Friday, April 15, 2022 Newsletter
EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
9:00 a.m. Contemporary
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: OBSERVING THE TRIDUUM
As you read this message, we have already entered what has traditionally been known as the Triduum, the ancient Christian name for the three days of observances before Easter.
The Triduum follows the Jewish tradition of marking days, since all of Jesus’ followers that were with him through the events of Holy Week were, of course, Jewish. That means it began last night, the evening of Maundy Thursday, and not yesterday morning. So today, Friday morning, is still the first day of the Triduum, because the second day does not begin until tonight!
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Last night we observed Maundy Thursday, in which we recall the Last Supper and the institution of the Lord’s Supper and Christ’s “new commandment” that we love one another just as Christ has loved us. We did so with a contemplative prayer service in Fellowship Hall that included prayers, music, and the sacrament of Communion. (click to view the video of that service).
Tonight, at 8 p.m. in the Sanctuary, we will observe Good Friday with a Service of Tenebrae. Tenebrae is Latin for “darkness,” and that is what the service involves:
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walking through the sequence of Jesus’ arrest, trial, torment, crucifixion, death, and burial by reading the Scriptural stories from the Gospel of Luke in sequence, along with hymns or anthems and time for silent reflection.
After each passage is read, a candle on the Communion table is extinguished and the lights of the Sanctuary are lowered, until only the Christ candle is left. It is then processed out of the Sanctuary, symbolizing the light of Christ going out of the world at his death, and the Sanctuary is left in total darkness until the the service concludes, at which point enough light is returned to safely exit in silence. It is a very moving service, and I hope you can join in person or online tonight.
Holy Saturday, in many ways, is the forgotten time of the Triduum, but this was not always the case. It is actually the oldest part of Christian Holy Week observances, going back to the early observances of the ancient church, and before the Middle Ages it was the best-attended service of the year! It was a vigil that began Saturday evening, went all night with prayer, and then ended at dawn with a celebration of Communion on Easter morning.
While we do not hold an all-night vigil, we do observe this tradition in our own way with a Holy Saturday Compline Service at 8 p.m., that preserves the spirit of those vigils with a service of contemplative and sung prayer on Saturday evening. It’s less than an hour long, but it is a wonderful way of spiritually “keeping watch” between Good Friday and Easter morning that I encourage you to experience, again either in person or online.
Easter, of course, will be celebrated on Sunday with our Contemporary service at
9 a.m. and our Traditional service at 11:15 a.m., as we gather in person and online to give thanks to God that “Christ is risen; he is risen indeed!” And that ends our observance of the Triduum, which officially concludes Sunday evening, the end of the third day.
I hope you will participate in as many of these rich Holy Week offerings as you are able. If there was a fourth day, it would be a day of rest! But in any case, the church will be closed on Monday, April 18, as a holiday for the pastors and staff after Holy Week. As usual, in case of an urgent pastoral concern, call the main church office at 610-867-5865 and follow the instructions for reaching the on-call pastor.
I look forward to completing our journey through Lent and Holy Week and to celebrating Christ’s resurrection with you on Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
*All of these services will be offered in person and livestreamed on our Facebook page and on our website.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Click the link to read the verses
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- This week’s sermon: Time to Let Go 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
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FOR SUNDAY MORNING
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. on Sunday mornings; please ask an usher for directions.
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We will 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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MASK PROTOCOLS FOR EASTER
As we notified you earlier, the FPCB Reopening Task Force has decided that masks would be required when attendance was expected to be over 50% of capacity. So for Easter Sunday masks will be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
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HOSPITALITY TIME ON SUNDAY
You’re invited to join us in Fellowship Hall for coffee and a few refreshments starting at 10:00 a.m. This is simply a time to build relationships and connect with one another… what a gift!
We’ll also have a table for kids of all ages (including grown-ups who are kids at heart) to create faith together while enjoying a story and related craft. Hope you’ll join us!
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LOOKING AHEAD…
- Friday, April 15: Good Friday Tenebrae Service (8 p.m. – Sanctuary and online)
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Saturday, April 16: Easter Egg Hunt & Spring Fest (10 a.m. - noon) more information below
- Saturday, April 16: Compline Service (8 p.m. – Sanctuary and online)
- Sunday, April 17: Easter Services - 9 a.m. Contemporary and 11:15 a.m. Traditional (in person and online)
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SUNDAY’S FELLOWSHIP & FORMATION HOUR: FOR THIS WEEK
Hearts N Minds, our adult ed class, will not meet this Sunday.
They will resume their Sunday morning meetings next Sunday, April 24: they meet in person, from 9:45-11 a.m. (note the new start time) in the Children’s Center, room E3/4. You can also participate via Zoom, either online or by phone (audio only).
For April 24, they will discuss “Being Christian in Time of War” (more details in next week’s newsletter). Between May 1-22 they’ll offer a new four week series about growing empathy: It will explore why empathy has become so important, what empathy is and what it is not, what hinders our willingness to practice it more often, and how we can put it into action. Join us in learning how we can make empathy a more normal state in our faith journey.
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING - LAST CALL
The first Presbyterian Special Offering, One Great Hour of Sharing, ends with Easter this Sunday.
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Each gift to OGHS supports its Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program and its injustice program, Self-Development of People.
Learn more through the pamphlets in the Narthex and Kirk Center. Envelopes are available there. Checks can be made out to: FPCB with One Great Hour of Sharing on the memo line or through our giving link on our website ( fpc-bethlehem.org/give). |
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If you made a donation toward the Easter flowers decorating the church this Sunday, you are welcome to take your flowers home with you after the service you attend.
Thank you for your generosity!
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EASTER EGG HUNT & SPRING FESTIVAL
We invite kids of all ages to a fun outdoor Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow (Saturday) from 10 a.m.-noon. We will offer it rain or shine - if need be, we'll move the fun inside to the Kirk Center.
In addition to the traditional Egg Hunt, we'll offer a variety of other activities, like rock painting, seed planting, a photo booth and bubbles.
If outdoors, we'll gather on the lawn between the community garden and the Memorial Garden.
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THANK YOU
Many thanks to those who offered assistance, and to those who attended the Memorial Service and reception for The Rev. Keith Brown last Saturday.
If you would like to view the video of the service, it is available here; you can also view the 5-page bulletin.
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HI NEIGHBORS INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS: ALL WELCOME!
Hi Neighbors, our popular speakers program, will NOT meet this Monday, April 18 (First Pres will be closed).
A program called “Hear Life’s Story”® by Blaise and Autumn Defino will be offered on Monday, April 25.
The last two programs of the spring season will be “Bethlehem Mounted Police” with the Preschool on Monday, May 2, and “SouthSide Film Festival” by Jeff Vaclavik on Monday, May 9.
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SAVE THE DATE: NEXT FAITH CRAWL ON SUNDAY, MAY 15
You must register by Sunday, May 1
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The Bethlehem Interfaith Group will offer its second “Faith Crawl” tour of local houses of worship, to learn more about different faith traditions.
The event will be offered on Sunday,
May 15 between 3-6 p.m.
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Participants will travel via bus to four different houses of worship and at each stop the host will offer a short presentation and tour.
This year’s sites will include:
- Wesley United Methodist Church, 2540 Center Street (meeting site)
- Respect Graduate School
- Congregation Brith Sholom
- Lehigh Valley Friends (Quakers)
Due to security and parking concerns, all participants in the Faith Crawl must register online by Sunday, May 1 and travel via bus. If there is a mobility concern and you cannot travel on the bus, please contact Pastor Nina Patton-Semerod at pastornina.ps@gmail.com by May 1.
All registration must occur on the online sign-up link below. If you are unable to sign up on this link, please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 and we can sign you up.
Although this is a free event, a free will offering will be collected on the day of the Faith Crawl (suggested donation of $10 per person) to offset the cost of the bus.
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COMMUNITY DAY OF PRAYER
The Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG) will offer a Community Day of Prayer event on Thursday, May 5 - watch for more details.
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CHURCH OFFICE UPDATE
The church building (offices and Preschool) will be closed on Monday, April 18. They will re-open on Tuesday, April 19. The Preschool will also be closed on Friday,
April 15.
The Building Re-Opening Task Force has reinstated our volunteer receptionists staffing the office. However, please continue to contact the staff person you need to speak with, to set up an appointment – staff are working remotely as much as possible. If you don’t know who to contact, email us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or leave a message at 610-867-5865.
The South entrance door is unlocked between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Thursday, and on Sunday mornings.
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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 is
WEDNESDAY at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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THIS SUNDAY - EASTER SUNDAY
- 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
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9 a.m.: Contemporary Worship Service, in-person in the Kirk Center AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; see below, to join us online
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NO CLASS: Hearts N Minds adult ed class
- 10 a.m.: Hospitality Hour, Fellowship Hall
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11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; see below, to join us online
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TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICES
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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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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the 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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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,
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The South entrance will be open during these hours, and on Sunday mornings. The building (offices and Preschool) will be closed on Monday, April 18. The Preschool will also be closed on Friday, April 15. All will re-open on Tuesday, April 19.
Many of the office staff are continuing to work 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
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