Friday, March 28, 2025 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:

SO MANY QUESTIONS!

Grace and Peace to you,

This Sunday we will explore the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) where Jesus is again the target of complaints because he was welcoming and eating with sinners and tax collectors. So, he tells a parable of a sheep owner noticing that one of the sheep is missing and he asks which one of you wouldn’t go after that lost sheep, not stop looking until it is found, and then carry it home inviting all to rejoice with him. 

Who do we label as lost? Those who live at the margins, those who have left the faith, those whose voice is not heard or isn’t allowed to be expressed? 

So many questions! But that is what parables invite us to have – questions! Parables are defined as short stories or sayings that have a double meaning – do you see a double meaning in this parable? What questions get raised for you in this parable? Lots to explore!

Perhaps this poem by Reverend Sara Speed called “The Good Shepherd” might answer some questions:

Jesus said, “Who among you wouldn’t leave the 99?

Who among you wouldn’t look for the one?”

Someone in the crowd probably rolled their eyes.

Someone squirmed and looked at their palms.

Someone sighed and thought to themselves,

“This man doesn’t understand the business.

What fool would leave 99 to look for one?”

But maybe God was not talking about us.

Maybe God was talking about

her own reckless love.

Maybe God was talking about

her own willingness

to turn the world upside down

for me.

Come and explore more this Sunday, March 30!

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

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

Traditional Worship Service (4 pages)

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL

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: online.flippingbook.com/view/676218946/

In order to protect their work, please refrain from sharing this link or posting it on social media.

BRINGING EASTER GREETINGS

Will you make some time on Sunday to sign Easter cards that will be available in the North Link?

These will be shared with our church members who are unable to attend services and activities at the church building.

EXPERIENCING HOLY WEEK AT FPC

Holy Week will fast be upon us. This year, we are inviting you to put yourself into the scenes of the week. What was it like for those who followed Jesus? What was it like for his close disciples and friends to bear witness? We begin on April 13, Palm Sunday. Jesus enters Jerusalem as part of a rag-tag parade. Are you in the crowd? Are you waving a branch? Are you seeing Jesus as a hopeful figure?

We move to Thursday, April 17 where we are part of Jesus’ last 24 hours of earthly life. At this 6 p.m. service in Fellowship Hall, we combine experiencing the Last Supper with hearing the story of his betrayal, arrest, torture and death on a cross. Just as the disciples experienced, we will share handwashing (optional), a light meal, and hear the story that takes us from the garden to the site of his “hearing,” his torture, the cross and death. We will extinguish candles and end in Good Friday darkness. You’ll go home with materials for guided prayer and reflection on Friday, April 18.

On Saturday, April 19, at 8 p.m. join us on Facebook for a recorded Compline Service. (This will be online only; there will not be an in-person gathering.) Bear witness to the sorrow felt by Mary, the disciples, and friends at the death of their beloved Jesus.

This will all culminate in our joyous Easter services on Sunday, April 20. What did the disciples feel then?!

Come and experience Holy Week. Put yourself in the scenes.Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS: JOIN US ON SUNDAY

We will discuss “Sacred Song: the Carmina Gadelica.” Writes J.P. Newell: “In the Celtic spiritual tradition, poetry was a powerful influence in the daily prayers that marked the lives of the residents. Sacred elements of water, fire, earth and air permeate the early poetry/prayer and the life-giving energies of the divine are deeply related to the human.”

Participants are asked to consider selecting a favorite poem/prayer or passage from this chapter that tells of the special relationship with the sacred in all of creation, the body and all of nature, and share it with the group. Reflect on how these ancient prayers may influence your prayer life.

Looking ahead: After Easter the group will begin discussion of the book, Hope: A User’s Manual, by MaryAnn McKibben Dana – available to purchase new or used.

FOR SUNDAY – JOIN US FOR BODY N SOUL

During the season of Lent, Body N Soul will be studying the theme Love God, Neighbor, Enemy. We will consider how we can embody the action of the verb love to follow the command to love God, neighbor, and enemy. While the idea of this kind of love is something that we affirm as Christians, the practice of this expansive love is complex and requires attention and intention in our daily lives. In this unit, we will look at a variety of stories in the Bible as models of putting love into practice through service and servanthood, mercy, courage, and peace.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR Standing at the Crossroads: A Conversation about Discernment Saturday, May 3 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

We seek to know what is not clear. Our hope: to step out confidently, moving from darkness to light. Yes, from doubt to clarity. Yes to an understanding of our path. Oh Lord, my anxious soul seek peace. 

EASTER FLOWERS: TIME TO ORDER!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: BES DINNER ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8

FPCB will be cooking and serving dinner for the guests at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on Tuesday, April 8.  We need volunteers to help cook, serve, clean up during and after the meal, and serve as shower monitor (which is just a simple check-in process).  If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up online using this link, below. Lindsey will be in touch with additional information a bit closer to the night we’re serving!

EASTER FUN AHEAD!

We’re also looking for a few volunteers that day – contact us at 610-867-5865 or info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LEHIGH VALLEY FUNDRAISER & COMMUNITY EVENT

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! Our church has a team of women raising funds and competing -Donna Taggart, Allison Masters, Tracy Samuelson, and Polly Beste, with Pastor Lindsey serving as their coach and lead cheerleader.

To support our team—FPCB Hammering for Housing—and HabitatLV, you can make a gift online using the button, below. You can also write a check to the church with She Nailed It! on the memo line. We have to raise a minimum of $1,500 by April 18, but we’d love to hit $3,000 by the competition date. (Gifts beyond the initial $1,500 goal can be accepted through May 4.) Any support is much appreciated!

FPCB MISSION STATEMENT T-SHIRTS!

We are excited to be taking pre-orders for FPCB Mission Statement T-shirts! This will be a great way to show our presence in the community at events.

HI NEIGHBORS: ANOTHER GREAT PROGRAM COMING

We'll present nine programs through May 12 (no program on Monday, April 21 because of the Easter holiday).

CONSIDER JOINING THE NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP

The next Helping Hands volunteer trip is scheduled for the week of May 3-10 (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!

The deadline to register is April 14 – for more information and details about cost (assistance is available), contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or call the church office at 610-867-5865.

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

-8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)

-9 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service, Fellowship Hall – in person only

-10 – 11 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome

-10:10 – 11 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational faith formation, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome

-11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)

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.