CONTENTS


2 Calendar of Events 3 Pastoral Reflections 4 Living God’s Love 5 Q&A: Rev. Taylor Hall 6 Mission Co-Worker Update


9 Warming Shelter: Saving Lives


10 Youth Kick Off 11 Church Picnic / Giving 11 Tax-Advantaged Donations


CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICES December 24, 2019


12:00 p.m. Communion Service


4:00 p.m. Family Service with Nativity Tableaux


6:00 p.m. Alternative Service


6:00 p.m. Arabic Language Service


8:00 p.m. Traditional Service


9:00 p.m. College Age and Young Adult Drop In


10:00 p.m. Traditional Service


Calendar of Events


November 1


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10


15 16 21


Daybreak Spaghetti Dinner Tween and Middle School Service Evening All Saints’ Sunday


Daylight Savings Time Ends


Intergenerational Faith Formation Brunch Farewell Reception for Rev. Dallas Bradel PA Sinfonia Orchestra Concert Series Event Crossroads Fundraiser Concert New Member Inquiry Class


22-24 High School Fall Retreat 23 24


27 New Member Inquiry Class


Christ the King Sunday LV Chamber Ensemble Concert Series Event Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service & Reception


28-29 Thanksgiving Holiday (FPCA Campus Closed) 30


Hanging of the Greens


December 1


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First Sunday of Advent Thanksgiving College-Age/Young Adult Drop-In Daybreak Shoe Party


6-8 Middle School Fall Retreat 7


8 9 11 Got an Idea for Tidings?


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


Cover: Rev. Taylor Hall takes a selfie during Traditional Worship on September 15, 2019.


Back cover: An exhibit of needlepoint by FPCA member Pam Dent called “Kaleidoscope of Stitches” will be on display in the church gallery near the Chapel through January 30.


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14 15


Breakfast at the Manger Bach Choir of Bethlehem Concert


Second Sunday of Advent Alternative Gift Giving Sewing and Craft Ministry Sale


Women’s Christmas Dinner Children’s Christmas Storytime


Confirmand & Sponsor Joy of Sharing Christmas Project


Third Sunday of Advent Cookies in the Kitchen Summer Harmony Concert Homebound Christmas Caroling Blue Christmas Worship


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25 31


In “B” Tween at Sixth Street Shelter


Christmas Eve Worship Services Church Office Closes at Noon


Christmas — Building and Offices Closed


New Year’s Eve Service of Healing, Wholeness and Communion


Pastoral


Reflections Rev. Dr. Jack Haberer


Beloved FPCA Friend,


What words come to mind when you hear “November” and “December”? Are they not, “Tanksgiving” and “Christmas”? Tose two days stand out as the signal moments of the 30 days that surround them.


Tis edition of Tidings comes at just such a time as these two days define. And the messages they convey are oh, so needed. Tis year more than ever.


At a time when our nation’s place in the world’s search for peace is being contested, we do well to give deep thanks and solemn remembrance on two accompanying national holy days: Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor Day. Te November day honors our vets for the enormous sacrifices they have given to promote justice and peace. Te December day that lives-in-infamy calls us to remember all of those who responded, even to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, to that era’s rise of merciless totalitarianism. We need to hallow and learn the lessons those days teach.


November brings a farewell, with deep thanks, to Transitional Associate Pastor Dallas Bradel, who has accepted with joy an interim pastoral call near her Massachusetts home. Her departure is cause for looking back with thanks (to 1956) to those instrumental in calling Margaret Towner to be the first woman to be ordained to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament in our great denomination. Tis congregation played a huge part in promoting the most world-changing movement of the 20th century: the advancement of equal rights for women. We have so much more work to do in that direction, and this congregation’s legacy of gender


equality advancement will continue to pulsate among us forever.


December begins with the welcome of Associate Pastor Taylor Hall. His arrival has been delayed for him to enjoy his family’s Tanksgiving celebration — including a niece’s baptism — reminding us of the family wholeness we aim to encourage. His gifts and calling for the faith formation of youth, their families and across all generations will surely bring great advance to the lives of many. His arrival also signals the congregation’s embrace of equality across traditional lines of covenanting love. Cause for all of us to give thanks.


Leaders of the congregation are doing lots of visioning together. Te Strategic Planning Team has been forming and re-forming a plan for our future — focusing on our Ministries, Facilities and our Mission. At the same time the whole Session, Diaconate, Staff and others are studying Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, by Tod Bolsinger. In the process, we are exploring just what the ancient inbreaking of Bethlehem’s Child looks like in 21st century Allentown. Jesus’ birth and life in Palestine changed everything — in


spite of unrelenting inertia of change- resistance (especially from the religious establishment) that surrounded him. What kinds of change does he want to initiate here among us? Te Christmas spirit begs us to join Mary and Joseph, the angels and shepherds and the Magi in bringing a whole new joy to the world.


In this holy holiday season, when we call back to mind the hopes and fears of all the years, may we be particularly attuned to those whom these two months urge upon us. And let us keep our eyes peeled for new evidences of Christ’s inbreaking. In turn, may his grace generate a fresh gratitude in your heart … and further expressions of grace through you to all those in your tribe and beyond to the neighbors you have yet to meet.


From grace to gratitude to grace …


Jack Haberer Lead Pastor


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