Friday, November 12, 2021 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICES IN-PERSON AND
ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
9:00 a.m. Contemporary
NEW TIME! 11:15 a.m. Traditional*
(* also available on our website and via phone)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: AN EXCITING SUNDAY
This Sunday, November 14, is a particularly busy and important day for First Presbyterian, and so I want to highlight two of the special activities that are happening that day and encourage you to be present and a part of both if you are able!
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First, as you hopefully already know, it is our annual Giving Sunday, during which we will dedicate our financial pledges to support the mission of the church in 2022.
As we will explore in this Sunday’s sermon, “The Road Ahead,” I believe Christ is inviting us into a particularly exciting and transformative season for this congregation in 2022, as we continue to emerge from the unique challenges of the pandemic and live even more fully and creatively into our congregational mission:
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As a diverse and joyful community of Christ’s followers, we explore how God’s gracious love gives meaning to our lives and faith and inspires us to address the needs of our world. Through our worship, learning, and service, God fills us with purpose, compassion, courage, and hope.
Your generous giving in 2022 will be crucial to our ability to answer Christ’s invitation with vitality and strength, so I urge you, if you have not already done so, to spend some time in prayer and contemplation about your own ministry as a part of this church and how you can be part of responding to God’s call to us.
You can bring your pledge card with you and offer it in the service when we come forward to dedicate our pledges; or, if you have already sent it in, there will be cards on the tables in the Rotunda and Narthex that you can use to dedicate the pledge you have already made. I look forward to sharing in this important and powerful moment in the life of our church this Sunday.
Second, this Sunday afternoon is the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service held by the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG). As you may remember, First Presbyterian played an important role in creating the Bethlehem Interfaith Group several years ago and has continued to be very active in its work, including hosting the first Thanksgiving Service several years ago.
This year, the service will be held at Central Moravian Church at 4 p.m., and it would be wonderful to have strong representation from First Presbyterian attending the service. This service is an important and visible way in which we express love for our neighbors and solidarity with them, as we give thanks out of our various traditions for the blessings that God has bestowed on us and our community, including through each other. See the information below about viewing this service on livestream via YouTube.
I hope to see you at both of these special opportunities; truly, we have much to be thankful for!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Scripture lesson
Click the link to read the verses
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-This week’s sermon: On the Way:
The Road Ahead by The Rev.
J.C. Austin
-We post the video of each week’s
services and sermon text and audio
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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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Everyone over the age of 2 is required to properly wear a mask covering the nose and mouth.
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Please maintain a minimum of a 3 foot distance between household groups/pods.
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.; please ask an usher for directions to that space.
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We will offer nametags for folks to wear – you can pick up as you enter the worship space; please write your first name.
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WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR INPUT!
For Monday: Contemporary Worship Town Hall – Via Zoom
As we recently shared, the Worship Committee is exploring the dynamics and opportunities of our Contemporary Worship service. Your input is welcomed and encouraged!
Here's how you can share your opinions:
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A "Contemporary Worship Service Town Hall" will be held as a Zoom meeting on Monday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m. Here's the Zoom info:
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We also have a short survey to get your input. If you would like to participate, please click this link:
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LOOKING AHEAD!
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Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held on Wednesday, November 23 at 7 p.m., both in person and via Facebook Live. You may have heard an announcement that it would be held on Tuesday night, but it will be held on Wednesday.
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On Sunday, November 28, we will worship at a Combined Service beginning at 10 a.m., followed by an intergenerational Advent Festival beginning at 11 a.m. Watch for details!
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For Christmas Eve (Friday, December 24) we are looking to offer services at 4:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. More details to come.
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SUNDAY’S FELLOWSHIP & FORMATION HOUR – BETWEEN SERVICES
Our Fellowship & Formation Hour offerings will continue through the start of Advent, and include these two options: our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, and a special kid-friendly faith formation session.
HEARTS N MINDS
Hearts N Minds meets both in person and via Zoom (video as well as audio-only option). Details below. We will start at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join.
We are reading Father Greg Boyle’s incredible book Barking to the Choir. For this Sunday, we will discuss chapter8. Everyone is welcome to join.
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PHYSICAL LOCATION:
We will meet in classrooms E3&4, which are on the second floor of the Kirk Center. Use the elevator that is outside Fellowship Hall (stage end), or if you enter the building via the double doors on the east side of the building (Kirk Center entrance), bear left to the elevator. Take it to the 4th floor. Exit the elevator and proceed through the rotunda. Turn right and continue down the hall to Neighborhood E (rooms 3&4). NOTE: Church protocol requires masks to be worn correctly when inside the building.
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ZOOM:
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To join online for the video class, use this Zoom link: bit.ly/3aeqLLD
- To join on the phone for audio only, call 929-205-6099, then enter the meeting ID: 385 500 4307, then press # and then # again.
KIDS CLASS
The Rev. Cynthia Simmons and Kate Arrington host kid-friendly faith formation on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. They will use the Family Story Bible to create interactive lessons about New Testament stories. To join online, use this Zoom link.
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The Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG) has announced plans for “A Service of Thanksgiving,” planned for this Sunday, November 14 at 4 p.m. It will be offered in person at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St., Bethlehem. Everyone is welcome to attend.
It will also be available to livestream via YouTube at bit.ly/2Z5M9Aj.
The service will feature contributions from many of the faiths represented, including music, readings, prayer, and interactive responses. Rev. Madelyn Campbell of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley will offer the meditation, and the choir from St. John AME Church is scheduled to provide musical selections.
The Covid-19 protocols of the host church, Central Moravian, will be in place: all attendees must correctly wear a mask, and sign in upon arrival, for contact tracing purposes.
A free will collection will be taken to benefit New Bethany Ministries, an interfaith, non-profit organization with its main location in Southside Bethlehem. Its staff, along with over 900 volunteers, spent more than 20,824 hours serving their neighbors in the past year. They mobilize community partnerships, relying heavily on volunteers, to impact almost 9,000 people annually.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE BUILDING RE-OPENING TASK FORCE
Masks will be properly worn for all in-person activities, events, and meetings, by everyone over the age of 2. There is no eating or drinking in any gatherings within the building. Outdoor eating and drinking are permitted.
Vaccinations are required for those attending in-person meetings, not including worship, and a virtual option should be provided, if needed. For programs (e.g. Hearts N Minds, Hi Neighbors, Boy Scouts), we require masks and no eating food or drink indoors.
Please maintain a 3-foot distance where possible. Vaccinations are not required but are strongly encouraged and we recommend that individuals who are not vaccinated take advantage of the virtual options that are provided.
For events by outside groups held inside the church, vaccinations are required along with masks and no food or drink.
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HI NEIGHBORS: COMING MONDAY
Mondays:
9:30 a.m. Fellowship time outdoors (as weather permits)
10:00 a.m.: Presentation in Fellowship Hall (in person only)
For our program this Monday, November 15, Leslie Pohl will make a presentation on ‘The History and Responsibilities of the U.S. House of Representatives.’
The last session in our fall series will be offered on Monday, November 22: ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dick Matthews.
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As a reminder, church COVID protocols must be observed at all times – this includes the correct wearing of a mask and keeping three feet of distance between household groups.
We hope you'll plan to attend these interesting programs.
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LOOKING FOR SOME HELPERS
It will soon be time to decorate our building for Advent! Those interested in helping are asked to come at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 20 to begin preparing lighted garlands, trimming wreaths, etc. This will primarily be inside work.
If you have wire snips and/or a step ladder to bring along, that would be helpful. You may also want to bring a lunch you can eat outside, should you continue to help through lunch time.
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Our partner, Northeast Community Center, 1161 Fritz Drive in Bethlehem, is looking for tutors for their Homework Club. The program serves 15 students in elementary and middle school, and runs from 3-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, when school is in session. There is a snack time, then homework until 4:30 p.m. and a craft time until 5 p.m.
Volunteers need to be fully vaccinated, and fill out an NECC form. The child abuse, state police and other forms will be done at the center at no cost.
The need is for two volunteers on Monday and Tuesday, and one volunteer on Wednesday and Thursday. Most volunteers come one day per week. Please consider supporting this valuable resource for the Pembroke-Marvine students!
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Thank you to those who have answered the call to help staff the receptionist desk in our Church Office. We have one shift still available: Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. If you are interested please contact Cristy Mette.
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We need a few extra hands to support our Preschool’s Poinsettia and Wreath fundraiser! The plants and wreaths will arrive on Wednesday, December 1, and we need some folks to help us organize the orders and assist others with their pick-up. If you’re available (most likely for morning hours) and interested in helping, please contact us.
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AND SPEAKING OF POINSETTIAS AND WREATHS…
We know it's not even Thanksgiving, but we are thinking ahead to Christmas decorating season!
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Our Preschool is taking orders for their annual fundraiser - be sure your prepaid order is in the church office by Tuesday! You can choose from 2 styles of wreaths and a variety of poinsettia colors; pick-up is on Wednesday, December 1.
Click here to print your order form; copies also available at the sign-in tables for Sunday worship.
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FLOWER MINISTRY FOR NOVEMBER
We are still in need of flower donations for the Sanctuary for the remaining Sundays in November. If you are interested in donating, contact us at flowers@fpc-bethlehem.org or leave a message at 610-867-5865. Thank you for considering!
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IF YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED…
We would like to know when our members are entering the hospital. Please tell the hospital that your church ID is 724 and they will contact us. You can also contact Phil
PRAYER REQUESTS...
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Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for 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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CALENDAR
THIS SUNDAY
- 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers for directions)
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9:00 a.m.: Contemporary Worship Service, in-person in the Kirk Center AND livestreamed
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10 a.m.: Fellowship & Formation Hour – see details above for Hearts N Minds and Kids Formation classes
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NEW TIME! 11:15 a.m.: Combined Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestreamed - see instructions in blue box, below, to join us online, and in the yellow box to join us via phone
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4 p.m.: Bethlehem Interfaith Group, "A Service of Thanksgiving", in person at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St. and livestream via YouTube (see details above)
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FOR THIS SUNDAY: : Worship with us “Live” on Facebook
To watch “live”- as it happens:
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Visit our Facebook page and look for the post with our live feed
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NEW! 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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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the 11:15 a.m. Traditional service
To listen on the phone (audio only): Call 929-205-6099; when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 848 4170 9518, followed by the # key. You will be asked for the participant ID – press the # key again.
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TUESDAYS: 6 p.m. - Handbell rehearsal, Sanctuary
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom (Meeting # 380 435 9056 / Password: overcomer)
THURSDAYS: 7 p.m. – Chancel Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary
ALL OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS AND GATHERINGS ARE CANCELLED AT THIS TIME unless offered online (see listings on our Facebook page under “Events”)
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO: The church office is open Monday –Thursday, 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.
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
Cristy Mette, Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;
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