PASTOR: Rev. Rebecca Mallozzi Online Column: revmallozzi.blogspot.com

PASTOR EMERITUS: Rev. Dr. Charles E. Colson

ORGANIST/DIR. SENIOR CHOIR & ADULT BELL CHOIR: Brian Snyder

ADMIN. ASSISTANT: Lynda Scheirer

CUSTODIAN: Scott MacKenzie

DEACON GREETER: Beth Walker

WORSHIP ASSISTANT: Terry Eck AUDIO:

USHER CAPTAIN: Janie Slamon VIDEO:

USHERS: Elaine Smits, JoAnne Herring, Janie Slamon, Bruce Luff

FELLOWSHIP: Davis/Gill

ELDERS:

Class of 2019 2020 2021 Linda Kennington Jack Decker John Gill

Tim Melnick Bruce Luff Andy Ingram Chuck Waters Erik Walker Ann Lowell, Clerk

Cathy Wiese Dave Wilson

DEACONS:

Class of 2019 2020 2021 Deb Ferguson, Co-Mod. Carolyn Baittinger Donna Call

Peter Ferguson Eleanor DePhillips Maggie Haley Melanie Shimer Liz Kenny Andrea Mauro

Elaine Smits Beth Kunkle, Co-Mod. Beth Walker

Worship sheets & activity bags for children are available from the ushers.

Assistive listening devices are available for those with hearing difficulties.

Large print worship materials and hymnals are available. Please ask an usher for assistance.

SO THAT THOSE PRESENT MAY EXPERIENCE GOD WITHOUT DISTRACTION, WE ASK THAT CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES BE

TURNED OFF PRIOR TO THE START OF WORSHIP. THANK YOU.

Joys and Concerns

Please keep these people in your prayers.

Becky Shreck—prayers needed for her ongoing issues with her autoimmune illness.

Betty Dennis—ongoing health issues. Marie Heffner—ongoing health issues.

Peter Ferguson’s brother, Tom —ongoing health issues.

Military Service

Please keep these people in your prayers.

Jack Melnick, USMC.

Major Bethany Kauffman, USMC, niece of Penny & Jim Pantano. Hillary N. Waterman, granddaughter of Ellen and Bill Bender,

Doland J. Miller II and Jeremy Miller, nephews of Joe Smits.

Contact Information—Pastoral Care Needs

For medical emergencies or death, contact Rebecca at

revmallozzi@faithchurchemmaus.org or call 484-523-0240. Or contact either of the Co-Moderators of Deacons…

Deb Ferguson: 908-421-3817, or Beth Kunkle: 610-769-0327

Faith Church Prayer Chain

Please send prayer requests to prayers@faithchurchemmaus.org, or use the link from the Faith Church website.( www.faithchurchemmaus.org )

Order of Worship

September 15, 2019

Faith Presbyterian Church of Emmaus 3002 N. Second Street, PO Box 507

Emmaus, Pennsylvania 18049 610.967.5600

office@faithchurchemmaus.org www.faithchurchemmaus.org

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

10:00 AM SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

THE FIRST NOTE OF THE PRELUDE begins our worship.

Please use the prelude time to turn your attention to God’s

presence and help. Nurturing our relationships and friendships

in fellowship is essential to our life as a congregation, so please continue to do so following our time of worship.

Those who are able are invited to stand.

FOCUSING UPON GOD’S PRESENCE AND VOICE PRELUDE “Prelude in G Major” J. S. BACH BMV 550

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Let us bow before our God, our Creator,

whose Spirit moves over desert and sea.

People: Let us bow before our God, whose Word has the power

to judge, create, and save.

OPENING PRAYER

HYMN #49 “The God of Abraham Praise” LEONI

LITANY OF AFFIRMATION L: Sisters and brothers, there is joy in the presence of the

angels of God every time we turn toward our home and

remember whose we are. With open hearts, let us pray

together.

P: Creator of the universe, we imagine that we are in familiar

territory, that we know what to expect of this hour, that we’ll

leave much the way that we came. Do not abandon us to our

SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS INTERCESSIONS AND PETITIONS THE LORD’S PRAYER GLORY TO GOD HYMNAL – PG. 35

(Please use “debts & debtors”.)

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD

OFFERTORY “Pastorale on ‘Forest Green” RICHARD PURVIS

DEDICATION HYMN #606 DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him, above ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION HYMN #547 “Go My Children, with My Blessing” AR HUD Y NOS

CHARGE & BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “Fantasia in F Major” GEORGE PHILLIP TELEMANN

*Children’s Time & Sunday School

Following Children’s Time in worship, children from grades K through 5 will be dismissed to Sunday School. On the first Sunday of each month, Sunday School is not held so all may participate in communion. The same applies to holiday weekends, when Sunday School is not scheduled.

For younger children, care is provided in the nursery during the remainder of our worship time. A single youth volunteer may be needed. Please ask the adult nursery personnel if a youth is necessary.

foolishness. In judgment, illumine our darkness. In mercy,

bear us home -- until we recognize your presence wherever

evil is confronted, truth is spoken, and life is restored. (A moment is given for silent confession to God.)

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

SHARING THE PEACE L: Since God has forgiven us, let us also forgive one another.

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

P: And also with you.

L: Let us share our forgiven joy with one another. HYMN OF ASSURANCE #581 GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

World without end. Amen, Amen.

THE WORD OF GOD TO THE CHURCH

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON GENESIS 18:1-15

CHILDREN’S TIME*

ANTHEM “The Artist” JOSEPH MARTIN

Senior Choir

SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSON GENESIS 21:1-7

SERMON “Laughing With God” REV. REBECCA MALLOZZI

HYMN #724 “Here I Am To Worship” SPIRAL HYMNAL

Faith Life SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

We gather in the name of God who claims us as beloved children, Christ who feeds and nourishes us, and the Holy Spirit, who gives us faith.

We hope you’ll join us following worship for beverages, snacks, and fellowship.

FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EMMAUS 3002 N. Second Street - PO Box 507 - Emmaus, PA 18049

610-967-5600—office@faithchurchemmaus.org Visit us on the web! www.faithchurchemmaus.org

ARE YOU NEW TO FAITH CHURCH? If this is your first time in worship with us here at Faith Church,

welcome! We want to get to know you, so be sure to sign the friendship registry, which can be found at one end of the pew.

NEW MEMBERS This morning we receive the following folks as new members

of Faith Church: Michelle & Robert Halpin, Mary Ellen Jackson, and Ann Laubach. After worship, please join us in welcoming them to the Faith Church family.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TODAY We will hold a brief congregational meeting immediately

following worship today to elect and install Peter Ferguson to the Board of Deacons, to fill an unexpired term of the Class of 2019.

JESUS AND ME (J.A.M. SINGERS) Practice Today! Young singers Grades K-6

Practice Today!—immediately following worship (11:00-11:20 am)

Where—Music Room, Room 10

Singing in Worship—Sept. 22 (practice at 9:30 am)

Come and help make a joyful noise to the Lord!

FYI: J.A.M. will next sing October 20, 2019

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS Begins today, meeting in Room #7 (Brick Room)

11:20 AM, or 15 minutes after the end of worship service

September Topics:

Sept. 15—”God’s Promises”

Sept. 22—”Anger” Sept. 29—”Gossip”

CROP WALK FOR HUNGER Sunday, October 13, 2019

Sign in: 1:00 PM Walk time: 1:30 PM 1 mile or 5 miles Dogs and strollers welcome

Held at: St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott St., Allentown

If you would like to walk, please pick up and envelope and sign your name on the walker list that will be at the Crop Walk table. If you are unable to walk, but would like to help—you can give a cash or check donation (made out to CWS) to any walker. If you have any questions, please see Donna Hill.

PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS OFFERING: Peace at all times in all ways

The Peace & Global Witness Offering draws Presbyterians together, and provides education and exposure to those who show us how to do peacemaking well. It allows us to create resources for dealing with conflict and provide nurturing reconciliation, and stand in support of our global sisters and brothers, because the peace of Christ belongs to people everywhere.

A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice across the world.

Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of the Peace & Global Witness Offering to sustain their local peacemaking ministries. We will be giving our 25% to East Penn Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Their mission is to serve families within the East Penn School District through multi-faceted short-term assistance in order to help restore and sustain healthy, independent living.

Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. Lehigh Presbytery uses their 25% to fund churches mission projects. Faith Church has been a recipient of this fund.

The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.

Responding with the community to…

Inspire new approaches to active peacemaking.

Equip God’s people to be compassionate and prophetic peacemakers.

Connect communities of peace to learn from each other in shared accompaniment and take action together for the transformation of the world.

Transform Cultures of Violence into Communities of Peace

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, a mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a program of Compassion, Peace and

Justice Ministries, in urgent response to the overwhelming culture of violence in our world is: The Peace & Global Witness Offering is received

during the Season of Peace, which ends on World Communion Sunday, October 6.

In 2018, Faith Presbyterian Church received $2,435.00, with $608.75 going towards support of East Penn Neighbors Helping Neighbors. On October 6, World Communion Sunday, please prayerfully consider contributing to this worthy program.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, September 15 9:15 AM— Middle School & Senior High Sunday School 10:00 AM— Worship Service Congregational meeting immediately following worship. 10:15 AM— K to 5th Grade Sunday School 11:15 AM— Adult Sunday School (BR) 11:20 AM— JAM Singers (MR) 5:00 PM— Middle School Youth Group 6:30 PM— Senior High Youth Group Monday, September 16 Church Office Closed 6:00 PM— Adult Handbell Choir (MR) 7:00 PM— Mission Committee (P) Tuesday, September 17 9:00 AM— Morning Walking Group 10:00 AM— Emmaus Garden Club (FH) `7:00 PM— Deacons’ Meeting 7:30 PM— Emmaus Chorale (FH) Wednesday, September 18 9:30 AM— Women of Faith (BR) Noon— Word on Wednesday (P) 7:00 PM— Vision Team Meeting (P) 7:00 PM— Senior Choir (S) 7:30 PM— Reading Group (BR) Thursday, September 19

7:30 AM— Disciples of Christ (P) 9:30 AM— Women’s Spiritual Study Group 9:30 AM— Yoga (FH) 7:00 PM— Narcotics Anonymous (FH) Friday, September 20 Church Office Closed 7:00 PM— Board Game Group (FH) Saturday, September 21 International Day of Peace

9:00 AM— Crazy Quilters (FH) 10:00 PM— Narcotics Anonymous (FH)

Oct. 6 ............... World Communion, Peace & Global Witness Offering Oct. 12 ............. Masenheimer Wedding

Oct. 13 ............. Crop Walk of Hunger Oct. 14 ............. Columbus Day—Church office closed

Nov. 3 .............. Daylight Savings Time Ends Nov. 5 .............. Election Day

Nov. 11 ............ Veterans Day—Church office closed

LOOKING AHEAD...

TWO WEEKS OF FAITH This calendar is prepared a few days prior to distribution. Please see the church website for the most up-to-date information. Room Numbers, indicating where meetings will be held (when known), are shown in

parentheses following the listing.

Key BR Brick Room FH Fellowship Hall

MR Music Room

O Office

P Parlor

S Sanctuary

NEXT WEEK

Sunday, September 22 9:15 AM— Middle School & Senior High Sunday School 9:30 AM— JAM Singers (MR) 10:00 AM— Worship Service 10:15 AM— K to 5th Grade Sunday School 11:15 AM— Adult Sunday School (BR) Monday, September 23 6:00 PM— Adult Handbell Choir (MR) Tuesday, September 24 7:30 PM— Emmaus Chorale (FH) 7:30 PM— Fellowship Committee (P) Wednesday, September 25 9:30 AM— Women of Faith (BR) Noon— Word on Wednesday (P) 5:00 PM— Communications Committee (P) 7:00 PM— Senior Choir (S) Thursday, September 26

9:30 AM— Women’s Spiritual Study Group 9:30 AM— Yoga (FH) 7:00 PM— Narcotics Anonymous (FH) Friday, September 27 Church Office Closed Saturday, September 28 10:00 PM— Narcotics Anonymous (FH)

9/15 Carolyn Baittinger

Andrew Martin Carolyn Rice

CONSIGN FOR GOOD Thank you to everyone who put a sign in their yard, donated

items, came out to the sale, shopped, consigned, volunteered, or shared information about the sale with others. We are please to say it was another successful sale. Soon we will announce the Amount donated to East Penn Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Together we really can work for GOOD.!

GOD’S PROMISES September 15, 2019

1

News Raises Questions of 'What Has God Promised Us?' The Wired Word for the Week of August 4, 2019

In the News

Late last month, Joshua Harris, once a megachurch pastor and the author of the 1997 best seller I Kissed Dating Goodbye, which promoted a "purity culture" that emphasized a lifestyle prior to marriage that included not participating in romantic social dating and not engaging in practices such as intercourse or even kissing until marriage, announced that his marriage is over and that he has lost his faith.

Critics, such as former Christianity Today editor Katelyn Beaty, have likened Harris' approach in his book to the so-called "prosperity gospel." (The prosperity gospel claims that God rewards increases in faith with increases in health and/or wealth.) These critics often conflate refraining from premarital sex with the additional strictures against dating and kissing that Harris advocated. Beaty posted in a recent opinion piece on the Religion News Service website that what Harris had touted in his book was a form of "sexual prosperity theology." Beaty said the claim in his book is that "God will reward premarital chastity with a good Christian spouse, great sex and perpetual marital fulfillment."

"The giveaway of any prosperity teaching," said Beaty, "is an 'if/then' formula: If you do this, then you will get this. If you put a $100 bill in the offering plate, then you will get tenfold back. If you stay chaste now, then you will later be blessed by marriage and children."

In any case, Harris last year disavowed the ideas in his book, acknowledging that it set many Christians up for disappointment and pain. (See The Babylon Bee's satirical take on that here.)

"I no longer agree with its central idea that dating should be avoided," Harris said in a statement. "I now think dating can be a healthy part of a person developing relationally and learning the qualities that matter most in a partner. To those who read my book and were misdirected or unhelpfully influenced by it, I am sincerely sorry."

And now, the ending of his marriage perhaps illustrates the fallacy of his book's central premise.

We at The Wired Word take no pleasure in reporting someone's relationship difficulties and loss of faith. This news simply reminds us that claiming that God promises things which are not supported by scripture can misdirect those seeking to live a godly life.

As Beaty noted, "Evangelical leaders have roundly condemned the prosperity gospel for manipulating the poor and making promises not found in the Bible."

And she quoted Southern Baptist leader Albert Mohler: "Nowhere do the Scriptures tell mankind that if we just do our part, God will do his."

More on this story can be found at these links:

Joshua Harris and the Sexual Prosperity Gospel. Religion News Service Author of Christian Relationship Guide Says He Has Lost His Faith. The Guardian

GOD’S PROMISES September 15, 2019

2

Kissed Goodbye. Slate Josh Harris Kisses Christianity Goodbye. PJ Media

Applying the News Story

Just to clarify, our topic for this lesson is not courtship practices before marriage. Rather it is the matter of what God has actually promised us. As our "In the News" story indicates, God has promised neither prosperity nor sexual fulfillment as a reward for faith.

Any conversation about the promises of God requires us to think about three things:

1) The question "For whom was the Bible written?" Christians may view that as having an obvious answer. "It was written for us," we say. "Why else would we study it week after week in Christian education classes and hear sermons from it week after week in worship?"

As obvious as this answer may seem, it is an oversimplification. Human beings, about 40 of them, forged the messages of the Bible in the furnace of encounter with God over a period of at least 1,000 years. Most of the authors did not know the others. They wrote in cultures very different from our own, against a changing background of Middle Eastern empires, many of which are now long since extinct. They all wrote for audiences alive back then, and it's probable that these writers didn't realize they were composing scripture. (Later recognition of the enduring faith-value or authority of their writings eventually granted them scriptural status.)

Thus, it follows that whatever we see as promises in the Bible were not initially or explicitly addressed to us by the authors.

Yet the apostle Paul wrote that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV). And Peter is clear that "The prophets did not think these things up on their own, but they were guided by the Spirit of God" (2 Peter 1:21, CEV). Christians have come up with different theories on how God inspired the writers -- but we can be confident that he is somehow behind the words of scripture, and, therefore, we need to take them seriously, along with whatever God may additionally say to us today.

What's more, Christians through the ages have rightly declared that the Bible is their book. And they have handed it on, generation after generation. Although God was speaking to and dealing with particular peoples at particular places and times, the underlying message is universal and timeless.

Reading the Bible requires discernment: While some statements were made in a specific and limited context, which ones have more universal applicability? Are the promised rewards temporal -- in this world -- or eternal, in the world to come? Christians often differ on some of these specifics. Perhaps we all should remember the following:

We are each human -- not infallible -- and may be mistaken in our interpretation. We can pray to ask God for his guidance. We can trust God to forgive our mistakes.

GOD’S PROMISES September 15, 2019

3

In any event, until we place ourselves under the teaching of the scriptures and enter the community of faith, the Bible is not ours or "for us." Only once we acknowledge its authority, does it give us a basis to see the promises of scripture as speaking to us.

It also gives us a basis for challenging claims that God promises such and such when there is no support for such and such in scripture.

2) Acknowledgement that some Bible promises were for a specific time. For example, the promise that God would bring the Israelites out of exile in Babylon and return them to their homeland. That was fulfilled in the time of Nehemiah. We might infer that God would do something similar again, but that is not a promise to us.

3) The timeline for promise fulfillment. Some of God's promises in scripture speak of fulfillment as being in the future, when the kingdom of God comes. Thus, God's promises are strongly linked to a) trust that God is able and willing to keep the promise and b) to patience and hope on our part.

The Big Questions Here are some of the questions we will discuss in class:

1. Name one particular promise of scripture you rely on for your own life. Who was the original audience for that promise? What makes it a promise to you?

2. When have you seen a divine promise fulfilled in your life? What divine promise fulfillment are you expecting eventually?

3. Who, if anyone, do you trust to tell you what the promises of God are? Why?

4. What is the effect on you of having to wait an indefinite amount of time for some divine promises to come to pass?

5. If not all the promises of God are applicable to all people in all times and places, do all the commands of God apply to all people in all times and places? And if they do not, how do we determine which are universal, and which are location- and time-specific?

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope We will look at selected verses from these Scripture texts. You may wish to read these in advance for background:

Luke 6:27-38 Isaiah 40:28-31 2 Chronicles 7:12-22 Malachi 3:8-12 2 Corinthians 1:12-20

In class, we will talk about these passages and look for some insight into the big questions. Please join us.

Synod Sunday! What is Synod Sunday? On this day, we invite the congregations and presbyteries in the Synod of the Trinity region [which encompasses Pennsylvania, all of West Virginia except for the eastern panhandle, and the counties of eastern Ohio (with West Virginia’s northern panhandle) generally known as the Upper Ohio Valley] to celebrate the gifts and blessings that take place throughout the year in our bounds.

Why Sept. 15? The Synod of the Trinity’s birthday (the day in which it first gathered in 1717) is Sept. 17. We hold Synod Sunday on the Sunday closest to that day.

What does the Synod do? Great question. Quoting our primary end (goal), “As part of the Body of Christ, the Synod of the Trinity, through the responsible use of shared resources, supports and challenges member Presbyteries to be vital, innovative and faithful in their collaborative and distinctive callings.” We work hand-in-hand with the ministry and mission of our presbyteries as they seek to support the witness of congregations, to the end that the church throughout its region becomes a community of faith, hope, love and witness.

How do we do that? Another good question. The Synod supports presbytery leadership by offering training, networking and continuing education opportunities. We also annually award grants for Peacemaking (ministry addressing issues like hate speech and behavior, racism and gun violence), Mission Travel (partnering with others to grow and learn) and New Initiatives in Ministry. More at syntrinity.org/grants.

How can I learn more? www.SynTrinity.org

Synod Sunday! What is Synod Sunday? On this day, we invite the congregations and presbyteries in the Synod of the Trinity region [which encompasses Pennsylvania, all of West Virginia except for the eastern panhandle, and the counties of eastern Ohio (with West Virginia’s northern panhandle) generally known as the Upper Ohio Valley] to celebrate the gifts and blessings that take place throughout the year in our bounds.

Why Sept. 15? The Synod of the Trinity’s birthday (the day in which it first gathered in 1717) is Sept. 17. We hold Synod Sunday on the Sunday closest to that day.

What does the Synod do? Great question. Quoting our primary end (goal), “As part of the Body of Christ, the Synod of the Trinity, through the responsible use of shared resources, supports and challenges member Presbyteries to be vital, innovative and faithful in their collaborative and distinctive callings.” We work hand-in-hand with the ministry and mission of our presbyteries as they seek to support the witness of congregations, to the end that the church throughout its region becomes a community of faith, hope, love and witness.

How do we do that? Another good question. The Synod supports presbytery leadership by offering training, networking and continuing education opportunities. We also annually award grants for Peacemaking (ministry addressing issues like hate speech and behavior, racism and gun violence), Mission Travel (partnering with others to grow and learn) and New Initiatives in Ministry. More at syntrinity.org/grants.

How can I learn more? www.SynTrinity.org

Celebrate with us!

How does your church re-gather in the fall? Rally Sunday? Picnic lunch or dinner? Sunday school? Special Sunday? Post a picture of how you re-gather in September using #SynodSunday and we’ll share it with our region on social media. (You can also email it to mgivler@syntrinity.org.)

Celebrate with us!

How does your church re-gather in the fall? Rally Sunday? Picnic lunch or dinner? Sunday school? Special Sunday? Post a picture of how you re-gather in September using #SynodSunday and we’ll share it with our region on social media. (You can also email it to mgivler@syntrinity.org.)

‘Silence is the welcome mat for hate.’

Each year, the Synod of the Trinity holds four regional meetings for the purpose of listening and learning from one another. It’s a time for education, conversation and looking ahead.

This year, at the Synod’s Regional Gatherings for Partnership and Networking we took a deeper dive – and for many it was a first dive – into the realities of hate that pervade the culture of this country in an increasingly alarming way. And we learned from the beginning that our silence (what many of us would see as an appropriate non-participation in “hate”) actually opens the door for it to emerge!

Find videos from our gatherings, as well as other resources that will assist you and your congregation in taking a stand against hate groups and hate-related behavior, at:

SynTrinity.org/SilenceHate

Resources, resources, resources!

Looking for Presbyterian news from around the region, the Synod website is your one-stop place to find it. But aside from information and gatherings, SynTrinity.org is also a place to find various resources, like:

➢ Ruling Elder Training ➢ Communications Tools

and Resources ➢ Continuing Education ➢ Employment

Simply put, we are Being More Together

‘Silence is the welcome mat for hate.’

Each year, the Synod of the Trinity holds four regional meetings for the purpose of listening and learning from one another. It’s a time for education, conversation and looking ahead.

This year, at the Synod’s Regional Gatherings for Partnership and Networking we took a deeper dive – and for many it was a first dive – into the realities of hate that pervade the culture of this country in an increasingly alarming way. And we learned from the beginning that our silence (what many of us would see as an appropriate non-participation in “hate”) actually opens the door for it to emerge!

Find videos from our gatherings, as well as other resources that will assist you and your congregation in taking a stand against hate groups and hate-related behavior, at:

SynTrinity.org/SilenceHate

Resources, resources, resources!

Looking for Presbyterian news from around the region, the Synod website is your one-stop place to find it. But aside from information and gatherings, SynTrinity.org is also a place to find various resources, like:

➢ Ruling Elder Training ➢ Communications Tools

and Resources ➢ Continuing Education ➢ Employment

Simply put, we are Being More Together

➢ Financial Resources ➢ Church Safety/Disaster

Preparedness ➢ PCUSA-Related Online

Readings

➢ Financial Resources ➢ Church Safety/Disaster

Preparedness ➢ PCUSA-Related Online

Readings

Friday, September 6, 2019 Good Morning! I have been on the job four days now and have been blessed with meeting quite a few of you already. In addition to welcoming visitors to my new office, I’ve been sitting in on committee meetings, asking questions and taking notes. Mostly, though, I’ve been listening. For the next few months, that is what I hope to spend most of my time doing—meeting with and listening to as many of you as possible. I want to hear stories of where you have seen God at work in your communities and your congregations; your hopes and dreams and concerns for the churches you serve or attend; your hopes and dreams and concerns for Lehigh Presbytery; your hopes and dreams and concerns for my work in your midst. Later this fall I’ll share what I’ve learned through this listening process. I’m hopeful that by then I will have met with many of you and will have a clearer sense of how you see yourselves as the Body of Christ in terms of mission, governance and community; where you believe God may be leading Lehigh Presbytery; and your levels of openness to experimentation and readiness for change. Here are some ways I hope you will connect with me:

Stop by the presbytery office Monday-Thursday between 8:30-4:30. Call first, just in case

I’m out at a meeting.

Let me know if you have suggestions for a location in your area where I can schedule

regional “office hours” in a coffee/tea shop so folks can drop by.

Invite me to worship with your congregation and stay for conversation afterward.

Contact me at the office (610) 391-9020, call or text me on my cell phone (610) 360-8823,

or email me at rkruse.lehighpby@gmail.com.

Add me to your newsletter email list so I can read about what’s happening in your neck of

the woods.

Notify me right away if there is an urgent need or emergency in your congregation.

My prayer for this body of good and faithful servants over the next three years is that we are able to build strong and collaborative relationships, engage in a fruitful process to discern your corporate purpose, and begin to move toward what God is calling you to do and be. Blessings, Rev. Rhonda Kruse Transitional Presbytery Leader

710 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown, PA 18104 www.lehighpresbytery.org E-mail address: office@lehighpresbytery.org Phone number: 610-391-9020

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Page 2

Lehigh Presbytery News

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’

Isaiah 41:13

Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Bahamas as a category 5 hurricane on September 1, 2019.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is still monitoring Hurricane Dorian as it affects the Atlantic

coast of the U.S. All of us feel great sadness about the damage this hurricane has already caused, the

loss of life, destroyed homes and structures, floods and affected vegetation. PDA is currently in

communication with one of our partners in the Bahamas, Bahamas Methodist Habitat, as well as U.S.

presbyteries in the path of Dorian. As part of PDA's initial response, a solidarity grant has been

coordinated for response efforts in the Bahamas. We have been in communication with several

international response organizations, including Church World Service (CWS) and ACT Alliance, as well

as National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and Puerto Rico VOAD. In conversations

with ACT Alliance and CWS, we are identifying the best time and best way to travel to the Bahamas as

part of a damage assessment team to implement a rapid, timely and effective emergency response to

Hurricane Dorian’s impact; identifying needs, local capacities and providing updated information. In

the past few days we have also answered the call of many people eager to know how to respond to

this emergency.

We understand the genuine desire to help our neighbors. The reality is that right now the situation on

the affected islands is critical. Access to the affected islands has been reserved for first responder

organizations doing search and rescue, and providing first aid relief. As learned from previous

disasters and the shared experience of many relief organizations, the best way to respond to a

disaster is through monetary donations. As USAID indicates, “Cash donations are the most efficient

form of assistance. Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays,

or customs fees. It also enables relief organizations to spend more time providing aid by spending less

time managing goods. Cash donations also allow relief supplies to be purchased in markets close to

the disaster site, which stimulates the local economy, thereby boosting employment and generating

cash flow.”

If you would like to support PDA’s response….

you can send your support through your church. Make your checks payable to your church

with DR000194-Dorian on the memo line; or

you can send your support directly to the Presbyterian Church (USA); make checks payable to

the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and send them to:

Presbyterian Church (USA) P.O. Box 643700 Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

or you may send your support on line at https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-

info/DR000194/ and designate gifts to DR000194.

Page 3 Lehigh Presbytery News

“Here’s My Heart” – Presbyterian Youth Triennium

“Here’s my heart,” the theme for this year’s

Triennium was powerful and effective. The youth

from our delegation were very moved by the

experience and embraced what it meant to give

God our hearts.

Worship every day as one youth put it was “so

moving.” Gathering with over 5,000 other

Presbyterian youth and singing, dancing and

listening to great speakers was definitely moving.

Each youth also participated in small groups

where they met other youth from all over the

United States and beyond.

The common thread from what they learned is

how blessed they felt by being able to completely

be themselves, the people God created them to

be. Our youth also enjoyed getting to know other

Christian youth by exchanging our pins with

theirs.

As the leader I can say God’s presence was felt in

each and every moment of the trip and as the

four youth expressed, they would do it all over

again if they had the chance.

Praise be to God for the amazing work that

resulted from a great delegation to this year’s

Triennium!

Lehigh Delegation: Ella Wiese, Callie Falzone, Rev. Nicole Vogel, Lucas Swanson, and Evan Gill

The Stated Assembly of Lehigh Presbytery is called for Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.

In the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 575 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA

RSVP by Friday, September 13, 2019 for the meeting or child care.

No meal will be served.

Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley1988 Schadt Avenue, Whitehall PA 18052

$20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under

Questions? Call (610) 435-5054 or (703) 346-8698

Fall Food FestivalA Benefit for The Lehigh Conference of Churches Ecumenical Soup Kitchen

Saturday, September 28, 2019, 11a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gluten-free food will be available.