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Greetings First Church Brooklyn Family and Friends,
Jesus faces resistance in his hometown and decides that if the doors will not open at home than he and his disciples will go out and find other doors. John the Baptist meets resistance too. He goes before Jesus preparing the way, and he is beheaded. This is what resistance looks like. Prophetic action comes at a cost.
Taking a path that speaks truth to power, means that Jesus will follow his cousin, John, in death.
Mission is what Jesus is about. It's what we are powerfully called to be about too. Looking forward to thinking about this with you on Sunday.
You are loved,
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Tamale Sunday
Joel Biddle, director of the Eastern Farm Workers Association, has informed us that the EFWA took in $1,827.00 during last Sunday's tamale sale at First Church, making this our most successful "Tamale Sunday" so far. This wonderful event is one part of FPC's on-going commitment to the great work of the EFWA and its all-volunteer team. If you are interested in supporting our food-providing brothers and sisters of Eastern Long Island, please contact Elder Simon Bogigian of the Social Action Ministry. (And if you haven't picked up your pre-paid tamale orders, please claim them after our service this Sunday; they're in our refrigerator freezer upstairs.)
Thank you!
-Elder Erik Brogger
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Sunday, February 9th
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Nursery
2nd floor at top of stairs
Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
10:00 AM
Youth Choir Rehearsal
The Youth Room, 2nd floor across the Elliott Room
Power Hour:
Celebrate African-American History Month at First Church
Elliott Room, 2nd Floor
11:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
Rev. Adriene Thorne preaching
Sermon title: "We Are Powerful Beyond Measure"
People's Supper Potluck/Sunday Seminar
Intersectionality and the Bible
Elliott Room, top of the stairs
All are welcome
Wednesday, February 12th
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Men's Fellowship - New Book! (see below)
Park Plaza Restaurant on Cadman Plaza West
Thursday, February 13th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Food Pantry
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Youthful Fellowship
Thurman Library
Friday, February 14th
Happy Valentine's Day
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Congregation and Community News
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First Church Anual Family Retreat
The first payment for our annual family retreat (6/12 - 6/14) at Holmes Retreat Center is due on February 9th. Cost is $95/child and $150/adult. This includes all meals, lodging, boating, and swimming in the lake. This is a lovely, low-key time for folks to gather, and this year we are making a special effort to invite all kinds of families, not just those with kids at home. If cost is an issue, please email Rev. April -- we don't want anyone to be held back from going due to cost.
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Sunday, February 9th | People's Supper Potluck/Sunday Seminar
Intersectionality and the Bible
How can a congregation with many races, many sexual orientations, many abilities, and many gender identities wrestle with the Bible? Come and find out!
Join us for lunch and conversation on the Bible and intersectionality at 12:30 pm
Ekama Eni, Seminary Intern, leading
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10AM Power Hour
Adult Education
Celebrate African-American History Month at First Church
February 9th––Join us for a discussion of the film "JUST MERCY", led by Diane Grimes.
February 16th––Join us for a discussion of the book "BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, led by Elder Stephanie Murphy.
February 23rd––Join us for a discussion of "THE 1619 PROJECT", led by Elder Sam Murumba.
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Men's Prison Visit Tuesday February 25, 2020
We will be making our next men's prison visit on Tuesday Jan 21 to Green Haven Correctional Facility.
Rev Okorie will pick up Brooklyn participants at 9:00 AM at the Park Plaza Diner on Cadman Park West. If you haven't made a visit in the past, you will need an orientation from Minister Okorie at the Church of Gethsemane before the visit.
Please RSVP your intentions or interest on going on this visit to Dave Ehlke.
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New Member Gatherings
Membership Matters
One of the most counter-cultural things you can do is become an engaged member of a faithful local church. In this world, and especially in this city, the last thing people are thinking about is planting roots and making long term commitments for the good of other people. We want to keep our options open! We want to preserve our freedom!
But what if you did something different? What if you joined the rebellion, and pledged your loyalty and engagement to a gospel-believing, good news-loving local church? What if you got more deeply connected with that church's mission and more deeply rooted in a life of faith?
First Church Brooklyn is good soil. You can put down roots here. You can grow and expand with the support of a diverse garden of God's people.
How to Join
Our next new member gatherings begin in March and are a series of three one-hour long experiences.
How Did I Get Here?!
What is your faith story? How was your spiritual background shaped? How did you get to this place? Our first gathering is an opportunity to share spiritual journeys and hear from fellow travelers on the road.
What Am I Getting Myself Into?!
What does it mean to be Presbyterian? Who is First Church Brooklyn? What can I expect, and what is expected of me as a member of the church? Our second gathering will take a quick dash through church history and Christian theology. You'll learn about the roots grounding our church and the wings taking us into God's preferred future.
What Lies Ahead?
In our final gathering, you will join the Session leadership team for breakfast and conversation about the mission and vision of our church. Meet some of the people who will help you deepen your connections and grow your faith at First Church Brooklyn. After breakfast, you will be received into membership during Sunday worship.
Want to Talk?
It is no small decision to join a church. We understand. If you'd like to have a conversation first, we would like to meet you. Contact the church office to arrange a meeting with a member of our membership committee or our pastor.
New Member Gatherings 2020
Sundays | 9:45 – 10:45 am
March 15, 2020
March 22, 2020
April 5, 2020 (Joining Sunday)
Thursdays | 8:30 – 9:30 pm
March 12, 2020
March 19, 2020
March 26, 2020
April 5, 2020 (Joining Sunday)
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On Thursday, February 7th, our pantry served 88 clients with the help of 15 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.
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Baptism Dates
Baptism is a sacred event in the life of your child, your family, and your congregation. The sacrament is celebrated in the context of public worship as an act of the entire church and is a sign of everything God has promised us. In baptism, the congregation promises to nurture the child in faith, and the parents or guardians promise to be active participants in the church community.
The sole requirements for infant baptism are that one parent or guardian be an active member of the congregation and that they attend an Understanding Baptism class. Baptisms occur on Sundays determined by Session Upcoming dates for classes and baptisms are below. Please contact the church office to inquire about baptism for yourself or your child.
Sunday, April 12 (Easter) | Baptism class April 5th after worshipSunday, May 31 (Pentecost) | Baptism class May 10th after worshipSunday, August 2 | Baptism class TBD
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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.
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We're Social: Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us. Watch us.
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Recently at First Church Brooklyn
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Reminders and Looking Ahead
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Justice Ministries Committee
Two opportunities for engagement with the New Sanctuary Coalition
Pro Se Clinic Pro Se Clinic - New York City
Every Wednesday NSC holds a pro se clinic to assist Friends with their immigration forms. There is always a need for volunteers, both lawyers and non-lawyers.
Contact 646-395-2925 for more information.
Jericho Walk Silent Solidarity Action: Every Thursday at 26 Federal Plaza at 11am
Every Thursday, faith leaders, immigration activists, and community members march in silence and pray outside 26 Federal Plaza in solidarity with individuals and families whose basic humanity is being denied by our unjust and immoral immigration system. Though we walk in silence, our actions speak to the injustices that our communities face.
Becoming a Matthew 25 Church
Matthew 25:31–46 calls us to engage actively in the world around us, so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. Convicted by this passage, both the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned or poor. The church responded to these actions by casting the Matthew 25 vision. Congregations are invited to commit to the vision. This is not a matter of new programs but of understanding what we are already doing through the lens of Matthew 25 and growing in how we live out that biblical call. It helps the whole church see how our faith unites Presbyterians for a common and holy purpose: our common identity to do mission. In addition to a Frequently Asked Questions resource, the Matthew 25 Welcome Kit includes a Bible study, worship resources, and more. Contact Mark Koenig for more information about how your congregation might make the Matthew 25 commitment.
From the Poor People's Campaign
February 12 – New York State Ecumenical Advocacy Days
Albany, New York
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Register now for the New York State Ecumenical Advocacy Day in Albany. This event brings together religious and non-religious people in common cause to advocate for a moral budget and social justice legislation which lifts up the poor and disenfranchised and just environmental policies. The event will begin with an overview of the State legislative landscape. There will then be groups focused on specific issues. Visits to legislators will take place in the afternoon. There is a $30 fee to cover lunch, materials and building rental. Scholarships are available.
April 24-27 - Advocacy Training Weekend
Imagine! God's Earth and People Restored
Washington, DC
(April 24 Presbyterian Day; April 24 evening – April 27 Ecumenical Advocacy Days)
The Advocacy Training Weekend will explore the intersection of climate change and economic injustice. This will galvanize our advocacy on behalf of policies and programs to chip away at the systems of oppression that keep people in poverty and push all life on earth to the brink of destruction. Learn more and register now. The Justice Ministries Committee has a limited number of partial scholarships available for first-time participants. Contact Mark Koenig for more information.
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Thursday, February 13th | Youthful Fellowship
The First Church Brooklyn Youthful Fellowship welcomes young adults in their (almost) 20s and 30s (and a bit beyond). We are a regular gathering of people interested in intentional discussions about life, faith, justice and yes…JESUS!
If you are a young adult looking for community, friendship and a spiritual home, we invite you to join us on February 13th, from there, we'll figure out together what comes NEXT.
Do you want to see some stand-up comedy together? Go to the beach? Be part of some justice work in the city? Please bring your activity and activism ideas to our February gathering.
We will do a quick check-in and then make a plan for connecting and deepening our faith for 2020. RSVP to Rev. Thorne by February 11th
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If you or someone you know will be reporting income of $69,000 or less on your 2019 personal income tax return, you may be able to electronically prepare and file your tax returns for free.
Vsit the New York State Tax Department's website (tax dot ny dot gov) to access Free File software for both federal and state returns.
Remember: E-filing is the fastest and easiest way to file your return. Online tax software is safe and secure. Most e-filers get their refunds two weeks sooner than paper filers.
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Join faith leaders, advocates, youth and directly impacted leaders for a #HaltSolitary Faith Leader Albany Advocacy Day on Tuesday, Feb. 11. We will converge on Albany from across the state to call for the end of the torture of solitary confinement in New York State.
We will be joined by Hip-Hop Legend Pastor Kurtis Blow of The Hip Hop Church of Harlem who will give a special performance.
Lunch and transportation will be provided. Buses leave from New York City at 7:00 AM and return to the city around 7:30 PM.
If you have questions please contact Minister Onleilove Chika Alston at OnleiloveA at BronxConnect dot org or call 347-849-9939.
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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!
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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!
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Men's Fellowship Breakfast and Discussion
Running Against the Devil by Rick Wilson
The First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn Men's Fellowship Group meets for breakfast at 7:30 AM every Wednesday at the Park Plaza Restaurant on Cadman Plaza West.
In January we began discussing Rick Wilson's Running Against the Devil. Wilson is a long time Republican strategist and a never-Trumper who insists that if we don't beat Trump now, it will be the end of the USA as we know it. Gloves off, no holds barred.
Come and join us for breakfast, and enjoy a lively conversation about a range of important issues.
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A full calendar of church events can be found on the church website.
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This week's eNewsletter was edited by Elder Christina Adorno. Photos provided by Elder 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. 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.
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