Friday, Jan. 3, 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. DR. STEPHEN SIMMONS: SEEING IN DEPTH

If you are of a certain age, you may remember a great little toy called the Viewmaster, which played weird binocular tricks with your eyes. Pop in a slide, and you were suddenly seeing the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls in 3-D. We thought it was wonderful. Your eyes registered two images, melded them into one, and presto! You were now seeing in depth. It was a miracle! 

This week we commemorate the life of our 39th President, Jimmy Carter, who died last Sunday at the age of 100, who never stopped rolling up his sleeves, both literally and figuratively, and who never ceased to see the world in 3-D. Commentators have pointed out that, despite the crushing challenges (and often scorn) he faced as President, most pictures from the time show him with a smile on his face. He seemed to be seeing something that other people just weren’t seeing.  

He himself was clear about what that was, being completely unabashed about his faith in God. As he put it, “My faith demands – this is not optional – my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference.“ And make a difference he did, bringing longtime adversaries to the peace table, leading the charge against devastating diseases in the Global South, putting up sheet rock for Habitat for Humanity. He made our world a bit brighter, and it is a little darker without him. 

But he wasn’t alone. As we enter this new year, countless people continue to work steadfastly, often in dangerous and desperate circumstances, to heal the world. They do it because they can see beyond present reality to future possibility, and they invite us to join them.  

I’ll close with some words of encouragement from one of these quiet heroes, Archbishop Elias Chacour, founder of the Mar Elias Educational Institutions, which provide a first-rate elementary and secondary education to thousands of young people representing all ethnic and religious backgrounds in the Galilee, following their motto, “building peace on desktops.” In his New Year greeting to worldwide colleagues, Father Chacour says,  

"You may feel powerless to bring change to our part of the world, but you are not. Start with the people around you, dream, then work to make your dreams come true."

Yours for Better Vision, 

Steve Simmons 

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



Traditional Worship Service (5 pages)

COMMUNION SUNDAY If you would like to prepare your own elements: bread or bread-like item (cracker, bagel, pita, etc.) and grape juice, wine or water.

CAN YOU SERVE?

We are looking for volunteers to serve as lectors (readers) for both of our services. You can use the easy online sign-up (below) or the paper form available at Sunday worship services.

This is a great way to be involved in worship life of our church. If you are interested and have questions, please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

The group meets in the Parlor from 10-11 a.m., and all are welcome.

BODY N SOUL  

Body N Soul, our intergenerational faith formation group, meets this Sunday between services (10:10 – 11 a.m.) in Fellowship Hall. The group shares stories, crafts, and conversation. All are welcome!

END OF YEAR DONATIONS TO FIRST PRES

You may be considering an end of the year donation, to take advantage of tax credits. You can still make those donations via check by dropping off your donation no later than this Monday, Jan. 6 between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to the Main Office. Your payment should be dated prior to Dec. 31, 2024. (Remember the office will be closed until Monday.) Thank you for supporting FPCB!

NOTE: If you ordered pledge envelopes, you should be receiving them in the mail in the next couple of weeks. If you do not receive them by Sunday, Jan. 5 and need one, blank envelopes are available in the Narthex and in Fellowship Hall – please be sure to put your name on the envelope.

LOOKING AHEAD...

Sunday, Jan. 19: 12:15 p.m. – Strategic Mission Planning Committee Update, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, Feb. 16: 10 a.m. – Combined Worship Service; 11:30 a.m.: Annual Congregational Meeting; 12:30 p.m.: Boy Scout Pasta Lunch

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 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Service, Fellowship Hall (in person only)
• 10-11 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational faith formation, Fellowship Hall
• 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:

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY: The building, offices and Preschool will reopen on Monday, Jan. 6. 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.