Friday, April 29, 2022 Newsletter
COMMUNION 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:
CRAWLING BEFORE YOU WALK
When people have a baby, lots of attention is focused on “firsts”: first steps, first words, and so on. And as any parent will tell you, once babies get mobile, everything changes, so all those milestones towards independent walking are at least as important as verbal communication!
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In terms of walking, the first real stage of development is crawling. In fact, crawling is the start of any real development towards mobility; it not only builds the necessary muscle, motor, and brain functions for the child to be able to walk, but it also builds a sense of balance and develops skills in problem-solving and navigation. As the saying goes: “you have to crawl before you walk,” and this is why. |
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I say all this because the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (“BIG”), of which First Pres is a founding member, is holding its second “Faith Crawl” on Sunday, May 15, from 3-6 p.m. and the deadline to register for this event is this coming Sunday.
The name “Faith Crawl” originated in “Pub Crawl” activities, in which a group of people go from one pub/bar to another in a given area in order to see what their offerings and ambience are about and to learn what sets them apart from one another and what that tells you about your own preferences.
Similarly, the BIG Faith Crawl takes a group of people to visit four faith communities here in Bethlehem, learn what their practices, beliefs, and life together are like, and what that tells us about our own tradition and commitments in the process. But I think, in addition to the “pub crawl” analogy, crawling as a developmental stage is an important metaphor here.
One of the more urgent public tasks for people of faith these days is greater understanding and appreciation of one another to both reduce conflict and enhance our capacity to collaborate in working for good in the world. That collaborative work is the “walking” and “running” of multifaith partnerships; understanding and appreciating one another is the “crawling” that helps prepare us for that.
So, I hope you can join this Faith Crawl on May 15, which means you need to sign up to do so by this Sunday, May 1 (use the button link, below). The inaugural faith crawl was before the pandemic; this one will include visits to Muslim, Jewish, Methodist, and Quaker communities. We will travel between the communities by bus, which is why pre-registration is so important.
If you are ready to walk rather than simply crawl, then I want to also direct your attention to the upcoming BIG Community Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 5, from 4-5 p.m. at Payrow Plaza in downtown Bethlehem.
There is no need to register for this event, so you can simply show up, but it is a powerful experience of multifaith collaboration and solidarity as we lift up the needs of our community, our peoples, our nation, and our world in prayer out of the various traditions that are represented in this work.
It has been a powerful experience over Zoom previously, but being able to stand together physically while coming from different traditions will be even more so, I think. So I encourage you to be a part of that event and common work, as well.
As you know, one of our Core Values as a congregation is living out “An Active Faith,” and this is a wonderful opportunity to do so with like-minded people from many different traditions. I hope you can be there, too!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Click the link to read the verses
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- This week’s sermon: Unfinished Business 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
- This Sunday is Communion Sunday. If you would like to participate from home, you can prepare your own elements: bread or bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel, etc.) and grape juice, wine or water.
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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.
- 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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We offer Hospitality Time between our two worship services: you’re invited to join us in Fellowship Hall for coffee and a few refreshments starting at 10:00 a.m. We’ll also have a table for kids of all ages to create faith together while enjoying a story and related craft. Hope you’ll join us!
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MASK PROTOCOLS
As a reminder, anyone who is not fully vaccinated and boosted must properly wear a mask when in the church building; all others may wear one at their option. However, if attendance is expected to exceed 50 percent of capacity, we will require masks for everyone – we will advise you of these situations beforehand. Thank you for your cooperation.
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SUNDAY’S FELLOWSHIP & FORMATION HOUR:
NEW SERIES STARTS THIS WEEK
Hearts N Minds, our adult ed class, starts a new series this week. They meet in person, from 9:45-11 a.m. (note the new start time) in the Children’s Center, room E3/4, as well as via Zoom.
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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READINGS FOR SUNDAY:
To join via Zoom:
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- To join online for the video class, use this Zoom link: bit.ly/3Iizxry
- To join on the phone for audio only, call 929-205-6099, then enter the meeting ID: 842 1225 8913, then press # and then # again.
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TAKE 'FLAT JESUS' WITH YOU!
You may have seen Pastor Lindsey share her "Flat Jesus" in last Sunday's
service - and as promised, here is your own "Flat Jesus" to print,
cut out, and color as you'd like.
We'd love to see where you go together - send us your pictures! |
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LUNCH BUNCH: JOIN US!
From Melody Engel, Deacon: How nice to be experiencing the joy of spring, no matter how long it took to get here!
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I am happy to report we are offering a “Brown Bag Lunch Bunch” gathering at Illick's Mill Park. All are welcome to join us - bring your lunch and share our fellowship.
We’ll meet at noon on Wednesday,
May 18 at Illick's Mill Park (on Illick’s Mill Road, just off Center Street south of the church campus).
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We will sit at the open air tables but there are tables under the pavilions as well. Feel free to invite anyone you think might benefit from some socialization with wonderful people – we plan to offer these monthly.
In case of bad weather, check the church website or Facebook page, or church voice message (610-867-5865) for updates.
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HI NEIGHBORS INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS: ALL WELCOME! |
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Hi Neighbors, our popular speakers program, resumes this Monday with another informational program. We gather in Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m. before the 10 a.m. program begins.
For this Monday we will join with the kiddos from our Preschool to enjoy a visit from the Bethlehem Mounted Police. Be prepared to be outdoors.
On Monday, May 9, we’ll conclude our spring series with a presentation about the SouthSide Film Festival by Jeff Vaclavik.
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SIGN UP NOW FOR THE NEXT FAITH CRAWL
Register by Sunday, May 1 to participate
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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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IT’S TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK – MAY 1-7 |
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I will teach you in a room.
I will teach you now on Zoom.
I will teach you in a house.
I will teach you with my mouse.
I will teach you here or there,
I will teach because I CARE.
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CHURCH OFFICE UPDATE
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
- 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
- 9:45 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, in person and via Zoom
- 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.
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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