|
Friday, September 9, 2022 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICE
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
10:00 a.m. Summer Worship in the Sanctuary
(* also available on our website and via phone)
| |
|
MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: Holding on to summer
There are always a few clear signs of the end of summer. Labor Day is the traditional calendar marker, of course. The resumption of school for children and teens and college students is perhaps the biggest indicator in family life. And the sudden onslaught of pumpkin spice flavored everything is a definitive cultural shift. All of those things have happened in the last couple of weeks, so welcome to fall, everyone!
I myself was grateful for some good and restful summer vacation, and for the Session’s encouragement for me to take that and for Lindsey’s wonderful leadership while I was away. I am also grateful to be back and to be looking towards an exciting season of ministry together this fall.
| |
|
I myself was grateful for some good and restful summer vacation, and for the Session’s encouragement for me to take that and for Lindsey’s wonderful leadership while I was away. I am also grateful to be back and to be looking towards an exciting season of ministry together this fall.
However, we are going to hold onto summer just a little bit longer as a congregation in one respect.
| |
|
|
The Session met Wednesday night and unanimously approved a recommendation from the Worship Committee for us to maintain our summer worship schedule of one service at 10 a.m. through Sunday, October 2.
This was done for two reasons. First, with the repairs and renovations that were done to the Kirk Center/gym this summer, we have the opportunity to reopen the gym as an actual full-sized gym for the first time in decades. This is not only a resource for our own congregational ministry, but for partners in the community where gym space is in great demand.
In fact, just this week we’ve already had multiple inquiries from the community about utilizing the gym for their programs. The plan has been to move the 9 a.m. Contemporary Service to Fellowship Hall to allow this to happen, but Fellowship Hall generally remains pretty uncomfortable in September, which often still feels like summer in terms of the outdoor temperature. Thus, the Worship Committee felt it might be prudent to wait a little longer before starting up worship in there.
But second, and I think more importantly, we want to use that time to evaluate what we all have learned and experienced during Summer Worship. For over four years now, one of our identities as a congregation has been to be an “Experimental Church.” That means we try new ideas out for defined periods of time, evaluate how they went and what we’ve learned, and determine how to build on that learning for the next stage of ministry. The Session has decided to use this slight delay to do that in terms of Summer Worship, and is asking for your help in doing so.
Anecdotally, we’ve heard a lot of positive feedback from people about Summer Worship, from appreciation for experiencing both traditional and contemporary elements of worship, to the exploration of ways to be more intentionally intergenerational, to having everyone together in one service.
But we also assume there are a lot of different feelings on those matters. Some of you probably liked that for the summer but would not want that as the only option going forward, preferring either the greater informality and musical styles of a contemporary service or the hymns and atmosphere of the traditional service.
Others may prefer an earlier or later worship service on a regular basis. And so on. So: the Session will be asking for your input so we have a sense of how the current congregation is feeling about Summer Worship and our worship life in general going forward.
In about ten days, you will be asked to complete a short but important survey. An electronic version will be available through the newsletter and website; a paper version will be available to those who receive a print newsletter, and also distributed and collected in the worship services on September 18 and 25.
If you are uncomfortable with the online version and cannot be in worship either of those Sundays, please call the church office (610-867-5865) and request that a survey be mailed to you; please do that ASAP, however, so there will be time for it to be sent out and back in the mail by September 25. The Worship Committee will evaluate the results of that input and report to the Session, which will then determine how that will inform our worship life going forward after October 2.
So please keep an eye out for that survey and make a point of completing and submitting it so we can have the best sense of what we have learned this summer and where we should go from here in fulfilling one of our strategic mission priorities as a congregation: to provide “Vibrant and Diverse Worship” opportunities for people of all ages. Thank you, and happy fall!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
| |
|
FOR THIS SUNDAY
Luke 15:1-10
Click the links to read the verses
| |  |
|
- This week’s sermon: : Connecting the Dots: Lost and Found by The Rev. J.C. Austin
- We post the video of each week’s
services and sermon text and audio
on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org
| |
|
FOR SUNDAY MORNING
-
The Building Reopening Task Force encourages people to wear masks, especially if they are in a high risk category, as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others.
-
Child care will be available from 9:45-11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings; please ask an usher for directions.
-
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.
| |
JOIN US AFTER SUNDAY WORSHIP | |
Our popular “Lemonade on the Lawn” social time is offered after our 10 a.m. Summer Worship service.
Stop by the front lawn for a cool drink, snack, and fellowship. We’ll head into the North Link in case of bad weather.
| |
|
- Every Sunday we encourage you to look for the table at Lemonade on the Lawn, where you can sign cards for our friends who are sick or hospitalized.
- If you have excess garden bounty to share, we’ll have a table available for you to put it out – and others to take what they can use. Give and get!
| |
|
DO YOU FEEL CALLED TO SERVE?
As a congregation, we will soon be embarking on the important process of selecting our next group of leaders. We have been introducing you to the various positions that will be available, and meeting some of our current leaders.
Next week we will begin the process of nominating appropriate candidates for Elders, Deacons, Trustees and members of the Nominating Committee.
Trustees
| |
|
Trustees oversee all financial and property matters in the church including the budget, building renovations and repairs, planned giving, and investment funds. Trustees will meet monthly and members will also serve on one additional committee, such as the property or finance committee, which also generally meet monthly. The term for Trustees is three years.
Says current Trustee Melinda Stitt (pictured, right): “Being a Trustee is being a member of a trusted team of people who rely on strategy and finance to protect the future interests and growth of the congregation."
| |
|
Trustees currently serving along with Melinda are George Bickford, Bob Hunsicker, Maurice Kasmiroski, Joanne Kelhart, Belle Marks, Susan Mowrer-Benda, Bud Newton and Mark Swank. | |
|
HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED RESUMES
Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, returns this Sunday. The group will meet in person only, in Room 178 (across from the Old Chapel) beginning at 8:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join!
Don Robertson will lead our discussion; here is a message from him:
We all are born - live our lives - get older - and end our earthly lives. On Sunday we will begin this year’s study with a theme of "What Are You Hungry For?". To kick things off we want you to think about a question that we will discuss in small groups. Please do some reflecting and be ready to share your thoughts.
-
What are the essentials that you believe are most necessary to allow your life to have quality?
- Secondly, select any 20-30 verses from the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalms 119. It can be any verses you choose. Be prepared to share your thoughts on what themes are expressed from the verses you chose.
We are looking forward to another wonderful year of exploration of God, ourselves, and how we can transform our faith into action.
| |
|
We are excited to announce plans for a “Bring Your Own Picnic,” scheduled for Friday, September 23 between 5-7 p.m.
It will be held outdoors on the east side lawn (rain plans to be announced).
| |
|
Bring your dinner (beverages too), and enjoy visiting with our Preschool families and Kirkland friends. We’ll also enjoy a short informational presentation about the chimney swifts - we should be able to witness their arrival to the building’s chimneys and rooftops while we are there. These birds make a beautiful spectacle which will be a privilege to view! | |
|
Covid-19 Memorial Tree Dedication
After worship on Sunday, September 25, we will gather as a community to dedicate a special tree on our campus to the memory of those lost to Covid-19.
We’re planning to do a potluck that day and will share more details about this event in next week’s newsletter.
Two dates for your calendar
- Sunday, October 2: We will offer our annual Blessing of the Animals
- Wednesday, October 5: Popular Irish tenor Emmet Cahill will be in concert in our Sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets: emmetcahill.com
Last call to register: Faith Crawl
The Bethlehem Interfaith Group is planning its third Faith Crawl, in which bus travelers will visit three SouthSide houses of faith. The event is planned for Sunday, September 18 from 3-6 p.m. and there is no charge to participate, although a $5 donation is suggested.
| |
|
Registration: All participants must register using the easy online sign-up form by this Sunday.
You can also call the First Pres office to register everyone in your party.
The tour will include:
| |
|
-
St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church, with a presentation on a historically ethnic congregation and how it is transitioning to a new ministry.
-
Packer Church at Lehigh University, for a presentation on campus ministry in a diverse and interfaith setting.
-
St. John A.M.E. Zion Church, for a presentation on ministry in the first and oldest African-American congregation in the Lehigh Valley.
Those with mobility issues can contact BIG at info@bigbethlehem.org or call the First Pres church office at 610-867-5865.
Hi Neighbors
Our popular weekly series – featuring presentations on a wide variety of topics – returns on Monday, September 19. Sue Pizer Yoder will kick things off with “Us/Them Mentality Must Go: Making Neighbors Out of Strangers.” There is a fellowship time at 9:30 a.m. with the program at 10 a.m.
| |
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
We currently have these employment opportunities available at First Pres - if you know of someone who might be interested in additional information, please have them contact us at HR@fpc-bethlehem.org.
- Pastoral Associate (part-time)
- Director of Early Childhood Education (full-time)
- Coordinator of Extended Care (part-time)
- Assistant Coordinator of Extended Care (part-time)
- Two Preschool teacher positions (part-time)
| |
THE COMING OF FALL MEANS: MUMS! | |
|
The Preschool has rolled out information about its annual Mum Sale fundraiser!
You can print out an order form here; they will also be avaialble in the Narthex on Sunday.
Note that orders are due by Thursday, September 15, and can be picked up beginning Tuesday, September 20 (we’ll contact you to tell you exactly where and when).
| |
|
These are beautiful, hardy 9” mums from Lehigh Valley Home & Garden – there are five color choices, and each is $8. A great way to welcome fall! | |
UPDATED: IF YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED…
We would like to know when our members are entering the hospital. Please tell the hospital that your church ID is 724. We contact the hospitals on weekdays to get that information. If you enter the hospital on Friday-Sunday, you can contact Phil Fair at prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org to keep us up to date.
PRAYER REQUESTS...
| |
Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for next week's newsletter is
WEDNESDAY at noon**
* * *
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
| |
|
THIS SUNDAY
- 8:30 a.m. - Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Room 178 - everyone welcome!
- 9:45 – 11:30 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
-
10 a.m.: Summer Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; below, to join us online
- 11 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn hospitality time
| |
|
TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICES
-
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 the "Watch the Service" button
- Please check in with a comment so we know you’ve joined us!
- Captions will now be 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
| |
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the Summer Worship Service
To listen on the phone (audio only): Call 929-205-6099; when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 848 4170 9518, followed by the # key. You will be asked for the participant ID – press the # key again.
| |
|
TUESDAYS: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Crafters, Room 408 (everyone welcome)
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom (Meeting # 380 435 9056 / Password: overcomer)
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO:
Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The South entrance will be open during these hours, and on Sunday mornings.
Many of the office staff are continuing to work 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.
CARE CONCERNS AND HOSPITAL VISITS: If members of the FPCB congregation are hospitalized and would welcome pastoral and hospital ministrant visitors and/or prayers, please contact: Phil Fair, Prayer Ministrant (prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org).
| |
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM | |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
The Rev. J.C. Austin, Pastor/Head of Staff: ext. 213, JAustin@fpc-bethlehem.org
The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Associate Pastor of Formation and Justice; LClifton@fpc-bethlehem.org
David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries: ext. 202; DMacbeth@fpc-bethlehem.org
Kevin Konczyk, Facilities Maintenance Manager; KKonczyk@fpc-bethlehem.org
Pam Marth, Administrative Coordinator: ext. 228; email: PMarth@fpc-bethlehem.org
Carol Burns, Communications Manager: ext. 238; CBurns@fpc-bethlehem.org
Laura Hawk, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956; LHawk@fpc-bethlehem.org
Marianne Zarillo, Finance (Temporary); ext. 210; MZarillo@fpc-bethlehem.org
Cindy Matthews, Bookkeeper; ext. 211; CMatthews@fpc-bethlehem.org
Website: www.fpc-bethlehem.org
| | | | | |
