Friday, July 30, 2021 Newsletter
COMMUNION SUNDAY SERVICES IN-PERSON AND
ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
9:00 a.m. Contemporary
11:00 a.m. Traditional*
(* also available on our website and via phone)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. SUE BENNETCH: For everything a season
It’s hard to believe that August is upon us. I do not know about you, but it seems the summer has sped by. A friend of mine sent a picture to me and on it was a red leaf, with the caption: is fall really near? She got many comments, mostly an assortment of memes screaming, “NO!”
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We pack so many things into the summer. We golf, swim, have cookouts, go on vacation, garden, reap our harvest, etc.
Perhaps her red leaf was the reason I found myself in Ecclesiastes 3:8 for the last week or two.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
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a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
It tells me that throughout every season of life we experience both good and challenging times. We look for the good times and brace for the not so good times. Yet, if we can relate to this passage, we are simply experiencing life.
And so I ask myself and you: as we read through this part of Ecclesiastes, how are we doing? Are we in balance with the cycles of life? Can we really enjoy the laughing, dancing, embracing, loving, peaceful times, if we hold our breath and hope that weeping, mourning, losing, hating will never come to us?
Instead let’s live each day to the fullest. Let’s know that throughout the seasons, God is with us. So when there is laughter – let’s laugh; and when it is time to weep – weep.
So as we approach August, enjoy each moment, each sunrise, each sunset. And know, we are not alone. Our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers are also experiencing life.
Blessings,
Sue
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Scripture lesson:
Click the link to read the verses
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· This week's sermon: A Good Word:
Believe 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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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Everyone over the age of 2 is required to wear a mask.
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in Room C1-2 – please ask a greeter for directions to that space.
- We will offer nametags for folks to wear – you can pick up as you enter the worship space; please write your first name.
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COMMUNION SUNDAY
If you would like to participate in Communion from home,
please prepare your elements beforehand:
a bread or bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel)
and grape juice, wine or water.
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Our popular “Lemonade on the Lawn” social time will be offered from 10-
11 a.m. on Sunday, between the services. Stay after the first service or come early for the second, and stop by for a cool drink, snack, and fellowship.
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We’ll also have a table set out for a “fresh produce exchange.” If you have extra bounty from your garden, bring it with you to place on the table to share with others. We’ll do this every week through the growing season.
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BOBBI MCDOWELL MEMORIAL SERVICE ON TUESDAY
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary for Bobbi McDowell, followed by an outdoor reception. All are welcome.
If the weather prevents the outdoor reception, there will be an indoor receiving line and refreshments will be packed ‘to go’.
Those who would like to contribute baked items for the reception: please pack “easy to wrap” items in a disposable container, and leave them on the large counter in the main kitchen on Sunday, Monday, or before the service on Tuesday. Please mark 'Bobbi'.
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LEHIGH VALLEY PRIDE IS BACK! |
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The Lehigh Valley Pride festival will be held on Sunday, Aug. 15 from noon-6:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center in Allentown. We are still looking for some volunteers to help us at our info booth (right – our crew from Pride 2019).
The day will begin with a Pre-Pride Interfaith Service at 10:30 a.m., hosted by the Bethlehem Interfaith Group. All are welcome (it can also be viewed on the BIG Facebook page).
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We’ll share a booth with our friends at First Pres in Allentown, and have a fun, easy community art project for festival-goers to participate in. It will be a great opportunity to share more about our church with folks who may be interested! If you’d like to volunteer, please email Lindsey to sign up.
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NEXT INSTALLMENT OF NEW PCUSA WEBINAR SPOTLIGHTS INDIA
A webinar series that provides insight into the vital work of international partners of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance returns at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, with a spotlight on India.
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The latest installment of “Around the World with PDA,” will introduce viewers to the Society for National Integration through Rural Development (SNIRD). The longtime PDA partner works alongside vulnerable populations in the South Asian country. The webinar features Sheku Sillah, PDA’s Regional Project Manager for Asia and Africa (right).
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The Endowment Committee is accepting applications for the
2021-2022 school year for scholarships from the
Barry Brandt Educational Assistance Fund.
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OFFICE RE-OPENING UPDATE
Staff and volunteer receptionists have not yet returned
to the building. We encountered some unexpected complications
in getting the office suite ready for regular operations again.
We’ll share more about when office hours will resume
as updates are available.
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We’re looking for volunteers to contribute baked goods to serve at
Lemonade on the Lawn social times. If interested, please contact
or leave a message at 610-867-5865.
Please specify the date and what you’ll donate.
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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...
Send any prayer requests to [email protected] or call 610-867-5865 and leave a message.
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Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for next week's newsletter: WEDNESDAY at noon**
* * *
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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CALENDAR
THIS SUNDAY - COMMUNION SUNDAY
- 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care in room C1-2
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9:00 a.m.: Contemporary Worship Service, in-person in the Kirk Center AND livestreamed
- 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn social time, east side of building
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11:00 a.m.: Combined Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary 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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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the 11 a.m. Traditional 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:
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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 ([email protected]).
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | [email protected]
The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Associate Pastor of Formation and Justice; [email protected]
Cristy Mette, Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;
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