Friday, September 2, 2022 Newsletter

COMMUNION SUNDAY SERVICE

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:



10:00 a.m. Summer Worship in the Sanctuary

 (* also available on our website and via phone)

MESSAGE FROM THE REV. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:

Connecting the Dots

Somehow it’s the start of September! In the heat of summer’s days, time can feel like it’s moving awfully slow, but here we are… already on the cusp of fall.

As I’ve mentioned previously, the program committees of the church have been hard at work together in creating a calendar for the fall. Each month since the late spring, those four committees (Discipleship, Mission, Congregational Life, and Engagement) have been meeting jointly to brainstorm, dream, and plan together about what might be possible with greater collaboration and connection.

The result of their efforts is a really wonderful, fun, and meaningful set of programs that are aimed at Connecting the Dots:

COMMUNION SUNDAY



This Sunday is Communion Sunday. If you would like to participate at home, you can prepare your own elements: a bread or bread-like item (cracker, pita, etc.) and grape juice, wine or water.

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper

Summer Worship Service (6 pages)

FOR SUNDAY MORNING

• The Building Reopening Task Force encourages people to wear masks, especially if they are in a high risk category, as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others.    



• Child care will be available from 9:45-11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings; please ask an usher for directions.



• 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.

JOIN US AFTER SUNDAY WORSHIP

OUR GUEST PREACHER THIS SUNDAY

We are happy to welcome The Rev. Dr. Susan Gilbert Zencka to our pulpit this Sunday. She came to ministry after working as an electrician apprentice at US Steel, and then working for ten years as a CPA. She served four calls, two in Illinois, one in Indiana, and the last one, for 15 years, in central Wisconsin.  

They have three adult sons, three daughters-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren (currently two and one pending). Susan and Carl share their home with two dogs (inside) and a lovely variety of birds, small mammals, insects, and plant community (outside). 

DO YOU FEEL CALLED TO SERVE?

As a congregation, we will soon be embarking on the important process of selecting our next group of leaders. We have been introducing you to the various positions that will be available, and meeting some of our current leaders.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee members are charged with identifying candidates for Elders, Deacons, Trustees, and the Nominating Committee itself. This committee usually meets three or four times each year; the term of service is one year, and a member may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

Committee members currently serving are JoAnne Turcott (chair), Jacqueline Byrnes, Jeanette Classens, Sue Jones, Froy Thompson and Phyllis Walker.

HELPING HANDS PLANS NEXT TRIP

There are no specific skills or experience required, other than to be flexible and provide whatever help is needed. There are jobs for every skill level and we have experienced volunteers to help train you. We do, of course, welcome those with plumbing, electrical, roofing, and dry wall installation skills.

The cost is $250.00 per person and participants must register by Thursday,

October 6. Partial scholarships may be available from First Pres.

If interested in participating, or in getting more information, and/or in scholarship information, please send an email to info@fpc-bethlehem.org or leave a message at

610-867-5865. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

To make it easier to connect with ways to help in our community, we’ve created a new website page with listings of FPCB and community volunteer opportunities, like these:

• Hi Neighbors Coordinator
• Donegan Elementary School mentors (starts in October)

We’d also like to add additional organizations, or specific volunteer tasks. If you have any to share, please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or leave a message at the church office, 610-867-5865.

fpc-bethlehem.org/volunteer

LOOKING AHEAD…

Sunday Service

The Worship Committee will meet on Sunday to determine the worship schedule for the coming weeks. Watch the newsletter and our Facebook page for updates!

Faith Crawl

The Bethlehem Interfaith Group is planning its third Faith Crawl, in which bus travelers will visit three SouthSide houses of faith. The event is planned for Sunday, Sept. 18 from 3-6 p.m. and there is no charge to participate, although a $5 donation is suggested.

• St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church, with a presentation on a historically ethnic congregation and how it is transitioning to a new ministry.

• Packer Church at Lehigh University, for a presentation on campus ministry in a diverse and interfaith setting.

• St. John A.M.E. Zion Church, for a presentation on ministry in the first and oldest African-American congregation in the Lehigh Valley.

Those with mobility issues can contact BIG at info@bigbethlehem.org or call the First Pres church office at 610-867-5865.

Hi Neighbors

Our popular weekly series – featuring presentations on a wide variety of topics – returns on Monday, September 19. Sue Pizer Yoder will kick things off with “Us/Them Mentality Must Go: Making Neighbors Out of Strangers.” There is a fellowship time at 9:30 a.m. with the program at 10 a.m.

THE COMING OF FALL MEANS: MUMS!

These are beautiful, hardy 9” mums from Lehigh Valley Home & Garden – there are five color choices, and each is $8. A great way to welcome fall!

TUESDAYS: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Crafters, Room 408 (everyone welcome)

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:

The church building (including the church office and Preschool) will be closed Monday, September 5, in observation of Labor Day.

Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The South entrance will be open during these hours, and on Sunday mornings.

Many of the office staff are continuing to work 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).