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Friday, April 17, 2026 Newsletter

For Sunday 


9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship 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: 
JOURNEY TO AN UNKNOWN LAND


Grace and peace to you,



This Sunday, we begin a sermon series that we are calling The Wilderness: A Journey Towards Hope. 

What can we learn from Abram’s story in Genesis? On Sunday, we will explore the story of his call by God to leave Haran, his home, and all that is familiar and comfortable to journey to an unknown land that God will show to him.

God makes three promises to Abram: there will be land (a place) for you, there will be descendants (people and community), and blessings (to you and you to others). Abram has done nothing to earn these promises or the invitation by God to journey into a wilderness time. This is unearned grace; the kind of grace God extends to all, including us today.

So Abram answers the call but you will note he is not alone – he takes his wife, his nephew Lot, all his possessions including things and people, and off they go to the land God has promised. Now I encourage you to read all of Abram’s story (Genesis chapters 12-25) to see the very real human experiences that he and his family will have.

What are we to make of God’s promises to Abram and how might they be relevant to us? God promises Abram a place to come to. God promises people and a community so that he will not be alone – his descendants will be many. And finally, God promises that Abram will be blessed and be a blessing and that all the families on Earth will be blessed through him! On this last one, through Abram, all the families on Earth will come to know the love of God, the deep blessing God gives to each of us!

Those are big promises! Promises made – were they kept? Indeed they were – maybe not in the way Abram or we expect reading the stories. What are we promised in a wilderness time? Where is the hope in the promises? What can we learn about our being a blessing to our community in the place God prepares for us from Abram and the promises made to him?

Come and see, come and explore this Sunday.

Blessings,
Pastor Karen

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

Traditional Worship Service (3 pages)

COMING UP


This Sunday

HOSPITALITY HOUR: Join us for good connection between our two Sunday services – 10:15-11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. 


VISIONING SESSION: See the following article for details about a session held after the Traditional service.


Sunday, April 26

HOSPITALITY HOUR: Join us for good connection between our two Sunday services – 10:15-11 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. 


VISIONING SESSION: See the following article for details about a session held after the Holy Ground service.


CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: We will hold a very brief Congregational meeting after the 11:15 a.m. service, to elect two new Elders to complete unexpired terms (Jim Halkins for a one-year term and Phil Fair for a two-year term). It will also be available via Zoom; please request the Zoom link by contacting us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

SHARING YOUR HOPES AND VISION: MISSION STUDY


SCHEDULING UPDATE: We have added a visioning (hopes and dreams) session following the 9 a.m. service on Sunday, April 26.
 

This is in addition to this Sunday’s (April 19) session after the 11:15 a.m. service; we’ll meet in Room 212. Please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org if you want to sign up to attend either session - please tell us which one you'll attend. 

As the Mission Study Team reaches out to the entire congregation to hear everyone’s voice, we are aware that not everyone is available for an in-person gathering or has access to a computer. So we are hoping that you will respond to one of the following invitations:


• Zoom meeting on Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. (EDT)
• A personal telephone call, or
• Filling out a survey that we can send to you (email or mail).

Please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or call the church office (610-867-5865) and tell us which option you prefer. (So far, more than 50 people have participated; pictured are some of the visualizations folks have done.)

We want to reiterate the purpose of these sessions: The primary purpose of the Mission Study Committee is to create a comprehensive "self-portrait" of the congregation = assessing our theological identity, our spiritual health, and our communal goals.

We understand that this time of reflection is overlapping with the time of deep uncertainty about the future of the physical space in which our congregation will gather. This leads to both challenges and opportunities as we explore our vision for the congregation moving forward.

At each visioning session, our focus will be on the hopes and dreams of the congregation. Questions and concerns about the building transition should be directed to the Next Chapter Team for the church; contact them at nextchapter@fpc-bethlehem.org.

Save the Date

We hope to share with you that day what we have heard from you about what you wish to let go of, what you want to hold onto, where you think God is guiding us, and what might a person three years from now look for in a church that we aren’t providing.



We also hope to share with you some information about the needs of the community and the congregation. In the meantime, you are encouraged to review the growing numbers of hopes/dreams that are going up on the partition in the North Link (pictured above). What are others hoping and dreaming?

HEARTS N MINDS: CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION

BODY N SOUL: ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Body N Soul Intergenerational Faith Formation class will meet on Sunday at 10:10 a.m. in Room 216. Everyone is welcome--no reservations or advanced preparation required. 

Based on scripture and brought to life through movement and crafts, Body N Soul offers opportunities for seekers of all ages to grow their faith and build intergenerational community. 

COMING: SHE NAILED IT! FUNDRAISER FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY


She Nailed It! is an all women, nail-hammering, relay competition and one of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley's signature fundraising events! These funds will help build and repair homes for our neighbors.

Last year we fielded two teams, and took home the trophy for raising the most funds.

We’ve set an ambitious goal to raise $2,500 - you can make a gift online using this link: bit.ly/3PVSb13. You can also write a check to the church with She Nailed It! on the memo line.

HI NEIGHBORS: MORE INTERESTING PROGRAMS!


Those in the Hi Neighbors audience – our popular speakers program – enjoyed an interesting program on Monday about a new technology, “Virtual Reality” from Tarah Cicero and Stephen Sakasitz from Lehigh University. This was a very basic introduction for those who are not tech-savvy, and included demonstrations of some the many applications (pictured: Tarah wears a virtual reality headset). 

The programs begin at 9:30 a.m. with a social time in Fellowship Hall, followed by the hour-long presentation at 10 a.m. A lively question-and-answer period is included. 

FOOD DONATIONS: SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

You continue to answer the call for food and personal care items that we share with our neighbors – thank you!

They can also use feminine care products, soaps, shampoos and conditioners, plus toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Collection carts are located in the North Link and at the south entrance. Let’s fill those carts! 

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.

THIS SUNDAY

• 9 a.m. – Holy Ground worship service, Fellowship Hall
• 10 a.m. – Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor
• 10:10 a.m. – Body N Soul intergenerational class, Room 216
• 10:15 a.m. – Hospitality Time, Fellowship Hall
• 11:15 a.m. – Traditional worship service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed)
• 12:30 p.m. – Visioning session; Room 212 (please RSVP to info@fpc-bethlehem.org)

 
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.