Friday, October 1, 2021 Newsletter
COMMUNION SUNDAY SERVICES IN-PERSON AND
ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
9:00 a.m. Contemporary
NEW TIME! 11:15 a.m. Traditional*
(* also available on our website and via phone)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: CELEBRATING SUE BENNETCH
As we previously announced, this Sunday, October 3, is Sue Bennetch’s last day as our Pastoral Associate for Congregational Care.
Sue is beginning her very well-earned retirement after that, so this Sunday will be one of great celebration and thanksgiving for Sue and for the powerful ministry of care that she has exercised here at First Pres.
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Please make every effort to be a part of that celebration that will take place after the 11:15 a.m. worship service (at approximately 12:30 p.m., outside in front of the church building); there will be refreshments, a short program to recognize Sue, and then opportunities to say your personal thanks and well wishes to her.
Remember that we are collecting a retirement gift for her from the congregation, so if you have not yet sent your gift to Sue in to the Church Office, please do so immediately.
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You can make a gift of any amount by sending in a check or making an electronic gift using the online giving portal (fpc-bethlehem.org/give); in either case, please be sure to indicate “Bennetch gift” in the memo line (or notes box, if online) so that your gift is directed appropriately.
Let me also take this opportunity to answer a few questions related to Sue’s transition out of this position and how the church will be adjusting to that.
Q1: Will Sue still be able to participate in the life of the church?
Yes! In the Presbyterian Church, retired pastors are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries from their ministry once they are retired, but the current pastor can invite them to participate to whatever extent she or he sees fit. I have already invited Sue to continue making First Pres her church home, as I did with Keith Brown, so she will be welcome to participate in the life of the church as much as she wants.
Q2: Will Sue be available to conduct weddings, funerals, etc.?
The Presbyterian Church’s constitution is explicit that retired pastors may not provide pastoral services to members of their former congregations without invitation from the Moderator of Session, and First Pres requires that a current pastor of the church officiate all worship services, including weddings and funerals.
Furthermore, the point of retirement is to retire, so we want to respect Sue’s desire to step back from the demands of pastoral ministry. That said, if you feel strongly about Sue participating in such a service, you can let me know and we will check with her on whether she’s available to play a role (reading Scripture, offering prayers, etc.) and invite to her to participate if she is.
Q3: How will we organize pastoral care going forward?
The Session is looking for an Interim Pastoral Associate who can take up the position that Sue held, while they consider what the best pastoral staffing configuration will look like going forward. We have already begun reaching out to solicit names for potential candidates in the area.
In the meantime, you can always contact either myself or Lindsey at any time with pastoral concerns. If it is an urgent situation, the fastest way to reach us is by calling the church answering service at 610-778-7003; they will notify whichever of us is on call and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
For less time-sensitive concerns, you can always send us an email to me at JAustin@FPC-Bethlehem.org or Lindsey at LClifton@FPC-Bethlehem.org. Once the Session has found our Interim Pastoral Associate, we will announce that, as well as long-term plans for pastoral care as those unfold.
Again, I hope to see you at Sue’s retirement celebration on Sunday, and please keep her in your prayers, as she has kept so many of us in hers for so long, as she transitions into this new chapter of her life.
Grace and Peace,
J.C.
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FOR THIS SUNDAY
Scripture lesson:
Click the link to read the verses
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· This week's sermon: Neighborhood Church: Making Partner by The Rev. J.C. Austin
· We post each week’s sermon
(audio and text) on our website:
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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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Everyone over the age of 2 is required to wear a mask.
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – please ask a greeter for directions to that space.
- We will offer nametags for folks to wear – you can pick up as you enter the worship space; please write your first name.
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For those interested…
If you have challenges hearing the Traditional service in the Sanctuary, we have a solution: headsets that tap directly into the sound system. Ask an usher for assistance.
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Communion Sunday
If you would like to celebrate while you worship at home, please prepare your elements: a bread or bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel) and grape juice, wine or water.
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We hope you will join us for this festive celebration!
Please let us know if you’re planning to attend (click here) or leave a message at 610-867-5865.
If you are available to help with setting up or cleaning up on Sunday, please use this online form to sign up:
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SUNDAY’S FELLOWSHIP & FORMATION HOUR – BETWEEN SERVICES
As we hope you know, we are sharing in a congregation-wide book read of
Neighborhood Church: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Powerhouse for Mission.
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The Mission and Discipleship Committees, along with Session, are inviting everyone to join in by reading along and participating in weekly discussion sessions during the Fellowship & Formation Hour on Sundays. We have held three sessions, so this Sunday will be our final session. These four weeks of learning together will be structured to include activities for our children and youth, as well!
Please join us in Fellowship Hall (even if you haven’t read any of the book) for an engaging conversation about how we can more fully live out our calling to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
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We’ll gather and enjoy a bit of casual fellowship time around 10:00 a.m. and begin our session by 10:15. Folks who are connecting with us from home can join these sessions using this Zoom link. (We ask for your patience as we try hybrid in-person and virtual faith formation offerings for the first time.)
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SPECIAL OFFERING: PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS
This special offering concludes this Sunday, October 3. If you requested offering envelopes, there is one in your packet. You may also send a check to the church Business Office (mark “Peace Offering” in the memo) or give a special gift using the church’s online giving portal (p lease indicate “Peace Offering” in the “notes” box).
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The Book of Acts: What’s a Church Like You Doing in a Place Like This
Offered by the Discipleship Committee
October 6, 13, 20, and 27 (Wednesdays)
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
When Jesus told his disciples, “I send you out as sheep into the midst of wolves,” he wasn’t kidding. In many ways, the Roman Empire of the first century was an unimaginably hostile place to plant a new faith based on a crucified leader whose followers acclaimed him as “the lamb who was slain” and the Prince of Peace.
Yet the movement Jesus initiated grew to encircle the globe and claim some two and a half billion followers. How did that happen?
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Reading through the New Testament book of Acts, we will see how the seeds of faith planted by the Apostles germinated and grew in the early days of Christianity, laying the foundation for the church and leaving important lessons for what many are calling a new “apostolic age” in our own time. |
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The Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons will lead our conversation. |
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SUNDAY: BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS |
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Join us as we celebrate the animals that are near and dear to us. This is our 4th Annual Blessing of the Animals and we are looking forward to having you all there. Physical distancing and masks are required for all the humans; dogs on leashes.
Each animal will receive a personalized blessing from one of our pastors or deacons.
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And if this interests you, we will be accepting donations of pet items like food, toys and supplies. These will be shared with a local animal shelter.
If the weather is not cooperating, we will offer a ‘drive through’ blessing option at the same time and date.
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HI NEIGHBORS: A SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Mondays:
9:30 a.m. Fellowship time outdoors
10:00 a.m.: Presentation in Fellowship Hall
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Our popular speakers program, Hi Neighbors, enjoyed a field trip to nearby Monocacy Farm Project to visit with farmer Eli Stogsdill. He gave a very interesting tour and presentation about their commitment to addressing hunger among our neighbors.
For this Monday (October 4) we are scheduled to hear from U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07), right, with an update on Washington, DC. This presentation will be offered both in person and via Zoom.
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On Monday, October 11, we will hear from Carol Henn who will present, ‘A Walk Down Memory Lane: Sharing your own memories of your youth’. This will be an in-person program only.
As a reminder, church COVID protocols must be observed at all times (and are subject to change). We hope you'll plan to attend these interesting programs.
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HEARTS N MINDS TO START A NEW READ |
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Our adult education program, Hearts N Minds, will begin meeting on Sunday, October 10, at its new time, 10 a.m.
This group typically centers its discussion on a book or podcast; for the next several weeks it will focus on the book, Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship by Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries.
Next week we will have more details about the space the group will meet in; we are also finalizing details in the hope that we can offer it via Zoom as well.
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PARTICIPATING IN OUR FLOWER MINISTRY
Are you interested in donating the flowers that are placed under the cross in the Sanctuary during a worship service? Some families like to do this in honor of a loved one, or to commemorate a special occasion like a birth, birthday or anniversary. You can give us those details to include in that Sunday’s bulletin. The cost is $75.
Here are the ways to contact us – please be sure to include your full name and a way to contact you (phone and/or email):
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2. Call the church office at 610-867-5865 and leave a message that you would like to be contacted about a flower donation
We also have special “Flower Ministry” envelopes available in the worship areas and in the packet of offering envelopes.
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You can complete the form on the envelope and include your payment; these envelopes can be:
1. Dropped in the offering box on the registration table outside each worship area (Narthex or Rotunda) OR
2. Mailed to First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, Attn: Flower Ministry, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18017
All requests need to be submitted at least two weeks before the requested date. You are of course welcome to place your request before then, if you have a specific date in mind.
After the service, you can take the entire arrangement with you, or a portion of it (or we can arrange for you to get it). Any leftover flowers are given to a happy recipient by our floral coordinator, Tina Duhigg.
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The 2021 CROP Walk: Ending Hunger One Step at a Time
By Steve Simmons, First Pres Team Leader
The 2021 CROP Hunger Walk is coming up on Sunday, October 10. This annual initiative helps support the growing number of hungry families, both our neighbors and around the globe. One quarter of the receipts is kept for local use in a wide range of hunger-related agencies.
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With the current economic hardship caused by COVID-19 and the expiration of the moratorium on evictions, many families in our area and country are finding their resources stretched to the breaking point, and are in critical need of our help. So far this year, 2113 teams nationwide have already raised more than $1,624,000, and we’re just getting started! |
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On October 10, there will be a combined walk at Louise Moore County Park, stepping off at 1:00 p.m., but, as we did last year, individual teams (K Groups, neighborhood/family teams, etc.) are welcome to participate in whatever way works best for them.
Church World Service will be processing contributions for several weeks after the event, so there's a lot of flexibility if you or your group would like to participate on a different day. One of our K Groups will be walking the D and L Trail from Sand Island to the old lock on Sunday, October 17, for instance, and others from the church are welcome to join us; to participate in a walk, please contact Steve Simmons for further details (info@fpc-bethlehem.org).
Donate or join the team! The link makes it easy to contribute online, or if you wish to make a donation by check, please make it out to CWS/CROP and mail it to the church office. Our congregation has responded generously in the past; in fact, we have been the first-place team in Bethlehem for two consecutive years (thank you!). We’re hoping to reach that mark again this year, as we join our partners around the United States in walking “so that others can live.”
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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: WEDNESDAY at noon**
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Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
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FOR THIS SUNDAY: : Worship with us “Live” on Facebook
To watch “live”- as it happens:
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Visit our Facebook page and look for the post with our live feed
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NEW! 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 11:15 a.m. Traditional 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: 6 p.m. - Handbell rehearsal, Sanctuary
WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom (Meeting # 380 435 9056 / Password: overcomer)
THURSDAYS: 7 p.m. – Chancel Choir rehearsal, Sancturary
ALL OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS AND GATHERINGS ARE CANCELLED AT THIS TIME unless offered online (see listings on our Facebook page under “Events”)
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO: The office staff is working remotely and checking email and voicemail daily. 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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