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| For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, (Jeremiah 29.11-14) Jeremiah prophesied these words from God to the Israelites who were in Babylonian captivity. What welcome words they would have been! I believe God still has plans for God's people, including us. We embark now on a year with the plan to prepare a search for our next pastor. I believe it is a year and a plan in which God expects to significantly participate. It is customary in many churches to pray before and after meetings to ask God's blessing on the work being done. I don't believe that will suffice this year, if we expect a plan to lead successfully to an appropriate pastor. Rather, this year is our opportunity to practice what is called spiritual discernment. Those are big words for a simple task—to be in conversation all year with God in order to see where God is leading us in the search process. I would suggest that we prepare to pray daily for our church and our mission. For our stewardship and our budget. For our participation in ministry and mission. For our outreach into the world. For a clear vision of God's intentions for us and the leader God is sending to partner in our ministry. I believe the key here is daily prayer. Daily unobstructed time to be in God's presence--listening, aligning ourselves with God's purposes, and working to prepare the way for a new leader. I will be asking for those willing to commit to such a daily practice with me this year. I hope you will join in. |
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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 deeply indebted for your financial gifts, which sustain the missions of FPC. We are not at our pledge drive goal yet, but we are getting there ($42,410 remaining), thanks to you. For those who have not yet done so, please consider a gift. Any amount truly helps. You can pledge on our website, https://www.firstchurchbrooklyn.org/, or via the pledge cards in the pews. Peace and blessings,
Stewardship Committee |
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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 10:00 AM Power Hour Adult Christian Education and Discussion on Zoom and in person at FCPC 11:00 AM Sunday Worship Worship with us in person, our website, or on our Facebook Page. Wednesday, January 15th 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, January 16th 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Food Pantry For information contact the church office. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Youthful Fellowship in the Manse For information contact the church office. |
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| | The Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation of the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn will be held on Sunday, January 26 from 1pm—2pm in the Elliott Room. |
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The Power Hour will be reading Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited, at 10am on Zoom and in person at FPC starting January 5th, 2025. For the first session, please read the first chapter. |
| 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! |
| 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. |
| WHITE ROSE Cuban Ministry SPECIAL EVENT SAVE THE DATE! January 24th, 2025 
Come join members of the White Rose Ministry and attend a concert featuring one of the most sought-after Cuban dance ensembles, The Malpaso Dance Company. They are scheduled to perform at the Joyce Theatre on January 24 and we have reserved 50 tickets (tax deductible) for First Church Brooklyn members and supporters. Think about what a great holiday gift this will make! To reserve your tickets, please contact Rich Greene at rtgreene2@gmail.com. More information to follow. |
| 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 January and February, 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 9, our pantry served 105 clients with the help of 13 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 |
| Men's Fellowship
The Men's fellowship group normally meets weekly for breakfast and discussion at the Park Plaza diner (220 Cadman Plaza West, Brooklyn Heights) - Wednesday at 8:00AM. They are taking the rest of the year off and will resume on January 8th, 2025. The group will decide on a new book at the January 8 meeting, so it is a good time for interested or curious new people to join. All men in the church are welcome, even if you have not read the selection we discuss each week. Contact Dave Ehlke at dave.ehlke@gmail.com if you have any questions. |
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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. Mark your calendars for the next meeting/potluck on Friday, January 17th. |
| A Note From Our Outreach Minister Happy New Year everyone! I hope the holiday has been kind to you all and that you feel some sense refreshment for new peacemaking work. Our first get-together will be in partnership with our friends down the block at First Unitarian. We'll be joining them at their place on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 4p.m. for a screening of the film Where Olive Trees Weep and there will be discussion and food available afterward. There's a suggested donation of $20, and funds raised will be contributed to the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Looking forward to seeing you there! Much love, Conor |
| 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 Elder Zayn Silva. |
| 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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