Friday, April 7, 2023 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICES – EASTER SUNDAY
9:00 a.m. ‘Holy Ground’ Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary – Sunday
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN:
WHEN THE WAITING IS OVER
As I mentioned last week, we are now in the midst of what the medieval church began calling the Triduum (“TRID-you-um”), which is simply Latin for “three days.” The Triduum begins on Thursday evening of Holy Week with the observance of Maundy Thursday, when Jesus had his Last Supper with his disciples, washing their feet, commanding them to love each other, and instituting the sacrament of Communion. It continues with Good Friday, remembering the day that Jesus was executed by crucifixion by the Roman Empire.
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Here at First Presbyterian, we observe Good Friday with a Tenebrae Service tonight at 8 p.m., a service that tells the full story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death, with candles extinguished after each lesson to create a service with increasing shadows and darkness.
Holy Saturday, then, is a time of contemplative waiting, between Jesus’ burial on Friday and the discovery of the empty tomb on Sunday.
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To mark that, we have a Compline Service of contemplative sung prayer on Saturday night at 8 p.m. And, of course, the Triduum concludes with the joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter, which we will have at both 9 a.m. (contemporary) and 11 a.m. (traditional).
For now, though, as of this newsletter’s publication we are about halfway through the “three days,” in the heart of Good Friday. The end of Good Friday and Holy Saturday are all about waiting, which is often hard for us. So, as I have in the past, I invite you to use my favorite Good Friday poem today to help center you in the waiting before Easter morning. It is from T.S. Eliot’s poem, “East Coker”:
I said to my soul, be still, and let the dark come upon you
Which shall be the darkness of God. As, in a theatre,
The lights are extinguished, for the scene to be changed
With a hollow rumble of wings, with a movement of darkness on darkness,
And we know that the hills and the trees, the distant panorama
And the bold imposing facade are all being rolled away—
Or as, when an underground train, in the tube, stops too long between stations
And the conversation rises and slowly fades into silence
And you see behind every face the mental emptiness deepen
Leaving only the growing terror of nothing to think about;
Or when, under ether, the mind is conscious but conscious of nothing—
I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,
For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith
But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.
Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:
So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.
And when the waiting is over, the rejoicing will be all the greater for having waited. See you in worship!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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This week’s sermon: The Shook Ones by
The Rev. J.C. Austin
We post the video of each week’s services and
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TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper for Sunday
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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. this Sunday morning; please ask an usher for directions.
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Your children are a joy in our worship services, and should the need arise, “kid bags” are available for their use. They are in the Narthex and in the blanket-sitting area (to the left of the communion table in Fellowship Hall).
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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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AFTER EACH SUNDAY SERVICE: Coffee & Conversation
We invite folks to stay for Coffee & Conversation following each of our two worship services. This is an opportunity for connection in Fellowship Hall where you’ll find coffee for adults along with juice boxes and a simple snack for children. (We will still gather for our Intergenerational Faith Formation story and craft after the 9:00 service!)
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FOR SUNDAY MORNING: PHOTO BOOTH FUN & FLOWER DONATIONS |
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The photo booth from tomorrow’s Easter Egg Hunt will be located in the North Link for your use on Sunday morning.
Please feel free to take advantage of it to snap some fun Easter photos – bunny ears are available (and optional)!
If you’re so inclined, you are invited to email them to us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org and we’ll share on our Facebook page. Many thanks to elder Kari Keyock for crafting the photo booth (and our willing model, Deb Philpotts, right).
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Spring flowers: If you ordered spring flowers that are used for Sunday morning’s services, thank you! Please take your flowers home with you after the service you attend. (The list of donors is included in Sunday’s bulletin, click the link above)
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HEARTS N MINDS: NO CLASS THIS SUNDAY
The Hearts N Minds adult ed class will not meet this Sunday because of the Easter worship services. It will resume gathering on Sunday, April 16, meeting from 9:45 – 10:40 a.m. in the Parlor (upstairs above the main church office). Please feel free to come even if you have not done the reading.
The group is studying a new book, Elusive Grace: Loving Your Enemies While Striving for God’s Justice by Pastor Scott Black Johnson, senior pastor at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian in Manhattan.
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RESCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW:
EASTER EGG HUNT & SPRING FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 8
10 a.m.-noon
Open to all
North lawn
Your memories of Easter Egg Hunts may include a mad dash to the hidden eggs, with the biggest and fastest kiddos getting the most “loot.”
Our planning committee has put a different spin on our upcoming event: while there will be a dash to the eggs, all of them will be empty, and each participant will turn in all of their eggs to receive the same goody bag. We also have a lot of other activities planned, like decorating eggs and other hands-on activities; bubble station; popcorn; face painting and tattoos; and a fun photo booth.
Note that this event is open to all ages and you are asked to bring your own basket.
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SISTER JOAN BOOK DISCUSSION |
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Continuing this Wednesday, April 12, Steve Simmons and Judy Smullen will facilitate an afternoon discussion of Sister Joan Chittister’s 2019 provocative book, The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage (copies of used books are available on Thrift Books and Amazon Books). We will meet in the Parlor from 4-5:30 p.m. You do not have had to attend the first session on April 5.
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On Thursday, April 20, Sister Joan will be the keynote speaker for the ‘Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lecture Series on Christian Unity’ at DeSales University. Tickets are available by contacting the Lehigh Conference of Churches (online info at bit.ly/3JqA50a or call 610-433-6421).
Sister Joan emphasizes that “Faith is invalid unless you are living it.” Using the image of the historical prophet, she asks, “What are you doing about the situation of the poor and marginalized in your own community?”
Join us for fellowship and good discussion.
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JOIN US FOR LUNCH: SUNDAY, APRIL 16
The FPCB Endowment Committee is hosting a lunch for everyone right after the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, April 16. We already have over 35 reservations – please consider joining us!
After a light meal (provided), students from Lafayette College will report on their recent trip to Washington, D.C., which was supported by a grant from the McKnight Mission Scholarship Fund.
This fund assists persons to participate in inspirational, educational or service opportunities which would both enlarge their personal sense of the cause of national/world mission service. The family of longtime member Sally Gillispie established the fund following the death of her parents, who were missionaries in Africa.
There is no charge for the lunch and for catering purposes we ask you to RSVP using this easy online sign-up: bit.ly/3Z4squ6 (you can also call the church’s main office at 610-867-5865).
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FIRST MISSION STRATEGY CONVERSATION
The first “Mission Strategy Conversation” was held on Sunday, March 26, led by our Mission Strategy Steering Committee. Many thanks to all who attended.
This group was set up recently by the Session and Trustees to guide our work in discerning the paths we can take into a vibrant future for our congregation through impactful mission and innovative use of our resources.
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THANK YOU: OUR LENTEN COLLECTIONS
Many thanks to all who were able to contribute to the collection of nonperishable foods and bedding for New Bethany Ministries, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering and Northeast Community Center.
Leslie Pohl reports that almost 140 pounds of donations were delivered to New Bethany Ministries, with plenty of additional items contributed to the other two organizations.
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HI NEIGHBORS: BACK ON APRIL 10
Special Guest: Local musician/author Dave Fry
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Our popular speakers program, Hi Neighbors, has returned in a big way – but not for this week: we’ll take Monday, April 10 off for the Easter holiday.
We’ll be back on Monday, April 17 to welcome beloved local folksinger Dave Fry, as he talks about his life in Bethlehem, reads excerpts from his new book, Welcome to Godfrey Daniels, and plays some music for us.
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Each program will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a hospitality time. The presentations will begin at 10 a.m. All are welcome - there is no fee and no pre-registration.
This spring we're partnering with the folks at Meals on Wheels, who are assisting us with the scheduling of presenters, and to promote our program. We thank them for their support.
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LAST CALL: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING |
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One Great Hour of Sharing supports individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. NOTE: The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance fund is supporting earthquake response efforts in Turkey and Syria.
This collection will be taken through this Sunday, April 9.
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We have several opportunities for worship, connection, and growth during Holy Week.
We will journey through stories that are both brutal and beautiful: Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, his final moments on the cross, and the surprising good news of his resurrection. In all of it, may we find God’s presence and deeper kinship with one another.
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All services are offered in person and livestreamed on our Facebook page and website.
Easter Sunday: April 9
- 9 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service
- 11 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service
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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, leave a message or call our answering service at 610-778-7003.
PRAYER REQUESTS...
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Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for the next week's newsletter:
WEDNESDAY at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICE
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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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THIS SUNDAY - PALM SUNDAY & COMMUNION SUNDAY
- 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
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9:00 a.m.: “Holy Ground” Contemporary service, Fellowship Hall (in person AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website) in-person followed by Coffee & Conversation in Fellowship Hall
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11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; in-person followed by Coffee & Conversation in Fellowship Hall
TUESDAYS: 6 p.m. - Handbell rehearsal, Sanctuary (middle school and older, no experience needed)
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 building and Preschool will be closed on Friday, April 7 for Good Friday and on Monday, April 10 in observance of the Easter holiday
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 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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