NEW JERUSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH SENDS
OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY 2021!
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In case of a pastoral emergency,
please contact Pastor Lisa Borrell at 610-838-0731 or email MizLKB@aol.com.
TO JOIN US AT NEW JERUSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3233 APPLES CHURCH ROAD, BETHLEHEM, PA 18015 ON SUNDAY MORNING AT
10:00 A.M. FOR OUR INDOOR WORSHIP WITH PASTOR LISA AND ITS MEMBERS.
IF YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE ATTENDING SERVICES IN PERSON, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US ONLINE AT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL CLICK HERE.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO ONLINE Worship on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
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FELLOWSHIP HOUR is provided
on the 1st (August 1) and 3rd (August 15) Sunday of each month!
Remember to social distance.
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AN EMAIL FROM NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH DATED JULY 21, 2021
REGARDNG INDOOR WORSHIP
New Jerusalem Evangelical Church Council on July 13, 2021 voted to open the church further and return to seating with no social distancing required. Every pew can now be used and worshippers may sit without concern for 6 foot distancing.
Those who are not comfortable doing this will be able to worship and continue to social distance using the right side of the sanctuary (when looking at the altar) as well as the right balcony area.
Please be respectful of personal choices and refrain from sitting in the designated area if you are not observing social distancing protocols.
We continue to ask adults who are not vaccinated, to continue to wear masks, as well as children over the age of 2.
Thank you for your patience as we moved forward with caution.
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Dear members of NJ ~ At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the Congregational Council of New Jerusalem made the following decisions:
1) Beginning on Sunday, June 13th, wearing masks during the worship service will no longer be required by those who have received the COVID vaccinations. We trust that, out of Christian concern for others, those who have not received the vaccine (including children and youth) will continue utilizing masks until the time that it is deemed unnecessary by the CDC. Social distancing measures will remain in place so that participants are separated by at least one pew. As always, if one is experiencing symptoms like dry cough, shortness of breath, fever/chills, sore throat, nausea, or muscle/body aches, they are encouraged to stay home and seek medical attention. If for some reason we should experience an outbreak of COVID, we will close to in person worship for a period of two weeks, but continue to live stream our services so that all may have the opportunity to attend online.
2) Also beginning Sunday, June 13th, we will resume congregational singing of the hymns. I know that many, like myself, find deep meaning in the music of our church heritage and look forward to being able to “make a joyful noise” once more! Again, if someone is feeling ill, please exercise good judgment and refrain from singing until symptoms have dissipated.
I would additionally like to add that beginning on July 7th, I will be holding office hours at the church on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Please give me a call ahead of time if possible so that we can arrange for a time to meet and speak.
To note … Hershey kisses are always available on my desk if you, like I, have a need for chocolate! I can also be reached via text messages to my cell phone (610-762-2139), Facebook Messenger, or email (MizLKB@aol.com). Please understand if sometimes I cannot answer a call promptly. Kindly leave me a voice message and I will contact you as soon as I am able.
We are definitely seeing light at the end of this long COVID tunnel! Discussions are taking place regarding Confirmation classes and Sunday School as well as the
2022 National Youth Gathering and coffee hours. It buoys the spirits to know that we are on our way to resuming many of the activities we so enjoy together as a church family. Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this past year and a half. Though the “style” of our ministry has had to change, our purpose as Christ’s Church has not.
God’s blessings be with you all, Pastor Lisa Borrell
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Any virus outbreak in the "in person" worshipping community will necessitate the
closing of the church until further notice when it is deemed safe to re-enter.
The Council understands if you do not feel comfortable attending in person worship just yet. We respect your decision and invite you to tune into the service (via the church’s website at Youtube livestream link) as it will be live streamed each Sunday.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO ONLINE Worship on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
Hope to see you there!
Peace be with you.
SERVANT SCHEDULES AND SERMON TOPICS
Greetings! Please consider volunteering to make our Worship Service safe and a success. We need you. We have several openings for volunteers. If you know someone who would love to help, and they do not have internet, feel free to give them my contact information. Robin (610-349-2586). Please help!
To Be Determined: Please use the sign-up sheets in the Narthex for volunteer opportunities, i.e., Acolytes, Pastor Assistants (Council Members), Assistant Ministers, Chalisters, Lectors, and Ushers. Thank you.
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Servants for Sunday, August 1, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Loretta Duch & Tina McCardle
Assistant to Pastor: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: TBA
Greeter: Cindy Ziegler
Lector: Marianne Zellner
Sunday, August 1, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Tenth Sunday of Pentecost. Apparently not satisfied by Jesus’ feeding of thousands, some who were there press him for a sign of his power; perhaps it is daily manna they want. As always in John’s gospel when people want a sign, Jesus offers himself. He is the bread come from heaven to give life to the world. He calls us to come to him and believe in him, and through that relationship to know the one who sent him.
Servants for Sunday, August 8, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Sharon Bender & Cindy Hart
Assistant to Pastor: Cindy Hart
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: N/A
Greeter: Tina Young
Lector: Cindy Ziegler
Ushers: Jere & Phyllis Reiss
Sunday, August 8, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Eleventh Sunday of Pentecost. Jesus says that the bread he gives for the life of the world is his flesh, and whoever eats this bread has eternal life now and will be raised on the last day. In Ephesians Paul tells us what this life Jesus gives us looks like, this life we live as those marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit in baptism. We live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. The whole purpose of life is giving yourself for the other.
Servants for Sunday, August 15, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Sarah Acker & Kathy Shermetta
Assistant to Pastor: Cindy Hart
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: Indoors
Greeter: Gina Grekula
Lector: Cindy Ziegler
Ushers: Jere & Phyllis Reiss
Sunday, August 15, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Twelfth Sunday of Pentecost. In Isaiah we hear that God’s house shall be a house of prayer for all people and that God will gather the outcasts of Israel. The Canaanite woman in today’s gospel is a Gentile, an outsider, who is unflinching in her request that Jesus heal her daughter. As Jesus commends her bold faith, how might our church extend its mission to those on the margins of society? In our gathering around word and meal we receive strength to be signs of comfort, healing, and justice for those in need.
Servants for Sunday, August 22, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Janis Hadley, Sarah Parente,
& Barbara Young
Assistant to Pastor: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: N/A
Greeter: Rita Frey
Lector: Frank Petak, Jr.
Ushers: Jere & Phyllis Reiss
Sunday, August 22, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost. In today’s gospel many people take offense at Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus’ disciples peel off. This is the backdrop in John’s gospel for Peter’s confession of faith. “To whom can we go?” asks Peter, in words we sometimes sing just before the gospel is read. “You have the words of eternal life.” In order to take such a stand, as Peter and Joshua did, Paul tells us to arm ourselves with the word of God. We pray in the Spirit that we might be bold ambassadors of the gospel.
Servants for Sunday, August 29, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Loretta Duch & Marianne Zellner
Assistant to Pastor: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: N/A
Greeter: Robin Rooth-Fogel
Lector: Marianne Zellner
Ushers: TBA
Sunday, August 29, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost. Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart.
Last week Jesus told us “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.
PLEASE JOIN US SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. FOR INDOOR WORSHIP
OR VISIT OUR ONLINE SERVICES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL CLICK HERE.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO ONLINE Worship on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
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Thank you to those that have been sending offerings in the mail or have been using the online Vanco portal. We are making sure all systems will be operating, our building is clean, and we are ready for worship when we get the green light! We are busy ordering supplies that will be necessary for us to commune together, as well as sanitizing supplies to keep us all safe. Our church congregation sticks together when the going gets tough. Please continue to support the ongoing work of New Jerusalem by sending in your offerings.
SATURDAY SERVICES will be held on the following dates on:
At this time there will be NO Saturday Evening Worship Services (TBD)
Saturday Services have a smaller, more intimate feel, and are typically held on the first Saturday of the month, with some variations to capture important dates in the church year, like Easter. You are invited to join us for these communion services.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
You can also visit New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church on Facebook at
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May the beauty of God be reflected in your eyes, the love of God be
reflected in your hands, the wisdom of God be reflected in your words,
and the knowledge of God flow from your heart,
that all might see, and seeing, believe.
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Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
God, the creator, Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter,
bless you and keep you in eternal love.
The members of New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church wish you a blessed day and we pray that your day is filled with hope, love, peace, and good health!