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Friday, Feb. 27, 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)

followed by Congregational Meeting - in person and via Zoom

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: 
 ENRICHING YOUR LIFE THROUGH PRAYER


Grace and peace to you,


As we enter fully into the season of Lent, I am reminded that Lent is a time where we are invited to be more intentional about our relationship with God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. It asks us to be intentional with ourselves too. How do we feel invited by God to be in relationship with the Trinity and with each other?

One way to be more intentional about our relationships is through contemplative practices, particularly prayer practices. Prayer can take many forms – praying with Scripture (lectio divina) or with visual images (visio divina). 

Intercessory prayer is another way to be intentional about our relationships with the Trinity and with each other. In this form of prayer, we pray for the needs of others. Our Prayers of the People that we pray each Sunday is a form of intercessory prayer.


We have so many opportunities at the church building to be in prayer individually and with one another. Throughout Lent, we are making available a contemplative space in the Chapel for you to use as your prayer space if you so wish. You can do that independently or in a group. There are ways to engage in each of those prayer practices. The Chapel is open during office hours and on Sunday mornings.


Additionally, if you are coming for a rehearsal or committee meeting, feel free to stop in the room. (The Chapel is on the lower level and we have directional signs for you.)

Another way is to be part of a prayer team that prays for the church, for the congregation, for the staff, for whatever the Holy Spirit lays upon your hearts. For the past year, there has been such a team praying in this way, gathering in-person and on Zoom when needed. 


This past Wednesday was their last gathering as a team and they now invite others to form a team. What would it look like to have one or more teams praying for the church in this time of transition? What might come from that? There is no training needed to pray – it really is practicing being in God’s presence with words, or silence, or any other type of expression. Please email me at kkinney@fpc-bethlehem.org if you are interested in being on a prayer team. 


Additionally, if you are looking to deepen your prayer life, consider meeting with one of our Spiritual Directors to discover prayer practices that can guide/mentor you in doing that. You can contact them at SpiritualDirection@fpc-bethlehem.org. 


We have one other room for you (room 206 – across the hall from the church office) and that is a creative room where you can practice praying while drawing or painting with watercolors, coloring a mandala, working with pipe cleaners – what will you create as you talk with God? 


Prayer is powerful, but so many times we are only comfortable praying on our own or praying together in worship. Praying in a group is a powerful experience. I have been fortunate to have prayer partners who gather every Thursday morning on Zoom for intercessory prayer. It has enriched my life and my relationship with the Trinity and my neighbors, and I am grateful for the practice. 


I invite you to engage in prayer this Lenten season. May it be an enriching experience for you.


Blessings,

Pastor Karen

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

Traditional Worship Service (4 pages)

COMMUNION SUNDAY


If you would like to participate while worshipping online,

you are invited to prepare your own elements:

a bread or bread-like item such as a cracker, bagel, pita, or muffin,

and grape juice, wine or water.

THIS SUNDAY: ANNUAL MEETING AND BYLAWS VOTE


For this Sunday, March 1 immediately following the 11:15 a.m. service, Session has approved a meeting of the congregation and corporation for the specific purpose of a second read and vote on the bylaws. This vote is for active church members only.


If you cannot attend Sunday’s Town Hall, questions and suggested changes can be directed to bylaws@fpc-bethlehem.org. You can also request a link to the Zoom meeting; contact us before Sunday at info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

SOUP PICK-UP FOR SUNDAY


Thanks to all who supported Blank Slate by ordering Slater Wedding Soup. It is available for pick up this Sunday between 12-1 p.m. in the North Link.  

There will be extra quarts of soup for folks who weren't able to order ahead of time. They are available for purchase as well for $12.00 a quart (Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, check or cash). Thanks for partnering with Blank Slate in this way!

LENTEN STUDIES: DEVOTIONAL AND DAILY STUDY

Beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing through the Second Sunday of Easter, we invite you to engage with this weekly devotional that follows the scriptures.

Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Lenten devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices. Drop us a request at info@fpc-bethlehem.org if you'd like the link.

We will also provide a weekly list of questions (print copies will also be available at Sunday services), and a daily reading on our Facebook page.

HEARTS N MINDS: MEETING ON SUNDAY

BODY N SOUL: JOIN THEM ON SUNDAY

The Body N Soul Intergenerational Faith Formation class will meet this Sunday at 10:10 a.m. in Room 216. Everyone is welcome to attend.

LECTORS NEEDED!

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

RESCHEDULED: APPY HOUR COMING ON MARCH 22


The latest snowstorm notwithstanding, spring is on the way – and so is the gathering of K Groups that was snowed out on Jan. 18.

If you are unfamiliar with K Groups, they are small groups that take their name from the Greek word “koinonia” meaning “close fellowship.” K Groups meet regularly for friendship, study, support and service and have long been an important part of the life of First Presbyterian Church. 


All current members of K Groups as well as anyone wishing to know more about this program are invited to “Appy Hour” – a gathering over beverages and appetizers – on Sunday, March 22, from 2-4 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The church will provide the beverages, and each K Group is asked to provide some appetizers. 


We’ll coordinate the appetizers through the K Group convenors, but we ask that everyone planning to attend Appy Hour RSVP to Cynthia Simmons by Friday, March 13, at csimmons@fpc-bethlehem.org.  You can also contact Cindy at that email if you have questions. Hope to see you at Appy Hour!

HI NEIGHBORS: COMING MONDAY, MARCH 16

Our popular speakers series, Hi Neighbors, will be back with a new nine-week series starting on Monday, March 16.

The programs begin at 9:30 a.m. with a social time in Fellowship Hall, followed by the hour-long presentation at 10 a.m. A lively question-and-answer period is included.

The first session will feature a presentation about the Bethlehem Mounted Police, a unit of the Bethlehem Police Department since 2009. The complete schedule is below – please help us spread the word!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: BES DINNER

FOOD DONATIONS: A YEAR-ROUND INITIATIVE

With the need so great – and no discernable relief in sight – we are extending our food collection to a year-round initiative, and designating a different recipient each month.

For February our donations will go to the HOPE Food Pantry at Northampton Community College’s Bethlehem campus.

Beginning with next Sunday’s (March 8) collection, the donated items will go to Northeast Community Center’s food pantry. Thanks for your support of these efforts to feed our neighbors!

LOVE CHOCOLATE? SUPPORT THE PRESCHOOL FUNDRAISER!
Orders due Monday

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)
• 12 - 1 p.m. - Pick up for Blank Slate soup pre-orders, North Link (additional quarts for $12 will be available)
• 12:15 p.m. – Congregational meeting to vote on bylaws, Sanctuary and via Zoom (request link at info@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: 


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.