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Friday, May 1, 2026 Newsletter

For Sunday - Communion 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. KAREN KINNEY: 
SIGNS OF GOD’S LOVE AND CARE


Grace and peace to you,

I don’t know about you, but I have never wanted to be Moses. What a life – set out in a basket as an infant because the Pharaoh wants to kill all the Israelite male babies, only to be rescued by the Pharaoh’s daughter. 

Then – when the people have been rescued from slavery and are journeying in the wilderness – the complaining starts! We would have been better off staying in Egypt. There isn’t enough food! We need water! Moses must have been one exhausted and exasperated leader! Yet God guides Moses and the people through it all. God provides food, water, and accompaniment for the journey. Moses isn’t alone as a leader, and neither are the people. God walks this journey with them.

God gives them the Decalogue, more commonly known as the Ten Commandments. But what are these commandments really? And why were they so needed as the people journeyed in the wilderness? What do these verses really do for the people?

That is what we will explore on Sunday – why are rules given by God for a wilderness time, actually signs of God’s love and care for the people? How do these rules help us stay joyful as we honor God, life, and community? The Ten Commandments are meant to be lived, not put up on some wall with no understanding attached.

Come and see, come and explore together in community!

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

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

Traditional Worship Service (3 pages)

COMING UP: This Sunday


HOSPITALITY HOUR: Join us for good connection between our two Sunday services – 10:15-11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. 


COMMUNION SUNDAY: If you are attending our online service, you can prepare your own elements – bread or a bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel, etc.) and grape juice, wine or water.

WELCOME: TWO NEW ELDERS

The additions are prompted by the recent desolution of the Board of Trustees, so the Session is being expanded with these new roles. Thanks to Phil and Jim for stepping up to serve. 

SHARING YOUR HOPES AND VISION: MISSION STUDY


Mark your calendars! Sunday, May 17 is the day we come together to see where our hopes and dreams might lead us! 


The full-day schedule begins with:

• Presentations and table discussion beginning by noon and ending by 3:30 p.m.

Our goal for this day-long worship, fellowship and interactive retreat experience is to share what we have learned in our visioning sessions and data gathering:

• What are we willing to let go of?
• What do we want to hold onto?
• Where is God leading us?
• What are the needs of our community and congregation?
• What are the commonalities in our hopes and dreams?

Then we will work in table groups to come up with some specific ideas for mission and ministry going forward, based on the broad themes that have emerged from our sessions. Your participation is needed as we collectively explore these questions and offer our more specific ideas.

NOTE: We will also provide a Zoom option for those interested in attending the retreat. If you would like the link, contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org.


Childcare will be provided - details to come.


The Mission Study Team has been so grateful to you for your participation – more than 100 of you have taken part in a session, in a group or individually. We hope you can be with us on May 17 for the next important steps!

NEXT CHAPTER UPDATES

We have two Next Chapter teams: one for the Preschool relocation, and another for the church relocation.


The Preschool's most recent update from Preschool Director Lisa Todd:


On Monday, April 27, the Session of First Presbyterian Church met and approved a motion to support Preschool operations in its current space/location for the 2026-27 school year, if our relocation search efforts continue to come up empty.

While final details with Prebyterian Senior Living are still being worked out, PSL has included the Preschool staying through May 2027 in its terms.


We're still interested in receiving referrals for prospective spaces; these can be sent to me at ltodd@fpc-bethlehem.org.


The church team's update from Pastor Lindsey:


• Session formally approved Kevin Konczyk and the Property Committee as the designees to coordinate the disposition of physical/material resources using the following initial process:
  
• Empower Kevin and facilities staff to continue organizing low-value items for additional church yard sale(s); dates and pricing are at their discretion. The first sale’s tentative dates: Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20.
  
• Gather quotes for services from area appraisers; select and recommend one who will assess if FPCB has any valuable items (furniture, artwork, etc.) for 
  resale.
  
• Other processes will be created after the appraisal process is complete for 1) determining items to keep or preserve and 2) addressing items requested by members Stay tuned for future updates!

• Session also voted to appoint a small sub-team to bring a recommendation to the May Session meeting regarding a report and request from Dave Macbeth to consider preserving components of our existing organ instrument for reuse and/or resale.
  
• The team will not be making recommendations about the instrument needed for our future space at this time; that will be a subsequent process in the building design phase.

• Finally, Session approved a unanimous recommendation of the Next Chapter Team to move toward creating a formal agreement to nest with a local congregation as our temporary location for ministry.
  
• When that congregation’s leadership team has given the necessary approval, we will coordinate an announcement of the partnership to both congregations at the same time!

If you have specific questions about any of the Next Chapter updates, you can send them to nextchapter@fpc-bethlehem.org.

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: CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION

Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, will meet on Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Parlor. All are welcome to participate.

BODY N SOUL: ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Body N Soul Intergenerational Faith Formation class will meet on Sunday at 10:10 a.m. in Room 216. Everyone is welcome--no reservations or advanced preparation required. 

Based on scripture and brought to life through movement and crafts, Body N Soul offers opportunities for seekers of all ages to grow their faith and build intergenerational community. 

MONDAY: SHE NAILED IT! FUNDRAISER FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY


She Nailed It! is an all women, nail-hammering, relay competition and one of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley's signature fundraising events! These funds will help build and repair homes for our neighbors.

Last year we fielded two teams, and took home the trophy for raising the most funds. This year’s team includes Donna Taggart, Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Joanne Kelhart and Deb Philpotts.

We’ve set an ambitious goal to raise $2,500 - and we're happy to announce that we have met and exceeded that amount!

If you are interested in making a gift online, you can use this link: bit.ly/3PVSb13. You can also write a check to the church with She Nailed It! on the memo line.

PRESCHOOL SPRING FLING: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 

Please sign up to help here: volunteersignup.org/4P8LL

HI NEIGHBORS: COME HEAR ABOUT DAVE’S TRIP!

This past Monday at our Hi Neighbors speakers program, Beverly Gruber presented the history of the Great Allentown Fair and the Allentown Farmers Market, whose origins date back to 1852. She recalled some interesting stories that members of our audience connected with.

FOOD DONATIONS: SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

You continue to answer the call for food and personal care items that we share with our neighbors – thank you!

They can also use feminine care products, soaps, shampoos and conditioners, plus toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Collection carts are located in the North Link and at the south entrance. Let’s fill those carts! 

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 - COMMUNION SUNDAY

• 9 a.m. – Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall
• 10 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor
• 10:10 a.m. – Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216
• 10:15 a.m. – Hospitality Time, Fellowship Hall
• 11:15 a.m. – Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)

 
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.

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.