Friday, July 23, 2021 Newsletter
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. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:
Easing into God’s abiding presence
Dear ones,
The texts and Good Word for Sunday point us toward Enough: as in there is enough, God is enough. It is an invitation to a shift from scarcity to abundance, a shift from the need to feel in control to faith in God’s provision. So I’ve been thinking a lot about trust this week, which has led me back toward some Quaker wisdom I’ve carried around with me for 14 years now.
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As a sophomore at Elon University, I studied abroad in London. While I was there, I spent quite a bit of time at a Quaker library doing research for a history project about the Friends’ role in the abolition of the British slave trade. In the midst of doing that work, I stumbled upon a lovely nugget of Quaker spiritual wisdom that I’ve held onto ever since: “Proceed as the way opens.”
This saying is one that requires the cultivation of deep trust in the divine unfolding of our lives. It says that no matter how much we fret or plan or try to control the course of things, we are held in Holy Care and guided by Unfailing Love. It is a letting go into God. Way opens.
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Poet Nayirrah Waheed captures the essence of “way opens” in this piece, below:
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To trust that “way opens,” to live accordingly, is to be water, to be a soft river instead of fire. Now, I don’t think this gets us off the hook for working toward compassion and justice and peace in the world, but I do think it can help those of us who feel too responsible for the outcomes of our lives or too bound by the expectations of others as we take a deep breath and ease into God’s abiding presence, seeking to live and love as Christ. |
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I wonder what call to trust that Way Opens we might be experiencing together as a community of faith? What fear or grief or need for control might we let go of together to live more fully into God’s expansive vision for our congregation? Whatever way opens, may it overflow with God’s presence, Christ’s peace, and the Holy Spirit’s love for all creation.
With deep gratitude and much love,
Lindsey
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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:
Justice 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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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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RECEIVING OF NEW MEMBERS
At Sunday’s Traditional worship service, we received these new members to First Pres: let’s welcome Jennifer Cole, Deborah Drake, Marsha Heimann, Martin Heimann, Chris Moravek, and Susan Nelson.
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LEHIGH VALLEY PRIDE IS BACK!
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.
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The day will begin with a Pre-Pride
Interfaith Service at 10:30 a.m., hosted by the Bethlehem Interfaith Group. All are welcome.
We’ll share a booth with our friends at First Pres in Allentown, and we’re looking for volunteers to sign up for shifts throughout the afternoon.
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We’ll have a fun, easy community art project for festival-goers to participate in, and 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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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**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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CALENDAR
THIS 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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