Pastoral Reflections Rev. Dr. Jack Haberer Beloved FPCA Friend,


Ah, the dog days of summer... Well, as we go to print, we haven’t been suffering unbearably hot days, but chances are they will descend upon us and we’ll be feeling like lazing around in air-conditioned spaces.


Ten again, it’s probably a reflection of my age that has me thinking such thoughts.


Te younger crowd at First Presbyterian is being anything but lazy.


Te teens have been and will be engaging in the Middle School Work Camp and High School Work Camp, the High School Tubing Trip, the High School Beach Retreat, and the All-Youth Hickory Run State Park Fun Day.


Four-year-olds through high-school youth—along with “kids” of older ages—are participating in Vacation Bible School, built around the theme “Maker Fun Factory: Created by God, Built for a Purpose.” Music, science experiments, artsy-craftsy experiences, and just plain fun with lots of other children will help Bible stories come alive.


Tweens have enjoyed a Sleepover at the Zoo.


Preschoolers and their parents are enjoying weekly story telling every Tursday morning—engaging with staff and other leaders.


Kindergarten through third-grade children have camped in the courtyard.


We’re even hosting the youth group of Willow Grove Presbyterian Church of Scotch Plains, N.J., as they do center- city mission service here in Allentown.


“Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and


conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” —1 TIMOTHY 4:12


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Put it all together and you can see that these are no lazy, dog days of summer by any stretch for our children and youth. May the rest of us tap into the overflow of their energy, enthusiasm, and learnings so that we’ll launch together into the colorful days of autumn to follow—growing as disciples in community together.


Grace and peace be to you and yours,


It all will be capped off by end-of-summer youth and children’s celebrations.


Outside the building, the playground is moving from concept to the reality of children climbing, sliding, and swinging their way to greater coordination and fun in the loving arms of the church fellowship (see page 10).


Tese activities are gaining extra funding through the All-Church Yard Sale (July 15), the proceeds of which are dedicated to youth ministry.


All of these activities are being facilitated by our staff and dozens of member-ministers, with an extra surge of energy and enthusiasm brought to us by our summer youth ministry interns, Joseph Jumper from Myrtle Beach and Presbyterian College (both in South Carolina) and FPCA’s own Brittney Daniel, from Eastern College (see page 7).


Te staff itself is evolving in kid-ward ways. Te search is on to add a Director of High School Ministries and a Director of Middle School Ministries. Tey will join JoAnn Jones, who has become our Director of Children’s Ministries (and been up to her eyeballs in planning for VBS and the weekly Story Time in the Garden gatherings). Tese three part- time staffers will partner together with Kathy Schmied, our Director of Family Ministries, and all will be guided in their work by Stephen Emick, our Pastor for Discipleship.


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