Friday, April 16, 2021 Newsletter
FOR THIS SUNDAY:
COMBINED WORSHIP SERVICE AT 11 A.M.
OUTDOORS AND ON FACEBOOK LIVE
(also available on our website and via phone)
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A MESSAGE FROM REV. J.C. AUSTIN: Signs of hope and renewal
This Sunday is the third Sunday of the season of Easter, which is fitting, because images and experiences of resurrection are all around us!
In the natural world, the trees and flowers are in full bloom as spring firmly takes hold in the earth and air. In our society, while there is still a long way to go, the opening of vaccinations to everyone 16 years old and older is a major milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and the slow but steady rise in vaccination rates is cause for hope and anticipation that we can “return forward” to lives in which mitigating the risk of infection is not the defining dynamic of our interactions with others.
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And in our congregation, the warmer months promise greater opportunities for us to safely gather in person outdoors for worship, community, and service.
This Sunday, in fact, is our next Combined Outdoor Worship Service at 11 a.m. (with a livestream option, of course, for those who are not able to attend in person for whatever reason).
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As we celebrate these signs of hope and renewal, as we move in and through this time of anticipation for the future, it is also a time of preparation to embrace that future when it arrives. The Session and the Board of Trustees, along with their committees and task forces, continue to be deeply engaged in strategizing and preparing for resuming activities inside our church facilities when the danger of the pandemic has abated sufficiently to do so both faithfully and responsibly.
At the same time, we are also looking to expand our ministries in and to and with the larger community of Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley, well beyond our facilities, which have also been curtailed for safety reasons during the pandemic.
The mission statement of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem calls us to exactly this sort of faithful, dynamic, and creative scope of ministries, both within our buildings and out in our community:
As a diverse and joyful community of Christ’s followers, we explore how God’s gracious love gives meaning to our lives and faith and inspires us to address the needs of our world. Through our worship, learning, and service, God fills us with purpose, compassion, courage, and hope.
That mission is perhaps more important than ever at this stage of the pandemic and in this time for our community and world: God fills us with purpose, compassion, courage, and hope not so we can possess them for ourselves, but so we can be strengthened in our life and ministry as individuals and as a congregation and share them with others.
Your own generosity of your financial and spiritual gifts is crucial to helping us fulfill that mission. As we enter the second quarter of 2021, there is much hope and much transition before us, and we want to enter that time as strong as we can be as a congregation.
So, if you have already made a financial pledge to support this church’s mission in 2021, you should be receiving a quarterly statement of your giving record soon. Please take a moment to review it and make sure that our records match yours, and that your giving is on track to fulfill your pledge by the end of the year.
In addition, I want to ask you to consider whether, at this point in the year, you can increase your pledge to help us better meet the demands of preparing for the welcome transition into onsite and in-person ministry when the risk of the pandemic has sufficiently abated; your extra gifts now will have a major impact in making that not simply a smooth transition, but a powerful one in terms of the impact of our ministry.
And finally, if you have not yet made a pledge for your giving in 2021, I want to ask you to give that significant thought and prayer. We will be sending out pledge cards shortly to members who have not yet made a pledge for 2021, so you can be thinking about what that pledge should be now and return the pledge card promptly when you receive it.
In any case, thank you for your continued faithfulness to Jesus Christ in and through your ministry in this congregation. In this season of Easter, let us continue to proclaim that Christ is indeed risen, and to look for ways in which we can live out a resurrection faith together!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Scripture lesson:
Click the link to read the verses
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· This week's sermon: Exit, Pursued By a Bear by The Rev. J.C. Austin
· We post each week’s sermon
(audio and text) on our website:
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TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper for Sunday
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DETAILS FOR THIS SUNDAY’S COMBINED WORSHIP SERVICE
This service will be offered at 11 a.m. outside, on the east side of the building. It will also be livestreamed on Facebook Live and our website homepage.
Please complete this short online form with the number of people from your household who will be attending. You can also call the church office at 610-867-5865 and leave a message.
Protocols will be in place:
- Everyone must wear a mask.
- Bring your own chairs.
- Follow the instructions of the volunteers for parking and where to sit.
- You will be asked to sign in for contact tracing purposes, and you will be provided with a bulletin.
- There will be a basket for you to drop your offering, if you choose.
AND NEW FOR THIS SERVICE – PARKING LOT CHURCH!
All outdoor, in-person services will be available to listen to via short distance FM transmission: listen to the service from the comfort and safety of your own vehicle.
If you wish to attend our outdoor worship experiences (like this Sunday and in coming months), you can easily park in the church parking lot and tune in.
Our current FM location is 88. 3FM, however that may be adjusted in coming weeks depending to proximity to other more powerful signals.
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NEW DISCIPLESHIP CLASS: Pray Without Ceasing
Wednesdays: April 21 and April 28 at 7:00 p.m. – via Zoom
Saturday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m. – outdoors on church grounds
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
In three sessions together, you are invited to examine your experience with traditional and institutional prayer forms, while extending your knowledge and comfort with other lesser known prayer structures.
We invite you to recall your earliest memories of prayer, as well as the events of your present daily life, paying attention to God’s presence speaking to us through our day’s encounters and senses.
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Do these human interactions, memories of gratitude and intersections with the natural world constitute opportunities for unceasing prayer?
We will:
- Encourage opportunities for an expanded prayer life beyond the church sanctuary on Sunday morning.
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- Explore prayer as a wisdom tool in times of both calm and conflict.
- Envision the kitchen, the workplace, the golf course, the jogging trail and the nature walk as unique and appropriate temples for unceasing prayer in all its forms.
Barbara Brown Taylor in An Alter to the World suggests that: 1) prayer is more than my idea of prayer and 2) that some of what I actually do in my life constitutes genuine prayer.
May faith be strengthened by exploring the connection between the demands of our everyday humanity and our expanded understanding of unceasing prayer.
To listen on the phone (audio only): Call 929-205-6099; when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 825 8975 9341 followed by the # key. You will be asked for the participant ID – press the # key again.
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EARTH DAY CELEBRATION!
Open to everyone – all ages
Saturday, April 24 - 3 p.m.
Church grounds
No raindate
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Let’s celebrate Earth Day by gathering together to:
- Fly kites on our beautiful campus
- Bless our CommUNITY Garden, as its stewards begin another season of growing produce for our neighbors in need
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- Bless the newly-constructed Chimney Swift Tower, a project of Eagle Scout Elijah Sivick
Protocols will be in place: masks for everyone two years and older, and physical distancing of at least six feet.
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In case you missed it:
“The Green New Deal and Climate Change Policy”
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Dr. Christopher Rice, an associate professor of philosophy at Lynn University in Florida was the presenter for Hi Neighbors this past Monday; his current research involves climate change ethics.
To listen to this most interesting and timely presentation:
Next presentation: Monday, May 10 at 10 a.m. by
The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton
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HEARTS N MINDS: ADULT EDUCATION CLASS
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For this Sunday, April 18, the class will begin a new book, Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus by Jim Wallis. All are welcome to join the discussion!
Reading assignment: Please read the Epilogue – ‘The Light of the World’ and The ‘Reclaiming Jesus’ Document including the list of those leaders who signed it in 2018; pages 273-292.
Meeting ID: 811 8422 0450
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To listen on the phone (audio only): Call 929-205-6099; when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 811 8422 0450, followed by the # key. You will be asked for the participant ID – simply press the # key again. |
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SUNDAY SCHOOL: TWO OPTIONS TO ENJOY |
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We are pleased to offer two Sunday School options for families! Gather with other families on Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:45 a.m. for a Zoom session; you can also do “anytime” Sunday School with a prerecorded series of videos on our website.
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This week's story is inspired by Genesis 26: Isaac's Wells.
Meeting ID: 928 9221 9682 / Password: 369116
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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 and they will contact us. You can also contact Phil
PRAYER REQUESTS...
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Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for next week's newsletter: WEDNESDAY at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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CALENDAR
THIS SUNDAY
- 9:00 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult education class – see more information above
- 10:15-10:45 a.m.: Zoom Sunday School – see more information above
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11:00 a.m.: Combined Worship Service, outdoors and livestreamed - see instructions in blue box, below, to join us online, and in the yellow box to join us via phone
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FOR THIS SUNDAY: : Worship with us “Live” on Facebook
To watch “live”- as it happens:
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Visit our Facebook page and look for the post with our live feed
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If you don’t have a Facebook account, go to our website to view the service
- 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
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*** NOTE THE NEW MEETING ID ***
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the 11 a.m. Combined 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.
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WEDNESDAYS:
- 7 p.m.: Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom (Meeting # 380 435 9056 / Password: overcomer)
ALL OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS AND GATHERINGS ARE CANCELLED AT THIS TIME unless offered online (see listings on our Facebook page under “Events”)
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO: The office staff is working remotely and checking email and voicemail daily. 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).
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
Cristy Mette, Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;
Andrea Barbehenn, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956;
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