Friday, December 15, 2023 Newsletter
For Sunday:
9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service
in Fellowship Hall (in person only)
11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service in the Sanctuary
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN:
A Busy and Fruitful Season
A lot is happening at First Pres in the next week! First, a reminder about this Sunday.
The Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace, former associate pastor here at First Pres and current Co-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), will be preaching both services this Sunday and speaking about her experiences as Co-Moderator over lunch after the 11 a.m. service.
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This is a delightful opportunity for us to both welcome Ruth “home” and hear from a General Assembly Co-Moderator about the national church and our international partners. And, later that day, we will have our annual Christmas Joy Concert in the Sanctuary at 7 p.m. (new time), which is always a wonderful event to hear our choir and special guests welcome in the Christmas season.
Please make a special effort to be a part of this unique day! (You can attend in person or watch the Traditional service and concert via livestream on our Facebook page or website.)
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Next Wednesday, December 20, at 6 p.m. we will offer our annual Longest Night Worship Service. It is almost literally the “longest night” this year, but the title is also metaphorical in the sense of the challenges of the Christmas season for anyone who is experiencing any kind of loss or grief, whether that is a new development or an ongoing reality.
It is a contemplative Communion service, held in Fellowship Hall, and creates space for both mourning and hope in the context of Christmas. It is a particularly meaningful service and I encourage you to make space and time for it if you are at all able. It will also be livestreamed on our Facebook page and website.
And finally, it is not too early to be looking ahead to Christmas Eve! After our Sunday morning Combined Service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary, we will have two services: the Intergenerational Service at 4 p.m. and the Traditional Christmas Eve Service at 7 p.m. Both take place in the Sanctuary (and livestreamed) and include candlelighting and a brief sermon.
Make your plans for joining us either in person or online for a merry and blessed Christmas Eve celebration!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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- This week’s sermon: Where Heaven Meets Earth by the Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace
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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:
For Wednesday, December 20:
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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.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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YOU’RE INVITED - FOR SUNDAY |
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As J.C. shared (above), we’re pleased to host a Christmas Luncheon with PC(USA) General Assembly Co-Moderator Rev. Ruth Santana-Grace this Sunday, December 17 following the 11:00 a.m. worship service.
Ruth (right, a former Associate Pastor here at FPCB) will be leading in worship in both services, and she’ll join us over lunch to share more about her time as one of our denomination’s Co-Moderators.
To help us with a headcount, please RSVP if you plan to attend. Lunch will be provided, however we can use some volunteers to bring a simple dessert.
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HEARTS N MINDS: ALL ARE WELCOME
The Hearts N Minds adult education class will meet this Sunday at 9:45 a.m., ending at 10:40 a.m. (if you attend the 9 a.m. Holy Ground service, you are welcome to leave early to attend this class). All are welcome to attend – they meet in the Parlor (upstairs in the South wing).
For the three Sundays in December, the Rev. Dr. Richard Smith, Parish Associate, will do a special Advent presentation inspired by the poetry and writings of Mary Oliver.
The class will not meet on Sundays, December 24 and 31, and will return on Sunday, January 7.
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ADVENT COLLECTION ENDS SUNDAY!
We are collecting items for
two local organizations, Turning Point and
Northeast Community Center.
by these organizations.
Thanks to all for the generous donations we have received thus far!
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OUR GIVING TREE IS UP AND READY FOR YOU
Have you been in the North Link outside Fellowship Hall? Our Giving Tree is decorated with lights and ornaments, with the 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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SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER!
Our community includes many who - for a variety of reasons - are unable to attend services and activities in our building.
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Deacons to the rescue! In addition to visiting and connecting with these friends all year round, they also assure that special times and holidays are celebrated.
Earlier in the week this group of Deacons - from left, Phil Fair, Doreen Sheppard, Marie Rosenthal, Jane Masters, and Melody Engel - met with Rev. Suzanne Trump (our photographer) to assemble gift bags.
In addition to goodies, they include Christmas cards signed by members of our congregation.
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LOOKING AHEAD
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Saturday, December 16: Concord Chamber Singers Concert, Sanctuary; 7 p.m. This is a ticketed event, online or at the door.
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Sunday, December 17: Christmas Joy Concert, Sanctuary; 7 p.m. Featuring the FPCB Chancel Choir, the Touring and Treble Choirs from Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, and select voices from the Concord Chamber Singers. No charge to attend; free will offering will be taken. Also available via livestream on our Facebook page and website.
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Tuesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 21: Preschool Christmas Chapel, Sanctuary; 9:30 a.m. – all welcome
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Wednesday, December 20: Longest Night service, Fellowship Hall and livestream; 6 p.m. This is a Communion service featuring music and word
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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 week's newsletter:
WEDNESDAY 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
- 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
- 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship service, in-person in Fellowship Hall
- 9:45 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome!
- 11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website
- 12:15 p.m.: Christmas Luncheon, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome!
- 7 p.m.: Christmas Joy Concert, 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:
Looking ahead: 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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