Friday, June 24, 2022 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICE
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
NEW! 10:00 a.m. Summer Worship in the Sanctuary
(* also available on our website and via phone)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: Make a joyful noise!
Friends, as we continue with our Summer Worship plans, I want to double back to all of you about something we mentioned as we began this experiment.
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One of the things we are trying to balance in Summer Worship is exploring new ways of engaging in vibrant worship along with cherishing the practices that have been most important to us over time.
Obviously, one of the places that both of these dynamics are experienced is in our worship music.
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In the Presbyterian tradition, most things in the worship service are one-time experiences. Unlike our friends in Catholic or Episcopalian traditions, we do not have prescribed prayers that get repeated verbatim over and over again, aside from the Lord’s Prayer. Sermons, obviously, are always changing in their content, even when they are based on the same Scripture passage.
But music, and particularly congregational singing, is the place where we periodically engage in true repetition, offering the same particular hymns and songs in worship to God as we have done many times before.
What we choose for congregational singing in worship is never random; like everything else in the service, songs and hymns are chosen because they resonate with the particular themes of worship that day, that are set by the Scripture for the day and the sermon based on that.
However, some of the hymns and songs we choose have a broad resonance with the biggest themes of the Christian gospel: grace, love, hope, faith. And so they are appropriate for use in many services and get chosen more often.
I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of those hymns and songs are also our “favorites” to sing, because they embody those building blocks of the gospel with beauty and truth and power. They speak to us, and they help us to express our faith to God, which of course is the whole point of worship in the first place!
With all that in mind, we want to invite you to let us know which hymns and songs are the ones that help you express the basic elements of your faith: the ones that make you sing a little louder and a little bolder when they show up in worship, the ones that sum up some of your most important feelings and beliefs about God and help you connect with the Holy Spirit most powerfully in worship.
You can submit the titles of hymns and songs that you would like to sing in Summer Worship in two ways. First, you can use this short online form. Second, you can simply email David Macbeth and he will collate your replies with the ones received on the online form.
While we probably will not be able to include every submission, the ones that are submitted the most will be included in at least one service this summer, if not more. So, we look forward to hearing your ideas, and to making a “joyful noise” with you in worship this summer!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Click the link to read the verses
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- This week’s sermon: Five Smooth Stones by
The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton
- We post the video of each week’s
services and sermon text and audio
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TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper
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FOR SUNDAY MORNING: UPDATES!
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NEW: The Building Reopening Task Force has issued a new guideline: they encourage that people wear masks, especially if they are in a high risk category, as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others.
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Child care will be available from 9:45-11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings; please ask an usher for directions.
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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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IT'S BACK!
With summer officially here, our popular “Lemonade on the Lawn” social time is offered after our 10 a.m. Summer Worship service. Stop by the front lawn for a cool drink, snack, and fellowship. We’ll head into the North Link in case of bad weather.
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The Congregational Life team could use some help cleaning up after Lemonade on the Lawn each week. The tasks are:
1. Dumping the ice out of the drink cooler before rolling it back inside.
2. Putting lids back on the containers of snacks.
3. Putting the snacks and drinks back in the refrigerator.
Sharing this simple task will help us continue enjoying weekly fellowship together! We could use a helper or two each Sunday. To sign-up for a week, please use this online sign-up or leave a message at the church office, 610-867-5865.
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LOOKING AHEAD TO OUR NEXT ‘TABLE TALK’ ON SUNDAY, JULY 10 |
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Our second Table Talk will take place on Sunday, July 10 following Summer Worship. We’ll have a Brunch Potluck, so go ahead and make plans to bring your favorite brunch dish to share!
This month’s conversation and learning will be around the immigration process for our Afghan family. More information about where we’ll gather will be shared closer to the date since that is forecast-dependent. We hope you’ll join us!
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CALLING ALL CRAFTERS! NEW TIME |
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Sewers and knitters and quilters and painters and floral arrangers and anyone interested in fun and fellowship:
All are welcome to join the weekly sessions offered on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. This is a new time - no lunch break. No experience necessary! Materials supplied! We'll meet in Room 408.
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LARGE GROUP ENJOYS IRONPIGS OUTING
It was a great “Pride Night” at Coca-Cola Park!
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Donna Knepp reports that former members Marilyn and Bruce Bell celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary on June 18 – they were married in 1949. We wish for them a wonderful celebration! |
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UPDATED: IF YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED…
We would like to know when our members are entering the hospital. Please tell the hospital that your church ID is 724. We contact the hospitals on weekdays to get that information. If you enter the hospital on Friday-Sunday, you can contact Phil Fair at prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org to keep us up to date.
PRAYER REQUESTS...
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Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for next week's newsletter is
WEDNESDAY at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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THIS SUNDAY
- 9:45 – 11:30 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
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10 a.m.: Summer Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; below, to join us online
- 11 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn hospitality time on the front lawn
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TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICES
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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 the "Watch the Service" button
- Please check in with a comment so we know you’ve joined us!
- Captions will now be 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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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the Summer Worship Service
To listen on the phone (audio only): Call 929-205-6099; when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 848 4170 9518, followed by the # key. You will be asked for the participant ID – press the # key again.
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TUESDAYS, NEW TIME! 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:
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).
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM |
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
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