*Be sure to read to the end - if you see "View entire message" at the bottom,

click that to see the rest of the newsletter.*

Friday, May 15, 2026 Newsletter

For Sunday - NEW TIME! SPECIAL SCHEDULE!


10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service

 (in person in the Sanctuary, and livestreamed on Facebook and website)


11:00 a.m.: Potluck (in Fellowship Hall)


11:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Visioning Retreat

(in Fellowship Hall and via Zoom)

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: 
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE FUTURE

Grace and peace to you,



This Sunday we explore two themes – getting honest before God and experiencing forgiveness, and preparing ourselves for mission and ministry in the future. Scripture will be our guide through these themes.

He gets honest with God about what he has done and God forgives him, wiping the slate clean. Now if only David had really used that clean slate in service to God.

What do we need to ask forgiveness for individually and corporately? How would the experience of God’s forgiveness and grace free us to explore even riskier and more experimental mission and ministry. Free us to be experimental, free us to take risks.

Second up is the temptation of Jesus as expressed in Matthew 4:1-11. You might recall that immediately after his baptism and hearing the voice say: “This is my Son the beloved, in him I am well pleased,” Jesus is driven out to the wilderness where he is tempted by the devil.

Now what? Will Jesus choose power and wealth for himself, or will he reject that to bring God’s message of love, grace, forgiveness, attention to the marginalized and scapegoated, and desire to bring the kingdom of heaven here to earth. What would we choose?

What if these temptations and his resistance to them are meant to prepare him for the type of ministry he is being called to as God’s son, God’s agent in the world. The risky, prophetic, breaking tradition, experimental ministry that he exhibits throughout his life.

What might this mean for us? What temptations do we face in dreaming/hoping for the mission and ministry God is calling us to that would lead us not to heed God’s call? How do we identify those temptations and keep ourselves from yielding to them?

Lots to contemplate this Sunday in worship and in our retreat time! Come and see. Come and explore. 

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

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

Summer Worship Service (4 pages)

COMING UP: This Sunday


DIRECTORY UPDATE: We have begun working on an update of our church directory, and for this coming Sunday we will have volunteers available to verify your household’s information. They will be stationed in the North Link from 9:30-10 a.m. and during the potluck.

If you are not able to attend this service, contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 
610-867-5865 so we can get your information.

SHARING YOUR HOPES AND VISION: MISSION STUDY RETREAT 


Sunday is our Visioning Retreat!


🗓️ Sunday, May 17

🕐 10 a.m.: Summer worship service in the Sanctuary, and livestreamed on our Facebook page and website

It’s finally here! The Mission Study Team is excited to bring you the findings from two months of congregational storytelling and visioning, as well as looking at community needs this Sunday!

We are excited and energized by your participation and thoughtful conversations. We know that our time together on Sunday will bring some specificity to where God is at work in our corner of the world.

We will begin the day with worship at 10 a.m. in one combined service in the Sanctuary in which members of the Mission Study Team will participate. Then at 11 a.m., we will move into Fellowship Hall for a potluck lunch (NOTE: We have added a few more slots: if you have not signed up yet, thanks for considering!)

Around 11:45 a.m., we will begin the work, which we expect to end about 3:30 p.m.

If you can’t be there in person, please come on Zoom. Send us an email at info@fpc-bethlehem.org for the link. There will also be childcare available.

Come and be part of the visioning as we together explore our common, God-led vision for our future.

COMING SOON: LEMONADE ON THE LAWN

Basically, you will need to:

• Provide simple treats for about 40-50, such as: grapes, clementines or cut-up fruit; cheese and crackers; easy-to-eat baked treats (homemade or purchased) like cookies, mini muffins, bars, or granola bars.

• There is a bin near the ice maker in the kitchen area marked “Lemonade on the Lawn” that has what you need. There are also coolers in this area. Get the provided beverages (lemonade and iced tea) from the refrigerator (with the Lemonade on the Lawn sign), and ice from the ice machine.

• Return items to the kitchen and clean up (tables will be provided and taken down).

It doesn’t have to be a “formal” group, like a K group, committee, or the choir – it can be a family or group of friends.

Thanks for considering this request! If you have any questions, let us know and we’ll connect you with a ‘veteran.’ You can use this online form to sign up (bit.ly/42TDejr), and we'll have a paper sign-up form at the Sunday service.

UPCOMING INQUIRERS SESSION

Newcomers to FPCB are invited to attend an upcoming Inquirers Seminar. It’s a casual, relational afternoon session to learn more about one another and more about FPCB. This is also the first step for folks considering joining us as new members.  

If we have enough folks interested, we’re planning to get together on Sunday, June 7 around 11 a.m. (after our 10 a.m. Summer Worship service), and we’d be finished by 1:30-1:45 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

Please let Lindsey know via email (lclifton@fpc-bethlehem.org) that you’re interested in participating and whether that date works for you! She will reach out to confirm whether we have critical mass for a group gathering that day or need to consider alternative options.

HEARTS N MINDS: ENDING FOR THE SUMMER

BODY N SOUL: BACK IN THE FALL

HI NEIGHBORS: WRAPPING UP ANOTHER GREAT SERIES


We have had another wonderful session of programs for our spring series of Hi Neighbors. Many thanks to program organizer Susan Wolf, who takes on this task as a volunteer, and to everyone who has come out to support this long-running program. 

FOOD DONATIONS: SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

Imagine opening your kitchen cupboards and the pickings are slim. We can help our neighbors – many more of whom are facing this reality – by helping to support our call for donations of food and personal care items.

AND THAT’S A WRAP!

The mentorship program will start up again in October, and we’ll be sure to share that information with you.

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:

Child care will be available from 9:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. this Sunday; 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 – SPECIAL SCHEDULE!


• 9:30 a.m. – Church Directory updates, North Link (and during Potluck)
• 9:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Child care available (ask ushers to direct you)
• 10:00 a.m. – Summer worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on website and Facebook page)
• 11:00 a.m. – Potluck, Fellowship Hall
• (approximately) 11:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Visioning Retreat, Fellowship Hall

 
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:


The Preschool’s last day of classes is Friday, May 22; they will reopen with Summer Splash on Monday, June 1. The church building will be closed on Monday, May 25 in recognition of Memorial Day. 

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.

CARE CONCERNS AND HOSPITAL VISITS: If you are hospitalized, please tell the hospital our church code is 724. Also, please call the church office at 610-867-5865 to let us know as the hospitals do not always collect this information.  After hours, for emergency pastoral concerns, call 610-674-0005.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Send to prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org or call 610-867-5865 and leave a message.