First Presbyterian Church eNewsletter - September 24, 2021

September 24, 2021 Breaking Bad Greetings First Church Brooklyn Family and Friends,   Have you ever broken a rule? Ever had a dream or desire that nobody else thought could happen? Or should happen? Have you ever been told to wait your turn? How dare you? Who do you think you are? Nice folks don’t do that thing you want to do? You are so offensive!!!… Jacob’s story is a rule breaking story. Perhaps your story is, too.   The biblical witness surprises and scandalizes us this Sunday. God seems to side with the trickster, the rule breaker, the younger brother who was supposed to wait his turn! That’s not fair! That’s not right! That isn’t proper! But God seems to take this rascal’s side!  On Sunday we will dig into Jacob’s story and our rule-breaking God. Can’t wait to see you!   You are loved,   ​   Announcement: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program can assist those unable to pay rent due to COVID-19: otda.ny.gov/erap or call 844.691.7368   Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Listen to our Sunday Livestream Join Zoom events by computer @ https://zoom.us/j/  or phone @ 929.205.6099 and enter the Meeting ID specified.

Quick Links   Preparing for Reopening   Children Youth and Families   Congregation and Community News   Contact information   Church website   LGBTQ Guide  The Coming Week     Sunday, September 26th   NOTE: You can find the Bulletin for Sunday's worship online here.   10:00 AM Power Hour Bible Study and Discussion Zoom Meeting ID: 853 2522 6456   11:00 AM Worship Rev Adriene Thorne preaching Sermon: "Breaking Bad" Scripture: Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17 and John 1:50-51     Worship with us on our website or our Facebook Page.     Wednesday, September 29th   8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Men's Fellowship Book Discussion Discussion of Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth. Join us in person at Park Plaza Diner     Thursday, September 30th   10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Food Pantry For information on how to volunteer contact the church office

Calls to the church office and e-mails are being forwarded to the staff during regular office hours. Please reach us at 718.624.3770 or email info@firstchurchbrooklyn.org Preparing for Reopening Children Youth and Families   Parent and Caregiver Meeting(s) On September 29 at 7:30PM and October 27 at 6:30PM, I will be hosting an informational and support gathering for caregivers and parents.  This is going to be a time to connect and talk about all things CYF and our church community.  The meeting will be on Zoom and the link will be sent out as we get closer.  There is no need to sign up.  All are welcome to attend one or both.  The agenda will be the same for each one.   Let's get together!   If you would like to meet with me, please sign up here!  Please indicate in the notes section if you would like to meet in person (outside) or via Zoom.   Thank you all for participating in the life of CYF at First Church!  I am truly inspired by the loving people in this community.  As always, please reach out to me if you need to talk, connect, or have questions.  I look forward to the program year and getting to know all of you more deeply!   Peace and blessings,   Rebecca Stevens-Walter, MDiv   Congregation and Community News ​ Annual NYC Presbytery Virtual Advocacy Day   Mark Your Calendars -  Saturday, October 16, 2021, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Learn the differences between various categories of immigrants, refugees and Special Immigrant Visa populations, and how to support those groups as they seek to build new lives in the United States Hear updates on criminal justice reforms and future legislative actions to support next steps Understand why climate change and environmental issues impact the poor disproportionately Discover what is really happening with vouchers and other pandemic-related housing relief; best practices to end homelessness Information about how to participate via Zoom and a list of speakers are forthcoming. Now is the time to save the date of October 16 and let your friends know so they can also attend.   Expanding Life in Loss and Taking Back My Life!   Beloved,     Grief and trauma are gripping our lives. For many, there is not space for processing and healing, let alone for thriving. Many are living with depression, distrust, living on high alert and limited peace. But we do not have to stay there. And we don’t have to deal with pain and overwhelm in silence nor alone.   It is my honor to share with you important information about two programs I am offering for healing and empowerment: Expanding Life in Loss and Taking Back My Life!   Initially, I developed both these programs in the aftermath of the devastating attack and destruction of the World Trade Center. While I have offered both Expanding Life in Loss and Taking Back My Life! groups for 20 years, I have now developed them for virtual space to address the pain many people are living with every day brought on by the multiple pandemics and social crises we are living through now. Here are brief descriptions of each group –   Expanding Life in Loss is a grief support group for individuals experiencing grief, losses, and endings – especially due to death, divorce, chronic illness, family estrangement, job loss, or the atmosphere of overwhelm and stress in our society. The group provides a space for you to wrestle with both the emotional and spiritual issues relating to grief, using group discussion, art, music, and journaling. Participating in this 7-session group will enable access to the healing power possible while grieving personal loss and still managing daily life and access to wholeness, peace, and joy.    October 13, 2021 thru January 5, 2022   7 Group sessions every other Wednesday via Zoom 7 - 8.30pm (Eastern Time) 4 - 5:30 pm (Pacific Time)    For more information and registration:  Expanding Life in Loss   Taking Back My Life! is a self-paced empowerment and recovery program for survivors of sexual trauma that uses online guided meditations, resource information, reflection questions, exercises and small group discussions to help survivors:    ·        Identify beliefs and narratives that limit fulfillment and happiness  ·        Recognize and break through patterns of self-sabotage ·        Envision and realize a more joy-filled, powerful, satisfying life ·        Recognize trauma triggers and get grounded ·        Cultivate spiritual and emotional tools needed to get to a breakthrough   Available in February 2022 – 8 weekly group sessions on Wednesdays   I encourage you to sign up for my mailing list to receive the Imagine! newsletter, information about these and other programs, reflections, connect with a growing community of spiritual people, and more.   I send Light and Love,   Dr. Cari Jackson   Conversations on Race: 400 Souls   From 6:30-7:30 pm, every 3rd Tuesday, we will join with Christ Church NYC for CONVERSATIONS ON RACE. September’s book selection: Four Hundred Souls - edited by Ibram X. Kendi & Keisha N. Blain.     Follow the link below for details.    https://www.christchurchnyc.online/events/conversations-on-race-6b8hd-xyxpc 2022 MISSION TRIP TO CUBA: First Church’s White Rose Ministry is in the early stages of planning a mission trip to Cuba during May of 2022. Needless to say, a number of conditions…both health-related and political…must be met before such a trip can take place. However, we are adamant and excited about extending support to our our brothers and sisters in Cuba through our presence. Members of First Church who are interested in becoming part of the mission group should contact Rich Greene for additional information.   White Rose looks forward to hearing from you. Prayer Requests “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NIV) Our world is changing daily, and yet we still believe in the power of prayer. We still desire to pray with and for our community. If you have a prayer request – a joy or a concern, please send your prayers to us at info@firstchurchbrooklyn.org. We will add prayers to our worship bulletin each week and keep your prayers in our hearts and on our lips for the week to come. Please pray for Keiko DeLille and her family as they go through her mother Olive Lanthe DeLille's transition. Let us pray that her mother has a peaceful transition and that the family receives God's grace and support.   Men's Fellowship Book Discussion   First Church's Men's Group meet in person every Wednesday morning from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM. They gather at Park Plaza Diner, 220 Cadman Plaza West where they will discuss what they are reading and, if time allows, solve as many of the world's problems as possible. We are currently discussing:   The Power of Myth  by Joseph Campbell   In this beloved 1988 PBS series, mythologist and storyteller Joseph Campbell joins Bill Moyers to explore what enduring myths can tell us about our lives. In each of six episodes –“The Hero’s Adventure,” “The Message of the Myth,” “The First Storytellers,” “Sacrifice and Bliss,” “Love and the Goddess,” and “Masks of Eternity” — Moyers and Campbell focus on a character or theme found in cultural and religious mythologies. Campbell argues that these timeless archetypes continue to have a powerful influence on the choices we make and the ways we live.   Released shortly after Campbell’s death on October 30, 1987, The Power of Myth was one of the most popular TV series in the history of public television, and continues to inspire new audiences.   Food Pantry  Serving Thursday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM   On Thursday, September 23rd, our pantry served 133 clients with the help of 10 volunteers.   We are maintaining food bins and a community fridge at the church to provide round the clock support to the food insecure and unhoused. If you need food, please help yourself. If you have food to share, thank you for dropping off.    Volunteers are welcome to arrive on Thursdays between 9:00-11:00 am to serve in the pantry. No advanced notice required. Please contact the church office to inquire about volunteering. We look forward to serving with you.   Jane Woland Pantry Coordinator   Worship service video 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.   If you have access to a screen of any size, try our Video LIVE Stream on firstchurchbrooklyn.org/watch-listen/ and our Facebook page.   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.              Wednesday “Flash” Text Devotionals   Sometimes the weeks are long, right? Our 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. A full calendar of church events can be found on the church website. This week's eNewsletter was edited by Ben Cosgrove. 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 Church Brooklyn's website.   Appointments with Ministry Staff may be arranged by calling the Church at 718-624-3770, or via email.