Calendar of Events CONTENTS


2 Calendar of Events 3 Pastoral Reflections 4 Living God’s Love 5 Youth Choir Tour 6 Ripple 8 Honduras Update 9 Youth Summer Interns 10 New Stephen Ministers 11 John Stoner Remembrance


July 4


7 13


Independence Day Building and offices closed


Hymn Sing Vacation Bible School Build Day


15-19 Vacation Bible School 27


Yard Sale


August 2-4 High School Beach Retreat 10 11


24 Sight and Sound Bus Trip


All Church Summer Celebration DIG Build Day


IN THIS ISSUE Got an Idea for Tidings?


Tidings bears witness to the ministries of First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, offering stories and perspective on our efforts to live God’s love for the common good of our community and the world.


Got a story idea that illuminates how the Spirit moves in our congregation? Contact Rich Laliberte at tidings@fpcallentown.org.


For other inquiries about Tidings, please contact Caley Oels in the church office at 610-395-3781, ext. 11, or caley.oels@fpcallentown.org.


First Presbyterian spent much of the 2018-2019 program year focused on the theme of “God Is Calling You—Partnering in Christ’s Mission.” We’ve heard about calling from the pulpit and through our Creating a Culture of Calling (C3) initiative, part of a Lilly Foundation-funded, 24-church project.


Key ideas: Everyone has gifts, and everyone has a story of how God is working through their gifts, relationships, and entire life. What does calling look like? It looks like people—others, ourselves, and biblical witnesses. It looks like faith in action at individual, community, and even international levels.


Inside Tidings, you’ll find stories of members and friends living their faith in multiple ways among multiple types of people in multiple ministries. Some ministries originate with FPCA. Others we support actively—both with funding and boots on the ground.


Cover: Worshippers from traditional and alternative services convene near FPCA’s playground for Face Time, a place of discussion, activity, fellowship, and refreshment.


Back cover: Youth sang at a two Pittsburgh-area senior resident facilities and had a chance to converse with their elders.


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You’ll also see ideas about calling expressed on the cover. We’re bolstering our summer sermon series, “Faces of Calling,” with a gathering called Face Time. It’s a chance for attendees at traditional and alternative services to conclude worship simultaneously outdoors—and stay to discuss the day’s message, engage in activities, share refreshments, and enjoy united fellowship with our church family.


Calling takes many forms. What’s your story?


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