Friday, December 22, 2023 Newsletter
For Sunday:
10:00 a.m.: Combined Worship Service
Candlelight Christmas Eve services:
4:00 p.m.: Intergenerational Family
7:00 p.m.: Traditional
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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IMPORTANT UPDATES:
- There will be no newsletter for next week (dated Friday, December 29). The next one will be dated Friday, January 5, 2024.
- This newsletter includes the list of people who donated poinsettias for our Sanctuary on Christmas Eve, as well as the bulletin for this Sunday’s 10 a.m. Combined Service. On Saturday we will email you the two Christmas Eve bulletins.
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The church office, building and Preschool will be closed beginning Monday, December 25. The church office and building will reopen on Tuesday, January 2; the Preschool will reopen on Wednesday, January 3. See details below about making your 2024 pledge, and end of year donations.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: A VERY SPECIAL SUNDAY
Christmas is almost here! The busyness of the season is in full swing, I know, and that is certainly the case here at First Pres over the next few days. But in the midst of that busyness, I hope that you will both seek and find time for reflection, celebration, and simply “being” with others rather than being swallowed by all the “doing” that tends to happen at this time of year.
This Sunday is unusual in that it is both the fourth and final Sunday of Advent AND Christmas Eve! So we have decided to make sure that both of those dynamics are observed this coming Sunday. I have found Advent to be a particularly meaningful season this year, and so I encourage you not to skip past the final Sunday of Advent to get to Christmas Eve faster.
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The season of Advent is all about waiting for the arrival not simply of Christmas, but for the return of Christ and the full and final redemption of this world from all its brokenness and death. As war and violence and hatred continue to rage unchecked in the very land that we call “Holy” because of Christ’s birth, life, and ministry there, the promise of Christ’s return to fully establish God’s reign of justice and peace feels especially urgent.
Therefore, we will be having a Combined Worship Service at the special time of 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary this Sunday to be sure to complete our observance of Advent.
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After worship on Sunday morning, though, we begin moving into Christmas. That begins on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. with our annual Intergenerational Candlelight Service. This service is intentional about including elements throughout the service that are accessible and meaningful for people of all ages, so it is an ideal service for bringing children or grandchildren to worship.
At 7 p.m., we will offer our Traditional Candlelight Service, to which children and grandchildren are certainly welcome, but which follows the traditional pattern of Lessons and Carols. The same brief sermon will be preached at both services, and both services will conclude with candlelight singing of “Silent Night.”
I look forward to being in worship with you this Sunday, whether in person or online. If you are traveling, know that you are in our prayers as you do so, and I hope it is a merry and blessed Christmas for you wherever you may be!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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- This week’s sermon: Peace in a Weary World by the Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton
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We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org
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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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Child care will be available from 9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. this Sunday morning; please ask an usher for directions.
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Your children are a joy in our worship services, and should the need arise, “kid bags” are available for their use. They are in the Narthex.
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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.
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A WONDERFUL SUNDAY
We hope you were able to join us in some way this past Sunday.
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We welcomed the Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace (right), a former Associate Pastor here at First Pres, and current Co-Moderator of the PC(USA) General Assembly.
She preached at both services, and then gave an uplifting message at our Christmas Luncheon; there were about 75 in attendance.
Many thanks to all who attended this festive occasion!
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And on Sunday evening we welcomed the season with our annual Christmas Joy concert.
The FPCB chancel choir, and the Treble Choir and Touring Choir of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts each presented several selections.
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Then David Macbeth, our Director of Music Ministries, conducted the combined choirs – along with select voices from the Concord Chamber Singers and a full professional brass ensemble – in James Whitbourn's "Missa Carolae."
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HAVE YOU MADE YOUR 2024 PLEDGE?
As we come towards the end of the calendar year, we urge you to submit a financial pledge to support the mission and ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem in 2024 if you have not already done so.
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The year 2024 will be an important and impactful one for us as a congregation in so many ways, and your pledge at this time will help make sure we get off to a great start.
You can request a paper pledge card if you need one by contacting us at 610-867-5865 (reopening Tuesday, January 2) or send an email to info@fpc-bethlehem.org. You can also download a pledge card from our website here: fpc-bethlehem.org/give.
END OF YEAR DONATIONS TO FIRST PRES
You may be considering an end of the year donation, to take advantage of tax credits. You can make those donations on our website, fpc-bethlehem.org/give by Sunday, December 31, or via check.
If paying by check, we ask that you mail your donation so that it is postmarked by Saturday, December 30. If you wish to drop off your donation, you may do so on Tuesday, January 2 between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to the Main Office. Your payment should be dated prior to December 31, 2023. Thank you for supporting FPCB!
NOTE: If you ordered pledge envelopes, we expect them to be available to pick up on Sunday, December 31 at Sunday worship. If not picked up then, we will drop them in the mail to you.
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GIVING TREE – LAST CALL!
The Giving Tree (located in the North Link, just outside Fellowship Hall) holds ornaments representing tools and supplies for people who need a hand up. Choose from among many options like sewing machines, clean water, chickens, and much else – many price points are available.
Choose an ornament or several, put them in the basket, give your check (made out to PCUSA - not FPCB) or cash to the Mission volunteer and know you have done some good in the world.
You can also ‘shop’ online here – peruse the options and make your payment to PCUSA directly. Having a hard time thinking of just the right gift for a relative or friend - how about something from the tree?
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HEARTS N MINDS: ALL ARE WELCOME |
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The Hearts N Minds adult education class will take a short break for this Sunday, December 24 and next, December 31. They will return on Sunday, January 7, meeting at 9:45 a.m. in the Parlor.
In January they will start discussing Father Richard Rohr’s book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.
The 2011 publication is fine to use (should be available at used bookstores); there is no need to purchase the more expensive, recent edition.
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The Intergenerational Family service at 4 p.m. will feature special music by the Chancel Ringers and Contemporary Ensemble.
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The Chancel Choir, Valley Brass Quintet, and soprano Madison Zahorsky will present special music at the Traditional service at 7 p.m.
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Monday, December 25 – Monday, January 1: Building/offices closed for holidays (Preschool closed Friday, December 22 - Tuesday, January 2)
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Sunday, December 31: regular worship schedule (no Hearts N Minds adult ed)
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CARE CONCERNS AND HOSPITAL VISITS
If you are hospitalized, please tell the hospital our church code is 724. Also, please call the church office at 610-867-5865 to let us know as the hospitals do not always collect this information. After hours, leave a message or call our answering service at 610-778-7003.
PRAYER REQUESTS...
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Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for the next newsletter - dated January 5:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICE
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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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THIS SUNDAY - CHRISTMAS EVE
- 9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
- 10:00 a.m.: Combined Worship service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website
- 4:00 p.m.: Intergenerational Family (candlelight) service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website
- 7:00 p.m.: Traditional (candlelight) service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom.com (NEW! meeting #: 868 2214 2960; passcode: OO-Beth)
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO:
The office and building will be closed Monday, December 25 – Monday, January 1, reopening on Tuesday, January 2.
The Preschool will be closed Friday, December 22 – Tuesday, January 2, reopening on Wednesday, January 3.
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.
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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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