|
Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 Newsletter
For Sunday
9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service
(in person in Fellowship Hall)
11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service
(in person in the Sanctuary, and livestreamed on Facebook and website)
| | |
A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: ARE WE THE STONES?
Grace and peace to you,
If you were with us last Sunday and stayed for the celebration, you might recall the Rev. Dr. Sally Brown’s comment about this week’s lectionary reading. t weeks has been “Faithful Past, Hopeful Future: Built by Saints, Called to Serve.”
| | |
In this reading from Luke, Jesus speaks about the temple, saying that the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another. In other words, the physical temple and then the stones that make it up will no longer exist.
Luke’s readers would be very aware that the temple had already been destroyed by the Romans. So, if the physical stones no longer exist, are there spiritual stones that we can hold on to?
| | | |
In other words, what are the stones of faith and trust and praise and worship? In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he writes this, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
Does this mean we are the stones who will go out fearlessly to testify to the love, mercy, compassion and grace of God through Jesus Christ? Are we the stones who will build up the community of faith? Are we the stones who will not prepare a defense in advance, but know that words and wisdom will be given to us through the Holy Spirit?
What does our faith need to be a witness? What does our faith need to be a servant imitating Christ? What holy and sacred space and place does our faith need to be nourished? There is a wonderful song written by John Thompson and Randy Scruggs called “Lord, Prepare Me.” Here are the lyrics:
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
sanctuary for you.
Let our stones of faith help us understand that we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in us as we go out fearlessly into the world as imitators of Christ.
On a personal note, I want to say thank you to everyone for your generous prayers, offers of food and lodging, cards, notes, and texts. It has meant so much to me as I continue to heal. I am most grateful for this community of faith.
Blessings,
Pastor Karen
| | |
CELEBRATING OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY
What a wonderful celebration this past Sunday as we dedicated our pledges, recognized our 150 years of mission and ministry, and laid out a challenge of performing 1,510 acts of service for our 151st year! It was a beautiful day from start to finish!
Thank you so much for being part of the day, and thank you to all who have submitted your pledges! We are nearly 2/3 of the way to our pledge goal!
| | |
If you haven't yet returned your pledge form, you can return it at any time through the mail or put it in the donation box or plate on Sunday. You can also make it online on our website.
The celebration included the sharing of video greetings from three former FPCB pastors: Rev. Tom Tewell, Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace, and Rev. J.C. Austin.
You can VIEW IT HERE.
| | | |
CALLED TO SERVE: 1,510 Acts of Service
As we start our 151st year of ministry at FPCB, we are kicking off an effort to complete 1,510 Acts of Service before November 14, 2026.
That may sound like a huge number, but with an average of 125 people in worship most Sundays, that’s basically one Act of Service per person each month. And we know that y’all are service-minded people of faith, so we’re confident that we can reach this goal!
It doesn’t matter how small or large each Act of Service may be, just that we’re intentional about serving others - holding the door for someone with their hands full, volunteering with a nonprofit partner, helping a neighbor, offering a needed ride, donating unused clothing or household items, etc.
We will have more to say about how we will capture those Acts of Service and share them with the congregation in the coming weeks!
| | HEARTS N MINDS MEETS SUNDAY: BACK TO FATHER BOYLE | | |
Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, will meet this Sunday, Nov. 16, at its regular time from 10-11 a.m. in the Parlor. All are welcome; you do not need to do the reading to participate in the class.
The book is entitled The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness by Father Greg Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries in CA.
Father Boyle, in chapter 7, "The Lining of the World," points us toward a life lived fully and in community, knowing "that death is not to be feared but deadness is."
| | | |
He challenges us to live as the mystics, in all respects, present to the eternal in this life, supported by hope and community. "Death has no sting," as the scripture reads. He asks us to explore what it means to live an abundant life right here and now.
LOOKING AHEAD FOR HEARTS N MINDS: The class will read the small but mighty The Serviceberry, by the author of the classic Braiding Sweetgrass for their Advent study, beginning Dec. 7. In February/March, they will return to one of Father Richard Rohr's books, The Universal Christ.
| | BODY N SOUL: RETURNS THIS SUNDAY | | The Body N Soul Intergenerational Faith Formation class will meet this Sunday between the two services, from 10:10 - 11:00 in Room 216 in the South Wing. | | The curriculum provides age appropriate activities from preschool to adult, with time for connection across generations. Faithful seekers of all ages are welcome to join each week. | | A time of remembering Russell Miserendino will be held at Josie Miserendino’s home on Saturday, Nov. 22. Drop by any time after 12 noon for food and beverages,
and to share memories of Russ. All are welcome: 58 E Wall St., Bethlehem. | | SCOUTING FOR FOOD DRIVE: A BIG SUCCESS! | | |
On the two Saturdays in November, 21 scouts, three siblings, and 17 adults from FPCB’s Boy Scout Troop 302, along with scouts from Cub Scout Pack 368 in Hanover Township, participated in the annual Scouting for Food project.
Altogether they practically filled a delivery truck with 6520 pounds of food for our church partner, New Bethany.
| | | |
This is by far the most food the troop has collected – ever! Many thanks to the FPCB church members who also supported this project.
AND LET’S CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS…
The Preschool will kick off their own food drive for New Bethany on Monday, so please consider bringing donations for that one as well – sadly, the need is more urgent than ever, and will continue well into the future. Collection boxes are available at the south and Kirk Center entrances, and in the Narthex (you can bring on Sunday).
The children will conclude their drive at the Preschool Thanksgiving Chapel on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary – all are welcome to join them. They will also offer another Chapel on Friday, Nov. 21 at the same time and location, if that one is more convenient for you to attend.
| | |
HI NEIGHBORS: A SPECIAL FINALE
We had a wonderful turnout on Monday for a special presentation by the Lehigh Valley Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Ron DeGrandis, which concluded our fall series for Hi Neighbors.
| | |
There were 87 adults attending, along with 75 friends and teachers from our Preschool. It was great to see such a full house.
One of the numbers the ensemble played was a salute to the armed forces, at which time they invited veterans to stand and be recognized (pictured). It was a special moment in the concert.
| | | |
Many thanks to volunteer Susan Wolf, who arranges for all of our programs, and the hospitality team of Donna Knepp, Ruth Willis, Sharon Smith, and Danuta Miller. With a tip-of-the-hat to our facilities crew and tech team, who help make these successful programs happen.
We’ll be back in March with the spring series of programs!
| | ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CROP WALK | | |
Many thanks to all the sponsors and walkers from our congregation who participated in this year's Bethlehem Area CROP Hunger Walk!
Contributions so far total $3265 (and it's not too late to donate: bit.ly/46MrtOg). That's $530 more than last year, and it brings the total for the Bethlehem event to $9121.
Nationwide, 2328 teams took part in the walk, raising more than $3,265,000. In addition to supporting Church World Service's global work in food assistance, disaster relief, and refugee resettlement, this year's walk will give funds locally to Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering, Essentials Café, the Freezer Ministry and Garden Gatherers, the Lehigh Conference of Churches, and New Bethany.
Thanks to you and so many other dedicated volunteers, we're helping to reduce hunger at home and worldwide "one step at a time."
| | |
YOU’RE INVITED
Soprano Madison Zahorsky will present a special recital, “3 Centuries of Art Song: An Afternoon of Brahms, Poulenc and Reed” on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. in our Sanctuary. This event is free and open to the public.
| | |
POINSETTIA ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
DEADLINE: FRIDAY, DEC. 5
Help us decorate the Sanctuary with beautiful, “double” poinsettias!
We suggest a donation of $20 for a poinsettia that you can take home
after the Christmas Eve service you attend. This is a lovely way to honor a loved one.
Special envelopes are available in the Narthex and
Fellowship Hall (there is also a poinsettia envelope in your pack of pledge envelopes).
If you need an envelope contact us at 610-867-5865 or info@fpc-bethlehem.org.
| | |
WILL YOU SHARE YOUR OPINION?
Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom, is exploring an expansion into the Lehigh Valley - and they want to hear from you.
This short survey is an opportunity to share your thoughts about news and information in our community and the issues that matter most. Your feedback will help shape Spotlight PA’s plans to establish a local reporting team dedicated to covering the Lehigh Valley with the depth, fairness, and accountability that our region deserves.
CLICK HERE to respond to the survey, “Lehigh Valley News Habits & Information Needs Survey,” and help define the future of local journalism:
| | |
LOOKING AHEAD…
Wednesday, Nov. 26
7 p.m. – Thanksgiving Eve worship service in the Sanctuary and livestreamed
Saturday, Nov. 29
10 a.m. – noon: Hanging of the Greens, all around the church interior – volunteers welcome!
Sunday, Dec. 14
9 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class
10 a.m. – Combined Service in Fellowship Hall and livestreamed
Tuesday, Dec. 16
7 p.m. – Longest Night service in Fellowship Hall and livestreamed
Sunday, Dec. 21
4 p.m. - Christmas Joy Concert, featuring a "Sing-Along Messiah", in the Sanctuary
Wednesday, Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve candlelight services in the Sanctuary and livestreamed
4 p.m. - Intergenerational service
7 p.m. - Candlelight service
Sunday, Dec. 28
10 a.m. – Combined Service in Fellowship Hall and livestreamed
| | |
Send us your news and photos to share:
info@fpc-bethlehem.org
**Deadline for the next newsletter:
THURSDAY at noon**
* * *
And follow us on Facebook: @FirstPresBethlehem
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
| | |
TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICE
-
Visit our Facebook page and look for the post with our live feed
-
If you don’t have a Facebook account, go to our website to view the service - click on "Watch" at the top and then the "Watch the Service" button
- Please check in with a comment so we know you’ve joined us!
- Captions are 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
| | |
FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. this Sunday morning; please ask an usher for directions.
Your children are a joy in our worship services, and should the need arise, “kid bags” are available for their use while they are visiting. They are in the Narthex.
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.
| | |
THIS SUNDAY
- 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
- 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall (in person only)
- 10:00 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome
- 10:10 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216 – all are welcome
- 11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom.com (meeting #: 868 2214 2960; passcode: OO-Beth)
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.
| | FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM | |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
Rev. Karen Kinney, Transitional Pastor/Head of Staff; KKinney@fpc-bethlehem.org
Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Associate Pastor for Justice and Community Impact; LClifton@fpc-bethlehem.org
David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries; ext. 202; DMacbeth@fpc-bethlehem.org
David Crook, Director of Church Administration; ext. 210; DCrook@fpc-bethlehem.org
Kevin Konczyk, Facilities Manager; KKonczyk@fpc-bethlehem.org
Carol Burns, Communications Manager; ext. 238; CBurns@fpc-bethlehem.org
Lisa Todd, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956; LTodd@fpc-bethlehem.org
Brenda Robinson, Office Manager: ext. 211; BusinessOffice@fpc-bethlehem.org
Website: www.fpc-bethlehem.org
| | | | |
