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** UPDATED SATURDAY, JAN. 18**
Due to weather conditions
For Sunday
10:00 a.m. Combined Worship Service
VIRTUAL ONLY
(Livestreamed on Facebook and website)
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HOLIDAY CLOSING
The building, offices, and Preschool will all be closed this Monday, Jan. 20
in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
We hope you have a safe and meaningful day.
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A MESSAGE FROM REV. DR. STEPHEN SIMMONS:
NOURISHING OUR FUTURE
With the new year, the inauguration of a new President on Monday, and a new Congress, we can anticipate significant changes in Washington, DC; but some things will be the same.
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Hunger in our country remains a pervasive and stubborn challenge, one to which, as people of faith, we are called to respond. “For I was hungry, and you gave me food,” Jesus reminds us, as he comes to us in every person who lacks daily bread.
And this congregation has been generous in its support of initiatives to combat hunger, including the annual CROP Walk, serving as a Meals on Wheels delivery location, and providing meals at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering, among others.
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You have also responded as Christian citizens in the arena of public policy, notably through Bread for the World’s Offering of Letters. Thank you!
On Tuesday evening, Feb. 4, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., we will have another opportunity to make our voices heard, either in person in Washington, DC, or via Zoom. Bread for the World, the Christian citizens’ advocacy organization, is launching a two-year campaign, “Nourish Our Future,” in support of legislation to combat hunger among children and young adults (one in four college students, for example, is food insecure). In the words of Bread’s national office,
“It’s here. The child-focused advocacy campaign we've been building together for the past year, with input from more than 1,400 Bread for the World members, partners, policy experts, and people directly impacted by hunger. Join us online as we launch this campaign together, to make a historic impact against child hunger and malnutrition, both in the U.S. and around the world.
“Come and learn about the issues and the legislative priorities we will pursue over the next two years, why they matter for children, and what you can do to make a difference. Take your place in this campaign and help us pursue a world without hunger.”
With the arrival of new faces in Congress, it’s especially important that we let our legislators know of our commitment, and their responsibility, to make hunger among our fellow citizens a thing of the past.
For more information about the campaign, please visit bit.ly/3PC8Q6l, and to register for the event, click on bit.ly/3PzWlIz.
Yours for a world without hunger,
Steve
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THERE IS NO BULLETIN FOR THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE | |
UPDATE SESSION HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO FEB. 16
The Strategic Mission Steering Committee's Update planned for this Sunday has been postponed until Sunday, Feb. 16. This church-wide informational session will be included in the Annual Congregational Meeting held that morning.
As a reminder, there will be one Combined Worship Service that day (Feb. 16) at 10 a.m., followed by the Annual Congregational Meeting, and then Boy Scout Troop 302's annual Pasta Luncheon fundraiser.
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT FIRST PRES?
For next Sunday, Jan. 26, we’ll hold an Inquirers Seminar for Newcomers and Prospective Members. This session is for folks who might like to learn more about our congregation and our denomination and/or those who may be considering the possibility of becoming members at First Presbyterian.
We’re planning to gather after the 11:15 a.m. service (around 12:30 p.m.), and we’ll begin with lunch, which will be provided. The afternoon will be casual and conversational, and it will offer space to connect with other newcomers. We’ll be finished by 3:00-3:30 p.m.
If you’re interested in attending, contact Lindsey at lclifton@fpc-bethlehem.org so we have a headcount for food!
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NO HEARTS N MINDS THIS SUNDAY - SEE YOU NEXT WEEK! | |
All are invited to join the Hearts N Minds group on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 10:00 a.m. in the Parlor as we continue our discussion of the book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World by John Philip Newell, a leading scholar of Celtic spirituality and an international peacemaker in his role as a Church of Scotland minister. This Sunday we will be discussing Chapter 1 – “Sacred Soul: Pelagius.”
As we discovered in the Introduction, the Celtic way of seeing the world and its inhabitants has a long lineage, inviting us to wake up to the earth and the human soul as sacred and to see this sacredness as going beyond any system or religion.
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Newell tells us at the beginning of the chapter: “In Celtic wisdom we remember that our soul, the very heart of our being is sacred. What is deepest in us is of God. Every child, every woman, every man, and every life-form is in essence divine. This is the truth that Pelagius invites us to remember.”
Pelagius was a monk from Wales who lived in the 4th century in the British Isles and Ireland. As a Celtic Christian he taught the sacredness of the human soul; the sacredness of nature; the sacredness of spiritual practice; the sacredness of wisdom in every culture and people; and the sacredness of living com-passionate lives as modeled by Jesus. As we will learn, these teachings angered some leaders of the early church that had organized around Rome and eventually led to Pelagius’s excommunication.
All are welcome to join discussion leader Ginny Smith as she guides us in learning about Pelagius, one of the most misrepresented teachers of all time, a misrepresentation that continues today.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: BES DINNER ON TUESDAY, FEB. 11 | |
FPCB will be cooking and serving dinner for the guests at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on Tuesday, Feb. 11. We need volunteers to help cook, serve, clean up during and after the meal, and serve as shower monitor (which is just a simple check-in process).
Lindsey will be in touch with additional information a bit closer to the night we’re serving!
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THANKS FOR SUPPORTING OUR ANNUAL GIVING TREE
The Giving Tree was another success story for people of the world from First Pres of Bethlehem. We gave everything from sewing machines, animals, food and water systems and purification, to training teachers and supporting students.
You have been supportive in a time of war, refugees and famine. We collected $1975 for Presbyterian Mission efforts - thank you!
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SUPPORTING THOSE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Southern California is facing multiple uncontrolled fires, exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions. Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate and more than 57,000 homes are threatened.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is in communication with the affected presbyteries to offer resources in the aftermath of the fires. So far, we are aware of one Presbyterian church destroyed (Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church) and several more are threatened. We will know more once the fires are contained and evacuation orders have been lifted. We pray for all lives affected, for swift containment and the safety of first responders.
To support PDA’s efforts: bit.ly/4aly16T
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GIVING STATEMENTS COMING SOON
To help you plan for your taxes: the Finance Office will soon be sending out the 2024 Contribution Summaries – on or about Jan. 21. If we have your email address you will get an email statement; otherwise it will be mailed. Thank you for your continued support of FPCB!
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FLOWERS ARE ON OUR MINDS… | |
We appreciate the donation of flowers for use in our Sunday worship services. This is a wonderful way to honor a loved one, or their memory.
Please sign up for your requested date using the form in the Narthex or use this easy online form, below. You can also call the church office at 610-867-5865.
We will order the flowers on your behalf. The cost is $75, payable to First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem; send your payment to the Finance Office or use the flower envelope that is with the sign-up form.
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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, leave a message or call our answering service at 610-778-7003.
PRAYER REQUESTS...
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Send us your news and photos to share:
info@fpc-bethlehem.org
**Deadline for the next newsletter:
THURSDAY at noon**
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And follow us on Facebook: @FirstPresBethlehem
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICE
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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 - click on "Watch" at the top and then the "Watch the Service" button
- Please check in with a comment so we know you’ve joined us!
- Captions are 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 archives
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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m. this Sunday morning; please ask an usher for directions.
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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.
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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.
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THIS SUNDAY
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10 a.m.: Combined Worship Service, VIRTUAL ONLY - livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org
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:
CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY: The building, offices and Preschool will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20 in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. 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.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Acting Head of Staff/Associate Pastor for Justice and Community Impact; LClifton@fpc-bethlehem.org
Rev. Suzanne Trump, Pastoral Associate for Compassion; STrump@fpc-bethlehem.org
David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries: ext. 202; DMacbeth@fpc-bethlehem.org
David Crook, Director of Church Administration; ext. 210; DCrook@fpc-bethlehem.org
Kevin Konczyk, Facilities Manager; KKonczyk@fpc-bethlehem.org
Carol Burns, Communications Manager: ext. 238; CBurns@fpc-bethlehem.org
Tracy Leszcynski, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956; TLeszcynski@fpc-bethlehem.org
Brenda Robinson, Bookkeeper; BusinessOffice@fpc-bethlehem.org
Website: www.fpc-bethlehem.org
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