| | Love Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world
that we might live through him. (1 John 4:8-9) This Sunday we light a candle for love. For God, love is a verb- the sending of an only son into the world that we might live through him. We may become inured to the remarkable claim that God has come to live among us. With annual celebrations of Christmas, we may overlook how unusual it is that God chose to be like us. As the quote above says, God sent us God's son so we might live through him. He wasn't just a demonstration for us, he is the path to life. Through him we are transformed. For God to take on flesh, God was willing to experience all that we experience. He became like us so we could become more like him - so we can be restored as beautiful and loving people. This is love that restores us to the image and likeness of God. What if God was one of us? |
Please consider praying for the people who left these concerns on our church's front fence in recent months: - I worry I won't lead a life I'm proud of and am letting down my younger self.
- I worry I will never be able to have a family with my husband.
- I worry that I'm broken and can never be fixed.
- I have severe OCD and I feel like it sabotages my ability to be happy.
- I am worried that I will never be truly at peace with myself.
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Support for LGBT+ There are good reasons to be angry and afraid now as executive orders have been directed at you, and especially at transgender and gender non-conforming friends. I support you-- and I am available to talk by phone or in person. Don't agonize alone. We will do better together. Interim Pastor Danila Noble danila.noble@firstchurchbrooklyn.org |
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| | | Tonight! Friday, December 19th 6:30 PM Women's Potluck Fellowship Sunday, December 21st NOTE: You can find the Bulletin for Sunday's worship online here. 10:00 AM Power Hour In the first floor classroom behind the gym and on Zoom, join here
11:00 AM Sunday Worship Rev. Sarah McCaslin, preaching Sermon Title: "Adopted" Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25 Worship with us in person, our website, or on our Facebook Page. Following Worship Virtual Coffee Hour Online at coffee.fpc.church Sandwich Making for CHiPS Elliott Room Queerly Beloved - LGBTQIA+ Fellowship Gather at the Front of the Sanctuary 6:30 PM Community Christmas Caroling
Gather in the Church Men's Fellowship Grand Canyon restaurant located on Montague between Henry and Clinton For more information contact Dave Ehlke 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 5:00 PM Lessons and Carols Candlelight Worship Rev. Danila Noble, preaching 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Homeless Street Ministry Peace Garden Thursday & Friday, December 25th-26th Church offices closed for Christmas Holiday |
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| Giving Always We give for joy and hope and thanks. Giving Sunday was last Sunday, December 14. Annual gifts and pledges were gathered and celebrated at 11:00 worship. Please join in the ongoing celebration! (info at - https://www.firstchurchbrooklyn.org/give/) |
Worshipping remote? Join us LIVE in the Elliott room for coffee hour after church online via Microsoft Teams this Sunday. Rev Danila and ocongregants would love to see and hear from you! Go to coffee.fpc.church and you will be in the waiting room where we will let you in after service! No software install is needed, just follow the link and type in your name. 
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The Power Hour (Sunday morning adult book & bible study) Sundays at 9:45 AM Study on the Gospel of Mark. The study will go through the end of the year. We will be meeting in the little classroom behind the gym. Zoom: Meeting ID: 881 8197 2079 Passcode: 658878 |
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. |
Sunday, December 14th, 2025 Pageant Sunday! 
 
Eastern Farmworkers Association (EFWA) Holiday Toy Drive This year, FPC collected more than two thousand dollars to purchase toys for the children of Eastern Farm Workers Association members. These, along with many donated new toys, were delivered in two car loads last week by Elders Erik Brogger, Dave Ehlke, Richard Greene, and Mary B. Robinson. Toys included games, stuffed animals, books, and soccer balls. Thanks to the generosity of our First Church community, this year's donations were the largest in the history of our Holiday Toy Drive for the EFWA. Thank you, First Church! 
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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: Jonathan Abernethy, Kevin Bentley, Erik Brogger, Jenny Gage, Richard Greene, Diana Lee, Gladys McNish, Dimitri Moise, Lynn Schnarr, Zayn Silva, Terrance Stroud, Emily Thomas, Patrick Tirino, Joyce Waller, Sarah Wyss Interim Pastor Danila Noble - Moderator Elder Barbara Cummings - Clerk |
Board of Deacon (BOD) Update Greetings First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, My name is Terrance Blackman Stroud, and I have the honor and privilege of serving as the Chair of the Church-wide Nominating Committee. Our committee is pleased to provide you with the following Board of Deacon (BOD) update.
The board of deacons will be comprised of 9 deacons nominated, elected, ordained,
and installed according to the Book of Order. The board of deacons will offer pastoral care to church members and the attendees which reflects the ministry of deacons as set forth in scripture as a ministry of compassion, witness, service, and sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for those in need or distress. We ask that nominees bemembers of the church that are able to make the time commitment that comes with being a deacon. The deacons would be assigned to 3 classes, two in each, and distributed over a three-year period so a class would be elected each year.
There are three ways to be considered for nomination to the BOD:
1. A church member may suggest another's name to the Committee and the reasons
for consideration.
2. Self-nomination
3. The nomination committee may identify candidates for the board of deacons.
First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn
1. Your Name:
2. The Name of the Person you are suggesting be nominated:
3. An essay of this person's involvement in the life of First Presbyterian Church.
4. Why should they be considered and what could they contribute to the committee? The submission deadline is December 21st. Please email your essay and or nomination to CWNC@firstchurchbrooklyn.org |
Cuba's Malpaso Dance Company Returns to New York! 
First Church's White Rose Ministry is reserving a block of tickets for this world-famous dance ensemble. They will appear at the Joyce Theatre in Manhattan and our tickets are for the Friday, February 13th performance. Proceeds will be utilized to support programs in Cuba that provide food and farming expertise to our brothers and sisters on the island. SAVE THE DATE…More Information to follow - what a wonderful Christmas gift! 
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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 the rest of 2026, on whatever Sunday works for you. Please contact Marta Nelson if you have questions or would like to volunteer. Below, part of the group from Church of Gethsemane when Dave & Jane Ehlke and Ben Bray prepared and served lunch after service 
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Food Pantry Serving Wednesday this week, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 
On Thursday, December 18th, our pantry served 102 clients with the help of 17 volunteers, including YAI and Packer. We also had 2 fantastic food drive deliveries from Packer first graders and Orangetheory Fitness. 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 (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) between 8:00 and 11:00 AM to serve in the pantry. No advanced notice is required. Please contact the church office to inquire about volunteering. We look forward to serving with you. Food Pantry photos from December 18: 
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Congregation and Community News |
First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn is a Matthew 25 Church The Communication and Marketing committee is proud to share our new "Ask me about Matthew 25" video. |
Men's Fellowship 
The Men's group is now reading "Giving Up is Unforgivable - A manual for keeping democracy" by Joyce Vance. For the past several years, Joyce Vance has signed off posts on her chart-topping Substack, "Civil Discourse", with these four words. In that time, she has guided readers through a continued erosion of democratic norms, the unprecedented felony conviction of an ex-president, and the constitutionally calamitous beginning to the second Trump administration. Here, Vance offers a blueprint for avoiding burnout and despair, and for strengthening our democratic muscle.
 Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a clarion call to action, putting our current crisis in historical context and sketching out a vision for where we go next. Vance's message is hopeful at its heart, even as it acknowledges the daunting challenges that lie ahead. She is the constitutional law professor you never knew you needed, explaining the legal context and the political history— and why the rule of the law still matters. At the same time, she empowers the reader to do something, both as individuals and collectively. Consider this the birth of a countermovement to Project 2025, a rallying cry for citizen engagement to combat the second Trump administration and save American democracy. |
YOGA every second Saturday January 10 @ 11:00 AM By donation -- All proceeds benefit First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn Open to all -- No experience needed 
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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 or our Facebook page. |
We're Social Like us. Follow us. See us. Hear us. Watch us.    
  
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Wednesday Morning Devotional message 
Signup for our Wednesday morning devotional and receive a verse of scripture, a song from worship, a short video message from our staff or an inspirational 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 Erik Brogger, Dave Ehlke, and Jane Woland. |
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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