Friday, June 14, 2019
SUNDAY SERVICES: 9:00 a.m. Contemporary ∙ 10:30 a.m. Traditional
No Sunday School during the summer months
Join us for “Lemonade on the Lawn”, our hospitality time from 10-10:30 a.m.
on the back lawn
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A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR J.C. AUSTIN:
#AnActiveFaith
We are now halfway through our sermon series about the Core Values Statement of First Presbyterian Church. Our first two weeks were on the values of us being a “Christ-centered” church, and being a church that is “Welcoming to All.” This Sunday, we will turn to the value of a church that promotes an “Active Faith.”
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In fact, we actually started consideration of that value when we held the Ministry Fair after the combined Pentecost worship service last Sunday. The Ministry Fair was a chance to learn more about some of the many ministries that First Pres has, and to indicate that you’d be interested in participating in one or more of them.
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I want to say something important about what it means to participate in ministries at First Pres, though. In one sense, all opportunities are not the same. Some require a regular time commitment, but many do not. Some require particular skills, but many simply require a willing heart and hands. Some are leadership roles, but many simply require participation.
But in another sense, all those opportunities are
exactly
the same: all are ways of living out our faith in active ways, of following Jesus as his disciples to love our God and our neighbors. So the question is not, “what does the church need to do its programs?” The question is, “what do you need in order to use your gifts and resources and answer your particular call to ministry?”
Frederick Buechner, a beloved author and Presbyterian minister, once wrote that “the place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” So a good place to start in considering how to make your faith more active is there: what gives you deep gladness? It could be children, or gardening, or music, or interior design, or athletics, or computer technology, or cooking, or home repair, or finance, or teaching, or simply serving others who are in need. And, of course, that barely scratches the surface.
But here at First Pres, we either have opportunities to connect your deep gladness with the world’s deep hunger, or we are eager to create those opportunities. So let us know! Contact our Administrative Operations Manager,
Cristy Mette (
or call her at the church) and let her know what your “deep gladness” is, and we will make sure that you are connected with one or more possibilities for putting it to use in active ministry that you can consider.
And I hope to see you in worship on Sunday as we consider why an
active
faith is so important!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
FIRST LESSON:
Romans 8:28-39
SECOND LESSON
:
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46 (p. 14-15)
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·
This week’s sermon:
:
In the Middle of the Action (#AnActiveFaith)
by Rev. J.C. Austin
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BACK BY POPULAR REQUEST:
LEMONADE ON THE LAWN!
The Hospitality Committee is pleased to bring back last summer’s “Lemonade on the Lawn” – our fellowship time from 10-10:30 a.m. held on the back lawn
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If you come to the Contemporary service at 9:00 a.m. – stay after! If you attend the Traditional service at 10:30 a.m. – come early! Enjoy fellowship with each other and a tasty snack – and lemonade, of course.
In case of inclement weather, we will move to Fellowship Hall. Lemonade on the Lawn will be held every Sunday through the summer months.
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MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR LYDIA BEAUMONT
A memorial service for Lydia Beaumont will be held on Saturday (June 15) at 1:30 p.m. in FPCB’s Sanctuary. Her ashes will then be interred in the Memorial Garden at the church, and a reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.
Lydia served as Financial Manager at FPCB for many years; you can read her
obituary here.
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FORMER FPCB PASTOR LLOYD OGILVIE
The Rev. Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, who served FPCB as Senior Pastor from 1962-1972, passed away on June 5.
In 1972 he was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood (CA), and then served as the U.S. Senate Chaplain from 1995-2003.
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BEREAVEMENT GROUP: NEW DATE AND LOCATION
The Bereavement Support Group will meet on the second Sunday of the month, in the Eagle Room of Kirkland Village’s Marketplace. Anyone interested in attending is welcome to meet in the Narthex immediately following the Traditional service.
This move was prompted to make it easier for residents of Kirkland Village to be involved in the group.
The next meeting is Sunday, July 14.
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NEW! AUGUST READING GROUP
Linda Robertson shares that a new reading group will begin in August; daytime dates and time will be announced soon. The group will read and discuss:
Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow
by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 2019, Penguin Press
In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked why America has a schizophrenic personality on the question of race (
Where Do We Go From Here?
). More than 50 years later, we are still asking the same question.
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In daytime meetings in August, we will discuss Gates’ newest book. Be forewarned, the book contains disturbing photos and cruel caricatures of African-Americans.
We will discuss how the country might have embraced black voter registration if Reconstruction had been permitted to honestly go forward post-Civil War and consider the legacy of these long-ago cultural wars in the face of “anti-black racism and white supremacy today”.
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Speaking engagement
The Discipleship Committee encourages FPCB members and friends to hear Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards, founder and senior pastor of Resurrected Life Community Church and president and CEO of Resurrected Community Development Corporation, Allentown, speaking on the topic of “Christian White Supremacy” at 7 p.m. this
Monday, June 17
at Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley,
1404 Greenview Drive, Bethlehem (in the Church of the Manger’s building).
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Rev. Edwards is a prominent local pastor and a highly-regarded voice on this issue, having helped people of all races deconstruct the entanglement of white supremacy with American Christianity throughout his ministry. This free event is open to the public and will be live streamed via the Metropolitan Community Church’s
Facebook page.
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FIRST PRES-ALLENTOWN PLANS BUS TRIP
First Presbyterian Church of Allentown has announced a bus trip to
Jesus: Live on Stage at the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster.
It will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24 – the bus will leave Allentown at 11 a.m.; the trip includes lunch and the show begins at 3 p.m.
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The adult cost of $123 includes your show ticket, bus fare and buffet lunch.
To book tickets or more information, contact Sherry Deal at
pianoaccom@aol.com or 610-360-8543.
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OUTREACH DEPOT UPDATE
Ministry Committee chair Leslie Pohl extends a ‘thank you’ to everyone who contributed sheets to the recent drive – she delivered two cart loads of linens to Outreach Depot. The donations are appreciated!
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And while you're traveling: if you are staying at a hotel, motel or other spot that provides small toiletries, please consider bringing them home for the disaster kits we make for Outreach Depot.
Our drive last year supplied many kits, and unfortunately people are still experiencing catastrophes. We will let you know when to bring them in to church. Have a safe and fun summer!
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Send us your news and photos to share:
Deadline for newsletter:
Wednesday at noon
* * *
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
THIS SUNDAY:
- 9:00 a.m. - Contemporary Service, Kirk Center
- “Lemonade on the Lawn” between each service; join us for light refreshments and fellowship on the back lawn (inclement weather: Fellowship Hall)
- 10:30 a.m. - Traditional Service, Sanctuary
- Childcare for Infants and Toddlers, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Room A3
MONDAY:
It’s a Start fitness class, 10 a.m., Middle School Step
TUESDAY:
Crafters,
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Room 408;
Depression Support Group,
12:30-2:30 p.m., Room 206 (PW Room)
WEDNESDAY:
Overcomers Outreach, 7 p.m., Room 408
THURSDAY:
Al-Anon Family Group
, 7 p.m., Room 212
FIRST SUNDAYS (next: July 7):
Blood Pressure Screenings, between services, North Link
SECOND SUNDAYS
(
next: July 14
):
Bereavement Group
gathering; this is a new date going forward, and there will be a new location. See the article above.
FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS (next: June 18):
Successful Aging, 10:30 a.m., Room 412
THIRD WEDNESDAY (next: June 19):
Dementia Caregiver Support Group, 1 p.m.,
Room 206 (PW Room)
THIRD THURSDAY (next: June 20):
Prayers & Squares, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Room 408
(bring your lunch and join us to create quilts and prayer shawls)
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:
We are open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
As always, you can leave a voicemail message with the church any time at 610-867-5865 or contact us at
info@fpc-bethlehem.org
. I
f you have an urgent pastoral need, please call our answering service at
610-778-7003.
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:
Melody Engel, Hospital Ministrants, phone: 484-695-4905 or
email
Phil Fair, Prayer Ministrants, phone: 610-867-8361 or
email
BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
:
If members of the FPCB congregation would like to schedule weddings, baptisms or funerals, please contact
The Rev. Sue Bennetch
at 610-867-5865, ext. 209.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM
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First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 |
info@fpc-bethlehem.org
The Rev. Sue Bennetch
, Pastoral Care Associate: ext. 209;
Cristy Mette,
Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;
Andrea Barbehenn
, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956;
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