Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 Newsletter



For Sunday



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

(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)

A MESSAGE FROM REV. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON: FINDING DELIGHT

Dear ones,

I hope you’ve found some moments of beauty and rest in the midst of this week’s milder temperatures and gentle breezes. I think this little fall preview has been quite a treat! (Though I’m not at all ready for the shorter days…)

I’ve spent much of my free time in the evenings out in the yard with Laura and the dogs and wandering around the garden beds, mostly watching and waiting for our sunflowers to finally bloom. And it happened! The bees and butterflies and I are just delighted.

Where have you been delighted by God’s creation lately? What are you watching and waiting on to bloom?

Whatever the case may be, let’s join with the Psalmist (and Nan Merrill) in offering our gratitude and praise for the gifts of Love that surround us each day!

Yes, sing songs of praise extolling Love’s way;

      lift up your hearts with gratitude and joy!

Let the voices of all people blend in harmony,

      in unison let the people magnify the Beloved.

Let the sea laugh, and all that fills it;

      the world and those who dwell in it!

Let the waters clap their hands;

      let the hills ring out with joy before the Beloved;

      who radiates Love to all the earth.

For Love reigns over the world with truth and justice

      bringing order and balance to all of Creation.

—Nan Merrill, Psalms for Praying

____________

And all God’s people said: Amen.

Blessings y'all,

Lindsey

FOR THIS SUNDAY

Psalm 23 King James Version

• Sermon: God Revives Our Soul by Rev. Dr. Richard Smith
• We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org

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



Summer Worship Service (5 pages)

WELCOME TO OUR PULPIT

Rev. Dr. Richard Smith, one of our Parish Associates, will be our guest preacher this Sunday.

Welcome, Richard!

FOR THIS SUNDAY: JOIN US FOR LEMONADE ON THE LAWN

It’s easy to sign up on this online form or call the church office at 610-867-5865. We’ll also have a paper sign-up form at each event.

JOIN THE GATE COMMUNITY’S BOOK CLUB

Sixty-five million adults in the U.S. have dropped out of active church attendance and about 2.7 million more are leaving every year. Faith After Doubt is for the millions of people around the world who feel that their faith is falling apart.

The four stages—Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony—offer a path forward that can help sincere and thoughtful people leave behind unnecessary baggage and intensify their commitment to what matters most.

The Gate Community Church is offering a Book Study that is open to all. It will run on Wednesdays: Sept. 4, Sept. 18, Oct. 2, Oct. 16, and Oct. 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Warming Kitchen (next to the Kirk Center). Use this link to sign up:

WHAT’S IN A NAME? HELP US WITH A NEW ONE FOR OUR PRESBYTERIES

Speaking of names, we are grateful for the members of our Merger Team and their leadership in this season of our presbyteries’ lives - Elder Jean Biggar (Lackawanna), Rev. Stephen Emick (Lehigh), Rev. Dr. Martha Jordan (Lackawanna), Elder Deb Prince (Lehigh) and Merger Coordinator, Rev. Karen Kinney.

Check out this video and send your ideas (and the reason for your choice) by Monday,

Sept. 30 to office@lehighpresbytery.org!

LOOKING AHEAD… Our last day for the Summer Worship schedule will be Sunday, Sept. 8. We will move to two worship services beginning on Sunday, Sept. 15 – stay tuned for details!

A NEW SERIES OF HI NEIGHBORS PROGRAMS: STARTING SEPT. 16

Here’s an early alert that we will kick off the fall series of Hi Neighbors programs on Monday, Sept. 16. Come and learn the fascinating – and tasty – history of Josh Early Candies, a regional favorite for 120 years.

Watch for the complete schedule, coming soon (and if you’re on our mailing list, you’ll be receiving that information directly).



All are welcome – no registration fee or sign-up needed. Just come and bring your friends!

ANOTHER WAY TO SUPPORT FIRST PRES

Are you 72 or older and thinking about your next gift to First Presbyterian?

December 31, 2022, was a magic date for many of us. If you were 72 by that day, you can make all your charitable gifts directly from your Individual Retirement Account (or IRA). Our church is blessed with many generous persons who already use “qualified charitable donations” (or QCDs) from IRAs to fulfill their pledges and to make special gifts. Reasons why this is smart:

• a QCD counts toward your annual RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) if it comes directly out of your IRA
• a QCD can provide tax relief to you
• a QCD lowers the end-of-year IRA balance, which is the basis for how much one is required to take as the following year’s RMD 
• a QCD supports First Presbyterian’s mission and ministries the same as a cash gift 

Fidelity, Vanguard, Wells Fargo, or any financial institution that holds your IRA can help you make your gift online or via a paper distribution form. You need to give the administrator the church’s address, which is 2344 Center St., Bethlehem PA 18017, and its EIN number, which is 24-0796866. Gifts need to be received by the church before Dec. 31.

If you have questions about making a gift, please contact Linda Robertson at 

info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865.

NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP COMING IN NOVEMBER

They are thankful for their loyal volunteers and always welcome new folks. All levels and types of skills and experience are welcome – these trips primarily focus on cleaning up/repairing homes damaged by storms.

Questions? Contact Carol Bennicoff at helpinghands@lehighpresbytery.org.

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



• 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• 10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website, including a brief Congregational meeting
• 11:00 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn – all are welcome!

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.