Friday, May 23, 2025 Newsletter



For Sunday - NEW TIME!

10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service

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

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: COME AND CELEBRATE!

Grace and peace to you,

This Sunday, we celebrate the retirement and ministry of Reverend Suzanne Trump, our Pastoral Associate for Compassion. For more than two years, Suzanne has been a caring presence in our congregation, working with the deacons and others to provide comfort and assurance to those in need of both. She and her work will be missed, and while we have plans in place, we will surely miss her.

Suzanne will be preaching on John 14:23-29, which is the Scripture passage where these promises are made. Come and explore the text with her. Come and celebrate her ministry and send her off with well wishes at the brunch that follows the service. Come and see, come and be together in community, come and celebrate! 

And, don’t forget to come at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary!

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

THE SUNDAY BULLETIN WILL BE EMAILED

ON SATURDAY

SUNDAY: CELEBRATING PASTOR SUZANNE!

We’ll have a basket to gather those for her to read at a later time, and we’ll also have materials available for anyone who might want to write something the day of!

HEARTS N MINDS & BODY N SOUL: ON SUMMER HIATUS

POTLUCK & STRATEGIC MISSION UPDATE

We had a very good turnout for Tuesday night’s update from the Strategic Mission Committee – your interest and support is appreciated! Look for a summary from Pastor Lindsey, coming next week.

In the meantime, if you’d like to request the recording of the presentation, please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 (we’ll need your email address to send it). We anticipate it will be ready to share next week.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A HYMNAL TO USE AT HOME: You are welcome to take one from the table in the Narthex, or contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 and we’ll get one to you.

BREAD FOR THE WORLD OFFERING OF LETTERS: May 25 - June

by Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons

During the next three Sundays after worship, our church will receive an Offering of Letters to be delivered to our elected representatives, urging them to support federal hunger assistance programs for our neediest citizens.

SNAP is the United States’ most important anti-hunger program: 40 percent of SNAP recipients are children, and most families only receive SNAP benefits for a short period during difficult times.

The majority of states are unlikely to be able to afford cost-sharing a percentage of the SNAP benefits their residents receive if this bill passes and will be forced to substantially reduce SNAP benefits or remove qualified people from the program – including families with children. In addition, the bill imposes work requirements on single parents with children seven and above and older adults that ignore the realities of low-wage jobs, erratic work schedules, and unaffordable childcare.

The bill also fails to extend the expanded child tax credit (CTC) to the families who need it most. An estimated 17 million children, one in four children in the U.S., will not benefit from the modest $500 per child CTC increase because their families earn too little to receive it.

With the cost of food and other necessities still on the rise, now is not the time to cut food benefits or leave families who need the most help out of the CTC expansion.

The bill will now move to the Senate for revision and debate, and it’s a critically important time to make our voices heard. And it’s not too late to express support for other national and international hunger issues as well.  

Sample letters and background information will be available in Fellowship Hall and the narthex following worship on May 25, June 1 and June 8. Thanks for your help! 

SUMMER WORSHIP BEGINS THIS WEEK

We will begin our summer schedule of worshipping together at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary this Sunday, May 25. 

This will also be the last Sunday that Rev. Suzanne Trump will be with us, and she will be preaching. We will follow worship with a wonderful (provided) brunch, to which all are invited! 

• 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.

CAN YOU HELP?

We’re looking for folks to serve as lectors for our 10 a.m. combined worship service, beginning May 25. This is a great way to participate in the ministry of our church – if you’ve not done it before, we’re glad to provide coaching.

You can sign up on the paper form available at the Sunday services, or use this easy online sign-up form: 

LET'S HELP SUPPORT A LOCAL FOOD BANK

• peanut butter crackers
• instant oatmeal flavor varieties - 10 pack/box
• shelf stable milk (individual boxes)
• peanut butter cups or pouches
• tuna or chicken in pouches
• reduced sodium chicken noodle or vegetable soup in easy open cans (18.5 oz.)
• fruit in easy open cans or fruit cups (light syrup)

This drive is part of an event they're hosting on Tuesday, June 3 from 4-7 p.m. in the Meals on Wheels parking lot, 1302 N. Sherman St., Allentown. Enjoy an informational fair featuring local businesses and organizations, snacks, prizes, and tastings courtesy of Bar H, Sherman Street Brewery and Tolino Vineyards. 

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 - COMMUNION SUNDAY

• 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• NEW TIME! 10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship Service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)
• 11:15 a.m.: Celebrate Pastor Suzanne, Fellowship Hall (all are welcome - brunch will be provided)

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:

The building and offices will be closed on Monday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 27, and the Preschool reopens on Monday, June 2.

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.