Friday, June 13, 2025 Newsletter



For Sunday - NEW TIME!

10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service

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

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: 

JEREMIAH’S CALL

Grace and peace to you,

This week, we begin a six-week series focused on readings from the Prophet Jeremiah. Don’t despair – there is a richness to the writings that takes us on a journey of understanding – even amid the violence and harshness he portrays. 

Judah (the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered in 722 BCE – Before the Common Era - by Assyria) experienced violent attacks and much cruelty towards its people by Assyria, Egypt and eventually Babylonia from 701 BCE to 586 BCE. Jeremiah addresses the time frame in the 6th BCE when Babylonia conquered Judah, eventually destroying Jerusalem and the Temple and exiling a great number of people to Babylonia. 

Jeremiah’s writing reflects the violence that is everywhere – people are experiencing unspeakable suffering, being indiscriminately killed, hauled off, assaulted (sexually and physically). They are traumatized, yet the prophet also offers hope. In her book Jeremiah Pain and Promise (O'Connor, Kathleen M. Jeremiah: Pain and Promise. Fortress Press, 2011.), O’Connor makes the following points, particularly in the introduction and first three chapters:

• Jeremiah sees violence in every aspect of life, even in the relationship God has with the people, and he responds to it in his writing. Yet, this response allows a very traumatized nation and people language to think and talk about their own experiences. He helps them find their voice.
• Even in the midst of this violence, the prophet offers hope that their God is one who will never leave them and who promises them a hopeful future, even as people and indeed the nation experience death. That death will not be the final word. They can indeed count on God’s promises of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness to sustain and encourage them. 
• Jeremiah is a book of resilience that tells the people there is a future. That future, while uncertain, is promised and will come, not in their time, but in God’s time. Again, God has not left them.

God speaks through Jeremiah – the words are often difficult to hear, but they do acknowledge the pain the people and nation are experiencing, and the hopeful promise of God to never abandon them. As Walter Brueggemann writes in his commentary on Jeremiah (Brueggemann, Walter. A Commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998, page 26): “its main thrust concerns the ending of beloved Jerusalem…and the formation of a new beloved Jerusalem.” And both are due to God’s engagement with humanity.

How might this sermon series addressing pain and promise in Jeremiah, help us give voice to pain in our own history – of enduring the pandemic, of the schism, of facing an unknown future right now? What hope in our future will we see knowing God has not left the building?! 

Come and explore together this Sunday, June 15, as we take up Jeremiah’s call (Jeremiah 1:4-10) and part of his Temple Sermon (Jeremiah 7:1-11). What will we learn together? Come and see.

Blessings, 

Pastor Karen

The bulletin will be sent to you on Saturday

CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official on 

Jan. 1, 1863.

HERE is a link to an article written in 2024 by the then Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev. Bronwen Boswell. It asks us as Presbyterians to reflect, pray and recommit ourselves to the work of racial justice and liberation. Take time this Thursday to read and reflect on this article.  

SESSION UPDATE FOR MAY

LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE DEACONS

During last week’s Minute for Mission time during worship, deacon Marie Rosenthal shared this:

Good Morning! I am glad to have this Mission Minute to talk about deacons. Some of you have served as deacons in the past. Thank you! For those who might be less familiar…

Deacons are… ordained lay members of the congregation who are best described as the church’s “ministers of mercy”. To become a deacon, the Nominating Committee asks us if we are willing to serve. The congregation then votes on us at the annual meeting. We serve three-year terms. Working in concert with Rev. Cindy Simmons (previously Rev. Suzanne Trump), we are under the supervision and authority of the Session (our group of elders). We meet monthly to discuss plans for serving the congregation. 

The origin story of deacons is in the book of Acts. 

As Karen wrote in this week’s newsletter… in Acts 2 we find that they (the early Christians) were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers. All the believers were united and shared everything. (I love this passage!)

In Acts 6, we see: this community was growing and the apostles were trying to take care of everybody and everything. There were some discontented grumbles. One group claimed that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food and alms and another group was getting more. So, the twelve (the apostles) summoned the community of disciples and asked the people to select seven persons to be put in charge of this need. Then, the apostles could devote ourselves to prayer and preaching the Word. And those seven were the first deacons.

• Sending and delivering holiday greeting cards to those who are ill or homebound 

• Connecting with people who might be having a hard time or need their spirits lifted up a bit by visits, phone calls or cards

• Maintaining and distributing a weekly list of those in need of prayer, and praying for those persons along with the committed prayer ministrants

• Providing members in need with financial assistance

• Providing rides for members to medical appointments and worship services.

• Attending and contributing to Inquirers classes as a welcoming presence

We can always use your help. You can join with the deacons and volunteer to drive members to appointments, make meals for families facing a challenge or those recovering from illness or surgery. You can pray for those names you see on the prayer list or commit to being a prayer ministrant and do so regularly.

And, we can use your help to know the needs of the congregation. What if you or someone you care about is in need? You can contact us through the church office (610-867-5865) or send an email to info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

And if you or a loved one is hospitalized, be sure to tell the admissions clerk you belong to First Pres (there is a code number – 724 - in the bulletin each week) and call the church office.

In short, deacons are challenged to be the hands and feet of Jesus, sharing His love and caring for those in need. I enjoy being part of this wonderful group! Thank you!

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF REV. DR. SAMUEL HUFFARD

Laura Huffard shared this information about her late father, Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Huffard:

He will be missed greatly by all who loved him including his wife of 67 years, his five children, their spouses and partners, six grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. Services were held at the State College Presbyterian Church on May 31, 2025. A link to the service can be found at bit.ly/3Tsen13.  

JOIN US FOR LEMONADE ON THE LAWN

• Provide simple treats for about 40-50, such as: grapes, clementines or cut-up fruit; cheese and crackers; easy-to-eat baked treats (homemade or purchased) like cookies, mini muffins, bars, or granola bars.
• Get the beverages, cups and napkins, ice, and coolers out of the church kitchen and set them up (we typically serve lemonade, iced tea and water – these are provided).
• Return items to the kitchen and clean up (tables will be provided and taken down).

It doesn’t have to be a “formal” group, like a K group, committee, or the choir – it can be a family or group of friends. 

Thanks for considering this request! If you have any questions, let us know and we’ll connect you with a ‘veteran.’ You can use this online form to sign up, and we'll have a paper sign-up form at the Sunday service.

CAN YOU HELP?

We’re looking for folks to serve as lectors for our 10 a.m. combined worship services for the summer. This is a great way to participate in the ministry of our church – if you’ve not done it before, we’re glad to provide coaching.

You can sign up on the paper form available at the Sunday services, or use this easy online sign-up form: 

HOLIDAY CLOSING

The church building (including offices and Preschool) will be closed on Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. The Preschool will reopen on Friday, June 20, and the offices will reopen on Monday, June 23.

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:



Child care will be available from 9:45 - 11:15 a.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

• 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• NEW TIME! 10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)
• 11:00 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn, social time for all

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 building (including offices and Preschool) will be closed on Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. The Preschool will reopen on Friday, June 20, and the offices will reopen on Monday, June 23.

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.