Friday, September 23, 2022 Newsletter

SUNDAY SERVICE

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:



10:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary

 (* also available on our website and via phone)

A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: The coming of a new season

With the autumnal equinox yesterday, it is now officially fall; daylight will be shorter than nighttime between now and next March! Everything about fall seems to have some dynamic of loss in it, starting with the very name of the season: fall. Autumn, of course, is the more proper word, but most of us say “Fall” colloquially, which takes its name from the falling of the leaves in this season. 

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper

Worship Service (4 pages)

FOR SUNDAY MORNING

• The Building Reopening Task Force encourages people to wear masks, especially if they are in a high risk category, as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others.    



• Child care will be available from 9:45-11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings; please ask an usher for directions.



• 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.

AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAY:

Covid-19 Memorial Tree Dedication & Potluck

We’re also planning a potluck lunch after the dedication. Please bring a dish to share; we’ll provide beverages. And as always – don’t hesitate to attend if you don’t bring something. There is always plenty! (We will gather for the potluck, rain or shine.)

HAVE YOU COMPLETED A WORSHIP SURVEY?

If you have not yet completed a Worship Survey (either online or on paper), please do that either HERE or pick up a survey during Worship this Sunday.

The Worship Committee is seeking your input on the times and format for our worship - please complete only one survey by this Sunday.

They will meet on Sunday to determine our future schedule. We will offer one Worship service on Communion Sunday, October 2.

LET’S GATHER TOGETHER: TONIGHT

We are excited about this evening’s “Bring Your Own Picnic,” scheduled for 5-7 p.m. It will be held outdoors on the east side lawn (if we have bad weather, we will cancel it – check our website, phone message and Facebook if in doubt). So far the weather forecast calls for clear skies, but cool – so be sure to dress accordingly!

WELCOME, BABY!

And about a week and a half before the baby’s arrival, we finalized the purchase of a vehicle for them, and this week Bahar started preschool with Head Start. Taib is enjoying second grade at his elementary school and looking forward to his first Halloween trick-or-treating experience. (He already has his Batman costume!) It has been a busy, but wonderful September. Many, many thanks for all of your support!

DO YOU FEEL CALLED TO SERVE?

It’s time to begin the important process of nominating appropriate candidates for Elders, Deacons, Trustees and members of the Nominating Committee. 

Everyone nominated will be contacted to confirm they are eligible to run and asked if they accept the nomination, before their name appears on the ballot. The elections are held in conjunction with our Annual Meeting in January.

Elders comprise the Session of the Presbyterian Church which is, in essence, the decision-making body of the church. They recommend and approve all program and policy implementation and modifications in the church. Elders serve a three year term and the Session meets monthly; Elders generally serve on one or more committees, which also usually meet on a monthly basis.

The Deacons are the caregivers of the church. They minister to the individual members through home communion and visits, hospital and prayer ministries, and providing support to those in difficult situations. Deacons serve a three year term and typically meet monthly.

The Nominating Committee members are charged with identifying candidates for Elders, Deacons, Trustees, and the Nominating Committee itself. This committee usually meets three or four times each year; the term of service is one year, and a member may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

Trustees oversee all financial and property matters in the church including the budget, building renovations and repairs, planned giving, and investment funds. Trustees will meet monthly and members will also serve on one additional committee, such as the property or finance committee, which also generally meet monthly. The term for Trustees is three years.

Thank you for supporting this important process!

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED RESUMES

Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, will meet in person only, in Room 178 (across from the Old Chapel) beginning at 8:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join!

ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

Each animal will receive a personalized blessing from one of our pastors or deacons. And if this interests you, we will be accepting donations of pet items like toys, treats and supplies that will be shared with the local Meals on Wheels program for their participants’ pet friends (NOTE: no donations of pet food, please).



If the weather is not cooperating, we will offer a ‘drive through’ blessing option on the same time and date.

HI NEIGHBORS MEETS MONDAY

Our popular weekly series – featuring presentations on a wide variety of topics – is open to all interested adults. Come and learn with us! 

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

THE ANNUAL CROP WALK IS COMING…



Since 1969, millions (literally!) of Americans have participated in Church World Service/CROP walks around the country to raise funds for hunger relief at home and around the world. On Sunday afternoon, October 9, our church will again partner with congregations in Bethlehem and around the Lehigh Valley to make this a banner year.

As noted on the Church World Service website, “The ongoing war in Ukraine, on top of the pandemic and other disasters is causing a global food crisis. Millions are on the brink of famine. The CROP Hunger Walk and the funds we raise will feed the hungry through CWS.

When you join this movement to raise funds and donate, these gifts will provide life-saving support like emergency food along with the seeds, tools and programs that will help families feed themselves in the future.” Note that 25 percent of the funds raised will be retained for hunger-related ministries in our own area.

We invite you to participate as families, small groups (like clubs, neighbors, K Groups), or individuals. Two of our K Groups will be walking at Housenick Memorial Park (off Linden Street, across from Josh Early) on Sunday, October 9 at 1:00 p.m., and you are welcome to join them; or you may choose another time and venue as you wish. We do ask that all donations be made online or received at the church by October 31, so that we can send them on to CWS.

We’re grateful for your participation in the past, and hope you can join us in person, purse, or spirit again this year, as we work together with friends and neighbors to end hunger “one step at a time.” 

A NIGHT OUT: DINNER & A SHOW

If you like to eat, and you like to go to the theatre, we have an evening for you! “Dinner & A Show” will include a before-the-show meal at the Clubhouse Grill (optional), followed by a performance of Deathtrap: A Thriller in Two Acts at the Pennsylvania Playhouse (the venues are next door to each other on Illick’s Mill Road).

Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college - a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash.

Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit. Or is it? “Deathtrap” provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness, and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the very last moment.

We hope you will consider joining us for this fun evening!

Chancel Choir has begun – they meet on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Choir Room behind the Sanctuary (use the South entrance). Those with some choral experience are welcome (age 14 and older).

Our Handbell Choir will start on Tuesday, October 11 from 6-7 p.m. Those 12 and older are welcome – no musical experience needed!

THIS SUNDAY

• 8:30 a.m. - Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Room 178 - everyone welcome!
• 9:45 – 11:30 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• 10 a.m.: Summer Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; below, to join us online
• After Worship: Covid-19 Memorial Service (weather permitting) followed by Potluck lunch (rain or shine)

TUESDAYS: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Crafters, Room 408 (everyone welcome)

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.

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).