From the Pastor
An Ancient Virtue
The Bible is intractably insistent on any number of the more familiar classical virtues, “honesty” and “compassion” for instance. But there is another, the praises of which cram scripture; yet it is a virtue moderns tend to marginalize. Both Old and New Testaments again and again assume and insist upon the central importance of the virtue of “hospitality”– the gracious welcoming of the stranger, the foreigner, the newcomer, in our midst. In a clannish world that did not exactly celebrate diversity, such hospitality was not the natural inclination.

Yet in the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Abraham and Sarah offer extravagant welcome to three strangers come to visit at the Oaks of Mamre. That they turn out to be a mysterious trinity of angels only underlines the point. The New Testament book of Hebrews remembers this story and ads, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels unawares.” Most Bible scholars argue that the moral lapse that brings hellfire down on Sodom and Gomorrah is not simply rape, but an extreme inhospitality to strangers. In the Gospels, Jesus is again and again welcomed into the most unlikely of homes, and he himself graciously receives lepers, Quisling tax collectors, despised Samaritans and outcast women. The picture of the church painted in The Book of Acts and the Epistles is one in which the strangest of strangers are again and again welcomed. Paul sings the praises of hospitality in Romans 12: “Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints,” and lastly, in the place of prominence, “practice hospitality.”

The church is likewise called to be a place of gracious welcome. Time and again, visitors tell me that Brick Church, set as it is a neighborhood reputed for aloofness and a city of famous brashness, is startlingly friendly. This is a church culture of welcome that we should continue nurture in every way – to Sunday visitors, weekday visitors, to new members, to our new Student Ministers, for example. Every Sunday after the postlude, that challenge becomes real in your pew – to say something to someone you don’t know… or not. I invite you to reach out the unfamiliar face behind you and say, “I’m not sure we’ve met.” And if they turn out to be visitors, add, “I’m so glad you’re here. Would you come to Coffee Hour with us?” Hospitality means moving in away from the treasured center aisle seat and making a place for the stranger in your pew. It means sticking your hand out to somebody at that Coffee Hour and saying, “I’m so-and-so…”

The stranger, the newcomer, the visitor all long for what each one of us longs for – to be welcomed, noticed, and cared for. And who knows, we may again be entertaining angels unawares.—Michael L. Lindvall

Lift High the Cross
The fall is in full swing and once again The Brick Presbyterian Church is fully engaged in serving its community. With each Sunday worship service, each outreach ministry and each Christian education class, we are reminded of The Brick Church’s unique role in the lives of its members and its community. We enjoy a vibrant membership of over 1,200. Our activities and ministries touch the lives of nearly four thousand people each week. We have many reasons to be proud of our church.

Lift High the Cross has long been one of the favorite hymns of the Brick Church family and we therefore have chosen it as the theme of the 2007 Stewardship Campaign. The beloved hymn’s familiar melody and inspirational lyrics form a fitting anthem for our efforts this campaign year.

With Pledge Dedication Sunday approaching, we ask that you once again consider your financial commitment to The Brick Presbyterian Church. This year is particularly crucial with respect to meeting our budgetary goals and operating requirements. We need to significantly increase our stewardship giving goal in 2007 to $2.3 million, an increase of 15% over prior year pledges. Four key financial factors are driving this increase:

Christian Education and Youth Ministry
With the addition of Rev. Christy Lang to our ordained staff in 2005, Brick Church gained a talented Associate Pastor for Christian Education and Discipleship. Her ministry with children and youth alone involves working with the Sunday Church School (in which over 400 children are enrolled and numerous volunteer teachers give their time) and developing youth programs that target the varied interests of 5th – 12th graders. To assist with children’s and youth ministries, the Session has authorized hiring a full time Coordinator. A 15% increase in stewardship giving in 2007 will enable us to bear the full cost of this critically important Children’s and Youth Ministries Coordinator.

Mission Outreach
One cornerstone of the Brick Church’s mission has been its support of worthy local social service organizations through Mission Outreach programs. In the past two years, we have been forced to reduce the Outreach budget by about 10% due to pressure from other, less controllable, areas of the church’s expenses. A 15% increase in stewardship giving in 2007 will enable us to grow our Mission Outreach budget for the first time in three years.

Growth in Non-Discretionary Expenses
Since 2003, our electricity, fuel, and pension expenses, which account for a significant portion of the church’s operating budget, have increased 22% per year, far in excess of normal inflationary growth. This dramatic growth in non-discretionary expenses has impacted our ability to fund other important programs such as Christian Education, Youth Ministry and Mission Outreach. Along with an intensive effort to hold down costs going forward, a 15% increase in stewardship giving in 2007 will help Brick Church contain and offset increases in non-discretionary expenses.

Preservation of Endowment Fund
We have been forced to spend at an alarmingly high rate from the church’s endowment – over 7% in each of the last few years – primarily to cover these significant increases in non-discretionary expenses. While the investment performance of the endowment has been better than market averages, most experts believe a spending rate higher than 5% is not sustainable over the long term. A 15% increase in stewardship giving in 2007 will help restore Brick Church’s sound financial footing and allow us to remain faithful stewards of the financial generosity of earlier generations.

The Stewardship Committee and the broader church leadership realize that this giving increase is significant and will have an impact on all members of the Brick Presbyterian Church family. We have outlined why a successful campaign is critical for Brick both to cover its operating expenses and to maintain the high level of community involvement that our membership has come to enjoy and expect.

Thank you for your generous support. We hope that when you next hear Lift High the Cross, you will be joyfully reminded of how your pledges allow Brick to maintain its special role in the lives of this congregation and the broader community. –The 2007 Stewardship Committee

Stewardship Town Hall Meetings
October 29 & November 5
12:15 p.m. in Watson Hall

Stewardship Committee members will be available to give information and answer your questions regarding the Campaign. Come learn more about stewardship at The Brick Church.

Princeton Seminary’s Iain Torrance to Preach on Nov. 5
Our Celebration Series guest preacher in November will be Iain Torrance, President and Professor of Patristics at Princeton Theological Seminary. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and studied at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned an M.A. in mental philosophy; at St. Andrews University, where he earned a B.D. in New Testament languages and literature; and at Oxford University (Oriel College), where he earned a D.Phil in Syriac patristics.

His pastoral experience includes service in a parish church in the Shetland Islands and as a reservist chaplain to Britain’s armed forces from 1982 to 2000. In 2001, he was appointed a chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen, an office that he retains. Torrance was elected moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2003.

He has taught at the Queen’s College in Birmingham, the University of Birmingham in England, and Aberdeen University, where became Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Divinity. His wide-ranging scholarship has focused on early Christian thought, the ethics of war, and bioethics.

Please welcome Iain Torrance to The Brick Church at a wine and cheese reception on Saturday, November 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Parish House Living room.

Advent Potluck Supper and Carol Sing
On Sunday, December 3, the Advent Potluck Supper returns to Watson Hall. Members and guests will enjoy great food and fellowship before the annual lighting of the Christmas trees on Park Avenue. For decades, the Brick Church has thrown the switch that lights the avenue for the holidays.

Here’s how the potluck supper works. If your last name begins with a letter from A–H, bring an entrée; from I–P, salad; and from Q–Z, desert. Bring portions sufficient for twice the number of people in your party, and drop the food off on December 3 between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The potluck supper in Watson Hall begins at 5:00 p.m. At 6:15 p.m., we exit to Park Avenue which will be closed to traffic to accommodate the thousands of neighbors who join with us for the community carol sing. Keith Toth will accompany us as we all sing our favorite carols. Watson Hall has 250 spaces available for this dinner, so reserve your spot quickly. We are also in need of volunteers to help this run smoothly. To volunteer please email DSpongberg@SpencerTrask.com or call Don Spongberg at 212-418-8557, Pat Allen at 212-535-459 or Joan Podell at 212-722-7690. For reservations, please call The Brick Church at 212-289-4400.

Tell Us About Your Time and Talents
In your Stewardship mailing this year, you received a Time and Talent Form. This new form will help you explore different ways you can be involved in the life of Brick Church, and it will help the church learn about what you’d like to do. We encourage you to take a few minutes to fill out the form and return it to the church office or with your Stewardship pledge. The more we find ways to serve each other, the closer we grow in our faithfulness to God. Additional forms are available online, at our website, and at the front desk. If you have any questions please contact Tanisha Carrell at the church.

Celebrate Michael Lindvall’s Newest Book
The Corner Book Store, located at Madison Avenue and 93rd Street, will host a reception and book signing event to celebrate the publication of Senior Minister Michael Lindvall’s most recent book, What Did Jesus Do? – A Crash Course on the Life of Jesus. The reception will take place on a date to be announced, from 6:30 to 8:00 in the evening. The book is a brief introduction to the life, times, and meaning of Jesus Christ for a general audience, Christians and non-Christians alike, including readers with little or no prior knowledge. All members and friends of Brick Church are cordially invited to attend. Watch for an announcement of the date.

New Seminary Interns
On September 17 Brick Church welcomed two new seminary interns, Emily K. Krause and Rachel A. Pedersen. Both are second year Master of Divinity students at Princeton Theological Seminary. Brick Church members will have an opportunity to get to know them on Sundays as they share in various aspects of church life. Emily and Rachel will also be meeting weekly with Brick Pastors to explore various topics in ministry as part of their path toward ordination. On behalf of our entire community, The Record would like to extend to them a warm welcome.

Emily K. Krause
“It’s a wonderful community, people have been very warm and welcoming” Emily Krause says of Brick, “I’m excited to get to know people better, to understand what brings them to a community of faith and what sustains them in their spiritual life.”

A native of Columbus Ohio, Ms. Krause holds a BA in Biology and Athletic Training from Denison University, as well as an MS in Kinesiology and Athletic Training from Indiana University. After completing her education, Ms. Krause spent seven years at Denison University teaching injury assessment, rehabilitation and kinesiology while also working with varsity students on preventive injury management.

As a long-time member of Broad Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ms. Krause taught Sunday school and worked with the church’s youth task force redesigning youth curriculum. But it was a church mission to Peru in 2002 that Ms. Krause calls “instrumental” in her decision to attend seminary.

While in Peru, Ms. Krause worked on a team that carried out lead screening among the women and children of the heavily polluted mining town of La Oraya. The pollution had resulted in high lead levels among the local population, and in turn learning and developmental disabilities were rampant. Screening was the first step toward helping them.

“Seeing the hope in the children’s faces and the concern in their mother’s eyes was a call to me,” Krause explains, “I knew there was something else I could be doing in God’s world to have my skills address their needs.” With her background in medical and health sciences, Krause has a particular interest in addressing healthcare, housing and labor issues, both locally and globally.

Ms. Krause was engaged this past summer to Mr. Jeffrey Corzine, whom she met at her church. Mr. Corzine is a health administrator in the Ohio State Department of Job and Family Services and a “wonderful baritone,” as Ms. Krause attests. They plan to marry in 2008 after she has completed Seminary.

Rachel A. Pedersen
“I had always said that I would never go to Seminary,” explains Rachel Pedersen with a smile. But a study grant during her junior year of college—during which she worked with women in a vocational school in rural Ghana—changed her mind.

“I was really challenged by the people I worked with, and while I really loved development and economics, I felt could be of better service by working through the church,” Ms. Pedersen explains.

A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Ms. Pedersen has been a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she first taught Sunday school when she herself was in the 6th grade. After graduating from Minnesota’s Carleton College in 2004 with a BA in economics and international relations, Ms. Pedersen spent a year working for the Presbyterian United Nations office, running their education program as well as doing advocacy work around development and children’s issues.

It was during this time that Ms. Pedersen was first introduced to Brick Church. “A lot of people in the UN office talked about how this church was involved in the community and really living out their gospel in a lot of exciting ways,” she explains, “And the first time I came to visit I was really impressed with the warmth that people showed.”

Long term, Ms. Pedersen hopes to serve the church in international mission. “I’m really excited about the places where churches in Europe and North America work with churches in the developing world to find ways to do God’s work,” she explains. In the same breath she adds, “there’s also the challenge to not just look outside our country for problems, but to also improve people’s lives in our own communities.”

Yorkville Common Pantry Thanksgiving Turkey Drive
On Sunday, November 12, Deacons will be collecting cash or checks to help Yorkville Common Pantry distribute turkeys to 1,200 families in need. Each $20 donation will help buy a turkey for a family of 5.

For more information, call Yorkville Common Pantry Deacons Willie Carter at 212-534-0425, Beth Green at 212-427-2834 or Glen Wittpenn at 212-369-5241.

CCOC Visit to Church of the Good Neighbor
Recently Margaret Tranbaugh, Patrick Barrett and Doug King, members of the Capital Campaign Outreach Committee, visited the Church of the Good Neighbor at 106th St. and Park Avenue to check on the progress of the $50,000 grant given to them as part of Brick Church’s capital campaign.

They used the money to replace many windows in the church and the manse as well as to repair the roof over the manse and part of the sanctuary. Because of our donation they were able to qualify for additional funding from the New York Presbytery’s Martinez Fund.

Reverend Damiani is currently serving as a Chaplain with the Naval Reserve in Afghanistan. Mrs. Damiani said that last year when their windows were leaking cold air and their roof was dripping, they “had prayed that God would provide for them…and then they got a call from Brick Church.” She expressed their congregation’s heartfelt thanks for our donation which has enabled them to substantially improve their facility. We are grateful that we have been able to share in the life of this faithful congregation doing God’s work in East Harlem. The Church of the Good Neighbor has been a recipient of Brick Church annual grants for several years.

Film and Faith: Seeing and Believing in the Cinema
10:00 a.m. (presentation) / 3:00 p.m., (film screening)
Sundays, November – January
For many people, their primary religious and spiritual experiences come through the silver screen. Listen to pastors and seminarians discuss contemporary films that explore themes of redemption, salvation, hope, and faith. Then come eat popcorn with your friends and watch the full-length film together. Please note: two of the films will be child friendly.

Come to the Living Room at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, November 19, for a presentation on our first film, Leap of Faith, and then come back at 3:00 p.m. for a showing of the film and popcorn with friends.

Adult Bible Studies
At 9:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the Anderson Library, our seminary interns Rick Bold, Emily Krause, and Rachel Pederson will be leading Bible study discussions. If you have been reading the Bible your whole life or if you are just starting out, you are welcome to this open group for an hour of conversation and study. Rick, Rachel, and Emily will be choosing topics and themes soon for the fall studies.

New Adult Education Opportunity:
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study, with Rick Bold
Sundays, 10:00 a.m., Anderson Library
During the Church’s earliest centuries, some of Christianity’s opponents criticized the Scriptures for including not one but four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. Bowing to the pressure, in A.D. 170 a theologian named Tatian created a new book (the Diatessaron) that consolidated all four gospels into one continuous narrative. That almost no one today remembers Tatian’s work testifies to our belief in the integrity of each of the four gospels. We believe each is valuable in its own right and inspired by the Holy Spirit. As the best theologians both of the early Church and today understand, there is a healthy tension we must maintain when considering the Scriptures: the books of the Bible are valuable both for the integrity of their own unique origin and perspective and for their common witness to the overall message of Scripture in its entirety.

This fall seminarian Rick Bold is leading a Sunday morning Bible study of the Gospel of Luke. Studying Luke, we will have the opportunity to delve into one specific book of Scripture and to appreciate Luke’s unique perspective on the gospel story. At times we will also broaden our focus and consider how Luke remains in dialogue with Scripture as a whole. Our study should prove to be rewarding, for Luke’s gospel is penned by a learned hand who has a skill for literary form and style and who has a stated purpose of offering a more orderly account than other gospels that preceded his (Lk 1:1-4). Luke is a gospel full of gripping narratives and rich symbolism, and it alone among the gospels contains some of the beloved passages of Scripture, including the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Lost (or Prodigal) Son.

All are welcome this fall – whenever you are able – to learn more about and discuss this rich, highly literary account of Jesus’ life. As Luke is the main gospel for the new lectionary year beginning this Advent, there is no better time than now to reacquaint yourself with the third gospel. Questions? Email rbold@brickchurch.org.

New Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
Thursdays, 7:45 – 8:45 a.m., through November 16
All men are invited to join a weekly Bible study led by Senior Minister Michael Lindvall. The group will use a study guide and will work to understand and apply the Biblical text. The Men’s Study is open to all men every week.

Seeking Justice: The Christian Church in the World
10:00 a.m., Living Room (presentation)
Presbyterians have long shown a commitment to justice and peace around the world and in their own cities. We believe that God calls us to pay attention to problems around us and to respond to injustices with courage and wisdom.

November Classes
"Environmental Justice" – Sunday, November 5
Rev. James Speer, the Northeast Regional Representative of Presbyterians for Restoring Creation and representative of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) at the UN Preparatory Consultations for the 1992 UN Conference on Climate Change, will speak about the intersection of Christian faith, environmental concern, and social justice.

"Global Justice and Women’s Rights" – Sunday, November 12
Christan DeSol from the United Nations Population Fund and Linda Stoddart from the UN will speak about women’s rights around the world and how churches and individuals can respond to abuses.

Ornament Making on November 18
Every year during Advent, the children make beautiful, creative ornaments to decorate the Sanctuary tree. This year, parents and children are invited to gather on the Youth Floor on Saturday, November 18, from 9:30 –11:30 a.m. for a very special morning of making ornaments together and enjoying time with friends.

Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve
Children of The Brick Church are invited to celebrate Advent and Christmas by participating in the 2006 Brick Church Christmas Pageant. This is an opportunity for children to offer worship leadership in a sacred and festive event. Because so many children are involved in this program, we ask parents to sign up as volunteers to help with preparation and production. Our scheduled rehearsals help kids feel confident in their roles as leaders in the Pageant, and their attendance is important.

Pageant Schedule (see below)
Information and registration forms were sent out in the mail in October. Please return registration forms to the Brick Church, attention Caitlin Sparks, by Sunday, November 26. We look forward to spending time with the children of the Brick Church at this year’s Christmas Pageant. Thank you for your help and support in making this a memorable experience for the children and the whole congregation.

Grace and Peace,
Christy Lang, Associate Pastor of Education and Discipleship
Amanda Smith, Director of Children’s Music Ministries

Friday Night Dinner Program for Brick Church Youth
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 November 3 and 17. Please arrive at 5:00 p.m. in Watson Hall. We are finished by 7:45 p.m.

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.

Community Service Credit Opportunities
If you are in grades 9 -12 in Manhattan, you probably need to fulfill community service credit hours. The Brick Church offers ways for you to help the community and gain credit hours. You can serve meals with other students to residents of a nearby shelter at our Friday Night Dinner Program. You can tutor children as part of the East Harlem Tutorial program. You may assist with Sunday School on Sunday mornings, or you can help with other events throughout the year. Finally, we always have behind-the-scenes tasks at the church offices. For more information about any of these opportunities, contact Christy Lang.

The Church Mouse Program is Up and Running
Is Your Child Away at Boarding School?
If you have a student who will be away at boarding school this year, you are invited to sign him or her up for the Church Mouse Program. When you sign your students up, church members will send anonymous small gifts and notes to them at school, reminding them that the Brick Church remembers and loves them. To register your student for this wonderful, free program, please contact Chris Curtin-Barnes at ccurtin@nydailynews.com or David Wagener at david@wagenercapital.com.

Sign up to be a Church Mouse
Please sign up to support our Brick Church students who are away at boarding school. Those who register for the Church Mouse program will be paired with students and asked to encourage them by sending small gifts and notes anonymously. This ministry is a great opportunity for your whole family, including children, to get involved in showing God’s love to one another. To register yourself or your family to serve as a Church Mouse, please contact Chris Curtin-Barnes at ccurtin@nydailynews.com or David Wagener at david@wagenercapital.com.

Pioneers is Starting Up
5th and 6th grade students are invited to join the Brick Church Pioneers this year! Starting on November 5, 2006, the Pioneers group will gather on five designated Sundays from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The Brick Church for 2 hours of fun, fellowship, dinner, and a service project. Friends are always welcome.

Led by Coach Rice of St. Bernard’s fame, the Pioneers will play games and then say a prayer and eat dinner at 6:00 p.m. They then complete a service project together. For example, last year the Pioneers made a beautiful stewardship poster, created cards for church members, and assembled care packages. The evening always closes with a hilarious game, such as musical chairs or a human pyramid.

The total charge for the season of 5 events will be $75 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.

Chaperones needed
Our chaperones are parents who serve on the Pioneers Committee, as well as two other parents of Pioneer students per event. When you register your 5th or 6th grade student, you agree to come and chaperone at least twice during the year. It’s great fun!

The dates for Pioneers events for the 2006-2007 year are: November 5, January 7, February 4, March 4, and May 6. All events occur from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in Watson Hall, with check-in and payment in the Garden Room.

Signing up
You should have received registration forms in the mail. If you still need forms, please contact Caitlin Sparks. You may drop forms off at the church or bring them to an event. Your friends need forms, too. We hope to see you there! Questions? Contact Christy Lang.

7th Grade Youth Group Is Under Way
The 7th Grade Youth Group had its first meeting on October 2, 2005. They will gather on five more designated Sundays from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The Brick Church for 2 hours of fun, fellowship, dinner, and a service project. Friends from school and the neighborhood are always welcome.

The total charge for the season of 5 events will be $75 per student. If your 7th grade student brings a friend who is not from Brick Church, the cost for the friend is only $10.

Chaperones needed
Our chaperones are parents who serve on the 7th Grade Youth Committee, as well as two other parents of 7th Grade students per event. When you register your student, you agree to come and chaperone at least twice during the year. It’s great fun!

The dates for 7th Grade Youth events for the 2006-2007 year are: November 5, January 7, February 4, March 4, and May 6. All events occur from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Carnegie Room and Living Room at the Brick Church.

Signing up
You should have received registration forms in the mail. If you have not received them, please contact Caitlin Sparks. You may drop them off at the church or bring them to an event. We hope to see your 7th grade student there! Questions? Contact Christy Lang.

Confirmation Class Begins
Confirmation Classes have begun for 8th grade students. Classes will take place this month on November 5, 12, and 19 from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Room. 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.

Sunday School November Schedule

Brick Church Fair
The 63rd Annual Brick Church Fair is almost here. Whether you’re a new member or a long-time Fair supporter, you’ll love the fellowship, merriment and the chance to get in the holiday shopping spirit when this year’s Fair takes place November 14-16. Fair proceeds go to the Women’s Association Outreach Programs which support needy women, children and the elderly in neighboring communities. So, volunteer, shop for a good cause and tell your neighbors, friends and family to do the same. Here’s what fair-goers can expect this year:

Tuesday, November 14
Opening Night Party
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. $10 admission
This year’s Opening Night Party is not to be missed! Celebrate with old friends and get in the holiday spirit by making new ones. Resolve to read more during vacation: buy autographed books from visiting authors. Sample delicious hors d’oeuvres while listening to the fabulous music of Steven Smith. Best yet, watch a demonstration by a noted local chef and take home the tips for your next party. Then, pick up some home cooked meatballs or chili from Brick’s own “celebrity” chefs at Au Gourmet, and freeze it for the busy holiday season.

Wednesday, November 15
Family Night
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. $5 admission
Get in the holiday spirit with your whole family, big elves and little elves alike. Come early and order your personalized stationery from Brick’s Personal Papers booth – 50% goes straight to the outreach fund! You’ll find great gifts for family, friends and your little ones at our many Brick-staffed booths – from Under the Tree to Gift Boxes to Wool Basket. And of course, more than 30 vendors will be on hand selling children’s clothes, jewelry, women’s and men’s accessories, and lots of gift items. The annual Raffle also holds promise for gift seekers, so plan to buy a book of tickets. Then, the really big draw: have the kids’ photos taken with Santa, join in the children’s sing-along and have dinner in our Bistro. Our volunteers cook up something special just for your family, including yummy Reindeer Nuggets as well as appetizing grown-up cuisine!

Wednesday, November 15
Shop for a Cause: A Time for Giving Back
Brick families are famous for their spirit of community. Generous givers in all areas of their lives, simply put, Brick fair-goers really know how to shop! That’s why, time and again, retail vendors seek out the Brick Church Fair as a prime place to reach shoppers while giving back. Long-time fair-goers appreciate the high quality merchandise they have come to expect at the Fair. And they save their Christmas shopping just for the occasion, primarily because they know that a significant portion of their shopping proceeds will go to the needy organizations supported by the Women’s Association Outreach Programs. Here are some of this year’s vendors. Come to the fair and Shop for a Cause! The Linen Shop; Little Follies; Missing Link; Old World Linens; Frances Wood; Mallory May.

Thursday, November 16
Creative Holiday Coffee
10:00 a.m. to 12 noon / Shopping until 4:00 p.m.
Do the holidays bring out your need to festoon everything with tartan and holly? You’re not alone. Join in the fun at the third annual Creative Holiday Coffee. Taste homemade baked goods with your morning cup o’ joe while you learn how to make holiday decorations and Christmas crafts projects with the kids. The best part? Craft items are selected based on ease of assembly and are designed for families to make at home together! If you’re still struggling to find your inner Martha, don’t despair; most items are available for purchase and make great gifts! Remember also, this is your last day to purchase holiday cards and other goodies from Fair committees and merchandise from the fabulous vendors who have joined us to reach our shoppers and donate proceeds to our very worthwhile outreach organizations.

The Best Gift of All? Time
What makes the Brick Church Fair really special is the spirit of community it creates. This is due in large part to the many volunteers who bring it all together. If you are not yet signed up to help, please give your time. Call Carol Ann Mercer at 212-289-4400 ext. 244 or email camercer@brickchurch.org. Don’t miss it!

Primetimers
Movie Night: Lawrence of Arabia
On Thursday evening, November 9, come join other PrimeTimers in watching an epic movie, Lawrence of Arabia, in the Brick Church’s own movie theater – the Living Room of the Parish House. In 2005 the PrimeTimers raised funds to purchase a projection system for the church. This will be the PrimeTimers’ first use of the system. Come at 7:00 p.m. with your own popcorn or sandwich and beverage and “enjoy the show.” See the flyer for more details or contact Kent McKamy (212-348-8099 or kent@mckamy.net).

Young Adults Group
For members and visitors in their 20s and 30s who strive to serve others while creating lasting friendships within the Brick Church community.

Brunch after Worship
Please join us in the dining room of the Parish House immediately following worship on November 19 and December 17. We will post information on our Brick website about speakers and topics of discussion closer to each date. Feel free to just drop in after worship, but if you can, RSVP to youngadults@brickchurch.org.

Advent Potluck Cocktail Party
Sunday, December 3 at 4:30 p.m. in the Dining Room
Celebrate the start of the holiday season with the Young Adults at our fourth annual Advent Potluck Cocktail Party, immediately preceding the Park Avenue Tree Lighting and Carol Sing. Bring your favorite appetizer, wine or dessert. Contact youngadults@brickchurch.org for more information.

Book Club November Selection
The Brick Church Book Club will read The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls for
their November meeting.Jean Lumbard will host the meeting at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6. Please RSVP to Jean at 212-996-4484.