Friday, March 21, 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. KAREN KINNEY:

NURTURING THAT WHICH IS RESTING

Grace and Peace to you,

I love to take walks and as the weather has warmed up, walking is more enjoyable. But I remember those winter days where all was cold, gray, brown and dull and nothing seemed to be growing. Now as spring has sprung, I see daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and tulips coming up from the ground. Soon the buds will be on the trees and my allergies will kick in due to pollen (a messy side effect of growth). 

On my walks in winter, I don’t see any growth, but just like the gardener, I know that the bulbs and buds are resting and being nurtured by the ground in which they are planted. I know that Lent feels dark, but lots of light and love are also present, nurturing that which is resting.

On my springtime walks, I see the other side of Lent – days that lengthen and fill with light, bulbs that grow up through the earth into flowers and buds that become full leaves. Without the rest, there is no growth. Without care and nurture there is no bloom.

What does that say to us about our faith walk? When do we need rest and when does growth appear? What does that say to us about the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem faith walk? When do we need to rest and when do we need to grow? 

Come and explore this Sunday at either service this sense of rest and growth, and the messiness of things like manure and pollen that aid rest and growth. These two things are not incompatible – in fact we need one to inform the other. What messy manure or itchy pollen might we need? Come and see!

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

Tomorrow's services will include the ordination and installation of elders and deacons, and the installation of trustees.

TRADITIONAL WORSHIP BULLETIN - 6 pages

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS: JOIN US ON SUNDAY

For this Sunday, we will be looking into the work and thinking of Celtic prophet and poet Kenneth White, who calls us to "rediscovering the earth," "rewording the world," and journeying toward "a new-found land, one "we have never experienced before, a new way of being.

Join us! And here is a retrospective look at a song that seems particularly relevant to the now . . . Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth.

FOR SUNDAY – JOIN US FOR BODY N SOUL

During the season of Lent, Body N Soul will be studying the theme Love God, Neighbor, Enemy. We will consider how we can embody the action of the verb love to follow the command to love God, neighbor, and enemy. While the idea of this kind of love is something that we affirm as Christians, the practice of this expansive love is complex and requires attention and intention in our daily lives. In this unit, we will look at a variety of stories in the Bible as models of putting love into practice through service and servanthood, mercy, courage, and peace.

HI NEIGHBORS: OFF TO A GREAT START!

Our programs begin at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a social time, followed by the presentation at 10 a.m. There is no registration nor cost to attend.

We'll present nine programs through May 12 (no program on Monday, April 21 because of the Easter holiday). For Monday, March 31: Lane W. Rundle will be on hand to share the fascinating story of The Art of Ukrainian Egg Design (Pysanky).

CONSIDER JOINING THE NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP

The next Helping Hands volunteer trip is scheduled for the week of May 3-10 (Saturday to Saturday). The group will be traveling back to New Bern, NC, to address the damage from recent storms and floods. Work is typically done on housing repairs and upgrades - all skill levels are needed!

The deadline to register is April 14 – for more information and details about cost (assistance is available), contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or call the church office at 610-867-5865.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Your retreat Trail Guides: Jan Bickford, Rev. Dr. Ginny Smith, Rev. Dr. Richard Smith, Anne Taylor, and Gail Watts. More details to come!

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

FOR THIS SUNDAY: A SPECIAL CONCERT AT FIRST PRES

All are invited to a special musical presentation next Sunday, here at First Pres, by a visiting ensemble, Thula Sizwe - the Group Zulu from South Africa.

Their performance begins at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary. It is free admission; a free will offering will be taken.

They will also share their music with us during the 11:15 a.m. service.

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 Worship Service, Fellowship Hall – in person only

-10 – 11 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome

-10:10 – 11 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational faith formation, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome

-11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)

-4 p.m.: Concert by Thula Sizwe (male ensemble from South Africa), Sanctuary - free will offering

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.