Friday, January 5, 2024 Newsletter
For Sunday - Communion 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: RISE AND SHINE
This Sunday, we will be celebrating Epiphany Sunday. As I have said before, Epiphany is often an afterthought of the Christian calendar in the United States, since observance of the season of Christmas is largely absent except for the famous “Twelve Days of Christmas” song, and Epiphany marks the transition out of that season.
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But it is still a major Christian holiday in many other cultures, and historically, it was behind only Easter and Christmas in terms of religious significance for Christians. Which raises the simple question of, “Why?” Why is Epiphany important?
Epiphany Sunday commemorates the visit of the Magi to pay homage to the Christ child, which we generally include as part of the Christmas season but according to Scripture took place much later, months or even a year or two. But the point of both that story and the observance of Epiphany is celebrating the manifestation of God in Jesus; the word “epiphany” literally means “manifestation” or “appearance.”
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In common usage, it has been adopted to refer to a sudden insight or realization, and there are some good reasons for that. But the primary insight or realization that we are celebrating is that God has sent Jesus into the world to redeem and save the world, and often in surprising and even unsettling ways.
So, we will be celebrating the Epiphany season this year through a new sermon series called, “Rise and Shine,” in which we look at different stories in which both God and God’s purposes are manifested and recognized in Scripture, and how that helps us look for, recognize, and understand what God may be doing with us here and now. I look forward to this season of exploration and insight with you!
Speaking of sudden manifestations, as I write this article on Thursday morning, there are still strong predictions for a significant snowfall on Saturday and early Sunday morning, our first significant snow in the Lehigh Valley in more than two years.
So let me remind you how that may impact services on Sunday. There will be Sunday worship offered by First Pres regardless; the question is whether that will include an in-person option or if it will be only online. We may be able to hold both services in person; we may have to cancel the early one but be able to have the 11 a.m. service in person if the roads are clear enough by that time; or we may be exclusively online.
Please make sure you check the church website, look in your email for a special update, scan the church Facebook page for real-time messages, call the Church office voicemail, check WFMZ.com or their TV station messages, or all of the above BEFORE you physically come to church on Sunday.
We will make the call for the 9 a.m. service no later than 7 a.m., and for the 11 a.m. service no later than 10 a.m., so make your plans accordingly. In any case, please make a safe decision for yourself. But one way or another, I look forward to being in worship with you on Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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- This week’s sermon: Rise and Shine: Making Resolution 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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This Sunday is Communion Sunday in the Traditional service.
If you would like to participate from home while watching
the livestreamed service, you can prepare your own elements:
bread or a bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel, etc.)
and grape juice, wine or water.
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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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HAVE YOU MADE YOUR 2024 PLEDGE?
As we begin the new calendar year, we urge you to submit a financial pledge to support the mission and ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem in 2024 if you have not already done so.
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The year 2024 will be an important and impactful one for us as a congregation in so many ways, and your pledge at this time will help make sure we get off to a great start.
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If you make a donation using a pledge envelope, please make sure
your name is printed on it so you can get proper credit for it.
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SATURDAY WORK DAY: FOR YOUR CALENDAR
We're looking for volunteers to help with chores around our building and campus. It's scheduled for 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 13. Lunch will be provided so please let us know you're planning to come: info@fpc-bethlehem.org.
Planned activities include interior painting and cleaning, and cleaning up tree branches (raking and picking up).
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HEARTS N MINDS: ALL ARE WELCOME |
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The Hearts N Minds adult education class will return this Sunday, January 7, meeting at 9:45 a.m. in the Parlor. All are welcome to join the discussion of Father Richard Rohr’s book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. Please begin reading the first chapter (you do not need to complete it).
In case of bad weather, the class will meet via Zoom using this link: bit.ly/47nX71y. Any changes in the schedule will be announced on our website, Facebook page, and on a message on the church phone,
610-867-5865.
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Hearts N Minds will meet on January 7 and 14, and then take a short hiatus until Sunday, February 25. You are encouraged to consider attending our new program, “Navigating a New Terrain: Learning from the Pandemic” (see below).
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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 on 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. Hearts N Minds will not meet on the dates this program is offered. Questions should be directed to Melody Engel at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or the church office number.
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TRAINING FOR HOSPITAL MINISTRANTS AND HOME VISITORS
Join us for the follow up training and review of the processes for caring for our congregation. We have made changes that will expedite visits and increase our vision in the community.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 17 from 4 -5:30 p.m. in the Parlor. Please plan to stay for the follow up 6 p.m. Community Meeting for our “Building Community” initiative (below). Food will be provided prior to the 6 p.m. meeting.
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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 - COMMUNION 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.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – 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:
The church building, office and Preschool will be closed on Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
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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