Friday, May 12, 2023 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICES
9:00 a.m. ‘Holy Ground’ Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall
(in person)
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN:
THE MANY FACES OF MOTHER’S DAY
This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. For many people, it’s a beloved day in which we celebrate the mothers in our lives, especially our own mothers. We give thanks for their dedication, their love, their strength and tenacity and sacrifice, and their grace in raising us.
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We give presents and have special recognitions or rituals as part of that celebration. And often people make a special point of attending church with their mothers, so in many congregations there is a “Mother’s Day spike” in attendance. All of those things are good and beautiful in and for their own sake.
But Mother’s Day is also a complicated and even difficult day for many people. For some, it is a day when grief makes a special and pronounced visit, as they remember their mother or the mother of their children who has died.
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For others, it is a day of particular pain, because they are children estranged from their mothers, or mothers estranged from their children, or because they have wanted so badly to become a mother and have been unable to do so for various reasons, or because they are the mother of a child who has died. I have talked to many women who actually avoid coming to church on Mother’s Day for some of those very reasons.
And, interestingly enough, Mother’s Day has its roots in celebrating mothers not in and of themselves, but rather around mothers engaging in issues of justice, mercy, and peace. Anna Jarvis, the woman generally credited with getting the official U.S. holiday established, did it to honor her mother, who was renowned for caring for wounded Civil War soldiers regardless of their allegiances, and for establishing “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” as part of a public health movement advocating for improved sanitation and reducing infant mortality.
This Sunday, we will be touching on all of these threads in the prayers during the service. So, whatever Mother’s Day brings up for you, there is a place for it in our worship this Sunday. I hope to see you there, whether in person or online!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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This week’s sermon: More Than Fair 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 and in the blanket-sitting area (to the left of the communion table in Fellowship Hall).
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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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AFTER EACH SUNDAY SERVICE: Coffee & Conversation
We typically invite folks to stay for Coffee & Conversation following each of our two worship services. This is an opportunity for connection in Fellowship Hall where you’ll find coffee for adults along with juice boxes and a simple snack for children.
This is an opportunity for connection in Fellowship Hall where you’ll find coffee for adults along with juice boxes and a simple snack for children.
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LAST SUNDAY'S MISSION STRATEGY CONVERSATION
Thank you to everyone who attended last Sunday's Mission Strategy Conversation. We appreciated the lively and thoughtful discussion about the future of our church building and campus.
We are working to get a video of the gathering; in the meantime here are the slides that we shared.
Here are the sources which have informed the Steering Committee’s work and that are referenced in the slides:
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You can see the various Community Needs Assessments that the Steering Committee reviewed – this is a folder with eight documents: bit.ly/3HzXVq0
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And you can read these six related stories in The Morning Call’s “Room for More” series: bit.ly/4257ZzQ
Thank you for supporting this important work!
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HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS: JOIN THE DISCUSSION
The Hearts N Minds adult ed class will meet this Sunday from 9:45-10:40 a.m. in the Parlor – all are welcome, even if you have not completed the reading.
The group is studying the book, Elusive Grace: Loving Your Enemies While Striving for God’s Justice by Pastor Scott Black Johnson, senior pastor at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian in Manhattan. This week’s reading is “Peace, Unity and Purity” and “The Word Proclaimed” (pages 111-121).
NOTE: There will be one more class on May 21. It will not meet during the summer months.
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LOOKING AHEAD…
Beginning Sunday, May 28 (Memorial Day weekend), we will offer a
10 a.m. Summer Worship Service. This schedule will run at least through Sunday, Sept. 3 (Labor Day weekend).
We’ll offer the popular Lemonade on the Lawn after the service!
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FEELING LUCKY? PRESCHOOL BASKET RAFFLE
Our Preschool is offering a big basket raffle this weekend - be sure to get your tickets for these fun prizes!
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Tickets will be sold on Sunday morning in Fellowship Hall. Cash only: 1 for $1; 6 for $5; or 15 for $10.
Pictured is a basket filled with Martin Guitar goodies; other baskets include family game night, summer fun with IronPigs tickets, Disney, Barre3 with two weeks of free exercise classes, children's book baskets, a knitting basket, road trip basket, camping basket and more!
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WITH A REMINDER that you are welcome to attend the Preschool End-of-Year Picnic, today from 10 a.m.-noon on the East Lawn and in Fellowship Hall. Picnic food, hands-on activities for all ages, and fun - hope to see you! |
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JOIN US ON SUNDAY, MAY 21: “SIP HAPPY” TEA PARTY
Let’s celebrate spring with “Sip Happy” – an inter-generational Tea Party we’ve planned for Sunday, May 21 from 2-4 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
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All are welcome! We’ll have tea, refreshments, musical entertainment by Ted Rewak, and fun, hands-on activities. Optional: you are welcome to ‘dress up’ and/or wear your favorite spring bonnet!
Please let us know you’re coming so we can plan: you can use this online RSVP form or call the church’s main office at 610-867-5865.
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CAN YOU HELP? We could use the contributions of a few bakers/shoppers, and some help with set-up, serving and clean-up. Please use this easy online sign-up form or call the church’s main office at 610-867-5865.
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HI NEIGHBORS: HOT TOPICS FOR YOU!
For our next Hi Neighbors speakers program on Monday:
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Neil Henann is a retired pharmacist and avid music lover – he’ll share “The History of Jazz: From Ragtime to Smooth Jazz” with our audience. This is sure to be an enjoyable program, and all are welcome!
The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a hospitality time. The presentation will begin at 10 a.m. There is no fee and no pre-registration.
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Monday’s program is the final one of the spring session – there will be time to discuss ideas for next fall’s programming. |
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A SUCCESSFUL WORK DAY!
Saturday was a glorious day, weather-wise, to work around our beautiful campus. Dedicated volunteers sanded, painted, worked on the grounds, and cleaned out the Main Kitchen - many thanks to each of them!
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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 week's 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 service, Fellowship Hall
- 9:45-10:40 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor - all welcome!
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11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website followed by Coffee & Conversation in Fellowship Hall
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom (Meeting # 380 435 9056 / Password: overcomer)
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 members of the FPCB congregation are hospitalized and would welcome pastoral and hospital ministrant visitors and/or prayers, please contact: Phil Fair, Prayer Ministrant (prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org).
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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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