MOSAIC


of Calling Photo project at Chili Cook-Off sounds theme for Lent and Souper Service Weekend


BY ANNE FERRERA


We are many. We are unique. We are children of God. Individuals, yet bound together in spirit. Each of is like a precious stone, brilliant with color, that when placed beside another, becomes a beautiful mosaic.


Tose are the words that greeted church members and friends as they arrived at their tables for the Soup and Chili Cook- Off on January 31.


Te annual event, which kicked off FPCA’s Souper Service weekend, was attended by approximately 140 children, teens, and adults. Each family contributed a favorite soup or chili to be enjoyed and judged by hungry participants. And while eating (and judging) the wide variety of soup and chili was an integral part of the event, it was the fellowship, visiting with friends, and forming of new relationships that made the evening successful.


At the start of the evening, Pastor Jack Haberer introduced the theme: “Who We Are.” Attendees were asked to think about who we are both as individuals and a church. Small tiles available at each table were used to create a design that was then photographed and used as part of a mosaic forming our church logo. Troughout the evening, attendees were encouraged to take additional pictures of their families or table activities, and/ or contribute pictures available on their phones showing something about which


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they are passionate. Tese pictures also became part of the mosaic, which was projected for all to see at the end of the evening. A portion of it appears on the Tidings cover.


After dinner, Jane Long, team lead for the Vibrant Faith Team, provided further explanation of the mosaic project. Te mosaic theme was inspired by a quote from author Rachel Held Evans: “Te gospel is like a mosaic of stories, each one part of a larger story, yet beautiful and truthful on its own.” (From Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again.)


Te idea for creating a mosaic representing our church came from FPCA’s Vibrant Faith team as part of the C3 Project: Creating a Culture of Calling. Tis initiative is funded by a Lilly Endowment grant awarded to 24 churches nationwide that are positioned to put into action the idea that, in everything we do, each of us is called to live out God’s will for our lives in ways that are uniquely ours.


We are all called to live Christ’s love, but each of us has our own story of how we do so. When those individual stories are put together, they create the beautiful mosaic of who we are as a congregation.


Te mosaic project is ongoing throughout the Lenten season. Church members are encouraged to submit


pictures that show ways in which they live out God’s love at church, in their families, at work, and in their communities. Tese pictures will be used together to create mosaics that form images from our church. Mosaics produced in this project, labeled “Called to Live God’s Love: Stories of Who We Are,” will be unveiled on Easter morning and will continue to be displayed throughout the church and online.


To participate, send photos representing things that give your life purpose and meaning through www.fpcallentown. org/FPCAMosaic by March 31.


YOUTH COLLECT FOR SOUPER BOWL OF CARING


On February 2, FPCA joined over 5,000 groups around the country to demonstrate God’s love and love our neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring—a different kind of bowl than that day’s big game on TV. Children and youth collected a freewill offering in soup pots as worshippers left their services. Together we raised $2,665.38 and donated our entire Souper Bowl collection to the Lehigh Conference of Churches to support ministries with homeless and hungry people in our local community.


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