Friday, April 4, 2025 Newsletter



For Sunday - Communion Sunday

9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service

 (in person in Fellowship Hall)

11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service

       (in person in the Sanctuary, and livestreamed on Facebook and website)

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: BELIEVING IN REPENTANCE

Grace and Peace to you,

Years ago when I was working for a private foundation as a program officer (I got to read a lot of proposals and make grant recommendations), one of the areas we funded was prisoner reentry programs. 

That is the impetus behind restorative justice programs which are an approach to justice that focuses on repairing harm caused by wrongdoing, emphasizing victim needs, offender accountability, and community involvement, rather than solely focusing on punishment. Isn’t that what Zacchaeus is doing or attempting to do in this story (Luke 19:1-10). Is that what Jesus is calling him to do?

Would we upon hearing Zacchaeus’ words that he is going to repent and then repair the harm he has done to people accept that? Or would we question his motives or sincerity? Could we show the same mercy towards him that Jesus did? So many questions to ponder!

Come and ponder this Sunday! 

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper:

Traditional Worship Service (5 pages)

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL

Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Lenten devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices: online.flippingbook.com/view/676218946/

In order to protect their work, please refrain from sharing this link or posting it on social media.

BRINGING EASTER GREETINGS

Will you make some time on Sunday to sign Easter cards that will be available in the North Link?

These will be shared with our church members who are unable to attend services and activities at the church building.

SUNDAY IS COMMUNION SUNDAY

If you are worshipping with us virtually, you are welcome to prepare your own elements: bread or bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel, etc.) and grape juice, wine or water.

EXPERIENCING HOLY WEEK AT FPC

Palm Sunday – Sunday, April 13

9 a.m.: Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall (in-person only)

11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in-person and via livestream)

Maundy Thursday: The Last 24 Hours – Thursday, April 17

6:30 p.m.: This special service will include a light meal, communion, music and storytelling; Fellowship Hall (in-person and via livestream). RSVP’s needed: complete this short online form or call the church office at 610-867-5865.

Holy Saturday: Compline – Saturday, April 19

8 p.m.: Join us on Facebook or our website for a recorded Compline Service. This will be online only; there will not be an in-person gathering. Bear witness to the sorrow felt by Mary, the disciples, and friends at the death of their beloved Jesus. 

Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 20

9 a.m.: Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall (in-person only)

11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in-person and via livestream

Holy Week will fast be upon us. This year, we are inviting you to put yourself into the scenes of the week. What was it like for those who followed Jesus? What was it like for his close disciples and friends to bear witness? We begin on April 13, Palm Sunday. Jesus enters Jerusalem as part of a rag-tag parade. Are you in the crowd? Are you waving a branch? Are you seeing Jesus as a hopeful figure?

We move to Thursday, April 17 where we are part of Jesus’ last 24 hours of earthly life. At this 6 p.m. service in Fellowship Hall, we combine experiencing the Last Supper with hearing the story of his betrayal, arrest, torture and death on a cross. Just as the disciples experienced, we will share handwashing (optional), a light meal, and hear the story that takes us from the garden to the site of his “hearing,” his torture, the cross and death. We will extinguish candles and end in Good Friday darkness. You’ll go home with materials for guided prayer and reflection on Friday, April 18.

On Saturday, April 19, at 8 p.m. join us on Facebook for a recorded Compline Service. (This will be online only; there will not be an in-person gathering.) Bear witness to the sorrow felt by Mary, the disciples, and friends at the death of their beloved Jesus.

This will all culminate in our joyous Easter services on Sunday, April 20. What did the disciples feel then?!

Come and experience Holy Week. Put yourself in the scenes.

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS: JOIN US ON SUNDAY

So - Ginny Smith did some research and discovered an incredible woman whose stories and poetry are now receiving much deserved praise and readership not only in Scotland, but around the world. 

Looking ahead: After Easter the group will begin discussion of the book, Hope: A User’s Manual, by MaryAnn McKibben Dana – available to purchase new or used.

FOR SUNDAY – JOIN US FOR BODY N SOUL

During the season of Lent, Body N Soul will be studying the theme Love God, Neighbor, Enemy. We will consider how we can embody the action of the verb love to follow the command to love God, neighbor, and enemy. While the idea of this kind of love is something that we affirm as Christians, the practice of this expansive love is complex and requires attention and intention in our daily lives. In this unit, we will look at a variety of stories in the Bible as models of putting love into practice through service and servanthood, mercy, courage, and peace.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR Standing at the Crossroads: A Conversation about Discernment Saturday, May 3 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

We seek to know what is not clear. Our hope: to step out confidently, moving from darkness to light. Yes, from doubt to clarity. Yes to an understanding of our path. Oh Lord, my anxious soul seek peace. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: BES DINNER ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8

FPCB will be cooking and serving dinner for the guests at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on Tuesday, April 8.  We 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).  If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up online using this link, below. Lindsey will be in touch with additional information a bit closer to the night we’re serving!

EASTER FUN AHEAD!

Easter Egg Hunt & Spring Festival (10-11:30 a.m.) Saturday, April 12 (rain date: Saturday, April 19)

Our planning committee has put a different spin on our event: while there will be a dash to the eggs, all of them will be empty, and each participant will turn in all of their eggs to receive the same goody bag. 

Note that this event is open to all ages and you are asked to bring your own basket. We’re also looking for a few volunteers: a few to meet between worship services this Sunday, in Fellowship Hall to assemble goody bags, and some to help that day – contact us at 610-867-5865 or info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LEHIGH VALLEY FUNDRAISER & COMMUNITY EVENT

She Nailed It! is an all women, nail-hammering, relay competition and one of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley's signature fundraising events! Our church has a team of women raising funds and competing -Donna Taggart, Allison Masters, Tracy Samuelson, and Polly Beste, with Pastor Lindsey serving as their coach and lead cheerleader.

To support our team—FPCB Hammering for Housing—and HabitatLV, you can make a gift online using the button, below. You can also write a check to the church with She Nailed It! on the memo line. 

We have to raise a minimum of $1,500 by April 18, but we’d love to hit $3,000 by the competition date. (Gifts beyond the initial $1,500 goal can be accepted through May 4.) Any support is much appreciated!

FPCB MISSION STATEMENT T-SHIRTS!

We are excited to be taking pre-orders for FPCB Mission Statement T-shirts! This will be a great way to show our presence in the community at events.

HI NEIGHBORS: ANOTHER GREAT PROGRAM COMING

If you’re interested in the behind the scenes stories of Bethlehem Steel, you will want to be in the audience Monday for our popular speakers program, Hi Neighbors. 

We begin at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a social time, followed by the presentation at 10 a.m. All are welcome - there is no registration nor cost to attend.

We'll present programs every Monday through May 12 (no program on Monday, April 21 because of the Easter holiday). On Monday, April 14 we’ll hear from Tom Repasch, who will take us back to the story of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, known as The White City.

CONSIDER JOINING THE NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP

The next Helping Hands volunteer trip is scheduled for the week of May 3-10 (Saturday to Saturday). The group will be traveling back to New Bern, NC, to address the damage from recent storms and floods. Work is typically done on housing repairs and upgrades - all skill levels are needed!

The deadline to register is April 14 – for more information and details about cost (assistance is available), contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or call the church office at 610-867-5865.

SHARING SPACE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS

We are fortunate to have a large building and campus that we can share with our neighbors. You may see others on campus throughout the week, utilizing our space:

• The Bach Choir, Bel Canto Youth Chorus, and Concord Chamber Singers rehearse in our spaces, primarily during the ‘school year’ months, and offer some of their performances here.
• The Northeast Bethlehem Raiders youth flag football team will be using our southwest lawn for their practices, on two weeknights through the end of May.
• The Gate Community Church uses our Chapel for Sunday services, and rents office and storage space.
• The Boy Scout troop that we sponsor gathers on Monday nights, and a local AA group meets here on Thursday evenings. 

• Valley Music Together (above, right) meets weekly, for most months, to offer their music classes for families with little ones.
• We have one tenant renting office space.

These are in addition to one-time rentals for concerts and recitals, showers and family gatherings, and community meetings. Those interested in details about renting should contact Carol Burns at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865, ext. 238.

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:



Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m. this Sunday morning; please ask an usher for directions.

Your children are a joy in our worship services, and should the need arise, “kid bags” are available for their use while they are visiting. They are in the Narthex.

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.

THIS SUNDAY - COMMUNION SUNDAY

-8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)

-9 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service, Fellowship Hall – in person only

-10 – 11 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome

-10:10 – 11 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational faith formation, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome

-11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)

WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom.com (meeting #: 868 2214 2960; passcode: OO-Beth)



CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO:

The church office and building will be closed Monday, April 21 for the Easter holiday. The Preschool will be closed Thursday, April 17 – Monday, April 21. All will reopen on Tuesday, April 22.  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.