Friday, March 24, 2023 Newsletter
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 – Sunday
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
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INTRODUCING: An Active Faith
To feature ongoing ministries of FPCB, our new series, An Active Faith, will occasionally highlight some of the projects and partnerships that our church and its members are nurturing beyond our walls.
These might include one-time endeavors, opportunities made possible by our church Endowment, or ongoing commitments to serve others in our community. It might be something you and your family are doing together, it might be organized by a K group or other informal group of FPCB friends, and some might also be ministries of the church that we’d love for more people to know about and get involved in.
We hope these snapshots will inspire you to look for and engage in new ways to love God and love neighbors!
Supporting NCC Students
“We’ve got to continue some kind of outreach,” said Vince Stravino from his gallery box on the Zoom screen. It was the start of the pandemic, and our K group was ‘remote.’ (FPCB has a number of small group ministries called K groups, for koinonia [koy-no-NEE-ah], which is often translated into English as “fellowship”)
Our small group chose a service project every year. In 2020, there would be no visits to food pantries or serving at soup kitchens. The world had changed.
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Vince proposed we raise $5,000 to support needy students at Northampton Community College and invited Sharon Beales, the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, to our Zoom. She reported that more than 52% of their students receive scholarship assistance annually to the tune of one million dollars. She explained that our pledges could be paid over three years. In days, we had a ‘contract’ and pledge cards.
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(Above right: Vince Stravino, scholarship recipient Yanni Barrios, and Evelyn Stravino)
Our K group’s first decision was that no one should pledge any amount that would decrease a pledge to the church; this giving would be the icing on the cake – community outreach. To our surprise, Sharon announced that the group went far above the goal (none of us knew what the giving amounts were). Then Steve Simmons’ K group asked to join. Then other church members wanted in.
Suddenly, a permanently endowed fund looked possible. If we raised $20,000, the new fund would support scholarships forever. We asked our Session for permission to name this experiment “The First Presbyterian Church Bethlehem Fund at NCC”. We celebrated on Zoom when we hit the $20,000 marker.
We met our first scholarship recipient, Yamirelys Barrios, on Zoom in 2021. In the fall of 2022, several of us attended a scholarship luncheon with Yanni. She works four days a week in a bakery while studying health sciences and plans to enroll in a nursing program with a pediatrics specialty when she completes her associate degree at NCC.
We fondly refer to Vince as our resident ‘lefty’ and we love his passion for the less fortunate. We all love that Yanni is the first of countless NCC students who will benefit from the First Presbyterian Church Bethlehem Fund.
- Linda Robertson
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This week’s sermon: As Way Opens: Dry Bones,
Come Alive by The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton
We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org
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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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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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FOR SUNDAY: MISSION STRATEGY CONVERSATION
We remind you that this Sunday, March 26, at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall, will be the first “Mission Strategy Conversation” for the congregation, led by the Mission Strategy Steering Committee.
This group was set up recently by the Session and Trustees to guide our work in discerning the paths we can take into a vibrant future for our congregation through impactful mission and innovative use of our resources.
This first conversation will be exactly that: a conversation! The Steering Committee has promised to work diligently for transparency and open communication in all this, so just a month into its work, we want to check in with the congregation and report on what we’ve been doing so far.
More importantly, though, we want to solicit congregational input on some of the ways that we can truly make a meaningful impact for good in our community on behalf of Jesus Christ. To that end, this will be a very intentional conversation in which the members of the Steering Committee will be mostly listening and recording what they hear to help in our work.
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The videos from the March 5, 12, and 19 Adult Ed sessions
are available to view HERE.
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A NEW WRINKLE ON AN OLD FAVORITE
Your memories of Easter Egg Hunts may include a mad dash to the hidden eggs, with the biggest and fastest kiddos getting the most “loot.”
Our planning committee has put a different spin on our upcoming event: while there will be a dash to the eggs, all of them will be empty, and each participant will turn in all of their eggs to receive the same goody bag. We also have a lot of other activities planned, like decorating eggs and other hands-on activities; popcorn; face painting and tattoos; and a fun photo booth.
Note that this event is open to all ages and you are asked to bring your own basket; the raindate is Saturday, April 8 (watch our website and Facebook page for updates if the weather is iffy).
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SISTER JOAN BOOK DISCUSSION
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On two Wednesdays, April 5 and April 12, Steve Simmons and Judy Smullen will facilitate an afternoon discussion of Sister Joan Chittister’s 2019 provocative book, The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage (copies of used books are available on Thrift Books and Amazon Books).
We will meet in the Parlor from 4-5:30 p.m.
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On Thursday, April 20, Sister Joan will be the keynote speaker for the ‘Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lecture Series on Christian Unity’ at DeSales University. Tickets are available by contacting the Lehigh Conference of Churches (online info at bit.ly/3JqA50a or call 610-433-6421).
Sister Joan emphasizes that “Faith is invalid unless you are living it.” Using the image of the historical prophet, she asks, “What are you doing about the situation of the poor and marginalized in your own community?”
Join us for fellowship and good discussion.
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JOIN US FOR LUNCH: SUNDAY, APRIL 16
The FPCB Endowment Committee is hosting a lunch for everyone right after the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, April 16.
After a light meal (provided), students from Lafayette College will report on their recent trip to Washington, D.C., which was supported by a grant from the McKnight Mission Scholarship Fund.
This fund assists persons to participate in inspirational, educational or service opportunities which would both enlarge their personal sense of the cause of national/world mission service. The family of longtime member Sally Gillispie established the fund following the death of her parents, who were missionaries in Africa.
There is no charge for the lunch and for catering purposes we ask you to RSVP using this easy online sign-up: bit.ly/3Z4squ6 (you can also call the church’s main office at 610-867-5865).
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HI NEIGHBORS SPEAKERS PROGRAMS ARE BACK!
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Our popular speakers program, Hi Neighbors, will be back starting this Monday, March 27!
This time around we're partnering with the folks at Meals on Wheels, who are assisting us with the scheduling of presenters, and to promote our program.
We thank them for their support!
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Each program will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with a hospitality time. The presentations will begin at 10 a.m. All are welcome - there is no fee and no pre-registration.
On March 27 we'll kick off with a program by Melissa Hakim, M.D., a Patient Advocate and Health & Wellness Advisor with Hakim Health Partners. Patient advocacy is the bridge between you and your doctors, specialists, family members and hospital. Learn how to get help with diagnosis, specialists and various treatment options.
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
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One Great Hour of Sharing supports individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. NOTE: The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance fund is supporting earthquake response efforts in Turkey and Syria.
This collection will be taken through Easter Sunday (April 9).
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SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS
First Pres is collecting nonperishable foods and bedding for New Bethany Ministries, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering and Northeast Community Center, now through Palm Sunday.
Note that the items for BES can be new or very gently used; they are also requesting donations of tents (they appreciate this model, so they can tell who is affiliated with their programs).
Containers are located in the North Link and in the Kirk Center. Please consider supporting these Bethlehem organizations.
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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.
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The registration deadline is Thursday, March 30. The cost is $250.00 (includes round trip travel to New Bern and housing and meals while in New Bern), but if the cost is prohibitive and you would like to participate, there are scholarship funds available.
The Orientation Meeting will take place on Thursday, March 30 at 6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown.
If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Kevin Kehoe via info@fpc-bethlehem.org or leave a message for him at 610-867-5865.
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We have several opportunities for worship, connection, and growth during Holy Week.
We will journey through stories that are both brutal and beautiful: Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, his final moments on the cross, and the surprising good news of his resurrection. In all of it, may we find God’s presence and deeper kinship with one another.
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All services are offered in person and livestreamed on our Facebook page and website.
Palm Sunday, April 2
- 9 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service
- 11 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service
Maundy Thursday: April 6 at 7 p.m.
Good Friday Tenebrae: April 7 at 8 p.m.
Holy Saturday Compline: April 8 at 8 p.m.
Easter Sunday: April 9
- 9 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service
- 11 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service
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IF YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED…
We would like to know when our members are entering the hospital. If you are hospitalized, please tell the hospital our church code is 724. Also, please call the church office at 610-867-5865 to let us know as the hospitals do not always collect this information. After hours, leave a message or call our answering service at
610-778-7003.
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 SERVICE
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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
- 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.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
- 10:00 a.m.: Mission Strategy Conversation, 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; in-person followed by Coffee & Conversation in Fellowship Hall
TUESDAYS: 6 p.m. - Handbell rehearsal, Sanctuary (middle school and older, no experience needed)
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
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First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org
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