Friday, April 23, 2021 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICES ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
9:00 a.m. Contemporary
11:00 a.m. Traditional*
(* also available on our website and via phone)
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A MESSAGE FROM REV. J.C. AUSTIN: Going forward
“It’s time to talk about what we learned today.” That’s the question that generally gets asked at the end of an episode of VeggieTales, the animated TV series that uses anthropomorphic vegetables to teach Bible stories and Christian moral lessons to children.
Surprisingly, the show generally does quite well in both entertainment value and theological integrity in a genre where I generally count myself lucky if I find even one of those things to be true. Even this somewhat clichéd habit of reviewing what we learned today at the end of a children’s educational show gets subverted sometimes because of Bob the Tomato’s disdain for the trite song that starts playing whenever anyone says, “it’s time to talk about what we learned today.”
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Those are particularly great moments because they capture what we sometimes feel about reviewing what we’ve learned, whether that’s in a TV show or an episode or season of our lives. Part of us simply wants to move on to the next thing, but part of us recognizes that if we don’t pause for a moment to remember and review what we’ve learned, we’re likely to forget it and not apply it to our lives going forward. |
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Here at First Pres, it is time to talk about what we have learned over the past 13+ months of the pandemic. Yes, the pandemic is not over yet, but with the vaccination rate climbing in Northampton County and around the country, there is a growing sense that this long and difficult season of pandemic life may finally be starting to shift.
As one of my favorite poets, Wendell Berry, puts it in a favorite poem of mine that talks about nature as hints of spring are just becoming discernable in late winter: “The trees, the hills that were stark in the old cold become now tender, and the light changes.” So before the spring of life after the pandemic is fully upon us, now is the time to talk about what we have learned so we will not forget it and fail to apply it to our life as a congregation going forward.
So, as a spring spiritual discipline (in addition to thinking about what “good words” you might want to hear a sermon about, as I asked a few weeks ago – send to info@fpc-bethlehem.org), I want to ask you to think about what you and we have learned about what it means to be a faithful and effective congregation of Christ’s disciples in the pandemic.
What have we learned that we want to make sure we don’t forget, but rather apply to our life going forward? For example, we have learned that there are some real benefits to having the option to attend committee meetings and the like by Zoom.
Therefore, we are applying that learning to the future by already working on plans to enable church meetings to function well in a “hybrid” format in terms of both in-person and online options, once we are able to return to in-person indoor meetings. We have learned that this is a helpful and even preferred option for some, particularly parents of young children, those who don’t want to drive at night, and people whose work or retirement plans have them traveling away from the Lehigh Valley regularly and/or for an extended period.
So: what have you learned through your own experience or from others that we should be making sure we do not forget, but rather attempting to apply going forward? It might be something that you want to make sure we do, or do not do, or do differently than we have before.
Whatever it is, we’d like to hear about it! So please send any thoughts you have along these lines to info@fpc-bethlehem.org so you can help inform our leadership as we continue to prepare for an end to the season of the pandemic and the start of a new way of being in life and ministry with each other.
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: The In-Crowd by The Rev. J.C. Austin
· We post each week’s sermon
(audio and text) on our website:
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TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper for Sunday
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EARTH DAY CELEBRATION!
Open to everyone – all ages
Saturday, April 24 - 3 p.m.
Church grounds
No raindate
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Let’s celebrate Earth Day by gathering together to:
- Fly kites on our beautiful campus
- Bless our CommUNITY Garden, as its stewards begin another season of growing produce for our neighbors in need
- Bless the newly-constructed Chimney Swift Tower, a project of Eagle Scout Elijah Sivick
Protocols will be in place: masks for everyone two years and older, and physical distancing of at least six feet. There is no raindate, so be sure to check our website or Facebook page before heading out.
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MAKE YOUR SPECIAL PENTECOST OFFERING
TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE
As one of the four Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Pentecost Offering unites us in a church-wide effort to support young people in Christ and inspire them to share their faith, ideas, and unique gifts with the church and the world.
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Each year on Pentecost Sunday (this year, on May 23), we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit remains with us still, connecting us with the church of the past, continuing to inspire the church of today, and pointing us to the church of the future. Each year, this celebration is marked by receiving the Pentecost Offering which nurtures the faith of those who are the church to come — children, youth, and young adults. |
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Congregations keep 40% of raised funds to initiate or support programs for young people in their communities.
Pentecost is usually represented with the color red, which symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit. So wear red on Sunday, May 23 and make your special offering by writing a check to First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, memo: Pentecost Offering, or making a donation online at fpc-bethlehem.org/donate (put “Pentecost Offering” in the notes box).
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FPCB CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES: Save the dates!
By The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Associate Pastor of Formation & Justice
This summer, the church will host monthly fellowship events for children and youth of all ages (and their families). Join us for fun activities and opportunities to build relationships with church friends! Save these dates for our first two get-togethers:
Sunday, May 16: Ice Cream & Popsicle Social - Join us on the church lawn for sweet treats and games at 2:00 p.m.! Bring a blanket or chairs to hang out. Masks are required except when enjoying our frozen treats.
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Sunday, June 13: IronPigs Baseball Game - We’ll meet at Coca-Cola Park after worship services and enjoy the game together. Tickets are $11, and each one includes $2 of ballpark credit to use for food or drink. The game starts at 1:35 p.m. To attend, please email me (lclifton@fpc-bethlehem.org) with your family’s headcount by Thursday, May 13.
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Per stadium guidelines, masks are required unless actively eating and drinking, and our group will be seated in socially distanced pods in field level seating.
I’m looking forward to meeting y’all and spending time together! Our children and youth ministries’ volunteers are excited to join us, too! Be on the lookout for announcements about our July and August events in the weeks to come.
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NEW DISCIPLESHIP CLASS: Pray Without Ceasing
Wednesday: April 28 at 7:00 p.m. – via Zoom
Saturday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m. – outdoors on church grounds
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We met on Wednesday for the first of three sessions together. (Miss the first session? You can view it here: bit.ly/3sIokYo)
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Discipleship Committee chair Gail Watts reports from the first session: “The first session was a very heartfelt experience. Participants were sharing their early experiences of prayer, and what their prayers focus on more as an adult. We were also introduced to praying with our breath, a sacred word, and sacred gestures.
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"We will be looking for ordinary moments in our lives this week as opportunities for prayer, taking advantage of the prayer forms we learned.”
To listen on the phone (audio only): Call 929-205-6099; when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 825 8975 9341 followed by the # key. You will be asked for the participant ID – press the # key again.
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HEARTS N MINDS: ADULT EDUCATION CLASS
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For this Sunday, April 25, the class continues with its new book, Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus by Jim Wallis. All are welcome to join the discussion!
Reading assignment: Please study the “Foreword” by Bishop Michael Curry; the “Prologue” by Wallis, and Chapter One - "What About Jesus?".
Meeting ID: 811 8422 0450
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To listen on the phone (audio only): Call 929-205-6099; when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 811 8422 0450, followed by the # key. You will be asked for the participant ID – simply press the # key again. |
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SUNDAY SCHOOL: TWO OPTIONS TO ENJOY |
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We are pleased to offer two Sunday School options for families! Gather with other families on Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:45 a.m. for a Zoom session; you can also do “anytime” Sunday School with a prerecorded series of videos on our website.
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This week's story is inspired by 1 Samuel 25: Abigail Intervenes. "You can show you care about others by being part of the solution".
Meeting ID: 928 9221 9682 / Password: 369116
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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: WEDNESDAY at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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CALENDAR
THIS SUNDAY
- 9:00 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult education class – see more information above
- 9:00 a.m.: Contemporary Worship Service, livestreamed on Facebook and website
- 10:15-10:45 a.m.: Zoom Sunday School – see more information above
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11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, livestreamed - see instructions in blue box, below, to join us online, and in the yellow box to join us via phone
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FOR THIS SUNDAY: : Worship with us “Live” on Facebook
To watch “live”- as it happens:
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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
- 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
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*** NOTE THE NEW MEETING ID ***
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the 11 a.m. 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)
ALL OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS AND GATHERINGS ARE CANCELLED AT THIS TIME unless offered online (see listings on our Facebook page under “Events”)
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO: The office staff is working remotely and checking email and voicemail daily. 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;
Andrea Barbehenn, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956;
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