Please join us Sunday, January 28th after the worship service to learn more about how to get involved in the Brick Church's Deacons ministries and to help us make sandwiches with one of our partners, Grassroots Grocery. Afterwards, we will donate the sandwiches to Grassroots' community fridge. All ages are welcome!

The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 He was at times impulsive, affectionate, slow to catch on, the first to understand; he was courageous, and at other times cowardly. His roughly hewn mannerisms and thick provincial accent gave him the ability to relate to the people. He was one of them. You and I see him as one of us. Full of all the noble good things that are a gift from God but also burdened by his own weaknesses, his doubts, and selfish fears which all too often overwhelmed his best intentions. As the book Who's Who in the New Testament notes, Peter represented shifting sand more than the rock as Jesus saw him. Peter, the blue-collar fishermen of Galilee, an unlikely hero for the church. But, as author Ronald Brownrigg says, "The language of the church is not the jargon of fanatics but the simple speech of fishermen, like Peter." Peter perhaps began his journey to God by the river Jordan hearing John the Baptist wail over the decrepit state of the world. Then Jesus came and called his name and Peter went. He saw Jesus turn water into wine; He walked on water with the Lord; He proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. He had a privileged place among the disciples. He, along with James & John, was allowed to witness the transfiguration, to be present at the raising of Jairus' daughter, and to be with Jesus as He prayed for strength at Gethsemane. He was entrusted to prepare the Last Supper and he boldly defended Jesus at His arrest drawing a sword in an attempt to thwart the Romans – an impressive list. Yet, each item listed here could be considered more of a failure than a success. He sank for lack of faith on the water; right after he proclaimed Jesus was the Messiah, he was rebuked for his lack of understanding. In his privileged positions he constantly fouled up: he attempted to build a shrine at the transfiguration; he fell asleep at Gethsemane. Jesus reprimanded Peter for drawing the sword in the garden. A mixed bag of a man. At one moment he shines forth as an example to all Christians and at another he epitomizes the weak and self-absorbed, too concerned with his own agenda ever to learn anything about God. It seems chance more than anything else determined whether Peter would shine or fall flat on his face. Yet, despite Peter's own wavering waffling ways, Jesus called him "the rock" upon which He would found His church. But before he would become a granite stalwart for God, he had to experience his own epic melt down, his greatest failure-denying Jesus. Peter’s denial gets to the root of our stumbling block. He believes that he is invincible; that his will can overcome his weakness. He tells Jesus “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” Peter could accept it in others but not in himself. Peter’s denial shows that our greatest problem is not the weaknesses but our stubborn refusal to admit them. In fact, after Jesus reaffirms Peter’s weakness he redoubles his denial, “Even though, I must die with you I will not deny you.” We all know that did not turn out too well for Peter. The first denial occurs between Peter and someone of a so-called lower status in his world – a woman and a maid. In this case the detail from Matthew’s gospel is especially pertinent. Rather than quietly responding only to her we are told that he denies “before all of them” essentially saying, “I don't know what you are talking about.” In his next encounter, another woman accuses Peter and rather than speaking to him directly as the first woman did, she speaks to “all those who were there.” This time rather than a casual denial we are told he swears and oath “I do not know the man!” In the final encounter the bystanders accost him, “Certainly you are one of them. We can tell by your accent.” Peter’s denial becomes even more vehement. This time he utters a curse and then swears an oath once more, “I do not know the man!” We can feel the pressure building within Peter at each successive denial. One scholar observed, “The denial is exposed to a gradually expanding circle; it becomes more and more public. Its seriousness increases in order that the demand for "confession before [all]" might be made all the more urgent.” (Birger Gerhardsson, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden.) Then the cock crows. Peter remembers Jesus’ words, “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” It is then that Peter has his meltdown. “And he went out and wept bitterly.” He finally sees himself clearly. When the chips are down, he’s not one of those people who takes a bullet but runs and hides behind someone else. But Jesus has a plan. And the tears were the first step. “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.” Washington Irving That is where these tears would lead Peter – to unspeakable love. Last week we found that having a friend and looking to God were essential to making it through meltdowns. This week we see that coming to the truth is another key step. It may be the discovery there are others with keener financial minds, greater musical talent, better grasp of educational practices, or more adept at navigating office politics. The truth that we are not perfect or the best; and we will falter and fail. Too often this is where people stop in the midst of meltdowns – their own failures – and they are left forlorn. But Jesus would not allow Peter to stay stuck. In the gospel of John, after the resurrection, He asks Peter, "Do you love me more than these other disciples"? Peter answers this question without hesitation, “You know I love You.” Then Jesus asks again, and Peter says, "Yes Lord You know that I do." And then Jesus asks one last time, "Do you love me"? By this time Peter suspects Jesus in fact may believe that Peter doesn't love Him. It’s like in Math Class when the teacher asks for the fifth time, "Is everyone sure that the fifth derivation of motion is constant?" Peter is hurt that his loyalty has been questioned. Peter responds in desperation, “Lord You know everything, You know that I love You." Jesus asks the question three times to remind Peter of his three-fold denial. Why ask? Because Jesus needed assurance? Hardly. Jesus kept asking Peter so that Peter would know down in his heart he loved Jesus. Jesus had no doubts, He knows our heart. He wanted him to stop simply saying the words as a reaction or rote. By forcing him to say it several times Peter had to truly evaluate their truth. Upon doing so he would realize that he did in fact love Jesus. “Yes, I do I really do.” Buechner’s keen insight in his book Telling the Truth tells us, “There is no place here for either saccharine, happy endings, or soft-boiled hope.” Truth: we are not invincible. Until we face this we cannot move beyond our weakness. Peter was forced to face it and wept bitterly. Truth: when Jesus spoke to him privately and forcefully, he found that Jesus truly did love him. Despite his denial and failures, Jesus did not give up on him. Truth: Even in the face of confronting our own weakness, we can also see that there is indeed true love in our heart. For God and for others. It is at this point Peter, shifting sand, becomes the rock of faith. He preached a sermon converting thousands, thousands. He led the Jerusalem Church in its mission to the Jews. He raised Dorcas, a woman of many good works, from the dead. And decades later he died for the sake of the gospel, crucified, head downwards because he did not feel worthy of the same death as Jesus, and most tenderly he powerfully channels God’s loving power to bring hope to others. On the way to temple, he encounters a familiar sight around our city. A man begging. This man cannot walk and relies on the largess of strangers. But Peter is an itinerant preacher and part-time fisherman. He turns out his pockets so to speak, “Look at us, do we look like we have money!” That is where most of us would then be on our way. But Peter’s heart was filled with God’s love and God’s power, and he could not move on. And then he offers a line of powerful hope, “Silver and gold have I none but I give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk!” Have you ever seen someone walk for the first time after a long period of disability? It is sheer joy. And this man was no different. He not only rose up, he danced the jig. “He was walking and leaping and praising God!!” Peter had a meltdown. But strangely, he needed that meltdown. Because he finally faced the hard truth. On his own he was weak, ill-tempered and at times foolish. But he also discovered, no matter, God loved him…and he found out he did in fact love God and his friend Jesus. And so, this man of sinking sand became the Rock! And used this for others and so they too came to know God’s love. Amen.

I Kings 19:1-12 Public meltdowns have become the favorite meme of the day, especially on airplanes. Amanda Hess wrote the following in The New York Times: The plane, in 2023, has become a stage for viral comedies of manners. In recent months, I’ve watched a woman extend both of her arms to block the seat in front of her from reclining. I read about a guy who grounded a plane because he didn’t get his first-choice meal. I saw an adult man lose it over a screaming baby — and scream back. There’s something about the airplane that makes even a minor dispute feel like a big deal. Tabloids regularly repackage anonymous Reddit threads about the quirks of seat switching, seat reclining, seat back grabbing, service animals or the choreography of deplaning. The New York Post will scrape a dispute directly from Reddit and give it a headline in the style of a personal essay, like: I left my wife behind at the airport and I’m not sorry — she needs to learn time management.' Making a public spectacle of the meltdowns gives us a sense of superiority. We have it all together, or 'at least I am not as bad as that poor sap.'  Others’ weaknesses make us feel emotionally superior, but meltdowns can come to anyone. There are some who see this trend as proof of a breakdown in our social fabric. Take the title of this article, Psychology Today: Kristen Lee (SSW’00) Explains the Psychology Behind Public Meltdowns… Why Are There So Many Adult Temper Tantrums? Though they may seem more frequent they are nothing new. They are the radical disclosure that each of us has limits, a finite amount of mental and physical strength. This is true of even, or perhaps especially, of the most powerful and strong of God’s servants, Moses, Elijah, Peter, and more. And for some it is precisely the meltdown in which they realize they need God more than anything. Since these meltdowns have plagued humanity, it is not unsurprising there are considerable references in scripture, listen to these laments. ‘We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life.’ (2 Corinthians 1:8) – Paul ‘Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, with there is no foothold.’ (Psalm 69:1, 2) – David And then there is Elijah. He served as God’s prophet during a crucial point in the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s history in the 9th century B.C. It was this time period in which Israel’s many wicked kings led them to the destruction by their enemies. Elijah’s ministry mitigated God’s wrath for a time, while advocating for the most vulnerable of society. He is amongst the greatest of prophets in the history of God’s people. He certainly has an impressive list of miracles to his name. He parted the river Jordan, caused a drought, made it rain, and brought back someone from the dead! But his most impressive accomplishment was his steadfast righteousness when the world around him had plunged into idolatry, abuse, and sin. To cap off his unique career, rather than dying like the rest of us, he was simply whisked into heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah is the prototypical prophet in the Old Testament, so much so that he is the forerunner of the messiah! And yet…and yet…even Elijah had his breaking point. After the most spectacular feat of his prophetic career, smiting the prophets of Baal in a flash of fire and showmanship, King Ahaz’s wife, Jezebel, dispatches a message to Elijah for he has killed all of her prophets, 'You can be sure that I will kill you, just as I killed the other prophets. I’ll do it by this time tomorrow.' His bold taunt against the Baalites, 'I am the only one,' have turned into a statement of dread, 'I am the only one.' And so, Elijah runs, and he runs, and he runs; takes a break and then flees for another forty days and holes up in a cave, hoping his life will come to an end. Like very successful people here in New York, some hit a breaking point, and at that point, however strong and seemingly invincible they seemed, it can all crumble in a moment. Meltdowns can be disturbing, especially if you are the one experiencing it; it is an unhinging of the rationale self; your control has evaporated; the fight or flight has triggered; it is disturbing because it reveals the thin delusion of control we think we have; and when someone like Elijah becomes unhinged we suddenly realize it can happen to any of us. We keep telling ourselves, 'I have to push harder faster stronger.' But everyone has limits. And at that moment we have a radical feeling of utter isolation. Nothing, and no one can help. This perhaps is the most powerful factor behind the meltdown. Isolation. It was why King David, Moses, and Elijah had their moments. They were breaking under the burden of carrying the weight on their own. Moses says as much to God, ‘I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now.’ (Numbers 11:14,15) It is perhaps part of the great unwinding of the modern world. In the suburbs you could see it in home construction. Instead of front porches that made it easy to connect to your neighbors, they build decks in the back. Privacy can breed isolation and mistrust. There are two scriptural connected paths to surviving or perhaps, Lord willing, avoiding these meltdowns. Have a trusted friend and time with God. God listens to Moses’ rant and acts with compassion. He takes some of the spirit on Moses and puts it on seventy of the elders. Suddenly Moses has a lot of help and gives him the needed strength to take them to the Promised Land. It is critical in this church, this city, this world, that we help people know they are never alone, that others care, and that it is okay to be weak and vulnerable. Otherwise, what is the point of faith? What is the point of church? This is especially for teenagers and young adults. That is the gift of Pastor Adam and all those here who work with our youth. It is our sacred trust. As Paul wrote, 'Bear each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.' And though there were feelings of great isolation, in the end these Biblical heroes were not alone. Moses had Aaron; Elijah had Elisha; and Paul had Timothy. But there are times when a friend is not enough. Elijah experienced this loneliness both literally and figuratively. His sense that there was no one left to aid his cause drove him to literal isolation in the wilderness. We are told he spent forty days there. Sound familiar? Our forty days of lent. Forty years of Israel in the desert. Forty days of Jesus in that same wilderness. It seems perhaps even Jesus had these moments of near despair. 'I have labored to no purpose; I’ve spent my strength and for nothing.' (Isaiah 49:4) – The Prophet Isaiah [This lament] is particularly striking as it comes from the first of Isaiah’s four ‘Servant Songs’ which look forward to the coming of Christ. So the very clear implication is that Jesus himself would feel this too. (Peter Saunders, Medical Christian Missionary) We know He did. On the cross when He felt alone crying out to God for being forsaken. He did this so we would not have it. Times of isolation can be terrifying and can strip our humanity. There are movements to ban its practice in prison except under very specific circumstances. It is deemed inhuman. But if we can scrape together even a mustard seed of faith, isolation can turn to solitude in which we can discover our true strength. Thomas Merton, guru of the interior life boldly states: Physical solitude, exterior silence, and real recollection are all morally necessary for anyone who wants to lead a contemplative life... truest solitude is not something outside you, not an absence of [people]; it is an abyss opening in the center of your own soul.  And this abyss of interior solitude is a hunger that will never be satisfied with any created thing... Elijah retreated to a cave. In classic psychoanalysis, caves symbolize the hidden depths of the unconscious mind. It was a painful time of inner reflection in which he discovered his weakness more clearly than ever. God was not too quick to pull him out of it. For these times of quiet and isolation are essential for spiritual growth. Elijah retreated to that cave because his own fear and shame drove him to hide from the world. Whereas the world might abandon people in their shame, God would do no such thing.  God said, 'Go outside the cave for I am about to pass by.' It is at this point that we encounter a prototypical scene in all of scripture where there is a fantastic display of power and pyrotechnics great earthquake rumbles the land. But God is not in the earthquake. A great wind, usually indicative of the Spirit of God, blows through, but God is not in the wind. A mighty fire appears, just as God followed the Israelites in a pillar of fire at night and appeared as a burning bush to Moses, but God is not in these flashy displays. Because in times of solitude God does not appear on the outside but in the depths of our soul where it takes the deepest root and then that wonderful evocative phrase it's still small voice and there is God. After a little research the Hebrew rendered here as a still small voice actually refers to a quiet. A silence so profound that you can actually hear it. A silence that surrounds you. A stillness that is so pervasive you can hear your blood pounding through your veins, and you realize that pounding was there the whole time you were just to restless and busy to notice it before. That’s what Elijah discovered in that cave. God, as the beating of your heart, is always there. At times only in quiet stillness can we hear. Amen.

Shared during Sunday Worship on January 14, 2024. God, Alpha and Omega, in Your grace, You gift us new beginnings and clean slates. Thank You for this new year and the fresh start it affords us all. Even for those of us who have been unsure of how to begin, or perhaps have been too afraid to take a step, You have soothingly reassured us saying, “behold I do a new thing … I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert!” For the shining fire of such Good News, God, we stand in awe and extol Your glorious name! ​Many of us carry in our hearts resolutions and ambitions for the year 2024. Empower us, God, by Your Spirit to remain faithful in every godly endeavour. Prosper us in our homes, schools, workplaces, and vicinities and equip us to break free from all unhelpful and unhealthy habits in our personal lives. You are the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for You? ​ God of Peace, we implore You to fill our world with Your peace, that which surpasses human understanding. Where there is disaster, may Your rescuing hands redeem; where there is deadlock and division, may lasting peace break through; where there is hunger and emptiness, may abundance and fullness arise. Jesus, our Prince of Peace, wipe out our world’s hate and disharmony and make us like You, just and peace-loving. ​Faithful God, may it please You to use those of us gathered here and the global church to further Your work in the earth. Through us, may the shining light of the gospel traverse the nations of our world as the waters cover the sea. Thank You in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

We are delighted to introduce our Oberlin Sacred Music Intern for winter 2024, Melissa Brassard. Melissa will be with us for five weeks, during Oberlin’s winter break. Please give her a warm welcome! Melissa is from the Los Angeles area, and currently studies both piano and organ at Oberlin. In addition to her studies, she serves as organist and accompanist at Saint Clarence Catholic Church in North Olmstead, Ohio. The Wilson Family sacred music internships allow students from Yale and Oberlin to work at Brick from September through May, developing musical skills in performance, accompanying, and conducting, and enriching the life of our congregation. We are grateful to Don and Lynn Wilson for their continued support of this wonderful program. - Dr. Raymond Nagem

Acts 19:1-7; 8:14-17 Perhaps like me, with this New Year you have resolved to make this year better than the one before. Hopefully though, neither of us have been trapped in the mass-market-snake oil salesman scam like the ones I stumbled upon. This is real by the way! Simply wrap the AB Energizer belt around your waist and with just the press of a button you’re on your way to tighter abs…. Say good-bye to strenuous, time-consuming workouts because you can use the AB Energizer while you continue with your day-to-day activities such as working, shopping, or watching TV. All for only 47.95… America seems to have a proliferation of miracle products.  Those devices and gadgets we spend billions of dollars a year on trying to find that magic shortcut to a better, richer, more prosperous life. Apparently, any problem can be fixed for a mere $19.95 plus shipping and handling. However, one glance at the landfills filling at an ever-rapid pace is proof that in life there are no short cuts. It seems that no area of society is immune from this noisy, money-driven face marketing. Listen to this one… STOP! Here is important information you simply MUST know in order to DOUBLE . . . even TRIPLE your [returns]…! If you check out this material on Amazon.com…you will see that this material lists there for a full $147 …But now here’s the good news… you WON’T have to pay $147, or even $97! Follow this special link and order your own personal copy of Double Your Church Attendance Deluxe Edition…all for a mere $37!” “Here’s the good news” … $37 to double your church attendance” …$37 for good news. I seem to remember the good news being free, but churches, in their desperation to fill their pews, will resort to any measures whether it is reducing the Gospel down to a slick slogan, watering down worship, or becoming a consumer-oriented institution which exists to meet the consumer demands of its members. In the process the church growth industry thrives by tempting churches into believing it is as easy to obtain as rock-hard abs without any sit-ups. However, instead of filling up landfills they are emptying out denominational churches. Peter’s response to Simon who wanted to buy the Holy Spirit suggests that the Gospel is not something that can be sold at any price and that attempting to do so perverts and destroys it. Church growth comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, “pre-packaged programs” for growth cannot produce true fruit because the Spirit cannot be controlled. That was Simon’s error. As a practitioner of magic he believed he could, with words and gestures, summon and control the spirits but the Spirit cannot be summoned by magicians nor packaged by marketing guru’s. Churches are trying to “bottle” the Spirit as people try to bottle fame and fortune. No, the Holy Spirit, that vital force of God which breaths vigor and life into creation and people and churches, only comes as divine gift. I do believe churches truly want to be faithful to God in their quest for service and that our scripture points to a dual focus to this end: 1. Preach the Gospel 2. With the fire of the Holy Spirit. Whenever I read this passage, I am taken aback by the phrase, “they prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”  Other passages and orthodox Christianity do not provide for the separating out of God in such a fashion. However, in many churches it seems indeed that the Spirit is not present—the spirit of joy, the spirit of hope, the spirit of love, the spirit of forgiveness. The apostle Paul used the Greek word pneumatikon to describe the non-material body of the resurrected. This word refers to a physical body totally energized and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Witherton and Wright). 12th century Benedictine Hildegard referred to the third member of the Trinity as the “most beautiful shining fire.” Imagine if someone off the street came in, became a part of our community, and described this congregation as the most beautiful shining fire of the Spirit. For the frozen chosen churches this analogy has definitive implications. Such an empowerment would drive disciples into the world. The Alban Institute for church consultation had this to say, “When we really live in community—as if our very lives depended on practicing our faith—I guarantee that our congregations will be more vital.” … Notice this guarantee does not point to a numerical return on investment but vitality. To be vital is first of all to be alive, and where does life come from but the Holy Spirit. When we practice our faith as if it were crucial for the world’s well-being the Spirit grows. The eminently quotable 18th author Doctor Samuel Johnson declared, “Nothing focuses the mind like being sentenced to a hanging.” Practicing our faith as if our lives depended on it means that vital churches believe that matters of faith are vitally important. We may not believe as some churches do, that we can save people, only God can do that, but that does not mean the message God has given us is not absolutely essential for the world to hear. Churches are not to be institutions but vital bodies sharing the good news of the Gospel. And it is good news! Which leads us to the other piece of the equation – the Good News of the Gospel. That iconoclastic Methodist Bishop William Willimon had this to say: …In a time when the community was fighting for its very life, it fought not by reducing its witness to the lowest common denominator, a catchy slogan fit for a bumper sticker or a billboard…but by carefully defining itself…rather than baptizing the status quo or resorting to mushy affirmations of popular practices (even though I disagree with some of Simon’s techniques, he does draw a lot of people)…the church demanded repentance. Essentially, Willimon is telling us that the early church did not focus on institutional growth but on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The future of our congregation, indeed our denomination, will not be decided in the halls of General Assembly or the Book of Order, or even by our committees; but in the hearts of believers just like you, burning with the fiery passion of the Spirit by spreading the Gospel in these ways: To the husband who cares for his Alzheimer-afflicted wife, who receives a few hours respite from people in the name of Christ, the Good News is peace. To the woman who has been told she is worthless since she was a child, the Good News is Christ’s love. To the businessman who has raced to the top and found he was at the bottom, the Good News is purpose in serving the church. To parents who lose their children to war, disease, and poverty, the Good News is the hope of reunion. When each of us, as Christ’s disciples, allows the shining fire of the Spirit to convict us of the magnitude of the Gospel we will have the courage to remain true and the Spirit of God will baptize the fruit of efforts by blessing the world. Amen.

In the turbulent sea of life, we often find ourselves confronted by epic meltdowns, like crashing waves that threaten to engulf our hearts and minds. Over the past few years, we've witnessed many forms of chaos in our world. From a man losing his temper at a baby on an airplane to the state of war in the Middle East, fear encircles us, threatening to disrupt our state of calm. The Bible is filled with men and women who suffered from similar epic meltdowns. Peter had an epic meltdown when he began to sink while walking on water following Jesus' footsteps, and denied three times he was a disciple after Jesus was arrested (Matthew 14:29-31; Matthew 26:69-75). Elijah had an epic meltdown after defeating 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Ashram by hiding in a cave when Queen Jezebel threatened his life (1 Kings 19:1-18). Moses, too, shared, "God, kill me now if I need to keep bearing the burden of the (complaining) people," only after parting the Red Sea (Numbers 11:11-15). Each of these people had moments of extreme self-doubt where they felt like everything had spun out of control. Peter denied Jesus. Moses yelled at God. Elijah felt abandoned. For each of these men, God provided peace during the chaos. God gave them a moment of stillness and calm in the middle of their storms. In a moment of crisis, they heard the still small voice of God's presence within them. On the other side of their meltdowns, a profound realization surfaced. All along, they were being held in the hands of God. In the same way, trust centers us for the storms that lie ahead. And once we encounter God's faithfulness, a boldness emerges, and a calm amidst the storm becomes our anchor. Jesus stands as a beacon of light and calm amid our epic meltdowns. He addresses the contemporary issues that echo through frightening headlines news — poverty, violence, estrangement, and intolerance. Jesus confronted these same political problems without seeking political power, and established a following with a spirit markedly different from the world. He came not to establish an external kingdom but to inscribe God's love on our hearts — for us to display mercy, kindness, humility, justice. A society, organized around serving others and prioritizing their needs, is a stark contrast to our worldly order. In this new kingdom, the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Jesus' response to the headline news is revolutionary: when confronting enemies, pray for them and perform acts of love. As we march through January, we'll learn about these epic meltdowns and how we can find solace in Jesus's timeless message. Then, as we enter Lent, we'll dive into Jesus' answer to the headline news and experience God’s presence amid our storms. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.' - John 3:16

Seeking talented performers, musicians, craftspeople, artists, and any volunteers eager to play a role in putting on this year's community theater musical, Cinderella (Enchanted Edition)! Auditions are January 20th and 21st and all ages (4 and up) are encouraged to audition and participate. For questions, please contact our director, Courtney Edwards at courtneymatsonedwards@gmail.com. Saturday, January 20th | 10am – 12pm (Children 13 and under) Sunday, January 21st | 2pm – 4pm (Ages 14 and over) (Callbacks 4-5pm as needed.) Watson Hall Click here to register to audition or volunteer!

Please join us in donating blood on January 19th, celebrating the life of Breck Denny (‘94) and saving lives in the New York area. Simply put, giving blood matters: a single donation can help up to three people. It was donated blood that gave Breck a fighting chance in his final hours. He died on January 17, 2022, at age 34, from a spontaneous splenic artery rupture, an event so rare that there are less than 150 known cases in medical literature – the rarest of chances for the rarest of men. Breck was always giving. Now it’s our turn – we hope you join us and give #BloodForBreck at Brick.

In preparation for the annual Lessons & Carols service at Brick Church, Minister of Music Dr. Raymond Nagem interviewed composer Jonathan Woody. Woody will preview his latest composition, 'Magnificat,' and discusses some of his influences and themes in the work. Brick Church’s Lessons & Carols is modeled on the famous service that has been sung at King’s College, Cambridge, since 1918. By flickering candlelight, we proclaim the message of Christmas through readings, carols, and anthems, and we share the good news of light amid the winter’s darkness. This year’s service will feature the world premiere of a new Magnificat by New York composer Jonathan Woody. Attendance for this year’s Lessons & Carols is free and open to the public.

Register for the Brick Church Young Adult Mission Trip (ages 18+) as we journey to Philadelphia, PA! All college students and young adults are welcome on this trip that we hope will become an annual tradition. Whether your passion lies in Worship, Fellowship, or Logistics, you can play a vital role in shaping this mission weekend and engage in the planning process. Join us for five days of volunteering, outreach, and meaningful service where you'll grow closer to each other and extend the love of God.

The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. - Luke 2:10-11 …Angels from the Realms of Glory …Angels we have heard on high …The First Noel, the angels did say Many of our favorite carols include angels because we love the part they play. The angel tells Mary she has God’s favor, the angel warns Joseph and Mary to flee, the angel brings comfort in fear, the angel brings good news of great joy. The angel is the most illustrious herald in our Christmas story, in no small part due to the most beloved angel hymn, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!” As elusive as they are to the modern world, they play a critical part in God’s salvation history. Job tells us that angels have seen it all and been singing since the beginning, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. ‘...Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? ...while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?’" (Job 38:1-7, NIV) One can only imagine Mary’s disposition on meeting the angel Gabriel. Angels were sent by God to convey important messages but when Gabriel is the one sent it usually meant something bad. According to Enoch, a popular religious book at the time, Gabriel was an archangel; one of the big four, and God would dispatch him to pour out his wrath on a sinful and wayward people. You bet Mary was afraid. Given that it is Gabriel, a messenger of wrath, his first words are surprising, “Greetings O, favored one.” It’s like the terminator walking in your door and saying, “Have a nice day!”This is why Luke tells us, “…she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” Apparently, Gabriel has not come because of God’s wrath but God’s love. The only other Biblical book Gabriel appears in, as opposed to other literature, was in Daniel. The book of Daniel is filled with fantastic visions, that Gabriel interprets. One of those visions describes a period of 490 years in which there will be desecrations, desolations, and destruction. The good news in these visions comes at their consummation through the arrival of the messiah who will heal the world. Gabriel’s appearance to Mary is an announcement that that time has come and that the one anointed to accomplish this task will be her child. As the herald angel announces the arrival of the King of Kings the news is shaped in such a way as to bless the ones who hear it. The Christmas angel declares: …messages of salvation to shepherds, “…a savior is born…” …messages of courage to Mary, “…do not be afraid…” …messages of compassion and hope to Elizabeth and Zechariah, “…your prayer is answered…the lord is with you.” Message of Compassion In the Christmas story, Gabriel announces the births of both John and Jesus, and for Zechariah and Elizabeth, it is a message of compassion. Now, every birth is a gift, but Gabriel shares this news with the elderly Zechariah – that his wife, who is past childbearing age – will have a child. John is miracle baby. This is what theangel Gabriel tells Zechariah, “Your prayers have been heard.” The lack of a child had been very hard for Elizabeth, she said as much when she became pregnant, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.” The angel let her know God heard Elizabeth and Zechariah’s heartfelt pleas. Message of Courage Angels don’t only bear happy or glad news, but they find ways to bring hope out of the hard news. The angel tells Mary at 15 that she will have a child. She knows she has not been with a man and that also in those times it was not only scandalous but potentially deadly news. But the angel reassures her that the promise is this child will bring hope to the world and she is able to embrace this news with courage, and quickly any personal fears she has for her fate dissolves into hopes for those in need. Message of Salvation and Hope When the angel appeared to the shepherds, they were understandably terrified. So, the first words out of the archangel’s mouth were “Fear not.” But Gabriel didn’t stop there, telling them why they should not fear, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Quickly their fear turned to awe so they anxiously left their sheep to see what had come to pass. The culmination of this good news would be seen not only in Jesus’ sacrifice but His resurrection afterwards. This is God’s ultimate sign that the power of salvation rests securely in divine hands. When God brings life, it becomes a message to those struggling, as the angel said to Mary, “The Lord is with you.” This presence can bring peace even in hard times. I know someone who experienced several hard losses in a row. Her children were grown,and she wanted another child. Another treasured family member that was ill told her she would indeed have a daughter. Was he simply trying to make her feel better? Was it a message from God? She had always wanted a daughter but perhaps had given up on that dream. But as he was dying, she realized she was pregnant with a girl. She became a precious gift, not only of a daughter, but in a special way, helping her to feel the of the light of her brother’s presence. There are so many herald angels in this church. Messengers of God’s good news of great joy to those who have found themselves in the shadowy corners of life. This Advent so many have shared with me incredibly tender moments. …A person in experiencing transitions in life has found the grace of God in our midst. …A visitor from off the street spoke to me of her inability to experience joy at this time of year, and the guilt she feels from it, but the Service of Lessons and Carols reminded her of God’s grace. …A person from the neighborhood who felt a devastating loss, received a gift from this congregation, and the expression of sympathy from so many unknown to her has given her a measure of comfort. I remember as a three-year-old boy here in New York City at Broadway Presbyterian Church, we'd go to the Midnight Christmas Eve Service, and at the end when we lit those candles, I believed with all my heart that Jesus was coming into the world. This baby meant everything was different and then it was not only magical, but it was mystical, and it was glorious, and I felt all of these things Gabriel shared: peace and good will, no fear, the joy of God’s favor. I knew that my candle could only shine a little light, but when they were all lit together, that something special happened, and in my 3-year-old mind I was indeed seeing that “glory of the Lord” that “shone round about them!” But of course, the awe and the wonder faded as I grew older. But it has come back even stronger, this year in particular. I know now that all of this magic of Christmas Worship didn't happen by the snap of the Holy Spirit’s fingers. That happened because somebody bought the candles. It happened because the ushers handed them out. It happened because the music people work so hard. And that even more there is a greater light than these candles…the light of God’s love that people feel, it happens because of you. That is the miracle of the Christ Child. He has planted His love and hope in each of our hearts. And when we shine it with courage, compassion, and joy, others feel God’s hope, God’s peace, God’s joy, and God’s love. Amen.