyterian Church eNewsletter - September 6, 2019

September 6, 2019 Eden, At Last Greetings First Church Family and Friends, This Sunday will find us back together again in the opening stories of our faith – in the Garden of Eden, where so many notions about so many things began… Our youth choir is back rehearsing at 10:00 am. Worship returns to 11:00 am. Our seminary intern, Ekama Eni, joins us from Union Theological Seminary and confirmation classes kick-off at 1:00 PM following worship. Please plan to meet me, Adam and Eve in the garden. I can't wait to see you all. You are loved, Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Listen to our Sunday Livestream Quick Links Congregation and Community News Recently at First Church  Reminders and Looking Ahead Contact information Church website The Coming Week Sunday, September 8th 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Nursery is open, 2nd floor at top of stairs 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary 10:00AM  Youth Choir Rehearsal The Elliot Room 11:00 AM  Worship in the Sanctuary The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Rev. Adriene Thorne preaching, "Eden, At Last" Scripture: Genesis 2:4b-25 and Mark 10:6-8 ​ Following Worship Fellowship Hour Peace Garden (Weather Permitting) 1:00 PM Confirmation classes begin Wednesday, September 11th 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Men's Fellowship Breakfast  Park Plaza Diner, Cadman Plaza West 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM 9/11 Memorial Brooklyn Heights Promenade (near Montague St. entrance) Thursday, September 12th 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Food Pantry 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Choir Rehearsal 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM Youthful Fellowship Congregation and Community News Summer Worship Schedule has ended. Worship resumes at 11:00 AM.  Greeter/Usher Board 2019-2020 If you're the person who enjoys sharing First Church love with all who participate in our Worship, then this call to serve is for you. We're recruiting a group of people to serve as ushers and greeters and would love to have you join us. If interested, please contact Debbie or the church office. An organizational meeting is scheduled for September 8 after Worship. Men's Fellowship Breakfast at the Park Plaza Restaurant, 220 Cadman Plaza West. The First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn Men's Group continues to meet for breakfast at 7:30 AM every Wednesday at the Park Plaza Restaurant on Cadman Park West.  We are starting a new discussion on Sept 11 exploring the 18 Essays included in the 1619 Project (recently published by the New York Times). Come and join us for breakfast, and enjoy a lively conversation about the 1619 Project and other important issues. Youthful Fellowship – 2nd Thursdays from 8:30-10:00 pm Join us Thursday, September 12th  In a "spiritual but not religious world" faith is not always attached to church and we understand that. The church has let too many people down. Well, we believe that God's abiding theme is grace—grace and transformation. If you are a young adult looking for community, friendship and a spiritual home, we invite you to join our regular gathering of people in their 20s and 30s who are interested in intentional discussions about life, faith, justice and yes…JESUS!  From there, we'll show you what comes NEXT. HOMECOMING 2019 Sunday, September 15th Please join us for worship and fellowship at 11:00 am Once a year we have Homecoming At our church and we celebrate With relatives, friends, and neighbors, Whom we have not seen of late! What joy just sitting together Singing the songs of long ago, Worshipping and praising God- The one from whom all blessings flow! O, the beauty of tables laden With a feast from God's bountiful store, And what a delight partaking- Filling our plates with more and more! It's a wonderful time of year When we renew the ties that bind, While worshipping God, and fellowshipping With friends…what amazing peace we find! Copyright © Betty Butler, 2016 Blessing of the Backpacks   Attention students of all ages and their teachers! we will be offering a blessing for all of you during worship. Bring your backpack, briefcase, or whatever else you carry your educational life in so that we can surround you with love and prayers for the coming year. Special Homecoming/Thanksgiving Fellowship Hour Please attend a special fellowship hour following worship, given in recognition and thanks for all those whose work and presence together make our church community so special. If that sounds like a big group to recognize - it is!  And deservedly so.  Please come to reconnect and to recognize all who support our church. ---Hosted by the Stewardship and Spiritual Life Committee.   If you need food assistance Our food pantry, located at the church entrance, is open every Sunday after service. Our volunteers are ready to support you. Please stop by. On Thursday September 5th, our pantry served 102 guests with the help of 12 fantastic volunteers. Worship service audio is 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 (10:00 AM from July 4th through Labor Day). If you are away and have access to a screen of any size, try our beta Video LIVE Stream on the new app at fpc.church (.church NOT .com). The video is live just before the service starts and features sound system audio for clarity. Want to hear a Sermon again? We have a podcast of Sermon audio! Click the "Sermon Podcast" icon, below, to subscribe. We're Social: Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us. Watch us.                     Recently at First Church Reminders and Looking Ahead Sunday Seminar - September 29th If you've ever wondered about the ways that gender and spirituality intersect, join us Sunday, Sept 29th for the first of our Sunday Seminars. We'll have a meal together and some teaching and discussion about all the different ways gender constructs inform our spiritual lives: God and gender, gender in the Bible, gender and mysticism... and so many other things! RSVP to Rev. April at astace@firstchurchbrooklyn.org so we can plan for food! Calling all Fellowship Hour Hosts....... As you know, Fellowship Hour is a time for conversation among church members, friends and visitors — to share a cold drink, to enjoy a snack, and to have a few chats. What a great way to spend time in the Peace Garden after Sunday worship! During the summer months, what about having a potluck after worship every Sunday? We invite everyone worshiping with us to bring something to share. It can be as simple or as elaborate (but not expensive) as you like — fruit, carrots with dip, celery with hummus, homemade cookies or brownies. Prepare or purchase your favorite healthy goodies to share on Sunday.   We hope you will consider this special ministry and volunteer a small amount of time to bring a drink or snack, help with set up or help with clean up.   Thank You! Justice Ministries Committee, Presbytery of New York City Information about upcoming events, opportunities for advocacy, and new resources from the Justice Ministries Committee of the Presbytery of New York City. IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY Here are three advocacy opportunities – take all three or any of these actions:   Call your Senators to protect immigrant children, asylum seekers, and refugees by opposing the "Secure and Protect Act" – from the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness Sign on to a letter to Robert Perez and Carla Provost, US Customs and Border Patrol – from Presbyterians for Just Immigration Sign on to a letter to Acting Secretary Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan – from our full communion partner, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America IMMIGRATION RESOURCE Church World Service has posted a new resource, "5 Ways to Help Families and Children Seeking Asylum at the Border." The resource includes ideas for advocacy and financial donations. It identifies organizations working on the border that can use support. A full calendar of church events can be found on the church website. This week's eNewsletter was edited by Dianne Hutchinson. Photos by Jim Johnson 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. A simple one-time gift can be made on fpc.church. 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. Appointments with Ministry Staff may be arranged by calling the Church at 718-624-3770, or via email.

First Church Brooklyn
124 Henry Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201

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