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Greetings First Church Brooklyn Family and Friends,
We are about two weeks into the season of Lent – that time of year when Christians renew their spiritual practice to follow Christ more closely. Some people give up habits and others take habits on. How is it going for you?
If you're feeling like Lent is passing you by, you are probably not alone, but instead of worrying about the days that have passed or the ones to come, what if you asked yourself right now, "How has God shown up for me so far this Lent?" Because Lent isn't something we do, it's a space we enter. It is a consciousness we live. My hope and prayer is that you will start noticing the fingerprints of God all over your life this Lent and that you will be excited for the ongoing unfolding of your life lived following Jesus.
You are loved,
PS I am away for a time of study this week and grateful to Elder Chris Slowick who will bring a Word from God on Sunday morning. Thank you for holding Chris in prayer as he prepares and for giving him the loving support of your presence on Sunday.
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From the scribbles in the margins of his old Bible, Chris learned that he first grappled with today's Gospel reading in 1990, during the Bible class he took for his college English major. Chris and his wife, recently ordained Elder Peggy Swisher, live in Brooklyn Heights with their 9 year old daughter, Cassie, their puppy, Blossom, and their rabbit, Blackberry. Chris and Peggy joined the Church in 2006 while Chris was a student at Brooklyn Law School, were married here in 2007, and baptized Cassie here in 2010. When not coaching Cassie's softball team, he enjoys watching his beloved Everton Football Club, who will be in the process of trouncing Chelsea as this sermon is taking place. Chris is grateful for the opportunity to share this sermon with his First Church Brooklyn family Sunday morning.
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Sunday, March 8
Spring Forward!
Daylight saving time 2020 in New York will begin at 2:00 AM
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Nursery
2nd floor at top of stairs
Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
10:00 AM
Power Hour: Women's History Month
"Discoveries of Unsung Women of the Bible"
Elliott Room, 2nd Floor
11:00 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary
Elder Chris Slowick preaching
Sermon Title: "Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David… Why Does It Matter?"
Following Worship
Fellowship Hour
Elliott Room, top of the stairs
All are welcome
12:45 PM
Pride Month Planning Meeting
Santuary
Wednesday, March 11th
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Men's Fellowship
Park Plaza Restaurant on Cadman Plaza West
Thursday, March 12th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Food Pantry
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
8:30 PM
Young Adult Game Night
Elliot Room
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Congregation and Community News
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Come join us right in planning events for Pride Month. ALL are welcome to share ideas and creative efforts toward deepening this ministry and demonstrating our faith in inclusion and love. We will meet in the sanctuary this coming Sunday following worship at 12:45. If you have any questions please contact Patrick.
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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 AM – 10:45 AM
March 15, 2020
March 22, 2020
April 5, 2020 (Joining Sunday)
~ OR ~
Thursdays | 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
March 12, 2020
March 19, 2020
March 26, 2020
April 5, 2020 (Joining Sunday)
Same content on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings.
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First Church Comedy Fundraiser - March 18th, 7:00 PM
New York Comedy Club, 241 E. 24th Street, Manhattan
Turner Sparks brings his favorite comedians from around New York City together for one hilarious night of laughs. Previous acts have included Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, Crazy Rich Asians), DC Benny (Showtime at The Apollo) and more. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 after March 11. Two drink minimum. Proceeds go to First Church Brooklyn only when purchased at www.KungFuKomedyNYC.com.
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On Thursday, March 5th, our pantry served 101 clients with the help of 21 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.
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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 worship
Sunday, May 31 (Pentecost) | Baptism class May 10th after worship
Sunday, 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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Youthful Fellowship | Lent 2020
More Community | More Bible | More Service | More Vulnerability | More Accountability
Thursday, March 12th
Young Adult Game Night
8:30 PM
First Church Brooklyn | Elliott Room
Monik Walters, leading
Wednesday, March 18th
Comedy Fundraiser
New York Comedy Club | 241 E. 24 th Street
7:00 PM
Turner Sparks, leading
tickets at www.KungFuKomedyNYC.com
Sunday, March 22nd
Come Follow Me Bible Study
1:00 PM
First Church Brooklyn | Thurman Library
Rev. Adriene, leading
Sunday, March 29th
Service Project
following worship TBD
Sunday, April 5th
Community Meal Preparation & Evaluation
5:00 PM
Akornefa Akyea, leading
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!
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FPCB Men's Group Launches Campaign to Support our Mission Partner Eastern Farm Workers Association (EFWA) - to protect their farm workers from ticks that transmit Lyme Disease.
Due to an influx of deer, wild turkeys and other wild animals, along with global warming, the occurrence of Lyme disease has increased significantly this past year among farm workers on Long Island. We want to support the hundreds of EFWA farm workers against this threat as they start the growing season in March. The EFWA is researching the best products for repelling ticks.
You can support this effort by contributing a check made out to FPCB, with "EFWA" on the memo line or cash in an envelope marked EFWA and depositing it in the offering basket during worship service or mailing it to the church.
Thank you in advance for your generous contribution.
Dave Ehlke, FPCB Men's Group
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Justice Ministries Committee
Two opportunities for engagement with the New Sanctuary Coalition
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.
Jericho Walk Silent Solidarity Action: Every Thursday at 26 Federal Plaza at 11:00 AM
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.
Advocacy Training Weekend, April 24 – 27
Imagine! God's Earth and People Restored
Washington, DC
Apr. 24: Presbyterian Day; Apr. 24 evening; Apr. 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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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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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 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 Christina Adorno.
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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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