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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 Newsletter

For Sunday - Communion Sunday

9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service

(in person in Fellowship Hall)

11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service

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

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: 
CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

Grace and peace to you,


Happy New Year! It is hard for me to believe that we are now in 2026! I pray the holiday season was what each of you needed it to be. 

Though Epiphany doesn’t officially happen until next Tuesday, Jan. 6, we will celebrate the gift of the magi following the light of the star to meet Jesus even though Herod and his wily and violent ways loom large. Jesus’s birth didn’t silence Herod, didn’t end suffering, didn’t bring down the empire. Where is the hope in that? 

What truth do we seek when we follow Jesus as individuals or this community of faith? What fear do we experience in our journey of faith? What is being asked of us as we move from the way of fear to the way of love? What epiphany might we have along this journey with epiphany being defined as a sudden, profound moment of insight or realization, often triggered by something ordinary, revealing a deep truth or meaning? 


The magi followed a star and found a deeper truth, becoming witnesses to God’s action in the world to birth love in human flesh. To teach us about the way of love. To guide us through our fear. To help us realize our own power to bring love into the world. 


This Sunday, we will also choose our ‘star words’, which are words printed out on a card with a star on it. I invite you to pray to the Holy Spirit before you choose one (they will be face down), and then you are invited to reflect on the word throughout the year. 


What has that word come to mean for you? If you chose one last year, what has that word meant to you? My word last year was “cleansing.” I confess that one stumped me – what in the world was the Holy Spirit doing! 


And yet, I’ve come to realize just what it has meant for me and what needed to be cleansed from my life to grow in faith. Each person will have the opportunity to pick their star (words are face-down) and the word you receive is your word for the year. You are asked to reflect on that word throughout the year – what has it come to mean to you? How is God speaking to you through that word? 


Other words I have had over the years include tenderness, inhale, inspiration, peace, comfort, persistence – as I have looked over the word and the year I received it, I see the deep meaning each had to me. I hope it will be the same for you. 


Blessings,
Pastor Karen


If you will not be attending one of our two services on Sunday and would like a star word to be sent to you, please contact the church office at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 (if you leave a message, please say and spell your name slowly, and give your phone number slowly and clearly).

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper:

Traditional Worship Service (5 pages)

COMMUNION SUNDAY


If you join us in worship via the Facebook or website livestream 
and would like to participate in communion, you can prepare 
your own elements: bread or a bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel, etc.) 
and grape juice, wine or water.

FOR THIS SUNDAY, JAN. 4

We invite you to stay late – or come early – on Sunday, to enjoy a Hospitality Hour from 10-11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Come for a beverage and treats, as well as fellowship with other members and friends.

And a reminder that we are now collecting donations of food/personal care items, year round – there are collection boxes in the North Link and by the south entrance.

HOLIDAY CLOSING: The building and Preschool will reopen 
on Monday, Jan. 5.

We will be open for services this Sunday, Jan. 4. 

HEARTS N MINDS: STARTS AGAIN ON JAN. 11

Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, will not meet this Sunday, Jan. 4 but will gather again at the regular time of 10 a.m. in the Parlor on Sunday, Jan. 11. All are welcome!

Continuing through Feb. 8, they will be sharing the book How Then Shall We Live, by Wayne Muller. Participants do not need to purchase the book unless they desire.



In these classes the book’s four simple questions that more fully enable us to “find the wise and ready spiritual guide that is alive in all of us” will be explored. Come join us as we “live the questions now.” (Rilke)

BODY N SOUL: JOIN US ON JAN. 11

The Body N Soul Intergenerational Faith Formation class will next meet on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 10:10 a.m. in Room 216. They will not meet this Sunday, Jan. 4. All are welcome!

During the winter, BnS will continue the series Seeking God Together with a unit exploring the topic of “God Above Us.” Through bible study, crafts and interactive games, this set of lessons is a reminder of the greatness and mystery of God.



Our response to God’s greatness can take many forms. Sometimes we marvel at the incredible beauty of creation, or give thanks and celebrate joyfully. Other times we cry out to God to confess our sins. We will explore how our God responds with love and forgiveness.

LECTORS NEEDED!

If you’ve never done it before and would like to get more information, drop us a note at info@fpc-bethlehem.org and we’ll connect you with a veteran!

YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND…

The family of Sue Farber has extended an invitation to attend her memorial service and reception on Saturday, Jan. 10: 1-2 p.m. calling hour in the Narthex; 2-3 p.m. memorial service in the Sanctuary; 3-4 p.m. reception in Fellowship Hall.

NOTE: If you are available to help serve and/or clean up for the reception, please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or the church office at 610-867-5865.

K GROUP ''APPY HOUR" IS COMING ON SUNDAY, JAN. 18 

Those who are not part of a K Group but would like to know more about this program and possibly be part of a new group are also invited to attend. 

The church will provide coffee, tea and hot cider and each K Group is asked to contribute a few appetizers (savory or sweet) for this event, which we are calling "Appy Hour." So that we will know how many people to expect, please RSVP to the church by Thursday, Jan. 15, at noon (610-867-5865 or info@fpc-bethlehem.org). 

If you have any questions, contact Cynthia Simmons.

ANOTHER CONCERT TREAT: YALE GLEE CLUB WINTER TOUR

The closing set will be something extra special: joining the Yale forces will be the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Concord Chamber Singers, Charter Arts High School Touring Choir, and the FPCB Chancel Choir. More than 250 voices celebrating community through choral singing!

The concert will also be livestreamed on the First Pres website (fpc-bethlehem.org) and Facebook page (@firstpresbethlehem).

Open seating begins at 7 p.m., with a $10 suggested donation at the door. All are welcome.

ICYMI: OUR CHRISTMAS JOY CONCERT FROM DEC. 21

In case you missed it – or would like to hear it again – we have a recording of the Christmas Joy concert offered on Sunday, Dec. 21. It featured 100 combined voices from the First Pres Chancel Choir, Concord Chamber Singers, and the Touring Choir from Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, plus a 16-piece orchestra, all under the direction of David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries.

The program was Handel’s “Messiah,” and the approximately 250 people in the audience joined in for two ‘sing along’ choruses. Watch this delightful event here: bit.ly/49c1LTv

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR 2026 PLEDGE?


As we come towards the end of the calendar year, we encourage you to submit a financial pledge to support the mission and ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem in 2026, if you have not already done so. We appreciate those of you who have already pledged!


The year 2026 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 or send an email to info@fpc-bethlehem.org. You can also download a pledge card from our website: fpc-bethlehem.org/give. Thank you for considering!

LOOKING AHEAD…

Sunday, Jan. 4

9 a.m. – Holy Ground contemporary service, Fellowship Hall

10 a.m. – Social time between services, Fellowship Hall

11:15 a.m. – Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)


Friday, Jan. 9

7:30 p.m. – Yale Glee Club Winter Tour Concert, Sanctuary ($10 suggested donation) and livestreamed

Sunday, Jan. 11 and Sunday, Jan. 18

9 a.m. – Holy Ground contemporary service, Fellowship Hall

10 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor

10:10 a.m. – Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216

11:15 a.m. – Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)

Sunday, Jan. 25

10 a.m. – Combined Worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)

11 a.m. – Congregational meeting (in person and via Zoom)

12 p.m. – Boy Scout pasta lunch fundraiser

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:



Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.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 - SPECIAL SCHEDULE

• 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child care (ask ushers to direct you)
• 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall
• 10:00 a.m.: Hospitality Hour, Fellowship Hall
• 11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Fellowship Hall (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)


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: 

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY: The building, offices and Preschool will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5. 


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.