|
|
Greetings First Church Family and Friends,
Welcome to the season of possibilities! Epiphany is the time when wise people followed a star to baby Jesus. The year 2020 suggests clarity of vision – 20/20. Put Epiphany and the new year together and we have every reason to believe this will be an important time in our life as we work for the coming kingdom. As Christmastide ends and Epiphany begins, our coming days are dripping with starlight. There is nothing we cannot accomplish together with the Holy Spirit.
Last Sunday, I began laying out a direction for our community of faith. I talked about following Jesus and what it looks like when we do. I hope you'll take a listen and come ready to hear more.
On Sunday,
-
Rev. April will have Epiphany stars for you – you will not want to miss receiving your 2020 word.
-
Bring your non-perishable protein items for our food pantry that serves 100+ people weekly.
-
Join the 10 o' clock Power Hour for a deeper dive into scripture this new year.
-
Come to the table to celebrate the Lord's Supper.
-
Help us extend the communion table to the fellowship table. We will eat and drink whatever items you bring to share with our community. We are choosing to spend the church's resources on feeding the truly hungry, visiting the imprisoned, and sharing the good news with those who need to hear God's love and grace. Thank you for supporting our mission and for bringing something to share on Sundays as you feel led and are able.
First Church, 2019 was a challenging and wonderful year. Those challenges are reorienting us to what it means to follow a star and find the divine in a little baby. We are recommitting ourselves to taking the light we are experiencing in our faith community out into the world. I pray you will join us in following Jesus.
You are loved,
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday, January 5th
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Nursery is open, 2nd floor at top of stairs
Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
10:00 AM
Youth Choir Rehearsal
Power Hour: God's Language in Our World
11:00 AM
Following Worship
Fellowship Hour
Elliott Room, top of the Stairs
please bring something to share
Wednesday, January 8th
7:30 AM
Men's Fellowship
Park Plaza Restaurant on Cadman Park West
Thursday, January 9th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Food Pantry
8:30 PM – 10:00 pm
Youthful Fellowship
for those in their 20s and 30s
|
|
|
|
Congregation and Community News
|
Finding the Right NYC Public School
Saturday, January 4, 11am | St. Paul's Chapel
209 Broadway at Fulton Street in Manhattan
Do you need help finding the right public school for your child? In this workshop, Pamela Wheaton, an expert on New York City public schools, founder of School Scout NYC, and co-founder of InsideSchools, helps families understand and navigate the application process for 3-K, Pre-K, kindergarten, and gifted and talented programs. Free. Sponsored by Trinity's Families and Children subcommittee. Childcare is available with a reservation by January 2. Reserve childcare or RSVP: kcarroll@trinitywallstreet.org.
|
There's Still Time to Enroll in Health Care for 2020 - Apply by Jan 31, 2020. New York's Healthcare Marketplace, NY State of Health, is a way for individuals, families, and small businesses to find quality health insurance, including stand-alone dental plans (Note: the Marketplace is not for people who have Medicare). The enrollment period for 2020 plans is open now through Jan. 31, 2020.
Need Financial Help? Financial aid to buy insurance is available for most consumers. You may qualify for an even more affordable option through the state's new Essential Plan (EP), which covers key health benefits for a $20 monthly premium or nothing, depending on income (ex. EP is available for a household of one with an annual income of $24,980). You may also be eligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus (CHIP).
Need Free Help Applying? Trained in-person assistors, or navigators, are available to walk you through the application process. To find a navigator near you and set up an appointment, call the Marketplace or click here for a list.
When Do I Apply? Open enrollment for 2020 ends on Jan. 31, 2020 (Note: NYS has a longer enrollment period than the federal government). Apply by Jan. 15, 2020 for coverage effective Feb. 1, 2020. After that time, you may only apply if you experience a qualifying event, such as loss of your current coverage, pregnancy, job loss, marriage or divorce, or other event.
Note: You may apply for Medicaid, CHIP, or the Essential Plan at any time of year.
Provider Look-up: Find out which plans your doctor accepts, which plans a facility accepts, and which doctors are in each plan by clicking here.
|
On Thursday, January 2nd, our pantry served 96 guests with the help of 8 wonderful volunteers.
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.
|
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.
|
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
December 24, 2019
|
Reminders and Looking Ahead
|
Wednesday "Flash" Text Devotionals
Sometimes the weeks are long, right? Our new Wednesday morning "flash" text devotional is meant to help give you a boost in the middle of the week. Simply Text the word DEVOTIONAL to 66599 to sign up. Every Wednesday, a super-short, thought-provoking piece will be texted to you - written by a different First Church member each week!
|
Calling All Fellowship Hour Hosts
Help us extend the communion table to the fellowship table. We will eat and drink whatever items you bring to share with our community. We are choosing to spend the church's resources on feeding the truly hungry, visiting the imprisoned, and sharing the good news with those who need to hear God's love and grace. Thank you for supporting our mission and for bringing something healthy to share on Sundays as you feel led and are able. Thank you for helping us welcome our guests to First Church Brooklyn!
|
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Equipment Repair, & Clean and Tune Benefits. HEAP helps New Yorkers with lower incomes pay to heat their homes. The HEAP benefit application period is now open (apply ASAP). Eligibility and benefit amounts are based on household size and income, primary heating source, and if a household member is younger than 6 or older than 60, or permanently disabled. You may also be eligible if you receive certain public benefits like SNAP, TA or SSI. Emergency HEAP can also assist in a heat-related emergency.
You may also be eligible for other benefits like the "Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement" benefit or the "Clean and Tune" benefit, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats.
|
Men's Fellowship Breakfast and a discussion of The 1619 Project 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 exploring the 18 essays included in the New York Times' 1619 Project. Come and join us for breakfast, and enjoy a lively conversation about the 1619 Project and other important issues.
ABOUT THE 1619 PROJECT
The project observes the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to re-frame the country's history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are.
1619 is a New York Times audio series hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones. There is a full project curriculum with reading guides and other resources for classrooms and teachers.
|
A full calendar of church events can be found on the church website.
|
This week's eNewsletter was edited by Christina Adorno. Photos provided by Elder Jim Johnson and Elder Christina Adorno.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment