Press Release: Easter Sunday Service Celebrates Reopening of Historic Park Slope Church

Press Release: Easter Sunday Service Celebrates Reopening of Historic Park Slope Church

Easter celebration at Old First Reformed Church will feature Pastor Daniel Meeter, with the Accord Treble Choir and organist Aleeza Meir performing ancient and modern music April 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Old First Reformed Church, 7th Avenue at Carroll Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Contact: Alix Friedman, AlixCFriedman@gmail.com, 646-468-4269 BROOKLYN, NY: April 5, 2019 – Brooklyn’s oldest congregation, Old First Reformed […]

Stone-Cold Awesome: The Stone House Singers Perform This Sunday, April 7 at 3 PM

Stone-Cold Awesome: The Stone House Singers Perform This Sunday, April 7 at 3 PM

We look forward to another unique and entertaining vocal performance of our Stone House Singers, under the direction of Thomas W. Jones. The program goes amazingly eclectic, borrowing musical material from the Renaissance through Messiaen and Poulenc. Also featured is the work of contemporary composer Nico Muhly, whose opera Marnie is currently at the Met. Jazz and spiritual selections will be included as well. The […]

Holy Week and Easter 2019: Schedule of Services

Holy Week and Easter 2019: Schedule of Services

The week leading to Easter is full of richly meaningful events at Old First.  All events take place at Old First. Thursday, April 18, 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday: Dzieci Theatre’s “A Passion” Theatre Group Dzieci presents a unique and immersive passion play, incorporating Hebraic song and chant and ritual elements of Judaism, and set in the shadow of the Warsaw Ghetto. Join and share on […]

Jenny Burrill’s FREE Yoga Sundays at 2 pm! All Levels Welcome!

Jenny Burrill’s FREE Yoga Sundays at 2 pm! All Levels Welcome!

Are you looking for a beneficial yoga class or perhaps, if you’re a beginner, a non-intimidating, easy-to-follow, thoughtful introduction? Try your hand (and your soul, and your breathing, and your peace of mind) at Sunday yoga at Old First. Our own Jenny Burrill is leading a yoga session now every Sunday afternoon at the church, starting at 2 pm. Classes run a little more than […]

Baroquelyn Concert Success Continues Into 2019

Baroquelyn Concert Success Continues Into 2019

Baroquelyn’s most recent concert, Sound the Trumpet, was a sold-out success on February 3 at Old First. “I’m still glowing from our concert this Sunday,” says Baroquelyn creator Aleeza Meir. “It’s exactly the kind of afternoon I dreamed of when starting Baroquelyn a little over a year ago!” The concert included trumpter Louis Ranger and his sister, Nancy Ranger. Jason Smoller joined them to perform […]

Hear Trappist Monk Talk! February 13 at Old First

Hear Trappist Monk Talk! February 13 at Old First

On February 13 at Old First, author Mary Gordon presents her book On Thomas Merton, in conversation with Father James Martin. Gordon, a best-selling novelist and memorist shares her deeply personal view of her discovery of the celebrated modern monk and thinker through his writings. Thomas Merton (1815-1968) was a Trappist monk, poet, essayist, activist, and author of some of the most influential spiritual writing of […]

Sound The Trumpet! Our Next Baroquelyn Concert Is February 3 at 3 pm

Sound The Trumpet! Our Next Baroquelyn Concert Is February 3 at 3 pm

Baroquelyn’s 2018-19 season continues! Mark your calendars: Sunday, February 3 at 3 pm at Old First Upper Hall. Our next concert, Sound the Trumpet, is on!  Trumpeter Louis Ranger will join us to offer some rich, warm sounds to counteract the cold of February.  He and his sister Nancy Ranger will join forces, along with Jason Smoller, to perform Telemann’s joyful concerto for trumpet and two […]

Thank you for your support in 2018!

Thank you for your support in 2018!

This year, with your support, Old First completed the repair of our sanctuary ceiling, was awarded National Fund for Sacred Places designation, and fundraised $360,000 towards our restoration campaign. We are so grateful and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!   If you’d still like to donate, click here. Your tax deductible gift, in any amount, will help insure that Old First can […]

Maria Thomas Badie, Silver Beaker Donor of 1684

Maria Thomas Badie, Silver Beaker Donor of 1684

The donor of two communion beakers to the Reformed Dutch Church of Breuckelen in 1684, Maria Badie, was named, but more than that was unknown, according to our Pastor Meeter a few Sundays ago. Challenge: who was the woman behind our communion beakers? Research led us to Maria Thomas Badie, a wealthy woman who was married three times. In surviving legal documents, Maria used Thomas or […]

Pastor Meeter and the Case of the Seven Silver Beakers

Pastor Meeter and the Case of the Seven Silver Beakers

When Pastor Daniel Meeter joined Old First in 2001, he had read in one of the church’s histories that there existed an antique communion cup (Avondmaalsbeker in Dutch. Avondmaal means Lord’s Supper).  It’s whereabouts: unknown. Pastor Meeter asked around, but nobody had heard of it or even seen it. A true mystery.  “I saw a picture of a former pastor from 40 years ago holding one,” […]