Friday, July 19, 2019
SUNDAY SERVICES:
9:00 a.m. Contemporary ∙ 10:30 a.m. Traditional
Join us for “Lemonade on the Lawn”, our hospitality time from 10-10:30 a.m.
on the back lawn
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A MESSAGE FROM REV. SUE BENNETCH: Safe and Grateful
FPCB’s Bereavement Support Group met last Sunday at our new location – The Eagle Room at Kirkland Village Marketplace.
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We enjoyed a nice lunch and the company of compassionate friends who shared their feelings, new insights, surprises and experiences as a person who has lost a loved one. Meeting once a month brings us together and we feel safe and grateful that we can speak about whatever we want and feel the support and love that a group like this brings.
Each month the group leaves with a sense of accomplishment as we find that going through the solitude of grief does not mean we are alone.
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While each of our circumstances is different, and some losses are more recent than others in the group, we find a special connection during our time together helps us realize that our new life does have meaning and purpose.
We chose to move our group from a restaurant in the city to Kirkland Village because we have several residents tell us that they are unable to get around well enough to travel to our previous place. This was our first time together in our new setting, and we were very happy to welcome a few Kirkland residents.
After a look at our calendars we saw that August was filled with plans and appointments. Therefore we will not have a meeting in August.
For those who suffer a loss, we invite you to attend our next meeting on Sunday, September 15. The Eagle Room is on the first floor of Kirkland Village. It is easy to get to and easy to find. Someone from our group will greet you at the main entrance or at the door leading into the Marketplace.
If you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a loved one, we would love you to join us. If you have any questions, please call me at the church (610-867-5865) or send me an email at
sbennetch@fpc-bethlehem.org
.
Blessings,
Sue Bennetch
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
FIRST LESSON:
Psalm 42:1-8
SECOND LESSON
:
Luke 8:26-39
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·
This week’s sermon:
Out of Bounds
by Rev. J.C. Austin
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SPECIAL SPEAKER ON SUNDAY, JULY 21
Longtime missionary - and a former member of our Church - Beverley Harrar will be speaking at both worship services this Sunday, July 21 about her travel to Yaounde, Cameroon, as part of a Refuge 139 project which focused on developing a vacation Bible school and curriculum.
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Beverley's trip was partially funded by the McKnight Mission Scholarship Fund, which has made 77 grants for more than $65,000 over its history. The McKnight Fund was established to honor the work of Jim and Minnie McKnight, Presbyterian missionaries who worked in Sudan and were longtime members of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem.
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IN MEMORIAM
Rev.
Dr. Bryan Jay Cannon, aged 90, passed away on July 8 in Houston. He joined the FPCB staff in January 1964 and led the development of Koinonia groups and the Inquirers classes.
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YOU’RE INVITED: CHORAL CONCERT
FPCB Music Director David Macbeth and his daughter Aixla will be attending the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) King's College Course next week. This is a week-long church music festival presented by RSCM, and hosted by King's College in Willkes-Barre, and St. Stephen's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral.
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The festival brings together over 200 singers from ages 8-80, representing numerous denominations and congregations from 20 states. There are often attendees from other countries as well.
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The guest conductor this year is Robert McCormick, Director of Music Ministries at
St. Mark's Cathedral, Philadelphia.
You are invited to attend the closing choral evensong on Sunday, July 28 at 3 p.m. at St. Stephen’s,
35 S Franklin St, Wilkes-Barre.
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ALSO ON SUNDAY, JULY 28…
“JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR”
AT NCC
Thank you to those responded to our invitation to join a group to see
Jesus Christ Superstar
on Sunday, July 28. We quickly put together a group of 20 to attend the show at NCC on that date.
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Rev. J.C. Austin will lead a post-show discussion of the themes of the musical, for any audience members who would like to participate.
If you did not get in on the group but would like to attend, you can purchase an individual ticket for the production by visiting
ncctix.org
or calling
484-484-3412. Limited tickets are available for
July 28; other show dates are July 24-27, July 31, and Aug. 1-4.
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It will be offered by Northampton Community College’s professional Summer Theatre program, in the college’s Lipkin Theatre (3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem).
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COLLECTION OF SMALL TOILETRIES
Red collection bins are now available in the North Link and Kirk Center for the disaster kit toiletries that you have gathered from hotels, motels and other vacation spots.
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They need to be the small size to fit into the buckets for people who have been flooded, burned or otherwise displaced due to natural disasters. Thank you for supporting this effort by the Mission Committee to assist their partner, Outreach Depot.
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“WE GOT YOUR BACK” OPPORTUNITY
Here is #AnActiveFaith opportunity to reach out to the community, by donating new socks and underwear for school-aged children and/or volunteering at the distribution event on Saturday, Aug. 17.
This is part of the “We Got Your Back” program established by Wesley Church to support Outreach Depot, hosting its 7th annual backpack program this summer, meeting the needs of many children in our community.
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Children who attend the event will receive filled backpacks and new socks and underwear, as well as haircuts, hearing screenings, vision screenings, a tour of a patrol car, Cops N’ Kids book distribution, and dental screenings.
The backpack program has increased partnerships with area agencies and school districts to help the neediest of our community be able to go back to school without worry. Each child is treated with an open heart, and they leave knowing that they are loved and valued by the more than 100 volunteers who help us on the day of the event.
You can help by donating packages of new socks and underwear in the bins in the North Link and the Kirk Center (packages will be opened and divided into four pair per child).
If you would like to help the day of the event, please use the
online sign-up.
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Send us your news and photos to share:
Deadline for newsletter:
Wednesday at noon
* * *
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
THIS SUNDAY
- 9:00 a.m. - Contemporary Service, Kirk Center
- “Lemonade on the Lawn” between each service; join us for light refreshments and fellowship on the back lawn (inclement weather: Fellowship Hall)
- 10:30 a.m. - Traditional Service, Sanctuary
- Childcare for Infants and Toddlers, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Room A3
TUESDAY:
Crafters,
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Room 408;
WEDNESDAY:
Overcomers Outreach, 7 p.m., Room 408
THURSDAY:
Al-Anon Family Group
, 7 p.m., Room 212
FIRST SUNDAYS (next: August 4):
Blood Pressure Screenings, between services, North Link
SECOND SUNDAYS
(
next: September 15; no meeting in August
):
Bereavement Group
gathering; this is a new date going forward, and there will be a new location.
See the Pastor's Message above.
FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS (next: August 6):
Successful Aging, 10:30 a.m.,
Room 412
THIRD WEDNESDAY (next: August 21):
Dementia Caregiver Support Group, 1 p.m.,
Room 206 (PW Room)
THIRD THURSDAY (next: August 15):
Prayers & Squares, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Room 408
(bring your lunch and join us to create quilts and prayer shawls)
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:
We are open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
As always, you can leave a voicemail message with the church any time at 610-867-5865 or contact us at
info@fpc-bethlehem.org
. I
f you have an urgent pastoral need, please call our answering service at
610-778-7003.
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:
Melody Engel, Hospital Ministrants, phone: 484-695-4905 or
email
Phil Fair, Prayer Ministrants, phone: 610-867-8361 or
email
BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
:
If members of the FPCB congregation would like to schedule weddings, baptisms or funerals, please contact
The Rev. Sue Bennetch
at 610-867-5865, ext. 209.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM
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First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 |
info@fpc-bethlehem.org
The Rev. Sue Bennetch
, Pastoral Care Associate: ext. 209;
Cristy Mette,
Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;
Andrea Barbehenn
, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956;
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