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Friday, March 13, 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: 
Caring for the Most Vulnerable


Grace and peace to you,


I don’t know about you, but the world feels very chaotic to me right now. A war that no one wants. Cruelty abounding at the local, state and national levels towards the most vulnerable among us: immigrants, people without homes, the LGBTQIA+ community, people who are poor and need government assistance and the list can go on. A time of transition for our own church and our mission and ministries.

In the midst of transition, people are finding hope (look next week for a summary of your answers to the questions we asked on Feb. 15), folks are still volunteering, we are still loving our neighbors and caring for the most vulnerable among us (check out the growing number of hearts on the 1,510 Acts of Service display).

Our faith in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit is telling us something good through the way we are trying to see the image of God in each face, imitating Jesus and listening to the Holy Spirit, particularly as it comes to those who are experiencing heightened cruelty through the actions of government and by extension, other public and private figures. 

This Sunday, we will explore how throughout Scripture – prophets and Jesus – protected and cared for the vulnerable. Our passage from Matthew shows Jesus welcoming children when the disciples would have cast them aside. Children were among the least respected groups of people in ancient times. We could say that even now. 

The statistics in Jesus’ time are appalling: In True to Our Native Land, Michael Joseph Brown provides context for the reality of children in first century Israel. He writes:


“We should dismiss ideas of childhood bliss when we read this passage. Childhood in antiquity was difficult. Fifty percent of children died before the age of five. They were the weakest members of society. They were fed last and received the smallest and least desirable portions of food. They were the first to suffer from famine, war, disease, and natural disasters. Many, some say more than 70 percent, would have lost one or more parents before reaching puberty. A minor had the same status as an enslaved person, and it was not until adulthood that they would be considered a free person.”

Our Deuteronomy passage reminds us to care for the most vulnerable among us – the immigrant, the widow, the orphan because we were once slaves in Egypt. We have been the vulnerable, haven’t we? So I wonder, if we have felt the protection and care of Jesus and been assured by the prophets, can we extend that care and protection to those most vulnerable in our place and time. 

How have we as a community of faith done this already, and what might be on our hearts right now in the way of care and protection for those vulnerable populations experiencing cruelty and hatred and dangerous policies, as we contemplate our hopes and visions and dreams for the now and the future? How might we embody this sense of care and protection? Let’s explore together this Sunday.

On another note, I want to again highlight the two rooms we have set up – a creative space for you in Room 206 and a contemplative space in the Library. Check the rooms out and see how each room might be a source of Lenten practice for you.

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

_______________________

[1] True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary, edited by Brian K. Blount, Gay L. Byron, and Emerson B. Powery, (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2024). 120

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

Traditional Worship Service (7 pages)

FOR THIS SUNDAY


BRINGING EASTER GREETINGS: Will you make some time on Sunday to sign Easter cards that will be available in Fellowship Hall the next two Sundays? These will be shared with our church members who are unable to attend services and activities at the church building.


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

JOIN US ON THE JOURNEY: MISSION STUDY


As we prepare to transition from our current church building, we recognize that our faith is deeply intertwined with the space where we have worshipped, served, and gathered. To honor this history, the Mission Study Committee invites all church members to participate in “Our Stories in Pictures and Words.”

We are asking you to share an image (past or present) that represents a “sacred intersection” of your life with First Pres, along with some words that capture its importance. You can see some samples here: firstpresbethlehem.smugmug.com, and we’ll have some to share at Sunday worship.

As part of this project, join with others for a time of discussion on Saturday, March 21 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall or on Zoom (bit.ly/4lrkosh).

We'll gather in small groups to reflect on your feelings about our spaces and the loss we are facing. Bring your picture and share what it means to you - or you can also get help to take your photo and share your story. Please let us know if you plan to attend (info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865).

LENTEN STUDIES: DEVOTIONAL AND DAILY STUDY

Beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing through the Second Sunday of Easter, we invite you to engage with this weekly devotional that follows the scriptures.

Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Lenten devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices.

We will also provide a weekly list of questions (print copies will also be available at Sunday services), and a daily reading on our Facebook page.

HEARTS N MINDS: CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION

BODY N SOUL: ALL ARE WELCOME!

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

You will have your choice of a hydrangea ($25), tulip ($12) and daffodil ($12), and you can specify “in honor of” or “in memory of”.

Special envelopes will be available in the Narthex and on the Fellowship Hall info table, or you can use the one in your pack of envelopes (or call the church office). Orders are due by Sunday, March 22.

K GROUP GATHERING: APPY HOUR COMING ON MARCH 22

All current members of K Groups as well as anyone wishing to know more about this program are invited to “Appy Hour” – a gathering over beverages and appetizers – on Sunday, March 22 from 2-4 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

HI NEIGHBORS: COMING THIS MONDAY!

Our popular speakers series, Hi Neighbors, will be back with a new nine-week series starting this Monday, March 16.

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.

The first session will feature a presentation about the Bethlehem Mounted Police, a unit of the Bethlehem Police Department since 2009. The complete schedule is below – please help us spread the word!

FOOD DONATIONS: A YEAR-ROUND INITIATIVE


Many thanks for the generous donations that continue to be given for our year-round food collection! Sadly there are so many neighbors who are in need of food – for the March collection, the donated items will go to Northeast Community Center’s Choice food pantry (pictured). Their program serves over 300 families a year.

LOOKING AHEAD… EASTER EGG HUNT FUN!

Easter Egg Hunt & Spring Festival (10-11:30 a.m.)
Saturday, March 28 (rain date: Saturday, April 4)

This family-friendly event is open to all. The event will begin in the Kirk Center and include face painting, temporary tattoos, a photo booth, and other hands-on activities. Then we’ll head outside for age-specific egg hunts (including one for adults!).

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.”

Others are needed to help that day – for set up and clean up crews, and folks to manage the hands on activity stations. Use this easy online sign up:

2026 MONTREAT YOUTH CONFERENCE

The cost for each participant is $500, thanks to financial support from our Presbytery. If interested in additional funding from First Pres, contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org and the request will be considered by the FPCB Fund Committee. 

Register at fpcallentown.org/montreat2026 by Sunday, March 22. Full payment will be requested next month.

CONSIDER JOINING THE NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP


The next Helping Hands volunteer trip is scheduled for the week of April 11-18 (Saturday to Saturday). The group will be traveling back to New Bern, NC, to address the damage from recent storms and floods. Work is typically done on housing repairs and upgrades - all skill levels are needed!


For more information and details about cost (assistance is available), contact Carol Bennicoff at cabenn@ptd.net.

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)

 
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.