Friday, September 30, 2022 Newsletter

COMMUNION SUNDAY SERVICE

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:



10:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary

 (* also available on our website and via phone)

MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: A new direction

Friends, I want to say thank you to all of those who returned the Worship Survey that the Worship Committee has been conducting the last few weeks; we received 97 responses, which included some very helpful thoughts, questions, and concerns in addition to the questions about preferred times and formats. The Worship Committee met last Sunday and reviewed those responses at length; every single response was read and discussed by the Committee. 

TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper

Worship Service (5 pages)

COMMUNION SUNDAY

If you are worshipping with us from home, you are welcome to prepare

your own elements: bread or a bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel) and

grape juice, wine or water.

FOR SUNDAY MORNING

• The Building Reopening Task Force encourages people to wear masks, especially if they are in a high risk category, as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others.    



• Child care will be available from 9:45-11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings; please ask an usher for directions.



• 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.



• Join us after worship for Lemondade on the Lawn, our hospitality time.

DO YOU FEEL CALLED TO SERVE?

It’s time to begin the important process of nominating appropriate candidates for Elders, Deacons, Trustees and members of the Nominating Committee. 

Everyone nominated will be contacted to confirm they are eligible to run and asked if they accept the nomination, before their name appears on the ballot. The elections are held in conjunction with our Annual Meeting in January.

Elders comprise the Session of the Presbyterian Church which is, in essence, the decision-making body of the church. They recommend and approve all program and policy implementation and modifications in the church. Elders serve a three year term and the Session meets monthly; Elders generally serve on one or more committees, which also usually meet on a monthly basis.

The Deacons are the caregivers of the church. They minister to the individual members through home communion and visits, hospital and prayer ministries, and providing support to those in difficult situations. Deacons serve a three year term and typically meet monthly.

The Nominating Committee members are charged with identifying candidates for Elders, Deacons, Trustees, and the Nominating Committee itself. This committee usually meets three or four times each year; the term of service is one year, and a member may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

Trustees oversee all financial and property matters in the church including the budget, building renovations and repairs, planned giving, and investment funds. Trustees will meet monthly and members will also serve on one additional committee, such as the property or finance committee, which also generally meet monthly. The term for Trustees is three years.

Thank you for supporting this important process!

HEARTS N MINDS ADULT ED: ALL ARE WELCOME!

Our adult ed class, Hearts N Minds, will meet in person only, in Room 178 (across from the Old Chapel) beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays. Everyone is welcome to attend!

SUNDAY: ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Each animal will receive a personalized blessing from one of our pastors or deacons. And if this interests you, we will be accepting donations of pet items like toys, treats and supplies that will be shared with the local Meals on Wheels program for their participants’ pet friends (NOTE: no donations of pet food, please).



If the weather is not cooperating, we will offer a ‘drive through’ blessing option on the same time and date.

HI NEIGHBORS MEETS MONDAY

Our popular weekly series – featuring presentations on a wide variety of topics – is open to all interested adults. Come and learn with us! 

A NIGHT OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

There is a concert-only option ($35) as well as a special meet-and-greet opportunity for $50 (includes concert ticket).

Use the promotional code “BETHLEHEM” for a 15% discount.

THE ANNUAL CROP WALK IS COMING…



Since 1969, millions (literally!) of Americans have participated in Church World Service/CROP walks around the country to raise funds for hunger relief at home and around the world. On Sunday afternoon, October 9, our church will again partner with congregations in Bethlehem and around the Lehigh Valley to make this a banner year.

As noted on the Church World Service website, “The ongoing war in Ukraine, on top of the pandemic and other disasters is causing a global food crisis. Millions are on the brink of famine. The CROP Hunger Walk and the funds we raise will feed the hungry through CWS.

When you join this movement to raise funds and donate, these gifts will provide life-saving support like emergency food along with the seeds, tools and programs that will help families feed themselves in the future.” Note that 25 percent of the funds raised will be retained for hunger-related ministries in our own area.

We invite you to participate as families, small groups (like clubs, neighbors, K Groups), or individuals. Two of our K Groups will be walking at Housenick Memorial Park (off Linden Street, across from Josh Early) on Sunday, October 9 at 1:00 p.m., and you are welcome to join them; or you may choose another time and venue as you wish. We do ask that all donations be made online or received at the church by October 31, so that we can send them on to CWS.

We’re grateful for your participation in the past, and hope you can join us in person, purse, or spirit again this year, as we work together with friends and neighbors to end hunger “one step at a time.” 

A NIGHT OUT: DINNER & A SHOW

If you like to eat, and you like to go to the theatre, we have an evening for you! “Dinner & A Show” will include a before-the-show meal at the Clubhouse Grill (optional), followed by a performance of Deathtrap: A Thriller in Two Acts at the Pennsylvania Playhouse (the venues are next door to each other on Illick’s Mill Road).

Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college - a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash.

Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit. Or is it? “Deathtrap” provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness, and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the very last moment.

We hope you will consider joining us for this fun evening!

Chancel Choir has begun – they meet on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Choir Room behind the Sanctuary (use the South entrance). Those with some choral experience are welcome (age 14 and older).

Our Handbell Choir will start on Tuesday, October 11 from 6-7 p.m. Those 12 and older are welcome – no musical experience needed!

ANNOUNCING: NEW CHANGES IN PRESCHOOL LEADERSHIP

From The Rev. J.C. Austin, Head of Staff

Friends, I’m excited to announce that Tracy Lescynski has been selected as the new Preschool Director here at the church, and has already begun her work. 

The Preschool Director position opened up when Laura Hawk, who had been serving as Director with great success, determined that she needed to take on less professional responsibility in order to focus more on parenting her young children.

At the same time, we began searching for a new Director. When Tracy’s application came in, it stood out immediately in terms of the quality of her experience, her knowledge of the preschool context in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley, and the alignment of her philosophy and style with the culture of our preschool.

We are delighted to welcome Tracy to the Preschool and to First Pres, and we look forward to a wonderful year of learning and play in the Preschool!

Let’s meet Tracy:

Tracy lives in Nazareth with her husband Mike and their four children. Mike is a retired elementary school teacher from the Bangor School District, and coaches cross country and basketball. Their daughter Mikala (23) just graduated from the Physician Assistant program at DeSales University, and she will begin her career as a PA in Palliative Care starting in October. 

Son Michael (20) is currently working as a supervisor for UPS. Their daughter Kelly (18) is a freshman at Bloomsburg University majoring in early childhood education and playing basketball as well as track and field. And daughter Karly (13) is in seventh grade at Nazareth MIddle school. She runs cross country and plays basketball.

Having graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a degree in early childhood and elementary education, Tracy started working for Wesley’s Circle of Friends Preschool at Wesley Church, our neighbor! She worked at the preschool for 23 years, but when the pandemic hit it was closed due to the lack of staff and enrollment. She has been caring for another family’s children since then, and their situation recently changed so she began looking for a new opportunity.

Says Tracy, “I am more than ready to get back doing what I truly love to do, which is to build relationships with preschool/ church families, children, preschool staff, and church staff in a church preschool. I want to be at a church preschool that truly cares and loves each child that enters the preschool doors. 

"I will help continue to make First Presbyterian Preschool a safe, nurturing, loving environment for children to learn and grow. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. Please come introduce yourself when you see me because I want to know all about you and your beautiful family.” 

Welcome, Tracy!

THE WEEK IN PHOTOS

THIS SUNDAY

• 8:30 a.m. - Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Room 178 - everyone welcome!
• 9:45 – 11:30 a.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
• 10 a.m.: Summer Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestream on Facebook Live and our website; below, to join us online
• After Worship: Lemonade on the Lawn hospitality time

TUESDAYS: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Crafters, Room 408 (everyone welcome)

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 South entrance will be open during these hours, and on Sunday mornings.

Many of the office staff are continuing to work 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).