Thursday, October 7, 2010

Notes and News from First Church

Date: Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 5:44 PM

A weekly e-newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn:

Main office (718) 624-3770               Email info@firstchurchbrooklyn.org


 

Notice regarding Sunday Parking in the Henry Street Bike Lane

 

 

Effective October 10, 2010, parking on Henry Street will be available only between 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM.  Church participants who must come early, such as choir members, will find that both sides of Clark Street are opened for legal Sunday morning parking.  The 84th Precinct has been under considerable pressure from some community members to open the bike lane at all times.  We need to support them as they introduce this compromise to the Heights.  Officers will be on hand on October 10 prior to 10:30 AM to guide drivers to the Clark Street spaces.

 

 

THIS FRIDAY October 8, 2010: marks the second concert of the fall season of MUSIC AT FIRST, the acclaimed new music series at First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn Heights, and will feature exciting sets by bassist Eleonore Oppenheim and vocalist/sound artist Lesley Flanigan.  Lesley will perform original music on instruments that she has designed and built herself, and Eleonore will perform a set of electro-acoustic pieces that will include works commissioned by and written specifically for her.

Please come out and enjoy.  Music Starts at 7:30, and the show should be over around 9:30 with a short break between sets.  Admission is $10. For more info go to www.musicatfirstsite.com

 

THIS SATURDAY October 9, 2010

Gifts of Spirit Meditation Part II: from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. for Sound Healing, Toning and Guided Meditation reflect quietly and "deep listen" to your inner voice and feel balanced and centered.  (Free Admission)

 

Later on, come for an additional workshop in the Sanctuary from 1:00-2:30 p.m. on having a "Creative Power Conversation: Steps to Find Your Center" and Sound Healing Energy Readings. (Register for Sound Healing Readings)  - For more information call 718-344-0140.   Harriette (LotusHawk) Mandeville, Facilitator.

 

THIS SUNDAY October 10, 2010

11:00 a.m. Worship Service:

This Sunday, First Church will joyfully celebrate the baptisms of Cassandra Carrietta Slowik, daughter of Chris and Peggy Slowik …  Townley Lucille Nies daughter of Jennifer Lupfer and Frank Nies.  Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, a former Interim Pastor will be taking part.

 

Our Interim Pastor, Rev. Stephen H. Phelps will deliver the Sermon "The Great Divorce"

 

Ten O'Clock Hour: Throughout October, we will continue to explore the parables of Jesus.  Join us for an hour of fellowship, spiritual reflection, education, and thoughtful discussion.  No outside reading is required.  All are welcome.

 

The nursery will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Christina and Patty.

 

Kids Worship: Sunday school continues with whole-group community-building games. 

 

Other News:

 

The Church Office will be closed on Monday October 11 in observance of Columbus Day.

 

Congratulations to Emily LeMaster O'Brien and Eric O'Brien on the birth of their son Ellis LeMaster O'Brien on September 28.

 

We grieve with Rev. Nancy Talbot upon the death of her father Phillips Talbot.  A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 15th at 6:00 p.m. in Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 921 Madison (by 73rd Street).  A reception will follow the Service. Please keep the Talbot family in your prayers.

 

Session Meeting: Thursday October 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Thurman Room. Session meetings are open to members of the Congregation.  Please contact the Clerk of Session Edna Asknes at eja128@msn.com  to confirm your attendance.

 

Text Box: A Letter from the PNC Dear Friends, As members of the Pastoral Nominating Committee, we feel it is important to share with you our thoughts and feelings concerning the process by which we arrived at our candidate for Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn. The PNC is truly a microcosm of the larger church, representing its wonderful diversity in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, and theological views. Our PNC came together in the spirit of discerning how to match the mission, history, dreams and goals of the church to the pastor who would journey with us. Throughout our process, we understood that one of our most important tasks was to let the rich history of the church speak to us: from the historic election of Rev. Paul Smith as the first African-American minister, to the importance of community building highlighted by Interim Pastor Cari Jackson and Rev. Beth Waltemath, and the urging to create a community of faith and usher in the new diversity as presented by our current Interim Pastor Stephen Phelps. Our work as a committee was to have the conversation of the larger community in a focused and concentrated manner, and as a segment and a continuation of past and recent conversations; consequently, we are extremely grateful for the work of the last PNC. Our brothers and sisters worked tirelessly (and now we really know how it feels!) and opened the way to dialogues that were latent and needed to be brought to the forefront. We came to understand that the PNC and the congregation are mirror images of one another, seeking a more cohesive expression. Out of that process came sacred conversations and Many Mansions meetings, which invited us all to talk more forthrightly about who we are as a community. It is then no coincidence that the highest valued quality identified by the mission review was openness: openness, which allowed for us to have unity of spirit in instances when we did not always have unity of minds; openness, which we trust will allow us to serve God and our church in one act of faith. During one of our meetings, a committee member reminded us, as Howard Thurman would say, "we do our best and God does the rest.

Text Box: Prayer for the PNC Gracious & merciful God All that we are & all that we have comes from You As we continue along this journey of faith We seek Your guidance and wisdom We give thanks for the depths & differences that have led us to this time Help us understand the lessons of the past & to learn from labors of hope Transform our minds that we may see new possibilities for the future Open our hearts that we may hear Your words Grant us clarity of vision And guide our steps as we walk the sometimes dark path of enlightenment Lord, calm our fears, dispel all anxiety Continue to bring us together as a community of faith That we may be of one mind & one spirit Working together for the uplifting of Your kingdom. May the church always be a beacon of faith, hope & charity A refuge where all are welcome And because we know not to lean on our own understanding We trust in You & place ourselves in Your hands May Your spirit draw near And may Your will be done, today & always Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Saturday: All Session Members and Committee Chairs are strongly encouraged to attend the annual Budget Saturday meeting on Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the Elliott Room as we meet to create the preliminary church budget for 2011. For further information, contact Ken Andrichik at Ken.Andrichik@finra.org

 

The 2011 Offering Envelopes order will be placed with the printer soon. If you know you would like to begin using (or stop using) envelopes in 2011, please call the church office at 718-624-3770 or email Annie Solages at info@firstchurchbrooklyn.org by October 31, 2010.

 

An all-First Church cast will offer a dramatic reading of the librettos for two new operas written by Terry Quinn.   You can hear the readings of The Mark of Cain and The Birthmark in the Elliott Room of the church on Saturday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m.  The readings take not very much time, when compared with a full opera.  As a consequence,  Larry Picard and Frank Longino will also sing an aria from the work.  The public is invited. 

 
A Phone Directory of First Church members and friends is available. Ask for one at church, or contact the office to have one sent to you.

 

Flower Donations. We welcome flower donations of $30 or more in memory or in honor of friends and loved ones. Call Annie Solages in the Church office at 718-624-3770 or see Barbara Cummings during fellowship hour on Sundays.

 

Mentoring Youth: If you are interested in mentoring our youth as they continue their faith journey contact Marta Nelson at mnelson@ceoworks.org.

 

Appointments with Ministry Staff

Call Rev. Phelps at the Church or, as needed, at home: 718 928-3797 or email: sphelps@firstchurchbrooklyn.org .  The Church Office number is 718 624-3770.

 

Printed copies of Rev. Phelps' recent sermons are on the table in the Narthex (Henry Street Foyer) and are also posted on-line in text and audio formats at www.shphelps.com

 

Piano and Organ Lessons: Customized piano and organ lessons for kids and adults by FPC organist Wil Smith.  Contact him at wmdanielsmith@gmail.com or 646 320-0606.

 

On the calendar:

 

Tuesday, October 12

Living with Loss at 6:00 p.m. in the Thurman Room. Contact Rev. Charles Monaco at 718-647-5479 or email at imagepark@aol.com.

 

Wednesday, October 13

Men's Breakfast at 7:30 a.m., at the Park Plaza Diner on Cadman Plaza. Contact Jim Palmer at jwpalmer@aol.com

 

Thursday, October  14

Food Pantry, 10 to 11 a.m. To volunteer, contact Jane Woland at jawol28@gmail.com

 

Session Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Thurman Room.

 

FPC Choir Rehearsal, Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Please contact Music Minister Amy Neuner at aneuner@verizon.net for info about the choir.

 

Saturday, October 16

Coping With Job Loss and Job Search now with two sessions on Saturdays, "Job Loss Grief" (9:45-11am) and "Beyond the Grief to Hitting the Pavement" (11am-12:15pm) in the Elliott room (New Location). For more information and details, see http://www.meetup.com/Coping-With-Job-Loss/ and/or contact group leader, Tonya Deniz, at cwjl@firstchurchbrooklyn.org.

 

Who/where to connect:

Online Donations: Set up a recurring gift to the church through a secure online account.
On the church website, www.firstchurchbrooklyn.org, click the DONATE button at the lower left of the page.  To set up an account, click on the "First Church Donation Account Setup" link. To edit an existing gift, choose the "First Church Donation Login" link.

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