Friday, January 19, 2024 Newsletter
For Sunday
9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service
in Fellowship Hall (in person only)
11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service in the Sanctuary
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: ANSWERING THE CALL
In two weeks, on January 28, immediately following a Combined Worship service at
10 a.m., we will be having our Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem.
It will be a very important meeting in general, as we reflect on the previous year and look forward to the future to which God is calling us in 2024 and beyond. Perhaps the most important action we will take, however, is to act on the recommendations of the Congregational Nominating Committee for people to serve as Elders, Deacons, and Trustees.
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Presbyterians hold the right of the people to discern and elect their own leaders to be sacrosanct. Neither I as the Pastor nor the Session as the governing council of the congregation get to vote on who is nominated for office. You, as the congregation, elect the Congregational Nominating Committee directly in the Annual Meeting each year, and then it is the Nominating Committee’s job to go out and look for those within the congregation who have the gifts, skills, vision, and passion to fulfill the office(s) in question, and at this particular time in the life of our congregation. |
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Typically, they begin their work in the early fall, which includes both their own internal conversation about potential candidates and your suggestions that come in through the written nomination process that we do every fall. After a number of conversations, they begin establishing a list of those whom they think are best to ask, and then go out and ask them if they would consider serving.
Not everyone agrees with the Nominating Committee’s assessment that they are called to serve in one of these capacities! But that is both fine and to be expected. In the Presbyterian Church, we understand a calling to have three elements: 1) the providential call: the gifts and skills to do the work involved; 2) the personal call: the individual having a sense that they are to use those providential gifts in a particular ministry; and 3) the congregational call: the church itself recognizing those gifts and issuing the call to the individual. If any one of those three elements is missing, for any office, then it is not a true call, at least for that moment.
This newsletter contains information, below, about the members whom the Nominating Committee is bringing forward for your consideration.
Please make sure you pay careful attention to that information, and make sure you are in attendance at the meeting as we make these very important decisions about our leaders together as a congregation!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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- This week’s sermon: Rise and Shine: Good to Go by the Rev. J.C. Austin
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We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org
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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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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. 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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FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 28: SPECIAL SCHEDULE |
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As J.C. noted in his Pastor Message, we have a special schedule for next Sunday (one week from this Sunday).
NOTE: Both the worship service and Annual Meetings will be held in the Sanctuary, and livestreamed on our church Facebook page and website, so everyone can participate.
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- 10 a.m. Combined Worship Service
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11 a.m. Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation At this meeting the congregation will elect its new slate of leaders: elders, deacons, trustees, and the Nominating Committee. See the nominees' biography information.
- 12:30 p.m. (approximately – when the meetings are concluded)
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Pasta Luncheon Fundraiser offered by Boy Scout Troop 302 in Fellowship Hall
The menu will include Baked Ziti, Pasta, Sauce, Meatballs, Salad, Rolls, Iced Tea, Lemonade and Dessert.
Suggested donation is $12 for adults, and $6 for kids 10 and under. Take out is available.
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SECOND COMMUNITY MEETING HELD
We had over 200 attendees at Wednesday evening’s second Community Meeting to share concept designs for the campus and to launch our second public survey! The conversations were engaging, and helpful questions and concerns raised.
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We’re eager to continue gathering public feedback through the end of February. If you were unable to attend, you can see the concepts designs and 3D models at our Project Headquarters in the North Link (pictured, right).
You’ll also find a QR code to access the digital survey along with paper copies to share your feedback.
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The survey includes all the needed information about each of the three concepts, and it may be found online here: bit.ly/4b3M8h2
You can also visit the church website to see additional contextual information shared on posters at Wednesday night’s meeting. The survey link is posted there, as well. Responses are being accepted through February 29, so feel free to share with other folks in the Bethlehem community!
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WOULD YOU SERVE AS A LECTOR?
We are recruiting volunteers to serve as lectors for our Holy Ground service at 9 a.m. on Sundays. You will be given a passage of scripture to read, several days before the service so you can prepare.
Dates are available for February and March, including Holy Week, and you can use this easy online sign-up form or contact us at the main office number, 610-867-5865. Thanks for considering!
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FPCB volunteers will be cooking and serving dinner for the guests at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering this Wednesday, January 24.
We still 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).
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Can you help…
We are missing 3-5 lavendar-flowered tablecloths. If you have any information please contact the church office or drop them off. Thanks for your help!
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NAVIGATING A NEW TERRAIN: A NEW SERIES
Interested in sharing some ideas, information, and questions about what we learned from the pandemic?
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Join us for a new adult ed offering. The first session will be this Sunday, January 21 from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in Room 400 to help us define the focus of the remaining three sessions of the course, which will be held the first three Sundays in February. Pre-registration is required
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The first session will be a discussion of “Lessons Learned from the Pandemic." Suggestions for the subsequent sessions, which will be adapted based on responses of attendees, could include topics such as: Redefining Family and Relationships, Processing Loss, Facing Uncertainty, and Coping with Stress.
Additional sessions may be offered at a later date if there is sufficient interest. Questions should be directed to Melody Engel at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or the church office number.
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HEARTS N MINDS: ON HIATUS UNTIL FEBRUARY 25
The Hearts N Minds adult education class is on hiatus until Sunday, February 25. When it returns they will continue the discussion of Father Richard Rohr’s book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.
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TRIVIA & TACO TUESDAY: COMING TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 |
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Would you like to meet a group of FPCB friends who will gather at The Clubhouse Grill (400 Illick’s Mill Road) on Tuesday, January 30 for dinner (which is optional – it starts at 6:00 p.m.) and trivia (7:00 p.m.)? If you’d like to join in, please email us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org to sign up or call 610-867-5865. You’ll need to sign up whether you come to dinner or not.
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Each person pays for their own meal, but it’s also Taco Tuesday with $2.50 tacos if you’re looking for a tasty, affordable option.
Our team has a pretty solid track record, so we hope you’ll join us for some friendly competition and a good time!
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WELCOMING OUR NEW BOOKKEEPER
With the retirement of our Bookkeeper Cindy Matthews, we have hired a new member of the Finance team, Cindy Kemmerer.
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Cindy holds degrees in Accounting and Finance from De Sales University, and has experience working in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.
A Lehigh Valley native, Cindy now lives in Bethlehem with her two cats, Lily and Layla. She also enjoys spending time with her eight nieces and nephews, many of whom live in the area.
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Now that she is working part-time and is “semi-retired,” Cindy is looking forward to picking up some long-neglected hobbies like crocheting and painting.
Welcome, Cindy!
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If you are interested in learning more... |
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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:
**Deadline for the next newsletter:
WEDNESDAY at noon**
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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 the "Watch the Service" button
- 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 archives
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THIS SUNDAY
- 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
- 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship service, in-person in Fellowship Hall
- 9:45 a.m.: Navigating a New Terrain: Learning from the Pandemic – all are welcome!
- 11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom.com (NEW! 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.
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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
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