Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 Newsletter

SUNDAY SERVICES IN-PERSON AND
ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK LIVE:
9:00 a.m. Contemporary 
11:00 a.m. Traditional*

 (* also available on our website and via phone)
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:
May Pride bring you joy and connection

Greetings, friends!

This weekend, our congregation will resume its tradition of celebrating Lehigh Valley Pride with a booth at the LGBTQ+ festival sponsored by the Bradbury-Sullivan Center. Needless to say, I’m excited! 
I’ve also been feeling a bit reflective. Last October, National Coming Out Day coincided with Clergy Appreciation Day. That coincidence led me to acknowledge that the intersections of these two parts of who I am in the world continue to be a bit like oil and water at times. I feel most myself in my clergy collar and rainbow suspenders at Pride sharing in the sparkly, uninhibited joy of queer community and embodying God’s expansive love for all. (My heart definitely missed that experience last fall when most festivals moved online due to the pandemic.)
Truth be told, I feel more myself there than I do in the church where there are still those who insist that I don’t belong at all, much less in the pulpit. But somehow I can’t escape the Christian commitment to the widest welcome and most crowded, diverse communion table, so I keep striving and serving in the way of Jesus despite my questions about and struggles with the institution. 

All of that to say, my experience of being a queer clergyperson is complicated. But what isn’t complicated is my sense of calling to a ministry of affirmation for LGBTQ+ folks of all ages and a ministry of support for their families. I know some of you have beloved children or grandchildren, siblings, dear friends, and neighbors who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Know that I am ready to celebrate them alongside you anytime - to officiate their weddings, to help them create rituals to take on new names as they embrace their gender Identity, to offer resources for spiritual growth or connections for mental health. Whatever the need may be, I am committed to being a companion on the journey.

If much of what I’ve written is new or confusing or even challenging for you, I invite you to spend some time with a few online resources to learn more:


For my LGBTQ+ family in the Lehigh Valley, whether you are out or not, may Pride bring you joy and connection. May it be a reminder that you are beloved not in spite of your queerness, but because of it. Our spirits contain depths of divine compassion and holy fires of justice to be shared, and the world needs our most whole, loving selves. I am with you and for you all the way.

And for those of you who are allies of the LGBTQ+ community, bless you. Keep advocating with and for us; keep loving us unconditionally; keep challenging injustice of all kinds; keep learning and making your own welcome wider. We need your support.

Christ’s Peace and Happy Pride, dear ones.
Lindsey

** INFORMATION ABOUT SUNDAY’S PRIDE EVENTS BELOW **
FOR THIS SUNDAY

Scripture lesson:
                          
Click the link to read the verses
·   This week's sermon: The Favor of Your Company by The Rev. Sue Bennetch

·     We post each week’s sermon
(audio and text) on our website:
TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper for Sunday

FOR SUNDAY’S IN-PERSON WORSHIP:

  • Everyone over the age of 2 is required to wear a mask.

  • Child care will be available from 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in Room C1-2 – 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.
PLEASE JOIN US!
Our popular “Lemonade on the Lawn” social time will be offered from 10-
11 a.m. on Sunday, between the services. Stay after the first service or come early for the second, and stop by for a cool drink, snack, and fellowship.
We’ll also have a table set out for a “fresh produce exchange.” If you have extra bounty from your garden, bring it with you to place on the table to share with others. We’ll do this every week through the growing season. 
EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE: NEW WEBSITE IS UP

After many months of work, we are excited to share that our new website is now up at fpc-bethlehem.org. The new site is a collaboration between Imagevolution, a Bethlehem marketing solutions firm, and FPCB’s Engagement Committee.
The version we launched is a ‘work in progress,’ as we will be adding to it and refining it over the next months.

In the meantime, we invite you to check it out, and give us your feedback: is it easy to find what you’re looking for? Is there info you don’t see, but expected would be on our site? Typo’s/incorrect grammar?
NOTE: If you typically watch our live-streamed services on our Facebook page, you will need to look for the “Watch” button in the middle of the homepage, and then click on the “Watch the Service” button.

We want our site to appropriately represent us in the community and bigger world, as well as serve as a source of timely, accurate information for our members. We are very grateful to have this dynamic, fresh new way to connect!
LEHIGH VALLEY PRIDE: THIS SUNDAY!
The Lehigh Valley Pride festival will be held this Sunday, Aug. 15 from noon-6:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center in Allentown. We are still looking for some volunteers to help us at our info booth (right – our crew from Pride 2019).

The day will begin with a Pre-Pride Interfaith Service at 10:30 a.m., hosted by the Bethlehem Interfaith Group. All are welcome (it can also be viewed on the BIG Facebook page).
We’ll share a booth with our friends at First Pres in Allentown, and have a fun, easy community art project for festival-goers to participate in. It will be a great opportunity to share more about our church with folks who may be interested! If you’d like to volunteer, please email Lindsey to sign up.

Click here for all the details about the event.
The Endowment Committee is accepting applications for the
2021-2022 school year for scholarships from the
Barry Brandt Educational Assistance Fund.
If interested in more details: info@fpc-bethlehem.org
MUSIC ENSEMBLES STARTING UP: ALL ARE WELCOME!

Director of Music Ministries, David Macbeth, extends an invitation to all musicians – experienced and otherwise – to consider participating in our Handbell ensemble and Chancel Choir.
The Handbell ensemble will have its first rehearsal on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. Chancel Choir meets at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning Aug. 26. For more information contact David.
IT’S “BACK” TO SCHOOL TIME!
For about the past 10 years our neighbor, Wesley United Methodist Church, has sponsored a very large event called “We’ve Got Your Back”, a get-the-kids-ready-for-school initiative that provides free school supplies, socks, and underwear for families. Last year it was reimagined as a drive-thru event.

If you are interested in volunteering and/or donating items, here is the info for the Saturday, Aug. 21 event.
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
Fair at prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org to keep us up to date.

PRAYER REQUESTS...
Send any prayer requests to prayer@fpc-bethlehem.org or call 610-867-5865 and leave a message.
Send us your news and photos to share:
**Deadline for next week's newsletter: WEDNESDAY at noon**
* * *
And follow us on Facebook: @FirstPresBethlehem
Your likes / comments / shares help us spread the word about First Pres!
CALENDAR

THIS SUNDAY

  • 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Child Care in room C1-2
  • 9:00 a.m.: Contemporary Worship Service, in-person in the Kirk Center AND livestreamed
  • 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.: Lemonade on the Lawn social time, east side of building
  • 11:00 a.m.: Combined Worship Service, in-person in the Sanctuary AND livestreamed - see instructions in blue box, below, to join us online, and in the yellow box to join us via phone 
FOR THIS SUNDAY: : Worship with us “Live” on Facebook
To watch “live”- as it happens:

  • Visit our Facebook page and look for the post with our live feed
  • NEW! If you don’t have a Facebook account, go to our website to view the service - click on the "Watch" button (midway down the homepage) and then click "Watch the Service"
  • 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
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS: You can participate on your phone to listen to the 11 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.
WEDNESDAYS:
  • 7 p.m.: Overcomer’s Outreach Christian 12 Step Recovery Group weekly meeting, via Zoom (Meeting # 380 435 9056 / Password: overcomer)

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).
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org

The Rev. J.C. Austin, Pastor/Head of Staff: ext. 213, JAustin@fpc-bethlehem.org

The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Associate Pastor of Formation and Justice; LClifton@fpc-bethlehem.org

The Rev. Sue Bennetch, Pastoral Associate: ext. 209; SBennetch@fpc-bethlehem.org

David Macbeth, Music Director: ext. 202; DMacbeth@fpc-bethlehem.org

Cristy Mette, Administrative Operations Manager: ext. 228;

Rebecca Angione, Facilities Manager: ext. 210; RAngione@fpc-bethlehem.org

Marianne Zarillo, Business Manager: email: MZarillo@fpc-bethlehem.org

Cindy Matthews, Bookkeeper: email: CMatthews@fpc-bethlehem.org

Carol Burns, Communications Manager; phone 610-428-9649; CBurns@fpc-bethlehem.org

Laura Hawk, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956; LHawk@fpc-bethlehem.org

Website:  www.fpc-bethlehem.org