NEW JERUSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH SENDS
OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY 2021!
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IN MEMORY OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Star Spangled Banner
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God Bless America
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God Bless the USA-Lee Greenwood
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May God fill you will his New goodness every day and
may the love of Jesus overflow from you to others throughout the year!
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 is provided
on the 1st (September 5) and 3rd (September 19) 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, September 5, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Sharon Bender & Cindy Hart
Assistant to Pastor: Robin Rooth-Fogel
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: TBA
Greeter: TBA
Lector: Barbara Young
Ushers: Jere & Phyllis Reiss
Sunday, September 5, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~
Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost. James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.
Servants for Sunday, September 12, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Sarah Acker & Kathy Shermetta
Assistant to Pastor: Jere Reiss
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: N/A
Greeter: TBA
Lector: Frank Petak, Jr.
Ushers: TBA
Sunday, September 12, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~
Sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost. Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.
Servants for Sunday, September 19, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Janis Hadley, Sarah Parente,
& Barbara Young
Assistant to Pastor: Barbara Young
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: Indoors
Greeter: TBA
Lector: TBA
Ushers: Jere & Phyllis Reiss
Sunday, September 19, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~
Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost. Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly.
Servants for Sunday, September 26, 2021
Acolyte: TBA
Altar Guild: Loretta Duch & Tina McCardle
Assistant to Pastor: Sharon Bender
Assisting Minister: TBA
Chalister: TBA
Fellowship Hour: N/A
Greeter: TBA
Lector: Jayne Schrantz
Ushers: Jere & Phyllis Reiss
Sunday, September 26, 2021 ~ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. ~
Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost. Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.
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!
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