Friday, July 12, 2024 Newsletter



For Sunday



10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service in the Sanctuary

(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)

A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: TREASURED MEMORIES

I have always struggled to answer any question about my favorite “something:” food, movies, books, musicians, Bible verses, travel destinations… you name it. I find it almost impossible to identify a favorite anything, because so much depends on mood, context, season, etc. On an icy Saturday in January, I might want to spend an afternoon simmering a batch of French onion soup, filling up the house with the delectable aroma for hours before finally getting to taste it. 

But that’s one of the last things I want if I’m eating on my deck in the depths of summer, when the humidity is thick enough to cut with a knife even after the sun has gone down. A nicely grilled piece of chicken with a watermelon salad sounds perfect then: quick, easy, delicious, and hydrating. 

As my time here at First Pres begins to draw to a close, I find myself drawn to reflect on favorite moments or seasons in our life and ministry together these past 6+ years, times that seem particularly significant either for their own sake or because of what they represented in our journey as a congregation during that time.

For example, one of the moments I will always treasure was the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in January 2018. It was purely coincidental that it was the holiday; what was significant about the memory was that it was the first day that the church facilities had been fully restored to us after the schism.

A few of us walked into the building that day to get the lay of the land, even though it was officially closed for the holiday, and we were surprised to discover that the building had been left in a sorry state: most notably, dirt and debris had been scattered throughout the building, especially in the hallways and in the kitchen and Fellowship Hall, to the point that those of us who found it felt that it would be embarrassing to open the next day and have someone come in and find it so unkempt.

At that point, though, we didn’t even have any facilities staff hired yet, and even if we had, it would have been an overwhelming task for them to set things right in just one day. Instead, a call went out to the First Pres email list, asking for anybody who had some time that day to come help clean things up, bringing whatever supplies or implements they had.

And within an hour, over 80 people showed up, bearing mops and buckets and vacuums and dusters and pretty much anything else you could think of. Before the sun set, the building was gleaming again, and when we officially opened the doors the next day, we were ready to move forward rather than struggling to clean up the mess. In many ways, it was a perfect microcosm for that moment in our church life, and it remains one of my favorite memories of my time here.

So as I have been reflecting, it occurred to me it would be wonderful to know how YOU might answer that question. What are some of your favorite memories of the last 6+ years of this congregation’s life and ministry (or since you joined, if it was more recent than that!)? It doesn’t have to be THE favorite, just something that comes to mind that you particularly enjoyed or cherished during these extraordinary years we have shared together.

I would love to hear them! If you are willing, you can email me at jaustin@fpc-bethlehem.org or simply pull me aside at Lemonade on the Lawn or wherever we are together and tell me the story that comes to your heart, so we can celebrate them together and be on the lookout for those next moments as they are happening.

Grace and Peace,

J.C.

FOR THIS SUNDAY

John 2:1-11

• Sermon: The Good Stuff by The Rev. J.C. Austin
• We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper:



Summer Worship Service (3 pages)

A BUILDING COMMUNITY PROJECT UPDATE

Members of the Steering Committee will be available during Lemonade on the Lawn (or Lemonade in the Link if it moves indoors) for conversation about the final Housing Vision document or its summary, which captures our seven-month visioning process from start to finish.

FOR THIS SUNDAY: JOIN US FOR LEMONADE ON THE LAWN

Join us after worship for our social time, “Lemonade on the Lawn” – everyone is welcome to come and connect. If weather permits, we’ll gather on the west side (front) of the church building, otherwise in Fellowship Hall.

Thank you to “The Kitchen Crew 2.0” who are hosting on Sunday. We are looking for other groups or families to take on the hosting duties for future dates (the next Sunday, July 14 is open).

SUMMER HARVEST FOOD DRIVE: SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

Many thanks for the donations that are beginning to fill our Summer Harvest Food Drive collection boxes. The collection will run through the month of July.

Our donation boxes – located near the main office, in the Narthex, and in the Kirk Center Rotunda – are already starting to fill up. Thank you!

FPCB TO HOST SUMMER CHORAL INTENSIVE AND CONCERT

by David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries

The assembled vocalists will provide a selection during this Sunday’s worship service, and then present a concert this Sunday, July 14 at 4 p.m. in the First Pres Sanctuary – this event is open to the public to enjoy the culmination of their week’s work. There is a suggested donation of $10; free for students and children.

With special thanks to the The Jared L. Wily Fund for High School Choir Ministries of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and the Raymond Cryder Fund of the Lehigh Valley Foundation for their support, we plan to feature distinguished instructors and artists from around the country for many summers to come.

The 2024 program faculty features: David Macbeth (FPCB director of music ministries), vocal/choral faculty of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, and Artistic Director of Concord Chamber Singers; Tynan Davis, accomplished Broadway and jazz vocalist and GRAMMY® award-winning opera soprano; Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director and Conductor of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem; and Timothy Parsons, GRAMMY®-nominated countertenor, and longtime member of the GRAMMY®-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street.

JOIN THE (COLORING) PARTY

They’ll have all the supplies, simple instructions, and treats, so it should be a fun morning!

TONIGHT: CALLING ALL SINATRA FANS!

The show delivers Frank’s iconic and beloved songs that include “My Way” and “New York, New York.” Rich and Ron’s understanding of the Sinatra songbook, coupled with their interactions on stage makes this Old Blue Eyes experience something Rat Pack lovers won’t forget!



No sign-up needed, just come and bring your friends! And if you’re so inclined, consider bringing a donation to the Summer Harvest food drive (see above) – there will be donation boxes at the Levitt Pavillion.

MEMORIAL SERVICES

• The family of Carol Freebairn has extended an invitation to attend a memorial service this afternoon (July 12) at 3:30 p.m. in the Kirkland Center Auditorium. A reception will follow.
• The family of John Bonge has extended an invitation to a memorial service on Saturday, July 20 at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A reception will follow.

LOOKING AHEAD TO SUNDAY, JULY 28

On Sunday, July 28 we will have a special schedule. After the 10 a.m. Summer Worship service in the Sanctuary, there will be a very brief Congregational Meeting to vote on dissolving the pastoral call between J.C. and First Pres. This is the formal action needed to empower him in taking the new call. After this congregational meeting, we’ll gather to reflect on and celebrate J.C.’s ministry with us. More details to come.

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:



• Child care will be available from 9:45-11:15 a.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



• 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• 10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website
• 11:00 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn gathering, front of the church – all are welcome!

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.