Friday, March 14, 2025 Newsletter



For Sunday

9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service

 (in person in Fellowship Hall)

11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service

       (in person in the Sanctuary, and livestreamed on Facebook and website)

A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: INTENTIONS AND ACTIONS

Grace and Peace to you,

I’m on day 14 and what an amazing time it has been already! From meeting and talking with so many of you (and planning more conversations), to attending committee meetings, to worshiping with you to feeling the Spirit move in this place, I have found a warm welcome, loving embrace and a sense that this community of faith is on the move and deepening its trust in the work of the Holy Spirit! I find myself asking the same question – where is God guiding us in this time and place? Where are we finding hope and love and mercy? Where are we living love and grace? 

If you weren’t here on Ash Wednesday but want to set up your own intentions and actions, materials to do so can be found in the North Link. Make one for yourself and tape one to the board. (You can also send it to us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or call the church office at 610-867-5865 and we’ll make it for you.)

The intentions and actions are also the perfect lead-in to this Sunday’s Scripture focus: the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). Who has the better portion in this narrative of two sisters: one focused on ministry (acts of service towards others) and one focused on a faith formation intent on knowing Jesus and God better. 

Is that the right question? Or is it that we need both in our lives? Certainly the intentions and actions expressed in our Ash Wednesday service indicate folks are thinking we need both in order to live a life of faith that moves us toward good works. Come and explore this story at either the 9 a.m. Holy Ground service or the 11:15 a.m. Traditional service. Come and see!

Blessings,

Pastor Karen

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper:

Traditional Worship Service (5 pages)

For Sunday’s Traditional Worship Service

We have initiated a change in the order of worship by offering the Welcome and Announcements at the beginning of the service, followed by the Prelude.

LEADERSHIP TEAM IS COMPLETE

With last week’s Congregational Meeting, the election of Elders, Deacons, Trustees and Nominating Committee members is complete. Many thanks to this year’s Nominating Committee members – Rich Hjorth (chair), Steve Samuelson, Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton (ex officio), Phil Clauser, Judy Smullen, Linda Filipovits (Elder), Belle Marks (Trustee), Liz Mountain, Tracy Samuelson, Bekah Masthay, Jane Masters (Deacon), and JoAnne Turcotte (past chair and consultant).

Elders

Jennifer Cole, Clerk of Session

Rev. Karen Kinney, Moderator

Class of 2025:

Jon Conrad

Linda Filipovits

Ted Masthay

Aileen Williams

Class of 2026:

Kari Keyock

Kim Miner

Rich Hjorth

JoAnne Turcotte

Class of 2027:

Jennifer Cole

Melody Engel

Allison Masters

Donna Taggart

Deacons

Jane Masters, Moderator

Rev. Suzane M. Trump, Pastoral Associate for Compassion, Staff

Class of 2025:

Debbie Castellano

Marie Rosenthal

Doreen Sheppard

Class of 2026:

Kate Arrington

Evelyn Kuserk

Phyllis Walker

Jane Masters

Class of 2027:

Sue Jones

Jane Mackie

Bette Maiatico

Susan Oeschle

Trustees

Belle Marks, President

Rich Gorton, Vice-President

Class of 2025:

Sue Nelson

Bud Newton

Jack Walker

Class of 2026:

George Bickford

Rich Gorton

Cynthia Hahn

Class of 2027:

Sheldon Cooper

Janet Luther

Ginger Seifried

Nominating Committee: Phil Clauser, Belle Marks, Pam Phillippe, Steve Samuelson, Sharon Smith and Judy Smullen.

The ordination and installation of new officers will be done on Sunday, March 23.

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED CLASS: JOIN US ON SUNDAY

This Sunday, we will discuss George Macleod (1895-1991), a Celtic prophet in 20th-century Scotland.

Macleod said the air of the eternal “is seeping through the physical.” His view was that how we touch and care for the stuff of the body of the earth and the body of humanity is how we touch and care for the divine. Sound familiar? Come and hear stories about this man who advocated Sacred Compassion. Above right: The Iona Community, a community of radical non-violence founded by Macleod

FOR SUNDAY – JOIN US FOR BODY N SOUL

During the season of Lent, Body N Soul will be studying the theme Love God, Neighbor, Enemy. We will consider how we can embody the action of the verb love to follow the command to love God, neighbor, and enemy. While the idea of this kind of love is something that we affirm as Christians, the practice of this expansive love is complex and requires attention and intention in our daily lives. In this unit, we will look at a variety of stories in the Bible as models of putting love into practice through service and servanthood, mercy, courage, and peace.

COMMUNITY IFTAR MEAL – WE’RE INVITED!

We hope you’ll join us in Fellowship Hall for this special interfaith event! We do need RSVPs to make sure we have enough food for everyone, so please complete this simple online form to let us know if you plan to attend: https://forms.gle/yMut8NKw4a3dfhkm7 or call the church office at 610-867-5865.

Come and enjoy this celebration of community!

HI NEIGHBORS: OFF TO A GREAT START!

Our programs begin at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a social time, followed by the presentation at 10 a.m. All are welcome - there is no registration nor cost to attend.

We'll present nine programs through May 12 (no program on Monday, April 21 because of the Easter holiday). For Monday, March 24: Join Executive Director Margaret McConnell for updates on Lehigh Valley Public Radio as they celebrate WDIY 88.1 FM’s 30th anniversary.

COME ON OUT ON TUESDAY: TACOS & TRIVIA

Let us know if you’re coming by contacting us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or 610-867-5865 (and whether you’re doing dinner or not)

CONSIDER JOINING THE NEXT HELPING HANDS TRIP

The next Helping Hands volunteer trip is scheduled for the week of May 3-10 (Saturday to Saturday). The group will be traveling back to New Bern, NC, to address the damage from recent storms and floods. Work is typically done on housing repairs and upgrades - all skill levels are needed!

The deadline to register is April 14 – for more information and details about cost (assistance is available), contact us at info@fpc-bethlehem.org or call the church office at 610-867-5865.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Your retreat Trail Guides: Jan Bickford, Rev. Dr. Ginny Smith, Rev. Dr. Richard Smith, Anne Taylor, and Gail Watts. More details to come!

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

FOR NEXT SUNDAY: A SPECIAL CONCERT AT FIRST PRES

All are invited to a special musical presentation next Sunday, here at First Pres, by a visiting ensemble, Thula Sizwe - the Group Zulu from South Africa.

Their performance begins at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary. It is free admission; a free will offering will be taken.

They will also share their music with us during the 11:15 a.m. service.

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:



• Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m. this Sunday morning; please ask an usher for directions.
• Your children are a joy in our worship services, and should the need arise, “kid bags” are available for their use while they are visiting. They are in the Narthex.
• 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.

THIS SUNDAY

•  8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
•  9 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service, Fellowship Hall – in person only
• 10 – 11 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome
• 10:10 – 11 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational faith formation, Fellowship Hall – all are welcome
• 11:15 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service, Sanctuary (in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website, fpc-bethlehem.org)

WEDNESDAYS: 7 p.m. - Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom.com (meeting #: 868 2214 2960; passcode: OO-Beth)



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.