Friday, Feb. 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. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:

MEET OUR TRANSITIONAL PASTOR

Dear FPCB Friends,   

For those of you who may have missed this announcement at Sunday’s Congregational Meeting, we’re thrilled to have Rev. Karen Kinney joining us as our Transitional Pastor on March 1! Let’s meet her:

Karen has long been interested in helping people and organizations thrive through her professional and personal relationships. Known as the Ann Landers of her crew in high school, she took that role seriously, listening deeply to concerns, fears and hopes, asking hard questions, and guiding folks to discern a path forward. 

For the last 10+ years, Karen has been an ordained Teaching Elder in the PCUSA. She finally said yes to the call to ministry and seminary in 2006, graduating from Wesley Theological Seminary (there’s a story there – ask her) in 2013 and ordained and installed in 2014.

Karen carried her commitment to listening to dreams and hopes, connecting to the community, and building the capacity for churches to be loved in their communities by spreading the Gospel message far and wide into her work as a pastor. She is an ecumenical (she’s been Methodist and Baptist), and interfaith voice having experienced the value of working together across boundaries to bring understanding and the desire to work together with and on behalf of those who are too often “otherized.”

Karen is the proud mother of two adult children. In her spare time, Karen likes to read and watch murder mysteries (not the super violent kind…), be with friends and family, visit the ocean and go to the mountains. She often says that being born in West Virginia means mountains are part of her DNA providing a place of joy, rest and renewal. 

At the moment, Karen is wrapping up a year-long position as the Merger Coordinator for the Lehigh and Lackawanna presbyteries. Before that, she was the designated pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church of the Slate Belt in Roseto, PA.

We’re so excited to welcome Karen to the FPCB staff, and we’d like to invite the congregation to an informal Meet & Greet after each service on Sunday, March 2. Please plan to stick around after worship at both the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services (where she will be preaching) to enjoy some refreshments and conversation with Karen in Fellowship Hall.

I’d like to extend deep gratitude to the Transitional Pastor Search Team for their hard work and Spirit-led discernment! The dedication and perseverance of that group - Jon Conrad, Kate Arrington, Rich Gorton, Linda Filipovits, and Ted Masthay - are certainly a big part our having found such a wonderful Transitional Pastor.

On a personal note, I’m also incredibly grateful for all the extra support during the seven months that I’ve been serving as Acting Head of Staff. Parish Associates, FPCB leaders and members, and staff all stepped up to help carry the load, and getting through this season of ministry wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s shared efforts and mutual commitment!

Blessings as the journey continues,

Lindsey

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



Traditional Worship Service (5 pages)

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS: JOIN US ON SUNDAY

Alexander John Scott calls Imagination “a faculty of knowledge.” Scott begins with the sacredness of the human soul and the sacredness of the earth. Then “He pointed to the Light within all light, the Soul behind all souls, the Life at the heart of all Life…” (page 129).

This is an important beginning to build our connections with God in our lives and world. Lots of discussion together of Celtic wisdom Sunday the 23rd around our round tables for sharing.

All are welcome to join leader Richard Smith as he guides us in discussion.

FOR SUNDAY – JOIN US FOR BODY N SOUL

For the month of February, Body N Soul will be exploring the practice of prayer. Prayer relies on our belief that God cares for us and hears us. Through bible stories and activities for all ages, this intergenerational group will consider how prayer is a central spiritual practice for followers of Christ and how it shapes us and our place in the world.

The group meets on Sundays from 10:10 -11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. All are welcome!

HI NEIGHBORS: BACK ON MONDAY, MARCH 10

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

Many thanks to Susan Wolf, our volunteer who has once again assembled an exciting schedule of programs. We'll present nine programs through May 12 (no program on Monday, April 21 because of the Easter holiday). Watch for the complete schedule next week!

MANY THANKS FROM BOY SCOUT TROOP #302

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING



For folks who are interested in the immigration coalition’s Emergency Response Team training to be Phone Answerers, Dispatchers, Verifiers, Legal Observers, or Public Response Supporters:

That training will be held at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity on Saturday, March 1 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. At the moment, there isn’t a sign-up, but if additional information emerges, we’ll be sure to pass it along!

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)

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.