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| I don't know when it happened, but sometime in the recent past, our congregation joined over 1200 other Presbyterian congregations in becoming a Matthew 25 congregation. Learn more about what that means by clicking here. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." (Matthew 25.35) As we learn more about plans to deport immigrants, there are many scripture passages that come to mind. A few: "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (Exodus 22:21) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13.2) When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 23:22) As a Matthew 25 congregation, we join our sibling churches in saying we will work to raise up those in need, including the stranger/foreigner/immigrant among us. We can meet the test together. The ways of Christ are different than the ways of those with power. His ways will prevail, and we will be working in his name. -
Building congregational vitality by challenging people and congregations to deepen their faith and get actively and joyfully engaged with their community and the world. -
Dismantling structural racism by advocating and acting to break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color. -
Eradicating systemic poverty by working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor. It's good to know we belong to a network of over 1200 PCUSA churches that are working on these things along with us. |
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Stewardship 2025 The Stewardship Committee extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who pledged to support the church in 2025. We are pleased to announce that we have reached our Goal thanks to you. Peace and blessings, Stewardship Committee |
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| | | 7:30 PM - 9:15 PM White Rose Cuban Ministry (contact Rich Greene) Malpaso Dance Company Joyce Theatre (ticket holders) Saturday, February 1st Black History Month Sunday, February 2nd NOTE: You can find the Bulletin for Sunday's worship online here. 9:00 AM Choir Warm-Up and Rehearsal In the Sanctuary 10:00 AM Power Hour Adult Christian Education and Discussion on Zoom and in person at First Church 11:00 AM Sunday Worship Worship with us in person, our website, or on our Facebook Page. Wednesday, February 5th 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 |
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| February 9 following worship Who is Howard Thurman? He was a preacher and professor of great impact in the world at large and in our very own church as well. Since his life has been so interwoven in our church's mission of diversity and inclusion, you are invited to learn about him and his background and his faith on the next few Sundays. Next Sunday, February 9, at 12:45 p.m. in the Thurman Room, we will watch two ten-minute videos of and about Howard Thurman. Then we will have some time to discuss what we've heard and how his thoughts and beliefs relate to us and our ministry. |
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The Power Hour are currently reading and discussing Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited, at 10:00 AM on Zoom and in person in one of the ground floor classrooms at First Church. |
| 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. |
| Church of the Gethsemene Emily Thomas from First Presbyterian Church (FPC) provided lunch on Sunday, January 19th, 2025. Providing lunch is a function of the Social Action Committee of FPC. 
In photo: Emily, Rev. Diane Lacey, Minister Chibuze and congregants |
| Super Bowl Sunday Tamale Sale Benefiting the Eastern Farm Workers Association's Winter Survival Campaign 
YOU CAN GET YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS AND CO-WORKERS TO JOIN OUR WINNING TEAM!!! EASTERN FARM WORKERS ASSOCIATION (EFWA) is an all-volunteer unincorporated membership association of farm workers and other low-income workers in Suffolk County. Every winter our members face an untenable "choice" of whether to heat their homes or feed their children. For others it's a "choice" between paying the rent or seeing a doctor. EFWA members help each other meet some of our daily survival needs through EFWA's year-round membership benefit program while we fight to end government policies that have led to job losses, poverty wages, home foreclosures, utility shutoffs and denial of health care. Join us in organizing our annual Winter Survival Campaign distributions of supplemental food, blankets, heaters, warm winter clothing and our "Operation Winter Watch" program to reach elderly and shut-in members and help stop the winter death toll. To place an order, please click the link here. Print out the form and bring to First Church Brooklyn. The last day to place an order for tamale's will be Monday, February 3rd. To maintain the health of our volunteers and safe preparation of the food, volunteers will wear masks and will test before participating. Test kits will be available onsite as needed. EASTERN FARM WORKERS ASSOCIATION 58 Beaver Dam Road, Bellport, NY 11713 (631) 286-8004 By choice and necessity your financial gifts to EFWA are not and never have been tax deductible. For that reason, your donations are doubly appreciated! |
Superbowl 2025 Party! Sunday Feb 9th, 6-10pm. Join us in the FPC gym for fellowship, food, and football! FOOD: Chinese cuisine will be served to honor "Year of the Snake" DONATION: Attendees are asked to drop some bucks in the hat (optional) to offset the cost of food and refreshments. Email kmlucid@gmail.com with any questions" |
| 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 February and March, 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, January 23, our pantry served 85 clients with the help of 6 volunteers, including YAI and Packer. 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 |
| Black History Month - February 2nd Events
Starting Sunday, February 2nd, First Presbyterian Church will be celebrating Black History Month. We will begin on that Sunday with two special guests. First, our preacher for the day will be Rev. Eric Thomas, a friend of this congregation and current pastor at Siloam Presbyterian Church. Siloam Church, established in 1849, was founded as an anti-slavery church and a participant in the Underground Railroad. Also on this Sunday, we will welcome Dominique Jean-Louis, Chief Historian of the Center for Brooklyn History, a division of the Brooklyn Public Library. She will speak on the topic of "Slavery in Brooklyn," both briefly during the service and at a lecture in the Elliott Room following the service. We look forward to our special guests and to your attendance at this special service of worship and learning.  Dominique Jean-Louis
Dominique is chief historian for the Center for Brooklyn History who will serve as the institutional scholar for Kings County lore. She is a writer and historian and will oversee the creation of exhibitions and programs at CBH, while collecting and preserving the stories of Brooklynites. Eric A. Thomas 
Eric A. Thomas is a professor, pastor, and public theologian whose research engages Queer of Color Biblical Criticism, Black Studies, and Theopoetics. He is the Pastor of Siloam Presbyterian Church and Assistant Professor of Bible at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. Eric is a graduate of Drew University where he completed the PhD in New Testament with concentrations in Africana, and Women and Gender Studies, and the Interdenominational Theological Center where he completed his M.Div. He enjoys naps, spending quality time with his spouse Carlos, and being an awesome uncle to Jayden, Nia, and Devin, when not conspiring with his comrades for the freedom and flourishing of all people. |
| Men's Fellowship
The Men's fellowship group meets weekly for breakfast and discussion at the Park Plaza diner (220 Cadman Plaza West, Brooklyn Heights) - Wednesday at 8:00 AM. The Men's fellowship is reading "The Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler. Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Octavia E. Butler paints a stunning portrait of an all-too-believable near future. As with Kindred and her other critically-acclaimed novels, Parable of the Sower skillfully combines startling visionary and socially realistic concepts. 
God is change. That is the central truth of the Earthseed movement, whose unlikely prophet is 18-year-old Lauren Olamina. The young woman's diary entries tell the story of her life amid a violent 21st-century hell of walled neighborhoods and drug-crazed pyromaniacs - and reveal her evolving Earthseed philosophy. Against a backdrop of horror emerges a message of hope: if we are willing to embrace divine change, we will survive to fulfill our destiny among the stars. For her elegant, literate works of science fiction, Octavia E. Butler has been compared to Toni Morrison and Ursula K. LeGuin. All men in the church are welcome, even if you have not read or viewed the selection we discuss each week. Contact Dave Ehlke at dave.ehlke@gmail.com if you have any questions. |
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20s and 30s Group This Thursday January 30 at 7PM Young adults gather for community-building through food, fellowship, and fun activities. This Thursday will be a movie night at the church. Email conor.foley@firstchurchbrooklyn.org for more details! |
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The Needlework Group The Needlework Group is meeting the first Wednesday and third Friday of each month in the Elliott Room. Our monthly potluck is on the third Friday after the meeting at 6:30PM. |
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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. |
| 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. 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 or an inspirational bible verse or quote to meditate on. Give yourself 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 Zayn Silva. Photo provided by Emily Thomas. |
| 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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