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Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 Newsletter

For Sunday

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

A WELCOMING COMMUNITY


Grace and peace to you,


This Sunday is the second in our stewardship series, Our Unfolding Journey: A Season of Gratitude. We will lift up our Core Value of “Expansively Welcoming,” coupled with our Mission Study Theme of Community Integration.

We are a Christ-centered congregation of Christ followers who believe that through our unity in Christ we not only make space for others, welcoming, engaging and affirming all, we go out into the community ensuring folks know they are welcomed and loved.

Our Mission Study theme is described in this way: God is calling us to weave the life of our congregation deeply into the fabric, culture, and heritage of the wider Bethlehem area. We are in the midst of an ongoing effort to reimagine how we utilize our physical assets, not only to support affordable housing, but also to design a new church home that supports our outward mission.


However, we should not be sitting on our laurels as we transition to nest with Christ UCC. How might we continue and even expand how we welcome people and how we go out into the wider Bethlehem community over these next few years? How might the welcome we receive from God, Jesus, Holy Spirit be given to the wider community? 


How might we ease divisions and provide care for the least of these as an act of welcome? What barriers to that welcome might we confront as we deal with our own sense of loss and grief or our own energy and enthusiasm? Last, how does welcome translate to working for justice?


What have we learned too from keeping our gratitude journals – are we grateful for the welcome extended to us as beloved children of God as well as the ability to welcome others? How does that show up in our everyday lives?


These are questions we will explore this Sunday. Come and see, come and reflect in the community of faith that is known as First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem!


Blessings,

Pastor Karen

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



Traditional Worship Service (4 pages)

FOR THIS SUNDAY

• 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child care available (ask the ushers to direct you to the location)
• 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground contemporary worship service, Fellowship Hall (in person only)
• 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed, Library (Room 210) – all welcome!
• 10:10 – 11:00 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216 – all ages welcome!
• 11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on our Facebook page and website)
• 12:45-2:45 p.m.: Photovoice project, Room 212 – see article, below

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS

Hearts N Minds, our adult ed class, will meet on Sunday from 10-11 a.m. in the Library (room 210). All are welcome to join in the discussions.

The first book they are reading is Holy Envy: Finding God in The Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor, which is available new or used online. For this Sunday, please read chapter six. You do not need to have read the material to participate in the discussion.

BODY N SOUL INTERGENERATIONAL CLASS

All are welcome to join Body N Soul, our intergenerational class, which will gather on Sunday from 10:10-11 a.m. in Room 216.

Come join us! All generations have something to contribute.

SUPPORTING OUR WEEKLY SERVICES

Would you like to support our worship services? We have two ways to do that.

We are looking for volunteers to serve as lectors. If you are comfortable reading scripture aloud in front of our congregation, this is the opportunity for you! We encourage you to check this online sign-up form and choose a service and date: bit.ly/3Uo0i8W (there is also a paper sign-up form available in the Narthex on Sundays).

ELECTING OUR NEXT LEADERSHIP TEAM


On Sunday, Nov. 1 we will meet for a Congregational meeting after the Traditional service, for the purpose of electing new elders, deacons, and nominating committee members.


We will meet them all in next week’s newsletter; the nominees include:

For Elders: Norah Hooper, Evelyn Kuserk, Mark Ferguson, and Janet Stahl (class of 2029); Kate Arrington (class of 2028)

For Deacon: Connie Gilbert (class of 2029); Pam Phillippe (class of 2028); Theresa Kelly (class of 2027)

For Nominating Committee: Deb Philpotts and Wayne Kelly (two-year term)

EXPLORE TRANSITION, IDENTITY, AND BELONGING AT FPCB:

LEHIGH AND FPCB PHOTOVOICE PROJECT


Our Photovoice project kicks off this weekend and it is not too late to participate. We want to hear your voice - whether you've been in the church for decades or just joined this year. 


There are two options available for the initial focus group discussion: this Sunday, Oct. 25, from 12:45 - 2:45 p.m., with a light lunch provided following the second service, and Monday, Oct. 26, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., also with a light lunch provided. Both sessions will be held in Room 212 in the South Wing. 


If you would like more information to decide whether you want to participate, you can just drop in for one of these sessions or email info@fpc-bethlehem.org. 

This project explores themes of identity and belonging during this time of transition for our congregation. Jointly run by researchers from Lehigh University and FPCB, the goal of this research is both to create understanding of these themes to support our congregation and to provide information for other faith communities facing similar times of transition.

FOR YOUR SUNDAY LISTENING PLEASURE


Organist Luke DiGiacinto will present a special recital this Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. in our Sanctuary. It is open to all; a free will offering will be taken at the door.

Luke is an active recitalist performing in the Lehigh Valley, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Recent recitals include Christ Lutheran Church Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD, The Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC, Christ Lutheran Church in Allentown, and Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem.

Having completed his undergraduate work at Moravian University and graduating Magna Cum Laude, Luke did graduate work at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University where he studied with Dr. Daniel Aune, and served as a teaching assistant.

HELPING HANDS PLANS NEXT TRIP

The Helping Hands Care Team has scheduled its next trip for Saturday, Nov. 7 – Saturday, Nov. 14 to New Bern, NC for a mission work trip. The group has worked in this area many times over the past five years, as there are still many families waiting for their homes to be repaired from 2018 storms.

The Helping Hands program is now being sponsored by First Pres. Donations are welcome; checks can be made payable to First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem - put "Helping Hands" on the memo line and return to the Finance Office.

Bethlehem Interfaith Group: 2026 Faith Crawl

Leaves from and returns to Congregation Brith Sholom: 
1190 W. Macada Road, Bethlehem

Please RSVP by Sunday, Oct. 25 and fill out the registration form for EACH person.

Email info@BIGBethlehem.org with questions or accommodation requests.

HI NEIGHBORS: YOUR WEEKLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Our popular speakers series, Hi Neighbors, is your opportunity to learn new and interesting things each week. We thank Dr. John Marsella from the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum for bringing the stories of William Allen, founder of Allentown, to life!

For Monday: Emily Lyter from Good Shepherd will share “The Latest Advances in Rehabilitation and the Effect of AI in Rehab Practices.”sider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

FOOD DONATIONS: SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

They have specifically asked for cereal, juices, beans, rice, peanut butter, jelly, canned vegetables, canned soups, canned fruit, microwavable mac and cheese, cheese board/snack items, crackers, snacks for children, Clorox wipes, and tissues. 



Thanks for considering how you can help!

ELECTION DAY IS COMING: HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLAN?


Voting is an important part of being a citizen in our country, and we’re here with a reminder of deadlines to be aware of:


• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot
  
• Tuesday, Nov. 3: Deadline to return your mail ballot. It must be received by your county by 8 p.m.
  
• Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day (polls are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

• Vote in person at your local poll
  
• Request a mail-in ballot that you will mail (it must be received by the county by Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m., so allow plenty of time for the mail)
  
• Request a mail-in ballot that you will drop in a designated ballot return location (NOTE: you must return your ballot yourself)


If you need a ride to the poll or to your designated ballot return location, contact the church office at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 and we will help arrange that.


For more information: vote.pa.gov

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:

Child care will be available from 9:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. this Sunday; ask the ushers 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

• 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child care available (ask the ushers to direct you to the location)
• 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground contemporary worship service, Fellowship Hall (in person only)
• 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed, Library (Room 210) – all welcome!
• 10:10 – 11:00 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216 – all ages welcome!
• 11:15 a.m.: Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on our Facebook page and website)
• 12:45-2:45 p.m.: Photovoice project, Room 212 – see article, above


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.

CARE CONCERNS AND HOSPITAL VISITS: If you are hospitalized, please tell the hospital our church code is 724. Also, please call the church office at 610-867-5865 to let us know as the hospitals do not always collect this information.  After hours, for emergency pastoral concerns, call 610-674-0005.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Send to prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org or call 610-867-5865 and leave a message.