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Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 Newsletter

For Sunday – Communion Sunday

11:15 a.m.: Combined Worship Service

(livestreamed on Facebook and website)

12:15 p.m.: Annual Meeting of the Congregation

(also via Zoom – see below)

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: 
ALIGNING OUR HEARTS WITH GOD’S DESIRES


Grace and peace to you,


It looks like we might be able to gather in person this Sunday, have our Annual Meeting, and enjoy the Boy Scout’s Fundraising Pasta Lunch! The storm seems to be headed away from us. 

What a wonderful gift – even though the cold remains (temperatures around the building spaces are not consistently warm so we recommend you dress appropriately!). 

In the other verses in Micah, God lays out the offenses of the people. While there is widespread adherence to ritual and sacrifice, the hearts of the people have turned against all that God requires of us. The religious leaders, the wealthy, the powerful perform rituals but still oppress the people. There is still violence against the people. 

Micah 6:12 indicts the leaders and the false prophets: your wealthy are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, with tongues of deceit in their mouths. Reading the whole Book of Micah will help us understand just what has gone wrong in the relationship with God.

Performative worship is a sin in Micah’s eyes if hearts aren’t aligned with God’s desire for justice, kindness/mercy and a humble walk with God. Worship that doesn’t lead one to do justice, to love kindness and to take that humble walk could be seen as performative.

We do the rituals, say the right words and in the case of the Jewish religious leadership make the right sacrifices, so why isn’t God satisfied? Because it isn’t causing a change of heart positions from doing injustice, hating kindness and walking arrogantly to the opposite, as stated in Micah 6:8. 

So, how do we worship? What is important about our worship rituals that transform our hearts? Is what we do performative or is it something deeper? Some good questions to ponder as we approach this Sunday in a world that feels very unsafe and disconnected. Can doing what God requires of us guide us along a path of transformation? Let’s explore this Sunday. 

On another note, we are pleased to welcome the Boy Scouts from Troop 302 with us this Sunday as we celebrate Scout Sunday. Scouts will be ushering and reading Scripture. 

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

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

Combined Worship Service (4 pages)

THIS SUNDAY’S SPECIAL SCHEDULE


Temperatures around the building spaces are not consistently warm so we recommend you dress appropriately if you will be joining us!


Combined Worship Service, Annual Meeting and Boy Scout Sunday

10 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor

10:10 a.m. – Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Child care (ask ushers to guide you to location)

11:15 a.m. – Combined worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)

12:15 p.m. – Annual meeting (in person and via Zoom)

12:45 – 2:45 p.m. – Boy Scout pasta lunch fundraiser 


For our worship service, we will be celebrating Communion – so if you are worshiping remotely and want to participate, you can prepare your own elements (bread or bread-like item [cracker, pita, bagel, etc.] and grape juice, wine or water).


After the worship service, we’ll take a quick break and then convene for the Annual Meeting, also in the Sanctuary. To attend remotely, you will need the link to the Zoom meeting: contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org to request it, preferably before Sunday morning. If you’re unable to attend and want the recording, you can request that at the same email.


For those attending in person, you will receive a copy of the Annual Report and a packet with the meeting agenda and copy of the proposed bylaws. If you are not attending, you can view the Annual Report.

You can also request the Annual Report and proposed bylaws be mailed to you by contacting us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 (if you leave a message, speak your name slowly and clearly and repeat your phone number).

More details about the proposed bylaws changes process, and the Pasta Fundraiser Luncheon are below.

We look forward to welcoming you on this special day!

BYLAWS CHANGES - WILL BE PRESENTED ON SUNDAY, FEB. 1


At its July 2025 meeting, the Session appointed a small team to review the church’s governance structure. The team members are Rich Gorton (current chair of the Trustees and president of the Corporation), Joanne Kelhart (past chair of the Trustees), and Ted Masthay (current member of Session). One of the tasks of the team was to review the bylaws of both the congregation and the corporation. 

The team will do a brief presentation on changes made and the reasoning behind them, but since it is a first read, they will not take questions. Questions and suggested changes can be directed to bylaws@fpc-bethlehem.org. 


A Town Hall has been organized for Sunday, Feb. 22 immediately following the 
11:15 a.m. service to answer questions, etc. On Sunday, March 1 immediately following the 11:15 a.m. service, Session has approved another meeting of the congregation and corporation for the specific purpose of a second read and vote on the bylaws. 


Copies of the proposed bylaws will be distributed to those attending the Annual Meeting on Sunday, Feb. 1. If you will not be present that day, please email us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org, and we will email you a copy of the bylaws or you can call the church office to request a copy be mailed to you (if you leave a message: state your name clearly and repeat your phone number).

BOY SCOUT PASTA LUNCHEON FUNDRAISER – THIS SUNDAY

You’ll also see the Boy Scouts participating in our Traditional service that day, as ushers and lector, for Boy Scout Sunday.

A SPECIAL DAY: SUNDAY, FEB. 8


After the 11:15 a.m. service, we’ll gather in Fellowship Hall for a simple Souper Bowl Sunday luncheon to raise awareness about local hunger relief efforts and to collect funds for our area nonprofit partners.


The meal will consist of soup and bread/crackers (and dessert, of course!). We’re looking for some volunteer cooks, especially to bring soup, and those to set up/clean up: use this ONLINE FORM to sign up.

The concert is part of Jim’s course, Master (Certificate) at the Academy for Biblical Storytelling, which is part of the Network of Biblical Storytellers. The program will last about two hours, with a short intermission – all are welcome!

HEARTS N MINDS: BACK ON SUNDAY

Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, will gather at their regular time of 10 a.m. in the Parlor on Sunday, Feb. 1. All are welcome! 

Continuing through Feb. 8, they will be sharing the book How Then Shall We Live, by Wayne Muller. Participants do not need to purchase the book unless they desire.

BODY N SOUL: JOIN US ON SUNDAY


The Body N Soul Intergenerational Faith Formation class will meet again this Sunday, Feb. 1 at 10:10 a.m. in Room 216.  

Our response to God’s greatness can take many forms. Sometimes we marvel at the incredible beauty of creation, or give thanks and celebrate joyfully. Other times we cry out to God to confess our sins. We will explore how our God responds with love and forgiveness.

LECTORS NEEDED!

SUPPORT THE PRESCHOOL BOOK FAIR - ONLINE!

These are kids books only, both hard cover and soft cover. How about planning ahead for gifts for the little ones in your life - donate some to the Little Libraries around town - or consider a donation to "Share the Fair" (which you can do on the book fair homepage), which provides funds to any FPCB Preschooler who can use help to buy some books.

FOOD DONATIONS: A YEAR-ROUND INITIATIVE

Collection carts are located in the North Link and at the south entrance. We can accept non-perishable food items (no glass, please – and pop top cans are welcome) as well as personal care items for all ages. Thanks for your support of these efforts to feed our neighbors!

LOOKING AHEAD…

Sunday, Feb. 8 - Souper Bowl Sunday

9 a.m. – Holy Ground contemporary service, Fellowship Hall

10 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor

10:10 a.m. – Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216

11:15 a.m. – Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)

12:15 p.m. – Souper Bowl Sunday luncheon, Fellowship Hall (see article above)

1:30-3:30 p.m. – Storytelling Concert by Jim Stahl, Fellowship Hall (see article above)


Sunday, Feb. 15

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Combined Worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed) – this service will include an update from the Mission Steering Committee

12 – 1:30 p.m. – Luncheon, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, Feb. 22
9 a.m. – Holy Ground contemporary service, Fellowship Hall

10 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor

10:10 a.m. – Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216

11:15 a.m. – Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)

12:15 p.m. – Town Hall to answer questions about proposed bylaws (in person)

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:

Child care will be available from 115 a.m. - 12:30 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

• 10 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor
• 10:10 a.m. – Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216
• 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Child care (ask ushers to guide you to location)
• 11:15 a.m. – Combined worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)
• 12:15 p.m. – Annual meeting (in person and via Zoom)
• 12:45 – 2:45 p.m. – Boy Scout pasta lunch fundraiser


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.