From the Pastor
Hungry
Lent is never mentioned in the Bible, and many Protestants grew up giving it scant attention. To many, it was a “Roman Catholic thing.” In the last half of the 20th Century however, as part of a movement often called “ecumenical convergence,” many Protestants have attended more closely to the sacraments, Sunday liturgy, and liturgical seasons like Lent, even as Roman Catholics have edged their way into “Protestant” practices like elected parish councils, singing congregational hymns, and renewed emphasis on the Bible and preaching.

Fasting, however, has never caught on with Protestants. We noted that for many Roman Catholics, the practice of Friday and Lenten fasting had descended into a less-than-profoundly-spiritual practice of simply eating more fish. But both such “rule-keeping” among Roman Catholics and distaste for fasting among Protestant overlooked two things. First, fasting was sometimes practiced by Jesus, by his disciples, and in the early church. Second, fasting was and is a powerful metaphor for something more than an empty stomach.

Feeling hungry offers a hungry person two gifts (quite apart from any possible weight loss!)

First and most simply, it is a small sacrificial act – foregoing something you enjoy for God.

Second, a hungry stomach is an incarnate (“existential,” if you will) sign of the deeper hunger in most all of us – that of minds hungry for Truth and hearts hungry for God. It is this deeper hunger that people like you and me – so very “self-sufficient” – are so loathe to admit. But there is no confession that could be more important than the honest admission to yourself, others, and God, that you really do need both God and other human beings in order to “be full.”

So fast if you like. It’s not a bad Lenten discipline, but the fast that God longs for more than any other is the one where we give up the big fat lie – that corroding and deadly self-deception that says “I don’t need anything but me.” Be sure to give that up – for Lent and forever.

—Michael L. Lindvall

CCOC Grant Recipient: Bill Richter, U.S./Mexico Border Ministries Coordinator, to be Commissioned March 4
On Sunday, March 4, The Brick Church will commission Bill Richter in worship. Bill received a Capital Campaign Outreach Committee grant to fund a U.S. Coordinator position at Puentes de Cristo (Bridges for Christ) for two years. Puentes de Cristo, one of seven mission projects along the U.S./Mexican border, is a joint project of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. It is based near the of a Presbyterian minister, Bill was originally involved in mission trips through his church youth group. After graduating from Carleton College in Northfield, MN, Bill served as a Young Adult Volunteer with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Guatemala, where he taught English and computer skills at a church-sponsored workshop. He also worked with delegations from the U.S. who came to do mission work.

Bill hopes that the mission trips he facilitates will be “less about the ‘work’ involved and more about what it means to be the ‘church’ – to be in worship, fellowship and dialogue with one another through our relationship with Christ. My hope is that through these experiences, we are able to build bridges of understanding so that individuals, Mexican and Americans alike, walk away with a deeper sense of ‘what I am called to do as a Christian in the world’.”

Please welcome Bill both on Sunday and at a wine and cheese reception on Saturday, March 3, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Parish House Living Room.

From the Archives: Chapel Architect and More, Frederick J. Woodbridge
Although not scraps of paper, photographs or artifacts, Brick Church family members can also be considered part of the Archive Collection. Such a person is Frederick J. Woodbridge, who was the architect of the New Parish House and of the Chapel of the Reformed Faith. Woodbridge (we called him Fritz) was not a member of The Brick Church, but he was definitely a member of the family.

His sister, Helena, was married to Paul Austin Wolfe, the legendary minister of Brick for many years. And Fritz was married to Katherine Baldwin (Katie) who served as an interim head of the Brick Church School for several years. Before coming to the Brick Church School, she taught at the Chapin School for 15 years and then served as headmistress of the Nightingale-Bamford School (just down the street) for 13 years.

Perhaps the most striking architecture that Fritz did for the church was the Chapel. He based the design on the Wren Chapel at the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The design, with its windows, pennants and inscriptions, is a monument to the reformed church and a haven for those who wish to have a few moments of quiet contemplation. If you haven’t, you should pay it a visit.

Fritz was the official architect for the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (referred to by its neighbors as “St. John the Unfinished”), in Morningside Heights, and he was a consulting architect for Columbia University.

He also designed private homes, including two for my family, and he was my godfather.
—Peter H. Brown, Archives Committee

From the Planned Giving Committee:
The Pastors of the congregation are directed to instruct the people, from time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent provision for the well-being of their families, and all the persons to make wills, while they are in good health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses.

Have you named guardians for your children? Have you prepared your will? Have you named Brick Church in your will? Please contact one of your Pastors or a member of the Planned Giving Committee ( Tanisha Carrell, Stewart Clifford, William Eakins, Carole Foxley, William King, Valerie Mason, Peggy Raub and Jean Williams) with any questions.

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
All men are invited to join a Bible study led by Senior Minister Michael Lindvall. The Men’s Study meets on Thursdays from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. The group uses a study guide and works to understand and apply the Biblical text. Feel free to invite friends and colleagues. The Men’s Study is open to all men every week.

Choral and Organ Concert featuring Duruflé’s Requiem
On Sunday, March 18 at 4:00 p.m., we will conclude the inaugural festivities of our celebrated Anderson organ (Casavant Frères op. 3837) with a special concert of organ and choral music. This concert will begin with Brick Church’s Minister of Music, Keith S. Toth, performing organ works by Louis-Nicolas Clérambault, César Franck, and Louis Vierne. After intermission, Keith will conduct the professional voices of the Chancel Choir along with soloists Mary Ann Stewart, mezzo-soprano; Christopher Finckel, cellist; and Dr. John B. Herrington III, organist; in a performance of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem. Duruflé’s masterpiece, composed in 1947, is considered to be one of the finest choral works ever composed. An anonymous and generous Brick Church family has provided the funds to underwrite this concert. You will not want to miss this very special afternoon of music at Brick Church. General admission tickets ($20) will be available at the Park Avenue doors on the afternoon of the concert or in advance at the Reception Desk. For further information, contact Keith Toth at Brick Church (ext. 231 or ktoth@brickchurch.org) or visit the Brick Church website.

Time & Talent Volunteer Spotlight
Search & Care needs Advisory Board Volunteers to help brainstorm ways to reach elderly people in the 10028 zip code and connect them with services. No particular skills are required: just an interest in the local community and ideas to make it friendlier for the elderly. Meetings would be no more than twice a year at a convenient time for all. Contact Nell Kleinschmidt at 212-678-2578.

Church of Gethsemane needs Webmaster Technical Assistance to develop the Church Website. Contact Sara Hurst Jenoure at 718-398-8277.

Housing Question: Search for Children and Youth Coordinator
The search committee for this Christian Education position has been interviewing candidates and seeks to hire the right person for this important ministry role. In order to make this position more attractive to qualified candidates, some assistance with housing could be helpful. Do you have a room in your home that you would be willing to rent to an employee of The Brick Church? Do you know of a housing situation in New York City that might be of help? Please contact Woody Kerr at wkerr@bankofny.com or leave a message with Caitlin Sparks, Assistant to the Associate Pastors, at 212-289-4400 x240, and you will be contacted.

Seeking T-Shirts & Toiletries for Homeless Men
Brick Church will hold a “T-Shirt and Toiletries” drive from March 4-31 for the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program of The Jan Hus Presbyterian Church. New t-shirts and backpacks for men, as well as personal care items such as lip balm, anti-perspirant and toothpaste, would be greatly appreciated. These items can be placed in the Jan Hus Drive box in the Garden Room of the Parish House.

The Jan Hus Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program addresses the needs of low-income and homeless men and women on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It provides direct services to approximately 150 people each week. The services include a Tuesday night dinner program, access to computers and office resources for those seeking housing and employment, and Metrocards for those in need of transportation to job interviews.

If you are interested in helping with this effort or would like additional information about the program, please contact Joyce Giuffra at 212-744-3628 or jgiuffra@nyc.rr.com.

Needed: Your Recommendations for Church Officers
Your All-Church Nominating Committee is in the process of compiling a list of nominees for the offices of deacon, elder and trustee in our church. Please prayerfully consider nominating fellow worshippers, committee members or friends as potential officers.

The criteria are commitment to the church, including regular attendance at Sunday worship, and characteristics such as dedication, good judgment and the ability to work well with others.

There are Brick Church Member Recommendation forms at the reception desk in the Garden Room. Alternatively, you may contact a member of the All-Church Nominating Committee to discuss your recommendations. Thank you for your involvement in this very important process in the life of our Church.

Your All-Church Nominating Committee members are Jill Lampe, Victor Lopez-Balboa, Kent McKamy, Nancy Sipp, Takako Terino, Stacie Kallenberg, Leon Allen (Elder Rep), Sara Jenoure, and Lisa Margosian, Chair, along with Senior Pastor, Michael Lindvall, ex officio, and Clerk of Session, Ellsworth Stanton, ex officio.

Lift High the Cross: Please Make Your Pledge Today
The Brick Church needs your support. In a year of increased budgetary pressures, the church has been faced with the stark choice of operating at unsustainable deficits or making unacceptable cuts to its ministries. In the spirit of the hymn, Lift High the Cross, we ask you to help the Brick Church continue its role as a vital and vibrant institution in our community by making your pledge commitment today.

If you have already pledged, thank you. As of this printing, approximately 450 pledges have been received, nearly all meeting or exceeding the challenge of a 15% increase. We have just reached 85% of our pledge goal of $2.3 million, and with your help, we will achieve a balanced budget in 2007.

We urge everyone to pledge. No amount is too small or too large.
If you have not yet submitted your 2007 pledge, please do so at your earliest convenience. If you need a pledge card or additional information, please contact Tanisha Carrell at 212-289-4400, ex. 230. or tcarrell@brickchurch.org.

Seminarian Update: Takako Terino’s Journey Continues
One year ago, The Record profiled Brick Church member and Union Theological Seminary student Takako Terino. This month, she brings us up to date on her progress.

What do you feel that you’ve accomplished in the past year?
I’m half-way through the Master of Divinity program and have chosen my program focus, similar to a major in college. My field education will begin in September. If all goes well, I will graduate in May, 2008. So I feel that this journey really is moving forward.

Tell us more about your program focus, and how you plan to put it into action.
My declared program focus is “Pastoral Ministry and Theology.” In other words, I want serve in the capacity of Minister of the Word and Sacrament, either in a church or for a special agency of PC (USA).

My studies so far have concentrated on theology, in which I have pursued the question of salvation. I hope I will have more opportunity to study Christology, and what it means to follow Christ who is the Word, the way, and the truth. Of course you could study it for a lifetime and still have more questions than answers!

This question would seem to give you material for quite a few sermons.
Right – and this is the pastoral ministry part of the program focus. It’s how to put theology to work, and is what many of my remaining courses will emphasize.

The bridge from theology to parish is a deeper understanding of the Bible. That’s why I’m taking additional Greek, Hebrew and exegesis (Biblical interpretation) beyond the level required by the presbytery. I want to be able to work from the historical texts that were written in a certain time and space and discover the timeless messages they bear.

What surprises have you encountered?
I probably underestimated the challenge of bringing the Word to a different culture, and of preaching in English. I’ve become more aware of my heritage and voice as a Japanese woman Christian. I don’t see that as a hindrance or obstacle in my ministry in PC(USA), yet there are unique challenges. As a professional interpreter and translator, I’m accustomed to conveying meaning across languages. But the challenge of being a faithful and compelling preacher is much greater than anything I’ve “translated” before. My field education will provide some hands-on practice.

Where will your field education take place?
I will be at Broadway Presbyterian Church on the West Side from September to May, in the same role as our seminary interns here. I’ll work for Rev. Walt Tennyson. Church softball fans may recall that Broadway is our strong rival. Because the program begins in September, I will still play for the Brick Bombers this summer.

One final question: how do you manage both to work and go to school full-time?
I think by the grace of God! My job as a translator and interpreter for a law firm allows for a lot of flexibility, and the people there have been very supportive. I can take my daughter Beatrice to school, go to classes from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30, and then to the office. And timing has been just plain lucky. For example, last year a 4-week trial in Trenton, NJ started the day after I finished the 7-week Hebrew summer course. Also, a videoconference involving attorneys from the U.S. and Japan happened to be scheduled the day after my last final exam. At this point, however, should there be a scheduling conflict between work and study, my priority is study. It would be the time for me to leave my secular profession.

Lenten Journeys: Meditations on Scripture, Tradition, and Art
Led by Christy Lang, Rick Bold, and David Wilson
10:00 a.m., Living Room, February 25–March 25

Lent is the season that leads up to Easter. Traditionally, Christians have used this time to reflect on the sufferings of Jesus and to ponder God’s presence in their own times of struggle. Today, Lent is still a time for reflection, discernment, and honest assessment of one’s own life and spiritual health. This year, The Brick Church will host a special series led by Rev. Christy Lang, Seminary student minister Rick Bold, and elder and artist David Wilson. The three will work together to lead a Lenten study that uses Biblical texts, theological writings, and artistic reflection to meditate on the themes of Lent and the Scriptures from Luke in the lectionary cycle. The series will involve presentations and group discussions. Bring friends and prepare together for Easter Sunday.

Sunday February 25: Temptation and Transformation (Luke 4:1-13)
Sunday, March 4: On the Way to the Cross (Luke 13:31-35)
Sunday, March 11: Suffering, Repentance, and New Growth (Luke 13:1-9)
Sunday, March 18: Lost and Found (Luke 15:1-3 and 11-32)

Friday Night Dinner Program: March 2 and 16
The Brick Church hosts a meal every Friday evening for residents of the 81st St. Coalition for Shelter community. Brick Church youth in 8th-12th grades have opportunities to cook together, meet these friends of Brick Church, and to receive community service credit. Pastor Christy Lang and other adults help the youth to prepare the meal in Watson Hall Kitchen. This month’s youth nights for FNDP are Friday, March 2 and 16. Please arrive at 5:00 p.m. in Watson Hall. We are finished by 7:45 p.m.

Confirmation Class
Confirmation Classes continue for 8th grade students. Classes occur on designated Sunday afternoons from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Room. This month, classes will occur on March 4, 11, 18 and 25. Confirmation students need to do 10 hours of Community Service for class. They can fulfill this requirement by helping with the Friday Night Dinner Program, joining the Order of St. Paul (led by Ellsworth Stanton), or helping out at church or in the city in other ways. Please contact Christy Lang with questions.

Third Graders: Bible Sunday is March 18
During the worship service on Sunday, March 18, 3rd grade students will receive Bibles with their names embossed on the cover. Letters went out in January with request forms. Be sure you have turned in your 3rd grader’s form so that your child will receive his or her Bible on time. Questions? Contact Caitlin Sparks.

Youth Scripture Readers Needed
Children and youth in the 3rd grade and up are invited to serve as Scripture readers on Family Sundays. Parents of readers will receive the biblical text in advance via e-mail so that the readers can prepare at home. If your child is comfortable reading aloud and is interested in leading worship in this way, please e-mail Thea Luria, Assistant to the Senior Minister, at tluria@brickchurch.org and include the name, age, and grade of your reader.

5th-6th Grade Pioneers Meet Next on March 4
If you are a 5th or 6th grade student, come join the Brick Church Pioneers on Sunday, March 4, when they will gather from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The Brick Church for two hours of fun, fellowship, dinner, and a service project. Friends are always invited. The charge is $15 per student. If your 5th or 6th grade student brings a friend who is not from Brick Church, the cost for the friend is only $10. You should have received a registration form in the mail. If you still need a form, please contact Caitlin Sparks. You may drop registrations off at the church or bring them to an event. Your friends need forms, too. We hope to see you there! Questions? Contact Preston Davis or Christy Lang.

7th Grade Fireside Club Meets on March 4
7th grade students are invited to join the Brick Church 7th grade youth group at their next Fireside Club meeting on Sunday, March 4. They gather on designated Sundays from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in Michael Lindvall’s study (yes, it has a fireplace!) for 2 hours of fun, fellowship, dinner, and a service project. Friends from school and the neighborhood are always invited. The charge is $15 per student. If your 7th grade student brings a friend who is not from Brick Church, the cost for the friend is only $10. Registration forms went out in the fall. If you need one, please contact Caitlin Sparks. You may drop registrations off at the church or bring them to an event. We hope to see your 7th grade student there! Questions? Contact Tom Winmill or Christy Lang.

Palm Sunday Processional is April 1
On April 1, Palm Sunday, we will hold our traditional Palm Sunday processional at the 11:00 worship service. If you and your children would like to participate, come to the Youth Floor at 10:40 a.m. to receive palms, practice our music, and then lead the processional down the center aisle of the Sanctuary. Infants in arms are welcome.

Day School June Program
The Brick Church School will have a June Program from June 5-22. The hours are 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

The Program will include field trips, sprinklers and wading pools on the roof, music and movement activities, games, arts and crafts, cooking and special projects. The children will bring lunch from home and the School will provide drinks. The Program will be coordinated by Lisa Wade and Marie Fabian and staffed by our teachers.

Children presently attending the Brick Church School, as well as Brick Church members’ four and five-year olds who do not attend the School, are eligible for the June Program. Space will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tuition will be $1,500 for the three weeks. Families must commit to all three weeks. If you would like your child to attend the program, please contact Lisa Wade at 212-289-5683 to receive a contract which must be returned by April 6 with the enrollment fee of $500.

Sunday School March Schedule

Women’s Association
What Did Jesus Do? A Crash Course in His Life & Times
Rev. Michael Lindvall will lead a fascinating Bible Study about Jesus, his life, and what his words mean to us today. This Bible Study is based on Pastor Lindvall’s new book, entitled What Did Jesus Do? A Crash Course in His Life and Times. Copies of the book will be available.

The two-part Bible Study, sponsored by the Women’s Association, will take place Wednesday, March 7 and March 14 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. A short coffee and breakfast precedes each session at 9:15 a.m.

No detailed knowledge of the scriptures is necessary. This “Jesus 101” scripture session should appeal to students of the Bible as well as those who want to gain greater familiarity. Together, the two sessions will look at the four Gospels, consider sources outside the Bible and wrestle with participants’ “frequently asked questions” about the historical Jesus.

Reserve your place early by calling Carol Ann Mercer in the Women’s Association office.

Save the Date: Fellowship Luncheon
Save the date for the Women’s Association Fellowship Lunch, March 14 at 12:30 in the Carnegie Room. These inter-generational lunches are a casual chance to chat with women members of the church of all backgrounds and interests. Bring a simple dish and plan to come.

Save the Date: Spring Boutique
If you haven’t kicked the Fair shopping spirit, don’t distress. Fair is still in the air on April 18 and 19, when select, quality vendors come to the church for our Spring Boutique. Remember: Funds raised go toward outreach. So plan to do your spring shopping at Brick and shop for a cause. More details to follow.

PRIMETIMERS
Curator to Lead Whitney Tour
Join us on March 29, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. for a special tour of the “Uncontained” exhibit at the Whitney Museum, 945 Madison Avenue near 75th Street. Curator Chrissie Iles will lead the tour.

When we think of sculpture historically, we usually envision a discrete, self-contained object such as a statue of a human figure or a pedestal-based portrait bust. This exhibition examines the idea of an “uncontained” object with a selection of works, primarily sculpture, from the permanent collection. The Whitney Museum, founded in 1931, houses one of the world’s foremost collections of twentieth-century American art. The Museum’s collection, exhibited on two floors, starts with works from 1900 and continues to the present. Look for a PrimeTimer flyer with further details.

BOOK CLUB
March Selection
The Brick Church Book Club will read Snow, by Orhan Pamuk, for their March meeting. Ellen Baldwin will host the discussion Monday, March 5, at 8:00 p.m. Please RSVP to Ellen at 212-831-2615.

COMMUNICATIONS
Communications Survey Leads to New Website Features
Responding to a survey in the September Record, 46 members told the Communications Committee how they currently use the Brick Church’s newsletter and website, and what they want in the future. The most-requested website feature – every Sunday’s preacher, text and sermon title – will now be posted along with Adult Education details every week by Wednesday. In addition, you can find links to other Presbyterian websites under “Other News.”

The calendar and upcoming events are the most popular features in the Record, followed by worship and music and special articles. Respondents report that the calendar, sermons and adult education are their most frequent destinations on the website. Interestingly, about ¾ of respondents said they would be very likely or somewhat likely to RSVP, sign up for events, and update family information on the website. We hope to provide interactive capabilities at some point in the future.

Readership data from webmaster Bill Ryckman show that the Brick Church site attracted around 3000 visits during January, with over 75,000 hits. According to these data, sermons are the most-visited area on the site, followed by the Day School, About Brick Church, and the worship schedule.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership Meetings in March
Five times a year, The Brick Church hosts a series of Membership Meetings where neighbors, visitors and members can learn about The Christian Faith, The Presbyterian Tradition and the history of Brick Church. We welcome all who are interested to join one or all of these meetings. By participating in this series, you are by no means expected to seek membership at The Brick Church. We encourage members to join these sessions as well, to demonstrate to visitors that we are a faith community, constantly seeking educational, spiritual and social nourishment.

The next series of classes will take place in March. To accommodate busy schedules, meetings on The Christian Faith and The Presbyterian Tradition are held on both Thursday evenings and weekends.

Sessions on The Christian Faith and The Presbyterian Tradition provide excellent grounding in our basic beliefs, traditions and differences. The Pastors lead these discussions in an informal environment. A Saturday orientation, The Meaning of Membership, led by the Senior Pastor and members of the congregation, focuses on The Brick Church and provides an overview of our many activities, events, and programs. Attendance at all three classes is required for membership.

Please contact Tanisha Carrell (212-289-4400, ext. 230) if you plan to attend, or simply for more information. Childcare is available for all the Sunday meetings and upon request for the Saturday orientation.

Schedule of Meetings
The Christian Faith
Thursday, March 1 at 6:45 p.m. or Sunday, March 4 at 9:50 a.m.

The Presbyterian Tradition
Thursday, March 8 at 6:45 p.m. or Saturday, March 10 at 12:00 p.m.

The Meaning of Membership
Saturday, March 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Received into Membership
Sunday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m.