Friday, January 21, 2022 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 23
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE
9:00 a.m. CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP SERVICE
11:15 a.m. TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SERVICE*
(also available on our website and *via phone)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN:
PREPARING FOR OUR ANNUAL MEETING
Friends, the Annual Meeting of both the Congregation and Corporation of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem is coming up: not this week, but on Sunday, January 30.
We will have a combined worship service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary that day, with elements of both contemporary and traditional styles of worship in the service. The Annual Meeting will begin a few moments after the conclusion of the worship service. You may participate in the Annual Meeting either by in-person attendance or by Zoom; information about Zoom participation will be in the newsletter next week.
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As usual, at this meeting we will hear reports from the Session, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Deacons, and the Joint Finance Committee, and there will be opportunity to ask questions.
But perhaps the most important thing we will do is consider the report from the Congregational Nominating Committee about whom they have discerned is called to ministry with and to and among us as the members of First Presbyterian Church.
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Presbyterians hold the right of the people to discern and elect their own leaders to be sacrosanct. While almost everything in the life of a Presbyterian congregation is ultimately under the authority of Session, the leadership of the church is chosen directly by the congregation.
You, as the congregation, elect the Nominating Committee, and then it is their job to go out and look for those within the congregation who have the gifts, skills, vision, passion, and faith to fulfill the office(s) in question, and at this particular time in the life of our congregation. Typically, they begin their work in the early fall, which includes both their own internal conversation about potential candidates and your suggestions that come in through the written nomination process that we do every fall. After a number of conversations, they begin establishing a list of those whom they think are best to ask, and then go out and ask them if they would consider serving.
Not everyone who is asked to serve agrees with the Nominating Committee’s assessment of their call to service! But that is both fine and to be expected. In the Presbyterian Church, we understand a calling to have three elements: 1) the providential call: the gifts and skills to do the work involved; 2) the personal call: the individual having a sense that they are called by God to use those providential gifts in a particular ministry; and 3) the congregational call: the church itself recognizing those gifts and issuing the call to the individual. If any one of those three elements is missing, for any office, then it is not a true call, at least for that moment.
Here is the list of people that this year’s Congregational Nominating committee is bringing for your consideration and potential election to serve as Elders, Deacons, Trustees, and members of the following year’s Congregational Nominating Committee. Please take a moment to review those carefully, to consider them, and pray over them and our nomination process.
NOTE: On Monday, we will send you another email with the biographies of the nominees along with an online version of our Annual Report, so you can review them before our Annual Meeting on Sunday.
The nominees will be presented during the annual meeting with an opportunity, as always, for discussion and nominations from the floor (again, the will of the people in such elections is sacrosanct, and the people may feel that the Nominating Committee missed something!). I look forward to being with you in the meeting on January 30, and to us taking up this crucial and sacred responsibility in the life of the church.
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Scripture lesson
Click the link to read the verses
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- This week’s sermon: Follow Me by
The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton
- 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 for Sunday
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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Everyone over the age of 2 is required to properly wear a mask covering the nose and mouth; double masks or N95 are recommended.
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Everyone eligible is expected to be fully vaccinated, which now means the initial course of vaccination plus a booster, if you are attending any in-person events at the church.
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Please maintain a minimum of a 6 foot distance between household groups/pods.
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.; please ask an usher for directions to that space.
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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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CHURCH OFFICE UPDATE
The Building Re-Opening Task Force has decided to suspend our volunteer receptionists staffing the office, for the time being. Please 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.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to Covid restrictions the building's South entrance is only open for Sunday morning worship; it is locked at all other times. You will need to enter the building using the Kirk Center/Preschool (northeast) entrance (or the person you are meeting with can let you in the South entrance).
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SUNDAY’S FORMATION HOUR: New Times! Via Zoom only!
Our Fellowship & Formation Hour will include a Zoom-only gathering of Hearts N Minds, our adult ed class, that will begin at a new time – 9:30 a.m. The children’s class is not scheduled to meet.
The group is discussing the book, The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential, by N.T. Wright.
For this Sunday you are asked to read chapters 2 and 3 (pages 13-75) – "A Case for the Psalms.”
Because of the January 30 Combined Worship Service (10 a.m.) and Annual Meeting (11 a.m.), the group will have a special session that day at 4 p.m., also via Zoom only. You are asked to read chapters 4 and 5.
- To join online for the video class, use this Zoom link: bit.ly/3Kq7vM6
- To join on the phone for audio only, call 929-205-6099, then enter the meeting ID: 857 2714 8575, then press # and then # again.
All are welcome to join in the discussion!
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A “STAR WORD” FOR YOU
During worship on Sunday, January 9, we celebrated Epiphany: the star-led journey of the magi toward Bethlehem and the infant Jesus.
To take up a similar spiritual practice, folks were invited to select a Star Word in worship last Sunday to guide them and their faith for the coming year. If you’d like to participate, email Lindsey at lclifton@fpc-bethlehem.org and she’ll put a word in the mail for you! It can be used as a touchstone for reflection and prayer, a daily reminder, an intention to set. Use it however you feel led! |
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AN IMPORTANT NEW MISSIONAL OPPORTUNITY
In August, we watched along with the rest of the world as scenes of chaos and fear unfolded when Afghanistan fell to Taliban control and global efforts ramped up to evacuate foreign diplomatic staff and military personnel, foreign civilians, Afghan allies who had helped US military forces, and vulnerable Afghans such as journalists and human rights activists.
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Since then, our Mission Committee has been discerning our church’s call to help with refugee resettlement here in the Lehigh Valley.
In December, Session approved the Mission Committee’s request to partner with Bethany Christian Services, the local nonprofit coordinating the federal efforts to aid the refugees coming to our area.
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Alongside BCS staff, we’ll support a family’s transition into the area - helping them create a home, find work, get children into school; connecting them to the local Afghan and Muslim community; and making sure they can get to important appointments as they seek to establish everything from social security numbers to medical care; etc.
We’re excited to share that we’ve been paired with a young Afghan family who is scheduled to arrive next Tuesday, January 25! The parents - Baz Mohammad and Mursal Wardak - are 35, and they have two little boys - Mohammad Taib, who is 6, and Hosai, who is 2.
BCS has already found our family housing in Allentown, but we still have a big job ahead of us, and it will take all of us together to make them feel welcome and support their needs.
We have formed a Family Support Team to organize ourselves and our resources. That team will be asking for concrete support very soon - volunteers to drive our family to appointments, home goods to make their space functional and cozy, toys and clothes for the boys, connections to potential employment, English tutoring for the adults, and financial donations to help bridge the gap between their arrival and finding work to achieve income stability.
For those of you who offered furniture donations, BCS has already selected most of the basics from Outreach Depot. If you’re still willing to support the needs of other refugee families coming into our area, BCS would love for you to call Outreach Depot to schedule pick-up of your items as they will continue using that as their primary resource for furniture. (BCS doesn’t have any storage capacity, so this partnership is a huge help for them!) Outreach Depot’s phone number is 610-351-1616.
Friends, it is good to answer God’s call to welcome the stranger and support those most in need! I hope you’ll find a way to join our whole church in this ministry. Stay tuned for more very soon!
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AARP TAX HELP UPDATE
If you are interested in getting help with your 2021 tax return, you can call AARP at 484-935-3472 to schedule an appointment. That is the only way to get assistance for this year.
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WILL YOU SHARE YOUR INPUT?
As you hopefully know, FPCB is a part of the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG). One aspect of BIG’s emphasis on local food justice issues is support for the ever-evolving Bethlehem Food Co-Op.
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The co-op is a group of neighbors working to bring a community-owned, ‘everyone welcome’ grocery store to 250 E. Broad St. The projected opening is in first quarter of 2023. |
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As part of the planning process, they are seeking input from community members about the types of items to include in the store. A short online survey in both English and Spanish has been created.
We ask you to take a few minutes to fill out the short survey at bit.ly/3rkaoFn, and to share it with friends, neighbors, co-workers and family in the Lehigh Valley; responses are due by Monday, January 31. Thank you for your help!
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FPCB HOSTS ‘DINNER CHURCH’ PRESENTATION |
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Clergy and lay leaders from across Lehigh Presbytery gathered in-person and online last Saturday to learn more about an emerging form of outreach ministry: dinner church—an experience that blends worship, fellowship, and story-sharing!
The session was led by Fresh Expressions, an international faith-based consulting group.
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They focus on cultivating new forms of church alongside existing congregations, primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet part of any church. Several FPCB staff and leaders took part.
The conversation was rich, and participants left with lots of ideas for meeting people where they are… out in our communities!
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LOOKING FOR STAFF: Help us spread the word
We are currently seeking additional staff and can use your help to spread the word about this opportunity:
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The Facilities Associate II provides care and maintenance of church facilities, equipment and grounds. Cleans building areas, configures facility for events and assists event participants when needed. Opens and closes the facility as required. Maintains grounds and performs routine mechanical maintenance. Reports breakdowns or major problems. Average hours per week: 25. Pay rate: $20 per hour (this is the correct rate) |
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A NOTE ABOUT CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS...
Should we need to close the building and/or cancel events or office hours, we will make those announcements on our website (fpc-bethlehem.org), Facebook page, and WFMZ (both on wfmz.com and on their TV announcements). Messages will also be placed on the church phone, 610-867-5865.
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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)
- 9 a.m.: Contemporary Worship, in-person in the Kirk Center AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website
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NEW TIME! 9:30 a.m.: Fellowship & Formation Hour – see details above for Hearts N Minds - via Zoom ONLY (Kids Formation Class will not meet)
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NEW TIME! 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 or via phone
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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 office is not currently staffed with a receptionist. The building's South entrance is locked during the week so you will need to use the Kirk Center (northeast) entrance (or the person you are meeting with can let you in the South entrance).
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.
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
Cristy Mette, Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;
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