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Friday, Sept. 25, 2026

For Sunday – NEW SCHEDULE!


9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground 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: 
BRINGING THE WORLD TOGETHER


Grace and peace to you,


We will conclude our sermon series this Sunday on leadership, with Pastor Lindsey talking about grace as a characteristic of leadership. 


Then on Oct. 4, we will celebrate World Communion Sunday with one service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary, followed by a potluck brunch. Bring a dish to share – maybe a dish that is important to your heritage. If the weather is good, we will eat outside. Rev. Cynthia Simmons will be preaching.

I thought this 2024 article does a wonderful job explaining the history and purpose of World Communion Sunday, which is celebrated on the first Sunday of October annually: bit.ly/4d3rGzq.

The idea originated with Dr. Hugh Thompson Kerr, pastor at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1933. Kerr first conceived the notion of World Communion Sunday during his year as moderator of the General Assembly in 1930.

But this nascent idea came to fruition through the work of the Stewardship Committee at Shadyside. They dreamed of bringing churches together in a service of Christian unity to lift up the global Church and to remember that by virtue of our baptism, we are connected to a worldwide community. One congregation is connected to every other congregation, united in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).

The vision gradually caught on in the denomination and with our ecumenical partners. Ecumenism only emerged after the First World War as churches struggled to respond to the devastating humanitarian and theological crisis brought on by the war.

Dr. Kerr’s son, the Rev. Dr. Donald Craig Kerr (who was a pastor emeritus of the Roland Park Presbyterian Church in Baltimore), shares that “the concept spread very slowly at the start. People did not give it a whole lot of thought.

It was during the Second World War that the Spirit caught hold because we were trying to hold the world together. World Wide Communion Sunday symbolized the effort to hold things together in a spiritual sense. It emphasized that we are one in the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Today, organized by the National Council of Churches, World Communion Sunday is celebrated worldwide, demonstrating that the church founded on Jesus Christ peacefully shares God-given goods in a world increasingly destabilized by global market economies based on greed…

Blessings, 
Pastor Karen

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


 Traditional Worship Bulletin (4 pages)

FOR THIS SUNDAY


• 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child care available (ask the ushers to direct you to the location)
• 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall (in person only)
• 10 – 11 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Adult Library (room 210)
• 10:10 – 11 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216
• 11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on website and Facebook page)

Sunday, Oct. 4 is World Communion Sunday

We could use a few volunteers to help us set up, monitor the tables, and clean up afterwards. If you can help, please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or

610-867-5865.

ALL ARE WELCOME: HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS

Hearts N Minds, our adult ed class, meets Sunday from 10-11 a.m. in the Library (room 210). All are welcome to join in the discussions.

JOIN US THIS SUNDAY FOR BODY N SOUL

Body N Soul is our intergenerational class which meets from 10:10-11 a.m. in Room 216. Kate Arrington is the leader, with the help of Pam Phillippe and Deb Castellano. 

PARTICIPATE IN OUR WEEKLY SERVICES

Would you like to play a more active role in our worship services? We are looking for volunteers to serve as lectors.

INTERESTED IN DONATING FLOWERS FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP?

WORLD COMMUNION OFFERING: SUPPORTING JUSTICE

The World Communion Offering begins on Sunday and ends on Sunday, Oct. 4 - World Communion Sunday. This is a new way for Presbyterians to “love kindness” expressed in action, involving mercy, faithfulness and steadfast commitment.

ONLINE AUCTION TO OPEN MONDAY

As you have been hearing, we are undertaking an online auction to sell furniture and other items that we will no longer have a need for. Richard L. Dotta Auction House in Nazareth is handling this sale for us.

The online website, dottaauction.hibid.com, will be live beginning on Monday for you to preview the items for sale. To participate in the auction, you will need to log onto that site, register and enter credit card info if you wish to be able to bid. Log in, look for the church name or auction date (Oct. 15) and review all the lots. You won't be able to bid on anything if you are not registered.

Bids will be accepted through Thursday, Oct. 15, and you can pick up your items on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17.

This is a very big undertaking and we hope you will help us spread the word so we have a good result! If you have any questions please contact us at 610-867-5865 or info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

TIME FOR THE ANNUAL CROP WALK: SUNDAY, OCT. 18



The Bethlehem CROP Hunger Walk is part of a larger initiative to combat hunger, both locally and globally. Historically, 25% of the funds raised have been retained locally for agencies that provide food assistance to neighbors in need. 

This year’s event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18.

You can register to walk or to donate by clicking on this link (bit.ly/4jnmIBm), or by stopping by the registration table in Fellowship Hall after Sunday worship. We’re looking to hit a goal of $2,200.

Thanks in advance for supporting the CROP Hunger Walk, and for helping to eliminate hunger one step at a time!

DEADLINE EXTENDED: SUPPORT THE SLATER SOUP FUNDRAISER

HI NEIGHBORS: YOUR WEEKLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Our popular speakers series, Hi Neighbors, is your opportunity to learn new and interesting things each week. Last week’s program focused on mindfulness as a practice, and we welcomed 65 attendees.

The presentations are free and open to the public, and feature an interesting array of topics such as history, local culture, music, and current events.

The programs begin at 9:30 a.m. with a social time in Fellowship Hall, followed by the hour-long presentation at 10 a.m. A lively question-and-answer period is included.  

The full schedule is available to view on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org/speakers (and you can print a one-page flyer). Please consider sharing this information with friends!

FOOD DONATIONS: SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:

Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 a.m. this Sunday; they will meet in room 216.

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 available in room 216
• 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall (in person only)
• 10 – 11 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Adult Library (room 210)
• 10:10 – 11 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216
• 11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on website and Facebook page)

 
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.

CARE CONCERNS AND HOSPITAL VISITS: If you are hospitalized, please tell the hospital our church code is 724. Also, please call the church office at 610-867-5865 to let us know as the hospitals do not always collect this information.  After hours, for emergency pastoral concerns, call 610-674-0005.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Send to prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org or call 610-867-5865 and leave a message.