| | | Hello First Church Brooklyn Family! From the Haitian Revolution, to the San Quentin Prison Rebellion, to the Watts and Ferguson uprisings—August holds a deep history of resistance. Black August is a commemoration of Black resistance beyond this solitary month, but it invites a special attention and committed action not unlike a liturgical season does. "The San Quentin prisoners proposed Black August as a month of sacrifice and self-discipline. Black August was also a means towards building up the Black prison community while strengthening the Black freedom struggle. It included fasting from sun-up to sunset, a refusal of television, radio, and canteen privileges, and a focus on intense political study," (BAR). For more resources on the month, check out this link. If you're interested in connecting with organizing in our community, join this Slack workspace. We're looking forward to Richard Arriaga's sermon this Sunday (10 a,m,)! And remember that you're invited to Bible Study at Prospect Park on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. We'll meet under the Grand Army Plaza arch and walk over together. We're thinking about how to make the often capricious and confusing world of Scripture relevant to our spiritual lives, collecting tools both ancient and contemporary towards this end. We'd love to have you join! Yours in Christ, Conor |
| Called Congregational Meeting: The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn is calling a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, August 21, 2022 immediately following our 10am worship service. The sole purpose of the meeting is to vote to approve Rev. Thorne's request to dissolve her pastoral relationship with First Presbyterian as she moves on to her position at The Riverside Church. In accordance with NYS not-for-profit law, hybrid voting is not allowed. The live, in-person only vote will be live-streamed following worship. |
| This Week's Guest Preacher is Richard Arriaga Richard Arriaga is a member of the First Church Choir, a singer-songwriter, and an aspiring author. Born and raised on Long Island, his art is fueled by a deep wanderlust and spiritual hunger. Inspired by the star myths reaching back to ancient times, his free weekly online poetry series titled 'Polloscope' launched in 2021 and continues at polloscope.blogspot.com. |
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| | | Friday, August 5th 6:30 PM Garden Party Hosted by members of the Bicentennial
Committee in the Peace Garden Sunday, August 7th NOTE: You can find the Bulletin for Sunday's worship online here. 9:00 AM Power Hour Zoom Link 10:00 AM Worship |
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| | Worship Leaders Needed What we create together in worship on Sundays is food and drink for thirsty and hungry people. Thank you for saying yes to leading in worship and sharing your time and talent in this meaningful way. If you'd like to lead in the summer, we would love to welcome you. Please check out the link below and add your name. Grateful for the good stewardship of your gifts, Pastor Adriene Worship Leaders – Sign up |
|  Welcome Team Update
In response to new availability of vaccines for our youngest children and in recognition that contact tracing efforts are no longer an effective means of reducing the spread of Covid-19, according to public health officials, the FCP Session has voted to change our protocols in the following ways: Masks and proof of vaccination for all eligible persons are still required. However, notification of positive cases as a containment strategy will be discontinued and no contact information will be collected. The provision that worship leaders who have tested negative within 24 hours of the service may remain unmasked has been extended to all choir members. We once again invite everyone to participate in congregational singing, with masks. Every other pew along the open sanctuary windows on the outside aisles will continue to be roped off to maintain greater social distancing and ventilation. As you choose your seat, we ask that you give priority in these areas to any medically fragile congregants or to families whose very young children are not yet fully vaccinated. |
| Share in Our Ministry of Hospitality If you are already a regular attender, the Welcome Team invites you to share in our ministry of hospitality. It's simple but profound: whenever you greet people at the door before the service or help host fellowship hour afterwards, what your actions say to each person who walks into God's house is "you are home." Sign up for Welcome Team (greeting/ushering) here. You'll be contacted with full instructions prior to your "shift." Sign up to host Fellowship Hour as an individual or a committee here. Reimbursement is available for Fellowship Hour refreshments if needed. |
| Session Digests 2022 Dear Friends, We invite you to check out a summary of the most recent Session meetings for your reference and information. Please let us know if you have any questions, we are grateful for your interest and support. Thank you for being a part of the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn community. Current Ruling Elders: Jon Abernethy Diane Greene Zayn Silva Christina Adorno David Jones Emily Thomas Edna Asknes Diana Lee Robert Thaxton-Stevenson Nate Dudley Sang Lee Joyce Waller Jenny Gage Dimitri Moise Sarah Wyss Rev. Adriene Thorne - Moderator Elder Barbara Cummings - Clerk |
| It's Our Bicentennial Year |
| The First Church Brooklyn Bicentennial planning committee is generating a range of ideas to celebrate the church's coming anniversary. Although the actual anniversary date was March 10, 2022, we will be celebrating our 200 years as a Brooklyn Heights institution throughout the March-December 2022 period. All congregation members are invited to participate in the planning and coordinating of activities -- so please jump in and join us! The Bicentennial Committee would especially like to hear from anyone who has an interest in being one of the readers for one of the ten (or so) video presentations of the church's history, to be made and shown between now and the end of 2022. Please email Mary Robinson. The time commitment would be an hourlong Zoom rehearsal on a weeknight with the other readers, and a 30 minute recording session of your segments at the church, probably on a Saturday. |
| Food Pantry  Serving Thursday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM On Thursday, August 4th, our pantry served 156 clients with the help of 8 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 |
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It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mercia Weyand. Mercia Weyand, a former member of the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, passed away at her home in Marietta, Georgia, surrounded by her family on July 28th. She is survived by her daughters, Natalie and Lizzie Weyand, her sister Naomi Smith and brother Damian Weyand and their families. Mercia was a successful fund raising executive for a number of New York City arts and non-profit organizations. Mercia and the girls moved to Georgia in December 2009 to be closer to her family in the Atlanta area and became the Vice President of Development at Georgia Public Broadcasting. Mercia will be remembered by her many friends as a devoted mother and as a kind, loving, and thoughtful friend with a great sense of humor. May her memory be a blessing. |
| Congregation and Community News |
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Photos from 7/29 Garden Party hosted by the Women's Ministry 
All are welcome to join the Bicentennial Committee today at 6:30PM in the Peace Garden. |
| Beach Day! 
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| STAY CONNECTED TO THE PRESBYTERY OF NEW YORK CITY First Church Brooklyn Community: Stay connected with the latest news and opportunities in and around the presbytery by subscribing to Happenings In & Around the Presbytery, the Presbytery's electronic newsletter. Stay updated and apprised of Presbyterian events, resources, grants, and opportunities. Church members can fill out the contact information form so that their email addresses can be added to the subscribers list. Click here for the Contact Information Form. Once completed return the form to the presbytery office or email it to Yzette Swavy-Lipton. |
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Men's Fellowship is on Hiatus for the Month of August Will resume on September 7th Same time, Same place |
| 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. |
| 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, 10:00 AM in July and August. If you have access to a screen of any size, try our Video LIVE Stream on our website 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. |
| Wednesday "Flash" Text Devotionals 
Sometimes the weeks are long, right? Our Wednesday morning "flash" text devotional is a piece of inspiration or scripture meant to help give you a boost in the middle of the week. Simply scan the QR code at the right or text the word DEVOTIONAL to 718-689-6171 to sign up. |
| A full calendar of church events can be found on the church website. |
| Beach Day photo was provided by Conor Foley. Garden Party photos were provided by Christina Adorno. This week's eNewsletter was edited by Chi Ling Moy. |
| 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. 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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