Friday, June 16, 2023 Newsletter
SUMMER WORSHIP
NEW TIME! 10:00 a.m.
NEW LOCATION! In the Sanctuary
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: A LOT TO CELEBRATE
This weekend has several notable dynamics to it that I want to highlight.
First of all, Sunday is Father’s Day. Like Mother’s Day, it’s a day in which we celebrate the fathers in our lives, especially our own fathers if we are able. We give thanks for their dedication, their love, their strength and tenacity and sacrifice, and their grace in raising us.
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But Father’s Day is also a complicated and even difficult day for many people. For some, it is a day when grief makes a special and pronounced visit, as they remember a father who has died. For others, it is a day of particular pain because of family history or current tensions.
This Sunday, we will be touching on all of these threads in the prayers during the service. So, whatever Father’s Day brings up for you, there is a place for it in our worship this Sunday.
Second, Monday is Juneteenth, and the Church will be closed in observance of that holiday (the Preschool will be open). Juneteenth is a relatively new federal holiday, but it is an important one.
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It celebrates the proclamation by a Union Army general in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 that the U.S. government had freed the enslaved people in the Confederacy. Texas, being the most remote state of the Confederacy, was the last place where they were unaware that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation.
And so we celebrate this day as a crucial day in the history of the United States in terms of repudiating the sin of slavery and living more fully into the promises and ideals of freedom in our founding documents. If you don’t know much about Juneteenth, which has been celebrated since 1866 (!), I commend the resources of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture to you, which you can access here at this link.
And finally, this weekend is a personal celebration for me with my son Liam’s graduation from high school and some festivities surrounding that, so I will not be in worship this Sunday but will look forward to seeing you all after the weekend!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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This week’s sermon: The Gospel According to Ted Lasso: Fight Forward by the Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton
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We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org
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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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NEW TIME! Child care will be available from 9:45 - 11:15 a.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.
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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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LEMONADE ON THE LAWN
Join us after worship for our social time, “Lemonade on the Lawn” – everyone is welcome to come and connect.
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We are looking for other groups or families to take on the hosting duties.
Basically, you will need to provide a few treats to eat and to get the beverages, cups and napkins, ice, and coolers out of the church kitchen. Clean-up is as simple as returning those items to the kitchen.
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It doesn’t have to be a “formal” group, like a K group or the choir – it can be a family or group of friends. It’s easy to sign up on this online form or call the church office at 610-867-5865. We’ll also have a paper sign-up form at each event.
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If you (or someone you know) is graduating this spring,
please share their name, school, and degree (if applicable)
610-867-5865. We’ll recognize them in a future worship service
and in the newsletter.
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INQUIRERS CLASS
We had a wonderful group at last Sunday's Inquirer's class, and enjoyed a lively discussion. We'll meet one more time together, and then each will determine if they choose to join First Pres at this time.
We love to see this interest!
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We’ll be celebrating Pride Night with the IronPigs on Thursday, June 29 at 7 p.m. We’d love for you to join us for a fun evening at Coca-Cola Park. Tickets are $12 and include $2 of food credit.
If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to Lindsey by this Tuesday, June 20. You
can also call the church office at 610-867-5865 and leave your name, contact info, and how many tickets.
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ASSISTING AT OUR SERVICES
If you are interested in reading at one of our summer services, please sign up through the link provided, below.
You will be sent the scripture several days before the service, so you can prepare. If you have any trouble signing up on this form, please drop us an email. |
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KNOW ANY COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS?
The Barry Brandt Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to provide income for scholarship assistance to students, with first preference to members of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem who have financial need and demonstrated scholastic ability.
For an application form and more information, please contact us.
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CHEERS TO THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE
Our hardworking Property Committee took a moment from their recent meeting to gather for a group photo.
From left: Rebecca Angione (temporary Facilities Manager), Bud Newton, Bob Hunsicker, Rich Gorton, Glenn Rossetti, George Bickford, Kevin Konczyk (Facilities Manager), George Campbell (in the background; he is the church Treasurer, but not a PC member) and Dan Magocs. Sue Farber, Allison Masters, and Kristina Gumm (Preschool liaison) were absent.
Thanks for all they do to keep our facilities shiny and bright!
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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
- 9:45-11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
- 10:00 a.m.: Summer Worship, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestream on Facebook Live and our website
- 11:15 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn, our social time – all are welcome; front lawn (in case of bad weather, inside in Fellowship Hall)
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:
For Monday, June 19: In honor of the Juneteenth federal holiday, the church office and building will be closed. The Preschool will be open. We will re-open on Tuesday,
June 20 for normal hours.
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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