PLEASE NOTE: September 20 & 27, 2020, our Outside Worship Services will begin at 10:00 a.m.
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In case of a pastoral emergency,
please contact Pastor Lisa Borrell at 610-838-0731 or email MizLKB@aol.com.
HAS CONCLUDED AND WE WELCOME
REV. LISA BORRELL AS PASTOR OF
NEW JERUSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH!
The votes from the special Congregational Meeting which were held on August 9, 2020 are in. . .Pastor Lisa Borrell will be New Jerusalem's new pastor. She will be starting Sunday, September 20, 2020 and the new time for our worship service will be 10:00 a.m.
New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church Council: Cindy Hart, Sharon Bender, Glenn Campbell, Kathy Fenstermacher, Tina McCardle, Terry Ravier, Jere Reiss, Robin Rooth-Fogel, Marianne Zellner, and Cindy Ziegler
Pastoral Call Committee: Sharon Bender, Ben Fogel, Jayne Schrantz, Kathy Shermetta, Joe Wildrick, and Marianne Zellner
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW WORSHIP TIME:
Starting September 20, 2020, our Outside Worship Services will begin at 10:00 a.m.
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TO JOIN US AT 10:00 A.M. FOR OUR OUTDOOR/PARKING LOT
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES HELD AT
NEW JERUSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH (RAIN OR SHINE)
LOCATED AT 3233 APPLES CHURCH ROAD, BETHLEHEM, PA 18015
Hope to see you there!
Peace be with you.
Another month has gone by and we continue to work our way through the “new” normal. Our first outside worship service was on Sunday, June 14, 2020. There were a couple minor glitches but overall it was a success. We will continue to have our worship services outside, rain or shine. Feel free to bring your lawn chairs and sit outside your car while wearing your masks and social distance of 6 feet.
For the safety of our congregation, we are proceeding slowly to “green”. A small committee has been formed to created new guidelines for the church. Until those guidelines are distributed, we will continue to follow the current guidelines.
With the governor’s approval to move us into the “green” phase, the church will be following the guidelines set by our governor and SYNOD, that will require some adjustments to our service and practices. We will be expecting our members to follow these guidelines as well, or we will have to close up again.
OUTSIDE WORSHIP INFORMATION
Outside worship services began on Sunday, June 14, 2020. That’s right, we are using our parking lot as our sanctuary. Council is trying to make this transition as seamless, safe and successful as possible! If you do not feel comfortable attending, feel free to continue to watch Pastor Lisa’s sermons online at www.friedenscentervalley.com. PLEASE NOTE: Online services will begin at 8:30 a.m. starting Sunday, September 20, 2020.
For those that are ready this will fill your needs; and those that might still be uncomfortable being around others, this might be a way of getting your feet wet before jumping into the pool.
We have made some slight changes, but it will not affect the impact of worship. These changes are to help keep everyone safe from COVID-19. These changes are: remain in car, no choir, less songs, no sharing of peace, offering at end of service, and communion will be done by prepackaged containers. There will be NO access to restrooms before, during or after service.
You are probably wondering how this is going to work:
An individual will greet you in the driveway and will hand you a bulletin and communion containers. The bulletins will be printed with everything you need. Please let the individual know how many communion containers will be needed for your passengers. The communion containers are ordered prepackaged and, unfortunately, do not offer gluten free wafers or wine. There is only one option for communion (wafer and grape juice). Feel free to bring your own “bread” to be used during communion. At the appropriate time you will tear off the first layer which will have your wafer. Then the second layer will have grape juice.
After receiving these items, follow the direction of the parking attendants and park your vehicle. We will be adhering to the 6’ distance and wearing of masks/gloves. You will remain in your vehicle and tune in to 106.5 FM on your vehicle radio. Please be patient with our volunteers. A plan for entering and exiting the parking lot has been established to maintain safety for all, as this is new to everyone. It will be just like attending a drive-in movie, but different.
After worship is done, please be patient exiting the parking lot. Again there will be parking attendants to guide us in the process. You will notice upon your exit of the parking lot, an individual will be collecting your offering.
GUIDELINES/RULES FOR OUTSIDE SERVICE
Everyone MUST remain in their vehicles at all times.
No entry into church building. This means no use of restrooms.
Take all trash/recycling home with you after worship service.
Masks and gloves are encouraged even in your vehicle.
Be patient. (What else do you have to do??)
No children’s coloring packs will be available. Bring your own form of entertainment for your children. Service activity booklets will be available online for YOU to print and bring along!
Services will be held rain or shine.
BUILDING/ACTIVITIES
Appropriate wearing of masks and gloves while in the building at ALL times.
No entry into the building prior to 10:00 a.m.
No entry into the office, except secretary and treasurer.
Offering envelopes should continue to be mailed or use the online Vanco portal, please refrain from dropping off at church.
Encourage continuation of zoom meetings (however, meetings of less than 25 attendees with appropriate 6’ distancing and masks is allowed).
Pick up of supplies or cleaning are allowed with two people at a time in one area.
Food bank will continue with curbside pickup. ALL WORKERS MUST WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES.
NO EATING OR DRINKING INSIDE BUILDING (that requires one to remove their masks…a no-no).
We hope you will consider attending our outside worship service. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Cindy Hart 484-548-3937 or Sharon Bender 610-597-8764.
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.
ONLINE SERVICES ARE OFFERED ON SEPTEMBER 6, 13, 20, AND 27, 2020 WITH PASTOR LISA BORRELL AND PASTOR DAN EISENBERG
As you all know, our Sunday services have been put on hold for the time being, as our country is dealing with COVID-19. Since we have been asked and directed to practice physical distancing, New Jerusalem has been given an opportunity for an alternate worship experience.
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Pastor Lisa Borrell invites all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or visit their website at www.friedenscentervalley.com to watch her online Sunday worship service at
9:00 a.m.
PLEASE NOTE HER NEW ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE TIME: Starting on September 20th, online services will begin at 8:30 a.m. If you would like to follow along with a bulletin, please use the following link friedenscentervalley.com/newsletters-%2F-bulletins and look for the date under Bulletins.
AND
At 10:00 a.m., you can log in to see a live stream Sunday worship service from St. John's Lutheran Church in Mayfair, PA, an area outside of Philadelphia. Pastor Daniel Eisenberg, whom some of you may remember from his youth group days at NJ, is the pastor there. He has graciously invited us to view his service on Facebook or through the church's website. The addresses are:
If you use the church website, you will need to click on the
light blue bar in the middle of the page.
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We thank Pastor Lisa and Pastor Dan for inviting us
to join them for their worship services.
Have a lovely day and prayers for a peaceful week ahead!
Stay safe and be well. Church Council
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FREE FAMILY SUNDAY SCHOOL
Are you looking for ways to support faith formation at home? Sparkhouse is excited to announce Family Sunday School, a free 8-week lesson series for families! Each week Sunday School curriculum developer (and former summer camp Arts and Crafts director) Dr. Dawn Rundman and her family will host Family Sunday School. Each episode presents a lesson based on Lectionary readings that families can watch together. The Bible story, illustrations, and other content are based on Spark: Activate Faith Lectionary Sunday School lessons.You are welcome to distribute, post, and reproduce the lesson materials for your church families in whatever way works for you. We’ll post a new lesson every Tuesday for the following Sunday. Lessons will be posted through Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2020. The first lesson, Doubting Thomas, is available now at https://www.wearesparkhouse.org/promos/family-sunday-school/?utm_campaign=SHC%20Children&utm_
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)
'One Bread, One Body'
'Way Maker'
'The Lord's Prayer' Sung by Andrea Bocelli
'The Prayer' Sung by Andrea Bocelli and Katherine McPhee
PENDING OPENING OF THE CHURCH ~ Acolytes, Assistant Ministers, Chalisters, Lectors, Pastor Assistants (Council Members), please see the sign-up sheets in the Narthex for volunteer opportunities. Thank you.
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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.
SERVANT SCHEDULES AND SERMON TOPICS
N/A Servants for Sunday, September 6, 2020
Acolyte: N/A
Altar Guild: N/A
Assisting Minister: N/A
Chalister: N/A
Coffee Hour: N/A
Lector: N/A
Pastor's Assistant: N/A
Ushers: N/A
Sunday, September 6, 2020 Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 9:00 a.m.
(rain or shine) ~ Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost ~ Conflict is a part of relationships and life in community. Jesus’ words in today's gospel are often used in situations having to do with church discipline. The prophet Ezekiel tells of warning the wicked to turn from their ways, and Paul reminds us that love is the fulfilling of the law. We gather in the name of Christ, assured that he is present among us with gifts of peace and reconciliation.
N/A Servants for Sunday, September 13, 2020
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Coffee Hour: TBA
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Ushers: TBA
Sunday, September 13, 2020 Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 9:00 a.m.
(rain or shine) ~ Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost ~ In today’s second reading Paul questions why we judge one another, since we all stand before the judgment of God. Yet we do sin against one another, and Jesus’ challenge that we forgive seventy-seven times reveals God’s boundless mercy. When we hear the words of forgiveness in worship and sign ourselves with the cross, we are renewed in baptism to be signs of reconciliation in the world.
N/A Servants for Sunday, September 20, 2020
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Coffee Hour: TBA
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Ushers: TBA
PLEASE NOTE NEW WORSHIP SERVICE TIME CHANGE:
Sunday, September 20, 2020 Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. rain or shine) ~ Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost ~ Matthew narrates one of Jesus’ controversial parables in which Jesus says that the reign of God is like that of a landowner who pays his workers the same wage no matter what time of day they began to work. When God changes God’s mind about punishing Nineveh for their evil ways, Jonah is angry. Yet God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. In baptism we receive the grace of God that is freely given to all. As Martin Luther wrote, in the presence of God’s mercy we are all beggars.
N/A Servants for Sunday, September 27, 2020
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: TBA
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Coffee Hour: TBA
Lector: TBA
Pastor's Assistant: TBA
Ushers: TBA
PLEASE NOTE NEW WORSHIP SERVICE TIME CHANGE:
Sunday, September 27, 2020 Outside/Parking Lot Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. (rain or shine) ~ Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost ~ Jesus’ parable about two sons who don’t do what they say reveals surprises in the reign of God. In the reading from Ezekiel the people claim the ways of the Lord are unfair, while God offers repentance and new life. Paul urges us to look to Christ as a model of humility, putting the interests of others above our own. Nourished by the broken bread and shared cup, we offer our lives for the sake of our needy world.
March 2020 ~ I hope you and your family are doing well. The Church Council has been following the progression of the coronavirus. Following the recommendation of Governor Wolf, and in an effort to do our part, the Church Council has taken a measured approach to discontinue worship, preschool, and all activities at the church until further notice. Continue to watch our webpage at www.newjerlc.org for prayer guidance and video sermons. This is all new to us, so bare with us.
We are asking everyone to refrain from entering the building unless absolutely necessary (secretary, church maintenance, cleaning staff, etc.) as the building has been sanitized. Church council is meeting virtually and there is a skeleton crew of food bank workers that are providing life sustaining supplies to families by curbside pick up.
Of course, cancelling these services will affect us financially - so we encourage you to mail in your offering or use www.newjerlc.org/online-giving. The church continues to have expenses even when we are not worshiping under one roof.
Stay safe and be well. Cindy Hart–Church Council President
PA GOVERNOR TOM WOLF MOVES LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES TO GREEN IN JUNE.
A message from Pastor Lisa Borrell, Visitation Pastor for New Jerusalem Church:
Dear members of New Jerusalem,
Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
To say that we are now living in trying times would be a complete understatement. As I’m sure everyone is aware, employees at grocery stores are doing everything they can to keep the shelves restocked; truck drivers are traveling non-stop to deliver goods to the stores and warehouses; hospital and other medical personnel are working exhaustingly long hours to offer care during this pandemic; schools and colleges are shut down and teaching by remote access; businesses deemed “non-essential” have also been shut down for the foreseeable future; and the government has declared a national emergency the likes of which we have rarely, if ever, seen in our lifetimes.
Please use your best judgment and practice good safety measures during this time, particularly those who have been identified with a higher health risk. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Strictly limit your exposure to other people unless you have to go out for necessary medical appointments or to purchase items at the store. These are some of the best ways to help “flatten the curve” of infection. And though we must distance ourselves physically for a time, that doesn’t mean that we can’t stay connected. Make an overdue phone call (especially to those who are elderly) … write an old-fashioned handwritten note … send a text … airdrop a family photo. Your efforts will definitely be appreciated!
Also crucial during this time of crisis is the continuance of giving your financial offerings to the church. These may be mailed to the office at the address noted above. Please consider using tape or water to seal your envelopes to lessen the transmission of germs. The congregation certainly understands if this imposed isolation has caused hardship due to unexpected unemployment at this time.
Additionally, I’d like you to invite all those who use social media to “like” Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Facebook page or website (www.friedenscentervalley.com) in order to watch recordings of remote worship. A brief worship service was added this past Sunday and another will be coming later this week. While it’s certainly not the same as being together in person, it is a way we can share in our devotions together. Please know that we are only as far away from each other as our thoughts, hearts, and prayers. If anyone should need to reach me, my telephone number is 610-838-0731 or email MizLKB@aol.com. Be well.
God’s peace be with you all. The Rev. Lisa K. Borrell, New Jerusalem’s Visitation Pastor
A message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton on COVID-19:
You can also visit New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church on Facebook at
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.
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!