Friday, February 10, 2023 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICES
9:00 a.m. ‘Holy Ground’ Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall
(in person only)
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary – Sunday
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:
EXPLORING THE OPPORTUNITIES
Dear ones,
I sincerely believe that the Spirit is stirring up something powerful in our midst… not just at FPCB, but in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley.
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This week, the City of Bethlehem released the first part of their work toward an affordable housing strategic plan. This follows their assessment of issues related to homelessness and housing that began last year and will continue toward the implementation of specific strategies addressing these challenges by the late spring or early summer. You can view the slides and watch the presentation here:
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While the results clearly indicate that our community is facing a housing crisis, I’m heartened by the energy and passion that I continue to see among our nonprofit partners and civic leaders across the region who are collaborating to identify and employ the strategies that will most help mitigate the effects of this housing crisis on our neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable.
One of the most active local partners in these efforts is New Bethany Ministries, whose work is to offer hope and support to people experiencing poverty, hunger, and homelessness. A few weeks ago, I was appointed by the Mayor and City Council to serve on the Bethlehem Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners.
Marc Rittle, the Executive Director of New Bethany Ministries, also serves on the Board, and I continue to be impressed! This Sunday, Marc will join me in both worship services for a dialogue about New Bethany’s work and our community’s needs.
Together, he and I will explore how communities of faith like ours can be engaged in serving the least of these, especially through community organizing, education and advocacy, and putting our resources to work in meeting the needs of our neighbors.
I hope this conversation will continue to inspire our imagination about how we might live out a Matthew 25 future!
Courage and hope for the journey,
Lindsey
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The Least of These, a dialogue between The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton and Marc Rittle, Executive Director of New Bethany Ministries
We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org
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TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper for Sunday
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WELCOME TO MARC RITTLE OF NEW BETHANY MINISTRIES
We are happy to welcome Marc Rittle, Executive Director of New Bethany Ministries, to our Traditional service on Sunday. He will be in conversation with The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton on The Least of These (see article, above).
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Marc (he/him), public speaker and lifelong advocate, has over 15 years of non-profit leadership experience. Living between Pennsylvania and Illinois throughout his life and career, he is on a lifelong journey to eradicate poverty in its many forms.
Marc is All But Dissertation, with a Master’s Degree in Sociology from Northern Illinois University. As an adjunct professor at Loyola Chicago, he authored and taught a course titled Sociology of Poverty.
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Entering the non-profit world first as a researcher at United Way Metro Chicago, Marc returned to Bethlehem in 2011. After 11 years between two United Ways, Marc moved from his role of Vice President, Impact at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to his present position at New Bethany.
Marc’s proudest achievement has been serving the Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley community during the Covid 19 pandemic. New Bethany Ministries has nearly tripled its capacity to serve during this time.
He runs and trains for half marathons on the weekends; he and his partner Sarah Andrew love to hike, bike, and attend local festivals. They have two teenagers and reside on the west side of Bethlehem.
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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. this Sunday morning; please ask an usher for directions.
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Your children are a joy in our worship services, and should the need arise, “kid bags” are available for their use. They are in the Narthex and in the blanket-sitting area (to the left of the communion table in Fellowship Hall).
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We offer nametags for folks to wear – these are for everyone! You can pick up as you enter the worship space; please clearly PRINT your first name.
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CELEBRATING OUR BOY SCOUT TROOP |
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On Sunday we will celebrate Boy Scout Sunday. Troop 302 has been chartered to First Presbyterian Church for 107 years. Ours is the oldest Boy Scout Troop in Bethlehem that has been continuously chartered to the same organization.
Scouts and leaders from that Troop are assisting the ushers at the Traditional service.
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If you would like more information about Boy Scouts of America or Troop 302, please contact Randy Stonesifer at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY: Souper Bowl of Caring |
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On Sunday following the 11:00 a.m. service, we’ll host a Souper Bowl of Caring potluck to raise awareness about local hunger relief efforts and to collect funds for our area nonprofit partners. We’re looking for five more folks to sign up to bring a crockpot of soup, and others can bring either bread or dessert (you do not need to sign up for those contributions). |
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If you’re unable to bring something, please make plans to attend anyway. Feel free to show your support for your favorite Super Bowl team, as well. (Go Birds!)
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COFFEE & CONVERSATION – AFTER EACH SUNDAY SERVICE
We invite folks to stay for Coffee & Conversation following each of our two worship services.
This is an opportunity for connection in Fellowship Hall where you’ll find coffee for adults along with juice boxes and a simple snack for children. (We will still gather for our Intergenerational Faith Formation story and craft after the 9:00 service!)
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HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED: NEXT CLASS ON SUNDAY
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The Hearts N Minds class will meet this Sunday from 9:45 – 10:40 a.m. in the Parlor (upstairs above the main church office). Please feel free to come even if you have not done the reading.
The group is studying Elusive Grace: Loving Your Enemies While Striving for God’s Justice by Pastor Scott Black Johnson, senior pastor at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian in Manhattan.
For Sunday they will read and discuss pages 45-56, “Love and Retraining Our Hearts.”
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LOOKING AHEAD
Wednesday, February 22: Ash Wednesday service
We will gather in Fellowship Hall at 7 p.m. for our Ash Wednesday service. This will be offered in person and livestreamed via Facebook.
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SAVE THE DATE: Making Room for Something New
Our Lenten Supper Series
From 6:00-7:30 p.m. on the first four Wednesdays of Lent (March 1, 8, 15, and 22), we’ll gather in Fellowship Hall for a simple potluck meal and explore the theme Making Room for Something New.
The series will offer insight on discipleship practices and spiritual postures for navigating transition and change. There will be time for food and connection, a brief bit of teaching and practice, followed by small group reflection and conversation. Please mark your calendars and look for more information to come!
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SUPPORTING ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING |
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Around the world, millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People — all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. |
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NOTE: The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance fund is supporting earthquake response efforts in Turkey and Syria.
Received during the season of Lent (February 22 – April 9), each gift to OGHS helps to improve the lives of people in these challenging situations. The Offering provides us a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. In fact, OGHS is the single, largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world.
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LOOKING AHEAD TO LENTEN COLLECTIONS
First Pres will be collecting nonperishable foods and bedding for New Bethany Ministries, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering and Northeast Community Center, beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 22) through Palm Sunday.
Note that the items for BES can be new or very gently used; they are also requesting donations of tents (they appreciate this model, so they can tell who is affiliated with their programs).
Containers will be located in the North Link and in the Kirk Center. Please consider supporting these Bethlehem organizations.
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COMING IN APRIL: NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP
The next Helping Hands trip is slated for Saturday, April 15 – Saturday, April 22 and will take volunteers back to New Bern, NC to work on homes for our neighbors there.
We’ll have more details soon; if you are interested in more information you are invited to contact Kevin Kehoe at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865.
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SOME REMINDERS FOR YOU…
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Look for updates on our website (fpc-bethlehem.org), Facebook page, and WFMZ (channel 69 and wfmz.com). We’ll also put a message on our church phone, 610-867-5865.
PLEDGE ENVELOPES: If you ordered pledge envelopes, they will be mailed directly to you from the envelope company. Please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org if you have not yet received them.
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IF YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED…
We would like to know when our members are entering the hospital. Please tell the hospital that your church ID is 724 and they will contact us, but you are also enouraged to contact Phil Fair at prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org to keep us up to date.
PRAYER REQUESTS...
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Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for the next week's newsletter:
WEDNESDAY at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICES
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Visit our Facebook page and look for the post with our live feed
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If you don’t have a Facebook account, go to our website to view the service - click on the "Watch the Service" button
- Please check in with a comment so we know you’ve joined us!
- Captions will now be available on our livestream, for those who would like to use that feature
To watch a video – available after the services have aired: Visit our website archives
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THIS SUNDAY - COMMUNION SUNDAY
- 8:45 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
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9:00 a.m.: “Holy Ground” Contemporary service, Fellowship Hall (in person only) followed by Coffee & Conversation in Fellowship Hall
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9:45 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome
- 10:00 a.m.: Intergenerational Faith Formation, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome
- 11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website
- 12:15 p.m.: Souper Bowl of Caring potluck, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome
TUESDAYS: 6 p.m. - Handbell rehearsal, Sanctuary (middle school and older, no experience needed)
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom (Meeting # 380 435 9056 / Password: overcomer)
THURSDAYS: 7 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO:
Regular office hours are Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Many of the office staff are working remotely for some of the time, so please make an appointment if you need to see someone specific. The answering service (610-778-7003) can take your urgent pastoral concerns, 24 hours a day.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Look for updates on our website (fpc-bethlehem.org), Facebook page, and WFMZ (channel 69 and wfmz.com). We will also put the info on our church phone message, 610-867-5865.
CARE CONCERNS AND HOSPITAL VISITS: If members of the FPCB congregation are hospitalized and would welcome pastoral and hospital ministrant visitors and/or prayers, please contact: Phil Fair, Prayer Ministrant (prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org).
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
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