Friday, January 28, 2022 Newsletter
SUNDAY SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 30
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE
10:00 a.m. COMBINED WORSHIP SERVICE
(also available on our website and *via phone)
followed by ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION (info below)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN:
SUNDAY IS OUR ANNUAL MEETING
As hopefully you already know, this Sunday we are holding the Annual Meetings of the Congregation and Corporation of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, immediately following the Combined Worship service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
As I mentioned in my newsletter article last week, the most important thing we will “do” is elect a new class of Elders, Deacons, and Trustees, as well as members of the Congregational Nominating Committee for next year. But before we talk about what else happens in these meetings, I want to explain briefly why we do these meetings at all and why there are actually two meetings in one day.
First, while we often talk about the “Annual Meeting” happening in January each year, it is actually plural: we hold the Annual Meetings of the Congregation and Corporation of the church. What does that mean?
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Well, the Annual Meeting of the congregation is pretty much what it sounds like: the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which is a crucial part of our church Constitution, requires the congregation to meet at least once a year, and so our practice here at First Presbyterian of Bethlehem is to do that around the end of January. |
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This allows the Congregational Nominating Committee to do its work in nominating new officers in the fall and present the slate for election at the beginning of the new calendar year. This is the primary purpose of the Annual Meeting of the Congregation.
In the Presbyterian Church, the congregation decides very few things directly apart from who is called to leadership in the congregation; the Session, made up of Elders serving in three-year terms, makes almost all of the decisions in the life of the church (the pastors, on the other hand, really only get to decide the content of the worship services on their own!). And so while the Session will make a report to the congregation in the meeting, the congregation will only very rarely be asked to take any action in response to that report.
So what is the “Corporation,” then? Well, in the United States churches are religious communities, of course, but they are also corporate nonprofit organizations that have the legal power to own property, make investments in the financial markets, and so on. In the Presbyterian Form of Government, the trustees of this corporation can be the Session itself, or the Trustees can be other individuals elected to serve by the congregation, but under the authority and direction of the Session.
In many ways, it is easiest to think of the Trustees as a sort of “super-committee” of the Session: the Session essentially delegates operational authority to the Trustees in terms of the management of the church property, endowments and other invested and reserve funds, insurance issues, some legal matters, etc., but the Session reviews their work and has the final say on it.
Thus, we will actually hold both meetings this Sunday, Congregation and Corporation. We will actually recess the Congregational meeting temporarily in order to convene the Corporation meeting, at which point the President of the Board of Trustees will moderate the meeting for reports about their work as well as the 2021 financial report and a presentation of the 2022 annual operating budget of the church.
Then we will adjourn the Corporation meeting and resume the Congregational meeting once more. You will have opportunities in both meetings, after each report has been made, to ask any questions about those reports, and we will do our best to answer those. I look forward to being with you this Sunday, either in-person or online!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR SUNDAY:
- The 10 a.m. Combined service will be offered in person in the Sanctuary, as well as livestreamed on our Facebook page and website
- The Annual Meeting will be held after the worship service (at approximately 11:00 a.m.), both in person in the Sanctuary, and via Zoom
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To join the Zoom meeting: bit.ly/3KPboKz
- Meeting ID: 848 4170 9518 (you do not need a password)
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FOR BOTH WORSHIP AND ANNUAL MEETING: 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. You can stay on the line and wait for the Annual Meeting to begin.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Scripture lesson
Click the link to read the verses
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- This week’s sermon: Love: That’s What’s Happenin’ by The Rev. J.C. Austin
- 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 for Sunday
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Copies of the agenda, biographies and Annual Report
will be available Sunday morning to pick up.
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Since sending the names and biographies of the nominees for Elder, Deacon, Trustee and Nominating Committee member, we have added two additional nominees for Elder: Jan Bickford and Donna Taggart. Please review their information along with that of all our other nominees: |
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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Everyone over the age of 2 is required to properly wear a mask covering the nose and mouth; double masks or N95 are recommended.
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Everyone eligible is expected to be fully vaccinated, which now means the initial course of vaccination plus a booster, if you are attending any in-person events at the church.
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Please maintain a minimum of a 6 foot distance between household groups/pods.
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Child care will be available from 9:45 - 11:00 a.m.; please ask an usher for directions to that space.
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We will 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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SUNDAY’S FELLOWSHIP & FORMATION HOUR –
New Time! Via Zoom only!
For this Sunday only, Hearts N Minds, our adult ed class, will begin at a new time – 4:00 p.m. The children’s class is not scheduled to meet. Next week’s class (February 6) will return at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom only.
The group is finalizing its discussion of the book, The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential, by N.T. Wright.
For this Sunday you are asked to Chapters 4 and 5 in The Case for the Psalms; please also read “The Beautiful Creation” (Psalms 103 and 104).
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To join online for the video class, use this Zoom link: bit.ly/3Kq7vM6
- To join on the phone for audio only, call 929-205-6099, then enter the meeting ID: 857 2714 8575, then press # and then # again.
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NEW DISCIPLESHIP OFFERING: THREE-PART SERIES
Wednesdays: Feburary 2, 9 and 23
7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom
The Discipleship Committee is offering a new series, What Does It Mean to Confess the Faith Today?
“Jesus is Lord.” That was the first creed of the church, but it was hardly the last. From that simple affirmation, a large (and sometimes bewildering) assortment of confessions has unfolded over the centuries, from the Nicene and Apostles Creeds through the Presbyterian “Brief Statement of Faith” to the 2020 “Reclaiming Jesus” affirmation. Our Book of Confessions alone has a dozen of them.
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Why so many? How do they come to be? Why do we use them in worship? Why have confessions and creeds at all? You’re invited to join Lindsey Altvater Clifton and Steve Simmons as we consider what confessions are, what they do, and what they can mean for us today. |
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To join online for the video class, use this Zoom ling: bit.ly/3aeqLLD
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To join on the phone for audio only, call 929-205-6099, then enter the meeting ID: 385 500 4307, then press # and then # again.
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WE WELCOME OUR NEW FAMILY
We are thrilled to have welcomed our Afghan family to the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday afternoon! Baz Mohammad (dad) and Mursal Wardak (mom) along with their 6 year old son Mohammad Taib and 2 year old daughter Hosai Bahar are settling into their apartment in Allentown. (There was an error in their paperwork, so we were initially expecting two boys; we’re already learning that refugee support requires a great deal of flexibility!)
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The FPCB Family Support Team includes:
Lindsey Altvater Clifton (co-lead)
Deb Philpotts (co-lead)
Jennifer Cole
Elizabeth Conard
Alesia Dietrich|
Melody Engel
Rich Hooper
Cindy Simmons
Donna Taggart
Dan Watts
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A few team members worked on cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, making repairs, replacing blinds, and treating icy sidewalks at the family’s apartment last weekend in preparation for their arrival. Church members donated towels, blankets, kitchen supplies, toys, kids’ books, a vacuum cleaner, and a television to help us make sure that the family had almost all of the essentials covered for their arrival.
We were also able to meet the family’s friend and US Tie, Kalim, who is a doctoral student at Lehigh University (he’s working on a PhD in Special Education). Kalim helped us with grocery shopping to stock the family’s refrigerator and pantry with culturally appropriate foods.
The day after arriving, the family had a long intake meeting with Bethany Christian Services to learn more about the support they’ll receive, followed by initial doctor visits on Thursday, and a trip to purchase a cell phone on Friday. Next week, we’ll help them with internet service, grocery shopping, and the laundromat. In coming weeks, we’ll take them shopping for additional clothing, begin working on school enrollment, and help them start an employment matching program.
Baz Mohommad and Mursal Wardak are already so incredibly grateful for our support! Along with BCS, one of our roles as co-sponsors is to help ensure the family can eat and pay their bills until they receive their Social Security and SNAP benefit cards, find employment, and reach some level of income stability on their own.
The Mission Committee has already committed $1100 to help subsidize the family’s rent, and we’ll be asking the congregation for financial gifts very soon. (More on the financial needs next week!)
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AARP TAX HELP UPDATE
If you are interested in getting help with your 2021 tax return, you can call AARP at 484-935-3472 to schedule an appointment. That is the only way to get assistance for this year.
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WILL YOU SHARE YOUR INPUT?
As you hopefully know, FPCB is a part of the Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG). One aspect of BIG’s emphasis on local food justice issues is support for the ever-evolving Bethlehem Food Co-Op.
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The co-op is a group of neighbors working to bring a community-owned, ‘everyone welcome’ grocery store to 250 E. Broad St. The projected opening is in first quarter of 2023. |
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As part of the planning process, they are seeking input from community members about the types of items to include in the store. A short online survey in both English and Spanish has been created.
We ask you to take a few minutes to fill out the short survey at bit.ly/3rkaoFn, and to share it with friends, neighbors, co-workers and family in the Lehigh Valley; responses are due by this Monday, January 31. Thank you for your help!
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CHURCH OFFICE UPDATE
The Building Re-Opening Task Force has decided to suspend our volunteer receptionists staffing the office, for the time being. Please contact the staff person you need to speak with, to set up an appointment – staff are working remotely as much as possible. If you don’t know who to contact, email us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or leave a message at 610-867-5865.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to Covid restrictions the building's South entrance is only open for Sunday morning worship; it is locked at all other times. You will need to enter the building using the Kirk Center (northeast) entrance (or the person you are meeting with can let you in the South entrance).
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A NOTE ABOUT CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS...
Should we need to close the building and/or cancel events or office hours, we will make those announcements on our website (fpc-bethlehem.org), Facebook page, and WFMZ (both on wfmz.com and on their TV announcements). Messages will also be placed on the church phone, 610-867-5865.
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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 and they will contact us. You can also contact Phil
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
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NEW TIME! 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
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10 a.m.: Combined Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; see below, to join us online or via phone
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11 a.m.: Annual Meeting, in-person in the Sanctuary AND via Zoom – see details above
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NEW TIME! 4:00 p.m.: Fellowship & Formation Hour – see details above for Hearts N Minds (Kids Formation Class will not meet)
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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the Combined service AND the Annual Meeting (stay on the line for meeting)
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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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 office is not currently staffed with a receptionist. The building's South entrance is locked during the week so you will need to use the Kirk Center (northeast) entrance (or the person you are meeting with can let you in the South entrance).
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.
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
Cristy Mette, Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;
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