Friday, February 3, 2023 Newsletter
COMMUNION SUNDAY SERVICES
9:00 a.m. ‘Holy Ground’ Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall
(in person only)
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary – Communion Sunday
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, and audio via phone
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:
Focusing on Missional Identity and Community Impact
Friends, I left Sunday’s Annual Meeting for members with a great deal of hope about the opportunities ahead for our congregation as we focus on a missional identity and community impact alongside congregational vitality and long-term financial sustainability!
(If you are a church member who wasn’t able to attend the meeting, you can email info@fpc-bethlehem.org to get the link for the video recording; you can also request the presentation slides. Also let us know if you would like a print copy of the Annual Report.)
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We are certainly not alone in discerning new ways to be God’s people in the world today. In fact, a number of years ago, the PC(USA) began the Matthew 25 movement which invites Presbyterian churches, Presbyteries, Synods, and agencies to focus on three commitments: building congregational vitality; eradicating systemic poverty; and dismantling structural racism.
Together, these commitments offer a path toward public witness, creating change in communities, and renewed energy and growth. To date there are over 1200 Presbyterian entities who are part of this initiative!
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For the next two weeks, we’ll explore the foundational Scripture for this denominational movement: Matthew 25:31-46. It calls us to see, welcome, and serve Jesus as we do so for “the least of these.” It is a powerful call to ministry in action!
And on Sunday, February 12, we’ll be invited to support the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors through our Souper Bowl of Caring event which raises awareness about local hunger relief efforts and collects funds for our area nonprofit partners. That morning, Marc Rittle, the Executive Director of New Bethany Ministries, will join me for a dialogue during worship about the realities facing folks who are experiencing poverty here in Bethlehem.
Jesus needs us. Our neighbors need us. Dear ones, it is a vital time for us to be the church in the world - to put our time and our resources to work for our community’s most pressing needs. May we be willing partners in ministry!
Blessings for the journey, all.
Lindsey
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- This week’s sermon: Welcoming Jesus 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 for Sunday
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Sunday is Communion Sunday |
If you are watching from home and would like to participate you can prepare your own elements: bread or bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel, etc.) and grape juice, wine or water. |
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FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:
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Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.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 and in the blanket-sitting area (to the left of the communion table in Fellowship Hall).
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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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COFFEE & CONVERSATION – AFTER EACH SUNDAY SERVICE
Beginning this Sunday, February 5, we invite folks to stay for Coffee & Conversation following each of our two worship services.
This is an opportunity for connection in Fellowship Hall where you’ll find coffee for adults along with juice boxes and a simple snack for children. (We will still gather for our Intergenerational Faith Formation story and craft after the 9:00 service!)
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FOR NEXT SUNDAY: Souper Bowl of Caring |
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On Sunday, February 12, following the 11:00 a.m. service, we’ll host a Souper Bowl of Caring potluck to raise awareness about local hunger relief efforts and to collect funds for our area nonprofit partners. We’re looking for 15 folks to sign up to bring a crockpot of soup, and others can bring either bread or dessert (you do not need to sign up for those contributions). |
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If you’re unable to bring something, please make plans to attend anyway. Feel free to show your support for your favorite Super Bowl team, as well. (Go Birds!)
You can use this easy online sign-up form to bring a crockpot of soup; you can also call the church office at 610-867-5865 and leave your name and contact info.
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HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED: NEXT CLASS ON SUNDAY
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The Hearts N Minds class will meet this Sunday, February 5, from 9:45 – 10:40 a.m. in the Parlor (upstairs above the main church office). Please feel free to come even if you have not done the reading.
The group is studying Elusive Grace: Loving Your Enemies While Striving for God’s Justice by Pastor Scott Black Johnson, senior pastor at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian in Manhattan. It is on sale through the PC(USA) bookstore; we also encourage you to check online used book stores.
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For this Sunday they will read and discuss the Faith and Hope chapters (pages
33-44).
ALSO: on Sunday they will be collecting $6 for a Sister Joan Chittister book if you care to order through them. Sister Joan will speak at De Sales University on April 20. Steve Simmons will coordinate a mid-week study of the Sister Joan book during Lent (with help from his friends). This is entirely voluntary and they will try to coordinate their sessions/discussions with the much-anticipated return of Lenten suppers.
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SAVE THE DATE: Making Room for Something New
Our Lenten Supper Series
From 6:00-7:30 p.m. on the first four Wednesdays of Lent (March 1, 8, 15, and 22), we’ll gather in Fellowship Hall for a simple potluck meal and explore the theme Making Room for Something New.
The series will offer insight on discipleship practices and spiritual postures for navigating transition and change. There will be time for food and connection, a brief bit of teaching and practice, followed by small group reflection and conversation. Please mark your calendars and look for more information to come!
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COMING IN APRIL: NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP
The next Helping Hands trip is slated for Saturday, April 15 – Saturday, April 22 and will take volunteers back to New Bern, NC to work on homes for our neighbors there.
We’ll have more details soon; if you are interested in more information you are invited to contact Kevin Kehoe at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865.
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FYI - COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
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IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM THE BUILDING REOPENING TASK FORCE:
The Task Force is reminding you that there is a “triple-demic” of three dangerous viruses in the Lehigh Valley: Covid, influenza, and RSV.
There are rising case numbers for all three of these viruses both in the community and among our own church congregation and staff. We strongly encourage people to wear masks. Most importantly, if you are not feeling well, even if you have a “cold,” please attend digitally. What seems like a mild cold could be the predecessor to one of these serious viral infections. We need to protect those members and their families who are immune-compromised or vaccine ineligible.
If you have not been boosted with the bivalent Covid vaccine or have not had your flu shot, please consider attending digitally. Flu is raging now in the community. If you get it, you should ask your doctor for one of the flu drugs such as Tamiflu that, if taken early, moderate your illness. For Covid, the Pfizer drug, Paxlovid, is prescribed for high risk people. If you get Covid, we recommend that you consult the CDC website to help you determine when you can end isolation.
In order to reduce contact and possible virus spread, we will mark every other pew in the Sanctuary with a yellow post it note. Please don’t sit in these rows. If we all work together we can reduce the impact of these viruses on our vulnerable members and ourselves.
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SOME REMINDERS FOR YOU…
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Look for updates on our website (fpc-bethlehem.org), Facebook page, and WFMZ (channel 69 and wfmz.com). We’ll also put a message on our church phone, 610-867-5865.
PLEDGE ENVELOPES: If you ordered pledge envelopes, they will be mailed directly to you from the envelope company. Please contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org if you have not yet received them.
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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, but you are also enouraged to 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 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 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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THIS SUNDAY - COMMUNION SUNDAY
- 8:45 11:15 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
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9:00 a.m.: “Holy Ground” Contemporary service, Fellowship Hall (in person only) followed by Coffee & Conversation in Fellowship Hall
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9:45 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome
- 10:00 a.m.: Intergenerational Faith Formation, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome
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11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; below, to join us online; in-person followed by Coffee & Conversation 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)
THURSDAYS: 7 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING INFO:
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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