Isaiah 9:1-7   One of my absolute favorite things every December was to watch  A Christmas Carol.  I was absolutely enthralled by the three ghosts. And the character Ebenezer Scrooge, that miserly, skin-flinted sort, was on the one hand pathetic and sad, and yet somehow endearing. When he finally transformed, he represented something joyful—triumphant even. This year, during Advent, we’re going to look at Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. For the people in Jesus’ time, they were looking to—not Christmas past—but the ages past, especially the passages written by the prophet Isaiah: a hoped-for Messiah. And it’s because, as Isaiah tells us, the people walked in darkness. In fact, it was a land of deep darkness. Their primary foe, the Assyrian Empire, ruled by Tiglath-Pileser III, was seeking to make vassal states of any neighboring countries. He had already conquered parts of Israel and eventually destroyed them. King Ahaz was asked to join a coalition to stand against this threat, but he feared a diminution of his power and did not trust his neighbors. In the midst of this horrible socio-political context, Isaiah offers a resounding sense of hope while calling people to trust in God not political alliances. This was the hope that Mary and Joseph and all the Jewish people looked to—a time of endless peace brought by the Messiah. When the Ghost of Christmas Past transported Scrooge, he encountered some very fond and painful memories. He saw his sister, who came to him at school to take him back home and said, “Father is so much better now.” We are given a clear sense that Scrooge’s was not a happy childhood and that the death of his sister scarred him deeply. There was Fezziwig, his old boss, who brought a tremendous sense of joy to all those around him. Even Scrooge admitted that his was a talent that money couldn’t replace. And then, of course, we are enchanted by his fiancée, Belle, who was all sweetness and light. We are treated to scenes of great happiness between the two. But as his career ambitions grow, his love of money replaces his love for Belle. And she tells him the hard truth:“You fear the world too much,” she answered gently. “All your other hopes have merged into the hope of being beyond the chance of its sordid reproach. I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain, engrosses you.” There are dozens of fond memories many of us have of Christmases past—of Clement C. Moore’s  The Night Before Christmas ,  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer , and candlelight services singing  Silent Night. But do you remember what you hoped for? What you ached for? For me, as a teenager, it was a world without a nuclear arms race. That’s what was pressing upon my mind—the threat of annihilation—and a wish in my heart that such technology had never been discovered. And following on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, it was a hope that our world could find a way to take hold of the joy and light of Christmas that perhaps might spill over into the whole year. That sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that made every encounter something holy and hopeful. It is easy to take hold of nostalgia, admittedly, when we look at the past. Even the authors of the Bible did it. They yearned for the days of old, when God spoke to people like Moses face-to-face and when God’s miracles were as common as the dew on the morning grass. They felt robbed of God’s presence, of God’s wisdom and God’s guidance. Of course it was there all along; they simply ignored it. The role of the prophet in ancient Israel was not truly about telling the future; rather it was to offer warnings. If the people failed to heed God’s word disaster would come. The fifth chapter of Isaiah is a lament which gives us a wonderful glimpse of how deep God’s love for Israel was, and the broken heart that ensues from the lack of faithfulness. God had planted this wonderful vineyard of Israel, and it begins,  I will sing for my beloved, my love song concerning his vineyard: For God blessed them with so much: The law. The Ten Commandments. Instructions on how to worship God properly. Guidance to care for and love their neighbor. How to be a host of refugees in their land—the list goes on and on. And instead, they were filled with moral corruption and idol worship and kings who drew them even further away. And so, the people are warned  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes  (Isa. 5:20). This is the sense we have of Scrooge. Without his beloved Belle, there was nobody to serve as his conscience, nobody to check his greed, nobody to calm his anger. And his wretched character festered with duplicitous degenerated depravity. Thus, Dickens described him as “a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone; a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner.” And as a result, Scrooge was alone in the world. As Dickens wrote, “Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts.” This is what the people in Isaiah’s time lacked—a benevolent presence to guide and direct. King Ahaz, instead of trusting in the Lord, looking for support and guidance, direction and strength and courage looked to the Assyrian Empire of all places (like being in league with Darth Vader)! He formed an alliance with their greatest enemy! And it not only doomed Ahaz but doomed the people as well. There are things about our past, as a country, that we might do well to return to: A slower pace that lacked rampant commercialism A greater sense of safety Community that cooperated and cared Those mom-and-pop stores that made shopping a time to meet friends The absence of social media which gives a megaphone to cynicism and vitriol Dinner at the table as a family! A greater devotion to God. But we should not be too trapped in returning to the past. For we know that there were many people left out in the cold literally and figuratively. Isaiah too lived in such a time; he tells us the leaders “grind the face of the poor” and that widows and orphans were neglected and unjust laws crushed the needy. The failure to care for the poor and the outcast always goes hand in hand with the failure to properly worship God. It was true in Mary’s time as well. And I believe it is true in ours as well. Our land has too many resources to have so many people struggling. Isaiah reminded the people that their hope would not spring from political alliances but from godly devotion and trust. This would lead to a flourishing not only for Israel but for all people. He showed us that trust in God expands the circle of compassion beyond our borders and tribes. The greatest lesson perhaps we can draw from Isaiah is that there is always hope when we have the courage to look to God. So let us be guided not by our own devices but by a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father and a Prince of Peace. Amen.

Shared during Sunday Worship on November 16, 2025. Almighty and all vulnerable God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer We come to you in prayer today, turning towards you to learn how we might become stewards of your mysteries.  In this stewardship season, we have reflected upon your calling upon all of our lives, to commit not just a portion of our wealth, but instead our entire lives to you.   As we contemplate how we may recommit ourselves to you, we pray for this church’s ministries.  We give you thanks for the opportunities to enjoy and contribute to the music and worship ministries, the children’s and youth ministries, adult faith formation ministries, our student ministries, our outreach to the underserved here in the city of New York and in the world, and for the way that we also pray and provide congregational care for those who suffer within this community. We also thank you for all the opportunities for fellowship and growing as a community.  We thank you that you have called each one of us to join in the work.  We pray for the leadership of this congregation, who continue to shape the ways in which we become a beacon of light and hope for the city and the world. As stewards of your mysteries, we are called to turn towards the pain of the world.   We lift up to you in this time all those who are suffering.  We pray for those who lack their daily bread, for those who experience violence, for those who live in fear and uncertainty, for those who are sick, for those who are grieving, both here in our city and in our world.  Help us to respond with open hearts to those in need. Finally, we lift up our own personal petitions, for ourselves and for those we hold most dear, we lift up the material, emotional and spiritual needs that we carry in our hearts and we name them before you in this silence. We thank you, God, because you are the ultimate steward of your mysteries, and the most profound mystery is that you promise that you will never leave or forsake us.  We lift all these things to you, in your Son’s powerful name, Amen.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:10-11 This year during Advent, we will look together at  Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future . Many of you will remember the beloved tale by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, in which the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a miserly and bitter man. He has pushed everyone out of his life and becomes a profoundly broken person. Through the story, three ghosts visit him - from Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, - and his heart is transformed.   For this Advent, we will explore Dickens’s story and the timeless Biblical themes he wove throughout it: our human brokenness, the power of God’s redemption, and the hope and joy we find in the birth of our Lord.   Christmas Past   Christmas past points us to the very first Christmas when Jesus was born. The world then was marked by poverty, isolation, and judgment. Those same realities shaped Dickens’s own time, and they remain painfully visible in ours, where a vast divide in wealth means that those living on the margins continue to suffer deeply.   With the  Ghost of Christmas Past , we remember that Mary rejoiced at the coming of the Messiah because she believed with all her heart that Jesus would transform the world, especially for the neglected and forgotten.  Dickens sought to make the same point. You may recall Scrooge's cold response when he is asked to support the poor, suggesting that if they were to die, they should do so “and decrease the surplus population.” His spirit is frozen by a worldview that rejects compassion.   Christmas Present   Then we look at  Christmas Present . Scrooge sees the humble home of Bob Cratchit, his wife, and of course Tiny Tim. Though they live with very little, they discover joy in what they have: love, family, and gratitude. Their poverty does not diminish their hope.   Christmas present invites us to recognize the gifts God has placed in our lives today - family, church, community, and the presence of Christ among us. It also calls us to be mindful of those in need right now, to bring hope through feeding the hungry, clothing the cold, and living as Jesus lived in honor of his birth.   Christmas Future   Finally, the spirit of  Christmas future  is the specter Scrooge fears most. He sees that, because of his greed and hardness of heart, his life has become spiritually bankrupt. When he discovers that the un-mourned man whose death others are discussing is himself, he finally sees the truth: he must change.   So we ask: What do we want Christmas future to look like in New York City? Five years from now? Ten years? By the year 2033?   What do we desire for every child who wakes up on Christmas morning? A loving home? A safe place to live? Enough food? Joy? Belonging?   If we want that future, we must begin building it now.   The Joy of Christmas Morning   On Christmas Day, when Ebenezer awakes, he shocks the whole world. He has, indeed, fundamentally changed his character through repentance and redemption. The message is that we too can be changed from the inside out.   Whatever anger lives in our hearts, whatever hatred, brokenness, or cynicism keeps us from being people filled with the joy of Jesus, the hope of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit - whatever has wounded or hardened us - the joy of Christmas morning proclaims that Jesus is born into our lives. It is the joy of redemption through his life and the hope we can all experience as we sing,  “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.”  Amen.   Prayer of Confession:  Lord, You came into the world to bring good news of great joy for all people. But we have held onto the joy of Your grace, and we have failed to extend Your compassionate relief to the hungry, the alone, and the afraid. By Your powerful spirit, change our hearts to bring Christmas joy to the world. Amen.

Share Your Voice - Anonymously As we continue our search for new Associate Pastors, the APNC wants to hear your perspective. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts, reflections, hopes or questions through our anonymous feedback form. Engage the APNC Directly The APNC is actively listening and we welcome your direct feedback and referrals. If you’d like to suggest a name for consideration or tell us what you believe is essential in our next Associate Pastor(s), please reach out to the committee directly.

The music we are about to hear is an oratorio from Rome in the 1640s. The word “oratorio” really means a sacred opera. There may not be costumes or stage machinery, but the music and emotions are genuinely operatic, and they are uniquely suited to express the operatic qualities of this story from the Old Testament. The story comes from the Book of Judges, Chapter 11. Jephte, or Jephthah, was a judge: a leader of Israel in the years before Saul became Israel’s first king. Now Jephte was of illegitimate birth, the son of a prostitute, and as the story begins, he had been cast out and was living as a kind of outlaw warlord. At that time, Israel was at war with the Ammonites, a nation within the present-day borders of Jordan. The elders of Gilead go to Jephte and beg him to save them. Jephte agrees. He then makes a terrible, rash, and ill-advised vow that if he does defeat the Ammonites in battle, he will sacrifice whoever, or whatever, comes out of his house to meet him on his return. It turns out that he is met by his only daughter, and although she is granted two months reprieve to wander the mountains and lament her fate, after that, she is duly put to death. The Bible never even tells us her name.  Now, there is some debate about what Jephte actually promised. A number of scholars, both Jewish and Christian, insist that his vow was only to  consecrate  or  dedicate  to the Lord the first person to come out of his door, and that he would only have made a sacrifice – that is, kill – if it had been an animal running out to greet him. This is the same sense in which Samson was consecrated – in other words, that person would lead a life set apart, a sort of monastic existence,and would never marry or have children. However, the early Christian fathers taught that Jephte really did kill his daughter as a human sacrifice. That is certainly Carissimi’s interpretation too, and it makes for a genuinely operatic spectacle. The ill-considered vow is exactly the same as in Gluck’s Iphigenia and Mozart’s Idomeneo, and in fact all those stories may have had a common origin in the ancient world. Jepthe’s daughter stands at the beginning of a long line of sacrificial heroines in opera – from Handel’s Theodora, to Bellini’s Norma, Verdi’s Aïda, and even Wagner’s Brunnhilde. So why did Carissimi decide to compose music for this seemingly horrible story, and what does this story have to tell us today? ​First, Jepthe is larger-than-life, a man of excess, living outside the bounds of civilized society, and behaving in outrageous ways. Yes, he achieves victory, but at a frightful cost. He offers us a cautionary tale about the perils of putting one’s trust in military strength. It is hardly necessary to add that this is  not  a story meant to glorifying the military triumphs of ancient Israel, and it is  absolutely  not about the modern-day state of Israel. Jephte’s war is a terrible thing, and both the winners and the losers are left with grief and loss. Second, Jephte’s vow is a way of putting God to the test. This is a concept that occurs many times in the Old Testament, in stories that teach us different things. Jephte puts God to the test by treating his relationship with God as transactional: if I promise God something really big, God will have to give me something equally big in return. This is what’s sometimes called the divine vending machine – shrinking the all-powerful God of the universe to the limits of our own vision. Of course God doesn’t work this way, and it’s a sin of pride to think that God owes us anything in return for what we offer. God’s salvation is freely given, not earned by our own merits. On another level, Jephte’s vow puts God to the test by deliberately taking an extreme risk. He tries to force God into a corner, thinking he’s guaranteed that nothing truly bad could result – or else God would have to intervene to stop it. Unlike in the story of Abraham and Isaac, though, there is no divine intervention, and Israel is forced to deal with the awful consequences of his actions. This brings us back to our reading from Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus responds, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”. Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness goes to the heart of what we mean when we say Jesus is a king. He refuses fame and political authority over kingdoms, and unlike Jephte, he refuses to put God to the test by jumping off a building and trying to forceGod to save him. That is not true faith, quiet confidence, trust in God’s purpose. That is a public spectacle that arrogantly demands something of God. Like Jephte, if we try making demands of God, we may find that God does not play by human rules, and will not magically save us.  The grandiose, over-the-top, operatic gesture is not the way. Instead, humility and quiet faith are the hallmarks of the reign of Christ. This is how Paul described Jesus’ kingship:  “… being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name.” Amen.

1 Corinthians 4:1   This is Stewardship Sunday, you are deciding what your financial gift to the Church is for the next year. And clearly, this is a part of what Stewardship Sunday is about. But this morning, I hope we will all discover that it's something much more profound, important to your faith, to Brick's mission, and the call of Jesus. Stewardship obviously comes from the word steward. For a moment, let's erase the word stewardship from our minds. And imagine that we have just met the Lord High Steward of the Royal Court in medieval Europe. What role does he play? He's one of the highest-ranking officers in the Royal Court. He manages the assets of the king's realm. If the finances fail and the estate collapses, the Royal High Steward is held culpable.  But there's an even more critical role the steward plays. The king doesn't have time to interact with all of the people in the castle or the realm. And so, the steward is responsible for making sure that the subjects are taken care of, have enough food and sufficient lodging. Furthermore, when the king is away, the Royal High Steward acts as a regent, literally governing the realm in the monarch's absence. The Royal High Steward is also responsible for transacting business deals with the community, and the integrity of the steward directly impacts the reputation of the king. In order to properly execute his job, the steward needs to know the king. He needs to understand how the king treats visitors to the court. He needs to understand the way in which the king wants business deals done.  Let's move this forward in time. A friend from my church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, owned a small family business. It was producing steel ball bearings. And as the owner aged, his second-in-command took on greater and greater responsibility, to the point that all major business decisions were made by this second-in-command. And he performed admirably. Until one day, in order to balance the books, he reduced the workforce beyond that which the owner desired and cut a less than honest deal with a client. The owner was furious, because those employees of the company had given their blood, sweat, and tears over the course of decades and decades. They were a part of the family. He didn't only want the books balanced. He didn't only want a positive spreadsheet. He wanted to treat all of his employees as if they were members of the family. His reputation had been tarnished, and once that happens, it is hard to recover.  The steward has several attributes, as we've seen in these illustrations. First, the resources that they manage are held in trust. They don't belong to them. They do it for another, and therefore, the fiduciary must put others' interests before their own. Next, the steward is meant to treat those within the sphere of responsibility of the owner in themanner that reflects the will of the owner. The steward is meant to treat them as the owner would treat them. Third, the way in which the steward deals with the community at large directly reflects on the integrity and the reputation of the owner. To be a follower of Jesus is, by definition, to be a steward. And it is incumbent upon not just me and not just the officers of the Church, but every member of this congregation to see themselves as a steward, with all that implies. Psalm 24 declares:  “The earth is the Lord's, and all that is therein.”  Everything that you have in your bank account, yes, even your own life, your very existence, belongs to God. And the way in which you manage those resources is meant to be as a steward. Your behavior directly reflects on the reputation of God. Each Sunday when we pray,  “Hallowed be thy name,”  we are praying that God's reputation - that God will be seen as holy by the world - that when the name of God is invoked, people will respond with a sense of thanksgiving, with a sense of awe, and with a sense of joy. And largely, that response is dependent upon God's stewards here on earth. Think about the tragedy of the sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. It is near impossible to measure the harm that is done not only, most tragically, directly on its victims, but on all of those who, as a result, concluded that faith is a sham. Or think about, in certain Protestant circles, the ways in which Christians have spoken with evil, resulting in great and lasting harm, upon gays and lesbians, for example. The treatment of them by the Church has done terrible damage to the reputation of God. Suffice it to say that at times, Christian individuals and the Church have failed dramatically at being proper stewards. We must know our history, our failings, so that we can be better, more faithful stewards. And this is why I am so thankful for the direction that Brick Church is headed in. Though we will never fully live up to our responsibility - we are humans, after all - I believe that we are striving for all the right things. We desperately want to love others as the Lord Jesus has loved us, with grace, with mercy, with compassion, with fervent effort, and with generosity. The Finance Committee works untold hours. It's hard to fathom how carefully they pour over every dollar spent. I promise you; it is hundreds of hours. And the reason they pour over every dollar spent is because they don't want a single dollar wasted on administration, on inefficient electricity, or inefficient insulation. They don't want a single one of those dollars wasted so that we have every available dollar to offer the love of God in Jesus Christ. Here at Brick, we want people to know, outside of these walls, the gift of world-class music - not only the pleasure of the notes, but the power of compositions like Mozart's  Requiem  to speak into our souls of loss and pain, but even more, hope in the midst of that. We had a few hundred people in this sanctuary last Sunday night, about half of whom were not members of the Church, who came and received that gift thanks to Dr. Ray Nagem and thanks to this choir. We all know that service to others is one of the most meaningful experiences that we can have. It gives us a sense of purpose, of doing something beyond ourselves, and we know it's important not only for ourselves but for young people. And so, a week ago Tuesday, there were several dozen young people from local high schools here on Tuesday night to help prepare a meal for people without homes. We have been stewards of these resources here - this building - by welcoming in people who didn't have space to sufficiently mourn and celebrate the life of a loved one, and so we opened Watson Hall. I can go on and on and on, and I think I will. The prayer shawls, knitted lovingly and caringly, find their way into teachers of the school, into the hands of administrators from a local ongoing school, and into the hands of members of Brick Church who have lost a loved one. And the warmth of that prayer shawl helps people feel the warmth of God's love. Jesus has told us to welcome the little children, and our children's ministry is growing through a more connected, faith-filled, and meaningful experience. In Sunday School a year ago, the Children's Ministry Committee worked feverishly to improve the curriculum, and the results have been dramatic. But we have also expanded places for children to thrive with their natural talents and gifts through after-school theater classes and through the spring musical. The care with which we baptize children is noticed by visitors time and time again. This is clearly not something that Brick does as a mere ritual, but it is a sacrament of holy love for the ways in which we treasure each child that comes before that font. But we also know that that is just the beginning, because as we care for them throughout the years in Sunday School, eventually they make their way to confirmation. That's the place where these young people consider the vows that their parents made for them at that font when they were too young to even know their own name. And, through pastors like Caroline, and Beth, they are learning what it is to be Jesus' disciple.  But it's not mere indoctrination. This is done through a dynamic series of lessons in which each one of those youths has a chance to look inside their own heart and their own mind and forge and affirm their particular understanding of God and the ways that God has planted it in their soul. Then, of course, there is the Tree Lighting. And I'm not sure about you, but Park Avenue, on the first Sunday evening in December, is the only place in this country that I know of in which thousands of people - Christians, many of them, but Jews, Muslims, atheists, nature worshipers - all come together to sing with reckless joy of all things - Christmas carols. Truly, in all of these incredible ways, we are living into being faithful stewards of God's resources, of God's reputation. We are acting as God's hands and feet, and I believe also heart and soul. But we also know that at Brick Church, with the vast resources we have - financial, facilities, and most importantly, people - there is more for us to do. There are more hungry mouths to feed. There are more people on the street to house. There are more sick people to heal. And now, whatever your opinion on the government stepping back somewhat from this role, there is a vacuum, and we need to fill that void, because the need is there. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, wrote a fantastic verse that encompasses everything we have been talking about:  “We are stewards of the mysteries of God.” And what is that mystery? Part of our faith that is confusing and confounding to the world is that God would humble himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. The mystery is that in a world which counts and keeps track of people's debts and their enemies, Jesus tells us that there really is no such thing as an enemy, for we are to love them, and there are no debts that we should hold on to from others.  “Forgive us our debts, God, as we forgive our debtors.”  That in a world of vengeance, we are part of the mystery to repay no one evil for evil. In a world in which tries to tell us it's all about ourselves and it's all about our success, the mystery of God is that the greatest is not the one who has the most honor and privilege and power, but the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is a humble servant who gets down on their knees and washes other people's feet. And we believe what is so powerfully reflected in what has come to be known as the Prayer of St. Francis, which is my prayer, and I imagine your prayer as well. It sums up the call of the steward, and it sums up the incredible mysteries of God. Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen.

Help make Christmas merry and bright for families who could use a little lift this year! Select an angel ornament from the tree, shop from the wish list, and tape the ornament to your wrapped gift. Please return gifts to the Garden Room by December 12 . You can also make an online donation via the link here , and we will do the heavy lifting!

John 13:34–35 ​Near the end of the Last Supper, after Jesus has washed the disciples’ feet, he tells them, “ Love one another as I have loved you .” The Greek word here,  allelon , means “one-anothering.” This word appears over a hundred times in the New Testament. Jesus tells us to: Wash one another’s feet. Greet one another with a holy kiss. Do not judge one another. Be at peace with one another. Build up one another. Be devoted to one another. All this is to be done in the same manner that Jesus has done for us. “One-anothering” is the quintessence of our stewardship theme  Faith in Action , and it is our mission here at Brick Church. It gives biblical meaning to our two primary initiatives as a congregation: To be a  spiritual home for all people , and To be a  beacon of hope. These are not simply something that we dispense as if we’re handing out goodies at Halloween. No, this fuses our community with other communities. It creates a bond bythe power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us an impossible task: “ Love one another as I have loved you .” We know we can’t do it, but because of the gift of Kamauru Johnson and Ruben Nuño, we can make a more faithful attempt. I met Kamauru last year, and when he unfolded his vision for Summer Steps, I was in awe because, perhaps without even realizing it, he articulated exactly Jesus’ call. Summer Steps has been an incredible program whose mission is to help equip children to attend some of the greatest schools in the world that are found here in New York City. But largely, this has been a mission to these children and their families. But his vision—the goal is to create community through this program, to forge relationships between Brick and these families, to help make them a part of us, and so we have expanded the table of love and fellowship. No longer will this be a program to a group of children; rather, we will forge deeper community across cultures—in other words, “one-anothering.” Ruben Nuño has been a colleague and friend ever since I came to New York City, and his incredible creativity and passion for communities of deepest need have inspired me and inspired our church members. He has inspired us to put our faith in action because that small congregation, Church of the Living Hope, has been a beacon of hope for decades and decades in the manner that we aspire to. If we want to do as Jesus has done for other people, then we want to listen and learn from Ruben and Church of the Living Hope. This is the essence of the gospel. It is not simply about doing good. It is about growing our spirits to more reflect the Spirit of Christ. And so, when we turn our mission work into relationship work—the work of growing our friendships—we not only help put food in someone’s stomach, we help put Jesus in our souls. The very nature of God is multifaceted. God cannot be understood or known from just one perspective. In the Christian faith, we say that God is Trinitarian: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And when we say that God is love, we mean that this loving relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has existed from all eternity. You and I and our culture have one amazing and profound picture of this loving God, but it is only a piece—it is only a part. And when we forge connections with Church of the Living Hope, with the community of Summer Steps, we see and encounter more of God. We become immeasurably enriched by the character, the wisdom, the intelligence, and the uniqueness of the children and the parents of Summer Steps and the congregation of Church of the Living Hope. By putting our faith into action, we discover more and more what it is to love one another as Jesus has loved us. Amen.

Audition for Disney's Mary Poppins! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO AUDITION Join us for a SUPER (califragilisticexpialidocious) show at the Brick Church Community Theater. Calling adults, children, caregivers, and families to perform in this beloved classic musical.   Auditions for Mary Poppins are being held on Saturday, December 6th from 12-5pm.  Don't miss this unique opportunity to take part in a cross generational experience and play a role in our community's story. Step (back) in time with us to early Edwardian London for a jolly holiday with Mary!   *Stay tuned for special cameos from our Church and Day School community!   Please note that a Performance Fee is required at the time of casting. The fee covers cost of costume(s) and all show week meals. Scholarships available.   $250: Adults and Youth Ensemble $150: Ages 4-6, Penguins   If you have any questions or are unable to attend the audition date, please email our Director, Courtney Edwards at courtneymatsonedwards@gmail.com and Assistant Director, Molly Revenson at mollyrevenson@gmail.com .   All rehearsals will be held at Brick Presbyterian Church located at 62 E 92nd Street.    Audition Dates:  Saturday, December 6th: 12-1:30pm - Ages 4-13 Saturday, December 6th: 2-5pm - Adults and Age 14+ Friday, December 12th: 5:30-8:30pm: Callbacks for Principal Roles   Performance Dates:  Thursday, April 30th at 6pm (Preview) Friday, May 1st at 6pm  Saturday, May 2nd at 2pm Saturday, May 2nd at 6pm  Sunday, May 3rd at 2pm

John 13:1-9 ​Jesus is facing the most difficult time of His life. The religious authorities have not only rejected His interpretation of the Scriptures but have viewed Him as a fundamental threat to their power. The people have seen His miracles, but John tells us they did not believe Him, and even the ones that did refused to profess it openly for fear of retribution.  He knows not only will one of His disciples betray Him, but the others will scatter, and His most trusted disciple, Peter, will deny Him. Yet, He feels the need to be close to His disciples. So, He gathers them for a meal to share some final instructions, but also something much more. There are hard truths for the disciples to hear, but there is a deep tenderness in Jesus’ words. Despite everything Jesus faces, in this moment He demonstrates the core of the heart of God. And it is not something anyone expected. “ I no longer call you servants, but friends… no one has more love than this than to lay his life down for his friends. ” But he does not stop there. He becomes the servant. Jesus rises from the table, takes off His outer garment, and puts on a towel. This is the manner of dress for a servant of the time, a slave even. And then He proceeds to wash their feet, each of them one by one. He wants to be close to them. He’s literally kneeling at their feet, scrubbing the dirt, the grime, and the feces off. And at the same time He’s trying to teach them something—that doing the small things with care makes a difference. When I was a lad I served a term As office boy to an attorney's firm. I cleaned the windows And I swept the floor And I polished up the handle Of the big front door [CHORUS] He polished up The handle of the big front door. I polished up the handle so carefully, That now I am the ruler Of the Queen's Navy. Gilbert and Sullivan, like Jesus, knew that humble service done with excellence can produce far, outsized results. Servanthood is the call for all who follow Jesus. But it is a particular kind of servanthood, that of a steward. A steward is a servant who has been given a responsibility; historically, over another’s household. For example, Eliezer was the steward, the one in charge, of all the wealth of Abraham’s household. And Abraham was very wealthy. But Eliezer’s effectiveness did not only impact Abraham. Abraham was the father of a nation; he was responsible for an extended family that depended upon his household running well. Abraham’s reputation, the people Abraham loved, and the prospering of his descendants were all placed in the hands of his steward. To do this effectively, Eliezer would need to know Abraham’s priorities and personality. It’s not only being an effective manager of assets, though it is that, but a representative of Abraham himself. The nature of his interactions with the community reflects on Abraham, not only by dealing with them honestly and fairly, but by treating them with dignity and respect. You are God’s steward, and the responsibility goes far beyond the offering plate. It requires putting our faith into action. Especially in the times in which we find ourselves now.  Russell Moore, the editor in chief of  Christianity Today , was a prominent leader in evangelical circles but moved away from leadership because he believes Christianity is in a crisis. He describes a series of conversations he had with pastors who quoted Jesus’ call to humble service in the  Sermon on the Mount . “ What was alarming to me is that in most of these scenarios, when the pastor would say,  ‘I’m literally quoting Jesus Christ,’  the response would not be,  ‘I apologize.’  The response would be,  ‘Yes, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak,’” Moore said. “ When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we’re in a crisis. ” Faith requires action. But not just any action—action that follows the way of Jesus; action that is a good steward of Jesus’ reputation. This necessitates, with no exceptions, humble service to those in greatest need. James’ epistle gives us pointed instruction, What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, “ Go in peace; stay warm and well fed ,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? This year’s stewardship theme, “ Faith in Action ,” is meant to actualize washing each other’s feet—namely, the willingness to kneel before others in loving service. I want you to know I am very proud of the staff here at Brick Presbyterian Church. They truly exhibit this humble servanthood. Without exaggeration, I can honestly say each and every day I come into this building I see one or more staff putting their own ego on the back burner. This can take the form of willingly staying longer to do work outside of their job description to help an event succeed. I have seen staff take time from their busy jobs to offer a compassionate listening ear to someone off the street just as much as a prominent church member. I have seen staff work diligently on a project only to have instructions changed at the last moment, needing to redo that work. But they do so graciously because they want this church to reflect God’s love and welcome. It is humbling to see this type of devotion. Not all of them, by any means, are Christians. But know this, they represent Jesus’ love as much as anyone. We know that God is love. But it’s rather shocking, the kind of love that is in God’s heart—that of a humble servant, who seeks no credit, who counts no favors. No task is too menial or debasing for God. Jesus offers a counterpoint to the entire way we believe the world works. And this is exceedingly good news for me and you and all those who desperately want to emulate our Lord. The path of humility is the path to true happiness. The world gives us the impression that accruing greater power and wealth is desirable because there is something alluring and wonderful about being waited on. And I must admit I do enjoy eating at fine restaurants with attentive waiters wanting to make the exquisite dish fit my tastes perfectly. But Jesus shows us that it is even more wonderful to be the one waiting on the table, or to be washing the feet. He declares that there is a different path to happiness than success. After he washes the disciples’ feet he tells them, “ For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you… you are blessed if you do them .” That word translated as “blessed” simply means “happy.” You will be happy if you serve others as Jesus did. All Saints’ Sunday is a powerful day, when we remember those we love in the last year that have passed on from this life to the next. We also have this chance at funeral services. But sometimes one of our saints passes away and we never have a chance to truly remember their contribution. And we need to remember the saints not because they’re perfect but because they are family, and they have shown us how to put our faith into action by serving those whom society would just as well ignore. These are precisely the people Jesus calls us to love with action. I have asked your fellow church member, Paul Mercurio, to help us remember one of these saints. Amen.

Listen to Rev. Dr. Thomas Evans discuss The Brick Church Strategic Vision as a preview of his 2024-2025 sermon series for Sunday worship. Our Purpose: To be a beacon of hope that shares God’s love in Jesus Christ. Our Mission: To lead, inspire and enable the public worship of God in the Presbyterian tradition. Our Vision: To be a church that is a ‘spiritual home’ reflecting the fabric of our City. Our Values: Traditional with an innovative heart united as one known for a generous orthodoxy. Our Commitments: To create a welcoming environment that holds respect for diverse perspectives nurturing spiritual development at every age. The Session of The Brick Presbyterian Church in the City of New York recently approved a strategic vision encompassing: Our Purpose: To be a beacon of hope that shares God’s love in Jesus Christ. Our Mission*: To lead, inspire and enable the public worship of God in the Presbyterian tradition. Our Vision: To be a church that is a ‘spiritual home’ reflecting the fabric of our City. *Partial; Full mission statement linked here . The Session also defined: Our Values: Traditional with an innovative heart united as one known for a generous orthodoxy. Our Commitments: To create a welcoming environment that holds respect for diverse perspectives nurturing spiritual development at every age. Our Behavior: Empathy, support, belonging living our faith through community service, engagement, and collaboration. View the Brick Church Strategic Vision here:

Rev. Beth Putney joins Brick Church as Interim Associate Minister, supporting Youth, General Pastoral, and Deacon Ministries. She comes to us from Pasadena, California, where she served as the inaugural Jeff & Lynn O’Grady Pastoral Resident for Theology and Culture at San Marino Community Church. The interdisciplinary nature of that residency deepened her understanding of ministry as an intergenerational calling. Rev. Putney is eager to journey with our congregation and to come alongside youth, young adults, and deacons in this season of ministry. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Rev. Beth earned her Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Education and Formation (Ministry with Young People track), and Certificate in Theology, Women, and Gender from Princeton Theological Seminary in May 2023. While at Princeton, she participated in several grant initiatives focused on innovation in the church, including Teaching Spiritual Entrepreneurship (funded by Trinity Wall Street) and the Ministry Collaboratory for Young Adult Ministry (funded by the Lilly Endowment). She also served as research assistant to Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean and authored the companion workbook to Dr. Dean’s latest book, Innovating for Love: Joining God’s Expedition through Christian Social Innovation. Rev. Beth received the 2022 Covin Award in Youth Ministry and the 2023 Robert Boyd Munger Award in Youth Ministry. She is also a member of the inaugural cohort of the Polaris Young Adult Leadership Network, a grant initiative at Princeton Theological Seminary designed to connect and equip young adults innovating in the church. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Rev. Beth loves books, the outdoors, and good coffee. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, exploring new places, visiting art museums, running, and listening to Taylor Swift on repeat.