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.
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FELLOWSHIP HOUR RETURNS—INDOORS
on the 1st (July 4) and 3rd (July 18) 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.
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, July 4, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: Indoors
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Sunday, July 4, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Sixth Sunday of Pentecost. Jesus does great deeds of power and gives his disciples authority over demons. Yet none of this power is unilateral; it all must be received by faith. Jesus asks his disciples to go out without money or supplies, so that they will be dependent on how others receive them. When we are sent from the assembly to witness and to heal, we are asked to be vulnerable, to be dependent on the reception of others. The Spirit always operates in the “between”: between Jesus and his Abba, between Jesus and us, between you and me, between us and those to whom we are sent.
Servants for Sunday, July 11, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: N/A
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Sunday, July 11, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Seventh Sunday of Pentecost. When Amos reports his vision of God judging Israel for its mistreatment of the poor, he becomes a threat to the power of the priests and the king. John the Baptist also speaks truth to power, and Herod has him killed. In Herod’s fear that Jesus is John returned from the dead, we may hear hope for the oppressed: all the prophets killed through the ages are alive in Jesus. We are called to witness to justice in company with them, and to proclaim God’s saving love.
Servants for Sunday, July 18, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: Indoors
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Sunday, July 18, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Eighth Sunday of Pentecost. Mark’s gospel makes clear how great is the press of the crowd, with its countless needs to be met, on Jesus and his disciples. Yet in today’s gospel Jesus advises his disciples to get away and rest, to take care of themselves. Sometimes we think that when others are in great need we shouldn’t think of ourselves at all; but Jesus also honors the caregivers’ need. We are sent from Christ’s table to care for others and for ourselves.
Servants for Sunday, July 25, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: N/A
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Sunday, July 25, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~ Ninth Sunday of Pentecost. Today is the first of five Sundays with gospel readings from John 6, the first four of which focus on Jesus as bread of life. Today Jesus feeds thousands of people with five loaves and two fish. What we have, what we bring to Jesus’ table, seems like it is not nearly enough to meet all the needs we see around us. But it is not the adequacy of our supplies or our skills that finally makes the difference: it is the power of Jesus working in the littlest and least to transform this world into the world God desires, a world where all the hungry are satisfied.
PLEASE JOIN US SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. FOR INDOOR WORSHIP
OR VISIT OUR ONLINE SERVICES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL CLICK HERE.
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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!