Celebration: Restore, Rejoice, Reach Out
It’s time to celebrate. After many years in planning, painstaking work behind the scenes, and 14 months worshipping in the lower sanctuary, our historic church restoration is now complete. Spurred by a generous gift from an anonymous donor for a new organ – the installation of which would require extensive work in the sanctuary – the restoration has become an important milestone in the life of the church.

As part of the capital raising process for the restoration, Brick set an important challenge for the congregation: for every dollar raised for the building campaign, 50% would be designated for mission work. With strong membership support, Brick has pledged $500,000 to the Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands. Half of the money will be put toward mission work and outreach in New York City and the other half to global outreach. Together with our renewed commitment to mission, the restoration has become a defining moment worthy of celebration.
For precisely that reason, a special Celebration Committee was formed during the summer to plan a proper and holistic commemoration – a year-long series of events marking the occasion for members, community and friends.

According to Pastor Michael Lindvall, “The Brick Church is a vital family of Christians from many backgrounds and parts of the world. Celebration is about our rich history, the vitality of this moment, and the promise of a future of service and witness.”

The multi-pronged Celebration, whose apt theme, “Restore, Rejoice, Reach Out,” consists of:

• The Sanctuary Restoration, undertaken to return the interior of our church to its original glory.
• The building and installation of our new Casavant Organ, the first of its kind for New York City and the largest new organ to be installed in a New York church in more than 50 years.
• A year-long Celebration Music Series which will attract international artists and raise awareness of Brick as a concert venue. Performers include Dutch concert organist Ben van Oosten in recital, the two Quebec organists, Jean-Guy Proulx and Jacquelin Rochette in a joint recital, British organist Jane Parker-Smith, American organist Stephen Tharp, and of course Brick’s own Keith Toth in a concluding recital.
• A year-long Celebration Pulpit Series, featuring Presbyterian seminary presidents and other invited guests who will preach under a single, unifying theme, “Grounds for Hope.”

According to Michael Lindvall, a key objective of Celebration is to thank members for their support and engagement in the life of the church. Another essential priority, says Lindvall, is “to raise awareness of our commitment to mission work – from the vital work we do every day in the local community to the national and international work of the larger church.”

Similarly, Fritz Ehlert, Celebration Committee Chair, looks at Celebration as a chance to reach out to the Upper East Side and Carnegie Hill communities, to people of other faiths, as well as those who may be considering membership in the Brick Church. “We have a lot to celebrate. The desire to reach out, to share that spirit with the community is what makes Brick so special,” says Ehlert.

The year-long Celebration kicks off with the homecoming worship service on Sunday, September 18; a public ceremony on Sunday, October 16 will mark the official dedication of the church organ and sanctuary.

Capital Campaign Outreach Committee Springs Into Action
“Restore, Rejoice, Reach Out” is the core theme guiding the celebration of the sanctuary restoration project. A major focus of the Reach Out component is a program created at the same time as the renovation was being completed. One half of the $3 million raised in the recent capital campaign has been used to support the restoration of the sanctuary and organ, while the other half will support outreach activities in the local community and the world.

The Session has created a committee called the Capital Campaign Outreach Committee (abbreviated CCOC) to distribute funds in a way consistent with the mission of The Brick Church and the following guidelines: $500,000 for “Joining Hearts and Hands,” the national effort of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for new mission work in the US and overseas (half will fund Presbyterian Church development in New York City and half will fund international mission activities); $700,000 for local New York City mission outreach and initiatives; and $300,000 to support seminary education.

The CCOC includes representatives from the Session, Deacons, Women’s Association, Young Adults, Members at Large and Pastors. Members are Patrick D. Barrett, Steward B. Clifford, Sara Hurst Jenoure, Nell Kleinschmidt, Sophie K. Kramer, Stefan Kruger, Frances G. Laserson, Philip P. Lobkowicz, Valerie S. Mason, Kirsten W. Morgan, Margaret Tranbaugh and Christopher P. Mahan, Chair.

The CCOC, along with Michael Lindvall and Doug King, have been working throughout the summer to determine criteria for organizations to receive funding. These organizations fall into the following categories: Local NYC Outreach, Seminary Education, Local Church Development, International Mission Outreach, and Communication.

This fall, the CCOC and Session will explain the criteria and process for submitting and evaluating applications. This is an exciting activity and the committee is looking forward to getting the entire Brick Church community involved.

An Extraordinary Work of Ecclesiastical Architecture
Celebration is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the architecture and history of the Sanctuary, Chapel and Parish Houses in which our congregation worships and carries out its many activities. The main structure – a neo-Georgian building designed by Edward York and Philip Sawyer and dedicated in 1940, is actually the third permanent home of our congregation since its founding in 1767. In our current building, York and Sawyer brilliantly captured the spirit of Brick’s first home in what is now Downtown Manhattan.

As part of the restoration, two years were spent researching the original design, craftsmen, materials and finishes of the interiors of the Sanctuary and Chapel buildings as well as the intent of the architects and designers. Painstaking work revealed not only lost elements, but some features that were left out during the original construction due to lack of funds. After extensive research, the original decorative scheme, color palette and gilding details were discovered and used to guide the restoration. According to Elder and Celebration Committee member, Ellsworth Stanton, “It is believed that the present restoration is faithful to the basic intent of the designers.”

A special Sanctuary Guide explaining the original and restored architectural details will be available in the coming weeks to members and guests for self-guided tours.

New York Times Features Our New Casavant Organ
On Sunday, July 24, The New York Times had an outstanding feature article on our new Casavant organ. Times reporter Robin Shulman and photographer Ruby Washington spent over four hours at Brick Church interviewing Minister of Music Keith Toth, Jean-Louis Coignet, and Jacquelin Rochette of Casavant. Three photos accompanied the article. Copies of this article may be viewed at the Reception Desk.

Voicing of our organ will be completed in early September and the organ will be played for the first time in public during the 11:00 a.m. worship service on Homecoming Sunday, September 18. A year-long series of concerts inaugurating the organ will begin in late October. A schedule of these concerts along with ticket purchasing information can be found at the Brick Church website. More information on these concerts will be in the October issue of The Record.

From the Pastor
In an article in this column last spring I asked the rhetorical question, “Are we there yet?” I was referring to the sanctuary renovation project, organ installation, and new mission outreach initiative that have been a central part of Brick Church’s life this last year. At that writing I said that we were more than “half way there.” As you read this, you might say “Now we’re there… finally!” The organ is installed and voiced, the sanctuary is restored in all its Georgian-revival glory, the garden and Garden Room are renovated, the Capital and Mission Committee’s funding goal has been met, and a committee is hard at work making decisions about new mission outreach efforts. We will gather for worship in the Lower Sanctuary for the last time on September 18. Early in that service we will process as a congregation into the sanctuary for the main portion of worship. Together we will sing the praises of God accompanied by the new Casavant organ for the very first time. And the temptation might be to lean back like you would after a long car trip and sigh, “At last!”

But, of course, we know better. In the life of the church as in our own personal lives, we’re never “there,” at least not in this earthly realm. We are always “on the way,” growing incrementally toward being more the church or the individual Christian we are called to be. You might hear this as bad news – no rest, never reaching our potential, always striving for another inch of personal or ecclesial achievement. But it is really very good news. It’s good news that God loves us and accepts us as we are: an imperfect church and imperfect people. And it’s good news that God is still working in us to bring us ever more into the promise of life.

I have stumbled across this truth in two very different places. One was in the writings of the great Reformer, Martin Luther, who said with more words and grace: “This life, therefore, is… not being, but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it; the process is not yet finished, but is going on; this is not the end, but it is the road.” The other place I saw the same truth, pithier to be sure, was on a bumper sticker that read, “Be patient, God is not finished with me yet.”
—Michael Lindvall

As Budget Time Approaches...
The Joint Committee on Finance of the Trustees and the Session has the job of watching over the annual budget at The Brick Church. We are becoming increasingly concerned that things aren’t adding up. Our sources of income have not been growing as fast as our expenses.

Here are the results for the last three years (not including the work we have done in the Sanctuary and the Capital Campaign contributions which paid for it):

In another Record article next month, we will concentrate on the annual expenses. They went up about 7% in 2004, largely due to increases in insurance, pension expense and the growth of our Christian Education programs. This month, we will look a little more deeply at each source of the Church’s annual income.

Brick Church is blessed to have a $27 million endowment. The problem is that we have come to rely too heavily on it. Only about $20 million of the $27 million is available to support day-to-day operations; the rest is dedicated to special purposes. The investments have been doing pretty well. Over the last five years the return on the $20 million has averaged about 4%, or $800,000 per year. This has been better than the market averages. During this time the stock market actually declined.

Last year, though, including the deficit, we spent over $1.6 million, or about 8% of the available endowment. Most experts believe a sustainable spending rate is 5% or lower. Because of the mismatch between the investment returns and the amounts we have been spending, over the last five years the endowment has actually declined by an average of over 1% per year. To try to slow the decline, the Trustees have adopted a policy of aiming to reduce the spending rate back to a 5% target over the next three years. To bring the spending level down from 8% to a 5% target, we need to replace over $500,000 of income – or expenses.

The Day School pays an annual “contribution” to cover its proportionate cost of the upkeep on the facilities it uses, which has recently been going up about $30,000 each year. (The decline shown in the table in 2004 was caused by other unusual factors in the Day School’s budget, which should be made up in 2005.) Any further increase in the Day School contribution won’t go far in solving our problem, since the school currently covers less than 10% of our total costs.

This leaves the annual contributions from the Congregation, and of course the expense level, to be the budget balancers. We have a wonderfully generous Congregation, which has not only sustained an almost $2 million annual stewardship level in recent years but also has responded with warmth and spirit to two recent capital campaigns.

The lesson here is that we must continue to increase our level of generosity in the coming years, because we can’t continue to overspend the endowment, and we don’t want to cut into programs which make The Brick Church such a vital force in our community. That is why we are making sure the Congregation understands the pressures we face, as we all prayerfully begin to consider our annual giving.
—Joint Committee on Finance of the Trustees and the Session

SPOTLIGHT ON M.O.C.
Change Lives: Cooks Who Care Ministry Doubling in Size

Cooks Who Care is a Brick Church outreach ministry that serves 8 people with HIV/AIDS in single-room occupancy hotels on the Upper West Side. We work every Saturday, 52 weeks a year.
Planning, preparing and delivering the meals can be a challenge, but it inevitably enriches those who love to cook in unforeseen ways. Fathers are cooking with daughters, sons are gaining appreciation of how chemistry works in the kitchen, family recipes are being shared as never before, and most importantly, Brick Church members are crossing into another world right at our doorstep and feeding people in need, one at a time.

Cooks Who Care is about making an apple crumble, then putting a pint of Häagen-Dazs in each bag because that’s the way it tastes best. It’s about adding a Christmas stocking full of edible surprises, or a bottle of cider champagne for New Years, or even an origami-inspired Easter basket brimming with candies and accompanied by the traditional white lamb cake. One time it was about Charlene Taub’s (Sharz Cafe, 435 East 86th) gratis offering of two complete hot meals fifteen minutes after the request when we unexpectedly ran short one Saturday! And sometimes it’s just about doing the best meal you know how and sharing it with love and hope and delivering it with a smile.

Aside from the clear gratitude of the recipients when we arrive with our meals, the greatest reward is when we see recipients make positive life changes: putting on weight for the first time in a year, signing up for clinics and check-ups formerly avoided, and thinking about careers–one, perhaps a pastry chef.
Cooks Who Care has made a real difference this past year for everyone involved. Beginning in October, we will increase the number of recipients to sixteen (people are practically standing in line to get into this program) with two Brick Families cooking each Saturday.

The commitment and enthusiasm of Brick Church volunteers have created this extraordinary momentum, which is why we felt we could take on 8 more people this year. So, if you love to cook, get on board. We would love to sign you up for a Saturday. You won’t regret it.
—Ruth Hoffman, Peter Manning, Cooks Who Care Deacons

Stewardship Planning Underway
The Stewardship Committee hopes that everyone has had a relaxing and fruitful summer. We also wish to thank the Brick Church community for their generous pledges of support for 2005.

The committee is hard at work on next year’s campaign whose theme will be unveiled in our next Record issue. We continue to work on improving participation and overall levels of giving so that we can fund our many internal programs and extensive outreach programs—without being as reliant on a few large donors.

There is so much excitement as we look forward to a year of celebration of our new organ and the return to our newly renovated Sanctuary. This will be another important year for the church and its community.
Please enjoy the rest of the summer weather and thank you again for your past, current and future generosity.

St. James Mission Seeks Brick Brainpower
Deacons from The Brick Church mission to St. James Presbyterian Church are seeking volunteers for an exciting start-up initiative. It will leverage the expertise of our members to help the St. James neighborhood in Harlem. Volunteers will also include members of other large New York City Presbyterian Churches, city wide experts and political leaders. The time commitment is two to four hours per month.

The volunteer committees will support and advise selected individuals (Local Coordinators) from the St. James Church area who are attempting to solve issues and implement community based programs in selected categories. These categories include recreation/sports activities, health care, education and employment counseling.

Because this initiative is just beginning, volunteers can be highly creative. For example, the education committee volunteer, along with the office of the Chancellor of the Board of Education and volunteers from Columbia University Teachers College, will advise the Local Coordinator on creative educational enrichment for the people in the St. James neighborhood. The details are TBD—volunteers will shape the program.

In a similar but smaller-scale effort last year, a group of Brick members served on a “Friendship Team” for the Principal of PS 123. They helped deliver over four hundred books to the library, obtain free educational material, re-open a closed playground and create an ethics curriculum that was implemented for the entire school.

Please contact any of the following Deacons to learn more: Patrick Barrett, 212-289-5126; Len Carrell, 212-690-1733; Barbara Scott, 212-933-6511; Beth Green 212-885-3312.

Give A Pint To Save A Life!
Blood Drive Sunday, October 23 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars now. The Brick Presbyterian Church’s Fall Blood Drive will be held on October 23 in Watson Hall from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

New blood donor guidelines designed to safeguard the health of the blood supply have eliminated much of our community’s blood supply, formerly imported from Europe. Yet local demand for blood is on the rise.

To be eligible, blood donors must be between 17 and 75 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health, must not have spent time adding up to 3 months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980-1996, and must not have spent time adding up to 5 years or more in Europe since 1980. In addition, a photo ID is required.

If you are eligible to donate, please do so now. If you are not eligible, but know others who are, please encourage them to join us on Sunday, October 23. For further information please contact Deacons Rob Kellas (212-270-3560) or Todd Aydelotte (212-759-7132).

Family Sundays Begin in October

The Sunday Church School and Worship Committees are pleased to announce that this year the Brick Church will celebrate Family Sunday on the first Sunday of each month. On Family Sundays, 1st through 8th graders are invited to remain in church with their families for the entire worship service. Children four years old through Kindergarten age may leave the service for Sunday School after the Children’s Message. Childcare for younger children and infants will be available for the whole service. Our first Family Sunday will be October 2.

Family Sunday will allow children to regularly experience the whole worship life of the church. We selected the first Sunday of each month because this timing enables children to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and to witness the Sacrament of Baptism. We want to give children the opportunity to learn the hymns, prayers, creeds, and stories of this family of faith and to experience the liturgical patterns of worship that enact our faith. We also believe that children have special gifts to offer in the worship life of the church, and we hope that Family Sundays will allow them to participate in worship leadership in new ways.

Family Sundays in 2005-2006 take place on the following dates: October 2, November 6, December 4, January 1, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4.

BRICK KIDS
Welcome Back to The Brick Church Sunday School
The Sunday Church School Committee is pleased to welcome Christy Lang, Associate Pastor for Education and Discipleship, to The Brick Church. The first day of Sunday Church School will be Sunday, September 25.

In Sunday School, children learn the stories of the Christian faith and participate in activities that help them grow in their understanding of God. They also build relationships with kids their own age and become acquainted with adults in the congregation who care about them.

Our curriculum focuses on teaching Biblical stories and themes, as well as on educating children about worship. The staff of Brick Church and the members of the Sunday Church School committee are excited about this year and extend a warm welcome to Brick Church kids.

But Sunday Church School is not just for children. Teaching Sunday School is an opportunity for members to show God’s love to the children of Brick Church. It is a time when adults can experience the joy of seeing young ones come to faith. Because of our very large enrollment, all parents are invited to teach or assist with the classes.

The church staff and Sunday School Committee work hard to ensure that teachers are supported and appreciated. Teachers participate in a 90-minute training session (see schedule below) before classes begin. They also receive lesson plans and supplies for activities, as well as ideas for making the most of the Sunday School class time.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Mark Sunday, September 25, on your calendar as the first day of Sunday Church School
• Please register your child, using a registration form available at the front desk.
• Check the Garden Room for classroom assignments. Infants, toddlers, 2 year olds and 3 year olds will report directly to classrooms just prior to the 11:00 a.m. service.
All children who are at least 4 years old (by November 1, 2005) will begin worship with their families and then proceed with their teachers after the Children’s Message to Sunday Church School. Eighth graders will not have Sunday Church School and are welcome in worship as required by their confirmation class studies.
• Attend Teacher Training on Saturday, September 18 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. or Tuesday, September 20 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Caitlin Sparks at csparks@brickchurch.org or 212-289-4400 x240.

Children’s Choir Program
All Brick Church children are encouraged to join the Children’s Choir Program for the upcoming season. This program teaches singing and develops musicianship in the context of worship preparation and Christian education. Children receive a foundation in choral singing, hymnody, and music literacy, enhanced by movement, games, and various instrumental activities. In addition to singing in worship services, the Children’s Choirs participate in the Family Christmas Eve Pageant, Caroling events, the Park Avenue Tree Lighting and the Children’s Spring event. The 2005-2006 Choir Schedule is outlined below:

The Cherub Choir is for children ages 4 and 5, including kindergarten. It sings in Sunday worship two to three times per year and rehearses on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:00 p.m. in the Youth Activity Room beginning September 13.

The Junior Choir is for children in grades 1-2 as well as kindergarten children who are 6 years old by the beginning of the school year. (Second graders can participate in either the Junior Choir or Youth Choir.) The Junior Choir sings in worship once a month and rehearses on Tuesdays from 4:05 -4:50 p.m. in the Choir Room, beginning September 13.

The Youth Choir is for children in grades 2-6. It sings anthems once or twice a month in Sunday worship and rehearses on Sunday mornings, one hour before Church/Sunday School, in the Choir Room. We begin on September 18.

The St. Cecilia Singers are young adults in grades 7-12. The singers meet two Tuesdays per month for a one hour rehearsal and pizza dinner from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

The English Handbell Choir participates in worship services throughout the year and is open to all adults and children from third grade onward. Rehearsal time will be determined based on interest.

Questions about the Children’s Choir Program? Check www.brickchurch.org or contact Amanda Smith at 212-289-4400 ext. 229 or asmith@brickchurch.org. Choir registration forms are available at the Parish House reception desk.

The Lindvalls Visit the United Kingdom
In June, Michael and Terri Lindvall, along with Ellsworth Stanton, visited England and Scotland. Michael preached at St. Columba’s Church of Scotland in London. The next day they attended the Order of the Garter Service in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and a reception afterward with members of the Royal Family, the Garter King of Arms, and the Heralds of the Royal Household. Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth II granted Ellsworth Stanton an MBE (Member of the British Empire). The following Sunday, Michael preached at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh where The Reverend Charles Robertson is the minister. Both the Canongate and St. Columba’s churches are well known to Brick Church members who travel to the United Kingdom. The highlight of the trip was when Michael delivered the Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament. It is printed below.

Time for Reflection, The Rev. Michael Lindvall
The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, June 22, 2005

In January of 1706, the Rev. Francis Makemie, an Ulster-Scot and graduate of the University of Glasgow, was arrested in New York and charged with “preaching without a license.” He was imprisoned for nearly two months. The Governor of New York, Lord Cornbury, prosecuted the case relentlessly. After mounting his own eloquent defense, Makamie was acquitted by a jury of his peers. He was, however, required to pay the costs of his prosecution, a then-princely sum of nearly 300 dollars.

Francis Makemie founded the first two Presbyterian congregations, as well as the first Presbytery, in what would become the United States. He is today regarded and the father of American Presbyterianism. But it is that trial of 1706, Makemie’s convincing defense and surprising acquittal that came to mark a decisive turning point in the emerging doctrines of liberty in the new world.

Evidently the fears of Lord Cornbury, that prosecutorial colonial governor, were well-founded. Sixty years later, ideas espoused by Makemie would lead to the Declaration of Independence, the 1776 document then touched off the American War of Independence. A guiding light in the composition of that Declaration was John Witherspoon, born in Gifford, Scotland, educated at St. Andrews, and the only clergyman to sign the Declaration. Indeed at least a quarter of the signers were Scots or Ulster-Scots. The War for Independence was often referred to in London in those years as “The Presbyterian Rebellion.” Prime Minister, Horace Walpole quipped “Cousin American has run off with a Presbyterian parson.” He meant Witherspoon, born in Gifford, educated at St. Andrews.

This colonial is honored to stand before this parliament two centuries later to thank you for the intellectual and spiritual endowment that Scots bequeathed to American liberty. And I would invite you to remember always what you brought to us, namely that the deepest source of the liberties we share is a steadfast trust that human worth and dignity are transcendent in their source, given by God, and therefore inalienable.

Almighty God, who has given us fair lands as our heritage: we humbly beseech you that we might always prove ourselves to be people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our lands with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence and discord. Defend our liberties, and endue with the spirit of wisdom all to whom we have entrusted the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home and abroad. In times of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness; in the day of trouble do not let our trust in you fail. Amen.

STAFF HAPPENINGS

A Message from Lois Lovett
Well, I’ve finally decided to take my leave of The Brick Church staff. It wasn’t an easy decision, but sometimes a need for change beckons. Working at The Brick Church has been intensely interesting and really very exciting, and ultimately extraordinarily rewarding. My good friends and devoted colleagues will be sorely missed. But sometimes, one must “bite the bullet” and change the direction of one’s life. The best to all of you for being so kind and supportive these many years.

Introducing Thea Luria
As Lois Lovett retires for the second time, please welcome Thea Luria, the new Assistant to Michael Lindvall. A trained musician (flute and voice), Thea studied theatre at the University of Virginia. She grew up in Washington, D.C. and the Virginia suburbs. Since moving to New York in 1994, Thea has had a wide-ranging career. Most recently she assisted the CEO of Community Counselling Service with fund raising. Other positions include assisting the CFO and Controller of Loews Cineplex Entertainment and managing Healthy Home Cooking/Café Love, a vegan/vegetarian/organic home delivery service and restaurant in Brooklyn.

Introducing Caitlin Sparks
Caitlin Sparks, who assists Associate Pastors Doug King and Christy Lang, arrived at The Brick Church one day before Doug. She came to us in January 2005 through a temp agency and joined the staff full-time in May. She is from Hartford, CT, and has performed with both the Hartford Ballet and the Hartford Youth Jazz Group. Then her interests turned to science. She is on leave from NYU where she has one semester left for her BS in Biochemistry. Caitlin has worked in the genetics lab at Bellevue Hospital on Alzheimers-related research. She hopes eventually to attend graduate school and pursue a career in research.

In Recognition of the Sexton Staff
The Personnel Committee, along with Laila Al-Askari, Director of Administration and Finance, and Peter Jerry, Facilities Manager, would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Sexton staff during the past year, especially given the demands of the Sanctuary Renovation Restoration and Reconstruction project. The SRRR project created an additional physical burden on the Sexton staff due to the set-ups required for worship services, The Brick Church Fair, and the Day School Auction, as well as for the many other programs that were dislocated during the project. The sextons demonstrated dedication during a difficult time and managed to maintain excellent attendance as well. Lois Lovett stated “I cannot imagine being able to do my job without the gracious support and hard work of the Sextons. They’ve always assisted me with a smile and a dependable helping hand. When I look back at my time spent here at The Brick Church, I will always have a kind remembrance of them.” All the Brick Church staff and Day School Staff would like to congratulate the Sexton team for a job well done. Congratulations to Sergio Quinones, Stanley Seocharan, Jorge Sorto, Ronald Sukhoo, German Trivino, and Audie Villaflor.

PRIMETIMERS

PrimeTimers Barbecue in the Brick Church Garden
What a way to celebrate the end of summer! Come greet your friends, enjoy the re-opening of the Brick Church garden and dine on sumptuous barbecue fare prepared by chefs Alan Thackrey and Kent McKamy. Join us on Wednesday, September 14. The cost is $25 and the deadline for reservations is Thursday, September 8. For more information, contact Anita Burns at 917-439-0981 or email anitab0710@hotmail.com.

Primetimers to Help West Side Food Pantry
The West Side Campaign Against Hunger, at 86th Street and West End Avenue, which distributes food and offers empowerment programs for less fortunate New Yorkers. On Thursday, September 29, come at noon for lunch prepared by students of the Customer Chef Training program, then work alongside customer volunteers to staff the pantry until its closing at 3:30 p.m. If you would like to help, please contact Gayle Johnson at 212-877-6214 or gaylecliff@aol.com.

If You Need Help Getting to Church
The PrimeTimers, in cooperation with the Inreach Ministry of the Board of Deacons, can make it easier to get to Brick Church if the trip seems hazardous, arduous or difficult for you. If you’d like to come to church but can’t easily get there, simply contact Maya-Christina Arcos (email: maya-christina@excite.com) or telephone her at 917-353-1086. Please be sure to give Maya-Christina your address, telephone number, and apartment number. She will contact a member of PrimeTimers to escort you. On Sunday morning, you’ll get a confirmation call from your Primetimer escort who will pick up you and/or your guest. He or she will come to your home about ½ hour before services begin and accompany you to services and home again afterward. Remember this phone number for Maya-Christina: 917-353-1086.

WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION was created more than 80 years ago to encourage fellowship among church members and to provide vital support through outreach to a host of worthwhile community organizations serving women and children.

Coming Soon: The Annual Fall Fling!
Save Friday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. for the Women’s Association annual Fall Fling. This fellowship event – a spirited evening party held in the garden including music, dinner and refreshments – is a particularly great event for new members to enjoy the essence of Brick Church and to meet other members. Watch for your invitation. Tickets are $35 per person and all are welcome to come early or late. To learn more, make a reservation, or volunteer to bring a goodie or help festoon the garden with bountiful fall foliage, contact co-chairs Karen Aotani, 212-348-8489; Lucinda Bhavsar, 212-794-1055; Paige Rustum, 212-717-4352; or Stephanie Wu, 212-876-5236; or you may call the Women’s Association office at 212-289-4400 ext. 224.

In Focus: Mom’s Morning Out
Mom’s Morning Out is a long-standing tradition at Brick Church for mothers and their children, ages 6 months to 2-1/2 years. Moms and their little ones make new friends, share parenting stories and give
young children the opportunity to play with others their same age. It’s an on-the-floor hour and a half of catching up and fellowship, with toys, books–and sometimes treats–for all! The group meets each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Carnegie Room on the third floor of the Church. All members are welcome. Come join us and make Tuesdays special for both Mom and baby! For more information contact Betsey Pick (bpicknyc@aol.com or 917-297-5351) or Pamela Ryckman (Pamela@RyckmanNYC.com or 917-509-2186) or call the Women’s Association office.

The 2005 Fair
Time to clean out those closets! Donation Day is coming on Saturday, September 24 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Bring your saleable donations to Brick for our annual Rummage Sale. We accept clothes, books, videos, toys, baby items, household items and treasures. Questions? Call Cynthia Coulson, 212-426-4028; Helen Pennoyer, 212-360-7544; or the Women’s Association office.

Keep in Mind: Our Monthly Fellowship Lunches
The Women’s Association’s monthly fellowship luncheons serve an important role in uniting multiple generations in the spirit of fellowship and community. These casual lunches, sponsored by the Women’s Association Board, take place on the second Wednesday of each month at the Parish House. Make a new friend, reconnect with an old one, or just make someone’s day. Join us! For more information, contact Carol Ann Mercer in the Women’s Association office.

YOUNG ADULTS is for members and friends in their 20s and 30s who strive to serve others while creating lasting friendships within the Brick Church community.

The Young Adults Committee has planned many outreach, social and spiritual-enrichment events this Fall for all members and friends of The Brick Church who are in their 20s and 30s.

Sunday Brunches will resume on September 11. Please join us in the dining room of the Parish House immediately following worship. Our pastor-led, “Presbyterianism 101” discussions will continue during our brunches on October 9, November 20 and December 18. RSVP to Jennifer Corbett, jcorbett@ccapr.com, or Laurin Howell, labhowell@aol.com.

Fall BBQ on September 28: Meet in the Brick Church Garden for a BBQ on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. RSVP to Christina Foxley, christinafoxley@yahoo.com.

Due to popular demand, we will host another Wine Tasting, sponsored in part by Best Cellars and Fresh Direct. Date to be announced. Please contact Jason McKamy for more information, jcloudm@aol.com.

One night a month, we will continue feeding the homeless at The Bowery Mission. Please contact
Doug Stowe, doug.stowe@gmail.com.

Please check our page on the Brick Church website for a detailed schedule and more event information: www.brickchurch.org.

COMMUNITY LIFE
Congratulations Brick Bombers!
The Brick Bombers Softball team finished up their season 5-3 and tied for first place with the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. Madison and Brick went head to head in the best 2 out of 3 game playoff on August 7. Brick emerged victorious.

After winning the coin toss the Bombers had home field advantage and won the first game 17 to 10. The next game was a nail biter. After we scored 14 runs in the first three innings and held the opposition to 8 runs, Madison responded by taking the lead and we ended up tied 15-15 in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a scoreless sixth inning, Brick battled back with a two out rally and scored five runs. With three outs to go and the bases loaded, we turned a double play and caught a pop up fly to end the game 20-18. After winning two games back to back the Bombers will now go on to play in the Presbyterian Church Softball Championship Game. We will represent the East Side Division against the rival West Side Division winner on August 28.

Our season was quite a turn around from our first year out when we were the last place team in the league. Last year, the Bombers actually forfeited more games than they played. Player commitment was tremendous this season, which made for some great plays in the field. The Brick Bombers welcomed newcomers to the church and to the team, who were quick to jump in and take the field.

Thank you to all of the players who made an effort to get back into the city on game days, rain or shine, and to their families who came out to show their support. Throughout the season the chorus of children cheering “Go Daddy!” or “Go Mommy!” served as great motivation to get around the bases.

Stay tuned for news on the season finale, and with a little luck and a lot of prayer we hope to win the Championship Game, but regardless of the final score the Brick Bombers have had an outstanding season!

Save Paper, Subscribe to eBrick
The church is seeking to lower postage expenses. At the same time, many members would like to cut down on the mail they receive. The solution? Send your email address to The Brick Church and receive flyers and reminders electronically. In addition, look for an announcement this fall about the eRecord.

If you’ve already given Brick Church your email address, please make sure that it is current — our “bounce-back” rate is higher than we’d like. Send email addresses to Helen Phillips at hphillips@brickchurch.org, fax to 646-672-2198 or call 212-289-4400, ext. 230.

Tapes Ministry Now on CD, Too
Even if you’re overwhelmed by back-to-town or back- to-school tasks, you can keep up with worship services at The Brick Church through the tapes ministry.  Just call the Parish House reception desk to subscribe for the quarter ($40) or for specific services ($4 each).

Girl Scout Troop #3128 Finishes a Fabulous Year!
Girl Scout Troop #3128 would like to thank The Brick Church for its support and sponsorship over the past nine months. Your generosity has enabled our girls to earn multiple badges and awards as well as to complete many community service projects. With the money they earned through cookie sales, they fed a village of 300 people in Africa for a week. They created Easter baskets for the residents of Rosie and Harry’s Place. These energetic girls also collected donations to provide boxes of cookies for 478 servicemen and women overseas.

The troop’s leaders have spent the summer preparing for the new year and can’t wait to expand the troop in October to include even more girls from the Brick Church congregation. They can probably add five girls to their capacity roster of 25.

Girl Scout Troop #3128 comprises of two age groups: Juniors (in grades 4-6) and Studio 2B (in grades 6-12). Currently, the Brick Church Parish House does not have Daisy (kindergartners) or Brownie (grades 1-3) troops. To expand the Girl Scout community at Brick Church, new volunteer leaders need to be recruited and trained. If you and your daughter are interested in learning more about Girl Scouts at Brick Church, please contact co-leader Pamela Dadlani at pamdadlani@hotmail.com.

Planned Giving Workshop
If you are concerned about income, retirement and estate planning – and would like to help others as you help yourself and your loved ones – you are invited to attend an estate planning workshop on September 22, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. in the Living Room. Refreshments will be served.

The workshop, entitled “Planned Giving: Income, Wealth Preservation and Philanthropy,” will be led by Christopher Colombo, an estate planning and trust specialist from Merrill Lynch Trust Co. It is sponsored by The Brick Church Planned Giving Committee.

Mr. Colombo will outline how to meet your present and future income needs, maximize the portion of your estate that your heirs will receive, and provide for institutions that you care about, such as The Brick Church, in ways that you may not have thought possible.

Please RSVP to Helen Phillips at 212-289-4400, ext. 230 or hphillips@brickchurch.org.

News from Bob and Jo Anne Snell
Former Brick Church Associate Pastor Robert T. Snell began serving as pastor of Southern Heights Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 15, 2005. For those who would like to keep in touch with the Snells, their new address is: 2900 Katelyn Lane, Lincoln, NE 68516. We wish them well!

New Member Classes in October
For people interested in exploring membership, The Brick Church offers a series of classes 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. 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 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 Thursday classes and the Saturday orientation.

The Brick Church Book Club — September Discussion
The Brick Church Book Club has chosen Desert Queen, by Janet Wallace, and Charlie Wilson’s War, by George Crile, for summer reading. The club will meet Monday, September 12 at 8:00 p.m., at the home of Sandy Gooder, 115 East 90th Street, for the discussion. Please RSVP to Sandy at 212-410-9690.

Eighth Annual Mission Fair—September 25, 2005
Every year we invite the congregation to participate in the Annual Board of Deacons Mission Fair, held on 92nd Street immediately following worship. The Fair seeks to promote mission, ministry and the many opportunities for service to the Brick Church and our surrounding community. You will learn about the varied programs led by the Board of Deacons, the Women’s Association and the Committees of the Brick Church Session, including Congregational Fellowship, Mission Outreach, Christian Education, Church and Society, Stewardship, Planned Giving and Worship and Music.

The Mission Fair is a wonderful way for members to become more involved in Brick’s commitment to serve our neighbors through volunteer and mission work. Whether you are already active in our outreach programs or are interested in getting started, Deacons and Church members will help you find the service opportunity that best fits your talents, aspirations and schedule. Volunteer commitments range from a just a few hours once a year to ongoing, weekly programs. Whatever your involvement, your commitment will enrich your life and the lives of those you seek to serve.

We look forward to seeing you in worship at Brick Church throughout the entire year. Let our right hand of fellowship be extended to all.

See you September 25!