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Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 Newsletter
For Sunday - Special Schedule
10:00 a.m.: Combined Worship Service
(in person in Fellowship Hall, and livestreamed on Facebook and website)
| | We're watching the weather for Saturday night/Sunday morning!
So please check our Facebook page, website or WFMZ before heading out! | | |
A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: GATHERING IN COMMUNITY
Grace and peace to you,
In the coming week we will have two opportunities to experience Advent worship together in community.
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This Sunday, Dec. 14, we will gather for one service at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Come and explore this third Sunday of Advent where we reflect on the theme of how to respond to God’s call on our lives even as fear might grip us.
What can we learn from the Prophet Jeremiah and from Mary, as even through their fear, they were able to say yes to God’s call? In Jeremiah’s own words, he is just a child. Mary, an engaged teenage girl, is asked to bear the Son of God!
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Both are gripped by fear, both ask questions, both consider the invitation from God and both come to a “Yes, I will move forward with you God.” Is that possible in our own lives? What fears grip us as we consider where God might be calling us as individuals or as a community of faith?
Then on Tuesday, Dec. 16, we will gather in Fellowship Hall at 7 p.m. for our Longest Night Service, a time to give space to all who find this Advent and Christmas season difficult due to grief, loss, fear, sadness.
This more contemplative service invites us to slow down and to acknowledge and process how we are feeling in this season. Through readings of Scripture and poetry, song, reflection time and candle lighting, we will keep vigil together, inviting God to join us in our journeys. We will also light candles, and as each candle is lit, the light multiplies, wrapping the entire community in its warmth.
The darkness further illuminates the flicker of the candles. We pray that in this service, grief and fear can dance with gratitude and hope, and that in community we might find courage and unity, being reminded that God is indeed near.
Both of these services will be livestreamed on our Facebook page and website
(fpc-bethlehem.org).
Come and see, come and explore as we continue to journey through Advent.
Blessings,
Pastor Karen
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FOR THIS SUNDAY, DEC. 14: A SPECIAL SCHEDULE
We hope you’ll join us for the Third Sunday in Advent (Sunday, Dec. 14) when we’ll be on a special schedule.
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Both Hearts N Minds adult ed and Body N Soul intergenerational faith formation class will meet at 9 a.m. We’ll then offer a Combined Worship Service at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall – it will also be livestreamed on our Facebook page and website.
After that service we hope you’ll stay for our Holiday Goodie Exchange! Please bring a favorite sweet or savory holiday treat to share (cookies, kiffles, fudge, homemade Chex Mix, sausage balls, pigs in a blanket, etc.).
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We’ll enjoy good fellowship and warm holiday beverages along with our other goodies, and any leftover treats can be shared among the group to take home and enjoy! (And please plan to stay whether you have something to share or not.)
We also have Christmas cards for you to sign – they are in the North Link, and will be sent to our church family members who are unable to get to the building for services and events.
And - if you are participating in the gift giving for the Donegan Elementary families - please bring those items to the North Link no later than Sunday.
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HEARTS N MINDS: NEW BOOK / NEW TIME
Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, will meet this Sunday, Dec. 14 at the special time of 9 a.m. in the Parlor. All are welcome!
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They will be discussing The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass. She explores the nature and meaning of "economics," contrasting the reciprocal gift economy of the natural world with the market economy that relies on extraction and accumulation for wealth and security.
Judy Smullen will lead the discussion. For the remaining weeks of Advent, Judy, along with Don Robertson and Betsy Simpson, will share a different way to consider how to live/survive: a different type of economic model.
| | | Reminder: For Sunday, Dec. 21, the class will return to its regular time to meet at
10 a.m. | | BODY N SOUL: JOIN US AT 9 AM! | | |
The Body N Soul Intergenerational Faith Formation class will meet this Sunday at
9 a.m. in Room 216. They will return to their regular meeting time of 10:10 a.m. on Dec. 21.
During the four weeks of Advent, Body N Soul participants will explore the topics of hope, peace, joy, and love through bible stories, songs, crafts, and conversation. Each week we will build a new piece of our Advent wreath focusing on how each topic connects to self, family, community, and our world.
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Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Advent devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices (in order to protect their work, please refrain from sharing this link or posting it on social media).
We have print copies of the devotional availble for those who need them. Please contact us or 610-867-5865; tell us if you will pick it up or if you need it mailed (along with your name and complete mailing address).
| | | We are also sharing daily “Advent breath prayers” on our Facebook page (@firstpresbethlehem). These are posted by 9 a.m. each morning. | | A WONDERFUL TRADITION: GIVING TREE | | |
Stop by the North Link to peruse the annual Giving Tree, and its opportunities to help our neighbors, both domestically and internationally.
The ornaments represent tools and supplies for people who need a hand up.
Choose an ornament or several, put the ornament in the basket, give your check (made out to PCUSA, not FPCB) or cash to the Mission volunteer and know you have done good in the world.
Rather do it online? On the “FOR THOSE ORDERING ONLINE” form, please put your name and the amount purchased – visit the online catalog to complete the transaction.
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HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT A YEAR-END GIFT?
Throughout the Advent and Christmas season, we witness incredible generosity from many people. In our congregation, we support food collections; gifts to the students and families of Donegan Elementary; taking the time to sign Christmas cards for our home-bound friends (in the North Link); stepping up pledges during the stewardship campaign; and the traditional tags on the Giving Tree.
Please consider a year-end gift to support the church’s mission, especially if you are still working to complete your 2025 RMD (required minimum distribution) for your IRA. Please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org if you need information about how to do that.
Our congregation is truly blessed to be a blessing to the wider community of Bethlehem. Thank you for your continued support of the least of them!
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YOU’RE INVITED
The family of John Iverson extends an invitation for friends to attend his memorial service on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium at Kirkland Village.
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A SPECIAL TRADITION: OUR CHRISTMAS JOY CONCERT
We are very excited to announce the details of this year’s Christmas Joy Concert, coming on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. in our Sanctuary.
It will feature George Frederic Handel’s “The Messiah,” a timeless Christmas tradition. This is also an opportunity for those in the audience to join in for select sing-along choruses.
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Joining our Chancel Choir will be the Concord Chamber Singers and the Touring Choir from the Lehigh Valley Charter High School, all under the direction of David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries here at First Pres. They will be joined by a 16-piece orchestra.
This is a ticketed event; First Pres folks are invited to buy tickets at the door for $20.
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Admission for the general public is $25, with tickets available at ccsingers.org. There is also a student rate of $10.
The concert will be livestreamed on the church Facebook page and website, with an opportunity for viewers to make an online donation.
This is a very special opportunity that we hope you will enjoy!
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FOOD DRIVE
We are now doing a year-round food drive. Donation boxes
are in the Narthex and by the south entrance. Thank you!
| | Many thanks to Mark Ferguson for this beautiful image of our building
during last week's "super moon." | | |
LOOKING AHEAD…
Sunday, Dec. 14
9 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor
9 a.m. - Body N Soul intergenerational faith formation class, Room 216
10 a.m. – Combined Service in Fellowship Hall and livestreamed
11 a.m. - Holiday Goodie Exchange in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, Dec. 16
7 p.m. – Longest Night service in Fellowship Hall and livestreamed
Sunday, Dec. 21
4 p.m. - Christmas Joy Concert, featuring a "Sing-Along Messiah", in the Sanctuary and livestreamed. THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT - see above article
Wednesday, Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve candlelight services in the Sanctuary and livestreamed
4 p.m. - Intergenerational service
7 p.m. - Candlelight service
Sunday, Dec. 28
10 a.m. – Combined Service in Fellowship Hall and livestreamed
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Send us your news and photos to share:
info@fpc-bethlehem.org
**Deadline for the next newsletter:
THURSDAY at noon**
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And follow us on Facebook: @FirstPresBethlehem
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICE
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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 "Watch" at the top and then the "Watch the Service" button
- Please check in with a comment so we know you’ve joined us!
- Captions are 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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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.
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THIS SUNDAY - SPECIAL SCHEDULE
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9:00 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor - all are welcome
- 9:00 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216 – all are welcome
- 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.: Child care (ask ushers to direct you)
- 10:00 a.m.: Combined worship service, Fellowship Hall (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)
- 11:15 a.m.: Holiday Goodie Exchange, Fellowship Hall
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.
| | FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM | |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
Rev. Karen Kinney, Transitional Pastor/Head of Staff; KKinney@fpc-bethlehem.org
Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Associate Pastor for Justice and Community Impact; LClifton@fpc-bethlehem.org
David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries; ext. 202; DMacbeth@fpc-bethlehem.org
David Crook, Director of Church Administration; ext. 210; DCrook@fpc-bethlehem.org
Kevin Konczyk, Facilities Manager; KKonczyk@fpc-bethlehem.org
Carol Burns, Communications Manager; ext. 238; CBurns@fpc-bethlehem.org
Lisa Todd, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956; LTodd@fpc-bethlehem.org
Brenda Robinson, Office Manager: ext. 211; BusinessOffice@fpc-bethlehem.org
Website: www.fpc-bethlehem.org
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