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Friday, July 31, 2026 Newsletter

For Sunday - Communion Sunday


10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service

 (in person in the Sanctuary, and livestreamed on Facebook and website)

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: LIVING IN COMMUNITY


Grace and peace to you,


Twenty-four hour news cycles, a fluctuating economy, a war with all of its uncertainty, moving from a building we have occupied for nearly 70 years knowing it will be torn down. It is enough to make anyone feel worried, anxious and untethered. Where do we find comfort? Where do we find relief? 

This Sunday, we begin a four-week series taking a journey through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Though they weren’t facing the stressors we face, Paul and the Philippians knew all about stress, worry and the struggle to live faithfully as followers of Jesus.

Our first foray into the letter is reflecting on Philippians 1:21-30. In this section of the letter, Paul assures his hearers/readers that he is with them, even as he writes from prison. Then he writes this: Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel (vs 27a). The word translated as “live together” is politeuesthe which has the more specific connotation of living in community, the common life of citizens in a city (polis) or political order. Paul is telling these anxious, stressed, worried folks that following Jesus isn’t just a singular activity. It is communal. 


In his commentary on Philippians, Daniel Milgore writes this: “Life in Christ is a new way of living together. A new people, a new community (koinonia), comes into being in Christ, a community that confesses Christ as Lord, lives by his grace alone, shares in his Spirit, and follows his direction.[1]”

This life is one that is lived not as empire would have us live it, but as citizens of God’s kin-dom who form a community. We are not alone – we stand unified in our commitment to live a Christ-centered life and faith. We hold fast together. How does that help us press on?

There is much more in these ten verses to unpack so come Sunday to explore together, to reflect and to breathe. I invite you to try this breath prayer which we will do on Sunday: 


We are God's people; together we press on.


Blessings,
Pastor Karen

[1] Migliore, Daniel. Philippians and Philemon. Westminster John Knox Press, 2014, page 66 (e-book)

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

Summer Worship Bulletin (6 pages)

FOR THIS SUNDAY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

You’re also invited to our Lemonade on the Lawn social time (pictured): weather permitting, we’ll meet on the West Lawn (otherwise in the North Link).

For this Sunday (and until further notice), child care during worship service will be offered in room 216 (ask the ushers to direct you).

Thank you to Jane Masters and Phyllis Walker for hosting Lemonade on the Lawn this Sunday. Please consider taking a Sunday slot! See more details below. 

NEW! SHARING THE BOUNTY

Anything left over will be donated to New Bethany, along with other produce harvested from the CommUNITY Garden located on our campus.

SUMMER WORSHIP HELP: CHILDREN'S SERMON SIGN-UP 


We'd love to have some other voices lead our children's sermons during summer worship. You'll get the scripture readings and theme info in advance, and we can also provide suggestions or ideas, if you'd like! Please see the sign-up list and volunteer for an upcoming Sunday: volunteersignup.org/hj4yy.

UPDATES FROM MISSION STUDY AND NEXT CHAPTER TEAMS


Mission Study Team:

We will have some print copies available on Sunday. If you would like us to send you a copy please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-428-9649.

Preschool Next Chapter Team:


On Monday night, Session approved a non-binding letter of intent to formally express our interest in potentially leasing a prospective space for the Preschool. This supports our goal of a transition to a new location after the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.


While this does not commit us to anything, it is the first step in working with the property manager and owner to gather construction estimates for some needed renovations. Those numbers will clarify the financial commitment of a potential lease, and then the church and Preschool can fully assess the financial feasibility. 


A team of staff and volunteers from the church and Preschool continue to meet weekly to work on financial modeling so that we have a clear picture of what’s affordable and sustainable for the Preschool’s future.

SHARE YOUR VOICE!

Singers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in a group sing-along, "Faith in America: Together We Sing," sponsored by the Bethlehem Interfaith Group.


The event is part of Musikfest, and will be held on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. at PNC Stadtplatz (Payrow Plaza, 11 E. Church St., next to the main branch of the Bethlehem Area Public Library).

All are welcome to participate; the tunes will be familiar, and song sheets will be provided. There is no fee and no registration needed. NOTE: If you are interested in carpooling from FPCB, contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 by Wednesday.



The Bethlehem Interfaith Group is an association of faith leaders from a variety of faith traditions in the community, including FPCB, working together for education, social justice and friendship. 

GROWING OUR COMMUNITY

Per Pastor Lindsey’s recent update about this new initiative, here’s a reminder for those who were interested in updates and next steps following the last Metro-IAF leaders lunch. This is an effort focused on relational community organizing and opportunities to build a broad-based power coalition in the Lehigh Valley. There are two more upcoming chances to connect and be part of the early stages of this important work:


Metro-IAF Community Leaders Lunch - Tuesday, Aug. 11, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem

Metro-IAF Training for Listening/Voter Campaign - Tuesday, Aug. 25, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Lehigh Conference of Churches, 457 W. Allen St., Allentown


This is the team training to help us facilitate the community listening and voter engagement campaign. The hope is that local faith communities and other organizations will bring their core group of volunteers to this for skill-building before launching the relational organizing efforts. (You don’t have to come to the Leaders Lunch to attend the Training with our group.)


These are great opportunities for connection and learning that will help us lean more fully into all three of those Mission Study commitments! If you’re interested in attending one or both of these, please let Lindsey know via email.

A NEW OPPORTUNITY: SITTING WITH THE PSALMS

Sundays: Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30

9:00 – 9:45 a.m.

Church Library

We hope you will join us in sitting with a different Psalm each Sunday in August. An open heart and a willing spirit are all that are needed.  

SUNDAY CONNECTION: LEMONADE ON THE LAWN

It doesn’t have to be a “formal” group, like a K group, committee, or the choir – it can be a family or group of friends. We thank the Mission Strategy team for hosting this week.

Thanks for considering this request! If you have any questions, let us know and we’ll connect you with a ‘veteran.’ You can use this online form to sign up (bit.ly/42TDejr), and we'll have a paper sign-up form at the Sunday service.

FOOD DONATIONS: SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

For one more Sunday we are supporting the Summer Harvest Food Drive, a four-county initiative that last year secured 6000 pounds of donations.

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:

Child care will be available from 9:45 - 11:15 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 - COMMUNION SUNDAY

• 9:45– 11:15 a.m. – Child care available in room 216
• 10:00 a.m. – Summer worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on website and Facebook page)
• 11:00 a.m. – Lemonade on the Lawn (west lawn) and post-service discussion opportunity (Narthex)

 
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.