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Friday, December 1, 2023 Newsletter

For Sunday - Communion Sunday:

9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship Service
in Fellowship Hall (in person only)

11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship Service in the Sanctuary
(in person and livestreamed on Facebook and our website)
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN:
Advent: It's Already Happening

When I was a child, Advent always made a lot more sense to me than Lent. In the Christian church, we typically talk about Advent as a season of waiting, and that’s exactly what Advent felt like: waiting for Christmas to come. 
As I’ve mentioned before, we had an Advent calendar in my house that was made to look like a Christmas tree, and each day of Advent had a little pocket that held an ornament. So each morning in Advent my brother and I would get up, and we would take turns snapping the ornament of the day onto one of the branches of the Advent calendar tree. It was how we waited in Advent, marking the time on the tree, even though sometimes it felt that time was somehow slowing down as we did so: “how is it still 16 days before Christmas?!? It’s been forever since we put that first ornament on!” 
The first time I saw one of those movies where a prisoner is marking time in a jail cell with little scratches on the wall, I felt like he was making his own Advent calendar to show how long he had been waiting and how long he still had to wait. And that’s often how Advent feels, though as an adult it often feels like time is speeding up as Christmas comes: “how is it only six days before Christmas?!? I’m not ready!”

But that understanding and experience of Advent, though common, is missing a few important things. First, the word “Advent” literally means “coming” or “arriving.” So any “advent” is not about something that is still off in the future; it is about something that is already in motion, already beginning to happen. Which is why, when we light the Advent wreath this Sunday, the Scripture that we read says “the people who walk in darkness have seen a great light,” not “…will see a great light.” It’s already happening!

Second, Advent is not simply about marking time, anticipating the arrival of Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s birth. It is at least as much about anticipating Christ’s final coming at the end of time to “make all things new,” as the book of Revelation puts it. 

That’s why our theme for Advent this year is “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” There is no question that our world is weary: the ongoing social, political, and economic polarization in the United States is an increasingly heavy burden; the horrifying violence between Palestinians and Israelis continues in the very land where our attention is particularly drawn in the season of Advent; and even in this holiday season, the already-high levels of stress in so many of our lives usually gets kicked up to a new level in this holiday time, whether that is stress within families, from work, from loneliness, or because of grief and loss. And yet it was also a world that was weary with violence and division and injustice and despair that Jesus was born into as our hope and joy, as a literal embodiment of God’s love and peace.

So, over the next four Sundays, we will be exploring ways to answer that question, “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” And as we do so, I encourage you to enter more deeply into the season of Advent in your own devotional life through prayer and reflection.

One way to do that is by following this online daily devotional which will turn to Advent reflections on a daily basis starting on December 3. But whatever you choose to follow, I wish you a meaningful and blessed Advent season!

Grace and Peace,
J.C.
FOR THIS SUNDAY

  • This week’s sermon: A Life Worth Livin' by the Rev. J.C. Austin
  • We post the video of each week’s services and sermon text on our website: fpc-bethlehem.org
TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT on 8.5" x 11" paper for Sunday

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. 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.
Sunday is Communion Sunday

If you would like to participate from home, you can prepare your own elements: bread or bread-like item (cracker, pita, bagel, etc.) and grape juice, wine or water.
OUR “BUILDING COMMUNITY” INITIATIVE MOVES ALONG

Thanks to all who attended our Community Meeting this past Tuesday to hear about the results from our partners at Collabo. We appreciate your continued participation in this exciting process! (Pictured: the visioning process we engaged in)

If you were unable to attend, you can view a video of the meeting. You may also want to mark your calendar for our next Community Meeting: Wednesday, January 17 from 6-8 p.m.
You may also be interested in these two articles in Lehigh Valley News, ahead of our meeting and then reporting on the gathering itself:


HEARTS N MINDS: JOIN US ON SUNDAY

The Hearts N Minds adult education class will meet this Sunday at 9:45 a.m., ending at 10:40 a.m. (if you attend the 9 a.m. Holy Ground service, you are welcome to leave early to attend this class). All are welcome to attend – they meet in the Parlor (upstairs in the South wing).

For the three Sundays in December, the Rev. Dr. Richard Smith, Parish Associate, will do a special Advent presentation inspired by the poetry and writings of Mary Oliver. For this Sunday the group will explore “The Summer Day” (copies will be provided in class).
HELP US WITH THE “HANGING OF THE GREENS”

All are welcome to help tomorrow (Saturday) from 10 a.m. – noon
to help us decorate the inside of the church building.
Please let us know if you’re planning to come:
call 610-867-5865.
ADVENT COLLECTION IS UNDERWAY!

We have begun collecting items for
two local organizations, Turning Point and
Northeast Community Center.

Check this informational flyer for the items requested
by these organizations.
CONNECTING AND ENGAGING

Thank you to all who attended the Deacons’ meeting with hospital ministrants and all other members who are interested in increasing congregational connection and engagement. Several great ideas were offered and are in motion.

We have scheduled a follow-up meeting for Wednesday, December 13 at 10 a.m. in Room 212 to expand and review our process. We welcome anyone who would like to be part of this session as more ideas are needed. We hope to see you then! 
POINSETTIA ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
 
NEW DEADLINE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

Help us decorate the Sanctuary with beautiful, “double” poinsettias!
 
We suggest a donation of $20 for a poinsettia that you can take home
after the Christmas Eve service you attend.
This is a lovely way to honor a loved one.
 
Special envelopes are available in the pews, Narthex and
Fellowship Hall (there is also a poinsettia envelope
in your pack of pledge envelopes).

If you need an envelope contact us at 610-867-5865
SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER!
Deacons will be delivering holiday gift bags to our church friends who worship from their homes.

You can help send holiday greetings by signing your name on the Christmas cards on the table in the North Link (outside Fellowship Hall). Thank you!
LOOKING AHEAD

  • Now through Sunday, December 17: Advent Donations
  • Saturday, December 2: Hanging of the Greens, Sanctuary; 10 a.m. – noon
  • Saturday, December 16: Concord Chamber Singers Concert, Sanctuary; 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 17: Christmas Joy Concert, Sanctuary; 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 21: Preschool Christmas Chapel, Sanctuary; 9:30 a.m. – all welcome
  • Wednesday, December 20: Longest Night service, Fellowship Hall and livestream; 6 p.m.
  •  Sunday, December 24:
- 10 a.m. Combined Worship Service, Sanctuary and livestream
- 4 p.m. Intergenerational Christmas Eve Service, Sanctuary and livestream
- 7 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, Sanctuary and livestream
  •  Monday, December 25 – Monday, January 1: Building/offices closed for holidays
  • Sunday, December 31:
- Holy Ground Worship service, Fellowship Hall; 9 a.m.
- Traditional Worship service, Sanctuary and livestream; 11 a.m.
CARE CONCERNS AND HOSPITAL VISITS
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...
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 the 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!
TO JOIN OUR LIVESTREAM WORSHIP SERVICE

  • Visit our Facebook page and look for the post with our live feed
  • 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
THIS SUNDAY

  • 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Child Care (ask ushers to direct you)
  • 9:00 a.m.: Holy Ground Contemporary Worship service, in-person in Fellowship Hall
  • 9:45 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed class, Parlor – all are welcome!
  • 11:00 a.m.: Traditional Worship service, in-person in the Sanctuary and livestreamed on Facebook and on our website

TUESDAYS: 6:00 p.m. – Hand Bell Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary – all are welcome (no experience needed)

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

THURSDAYS 7 p.m. – Chancel Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary / Choir Room – all are welcome to join in!

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.
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 for Justice and Community Impact; LClifton@fpc-bethlehem.org

The Rev. Suzanne Trump, Pastoral Associate for Formation and Compassion; STrump@fpc-bethlehem.org

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

Kevin Konczyk, Facilities Manager; KKonczyk@fpc-bethlehem.org

Carol Burns, Communications Manager: ext. 238; CBurns@fpc-bethlehem.org

Tracy Leszcynski, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956; TLeszcynski@fpc-bethlehem.org

Marianne Zarillo, Finance (interim); ext. 210MZarillo@fpc-bethlehem.org

Cindy Matthews, Bookkeeper; ext. 211; businessoffice@fpc-bethlehem.org


Website:  www.fpc-bethlehem.org