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Sunday November 27, 2022

Join us for worship on Sunday at 10 AM!

Worship This Week:

"First" Sermon Series, Part 1:
"Last Goes First"
Luke 1:46-55, Matthew 28:16-28
 

This month, the Power of One offering will benefit
Meals on Wheels of the Lehigh Valley. 

 

What's happening this weekend...

Christmas Decorating Days

There's still time to join us for our church's Christmas Decorating Days. Help us trim the trees, place the candles, drape the garlands, and set up the poinsettias. Decorating Days will take place on: 
  • Friday November 25: 2 PM to 5 PM (bring decorations out from storage)
  • Saturday November 26: 11 AM to 3 PM (decorate the sanctuary and atrium -- pizza lunch provided!)
To participate, please use our online signup. Your help will make such a difference this holiday season!

Make an Advent Wreath this Sunday!

We have special Sunday School plans for the first Sunday of Advent! This Sunday (November 27) at 9 AM, you are invited to gather in the Fellowship Hall to create your own Advent wreath! You can make one to take home or to give to someone else. 

While this event is happening in lieu of our regular Sunday School classes, this opportunity is not limited to children -- all are welcome to participate! If you plan to join us, please click here to sign up. 
 

Advent Study Begins

Deepen your faith this Advent with our 2022 Advent Study! This year, we'll be studying Amy-Jill Levine's Light of the World: A Beginner's Guide to Advent. Deborah Appler will lead this year's Advent study, which will take place on Sundays in Advent (November 27, December 4, 11, & 18) at 9:00 AM in the Chapel. We hope to see you there!

Luminaria Night 2022 - Orders Due This Week!

Join us -- and neighbors from all throughout Bethlehem -- for Luminaria Night 2022! Luminaria night is a beautiful evening when we line neighborhoods and streets with luminaria (white paper bags with lit candles). All luminaria proceeds benefit New Bethany Ministries in Bethlehem. Since 1985, New Bethany has impacted over 140,000 lives by offering hope and support to people who experience poverty, hunger, and homelessness. 

Help us join in the effort as we light up our church property with luminaria! Make a donation to purchase a luminaria kit (each $10 donation consists of ten white paper bags, ten votive candles, and ten cups of sand). Orders are due by Sunday November 27. Then join us on December 10 at 4 PM as we set up our luminaria here at the church. 

To make a donation and purchase a kit, visit our church's luminaria order page.
For more information, visit our church website or contact our church's "block captain," Deb Silliman
Luminaria Rain Date: December 17, 2022

What's new in this edition of the Weekly E-news...

Holiday Dinner & a Movie

Enjoy a family-friendly night at the church on Saturday December 10! Bring a favorite holiday dish to share at our potluck dinner at 5:00 PM (Fellowship Hall), followed by a church movie night at 6:00 PM (Sanctuary). We'll be showing Disney's Noelle -- the story of Santa's own daughter, and how she finds her way in the "family business!" Come for the dinner, the movie, or both.
If you are planning to bring a dish for the potluck, please sign up here to let us know what you'll be bringing. Beverages will be provided. 

Wrap Gifts for "Mammy's Angels"

Come help wrap the gifts from the Mammy's Angels Giving Tree on Sunday December 11, 2-6 PM. You don't have to stay the whole time -- any help is appreciated! We will also organize food bags for families in need, and will be making gift bags for the Sixth Street Shelter and Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital. Please click here to review the available slots or sign up. Thank you!

"Send" A Christmas Card to Your Church Family

This year, we invite you to share your Christmas cards with your entire church family -- without using a single stamp! Between now and December 18, send or bring your family Christmas card to the church (2540 Center St., Bethlehem). We'll share your holiday cheers as we post all the cards on the bulletin board near the entrance. Check back each week to see the newly-added cards!

New Wesley Website

Check out the brand-new Wesley Church website! Throughout the past year, our church council has been working with our webmaster on an updated website that will offer a fresh and inviting online experience to our wider community. Browse the new website, and share your thoughts with us! (For updates or corrections, click on the Wesley Webmaster contact link at the bottom of each page. 

Looking for information on upcoming Advent & Christmas programs? Click here.

From the Outreach Depot:

We tend to get extra busy in the lead-up to the holidays. This is partly because we close on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend and again during Christmas week, and also because everyone wants to get their households settled before the holidays. Besides furniture, we have loads of decorations to give out to all those who come before us (and what seems like a Christmas mug for every person in the Lehigh Valley!).

We are trying our best to help our clients to have a joyful holiday season. Blessings abound!

What's coming up...

Meals for BES

This year, our church will once again be supporting the work of the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter (BES) -- and you can help make it happen! Once each month, we provide hot meals, monitor the shower schedule, and offer a loving presence to the guests of the shelter. We will be serving our next meal on Monday December 19. We'll be at the shelter from 4 PM to 9 PM, but shorter shifts are available to fit your schedule. To get involved, please contact our coordinator Becky Hess.

Giving Trees

The Giving Trees are back in the Wesley Church atrium! Through our giving trees, we support the work of area organizations that provide gifts and treats to children & youth, struggling families, and lonely seniors. To donate, take a tag from one of the trees, purchase the item(s) indicated, and return your donation to the church. For more information on our giving trees, please contact Debbie Ace

From the Church Library:

We have more fiction selections available in the library. Check out these featured titles:

THE SECRET RIVER by Kate Grenville
Have you always been fascinated by Australia? Kate Greenville’s layered novel recounts the story of a man who hungers to possess his own land in 18th century Australia. The history and landscape of the country come alive as the backdrop for one man’s particular life journey.

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr
A different sort of WWII story. Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German boy, learn to negotiate life in war-torn St. Malo. Winner of a Pulitzer Prize.

Have something to add to e-news?

To include your ministry update or appeal in an upcoming edition of the Wesley Church e-news, please send the announcement to Pastor Candy

Our Staff


Candy LaBar, Lead Pastor
Susan Matacavage,
Church Administrator
Brian Graybeal,
Minister to Youth
Deb Silliman,
Director of Children's Ministries
Becky Graybeal,
Director of Music
Chris Perfetti,
Director of Bell and Chime Choirs
Keranie Whipple,
Childcare Coordinator
Debbie Ace, Housekeeper
Betty Killo, Housekeeper/Data Entry

Popular website links:

Home Page
Prayer Requests
Donate
Eastern PA Conference News

COVID Update


Masking will remain optional at Wesley Church.
In order to help you make an informed decision about your own mitigation practices, the church will share our county's updated risk category and corresponding CDC guidelines in each edition of our weekly enews. For more information, visit cdc.gov.

Northampton County is currently in the "medium risk" category.
CDC guidelines include:
  • If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions
  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
  • Get tested if you have symptoms

Ongoing Reminders

  • Pastoral Care: If you have a pastoral care need, please contact the church office or email Pastor Candy. 
  • Prayer Shawl Ministry: Put your love of craft to some holy use! To get involved, contact Karen Rose at 610-657-5440, or by email
  • Altar Flowers: Mark a special occasion by providing altar flowers in worship! To sign up, email Susan Matacavage. Each bouquet costs $40. 
  • Amazon Smile: Support Wesley Church by using AmazonSmile -- for each Amazon purchase you make, a donation is made to our church. Visit smile.amazon.com for more details. 
  • WCOF Wawa Coupons: Support our preschool by purchasing Wawa coupons! Each coupon costs $4, can be redeemed for a Wawa Shorti hoagie (valued at $4.79-5.59), and includes a $1 donation to Wesley Circle of Friends Preschool. It's a win-win fundraiser! To order gift cards, or for more information, contact Susan Matacavage
  • Vanco Mobile: Download Vanco Mobile (formerly Give+) for more information on making a one-time or recurring financial gift. 
  • Birthday Cards: Our prayer team is seeking to send birthday cards to senior adults in our congregation. To be included, email Susan Matacavage (susan@wesleychurch.com) with your name and birth date. 
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