United Reformed Church in the U.K. Tis prompted me to pursue theology in college. I enjoy exploring the history of the church and how people in different times worshipped God.


First Presbyterian Church members are living God’s love in all kinds of ways. One of them is Christine Guenther, who coordinates our Sunday morning seminars for adults. Here’s her story, in her own words.


My husband and I grew up in Germany, but moved to the United States “for one year” 20 years ago. While our sons Tilman and Adrian were born in the U.S., we speak German at home and keep cultural traditions alive. As dual citizens, we embrace many aspects of the American way of life and shake our heads about others.


My own faith formation was primarily nourished as a member and leader in the German Protestant Scout movement and my home church’s annual partnership meetings with the


When we first moved to California in 1996, we joined a PC(USA) church in Los Gatos because it was a welcoming community and the liturgy seemed similar to that of my home church in Germany. So after moving to the Lehigh Valley in 2002, I sought out PC(USA) again and found First Presbyterian Allentown. Trough the years of being a member here, I have appreciated the openness and diversity of our congregation. And I continue to pray the Lord’s Prayer or say the Apostles Creed in German, and occasionally sing the hymns in German.


One of my first jobs here was nursery coordinator at FPCA because—you guessed it—my younger son was using the nursery. Since that role I have focused on working with and for adults—specifically Adult Education and, more recently, Adult Spiritual Formation.


For a couple of years now, I have coordinated the Sunday morning seminars and have participated in the


SERVE NOW Opportunities to share your gifts of time, talent, and treasure


INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL MISSION TEAM Support FPCA’s worldwide mission efforts through our covenant relationships in Amar, Syria, and Cupar, Scotland, as well as initiatives like medical mission trips to Honduras and projects aligned with denominational organizations such as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Contact Karen Ensley at 610-393-9909, klephoto@hotmail.com, or Afaf Khoury at 610-703-4784, afaf.khoury@gmail.com.


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PLANNED GIVING Explore ways to give a lasting gift to support FPCA’s ministries, such as supporting our Endowment Fund and becoming a founding member of the newly formed Barker Society. Contact the Planned Giving Team at plannedgiving@fpcallentown.org.


For more information on how you can get involved, please contact the church at office@fpcallentown.org.


Greening Creation Mission Team, as creation care is very important to me.


It’s probably from my Scouting years that I am committed to “learning by doing.” Te Adult Spiritual Formation team launched a new series called Milestones on the Journey of Discipleship, offering opportunities to combine faith experiences that incorporate study with worship, relationship building, and service.


For instance, we got together for a Souper Saturday, bonded over preparing a variety of soups, explored biblical texts about caring for one another, made cards, and visited with a number of homebound members of our congregation while delivering the soup. Around Earth Day, we partnered with Friends of Allentown Parks’ Cleanup Day. We gathered in Trexler Park for a picnic and then spent our energy pulling invasive plants before gathering for reflection and a time of prayer under some shade trees at the park entrance.


Stay tuned for


upcoming Milestone activities that will bring us closer together as a community of faith while serving the world. If you are interested in helping with planning these, please let me know.


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