Friday, July 29, 2022 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICE
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
10:00 a.m. Summer Worship in the Sanctuary
(* also available on our website and via phone)
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MESSAGE FROM THE REV. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:
Reflecting God’s light and love
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I have a go-to playlist (think digital mix tape) for when I’m feeling a little wandering or weary in my faith or my ministry; the nine songs on it often help me find solid ground again and remind me of our calling to be people of community, people of shared hope and resilience, deep love, justice-seeking and good trouble-making.
Needless to say, I’m listening to it often these days with so much swirling in the world around us. Recently, I noticed the words to one song in particular all over again, as if it was the first time I’d heard it. A Beautiful Noise by Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys begins and ends with these words:
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I have a voice
Started out as a whisper, turned into a scream
Made a beautiful noise
Shoulder to shoulder, marching in the street
When you're all alone, it's a quiet breeze
But when you band together, it's a choir of thunder and rain,
now we have a choice 'cause I have a voice
It’s an anthem about what’s possible when we collectively offer our individual hearts and hands and voices to the common good:
You've got to put one foot in front of another
With a hand in a hand holding on to each other
Go on and rejoice 'cause you have a voice
It is loud, it is clear
It's stronger than your fear
It's believing you belong
It's calling out the wrong
If you want to check out the whole song, you can see and hear Keys and Carlile perform it here.
Of the nine songs on my playlist, only one is a piece of church music; the rest are “secular” songs with a whole heap of spirit. I’m curious about what songs might be on your playlist - real or imaginary. What pieces of non-churchy music uplift and encourage you, remind you of what life and faith are all about, bring you peace, remind you of who you are?
May we not forget that though the church is God’s (not ours), the church is certainly not the only place God shows up! By the power of the Holy Spirit and in the way of Jesus, there are other communities and other places (often without any buildings at all) that reflect God’s light and love. And sometimes they are more church than church.
I know I’ve been to church at an Indigo Girls concert; by the Guadalupe River in the Texas hill country; around a restaurant table full of chips and salsa, margaritas and friends; in belly-deep laughter with our Afghan friends.
May we be willing to see and hear and learn from God no matter where God shows up!
Blessings for the journey,
Lindsey
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Click the link to read the verses
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- This week’s sermon: Spirit of Unity 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
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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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Join us after Sunday worship…
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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NOTE: If you are bringing baked goods to share, please put them in the cart in the North Link – the main kitchen is not available.
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On Sunday, August 7 following Summer Worship, we’ll gather for our final Table Talk of the summer. Please join us for a Baby Shower to celebrate the new addition that Mursal and Baz will welcome to their family in just a couple of months!
Baz, Mursal, Taib, and Bahar will join us for food, games, and gifts!
If you’d like to purchase something they need, we’ve helped them make a registry at Target.
The registry can be found online here:
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You can also find and print the registry in any Target store at the kiosk by Guest Services. You’ll need to search for the baby registry under the name Mursal Wardak, and let them know upon check out that it's for her registry. They can scan the barcode on the printed copy when you check out. (Or you can email Lindsey to let her know what you purchased, and she can mark it off the registry list.)
If you’d like an option that’s quick and easy, gift cards to Target or Walmart would be greatly appreciated. If you’re unable to attend, feel free to mail or drop off any gifts or gift cards labeled for Mursal & Family (or with Lindsey’s name), and we’ll make sure they get to the event.
Finally, if you’re willing to help with food, setup, or clean-up, please email Lindsey to be put on the volunteer email list, and someone will be in touch shortly.
We look forward to a fun, meaningful celebration with our whole congregation on August 7!
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Afghan Adjustment Act: Advocacy Reminder
Letters to our Congressional legislators encouraging the passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act are due this Sunday, July 31 (we told you about this initiative in the July 15 newsletter).
There will be a basket on a table in the narthex, just before entering the sanctuary. Please place your letters in it before the service since we’ll offer a special word of blessing over them as we dedicate the morning’s offering.
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SHHH… IT’S A SECRET!
If you are so inclined: we are proposing a card shower for Emy Cliff, who will celebrate her 100th birthday tomorrow (Saturday, July 30).
You can send to her at
Briarholme 207
Kirkland Village
Bethlehem, PA 18017
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LOOKING FOR SUNDAY MORNING HELP |
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We are looking for a couple of 'on call' volunteers to assist us in providing child care on Sunday mornings. The hours are 9:45-11:30 a.m., or until the last child leaves. There are always two workers present. These are sub positions, in case our regular staff is unable to work.
Volunteers need to be at least 16 years old, and will need to get their clearances, for which there is no cost. You will get the assistance you need to complete them.
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2022 LEHIGH VALLEY PRIDE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
On Sunday, August 21 from 12:00-6:00 p.m., we’ll host a booth at the 2022 Lehigh Valley Pride Festival alongside friends from First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. We’ll need volunteers to help with setup and clean up and with offering a warm welcome to festival-goers who stop by our booth for goodies, information, and conversation. We hope to have enough volunteers to cover two- hour shifts.
It’s a great way to share God’s love and meet new friends. (Plus, it’s a ton of fun!) If you’d like to help, please email Lindsey
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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, front of building (west side)
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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: 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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