Introducing the Birthday Club


New planned giving initiative offers special way to celebrate blessings BY JOHN ROWLEY


MARKING 186 YEARS


This September we celebrate the birthday of First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, which has ministered to the spiritual and social needs of the Lehigh Valley for 186 years. While most early settlers were German-speaking people of the Lutheran and Reformed denominations, a minority of English-speaking folks in the area joined together for worship.


In 1828–1829, the Rev. L.F. Leake and the Rev. F.A. Strale arrived to bring the followers of John Calvin together as a congregation, and by 1831, a 40-by-50-foot building was dedicated and known locally as the English Church. The congregation grew rapidly, and more space was soon needed. By 1838, a new structure was built and dedicated on the site of the present-day Allentown Art Museum.


The congregation continued to grow, and by the mid 1950s it was apparent that a new facility was needed. Parking was limited downtown, and many in the congregation had moved to the western side of the city. After much debate, the decision was made to move to the eight-acre site of our present location. It wasn’t until December 14, 1958, that dedication services were held in the present sanctuary.


It is clear that we have a rich history and honor those who have gone before while at the same time, we look forward to the future with faith and confidence.


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Seeing an image of a birthday cake almost always generates feelings of joy, celebration, accomplishment, and recognition. It also reminds us that God has been good to us and we should celebrate the blessings of life.


As we recognize the 186th


birthday of our


church this September, the Planned Giving Team is launching a new twist for celebrating members’ birthdays—one that lead pastor Jack Haberer has previously and successfully used.


It’s called the Birthday Club, and here is how it works.


• You consider if you would like to make an annual gift to First Presbyterian Allentown during your birthday month, in the dollar amount of your new birthday age.


• If the answer is yes and you give, you are now a member of the Birthday Club. Simple!


• You may also join the Birthday Club by making a birthday gift on behalf of someone special—a child, grandchild, parent, or friend, for example. Your


gift should be given in their birthday month, in the amount of their new birthday age.


All Birthday Club gifts will support and strengthen FPCA’s general endowment and provide financial support to the congregation’s annual mission and ministry costs. From a dollar for a newborn or a representation of 100 candles on a cake to celebrate a landmark birthday, the individual gifts quickly build up.


Tink of the Birthday Club this way: For your birthday or someone else's, instead of singing “Happy Birthday to You,” try celebrating with a “Happy Birthday from Me” through a donation to FPCA’s Birthday Club. Te candles on your birthday cake won’t start a fire unless you light them. But candles are meant to provide light, so keep lighting up the world on your birthday by joining the FPCA Birthday Club.


More information and details will follow as the Planned Giving Team rolls out the Birthday Club with a celebration on September 24—and yes, there will be cake!


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