Seeing people gather together in a house of worship and genuinely enjoy their time here is something I find deeply fulfilling. My name is Christopher Allen, and I joined Brick Church in the spring of 1980 along with my parents, Pat and Lee Allen. Shortly thereafter, I left for boarding school and, except for holidays, was away from the church until the late 1980s. When I returned and began serving as an usher, my journey at Brick truly began. It is a journey that continues today, and one that I hope will continue for many years to come. A Call to Serve I first became a Deacon in 1994 while serving as Head Usher. During that time, I was involved in several ministries that delivered food to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. I found that work both meaningful and challenging, and it deepened my appreciation for the church's ministry beyond its walls. In the early years of this century, I was ordained as an Elder and served as Chair of the Joint Finance Committee. A few years later, I had the privilege of helping oversee the renovation of our sanctuary in 2004. It was an uplifting experience that remains one of my most treasured memories at Brick. My journey at Brick truly began when I returned as an usher, and it is a journey that continues today. The Beauty of Worship Sunday worship has always been central to my life. For nearly a decade, I have served as the Church Beadle, succeeding Ellsworth Stanton. I value the beauty and structure of our worship service—not because of the formality itself, but because it helps me order my thoughts, focus my heart, and center my attention on God's work in our lives and our calling to serve Him. I also take great pride in caring for the sanctuary and helping preserve the heritage of this sacred space so that we can put our best foot forward in worship. Order of St. Paul One ministry that is especially meaningful to me is the Order of St. Paul. I believe it is one of the unique treasures of Brick Church. It gives children the opportunity to participate actively and meaningfully in worship, helping them develop a lifelong connection to the church and to God. In a city where children have countless demands on their time and attention, the Order of St. Paul provides a reason to come to church and become invested in its life and ministry. It has been an important part of Brick Church for generations, long before my time, and I hope it continues for generations to come. The beauty and structure of worship help me order my thoughts, focus my heart, and center my attention on God's work in our lives. Hosting with Hospitality I have always loved cooking for friends and family. While I would never own a restaurant, I take great joy in preparing special meals for the people I care about. That love is what led me to cook for the Congregational Dinner, following in the footsteps of my mother, who did the same for many years before me. It is truly a labor of love. Seeing people gather together in a house of worship and genuinely enjoy their time here is something I find deeply fulfilling. A Seat in the Chancel From my seat in the chancel, I have the privilege of looking out over the congregation during worship. I see faces attentive to the service, engaged in prayer and praise. I especially enjoy watching the children gathered on the chancel steps during the children's message, completely captivated by what they are hearing. To me, that is the light of Christ shining every Sunday morning. I also see Christ's light shining through the many ministries we support as a congregation, particularly those focused on outreach. Whether it is feeding those who are hungry, delivering meals to those who are homebound, or caring for neighbors in need, I see Christ reflected in the faithful service of Brick Church members every day. I see Christ reflected in the faithful service of Brick Church members every day. My Spiritual Home What does Brick Church mean to me today? The simplest answer is that it is home. It is my spiritual home, my family home, and my community. It holds a special place in my heart-perhaps the biggest place of all. I truly enjoy walking through its doors each Sunday and every other day I am fortunate enough to be here. Brick Church has become an essential part of my life, and I cannot imagine life without it. The simplest answer is that it is home.

Psalms 51:14-17, Romans 3:21-24 ​Planned obsolescence—a wonderful phrase that encapsulates our extreme frustration with technology. One of my great joys twenty years ago was unboxing my very first iPhone. Suddenly, I had this device that could give me directions, pay my bills, text my friends, surf the internet, go shopping at virtually any store, and, by the way, I could even make phone calls with it! But there was something strange about this phone and all the ones that followed. Over time, the ease and the joy turned to frustration. There were no longer any updates to allow me to surf the web. The GPS no longer tracked properly. The battery ceased charging. Despite the fact that there was not a single thing broken on the phone, I couldn't do anything with it. Bit by bit, month by month, an object that had been something marvelous became completely useless. Contrast this with a human baby. Babies are born into the world completely helpless and utterly useless. They can't move on their own. They can't eat on their own. They can't talk. They can't even smile. But bit by bit, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, that infant becomes something marvelous. This does not happen all at once. And I don't just mean the baby's ability to speak and to walk and paint pictures. No, there is something else that is deficient in the human creature when we are born. We have built-in error codes, bugs, and glitches. This is evident most clearly when that infant becomes a toddler. We've all seen it at the grocery store. A child looks up to Mom or Dad with big eyes and a meek request: “Can I have some candy?” “No.” “Please.” “No!” “PPPPLLEEEEEEEASSSSEE!!!” The next thing you know, the child is writhing on the floor screaming in existential agony. And to them it's real—the pain. They're not faking. And the parent has no really good escape route except to snatch the child up off the floor and walk out! Over time, the child grows sufficient coping mechanisms to find other ways to get what they want. But in reality, there is still something broken inside each one of us. The Apostle Paul struggled with this reality. He said, “I do not do the things I know I ought to do, but the very thing that I know I shouldn't do, that's what I do.” It is that inherent weakness and brokenness that Christianity refers to as sin. And so, in our passage this morning, Paul says, “All have sinned and fallen short.” There's no distinction. We're all human. We're all broken. And we all need the exact same thing. With that brand-new iPhone, when you open it, it's perfect. But human beings are born with something missing, with a hole in our heart. And here is the good news: God has a plan for me and you that is the opposite of that for the iPhone. The iPhone is built to work when it comes out of the box, but purposefully to become less useful over the months and years until it's only ready to be thrown out. Human beings come broken, but the plan is that over the weeks, months, years, and decades we become something greater. Had we not been born with that hole—something more than we ever could have been without the struggle, without the pain, without the heartache. Let's call it reverse obsolescence. We start off useless, but over time we become perfected, or in Christian parlance, holy, righteous, noble. And there is a pathway to this journey. The first step on this path to reverse obsolescence is to admit this need. Whether you are Jew or Gentile, Sikh or Muslim, all need to recognize that only God can bring wholeness. The fact that we need God is not a unique concept to Christianity. And so Paul takes us deeper into his argument. We are now “justified” (that is, made right, made whole) by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. And it is here that Christianity has a unique answer. We become whole not through acts of penance. We become whole not through climbing some great mountain, pushing a boulder up a hill. We become whole not through screwing up our will and avoiding every possible sin we can imagine. Paul tells us this process happens apart from the law—that is, apart from works. This is the monumental shift that Christianity makes. And Paul ultimately is not simply referring to the laws of Judaism that had become unwieldy over time, but to the kind of law-based religion that Martin Luther excruciated over. He was in utter despair because he thought that he had to perfect himself through endless rituals, and he realized he couldn't do it. He could never be good enough. Sadly, it's the same kind of despair that leads people to do tragic and self-destructive things. The law, for Paul, represents that innate part of us that fools itself into believing that striving is what makes us worthy and valuable. And the solution that Paul provides can hardly be believed. He tells us it's free—that it is a gift. It costs us nothing because it is too valuable for us ever to be able to buy it. We know the saying: if something seems too good to be true, it is. When that Nigerian prince wanted to give me $1 million, I wanted to believe him! But it's not only the Nigerian prince who's trying to fool us. There are endless things in this world trying to lure us into believing that they are the solution for repairing what's broken inside of us. Whether it is an amazing new car, a perfect complexion, financial success, straight A's in school, getting into an elite college, landing that enviable job at the law firm—it doesn't come from correct political views. It doesn't come from genuflecting to the latest political fad, whether liberal or conservative. It doesn't even come from belonging to the right religion. No, the one offering you this gift is not a madman—or rather, an ad man—on Madison Avenue. Paul tells us the character of the gift-giver: Jesus of Nazareth. And we can trust him because he came not to be served but to serve; because he embodies forgiveness and love; because he gave everything for us—even his own life—to make us whole. It comes through accepting that there is nothing that we can do to make ourselves whole. Nothing that I can do. Nothing that Mother Teresa could do. Nothing that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. could do. Nothing that Gandhi could do. We are of infinite value simply because God declares it. Let me show you how. I think in New York City we should understand this better than anywhere else in the world. The current value of Bitcoin is about $60,000 per coin. Some might argue it is worthless because there is nothing backing it up. But there are people willing to give me real money for this ethereal thing. And in turn, I can take that $60,000 and buy food and clothing, and so there is tangible value in it. Where does that value come from? Belief. There are people who believe in it. It is all about what others believe about Bitcoin. And because they believe in it, they will take real risks on this ephemeral digital coin. It has made billionaires. Bitcoin has become fantastically valuable because people invest value into it. It is nothing more than that. Here's the crux of the argument: If a person on the street can turn something intangible into $60,000 simply because they believe in it, what value do you have when God attributes to you infinite value? God believes in you. God invests in you. God risks everything for you. The path to reverse obsolescence begins by admitting the need. And now we have our second step: accept the gift. Accept the gift because the giver is trustworthy. Believe it, for we have seen how belief in zeros and ones can create billionaires. Don't you think God can make something of you? Finally, we are called to embrace the path. This is the journey that never ends in this life, and it is the true joy of following God. Paul is less concerned—I believe this truly in my heart—that Paul, and especially Jesus, are less concerned with a person having the right religious affiliation and doctrine, less concerned with having the right head knowledge, and more concerned with knowing that kind of love in your heart. Paul tells us two chapters before this that God doesn't judge what's on the outside but what's on the inside. Embracing the path means accepting that we are going to make mistakes. That as we take two steps forward, we're going to take one step back. It is inevitable. So it takes courage. But there is a roadmap: Jesus' life. And as we embrace this path, unlike that Bitcoin, we actually become that thing of infinite value that God has declared us to be. Admit the need. Accept the gift. Embrace the path. The way to move from a rather hapless and helpless infant to a being of purpose, promise, and perfection. Amen.

Dear Members and Friends of Brick Church, As we gathered for our Annual Meeting, I was reminded of a phrase from Psalm 126 that appeared in a sermon preached by our founding pastor, John Rodgers, 250 years ago: "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." On this 250th anniversary year of our nation, those words feel especially fitting. As we celebrate all that God has done through Brick Church this past year, I invite you to read the 2025 Annual Report of the Congregation and Corporation, which provides a more detailed look at our ministries, finances, and shared life together. God continues to bless Brick Church in remarkable ways, and it is with gratitude and joy that I share a few highlights from this extraordinary season of ministry. We have experienced abundant blessings in worship and music. Mozart’s Requiem offered a profound opportunity to confront loss, pray together, and receive hope through the gift of sacred music. Under the leadership of our musicians and worship leaders, our music ministry continues to flourish. We are especially grateful for the ministry of our new Children’s Music Director, Liz Richter. Registration in our children’s music program is up 19%, and Sunday participation has doubled. We also celebrate the dedication of our staff and congregation during this season of transition. Visiting musicians consistently comment on the warmth, professionalism, and hospitality they encounter at Brick, as well as the exceptional care of our historic building. We are thankful for the many people whose faithful service makes this ministry possible. Our 2025 Stewardship Campaign surpassed $2 million, marking the third consecutive year of 3–4% growth in stewardship giving. Building on that momentum, the 2026 Stewardship Campaign exceeded $2.2 million—an increase of more than $235,000, or 10%, over the previous year's total. Most encouragingly, 25% of 2026 pledges came from households returning to stewardship after a period of absence or from households making a pledge for the first time. These commitments will enable Brick Church to strengthen its ministry by calling two Associate Pastors and a full-time Christian Educator. We are deeply grateful for your generosity, faithfulness, and commitment to God's work through Brick Church. This year’s 250th Anniversary celebrations have also been a source of inspiration. Through special events, historical exhibits, and reflections on John Rodgers’ Independence Day sermon, we have been reminded of Brick’s longstanding witness to religious freedom, hospitality to those seeking refuge, reconciliation, and care for those in need. These values continue to shape our ministry today. Across our church, faith formation ministries are thriving. Bible studies continue to grow in both depth and participation. The Children’s Ministry Committee has done exceptional work nurturing the faith of our youngest members, while programs such as the Day of Discipleship continue to strengthen our commitment to active Christian service. Our partnerships beyond Brick Church continue to expand as well. We are grateful for growing relationships with Park Avenue Synagogue, the Upper East Side Clergy Unity Initiative, Princeton Theological Seminary, and our historic partnership with The Church of the Living Hope. We look forward to Brick’s continued dedication to the Seminarian Program, bringing on two seminarians this coming year (Fiona Beattie and Chris Randall), as well as a full-time intern from a new ministry partnership program called PreachFor (Chad Scholtens). Thanks to careful stewardship and strong financial management, Brick Church concluded 2025 with a surplus of $207,000. Session has designated these funds to help offset prior deficits, restore grant funding to historic levels, and provide resources for future ministry opportunities as discerned by Session. One of the most encouraging signs of God’s work among us is the growth of our congregation. Over the past year, 95 people joined Brick Church, including 18 confirmands and 77 new members. Many of these new members are young families who tell us they came because Brick feels like home, because they want to raise their children in a loving Christian community, because of our thoughtful preaching and outstanding music, and because friends invited them to experience the life of this church. Our Day School continues to flourish, growing from 194 children this year to 215 children enrolled for next year. We are thrilled that Marie Fabian has agreed to continue her leadership for another three years beginning July 1, 2026. Our after-school theater and music programs remain strong, with nearly 80 students participating each session. This spring’s classes sold out in a single day. Likewise, our production of Mary Poppins brought together church members, school families, and neighbors in a remarkable display of community. While the production generated net income, its greatest success was the 1,500 lives touched through audiences, cast members, crew, volunteers, and families. Whether at the Strawberry Festival, in worship, through outreach ministries, in classrooms, or around dinner tables, I continue to witness the magnetic power of Christian fellowship at Brick Church. Recently, someone asked me, "Is all that stuff real on your social media feeds?" My answer was simple: Yes. What you see is a genuine reflection of the vibrant, welcoming, and Christ-centered community that God is building here. Thank you for your continued support, your prayers, your service, and your generosity. Together, we celebrate what God has done, and we look forward with hope to all that God will continue to do through The Brick Presbyterian Church. Peace, Rev. Tom Evans Senior Minister

Matthew 28:16-20, Psalm 8:1-9 The CEO and president of the board of directors issued a set of simple instructions. They reflected the mission of this organization, and it became the most effective, powerful initiative ever launched in the history of humanity. It makes Apple look like a flash in the pan and Tesla look like a brief experiment. If indeed the church were a business, it would be the most successful one ever! Jesus’ instructions were simple and clear in Matthew’s gospel: Go, teach, baptize, remember. First, “go.” This would not be a board of directors that sits in a conference room making decisions. No. The disciples are going to scatter to the four corners of the earth. Jesus did not simply send his disciples to their kinsmen but instructed them to go to all nations. That was the mission—simple, but impossible: go to the whole world and give them hope. Second, “teach them.” They will be like the door-to-door salesmen of times past, sharing the movement’s philosophy. They are not only meant to disseminate his teaching but to embody Jesus’ ethics and his ways of treating their clientele. But that is not quite right. The recipients won’t be clients or customers but recruits. Everyone is invited to be a part of the organization. That is what makes this a truly unique movement. Third, “baptize them.” This rite will mark them as part of the community. It not only conveys privileges of membership—a network of support that is worldwide, eternal life—but demands responsibility. Each person so baptized is meant to continue the work of the original twelve. Namely, seek to live a life that reflects the way Jesus lived his life. This responsibility will ask everything of us but will also give us all that we ever need. Fourth, remember. “Remember, I am with you always.” When the work gets hard; when you think you can’t go a step further; when you become lost, look within. Jesus has sent his Spirit to guide you, protect you, empower you, and comfort you. These twelve people of no particular pedigree set out to change this planet—and they did it. Listen to the ancient historian Eusebius relate their travels: Meanwhile the holy apostles and disciples of our Savior were dispersed throughout the world. Parthia, according to tradition, was allotted to Thomas as his field of labor, Scythia to Andrew, and Asia to John… Peter appears to have preached in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia to the Jews of the dispersion. And at last, having come to Rome, he was crucified head-downward, for he had requested that he might suffer in this way. What do we need to say concerning Paul, who preached the Gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum, and afterwards suffered martyrdom in Rome under Nero? Think about everything against this miraculous spread. First of all, the two thousand years of opportunity for inertia to simply kill the movement into oblivion. There was no reason to look back at that moment from a historical perspective and believe this was the beginning of a new world. Next, there was no internet, newspapers, or social media to spread its influence. It happened one community, one person at a time. There was something sticky about this message. It has made inroads in every society in the world. In the Asian world, Christianity for a couple of thousand years hardly made a dent, but now, in the past few decades, it has made a dramatic impact on the nation of South Korea and is being fostered in China. It made people’s lives better—empirically better. Their health improved, their education multiplied, their economics multiplied, murder and war decreased, and equality spread. Admittedly, this is a project that has seen its ups and downs and sometimes terrible failures, but overall the trajectory of the world is markedly better. In The Rise of Christianity, Rodney Stark convincingly demonstrates that Christianity replaced paganism because it improved people’s lives. As one commentator wrote: The Christian doctrine translated into real-world social and communal advantages—which made it appealing and sustainable. Some of the key areas where improvements occurred: The value of women. Christianity rejected infanticide, which was especially high for newborn females. Women were also included early on in worship leadership. This led to more stable households and higher fertility. Christians supported one another through mutual aid. In many parts of Roman society, social welfare was significantly weaker; the communal strength stabilized the communities while attracting new converts. In the midst of plagues devastating populations, Christian hope offered a purpose beyond this life; it was a compelling alternative to despair. Early Christians, rather than engaging in wars with their opponents, took the path of peace and martyrdom, which was a compelling new way of dealing with conflict and a powerful witness. Christian theology also taught a deep equality amongst all people—that everyone was made in the image of God—and eradicated barriers between ethnic groups, social class, and economics, giving the everyday person a measure of dignity in this life. We are here today to continue that mission. We are Jesus’ disciples now. A few months ago the congregation took a survey, and you set this mission as a primary priority: to reach new people. In other words, to continue the Great Commission from Matthew’s gospel! The formula is the same. It follows the same strategy that Jesus used whenever he took his message beyond the immediate environs. Believe it or not, he didn’t start by telling them, “I’m the Savior of the world, I’m God! You better listen to me!” He didn’t begin by telling them what was wrong with them. He didn’t begin by preaching to them what they ought to be doing. He began by listening to them—what pain was in their heart, what illness was besetting their body and soul. He began by healing them, respecting them, listening to them, and feeding them. This is the same strategy we strive to emulate, though surely we fail at times. And this is how we have stated it: “to be a spiritual home for all people”—a respite, a break from the pressures of life, whatever your faith is, whether you’re Christian, Hindu, an atheist, a Buddhist, or a Muslim. It doesn’t matter. If this community can help you on the road to life, we want to be there for you. We are not here to convert you; that is not our job, because we seek to respect people’s God-given conscience. “God alone is Lord of the conscience.” What you believe is between you and God. But what we do, we do in the name of Jesus. And we do it with grateful joy. Here at Brick Church we don’t gather as strangers. We come as friends to celebrate! A few weeks ago at the Strawberry Festival, we did that in spades, and people from the neighborhood were coming by and asking, “What is happening here?” They could see the excitement, your servant joy, they could see the love. Which leads us to our second goal. Even as we hope to gather people into Brick Church, we also want to send them out—to be “a beacon of hope” for the Upper East Side, the City of New York, and whatever corner of the world may need what we have to offer. And this is why at the last Session meeting we made two decisions with the blessed surplus we had in 2025 because of your generosity. First, we’re going to pay back the endowment from the past few years’ deficits. Second, and more importantly, we are restoring $50,000 in grants to bring that hope, especially in these days when so many nonprofits’ funding has been cut. This is possible only because of your generosity. Thank you! But we are leaving some of that surplus as seed money, wanting to listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, sensing that God is on the precipice of doing something new with us. Jesus commands you and commands me: go, teach, baptize, and remember. And shall we add today: give thanks for all the Lord has done for us. Amen.

Dear Brick Community, As many of you know, Stanley Seocharan is retiring after 30 years of faithful service to Brick Church. Over the years, Stanley has been an important part of the Brick Church community and has played an essential role in the life of both the Church and School. Stanley came to New York from Guyana many years ago, and eventually Brick became his new home. Through the decades, he has been a faithful and consistent presence in this community, quietly serving with dedication, care, and steadfast commitment. We are deeply grateful for the many ways Stanley has cared for this Church and for the countless people whose lives he has touched along the way. Many members of the congregation have expressed a desire to recognize Stanley’s years of service and thank him for the many ways he has supported this community over the years. In response, Brick Church has established a fund in recognition of Stanley’s service to the church. If you would like to contribute as we celebrate Stanley’s retirement, you may do so by clicking here. We give thanks for Stanley’s 30 years of service and invite you to join us in celebrating his retirement and wishing him every blessing in this next chapter. Peace, Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Evans

Shared during Sunday Worship on May 17, 2026. When the apostle Paul tells us the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us, we admit, dear Lord, this is hard for us to imagine. When we see war and violence devastating the people of this earth, we ache with the same anguish we know our dear Lord Jesus does. So, we ask Your Spirit’s power to bring that endless peace promised so long ago to the peoples of Sudan, Myanmar, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, the Congo, Mali, and Haiti. But there are other conflicts being waged in people's minds and souls, especially in our young people. We ask that you show us how, as a city and a land, we might recreate what it means to grow into adulthood so that each person might know they are infinitely treasured by You, and You have given them a purpose in this place. Let them know that their worth is not measured by grades or success, by looks or athletic prowess. You look at the heart, dear Lord, and cleanse them and grant them a sense of joy and the innocence of youth once again. And yet we see signs of strength and resilience, of purpose and presence in our youth and in our people. We are grateful for the programs of this church, for Sunday school, for youth group, for children's choirs and after school classes, and all of the people that devote a portion of themselves to fulfill the vows the congregation made at baptism. On this brilliant sunny day, we look forward with exceeding joy to step outside these doors and to gather at the strawberry festival, where the church and school and the community all celebrate not only the bright sunshine but the brightness of fellowship of the people of God. Many hands have brought us to this moment, all for the purpose of glorifying Your name through the gift of each other. We know that such a grand celebration and feast is indeed what you have in store for us when we move into glory, when You reveal Your glory. So we are reminded that the apostle Paul wrote these words in the midst of his own deep struggles, ostracized by his people, betrayed by his new communities, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and beaten. And yet Paul not only survives, he rejoices, not only does he forgive, but he loves, not only does he receive, but he gives everything. So yes, dear Lord, we do seize this promise that the gift of Your son Jesus and the abundant life he offers us all is beyond comparison. Let us seize it with courageous faith, live it with such passion that others are infected by Your love. We pray all this in great thanksgiving to Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen.

I came to faith much later in my life, and I came to faith by studying Scripture. I came to faith much later in my life, and I came to faith by studying Scripture, not by going to church. When I had really made a commitment to start following Christ in my life, I knew I needed a church community that could come alongside me on my spiritual journey. So I started church shopping, and I came to Brick Church, and I felt that this was the right place. This was the community that was embarking on their spiritual journeys that could come alongside me on mine—and I’ve not left since. My First Sunday What I remember about my first Sunday at Brick Church was just the beauty of everything—the sanctuary, the people, the music, the way the Word was read and proclaimed. It just felt so right. I was seeking spiritually, looking for a place where I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. I wanted a place where I could keep learning, where my faith could keep maturing, and where I could work alongside other committed Christians and do the work I felt God was calling me to do. Discovering My Calling At first, I wasn’t exactly sure what that work was. But as I became involved in different activities, fellowship opportunities, and got to know the congregation and the community, I felt that I was on the path to finding what I needed to deepen and grow my faith. Over time, I began to feel that I was meant to be involved in teaching God’s Word to others. Coming into that calling and discovering it has been such a blessing for me. Faith Through Challenges My faith has definitely been tested over the years, as we all experience through personal challenges and difficult circumstances. There have been seasons when I felt I didn’t know how I would get through something. What has helped me is returning to Scripture—opening the Bible, studying it, spending time in prayer, and sitting in quiet with God. I’ve learned that I cannot do life on my own strength. I need to walk with God through every circumstance. Looking back, I can see how God’s grace carried me through those difficult times. I’m not sure I could have navigated the past 20-plus years without this community. A Place Called Home The Brick Church community has meant so much to me over the years. It’s been home. I have the home where I live, and I have this home as well. This is Jesus’ church. It’s about the light of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s about all of us coming together—working, studying, singing, worshiping, crying, and celebrating together. That has been such a foundation and support in my life. I’m not sure I could have navigated the past 20-plus years without this community. It’s exactly what I was looking for when I first began this journey—a community to walk with me and strengthen me along the way. The Power of Studying Scripture The ministry that has been most meaningful to me at Brick Church has been in the education space. I’m a firm believer that you have to open the Bible, read the story, and understand it. When I first started studying Scripture almost 30 years ago, I didn’t even understand what the chapter and verse numbers meant. But you just have to dive in, make yourself vulnerable, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding. Through women’s Bible studies, summer studies, and adult education classes, I’ve experienced what it means to learn in community. These are safe spaces where we can ask questions, grow together, and support one another, no matter where we are in our faith. I want everyone to experience that—to unlock the transforming power that already lives within them through the Holy Spirit. Witnessing Transformation For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of leading the Women’s Bible Study at Brick Church. It’s one of the greatest privileges of my life. I’ve seen women come in with no understanding of Scripture and grow into people who speak with incredible spiritual maturity. Watching that transformation has been amazing. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience that—to unlock the transforming power that already lives within them through the Holy Spirit. Why Church Matters The church matters today because God is still sovereign, and God is still relevant. We need to be in community, walking alongside one another, growing in faith, and supporting each other. For me, that also includes daily prayer and quiet time—asking God how He can use me and how I can be a light in the world. A Word to Those Just Beginning If I could say one thing to someone just getting involved at Brick Church, it would be this: just do it. Get involved in as many things as you can until you find what really speaks to you. Each step leads to something else. You begin to see where your gifts fit, and how God is calling you to serve. This is a community where we all bring our gifts together for God’s purpose. A Guiding Scripture The Scripture that has guided my faith and leadership comes from Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not rely on your own understanding. In everything, acknowledge God, and he will set your path straight.” I say this to myself every day. It grounds me and reminds me that God is faithful. He gives us the wisdom and strength we need—but we have to call on Him and walk with Him. This has been my journey—one of seeking, growing, and being transformed through Scripture, community, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hull strawberries on May 15th, bake shortcakes on May 16th, and help with hot dogs, setup, serving, and kids' activities on May 17th for the All-Church Picnic and Strawberry Festival on 92nd Street! Join us for music, food, and community fun after worship. Save the date and join the excitement! Email info@brickchurch.org to volunteer!

Exodus 3:7-10, Galatians 5:1, 13-14  "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" —  Micah 6:8b    "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." — Galatians 5:1 In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul proclaims the gift of freedom that comes through Jesus Christ—a freedom hard won and not to be taken lightly. And throughout history, freedom has been a powerful force. Two hundred and fifty years ago, it became a defining idea that shaped our nation and continues to shape us today. Throughout the season of Lent, we explored how the concept of freedom took shape in the colonies 250 years ago. But freedom is not just an American concern—it is a human longing, a central hope across every time and place. This morning, I’d like to explore how that longing for freedom took shape in the Latin American context in the late 20th century, especially in Brazil. By understanding how freedom takes shape in different contexts, we gain a fuller vision of what God intends for all of humanity. As some of you may know, I was born in Brazil, where my parents were serving as missionaries. So, this story is not just history to me—it is personal. And perhaps one of the clearest cultural expressions of freedom in Brazil takes place each year during Carnaval. It is, in many ways, the equivalent of our Mardi Gras. But with its month-long, nationwide celebration, it makes Mardi Gras look more like afternoon tea than a raucous festival. The freedom of Carnaval is expressed in the beautiful, elaborate costumes—bright colors, intricate designs, and boundless creativity. It drew my father back to Brazil again and again. After he retired, each year he would go to Brazil for this month-long party, and he would always return filled with vitality and joy. If you’ve never seen it, I encourage you to look it up and witness the life and joy that pour out of it. At its heart is dance—a free expression of the human soul reveling in the joy of life. There is a deep and resilient joy in Brazilian culture—a love for celebrating life. But that is not the whole story. Beneath that joy, there are deep struggles—especially the suffocating effects of poverty. It was in response to this reality that a movement began to emerge in the 1950s and 60s, led by Catholic priests and theologians who saw the suffering of their people and asked what the Gospel demanded in the face of such injustice. This movement came to be known as Liberation Theology. And it resonated with Jesus’ own mission—to proclaim good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed. It drew deeply from God’s paradigmatic act of freedom in the Old Testament: the Exodus. God looked upon the oppression of the Israelites and promised not only freedom from slavery, but a life of abundance—a land flowing with milk and honey, a land of promise. God acted powerfully in history, as Exodus tells us, with a  “mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” These theologians believed that to be faithful to the Word of God, the Church must not ignore the suffering of the poor. They challenged a Church they believed had become too focused on spiritual freedom while overlooking the realities of poverty and oppression. I began to hear this critique at a very young age. My parents shared with me stories of poverty, hunger, and injustice in Brazil. And my father fed me, in small but steady doses, not only the work of the Swiss theologian Karl Barth, but also the voices of liberation theologians such as José Miranda, Leonardo Boff, and Paulo Freire. José Miranda argued that God’s choice of Abraham and Sarah was not an isolated act, but the beginning of a larger purpose—one that would culminate in the liberation of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. But something surprising happened. A powerful photograph taken at the airport in Managua captures the moment. Father Ernesto Cardenal knelt before Pope John Paul II to kiss the papal ring. But instead of a blessing, the Pope wagged his finger and said, “ You must regularize your situation.” Later that year, Cardenal was suspended from the priesthood. Here we see two different understandings of freedom. The Pope, along with many theologians around the world, believed that liberation theology risked reducing the Gospel to an earthly vision of freedom alone. But Paul, when he tells us not to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery, points us to something deeper—not just external chains, but the internal bondage of sin. The Gospel’s power is at work no matter our circumstances. No earthly chains can bind a spirit rooted in the love of God in Jesus Christ. Paul demonstrated this in prison. Though confined behind iron bars, his spirit remained free. His hymns echoed through the prison, and even a guard, hearing them, experienced a kind of liberation of his own and in turn helped bring an earthly liberation for Paul. And even liberation theologians came to recognize that while poverty can oppress, it does not define the human person. One recalled a woman in deep poverty who, when told,  “It must be so hard to be so poor,”  replied, “ I am not poor, for I have hope.” Jesus died and was raised by the power of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love. In that salvific act, we are set free—from every bondage and every fear. It is a freedom that transcends time and space, culture and language, race and ethnicity. One need only look at the global Church—its growth in Africa and Asia—to see that freedom alive and at work. So where does this leave us between earthly and spiritual liberation? My parents showed me the way. They served as missionaries in Chapecó, a town deep in the jungles of Brazil. When they arrived it was like the Wild West, complete with gun fights on the town square. As a man you couldn’t wear a hat because that meant you were looking for a fight. The main thrust of their ministry was to build a church, and what made this church unique in its setting was putting the Bible in the hands of the people so that they could see for themselves the free grace that God offers us in Jesus Christ. There is no need for any earthly mediator; you can go directly to God to find salvation. But at the same time they learned from the people the power of generosity. "Faça a conta que a casa é sua,"  a saying the people taught my parents. As my mother told me,  "’Make believe that the house is yours’" is often said when a visitor comes to stay overnight or longer at your home. It captures the essence of what it means to be a Brazilian. This meant in Chapecó, when the life expectancy was 50 years of age in the 1960s, and the poorest were eating out of garbage cans. No matter how humble the house, if there was one bed for 6 people, when you came to visit, the bed was yours. There was always a cafezinho offered, and even if you knew the water was full of parasites, you drank it anyway. As a result they generously shared what they had. In fact, for the rest of their lives they devoted themselves to giving others in deepest need a hand up. The people of Chapecó treated them with love and welcome—but not everyone. When the third child, the first daughter, Rachel, was born she was in immediate distress and she needed an incubator. The other local church had the only one and they said no—eventually a friend helped them procure it, but by then it was too late. So alas, being the fifth-born, I have never met my sister. It is not anything either of them have said about that instance that has shaped my life but rather what they haven’t said. I never heard my mother or my father voice a single moment of bitterness toward that church. I know that I would not have been so forgiving. In fact, I have only heard them speak about these brothers and sisters with affection, love, and respect, and I have learned that same appreciation for their spiritual strength. The effusion of earthly and spiritual liberation is most powerfully articulated by Paul in Galatians. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”  And at the end, he tells us how that freedom is to be lived:  “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” The Pope was right. There is more to freedom in Christ than earthly liberation. But so, too, were the liberation theologians. They remind us that God’s heart is with the poor, and that faith must be lived with courage. Some lost their positions. Some even lost their lives. Yet they stood firm for those dearest to the heart of Jesus. So let us stand firm in the freedom Christ has given us and embrace the joy, make it to Carnaval and dance, dance, dance with the power of hope and the power of love. Amen.

Let Us Pray Our dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving us ears to hear your Holy Word. We pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit to make these ancient words of Scripture relevant and near to each of us this day. Shine your Holy light in our hearts so we may share it with others. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen. There are many, many stories in the Gospels that feature Jesus at the table with others. I personally love this because it shows us that Jesus was a human being just like us, and he needed to eat, but it also shows how he gathered in community in one way or another—and you can bet that no one was unchanged after Jesus attended one of their meals. Jesus dined at tables with friends, enemies, the curious, the critical, and the devoted. In Jesus’s own words from the Gospel of John 6:35: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” This is the ultimate banquet or dinner party of life. Feasting in different cultures looks different, but because food is essential for life, Jesus’s words here are significant for all people. From the gospel of Matthew 9:9-13 The Call of Matthew 9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 And as Jesus sat at dinner[a] in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting[b] with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” This passage is, first of all, a retelling of the call story of Matthew as one of Jesus’s disciples, plus the story of a dinner party hosted by Matthew that Jesus attends with other “undesirable” guests. Of all the criticisms of Jesus that are recorded in the Gospels, “he eats with tax collectors and sinners” and “healing on the Sabbath” were the two most prominent. Here are three things that I want to call out: First, this passage is a story of calling—specifically, Matthew’s call. Matthew is the only other call story recorded in the Gospels besides Peter, Andrew, James, and John’s. And what is Matthew’s response? Matthew got up and followed Jesus without hesitation. Matthew went on later to meticulously record Jesus’s life and work in his Gospel so that future generations would have that record. Matthew’s Gospel was also written with the most Old Testament references so that the people of that time would understand that Jesus is who he said he was—God’s Messiah. Second, this is a story of healing and invitation—a story about a sinful, exploitative tax collector named Matthew who turns away from his old life to be called into Jesus’s inner circle. It is a story of healing and transformation, juxtaposed among the many healings that Matthew’s Gospel records. Third, this is a story about mercy and inclusion. Jesus calls us to give up the illusion of superficiality—appearances, rituals, and reputations. He calls us instead to sincerity, mercy, healing, and love, which, as we know, are the values so prominent in Jesus’s ministry because they are who Jesus is. So, who belongs and who doesn’t? Who is welcomed, and who is held at arm’s length? How wide are the boundaries of our communities, our churches, our nation? These are old questions that humanity has struggled with over the centuries. But we know, looking back at what Jesus accomplished for us in his life, death, and resurrection, that welcome wins. That is the brilliant good news of the Gospel—that inclusion wins, and God’s mercy is so wide that it is extended to everyone, not just certain people. It is even extended to those on the margins of our society. Sharing a meal with others impacts those at the table. Hospitality can be transformative on a very basic level, and remembering that Jesus is always present with us at our tables may help us to think about our gatherings in a new and different way.

Let Us Pray Our dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving us ears to hear your Holy Word. We pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit to make these ancient words of Scripture relevant and near to each of us this day. Shine your Holy light in our hearts so we may share it with others. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen. From the Book of Proverbs 12:18 "Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” In this world of divisive rhetoric and fake news, and in the competition for our attention on social media, where lies seem to attract more attention than truth, how do we navigate the swirl of words around us, and how do we use our own words? If, as people of faith, we are to honor and glorify God with all that we say and do, what does that look like? We are going to explore how we use our words and see that honoring God with our words is more than being polite and honest, and not letting our “personal wisdom” fly anytime we feel like it. When the Bible talks about speech, it is often paired with teachings about wisdom, the Holy Spirit, or the fruit of the Spirit. From the Book of James Chapter 3:13-18 Two Kinds of Wisdom 13 Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant and lie about the truth. 15 This is not wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness[a] is sown in peace by those who make peace. James does not write about how to become a Christian, but rather how to act like one. There are two types of wisdom described in the Bible—earthly and heavenly. So, what is the connection between wisdom and speech? One is the source, and the other is the product. James is saying that our words are the indicator of what kind of wisdom is inside of us. Speech that dishonors God follows the pattern of earthly wisdom, and wise speech that honors God follows the pattern of heavenly wisdom. When James speaks of earthly, unspiritual, devilish wisdom, what is he referring to? He is saying that envy, boasting, and selfish ambition do not come from God; they come from the brokenness of our human nature or from spiritual forces opposed to God. Earthly wisdom tells us that we should act and speak in a way that feels best in the moment, that we need to fight for what we think we are due, and that we are justified in lashing out at those who get in our way or wrong us. These are the attitudes that tempt us to give in to our innate desire to be right, to be better than someone else, and to have the last word in an argument. We have all experienced moments like these, when we have lost control of ourselves and said horrible things to someone. And worse, this is what our culture tells us right now is the right way to behave when people disagree with us or hurt us. Social media and current events unfolding in this world before us are fueling these attitudes, and so we find ourselves in this age of outrage. In this passage, James is describing wise speech that honors God and His purposes. I don’t think it takes much self-reflection or headline scanning to realize that these characteristics are not very popular, or at least not universally practiced today. They don’t make us feel powerful and important; rather, they may make us feel vulnerable and insecure, as if other people could take advantage of us if we lived this way. Wise speech is not necessarily speech that makes us feel good, but rather speech that does us good, whether it is easy to swallow or not. Sometimes hard things need to be said—with mercy and consideration and integrity and love.

Let Us Pray Our dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving us ears to hear your Holy Word. We pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit to make these ancient words of Scripture relevant and near to each of us this day. Shine your holy light in our hearts so we may share it with others.In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen. From the Book of Acts Chapter 3:1-10 Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar 3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4 Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,[a] stand up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him. In the early years of the church, after Jesus had ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit had come at Pentecost, temple worship and Jewish customs remained key parts of early Christian life. Followers of Christ continued to live as faithful Jews and met daily in the temple courtyards to hear the apostles preach about Christ. This is what is happening on this afternoon, when Peter encounters the crippled man. The daily time of prayer for the evening sacrifice was approaching, and the temple area was thronged with believers. Poor people gathered there, hoping for handouts as worshipers came in. Here we see the supernatural power and authority demonstrated by the apostles in the early church through the miracle that Peter performs for the crippled man. What does Peter tell the man? “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,[a] stand up and walk.” What happens next? Peter reaches out his hand to help the man up. Does this healing miracle sound familiar? How many healings had Jesus done while he was on this earth? How does the healed man react? What a beautiful picture of someone overjoyed to be mobile for the first time in his life. Peter was acting not in his own authority, but through God’s power granted by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Could this be the same disciple that Jesus called so long ago? The same person who spoke sometimes without thinking, but who deep down loved Jesus with all of his heart? It was indeed. And we have the example of Peter’s discipleship to guide us through our spiritual journeys as well, because we have the same gift Peter had—the indwelling Holy Spirit, a gift from God by His grace to all of us. That is what transformed him into the person he became, furthering God’s work of spreading the church.