Happy Easter! The Lord is Risen, the Lord is Risen Indeed!
An Easter Message from the Bethlehem Area Moravian clergy.
Category: Worship
Good Friday Online Worship
Dark times can bring out the best in humanity and can reveal hidden beauty and strength. That was true of Jesus on Good Friday and it is true of the church in the present pandemic.
Maundy Thursday Online Worship Service
Blessings to you on this Maundy Thursday.
In a more normal year, we would be gathering for Maundy Thursday Holy Communion. While that is not currently possible, I hope that our recorded services feed you spiritually during this Holy Week.
You should also know that when we are cleared to return to worship in our beautiful sanctuary, we will revisit the Easter Liturgy, anthems, and message – for that will be a day of resurrection for us all as we return to a more normal life personally and as a community of faith.
Blessings, peace, and health to all,
Pastor Derek
March 29th Worship News
East Hills Moravian has canceled all in-person worship and fellowship gatherings, effective immediately, until April 30th or until we receive further guidance from government sources. Please join us online if you are able. The office is closed.
The following events have been canceled as well:
- Bunny Breakfast Buffet – April 4th.
- Northeast Community Center Annual Italian Buffet fundraiser for the Summer Camp Program – April 4th.
- Spring Preschool Lovefeast – April 15th
- Senior Girl Scout Troop Easter Candy Sale (month of March and first week of April)
Missed Sunday Worship?
If you missed this week’s worship service, check out the recording on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/o7sq3_NpNHE. We ran into some technical difficulties streaming it live, so do please, bookmark our YouTube channel as we will post the service there if live streaming is unstable like it was this morning.
Have a Prayer Request or Pastoral Concern?
Have a prayer request? Please email the church office at office@easthillsmc.org. We will not be mentioning persons by other than first name during worship or delving too deeply into individual circumstances since the YouTube broadcast is literally available to the world. We soon will have a new prayer list which will contain the information normally present in the Sunday morning bulletin insert.
For pastoral concerns, contact Pastor Derek via email at pastorfrench@easthillsmc.org, via text message or through Facebook messenger. His personal and cell number are available to members in the East Hills Moravian Church directory. If you do not have one, please contact the office and we will send you a .pdf copy.
TREX Plastic Challenge Update
Our joint TREX Plastics Challenge has taken on a whole new dimension in the past few weeks, as we practice social distancing and worship from home. We encourage you to continue to gather your plastic bags and wrap for the TREX Plastics Challenge, so that, when we can return safely to church services, events, and committee meetings, we can bring in the accumulated plastic and continue toward our goal. By the way, when we suspended collection in mid-March, we had a total of 281 lbs. toward our first 500 lb. goal!! Excellent work! Thanks to all BAM church members for your participation!
Women’s Fellowship Goes Online!
Women’s Fellowship will be meeting virtually (via Zoom) on March 31st at 7:00 pm. All women are invited. To join this meeting you need a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone with a speaker, webcam and internet connectivity. To use Zoom, use this link https://zoom.us/j/608780222 prior to the meeting and download the Zoom app if you do not have it. To sign into the meeting, you click on the link https://zoom.us/j/608780222 and you will be connected. If you have used Zoom before you should not have to download the app again. If you have questions or problems signing in, you can contact Lucy Thompson.
In addition, everyone should have their study book Sitting at Table in the Kingdom of God and a Bible. If you don’t have a study book, don’t worry, we will be reading the lesson together. The lesson is Session 6 “The Table in John’s Upper Room” John 13:1-20. So, make yourself a hot beverage and please join us.
Mid-Week Lenten Program: Encounters with Jesus
This coming Wednesday is the last of our mid-week Lenten series: Encounters with Jesus. On April 1st, join us for “On to Jerusalem.” Resources will be mailed out during the day on Wednesday. These will include scripture references, questions for reflection, and links to online videos. If you wish, you are invited to join us for an online discussion through the Zoom application. SPECIAL THANKS: to Peter Diehl for coming up with the idea for the program.
Book Club
All are invited to join the East Hills Moravian Church book club on Monday, April 27th at 7 pm in the parlor where we will discuss The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. Questions? Contact: Amy Frantz Gross at bartlet4pres@yahoo.com for details about how this will be done if we are still operating remotely.
Ongoing Ministry Opportunities
A Can a Week
Please hold those with food shortages in your thoughts and prayers as changes at both the Northeast Community Center Foodbank and Second Harvest take place. We will not be collecting canned foods at this time, but if you’d like to continue to help with this effort, please mail a check in any amount to the church at 1830 Butztown Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Please note “A Can a Week” on the memo line. Cash cards will be purchased to help meet the needs of the hungry at this time of stress and uncertainty.
Victory House
Interested in helping to feed the hungry? Contact Rob Greenawald at 610-438-2626 or rgreenawald@rcn.com for more information or to volunteer.
Online Giving
Please note that we have online giving established for any donations you wish to make to East Hills Moravian Church. Check out our Online Giving page for more details. Help us to maintain our ministry, our facilities, but most importantly, our mission: “To Know Christ and Make Him Known.”
How are we doing that?
- Through making meals for Moravian House 1 and 2 in downtown Bethlehem
- Through feeding those in the Single Sisters House who can’t get out to purchase groceries and have very limited funds.
- Through our online outreach.
- Through our Freezer Ministry.
- Through our sponsorship of “Jesus Saves” ministry.
- Through our worship and fellowship opportunities.
All Moravian congregations and fellowships in the Northern and Southern Provinces in the United States have online giving enabled through the Giving Portal at https://mmfa.info/givingportal/. The Moravian Ministries Foundation in America is happy to do its part to help Moravians support the ministries of their local churches and worship God with their tithes and offerings from the safety of home. Answers to frequently asked questions are available at: https://files.constantcontact.com/4979844f601/4ee20b1b-d3a0-4f5a-ac32-c1846e2e30f4.pdf
March 22nd Worship Notes
Missed Worship?
If you missed worship this Sunday (or last Sunday for that matter), head over to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/EastHillsMoravian. Derek posted the Sunday worship services there and will do so for the foreseeable future. We realize this is unchartered territory and are doing our best to provide continued continuity despite quarantines, restrictions, and social distancing.
Missed the Mid-Week Lenten Service this Week?
If you missed the Mid-Week Lenten Service this past Wednesday, Derek did his best to bring it to you online over on our East Hills Moravian Group Page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/109455987443/. If you aren’t a member yet, please consider joining us!
Have a Prayer Request?
Please email the church office: office@easthillsmc.org. We will not be mentioning persons by other than their first name during worship or delving in too deeply into individual circumstances since the YouTube broadcast is literally available to the world. We soon will have a new prayer list which will contain the information normally present in the Sunday morning bulletin.
Need Pastoral Care?
Contact Derek via email at pastorfrench@easthillsmc.org, via text message, or via Facebook messenger. His personal and cell numbers are available to members in the East Hills Moravian Church directory. If you need a directory, please email the church office and we will gladly send you a .pdf copy.
Please Consider Online Giving
Please consider using our Online Giving portal for submitting your tithe or other donations. This is safe and secure and helps provide needed resources not only for our congregation but also for the emergency funds we provide to those in our community. All Moravian congregations and fellowships in the Northern and Southern Provinces in the United States have online giving enabled through the Giving Portal at https://mmfa.info/giving-portal/. The Moravian Ministries Foundation in America is happy to do its part to help Moravians support the ministries of their local churches and worship God with their tithes and offerings from the safety of home. Answers to frequently asked questions are available at https://files.constantcontact.com/4979844f601/4ee20b1b-d3a0-4f5a-ac32-c1846e2e30f4.pdf
Mid-Week Lenten Services
Derek is going to try and post this week’s Mid-Week Lenten Service on our YouTube channel. That said, we are using some external content so we need to make sure copyrights are observed. Please bear with us; this might remain in our East Hills Moravian Facebook Group page instead. Many thanks, again, to Peter Diehl for the idea for this program. This week’s focus will be on the disciples.
Ministry Opportunities
A Can a Week
Please hold those with food shortages in your thoughts and prayers as changes at both the Northeast Community Center Foodbank and Second Harvest take place. We will not be collecting canned foods at this time, but if you’d like to continue to help with this effort, please mail a check in any amount to the church at 1830 Butztown Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Please note “A Can a Week” on the memo line. Cash cards will be purchased to help meet the needs of the hungry at this time of stress and uncertainty. Thank you for your faithfulness to this ministry.
Victory House
Interested in helping to feed the hungry. Contact Rob Greenawald at 610 438 2626 or rgreenawald@rcn.com for more information or to volunteer.
EHMC Preschool Fundraiser
Ongoing fundraiser with Primary.com which sells quality children’s clothing at affordable prices. Please visit our school’s special URL at primary.com/school/easthills and use the code EASTHILLS when checking out after shopping. Information to register for Primary.com is available through the Preschool, and you will also receive an extra 25% off your first order.
Book Club
All are invited to join the East Hills Moravian Church book club on Monday, April 27th at 7 pm in the parlor where we will discuss “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson. Questions? Contact: Amy Frantz Gross at bartlet4pres@yahoo.com.
Cancellations
WHY KNOTS, scheduled for March 25, and WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP, scheduled for April 7, are both canceled. Please hold one another in your thoughts and prayers, and maintain connection by phone, email, or text.
Northeast Community Center 2020 Annual Italian Buffet Fundraiser on Saturday, April 4, that was in the March Newsletter, has been canceled. If anyone would like to send a donation for the 2020 Summer Camp Program, they would be so grateful. Northeast Community Center, P.O. Box 1463, Bethlehem, PA 18016
Preschool Information
Bunny Breakfast (tentatively)
Saturday, April 4th, 9 AM to 10:15 AM. Open to the community. Pictures with the Bunny from 9:15 to 10:15 for a donation (bring your own camera). Egg Hunt at 10:30. Tickets are $5 for anyone over two, two and under are free but need a ticket. For reservation/tickets please email EHMChurch1830@yahoo.com with your name, how many tickets for two and up and how many tickets for under 2 and the best way to contact you. Questions please email EHMChurch1830@yahoo.com or call 610-737-0012. Includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, tater tots, cheese sauce and other condiments, and a juice and coffee bar. Proceeds will benefit the East Hills Moravian preschool marketing budget. The deadline to get tickets is March 27, 2020.
Spring Preschool Lovefeast Service (tentatively)
The Spring Preschool Lovefeast will be tentatively held on Wednesday, April 15th at 9:30 am. This is in celebration of the Week of the Young Child.
Preschool Registration
Registration for East Hills Moravian Preschool is open! Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about our wonderful school. We have a beautiful facility, friendly and knowledgeable teachers, and a new curriculum. We offer the following programs:
- Three-Year-Old, M/W/F; 9:00-11:45 am
- Four-Year-Old, 4 days M/Tu/Thu/Fri; 9:00-11:45 am or 5 days M-F; 9:00-11:45 am. The first Wednesday of the month is 9:00 am-1:00 pm for 5-day Fours only.
If you want to extend the fun, children can bring their lunch and stay 11:45 am-1:00 pm or until 3:00 pm. Please call us at 610-868-6242 and let us know your preschool needs.
Sunday, March 15th Worship Service UPDATE
Dear Church Family,
Out of an abundance of caution and love for those who are most vulnerable in our congregation and community, we will not be holding worship, Sunday school, or other events tomorrow, Sunday, March 15th.
We will share more information regarding how will we continue to carry out our ministry under present circumstances with you via email, the web, text messages, and voice.
Peace, grace, and good health to you and all your loved ones,
Pastor Derek
Dedicate A New Moravian Songbook
Sing to the Lord a New Song: A New Moravian Songbook celebrates the musical
gifts of today’s Moravian Church in North America.
This addition to our current Book of Worship features new tunes for old texts, new
texts for old tunes, and some brand new music, all by Moravians from around
the continent. It also includes some beautiful new liturgies and prayers.
We would like to purchase 100 of these new songbooks for the congregation.
Please consider sponsoring a book. each bok costs $10.
Click here to download the order form, and please return it with your payment (checks can
be made out to East Hills Moravian Church) by January 31, 2015.
Thank-you!
“Worship The Lord, Your God”
The realities of making a living and the often distressing struggles of human society have a way of eroding joy and hope. Without turning to God for spiritual refreshment, our souls are soon as parched as this year’s California countryside. To break such a spiritual drought we need the refreshing rain of God’s grace at regular intervals. A downpour here and there won’t quench our soul’s thirst.
The author of the book of Hebrews celebrates God’s forgiveness of sin through Christ’s life, teaching, death, and resurrection. He says we should enter the sanctuary for worship and “approach with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience…”
Feelings of guilt after a long absence sometimes keep persons from coming back to church. This fear, guilt, or embarrassment which threatens to separate persons from Christ and other believers is what the author describes as “an evil conscience.” Don’t let an evil conscience keep you away from your church family. Don’t let it hinder your spiritual growth and relationship with God. The author then goes on to describe how God blesses Jesus’ followers as they gather for worship.
Worship builds Christian community and nurtures the faith of individual members. It offers opportunities to express our gratitude to God, to receive encouragement, and learn from the wisdom of countless believers, both past and present. We hear of God’s love for all persons; we reach out to those who are facing difficulties and share in others’ joy; and we “consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.”(1) Such mutual support and exhortation allow
Christians to “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering.”(2)
Worship is a weekly opportunity to deepen our faith as we come to a more mature understanding of our relationship with God. Especially in difficult times, it is important that followers of Jesus worship regularly “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day (of the Lord) approaching.”(3)
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1 (Hebrews 10:24)
2 (Hebrews 10:23)
3 (Hebrews 10:25)
– Pastor Derek French