From the Pastor
On the 15th of June, the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will convene in Birmingham, Alabama. The General Assembly, which now meets every other year rather than annually, is the highest governing body in our denomination and makes decisions about the course of our national church. The Assembly consists of some 530 Commissioners, one half of whom are ministers and one half of whom are elders, from the across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Each Presbytery elects a number of Commissioners based on the size of its church membership. New York City Presbytery has elected and will send four Commissioners. The Assembly is hosted in a different city each time it meets.

At this writing in early May, it appears that three issues will dominate this year’s Assembly – the Report of the Peace, Unity and Purity Task Force, the question of divestment from some companies doing business in Israel, and the proposed closing of one of the two sites of the Presbyterian Historical Society.
The first two issues have been treated in this column in past months, as well as in forums sponsored by Brick Church. The third is a largely regional issue left over from the reunion of the northern and southern Presbyterian Churches a generation ago. It concerns closing the Historical Society’s facilities in Montreat, North Carolina, and moving archives to the Society’s larger facility in Philadelphia.

The first two issues are complex. The Peace, Unity and Purity Task Force was created some six years ago to explore ways through difficult and divisive issues in our denomination – especially our understanding of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, differing ways of reading and interpreting the Bible, and the role of gay men and women in our church. The report, unanimously approved by a very theologically diverse Task Force, charts a path through these questions, but its recommendations have been and will be controversial at the Assembly.
A number of overtures (“bills” sent from Presbyteries) have been sent to the Assembly regarding the divestment issue. One of these overtures, sent from New York City Presbytery, originated in Brick Church. It suggests a plan for positive investment strategies in not-for-profit and for-profit concerns that built peace between Israelis and Palestinians as a better path than the divestment strategy.

I draw your attention to the meeting of the Assembly for several reasons. First, its decisions really matter to every Presbyterian. Visit the Presbyterian Church’s website for the latest dependable news on the Assembly. Go to www.pcusa.org. Secondly, please pray for the Assembly, as we will do in church on Sundays in June. The challenges before the Assembly this year are both formidable and important.
—Michael L. Lindvall

Helen Phillips Retires
Since 1994, Helen Phillips has been The Brick Church’s Coordinator for Membership, Assimilation and Stewardship. At the end of June or early July, she will step down to enjoy an uncluttered calendar and free time with her family. Helen says, “ I would like you to know how proud and gratified I feel to have worked with you and for you. I am deeply grateful for the kindness, friendship and support shown me all these years. I have grown and learned so much, thanks to you.”

From its beginning as a part-time position, this role grew to the point that every new program announcement seemed to end with the phrase, “for more information, contact Helen Phillips.” Yet Helen says that the early months were an uphill struggle: “I didn’t know how to talk about money.” She certainly learned fast.

Helen remembers how moved she felt at the first Pledge Dedication Sunday, when members walked down the aisle to make their pledges as an act of worship and dedication of their faith. Helen also fondly recalls the phonathons so generously hosted at the Bloomberg office, which supplied food and soda for stewardship callers. Her collective memory is of nice people, encouragement and dedicated church members.

Helen came to The Brick Church via part-time work for Kathy Kaasch, then Dr. Anderson’s Assistant, in the mid-1980s. She joined the church in 1988, her children were confirmed here and her grandson was baptized here last fall. In the future, we can expect to see Helen on Sundays – but not in the office.

Report on Peace, Unity, Purity: Thoughtful Response to Complex Questions
On April 26, Auburn Seminary President Barbara Wheeler and Rev. Jose Luis Torres-Milan of the Third Presbyterian Church in Aguadilla, PR, members of the Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church, discussed the final report’s process and recommendations. Despite the varying viewpoints, ages, ethnicities and orientations of the 20 Task Force members, the group unanimously adopted the report, titled “A Season of Discernment.”

Rev. Torres-Milan outlined the process that led to unanimity. They began with the basics – God, Jesus and the Bible – and worked from written scholarly statements instead of personal views. They adopted a covenant among themselves that encompassed careful listening, invitations to speak and communal discernment. They worshipped together regularly, and acknowledged their own roles in creating divisions within the church. Both speakers emphasized the theological rigor and discipline of the process.

So what did they recommend? The six recommendations are summarized very briefly below. The full report is available at www.pcusa.org.

1. Do not split the denomination because of differing points of view. The differences are among fellow Christians.

2. Form similar intensive discernment groups at other levels within the church when divisive issues arise.

3. Study the same theological reflections as the Task Force.

4. Consider discernment approaches as an alternative to parliamentary procedure when moderating session and presbytery meetings.

5. The General Assembly should approve an authoritative interpretation of the Constitution that holds that the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order set standards for ordination for the whole church, but ordaining bodies can decide how to apply them. It is up to each ordaining body to determine if candidates have departed from standards for office, and if such departures are sufficiently serious to bar candidates from office. Individual candidates may express their dissent from certain standards.

6. If recommendation #5 is adopted, the General Assembly should not propose divisive amendments for ratification at the same time.

As the speakers pointed out, no single constituency gained everything it wanted. Barbara Wheeler quoted the Israeli novelist, Amos Oz, who once quipped that there are two ways to end a play. Shakespeare ended many of his tragedies with only the victor in the play’s conflict alive and standing. All the losers are bodies on the stage. Chekhov, on the other hand, ended his plays with everyone alive, sitting on the stage and slightly disappointed. Wheeler noted that she, for one, would choose a Chekhov ending for this chaper in the life of the church.

The Uncommonly Versatile John Herrington
Brick Church’s Assistant Organist
For seven years, worshippers at The Brick Church have seen “Dr. John B. Herrington III, Assistant Organist” in small type in the Order of Worship. We have been moved by his organ performances, notably Charles-Marie Widor’s rousing Toccata from Symphony No. 5 for Organ on Easter Sunday, among other occasions. In fact, one concert-goer was overheard as he left Ben van Oosten’s inaugural performance last fall (which included the Widor Toccata). He said, “I think John Herrington’s Toccata is just as good.”

How does John find the time to both practice medicine and master a complex musical instrument? Music has been part of John’s life much longer than medicine. He began piano lessons at age seven, organ at 14. “I liked all those organ keyboards and being able to make so many sounds,” he explains. “The organ just offered more than the piano.”

While still in high school, John studied organ at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, near his home, and continued throughout his undergraduate and medical education. He’s been playing for churches since he was 15. His favorite music is the French organ literature, which is appropriate for Brick Church’s instruments in the French style.

In his other life, John is a pathologist with a medical group in White Plains. His part-time schedule allows time to practice music between 4 and 16 hours per week and to perform. He likes the rare balance he’s been able to achieve. As John says, “Assisting at Brick is the best job in town.”

Successful Year for Cooks Who Care
Cooks Who Care, a Deacon Outreach Ministry, has engaged 77 Brick Church families one or more times in the past 90 Saturdays to plan, prepare, and deliver 1,032 hot meals. Although volunteers may be reimbursed for groceries and transportation, the cost to Brick Church has been about $2.10 per meal -- and $1.40 is for the Ensure nutrition drink that accompanies each meal. The rest of the cost is for the containers, plasticware, and napkins. The benevolence of our volunteers is overwhelming, and the hands-on benefits for both the HIV/Aids recipients and the volunteers will be described in the 2005 Annual Report. Having first Primetimers and then Young Adults sign up for group cook-a-thons added another dimension to this ministry.

Clearly, Cooks Who Care follow Psalms 22:24: “For he has not ignored the suffering of the needy, he has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their calls for help.” Thank you, volunteer Cooks. To sign up for the summer, please call deacons Ruth Hoffman or Peter Manning.

2006 Confirmation Class
On May 7, 2006, twelve young men and women were confirmed in the Christian faith at a service of Worship and Confirmation. Each student was presented with a gift verse, a study Bible, a CD of the Youth Sunday service they led in April, and a certificate of Confirmation. The gift verses were chosen by Rev. Christy Lang as reflections of each Confirmand’s personality and gifts. The students were also prayed over by pastors Michael Lindvall, Doug King, and Christy Lang and by all the adult sponsors of the Confirmation class: David Wagener, Heidi Jenkins, Rick Bold, Helen Pennoyer, Ben Lindvall, and Michael Ellis. The students’ names and their gift verses are as follows:

NYC CROP Walk
On April 30, the Confirmation Class walked with the New York City CROP Walk. The Walk raises awareness of global hunger issues and also raises money for organizations that provide clean drinking water, food, and micro-loans to people in need around the world. The congregation of Brick Church gave over $600 to the cause on Youth Sunday, when Confirmands stood at the doors of the Sanctuary and at coffee hour and collected donations. The class had a fun time walking together and meeting the many other congregations and organizations who also participated in this event.

Youth Mission Trip to Maine: Keep us in your prayers
On Sunday, June 18, The Brick Church will commission 15 youth and adult volunteers who will travel to Maine to work with East Parish Housing. On the mission trip, which begins on June 19, the group will do work projects to improve the living conditions of people who live in or around Farmington, Maine. They will also spend time in worship and fellowship, and they will go white water rafting together at the end of the trip. Please keep this group in your prayers as they travel, serve, and represent Brick Church to another community. Pray that all members of the trip would experience the joy of serving the Lord by serving others, that they would remain healthy and safe while on the trip. Finally, pray that they would be built into a community that shows the love of Christ by their love for one another. The group will return on June 23.

Sunday Church School: Consider Teaching Next Year
The Brick Church has a thriving Sunday School Program of which we are proud. One area that the Sunday Church School Committee would like to improve is teacher consistency, so that children see familiar faces in class from week to week.

The SCS Committee is therefore assembling teaching teams for next year (2006-2007), creating a rotating schedule of lead and assistant teachers. Ideally, each class will have a teaching team of 5-6 members, so that teachers will lead once per month, assist once or twice, and attend worship on other Sundays. This schedule also allows teachers to be absent when necessary.

We will provide training in how to use the curriculum and how to teach effectively, and teaching teams will plan ahead together at quarterly meetings, so that lesson plans can be understood and prepared in advance.

If you love children and would be willing to lead a lesson at least once per month while working with a group of committed volunteers in your class, consider being a Sunday Church School teacher next year. We will be calling likely candidates, but please do not hesitate to contact Committee Chair Carol Quinn or Co-Chair Helen Lynch or Associate Pastor Christy Lang to volunteer yourself or your friends for this ministry.

June 3 Youth Beach Trip
On Saturday, June 3, all Brick Church Youth in 6th-12th grades are invited to come on an end-of-year trip to the Jersey Shore, where we will visit Island Beach State Park, play on the sand, and have BBQ dinner together over a beach fire. The cost is $40, and we depart at 9:00 a.m. from The Brick Church on a bus and will return late in the evening. Come along and bring your friends! Permission forms went out in the mail.

Sunday Church School Registration
Sunday Church School registration forms and calendars for the 2006-2007 school year have been mailed out to all families with children. Please remember to return your forms to the front desk, care of Caitlin Sparks.

Notes of thanks from Christy
Adult Education
This year’s Adult Education offerings were stimulating, innovative, and beautifully presented, thanks to the efforts of the Christian Education Committee. We heard about the Protestant Reformation, the scope of the Biblical story, historical events in New York in which the Presbyterian Church played a part, faith traditions in our city, the life and theology of the Apostle Paul, forgiveness, the stewardship of poetry, and a number of other topics. Many thanks to members Wally Bottger, Mario Verdolini, and Todd Aydelotte for teaching, to Committee Chair Susan Webb-Dreyfus, and to Committee members Buddy Crutchfield, Chris Landsberg, David Wagener, John and Josephine Bressler, and Kathleen Hanna. Your efforts are appreciated.

Brick Kids
Unending thanks are due to those volunteers who have made our Sunday School and youth programs happen this year. The children and youth of Brick Church are blessed to have parents who are so committed to helping their children develop faith and love. I am grateful for all those who have taught class, served on the Sunday School Committee, led Pioneers events, coordinated classes, superintended Sunday School, and planned youth events. These friends have worked hard to make The Brick Church a place that welcomes and nurtures children and youth.

I am deeply grateful for the commitment of the Sunday Church School Committee to children’s Christian education. The Sunday School Committee Chairs and members for 2005-06 were: Carol Quinn, Amy Jacobsson, and Helen Lynch (chairs), and Anne McCollough, Alicia Sisk, Ellen Clark-Clemot, Jo Sochi, Joyce Giuffra, Leslie McCall, Peter Manning, Mary Gay, and Stephana Bottom.

Sunday School Coordinators were key to the success of Sunday School this year as they recruited and encouraged teachers, and often taught class themselves. The 2005-2006 Sunday School Coordinators were Alicia Sisk, Alison Schweizer, Ann Darmstaetter, Ellen Clark-Clemot, Cynthia Cranshaw, Jean-Francois Dreyfus, Susan Webb-Dreyfus, Shannon Froelich, Helen Lynch, Jennifer MacDonald, Stephanie Nelson, Joyce Giuffra, Julia Dunn, Maya-Christina Arcos, Carolyn Ottenbreit, and Carol Quinn. Leslie McCall was our Superintendent. Many thanks to these hardworking servants of God.

The 5th-6th Grade Sunday School Program this year was a hit, thanks to the efforts of George Zachar, Jean-Francois Dreyfus, Julia Whitehead, Mead Cain, Preston Davis, Tom Winmill, and many other volunteer parents. They planned and executed wonderfully imaginative and fun plans for Pioneers students.

The Youth Committee met to plan ongoing meetings for older youth, to consider how to involve more youth in the life of Brick Church, to host a Christmas brunch, and to plan for the June mission trip. Many thanks to David Wagener, Buddy Crutchfield, Julia Whitehead, Kaki Ettinger, Chris Curtin-Barnes, Steve and Trish Chapman, and Grace Lindvall.

Finally, thanks to the staff of The Brick Church who make these programs possible: to Amanda Smith, whose leadership of the children’s music program enriches all our lives; to the sextons, whose work in setting up and cleaning up is so necessary; to Gloria Perez and Steve Smith for spending so many hours letting us into the building and answering thousands of questions; to Caitlin Sparks, Assistant to the Associate Pastors, whose administrative skill and efficiency are most surely gifts from God; and to all the other church staff who keep things running. You are appreciated.

Children’s Choirs at Brick Church
Spotlight on: Hand Bell Choir
The Brick Church’s Hand Bell choir consists of 12 members who rehearse several times per season and who ring in Sunday Worship about four times per year. The hand bell choir is for children and adults, beginning with children in fourth grade. Each member is assigned one, two, or three bells for each piece of music. To identify their parts, the ringers circle their notes as they appear in the music, and keep their own music in special folders created just for hand bell ringers. The ringers focus on good ringing and dampening technique (dampening is the act of touching the bell to the shoulder to stop the ringing sound produced by the bell’s vibration), as well as counting, changing tempo, and ringing at different dynamic levels. The ringers wear hand bell gloves at all times during the rehearsal. These gloves help protect the bells from the oils of our hands, and it has helped the bells to be kept in good shape for over 30 years here at Brick Church!

We are seeking additional ringers for next year’s hand bell choir, which will begin rehearsals in September of 2006. If you’d like to join the hand bell choir, you must be in fourth grade or older. No experience is necessary! The hand bell choir rehearses about 6-8 times per semester, at mutually agreed upon times. The flexibility of the hand bell choir schedule accommodates those with busy schedules who might not be able to commit to a regular weekly rehearsal. (This season, we rehearsed on some Sunday mornings and some Monday evenings.) If you would like to inquire about joining the hand bell choir, contact Amanda Smith, asmith@brickchurch.org or 212-289-4400 x229.

The Cast of “Oh Jonah” Steals the Show!
One of the most ambitious children’s performances in recent memory, this year’s Spring Musical took place on Sunday afternoon, May 7, 2006, under the guidance of Children’s Choir Director Amanda Page Smith on the Watson Hall Stage at The Brick Church. Forty-two young choristers, from kindergarten through seventh grade, participated in a jazzy musical presentation called Oh, Jonah! Parents, friends and relatives filled Watson Hall to capacity and were enthralled by such hits as “Whale of a Tale” sung by the cast and chorus and led by six angels – Emma Arcos, Gabriella Borter, Annabelle Clemot, Gillian Cowley, Julia Leuchtenburg, and Beatrice Terino – all singing for the side of responsibility and facing up to God’s call.

Inspired by the Bible story of Jonah and the Whale, contemporary themes and Broadway musical scores, the show featured songs that were compelling (“Move on Out”), comical (“It’s a Sailor’s Life”), and appropriately contrite (“The Song of Forgiveness”), sung, respectively, by talented young soloists Stephen-Louis Dreyfus, as Jonah; Tyler Pinzon, as the Ship Captain; and Ethan Cain and Lauren Long as the King and Queen of Nineveh. A surprise appearance by chapel choir member and Clerk of Session, Ellsworth Stanton, in the “Do-Re-Mi, Hallelujah” duet, as the Whale opposite Dreyfus’ Jonah, complete with backstage underwater bubble sound effects by Pinzon, left no doubt as to the musical range and sophistication that this year’s children’s music program has attained. With musical and stage direction by Amanda Smith, stage management by theater professionals Len Carrell and sound technician Ben Lindvall, and the sound of a full orchestra replicated by Jeff Caldwell on piano, this year’s Spring Musical was Brick’s best ever and left the audience cheering for more.
—Ellen H. Clark

Ellen Clark is a Sunday School teacher, a Choir Helper, and the mother of two “Oh Jonah” cast members.

Sheik Ahmed Dewidar
Dr. Dewidar comes to address us about Islam in New York City. Dr. Dewidar is a respected scholar and spokesperson for Islam, and he is Imam of the Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan.
June 4 at 10:00 a.m., Carnegie Room

October 2006 All-Church Retreat
Mark your calendars now for a memorable, fun weekend. On October 27-29, 2006, members of The Brick Church are invited to come to the Presbyterian Center at Holmes, located approximately 55 miles north of New York City. Holmes is a 550-acre camp and conference center surrounded by pristine forests, lakes, cliffs, trails and wetlands in the lower Hudson River Valley. The camp’s location provides a beautiful view of the area and spectacular changes of seasons.

During our weekend together, adults will listen to a speaker and children will enjoy their own programs. Afternoon free time will allow families and friends to be together, and other programs for the whole church family will be offered. Accommodations are comfortable, more hotel-like than rustic. More information, including cost, will be available soon. Please plan ahead to join us for this retreat, and remind your Brick Church friends to come along. This event is sponsored by the Christian Education Committee. Questions? Contact Christy Lang at 212-289-4400 ext. 247.
October 27-29, Holmes, New York

Wear Jeans to Church: It’s All-Church Picnic Day
This year our All-Church Picnic will take place on Sunday, June 4, immediately following worship. Our picnic area is located at 96th Street and Fifth Avenue. Wear your casual clothes to church, bring a picnic lunch for the whole family, and don’t forget a blanket. There will be tables and chairs for those unable to sit on the lawn.

The Sunday School will organize games for the children and the church will host a make-your-own-sundae table. In case of rain, the picnic will be held in Watson Hall. No reservations necessary - just bring family, friends and lots of sunshine!

Upcoming Barbeques
PrimeTimers - SummerFest
Join the PrimeTimers in the Garden on Thursday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m. for the scent, tastes and generous helpings of BBQ cooked to perfection by Chef Kent McKamy and Sandy Shaw. Make your reservations early so you won’t miss this fun event. The cost will be $25 payable by June 8. Be on the lookout for the PrimeTimer flyer with more details. Questions? Call Kent McKamy (212-348-8099 or kent@mckamy.net) or Gayle Johnson (212-877-6214 or gaylecliff@aol.com).

Deacons - “Once a Deacon, Always a Deacon”
If you have ever served as a Deacon at The Brick Church, please come to our Garden on Monday, June 12 at 7:00 p.m. for an evening of food, fellowship, and your favorite Deacon anecdotes. The cost will be $20 for a fabulous evening of fun. Please RSVP by Thursday, June 8 to Caitlin Sparks at csparks@brickchurch.org.

Bring Your Friends to Church
In the past four months, more than 45 women and men have joined The Brick Church. You’ll see many of them greeting you at the doors as you come to worship on Sunday morning. When we asked why they were attracted to Brick Church, the replies coalesced around these reasons:

“A friend introduced me to Brick Church, and I liked the services and the warmth of the people.”

“I live in the neighborhood and I was looking for a church home.”

“I find the sermons deeply meaningful and inspirational.”

If you have friends who live near you…if they have shown interest in looking for a spiritual home where the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, please consider inviting them to services at The Brick Church. Introduce them to our ministers. Invite them to discussions, barbecues, the Strawberry Festival and other activities. You’ll be doing them a favor!

Calling All Needlepointers
In September the Brick Church St. Monica’s Needlepoint Guild will begin the second phase of its work, namely completing the cushions in the Chapel of the Reformed Faith. Before the hiatus, there were 36 individuals working on the project. If you are interested, please contact either Terri Lindvall or Ellsworth Stanton in September. We are also looking for a person who can help design and print the canvasses.

PrimeTimers: Get-to-Church Assistance
Need help getting to church? PrimeTimers can make it easier to get to Brick Church if the trip seems hazardous, arduous or difficult. If you’d like an escort, simply call Kent McKamy (646-645-8099) no later than 6:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding Sunday services. Give Kent your name, address and telephone number, and he’ll contact a PrimeTimer who has volunteered to help members or guests come to Brick Church. On Sunday morning, the volunteer will call to confirm that you feel able to attend. Then he or she will come to your home about ½ hour before services begin and accompany you to services and home again afterward.

Check the Church bulletin for PrimeTimer summer events and activities. Have a great summer.

WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Reaching Out to the Community
A core mission, and chief activity, of the Women’s Association is giving back through outreach to organizations in the neighboring communities of Yorkville and East Harlem. The Women’s Association Outreach Committee supports programs that benefit women, children and the elderly. The Brick Church Fair is the principal contributor to outreach, raising over $45,000 each year for the needy. According to Outreach co-chair Brenda DePaola, “The programs we support meet a specific need that might otherwise go unfunded, are proven, well-administered, and often involve a volunteer component for our members.”

Our 2006 outreach grants support seven youth programs and six women’s and elder-care programs. They include both established and entrepreneurial programs of noteworthy nonprofits, such as a healthy cooking class sponsored by Yorkville Common Pantry that educates women about nutritious choices and the importance of vegetables in the diet of children. Committee member Jackie Hennessey says, “This program, while simple, is extremely inventive, and so important in this age of growing childhood obesity. Having fresh vegetables widely available is something we take for granted.”

Another children’s program, which takes place in the Stanley Isaacs Center afterschool learning center, provides tutoring and alternative activities for 75 at-risk children who might otherwise spend time after school on the street. Programs for the elderly include, among others, lunches for seniors on Sundays, intergenerational programs for students to visit the homebound elderly, and a program with Search and Care that assists older people who wish to live independently but need help getting to the store, doctor, or paying bills. The Women’s Association outreach grants have supported this particular program since the 1970s.

Outreach Committee member Tracey Huff sums it up, “The Brick Women’s Association has been doing outreach for 62 years. We’re proud of that tradition. It’s gratifying knowing that, together, we are making an enormous – and tangible – difference in people’s lives.”

For more information or to become involved, please contact Carol Ann Mercer in the WA office.

Rewarding Rummage Sale
The two-day Rummage Sale in April was an enormous success, raising money for the outreach grants and bringing church members together for a good cause. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this year’s event both fruitful and fun!

Mom’s Morning Out
Moms, their babies, and pre-school children aged two and younger will continue to meet on Tuesdays through July 25 for fellowship, conversation and play each week from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the Carnegie Room.

Fun & Fellowship
Fellowship Lunches sponsored by the Women’s Association will continue through early summer. If you have an hour for lighthearted laughter, or are looking to connect with someone new from the church, please plan to come either Wednesday, June 14 or Wednesday, July 12 at noon in the living room at the Parish House. The atmosphere is casual but the lunches are warm and memorable. All women are invited.

Save the Date
If, like some people, you find you’re already filling in your family’s Fall schedules for classes, please mark the following date: our festive Fall Fling will take place Friday, September 22 in the Brick Church garden. It’s a great way to reconnect with old friends, and make new ones, as we return from summer. If you would like to help on the committee contact the Women’s Association office.

The Brick Church Book Club Summer Selections
The Brick Church Book Club will read Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky for their June meeting, which will be hosted by Gloria Plaut at 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 5. Please RSVP to Gloria at 212-737-9278. The summer book is Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898, by Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace. The discussion is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Monday, September 11, at the home of Sandy Gooder. Please RSVP in early September to Sandy at 212-410-9690.