Friday, July 25, 2025 Newsletter



For Sunday

10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service

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

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY:  EXPLORING THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Grace and peace to you,

This Sunday, we begin a six-week series exploring the Book of Revelation, perhaps one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible. What was John of Patmos trying to say to the Christian community of his time? What is up with all the visions and imagery? How do we deal with the fact that revelation is translated from the Greek word for apocalypse? 

So what will be revealed this Sunday as we explore Revelation 1:1-8? The last verse says this: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty." 

Do you find it comforting that God and by extension Jesus Christ have been present, is present and will be present no matter what stage of life we are in? That God breaks in to our lives as individuals and as a community? Do you find it comforting that Jesus is a faithful witness to the way in which we are loved and set free by God through Jesus? 

I find it amazing that on this day when we begin to explore Revelation, we will celebrate the infant baptism of Bennett Alexander Mountain in worship, and later in the day, we remember the life of Jan Bonge at 1 p.m. memorial service. 

I am the Alpha and Omega, says the Lord God. I will be with you in the beginning and the end. I will not leave you. 

Come and see, come and explore. 

Blessings, 

Pastor Karen

For the Wednesday webinar, use this Zoom link

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

Summer Worship Service (4 pages)

JAN BONGE MEMORIAL

Jan Bonge's memorial service will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to attend the service, and the reception immediately following in Fellowship Hall. 

If you are planning to attend, would you please consider: 

• bringing a light dessert (finger food) or other snack to share?* 

• offering to help in the kitchen with set up / serving / clean up?

If so please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org (specify how you can help). 

*bring on Sunday before the service and put in the main kitchen - please use a disposable container and cut into individual servings.

DAVID MACBETH ADDS ORGAN PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION

“I’m sorry sir, your test results were positive… you’re a… nerd.”

(Not that a test was needed to confirm that diagnosis!)

Many of you in the congregation are aware of my affiliation with the American Guild of Organists. The organization has roots dating to the 1890’s, and seeks to preserve and advance the art of organ and choral music. 

The AGO does not fall into the category of a union, rather it is truly a guild… a collection of like-minded individuals who seek to better the craft through mutual support, education, collaboration, and promotion.  

One of the AGO’s earliest actions was the implementation of a certification system for those who wish to publically confirm their performance and knowledge based skills.

Back in 2013 I decided to pursue the Choir Master certification, and successfully passed. Considering how specialized the knowledge base is, it didn’t surprise me to find out only 15 individuals took the choral exam nationwide (and only three of us passed!).

In an average year the organ certifications are slightly more popular with approximately 20-30 individuals annually testing for each level. So it is basically an organ and church music nerd test… and I can finally say that I’ve passed!

Without getting too deep into the weeds, the associate (master’s degree) level certification exam seeks to challenge the performer’s knowledge and manipulation of the instrument, historic performance practices across a wide range of repertoire, ability to musically lead in a congregational setting, and demonstrate a deep knowledge of the mechanics of sacred music.  

Written exam elements (all seven hours of it!) focus on composition, counterpoint, music history, and organ history and construction, which are then contrasted with juried repertoire performance, hymn playing, improvisation, transposition, sight-reading, and more. And don’t worry, the test is only two days long!

Why go through all this? Well, ‘why not’ is as good of an answer as any. Within the professional church music community, the AGO certification levels do indeed hold as much weight as additional degrees. The AGO and other denominational music associations then use this information to provide guidelines for employees and congregations to negotiate annual contracts.

But for me that’s not really the point. All of my degree work has been in the area of choral music education, not organ performance. My skills and knowledge of organ playing have come from nearly 25 years of church music experience and personal study. Adding this credential to my resume has encouraged me to “up my game”, pushing me to add new skills and repertoire I would otherwise not have had a reason to pursue. 

Many of you in the congregation, and especially the choirs, have offered words of deep support throughout this process. I cannot thank all of you for the encouragement! Is the doctoral level certification on the horizon? Maybe! For now, I’m simply content to enjoy the new title… and shopping for new business cards!

David Macbeth, M. Ed, AAGO, ChM (now with new letters!!!)

Director of Music Ministries

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.

SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS: Summer Harvest Food Drive

Among the other local location spots to donate:

• Northampton Community College’s Summer Theatre performances - check their show schedule at ncctix.org (last shows this weekend)
• The Farm Market at NCC - Wednesdays from 10 AM - 2 PM (the Quad on the Bethlehem campus, 3835 Green Pond Road)
• numerous local libraries, banks and retailers

Visit summerharvestfooddrive.com for a complete list of donation locations, requested list of items, and a form if you’d like to volunteer. There is also a form for food pantries that would like to receive donations.

There is an ambitious goal to double last year’s collection amount – let’s see what we can do to help achieve that, to support our neighbors!

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

• 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• 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, front of church

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:

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.