Friday, August 1, 2025 Newsletter



For Sunday - Communion Sunday

10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service

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

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM US?

Grace and peace to you,

This week we continue our exploration of the Book of Revelation with a focus on Revelation 4:1-11. I invite you to read it or better yet, find an audio version of it and let yourself see what John of Patmos might have seen.

Is this how you would describe God? Notice too some of the other images from this throne room vision: 24 elders, seven flaming torches, a sea of glass, and the four creatures. What in the world?! 

How do we get from this vision of John’s that the only one worthy of worship is God and that when we are faithful witnesses and worshipers to and of that God, the empire will strike back. In other words, the seven churches John wrote to who John will go on to describe the vision and the subsequent cosmic battle face the decision: who is worthy of our worship? God or Caesar. And, if we choose God, are we ready to face the consequences of that witness and worship.

Think about it – what do empires want from us: complete loyalty, putting Caesar front and center, never questioning that rule, and above all else doing everything to be faithful worshipers of the small “g” god – meaning the current Roman Caesar. What does God want from us? To live our lives worshiping God and imitating the faithful witness of Jesus Christ. 

Which means to worship God as the true Lord of the world. To imitate Christ by loving God and loving neighbor as self. Caring about the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned, the sick, the immigrant, the orphan. Acknowledging our need for that God and that Jesus. 

How would empire react to that? And, what does all of this mean for us today?

Come and see! Come and explore!

Blessings, 

Pastor Karen

The Sunday bulletin will be emailed on Saturday

STUDY THE BOOK OF REVELATION WITH PASTOR KAREN

All are welcome; use THIS LINK to attend via Zoom.

INQUIRERS SEMINAR THIS FALL

Pastors Lindsey and Karen are working on getting a group of newcomers together in the fall for our Inquirers Seminar. It’s a casual, relational afternoon session to learn more about one another and more about FPCB. It’s also the first step for folks considering joining us as new members.  

The group will gather after our 11:15 service, and lunch will be provided. It would begin around 12:30 p.m. and be done no later than 3:30 p.m. We are looking at the following Sundays as possible options - Sept. 21, Oct. 5, or Oct. 12.

If you’re interested, please reach out to Lindsey (lclifton@fpc-bethlehem.org) and let her know which of those dates work for you!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LV PRIDE EVENT ON AUG. 17

We are helping with setup and covering the first half of the festival (2:00-4:30 p.m.). Each individual should take one slot (so no more than two FPCB peeps at a given time), but you are welcome to sign up for either 30 minutes (one shift) or an hour (two shifts).

This is always a wonderful opportunity to share God’s love and affirmation with the LGBTQ+ community, so we hope to see you there! (Wear your FPCB T-shirts if you plan to volunteer!)

JOIN US FOR LEMONADE ON THE LAWN

• 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.
• Get the beverages, cups and napkins, ice, and coolers out of the church kitchen and set them up (we typically serve lemonade, iced tea and water – these are provided).
• 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, and we'll have a paper sign-up form at the Sunday service.

Thank you for your generous contributions to the

Summer Harvest Food Drive!



They're still counting up the totals - we'll have a report next week.

MINUTE FOR MISSION: SHARING THE BOUNTY

By George and Jan Bickford 

“What is mine to do?”... That is the question we asked of God following the Hearts N Minds class on Democracy.

In the months since the new administration has been installed, we have begun to see and feel the cuts to human services - one of which is the loss of subsidy to the food banks and the farms that produce the food that they donate to the pantries.

Part of an answer to prayer came to us in the form of a request from our former pastor, Sue Pizor Yoder, when she spoke to our congregation. She asked for volunteers to help in the “Clean Slate Community Garden,” located at First Pres, which donates produce to a local food pantry.

This group is gathering produce to provide food to those immigrants who fear being “disappeared” whenever they leave their homes.

The Monocacy Farm Project is where some of the food is grown, but refrigeration storage for this group has now lost its funding from the federal government. This lack of financial resources will make the production and distribution of produce to those in need much more difficult.

If you are interested in helping with any of these areas, here are a few suggestions:

For cash donations: Monocacy Farm Project

Attention: Sister Bonnie Kleinschuster

395 Bridle Path Road

Bethlehem, PA 18017

You can also go to the farm (at the west end of this same address) to donate your excess produce. If you’re not a grower, you can pay $10.00 for the season and pick (or buy) your own produce. The farm is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

For produce donations to New Bethany:

Choice Food Pantry

New Bethany 

610-691-5602

We suggest you call to arrange for drop-off. Their hours are 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

For produce donations to Indivisible Food Ministry, it can be dropped at Monocacy Farm on Bridle Path Road or contact us to arrange for a pick-up (you can reach us via info@fpc-bethlehem.org).

A GRATEFUL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Dear First Presbyterian Church, 

I firstly want to start out this letter by saying thank you for selecting me to receive the Barry Brandt Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic school year. My name is Tiahnna Dalpezzo, and I am currently a rising junior at the University of Rhode Island. I am from Bethlehem, and, at university, I am double majoring in Marine Biology and Marine Affairs. 

As I continued my education here at the university, I realized that this school offered more than just an education for me, but a second home. 

I am currently a tour guide for URI, and I love my job and getting to show potential new students the campus. I am also involved in the Rhody Ridiculousness improv club, Dress History Association, and Latino Student Association. As I mentioned before, the support from this scholarship I was blessed to receive had lifted a portion of my financial burdens that my tuition bill would normally have on me and my family.

Besides the numerous clubs I am involved with here at URI, I would also work two on campus jobs to support myself academically. Through these generous scholarships, I am now able to focus more on my academics and social life at university, instead of worrying about being able to pay off my tuition bill.

For my future career goals, I would love to continue my education and get a Master’s Degree in marine biology. I would also love to work for NOAA and advocate for the impact the rise in global temperature is having on coastal states, especially ones that rely on the ocean and fishing as their livelihood.

This scholarship would help me be able to continue my education, and help relieve some of that financial stress that I would have normally. Thank you again for choosing me to be the recipient of The Barry Brandt Scholarship. This award means a lot to me, and I am very blessed to have this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Tiahnna Dalpezzo

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:



Child care will be available from 9:45 - 11:15 a.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 - COMMUNION SUNDAY

• 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• 10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)
• 11:00 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn, social time for all, front of church

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.