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THIS WEEK AT FAITH
August 3, 2025
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No matter who you are
or where you are on life’s journey
you are welcome here.
Our Welcoming Statement
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FAITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
5992 Route 378
Center Valley, PA 18034
610.282.3939
**** SUMMER Office Hours ****
Monday & Wednesday (*Remotely) - 9 am - 5 pm
Tuesday & Thursday (in office) - 9 am - 3 pm
Friday - Office Closed/Pastor's Sabbath
*Sandy will be working remotely but will check messages
on a regular basis. If you find yourself in immediate need,
call or text her at 610-967-6232.
faithchurchcv@gmail.com
www.faithchurchucc.org
MEMBERS & FRIENDS DIRECTORY
(Updated July 2025)
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Join us this
8th Sunday after Pentecost
August 3, 2025
for
Worship at 10:15 am
We will be receiving new member Mark Bamberger.
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FAITH UCC CALENDAR
- Sunday 8/3 - 10:15 am WORSHIP; RECEIVING NEW MEMBER
- Monday 8/4 - 9 am - 5 pm Sandy works remotely
- Tuesday 8/5 - 9 am - 3 pm Sandy in office; 2 pm Faith in Stitches
- Wednesday 8/6 - 9 am - 5 pm Sandy works remotely
- Thursday 8/7 - 9 am - 3 pm Sandy in office
- Friday 8/8 - Office Closed/Pastor's Day Off
- Sunday 8/10 - 10:15 am WORSHIP; PASTOR'S 40TH ORDINATION CELEBRATION
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We will be receiving new member Mark Bamberger
this Sunday, August 3rd. Please join us as we welcome him to Faith.
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Please join in the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Pastor Bruce’s Ordination on Sunday, August 10th! Pastor Bruce has invited our conference minister, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Rev. Dr. Gene Aulenbach, his first colleague and mentor in ministry, his family, in-laws, and some friends! Nationally renowned tenor Daniel Rodriguez, a previous guest at Faith Church, will offer special music during worship! There will be a simple reception following the service. Please Come & Enjoy!!
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The Caring Place
School Supplies - August Collection
Once again this year we will be gathering school supplies for the The Caring Place in center city Allentown. As a reminder, The Caring Place is a safe afternoon program for all school-age children until parents get home after work. While there, the children receive help with homework and school projects. School supplies of all kinds are needed like paper, pencils, markers, glue sticks, poster board, construction paper, notebooks, folders, etc. Before you know it, Back-To-School Specials will be everywhere. Pick up a few items and deliver them to Faith Church.
FOR EVERY SCHOOL ITEM YOU DONATE,
THE MISSION TEAM WILL MATCH IT!
A bin will be placed in the Narthex clearly marked for school supplies this Sunday, August 3rd.
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Volunteers are needed for the upcoming dates:
Greeter:
September 7, 21, 28
Lay Reader:
August 31
Please sign up in the Narthex
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The following dates for Altar Flowers
are available:
August 31
November 2, 23, 30
December 7
If you would like to reserve any of these dates please call the church office.
| | FROM THE REV. DR. BONNIE BATES | | |
Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29, NRSVUE)
Dear friends,
Are you feeling the strain of chaos in our world? Are you having difficulty finding moments of peace and solitude? Are the tragedies in the world burdening you?
We live in challenging times, but I am sure this isn’t a new phenomenon. People from all ages and eras can relate to violence, tragedy, pain, and chaos in their own time. This hasn’t changed in all of recorded history. There are always situations where power is used to sublimate, where greed challenges services to the poor, where empire seems to be forgetting the people it oppresses. Every morning when I read snippets of the news, about all I can manage, my heart breaks again.
Yesterday, Wednesday, was recognized by the UN as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. The crime involves exploiting people through forced labor or commercial sexual acts. This was mentioned and commemorated in a 69News telecast and report. The article centered on the fact that Pennsylvania is one of the most common places for trafficking to happen.[1] When I was working on my Executive Certificate in Gender, Sexual and Racial Justice, I did some volunteer work with Bloom for Women. Bloom for Women is a local nonprofit providing human trafficking survivors with housing. Bloom also connects survivors to employment, with places like My Sister's Closet. They were mentioned in this news report.. Bloom has a two-year reentry job training and education program for women who have been victims of sex trafficking. To hear that they have a two-year waiting list for entry into the program saddens me. How many women and children need the services of organizations to help them heal, grow, and have a “normal” life in spite of the trauma they have experienced?
How many other people are living post-trauma? How many people are seeking a place to feel safe and to belong? Jesus calls us to lay our burdens down, to surrender them and feel peace. I wonder how often that feels impossible. As the chaos of the world rains down on us, as we view the pain of war, domestic violence, gun violence, child abuse, and the myriad ways we humans seek to dominate and injure others, where do we find peace? Where do we find joy?
Those are tough questions. Some days it feels impossible to have any peace or joy, and I sometimes look at the world and feel guilty for wanting those feelings. And yet, I know God calls me to be in God’s presence, to be comforted by God, to be blessed by God, and I need that peace and that joy. I am sure most of us do. So, I will do my best to make changes in the world, creating safe places for conversations and for comfort. I will seek God’s leading and presence in all I do. I will acknowledge my need for peace and solitude and quiet. I will pray and rest in God’s embrace, so I have the strength to share light in the world. I hope you will do the same.
Blessings,
Bonnie
[1] https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/lehigh-county/bethlehem-area/human-trafficking-survivors-find-housing-support-with-bloom-for-women-nonprofit-in-the-lehigh-valley
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Paul’s Greatest Flex
by John Edgerton
Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the realm of God is not a matter of talk but of power. – 1 Corinthians 4:18-20 (NIV)
What Paul is doing here could be referred to as a “flex.” He is writing to a group of people divided into camps by thorny theological matters, and he says in no uncertain terms that he is going to win the day. That’s a flex.
The reason Paul is so confident comes down to power. Specifically, the power to work miracles. Paul has healed the sick, delivered the possessed, made a path back to life even at death’s door. If you want to know who is following God in a crowded room of contentious voices, Paul says to look for those binding up wounds and healing the broken.
American Christians can get loud in our publicly waged culture wars. From positions of privilege and comfort, Christians nationwide take up these matters for debate: The dignity and worth of LGBTQ+ people, the lived experience of Black people throughout American history, who “deserves” health care and residential sanctuary and a non-toxic environment.
But in fact, such matters are not social debate fodder. They are life and death.
Remember Paul’s greatest flex. If you want to know who is right in a theological debate, look for those healing the wounded and welcoming back the outcast. That is divine power. The realm of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
Prayer
God, may the needs of the vulnerable always be at the center of the Church’s witness.
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About the Author
Rev. John Edgerton is Senior Minister and CEO of Old South Church in Boston. He is the 21st Senior minister in the congregation’s over 350 year history.
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JULY
31 Colleen Kandt
AUGUST
01 Kara Kernick
02 Robert Shelly
02 Bryce Bittenbender
02 Victoria Steele
Sarah Berghol
03 Mark Keeler
Kaylee O’Donnell
04 Diane Neidermeier
05 Mitzie Foulke
07 Rachel Zehnder
07 Tori Schoenberger
09 Bradley Shafer
10 Donna Gunther
11 Traci Wasylkowski
12 Mikayla Farino
McKayla Hughes
13 Noah Kandt
16 Lee Kandt
17 Pastor Bruce
17 Lily Maginn
19 Terry Muth
Cade Steele
21 Justin Zsido
21 Trent Eaves
Kylie Recke
27 Aaron Herndon
29 Lisa Schafer
30 Jane Van Horn
Doug Hutchinson
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A Special THANK YOU to all who continue to financially support our ministry as you are able. We'd like to remind you there are several ways you can do this:
- Mail your offering directly to the church
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Make an electronic donation through Tithe.ly on our website's Giving page
- Use your bank's Bill Pay service
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