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| | Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness |
"Remind them…to speak evil of no one,
to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy
to everyone."
(Titus 3.2-15) In 2024? Is this reasonable? These words from a letter to a first century church leader suggest it wasn't any easier then to be courteous, gentle, and agreeable than it is now. These days we seem to live in a society with a permission structure that not only allows quarreling and coarseness but encourages it. "Speaking my mind" and "telling my truth" promote personal expression at the expense of communal harmony. What makes a Christian different? What makes churches unique? In the year 197, the Roman historian Tertullian wrote of Christians, "See how they love one another. They are ready even to die for one another." It has been our challenge from the beginning, that we be known as those who "speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, are gentle, and show every courtesy to everyone." How do you live your gentleness with family, friends, coworkers, church family? Sometimes we may react aggressively before we make the choice to be gentle, or avoid speaking evil, or jumping into a quarrel. Viktor E. Frankl, the renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, once stated, "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." That space is where gentleness often lies. If we can pause just a second before reacting with our base emotions, we can have that little freedom to choose a better way. We can choose gentleness and courtesy and be known for love instead. Interim Pastor, |
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A service of interment for the remains of
Mildred (Millie) Clements
will be held at the First Presbyterian plot in
Greenwood Cemetery on
Thursday, October 10 at 11 a.m.
Friends of Millie are invited to join in
the service to thank God for her ministry
within the church and in the community.
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| | | NOTE: You can find the Bulletin for Sunday's worship online here. 9:00 AM Choir Warm-Up and Rehearsal In the Sanctuary 9:45 AM Power Hour Adult Christian Education and Discussion
via Zoom and in-Person in the Elliot Room. 11:00 AM World Communion Sunday Interim Pastor Danila Noble, preaching Children's Sermon Wednesday, October 9th 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Men's Fellowship for more information contact Dave Ehlke
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Homeless Street Ministry Peace Garden Thursday, October 10th 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Food Pantry For information on how to volunteer contact
the church office. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Youthful Fellowship In the Manse
For information please contact
the church office. |
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Power Hour meets each Sunday at 9:45 am. The group is studying the book of Philippians. Come join us at 9:45 am in person in the Thurman Room, or on Zoom (link above in The Coming Week section). |
| New Member Classes Wondering what membership in our church community might look like? Come join us this Sunday right after service at 12:30pm to explore what your spiritual path might look like with us. Rev. Noble and Minister Foley will lead you through a 3-week series of classes that will inform you about us, allow us to get to know you better and help realize your hopes for continuing your journey here at First Church. Classes are 10/6, 13, 20, culminating with ceremonial joining during service on 10/20. We hope you will come explore with us. |
| Hearing Help We have a wireless headphone listening system available for anyone who is hearing impaired. For more information please see any tech operator for assistance. |
| Last Week at First Church Brooklyn |
| Session Digests 2024 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 Diana Lee Patrick Tirino Dimitri Moise Joyce Waller Emily Thomas Nate Dudley Zayn Silva Sarah Wyss Jenny Gage Terrance Stroud Gladys McNish Lynn Schnarr Richard Greene Kevin Bentley Interim Pastor Danila Noble - Moderator Elder Barbara Cummings - Clerk |
| Looking for Food and Fellowship Volunteers First Church Brooklyn serves a Sunday fellowship lunch once each month at the Church of the Gethsemane, our sister Presbyterian church in Park Slope, Brooklyn, whose members are mostly formerly incarcerated. First Church volunteers prepare a meal, either at home or at the church's kitchen, attend worship at 11:00AM, and serve lunch after service to approximately 15-20 congregants. It's a wonderful opportunity to make good food and even better friends. We are looking for volunteers for October and November, on whatever Sunday works for you. Please contact Marta Nelson if you have questions or would like to volunteer. |
| Food Pantry Serving Thursday, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 
On Thursday, October 3rd, our pantry served 150 clients with the help of 9 wonderful volunteers. According to the 2023 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, between 691 and 783 million people faced hunger in 2022, representing an increase of 122 million people compared to 2019. Volunteers are welcome to arrive on Thursdays between 8:00 and 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. |
| Congregation and Community News |
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20s and 30s are invited to gather for food and fellowship, engaging in discussion, playing games, watching films, going on outings, building community around kindness and care. Come on over! |
| Men's Fellowship
The Men's group have resumed their weekly breakfast schedule at the Park Plaza diner (220 Cadman Plaza West, Brooklyn Heights) - Wednesday at 8:00AM. The Men's group is now watching "The Underground Railroad" series available on Amazon Prime. From Amazon: "From Academy Award® winner Barry Jenkins and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, "The Underground Railroad" is a new series that chronicles Cora Randall's desperate bid for freedom in the Antebellum South. After escaping a Georgia plantation for the rumored Underground Railroad, Cora discovers no mere metaphor, but an actual railroad beneath the Southern soil." All men in the church are welcome, even if you do not watch the episode we discuss each week. Contact Dave Ehlke at dave.ehlke@gmail.com if you have any questions. |
| Whether you identify on the queer spectrum or as an ally…all are welcome to build a community of radical inclusion and love every 3rd Sunday of the month. Please gather at the front of the sanctuary right after service. |
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Bring your favorite dish to share with the community every 2nd Sunday of the month. Not only can we share delicious and loving crafted delights but create heart-warming memories with each other. Please bring the recipe so we can create a First Church Brooklyn Cookbook in the near future. |
| 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. |
| 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 from July 4th through Labor Day weekend. If you have access to a connected screen of any size, try our Video LIVE Stream on our website and our Facebook page. |
| We're Social Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us. Watch us.    
  
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| Wednesday "Minute Message" video! 
Signup for our Wednesday morning devotional and receive a link to a short video message from our staff to give you a boost in the middle of the week. To sign up, simply scan the QR code at the right or text the word DEVOTIONAL to 718-689-6171. This number is private to First Church for this ministry and your information will not be sold or distributed in any way. |
| A full calendar of church events can be found on the church website. |
| This week's eNewsletter was edited by Chi Ling Moy. Photos provided by 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 Church Brooklyn's website. Flower Donations: We welcome flower donations of $75 or more in memory or in honor of friends and loved ones. Please contact Annie Solages in the Church office via email. Appointments with Ministry: Staff may be arranged by calling the Church at 718-624-3770, or via email. |
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