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| The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4.11-12) I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4.13) It is a challenging time to be a church leader. As far as that goes, it may be a challenging time for all leaders. The world is changing, communication is instantaneous, and the presenting issues are often new and impervious to what has been in the traditional leader's toolkit. I am preparing to offer a Leadership Forum this year. We will discuss servant leadership and adaptive leadership. With servant leadership we reach out to assist others in their work and ministries. In adaptive leadership we learn a new skillset to address new and puzzling challenges – circumstances we have not faced before. If you are a current leader or former leader who wishes to up their game, you are welcome. If you have not been a leader but are interested in becoming one (and I hope you are!) this forum is for you. I highly recommend reading "Canoeing the Mountains" to start your journey. And during the forum we will study Tod Bolsinger's "How Not to Waste a Crisis: Quit Trying Harder." And there may be opportunities to be coached by leadership coaches, as well. Please contact me if you are interested in joining. As far as church leadership is concerned, the worldwide church entered into a new era sometime in the 60's or 70's. The place of the church in society has changed and the challenges it faces are different and sometimes confounding. God has given us abilities to lead and has appointed various kinds of leaders to help find the way forward. If you are intrigued by this; if you feel God tugging at your heart to be a leader of some sort; if you want to step into some new ways of meeting challenges not only in the church but in life in general; pray about joining us this winter. More information will be following… |
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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 |
| Fires in Los Angeles 
In Los Angeles, the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church was destroyed by the wildfire. Many other churches have opened their buildings as day shelters and overnight shelters. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working with affected Presbyteries and preparing to help when the area is safe. Let's keep them all in our prayers. |
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| | | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Needlework Group Elliott Room 6:30 PM Woman's Potluck Elliott Room (2nd floor at the Church) Sunday, January 19th 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 A video portion of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s last sermon at the Washington National Cathedral in 1968, on the topic of racial injustice. Scripture: Amos 5.21-24, Galatians 3.23-29, Revelation 21.1-5 Worship with us in person, our website, or on our Facebook Page. Following Worship Queerly Beloved (LGBTQIA+) Fellowship Meet at the front of the Sanctuary Sandwich Making for CHiPS Homeless Ministry Elliott Room - 2nd Floor Church Office Closed in observance of Martin Luther King Birthday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM MLK Prayer Vigil First Church Wednesday, January 22nd 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 23rd 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Friday, January 24th 7:30 PM - 9:15 PM White Rose Cuban Ministry (contact Rich Greene) Malpaso Dance Company Joyce Theatre Saturday, January 25th 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM Care for Caregivers Trinity Commons |
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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. |
| This Evening!! 
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. Join us TONIGHT for the next meeting/potluck. |
| TONIGHT!! 
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| This Sunday!! 
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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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. |
| Prayer Vigil - Monday, January 20 
On Monday, January 20, we will gather at the church for a prayer vigil from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We will have various quotes from Dr. King to guide our hearts and prayers. We want to take this time to seek God's strength and wisdom for the coming year. It is going to be a full year, what with a new administration in Washington and our own church preparing to start a pastor search. There is much to pray about and you are invited to do it at the church or wherever you are. Pray as you are able during this period of time. |
| WHITE ROSE Cuban Ministry SPECIAL EVENT Get your tickets! 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. To claim your tickets, please contact Rich Greene at rtgreene2@gmail.com. |
| 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. |
| Worship on January 5th 
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| January 12th Youth Group 
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| 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! |
| 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 16, our pantry served 125 clients with the help of 19 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 8:00AM. They are choosing a new book or video series for discussion as of press time for this eNewsletter. 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. |
| 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 Mark Elsenheimer. Photos provided by Amy Neuner. |
| 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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