From the Pastor
One of the constant themes in the life of every church I’ve known is whether it’s appropriate to talk in church before the service begins. You know the scene… people are finding their places, the organ is playing softly, you see an old friend in the pew in front of you or your five-year-old informs you he’s hungry after all. Everything in you wants to say, “Great to see you!” or “Wait for coffee hour.” But all around you are people listening closely to the music, offering prayer, or just relishing the peace.

The general answer to the talking-in-church question, quite frankly, is that conversation is not appropriate before or during the service, not even immediately after the service, at least not until most people are leaving the sanctuary. We live in a noisy, full-of-words world. Worship is the one-hour exception. We turn from the banter that drives our days to another kind of listening – a harder, longer, deeper listening to God through music, prayer, word, and silence.

Church chatter is a problem for two reasons. First, if you are talking, you are not listening. And secondly, talking often disturbs fellow worshipers as they try to listen for God. So (with exceptions for the unavoidable and uncontrollable) a blessed silence should reign from the moment we enter the sanctuary. After church, there is always coffee hour, that place where church chatter is positively encouraged.
—Michael L. Lindvall

Brick Church Seminarians
Rick Bold: Drawn to Life’s Big Questions
Rick Bold, our intern from Princeton Seminary, is in the second year of his three-year Master of Divinity program. Since arriving at The Brick Church in September, he has developed a popular Bible study series and become a regular participant in the Sunday and Wednesday worship services.

Where did your interest in the ministry begin?
I grew up with a general Protestant background – mainly in the Presbyterian church but with periods of attending Baptist and Methodist churches, and even a period of not going to church at all.

After high school in Atlanta, I went to Davidson College in North Carolina, which has a Presbyterian heritage. While I benefited from a broad liberal arts education, I majored in politics and minored in economics.

However, I had a very influential Political Theory professor, Dr. Peter Ahrensdorf. We read the classics – Plato, Augustine, Machiavelli, Shakespeare, the Bible – thinkers who dealt with the huge questions of life. What is justice? How do we educate? How do we know what we know? Can there be a synthesis between reason and revelation? I was fascinated by these questions and remember appreciating how unique and profound the Christian perspective is. Despite this liberal arts education, I went into investment banking when I graduated, joining Wachovia Securities in Charlotte.

A lot of Brick Church members can identify with that choice. But it seems fairly distant from seminary.
It took a while for everything to fall into place. During my years as a banker, I attended First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. In my free time, I found myself drawn not to The Wall Street Journal but to the Bible, history, and theology – that’s where my interests were. I talked with the ministers and other people whose opinions I valued. My professor from Davidson was not surprised. But my boss wondered if my investment banking experience would disqualify me!

What did your family think?
My parents have always been very supportive of whatever I wanted to do. I have to say that seminary wasn’t exactly what my wife Robyn was expecting. We had only been married for six months. But we had two or three months to make the decision. We actually visited Princeton during the coldest days we’ve ever spent there. It was freezing and miserable. So the reality has been far better than the preview. Robyn now teaches third grade in New Jersey, and just might be the greatest teacher ever.

Mary Lou Anderson (wife of Pastor Emeritus Herb Anderson) used to say that being a minister’s wife wasn’t “what she signed up for” initially. She always laughed when she said it, but that must be a typical reaction for anyone whose spouse enters the ministry from another field.

Actually, Robyn’s uncle and grandfather were both Methodist ministers. So the idea wasn’t completely foreign to her. I did of course realize from the beginning that the decision to go to seminary would affect our whole family. Looking back, though, we have both been pleasantly surprised at how easy this transition has been for us. We don’t miss the restaurants and the fancy apartment nearly as much as we thought we might, and neither of us would trade the new experiences we’ve had or the people we’ve met for anything in the world. For both of us to be pursuing what we believe are our vocations has honestly kept us quite happy.

What have you gained from your time here at Brick?
While the book knowledge part of seminary is obviously essential, equally important is this indescribable process that happens through experience serving in the church where you begin gradually to grow into the role of a minister. I could not have asked for a better church than Brick to help me gain this much-needed experience during seminary. From leading Bible studies and helping with Confirmation, to participating in worship and assisting with pastoral care, I have enjoyed a broad and rewarding year so far at Brick. I am grateful to Michael, Christy, Doug, and Keith for their wisdom and trust, and grateful to the congregation for its welcome and support.

What do you want to do when you finish at Princeton?
I’m interested in parish ministry, especially in a downtown/large city church. I believe these churches have such a powerful opportunity to speak persuasively about the rich Christian tradition and the relevance of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the 21st century. These churches typically have the opportunity to interact with broad sections of the community – business, political, service organizations, the arts – and I’m excited about the possibilities for this type of cooperation.

Should The Brick Church Add “The Peace” to its Service?
It has been suggested that the worship feature known as “The Peace,” which is present in many church services, be added to Brick Church’s service. Basically The Peace involves exchanging handshakes and the words “May the Peace of Christ be with you” or something similar. It is not a greeting or a preview of Coffee Hour. It is part of the worship liturgy, usually following the Assurance of Pardon, in which the congregants pass on the assurance of the presence of Christ in our lives.

Please let one of the pastors or Worship Committee members know your opinion. On the Worship Committee are Grace Diggs, Pam Ferguson, Craig Huff, Peggy Raub, Tom Robinson, Fred Sater, Joe Sauvage, Ellsworth Stanton, Margaret Tranbaugh, Arthur Wallander, David Wilson and Wally Bottger.

The DaVinci Code:
Read the book, see the movie, hear the discussion
What is fact and what is fiction? Michael Lindvall will share his insights on The Da Vinci Code when Neighborhood Nights hosts a come-one, come-all discussion on the last Thursday in May. Many have read the book, and the film is scheduled to open mid-May. Hear how Michael Lindvall interprets the events popularized by Dan Brown (author), Ron Howard (director) and Akiva Goldsman (screenwriter). With the recent London lawsuit over the “origins” of the novel…the long-haired Tom Hanks playing the leading role in the film…and the ongoing controversy over what is true and what is not, this upcoming colloquy will be a provocative and stimulating evening. The evening is open to members and nonmenbers, so be sure to invite your friends. The discussion will be held on May 25 (the day after the famous Brick Church Strawberry Festival) in the Carnegie Room on the third floor of the Parish House at 7:00 p.m.

Come Celebrate Our Life and Mission 2006 Annual Brick Church Congregational Dinner and Annual Meetings: Wednesday, May 3
Join us as we explore the depth and breadth of our ministry together. See friends, thank outgoing officers, elect the slate of new officers and receive annual reports. We have much to celebrate and much to discuss as we look forward to the future of The Brick Church.

The evening will begin with a reception on the Youth Floor at 6:30 p.m. This will be followed by a wonderful buffet dinner ($20) and the Annual meetings. This year we request the assistance of two volunteers from each table to help clear dinner dishes. Childcare will be provided–please mention your children’s ages when making reservations. RSVP to the reception desk by Monday, May 1 at noon.

By Order of the Session and the Board of Trustees of The Brick Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, the Annual Meetings of the Congregation and Corporation will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, in Watson Hall, The Brick Presbyterian Church, 1140 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10128, beginning at 8:00 p.m. These meetings are called for the following purposes: to elect Elders to succeed: Gloria E. Altherr, William S. Eakins, Christopher P. Mahan, Kent McKamy, Helen B. Pennoyer, Frederic S. Sater, Susan P. Webb-Dreyfus and Sabina Wu; to elect Deacons to succeed Patrick D. Barrett, Ann Dunham, Mimi K. Hah, Robert P. Kellas, Sylvester F. Miniter, David W. Morgan, Thea K. Obstler, Barbara H. Scott and Duncan M. Webb; to elect Trustees to succeed Cornelia W. Clifford, Susan F. Geisenheimer, Linda A. Simpson and E. Deane Turner; to elect an All-Church Nominating Committee (five members); to receive annual reports and to transact other business as may come before the meetings. —Ellsworth G. Stanton III, Clerk of Session

British Organ Virtuoso to Appear in Recital
British virtuoso organist Jane Parker-Smith will appear in recital on our Anderson organ (Casavant Frères, op. 3837, 2005) on Monday, May 8, at 8:00 p.m. Ms. Parker-Smith is widely recognized as one of the most electrifying concert organists alive. Her program at Brick Church will consist of virtuosic works by Sir Edward Elgar, John Ireland, Franz Liszt, and Louis Vierne among others. General admission tickets ($20) will be available at the door the night of the concert or at the Reception Desk. For further information please contact Minister of Music Keith S. Toth or visit the Brick Church website.

Learning About Communion
This year, The Brick Church offered three communion orientation classes for 1st and 2nd grade students and their parents, led by Julia Dunn and Associate Pastor Christy Lang. We began each class by drawing pictures that showed our families doing something together, and then introduced ourselves and shared our drawings (adults, too!). Then we discussed family celebrations.

We moved from there to a discussion of the two major celebrations in the life of the church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We talked about why we celebrate Communion: first, we celebrate that we are God’s family, and that God is here with us. Second, we remember Jesus, his last supper with friends, and what he did for us. Third, we remember that we need to grow spiritually, and that God gives us what we need in order to grow.

Finally, we explored how we celebrate communion, and practiced its basics together, dipping bread into a chalice without dripping on our clothes and responding with “Amen.” This class will be offered again next year.
The students who completed the class this year are Grant Andreas, Colin Bailey, Connor Barrett, Serena Bingham, Westby Caspersen, Amélie Clémot, Annabelle Clémot, Caroline Dunn, William Ettinger, Chris Gay, Hudson Haskin, Kristina Jacobsson, Chloe Paulina Kallenberg, Thomas Li, Claudia Lopez-Balboa, Mimi Myers, Katherine Ottenbreit, John Sawyers, Gwyneth Sauvage, Rhys Sauvage, Theo Webb, and Kate Wittpenn.

The Friday Night Dinner Program for Youth
Dates for this month: May 5 and 19
Join high school and 8th grade youth as we have a great time cooking and serving dinner to people who live at Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter’s 81st Street residence. Youth can receive Community Service credit for this program. Meet at 5:00 p.m. in the Watson Hall Kitchen. We will be finished by 7:45 p.m

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

The SCS Committee is therefore assembling teaching teams for next year (2006-2007). 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.

We will provide training in how to use the curriculum and how to teach effectively. Teaching teams will plan lessons in advance each quarter.

If you love kids and would be willing to lead a lesson at least once per month while working with a committed team, 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.

5th and 6th Grade Pioneers Meet on May 7
The Pioneers meet about once a month for fun, dinner, and a service project together. All events occur from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in Watson Hall, with check-in and payment in the Garden Room. Each event costs $15, if you did not pay for the whole season up front. Please contact Caitlin Sparks for registration forms, which both you and your friends need to bring.

Confirmation Sunday is May 7
The Confirmation Class this year has had an amazing journey together, learning, discussing, serving, and growing. On May 7, twelve 8th grade students will be confirmed in the 11:00 a.m. worship service and will become active members of The Brick Church community. Afterward, a reception will be held in their honor.

Spring Musical and Family Barbeque - May 7
The Children’s Spring Musical, Oh Jonah, will take place in Watson Hall on Sunday, May 7, at 4:30 p.m. The musical involves about 50 children, ages 6 - 13. Everyone is invited to watch. The event is free. Following the musical, all children and adults who participate in Sunday School are invited to gather for a barbeque in the Garden from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be supplied. Families with last names beginning A - M, please bring a salad; families with names beginning N - Z, please bring a dessert.

Children’s Choirs at Brick Church
Spotlight on: Youth Choir
The Youth Choir is Brick Church’s choir for children in grades 2-6. These singers gather every Sunday morning at 10:00 and rehearse for an hour before Sunday worship. They are learning to read music, singing descants and two-part anthems, and exploring some advanced choral techniques. Many Youth Choir members practice their music at home in addition to Sunday morning rehearsals. They each receive a practice CD to rehearse with each season, and links to the anthems they are rehearsing are also available on the music page of the Brick Church website.

The Youth Choir sings in worship monthly. They learn that their anthems are not performances, but gifts of song to God. They also learn the responsibility involved in being leaders of worship.

Before entering worship on those Sundays, one child is selected to read the Chorister’s Prayer: “Bless, O Lord, us your servants who minister in your temple; Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

This May, the Youth Choir will participate in two very special performances. The first is the Children’s Spring Musical, Oh Jonah!, on Sunday, May 7, at 4:30 p.m. in Watson Hall. The second exciting event is the New York City Choristers Guild Festival, Saturday, May 21, here at the Brick Church. If you’d like to find out more about the choirs at Brick Church or enroll for the 2006-2007 season, visit the music page of the Brick Church website or pick up a registration form at the church reception desk. You can also contact Amanda Page Smith, Director of Children’s Music Ministries, at 212-289-4400 x229 or asmith@brickchurch.org for more information.

Children’s Choir Rehearsal Schedule 2006-2007 Season
Announcing the rehearsal schedule for the Children’s Choirs in next year’s 2006-2007 season! If you have children who are 4 or older, be on the look-out for a choir registration mailing. You can also pick up a registration form for next season at the reception desk.

Brick Church School News:
Brick Church School Tours
The Brick Church School will offer spring tours in May for Church members who are interested in applying to the School for the 2007-08 school year. Children who will be three years old by November 1, 2007 are eligible to apply. Please call the School at 212-289-5683 if you are interested in scheduling a tour.

Brick Church School Family Festival
Please save the date for the Brick Family Festival on Wednesday, May 31, from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. at the Victorian Gardens amusement park at Wollman Rink in Central Park. This event for Brick Church School families, alumni and friends will celebrate the end of the school year with magic, music, face-painting, games and amusement park rides.

The Festival will also feature a fantastic raffle. Each $10 raffle ticket will buy a chance to win exciting prizes including: a four-day stay at the Kapalua Villas Resort in Hawaii; limited-edition women’s gold earrings; Mets, Rangers and Knicks VIP tickets and a birthday party bash at FAO Schwarz.

The Festival will provide vital support for student scholarships and many services not covered by tuition at The Brick Church School. Tickets are available at $60 for adults and $40 for children. If you are interested in attending or underwriting costs of the event, please contact Vivian Chambers, Co-Chair, at vbchambers@aol.com or 646-251-2426.

New York City Choristers Guild Festival Service
On Saturday, May 20, Children’s Choirs from all over the New York City area, including 20 children from The Brick Church’s Youth Choir, will gather in a festival of song and worship here in the Brick Church Sanctuary. The Festival is sponsored by Choristers Guild, a Christian organization that enables leaders to nurture the spiritual and musical growth of children and youth. The New York City Chapter of Choristers Guild consists of over 60 children’s choir directors in local churches. Amanda Smith, Director of Children’s Choirs at The Brick Church, serves as the President of the New York City Chapter.

The Brick Church congregation is warmly welcomed to attend the service of music and worship at 3:00 p.m.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Author Eric Metaxas joins us at The Brick Church during the 10:00 a.m. Adult Education hour to discuss his witty, thoughtful, and informative 2005 book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask).

He poses a number of realistic, practical questions about the Christian faith and answers them with warmth, humor, and insight. In the chapter “Does God really know everything,” he writes:

Q: But if God already knows everything, why
does he need anyone to pray? I don’t get that.
A: Well, it’s not that he needs us to pray. He allows us to pray. He lets us participate in the process of making bad things turn good. Humans can enter the process of redemption alongside God. Honestly, this is a huge and frightening privilege when you think about it. Mere mortals have a chance to pray for justice and for the triumph of good over evil, among other things.” (pp 29-30)

May 7 at 10:00 a.m., Carnegie Room

The Genesis Plan: 7 Proven Principles for Spending Your Time Wisely
Author Susie Case visits The Brick Church during the 10:00 a.m. Adult Education hour to discuss how her recent book uses the Genesis creation story as a springboard for examining how well we plan our time and lives. Both parents and professionals have found The Genesis Plan to be the tool they’ve needed to sort out the competing demands on their schedules. In The Genesis Plan, she writes:

“God’s rhythms make our planning a helpful tool, not another place to fail. When we jam too much into our schedules without recognizing our limits, we can look at our planners in the morning and feel like we have failed before we’ve even started our days. Writing commitments down doesn’t make them happen if they are ill conceived to start with...

“God’s rhythms remind us to add in variety. When we work on an intense project, it is tempting to keep going like TV’s Energizer bunny. The setting sun, the end of the work week, and the changing foliage are all reminders to stop the part of us that wants to make life a marathon and add in some short-distance sprints and breaks, too. How do we respect our rhythms in our schedules? With a mix of acceptance, pre-planning, and a mindset of spontaneous cooperation with God.” (pp 54-55)

Sunday, March 5 & 12 at 10:00 a.m.

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 an engaging guest speaker. 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. Contact Christy Lang at 212-289-4400, ext. 241 or clang@brickchurch.org if you have questions.
October 27-29, 2006

Strawberry Festival on 92nd Street
On May 24 at 6:00 p.m., the neighborhood’s favorite Strawberry Festival will take place on 92d Street between Madison and Park Avenues. Enjoy strawberry shortcake with ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream; live music; and conversation with friends and neighbors. Tickets are $5 at the door, or $4 if purchased in advance. Tickets will be available on the two Sundays preceding the Festival.

Volunteers are welcome to hull strawberries on Monday, May 22, led by Phil Stimson; to bake the cakes on Tuesday, with Paul Shaum in charge; or to serve as Festival waiters. For more information, contact Don Spongberg at DSpongberg@SpencerTrask.com.

Annual All-Church Picnic
Save the date! On June 4, directly following worship, we will have the All-Church Picnic in Central Park. The entrance is at 99th street off Fifth Avenue. There will be games for the children and fellowship for all. Wear your shorts to church! Look for complete details in the June Record. If you have any questions, please call Preston Davis at 212.828.9519 or preston.davis@mac.com.

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!

Women’s Spring & Summer BBQs Begin in May
Please save Thursday, May 11, 2006, as we kick off the first of three Women’s Spring & Summer Barbeques in the Garden. All women members of The Brick Church aged 21 and over are welcome, along with additional friends and family. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers, followed by dinner and dessert. Invitations with more detailed information will follow shortly. The dates for the other Women’s Summer BBQs are June 8 and July 27. If you would like to volunteer to help that evening, or need additional information, please contact Shannon Froehlich at 212-426-5900, or by email: shannon_froehlich@hotmail.com.

Memorial Day Commemoration
On May 29, a Memorial Day Commemoration will honor New Yorkers who have served in wars past and present, with special emphasis on the Civil War. At 10:30 a.m., there will be tributes to veterans at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at 89th Street and Riverside Drive. A memorial walk to Grant’s Tomb at 122nd Street and Riverside Drive will follow immediately. A Civil War encampment, a reenactment of the life of a Union soldier, and historical displays will be featured at Grant’s Tomb. For more information, call 212-693-0157.

WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Wrap Up the Year with Our Annual Luncheon!
The Women’s Association will hold its annual luncheon on May 10 at noon at the Parish House. All women members are invited to join us for an afternoon of good food and fellowship. Michael Lindvall will install the new officers and Women’s Association President Anne Schack will report on the year’s activities. The delicious buffet luncheon that follows is a lively, friendly occasion to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

Watch for your invitation in the mail. Please RSVP early because the luncheon sells out every year! For more information or to RSVP, contact Carol Ann Mercer.

Make It Personal
Personal Papers is a Women’s Association committee that sells stationery, invitations and other personal papers with proceeds benefiting the Women’s Association’s Outreach Programs. Personal Papers can help you with your stationery needs, as well as your summer birthday party invitations, graduation gifts, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gifts and lots more. To see our beautiful paper samples and to learn more about this program of purchasing and giving back at the same time, contact Carol Ann Mercer or Janet Ley, co-chair, at janetley@earthlink.net.

Join Chancel Committee
The Women’s Association Chancel Committee prepares communion on the first Sunday of every month. We are looking for a few volunteers beginning in the fall to help us on two or three Sundays over the course of the year. If you can only volunteer on weekends, this is a perfect fit for you. On Sundays between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m., volunteers set up communion. They clean up after the service from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m. Chancel volunteers contribute to worship while meeting and working with other Brick Church members. To learn more, please contact Pam Ferguson (pfergusn@alger.com), Ann Darmstaetter (darmy124@aol.com), Mimi Hah (mhah@nyc.rr.com) or Jayne Napier (jaynenapier@aol.com).

PrimeTimers
PrimeTimers Blossomed in Its Second Year
It’s hard to believe, but two years ago the church had no mission or fellowship activities specifically for adults beyond their child-raising years. But in the spring of 2004, a few from that category felt called to explore the need and opportunity for a new Brick Church group, and tap the energies, spiritual commitment and community interests of our adults.

The first surprise was that more than a third of all Brick Church members were over 50. The need seemed to be there. The next surprise was the support we had within Brick Church. The pastors said “go ahead,” potential members said “what a good idea,” and we were off and running.

Who are we? We are people who are generally over 50, women and men who are single, empty nesters, married, widowed, and divorced, seeking outlets for our time and energy, working and having fun together. The PrimeTimers fellowship activities and mission outreach opportunities have allowed PrimeTimers to develop new friendships and re-kindle old ones. Some just like the opportunity to be with others, involved in things they wouldn’t do otherwise. The variety of activities brings growing member participation and leadership.

There’s more to come. How about a walking tour that outlines the rich history of Carnegie Hill, a chamber music concert on a barge off Brooklyn, or summer barbecues in the Brick Church garden? Other possibilities include trips to various museums, botanical gardens, a journey to Yankee Stadium, a fishing excursion, or creating an entertainment revue to bring joy to people in nursing homes. Outreach opportunities include Pet Therapy, helping people get to church, and soon, adopting an on-going PrimeTimers outreach project within one of the church’s focus ministries. Ideas abound, and the newly created Leadership Council is eager to bring the opportunities to you.

If you want to help with good works in our community and to have a good time with other Primetimers in the church and the city, watch for announcements in The Record, the Sunday Bulletin, special flyers in your mail and at the Parish House reception desk, and come along.
—Gayle Johnson & Kent McKamy

PrimeTimers Leadership Grows
Bimonthly, the PrimeTimers Leadership Council (open to all) meets after church to suggest and discuss possible activities for the organization. Meetings have been well attended and lively. The many voices are leading us to a broader variety of activities, and new leaders are stepping up to manage events and fulfill roles of particular interest. Let your ideas be known and your voice be heard. Come to the next Leadership Council Meeting after coffee hour on Sunday, May 21.

The Brick Church Book Club May Selection
The Brick Church Book Club will read Summons to Memphis, by Peter Taylor, for their May meeting. The discussion will be hosted by Isabel Cunningham on Monday, May 1, at 8:00 p.m., at her home at 1172 Park Avenue. Please respond to Isabel at 212-369-8736.

New Member Classes in May
For people interested in exploring membership, The Brick Church offers a series of classes in Mary. The next classes will take place in October. To accommodate busy schedules, classes on The Christian Faith and The Presbyterian Tradition are held on both Thursday evenings and on weekends.
Sessions on The Christian Faith and The Presbyterian Tradition provide excellent grounding in our basic beliefs, traditions, and differences. Pastors Michael Lindvall or Christiane Lang lead these discussions in an informal environment. A Saturday orientation, The Meaning of Membership, led by Rev. Lindvall and members of the congregation, focuses on Brick Church and provides an overview of our many activities, events, and programs. Attendance at all three classes is required for membership.

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

The Christian Faith
Thursday, May 11 at 6:45 p.m.
or Sunday, May 14 at 9:50 a.m.

The Presbyterian Tradition
Thursday, May 18 at 6:45 p.m.
or Saturday, May 20 at 12:10 p.m.

The Meaning of Membership
Saturday, May 20
from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Members Received into Worship
Sunday, May 21