March 29th Worship News

East Hills Moravian has canceled all in-person worship and fellowship gatherings, effective immediately, until April 30th or until we receive further guidance from government sources. Please join us online if you are able. The office is closed.

The following events have been canceled as well:

  • Bunny Breakfast Buffet – April 4th.
  • Northeast Community Center Annual Italian Buffet fundraiser for the Summer Camp Program – April 4th.
  • Spring Preschool Lovefeast – April 15th
  • Senior Girl Scout Troop Easter Candy Sale (month of March and first week of April)

Missed Sunday Worship?

If you missed this week’s worship service, check out the recording on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/o7sq3_NpNHE. We ran into some technical difficulties streaming it live, so do please, bookmark our YouTube channel as we will post the service there if live streaming is unstable like it was this morning.

Have a Prayer Request or Pastoral Concern?

Have a prayer request? Please email the church office at office@easthillsmc.org. We will not be mentioning persons by other than first name during worship or delving too deeply into individual circumstances since the YouTube broadcast is literally available to the world. We soon will have a new prayer list which will contain the information normally present in the Sunday morning bulletin insert.

For pastoral concerns, contact Pastor Derek via email at pastorfrench@easthillsmc.org, via text message or through Facebook messenger. His personal and cell number are available to members in the East Hills Moravian Church directory. If you do not have one, please contact the office and we will send you a .pdf copy.

TREX Plastic Challenge Update

Our joint TREX Plastics Challenge has taken on a whole new dimension in the past few weeks, as we practice social distancing and worship from home. We encourage you to continue to gather your plastic bags and wrap for the TREX Plastics Challenge, so that, when we can return safely to church services, events, and committee meetings, we can bring in the accumulated plastic and continue toward our goal. By the way, when we suspended collection in mid-March, we had a total of 281 lbs. toward our first 500 lb. goal!! Excellent work! Thanks to all BAM church members for your participation!

Women’s Fellowship Goes Online!

Women’s Fellowship will be meeting virtually (via Zoom) on March 31st at 7:00 pm. All women are invited. To join this meeting you need a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone with a speaker, webcam and internet connectivity. To use Zoom, use this link https://zoom.us/j/608780222 prior to the meeting and download the Zoom app if you do not have it. To sign into the meeting, you click on the link https://zoom.us/j/608780222 and you will be connected. If you have used Zoom before you should not have to download the app again. If you have questions or problems signing in, you can contact Lucy Thompson.

In addition, everyone should have their study book Sitting at Table in the Kingdom of God and a Bible. If you don’t have a study book, don’t worry, we will be reading the lesson together. The lesson is Session 6 “The Table in John’s Upper Room” John 13:1-20. So, make yourself a hot beverage and please join us.

Mid-Week Lenten Program: Encounters with Jesus

This coming Wednesday is the last of our mid-week Lenten series: Encounters with Jesus. On April 1st, join us for “On to Jerusalem.” Resources will be mailed out during the day on Wednesday. These will include scripture references, questions for reflection, and links to online videos. If you wish, you are invited to join us for an online discussion through the Zoom application. SPECIAL THANKS: to Peter Diehl for coming up with the idea for the program.

Book Club

All are invited to join the East Hills Moravian Church book club on Monday, April 27th at 7 pm in the parlor where we will discuss The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. Questions? Contact: Amy Frantz Gross at bartlet4pres@yahoo.com for details about how this will be done if we are still operating remotely.

Ongoing Ministry Opportunities

A Can a Week

Please hold those with food shortages in your thoughts and prayers as changes at both the Northeast Community Center Foodbank and Second Harvest take place. We will not be collecting canned foods at this time, but if you’d like to continue to help with this effort, please mail a check in any amount to the church at 1830 Butztown Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Please note “A Can a Week” on the memo line. Cash cards will be purchased to help meet the needs of the hungry at this time of stress and uncertainty.

Victory House

Interested in helping to feed the hungry? Contact Rob Greenawald at 610-438-2626 or rgreenawald@rcn.com for more information or to volunteer. 

Online Giving

Please note that we have online giving established for any donations you wish to make to East Hills Moravian Church. Check out our Online Giving page for more details. Help us to maintain our ministry, our facilities, but most importantly, our mission: “To Know Christ and Make Him Known.”

How are we doing that?

  • Through making meals for Moravian House 1 and 2 in downtown Bethlehem
  • Through feeding those in the Single Sisters House who can’t get out to purchase groceries and have very limited funds.
  • Through our online outreach.
  • Through our Freezer Ministry.
  • Through our sponsorship of “Jesus Saves” ministry.
  • Through our worship and fellowship opportunities.

All Moravian congregations and fellowships in the Northern and Southern Provinces in the United States have online giving enabled through the Giving Portal at https://mmfa.info/givingportal/. The Moravian Ministries Foundation in America is happy to do its part to help Moravians support the ministries of their local churches and worship God with their tithes and offerings from the safety of home. Answers to frequently asked questions are available at: https://files.constantcontact.com/4979844f601/4ee20b1b-d3a0-4f5a-ac32-c1846e2e30f4.pdf

March 22nd Worship Notes

Missed Worship?

If you missed worship this Sunday (or last Sunday for that matter), head over to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/EastHillsMoravian. Derek posted the Sunday worship services there and will do so for the foreseeable future. We realize this is unchartered territory and are doing our best to provide continued continuity despite quarantines, restrictions, and social distancing.

Missed the Mid-Week Lenten Service this Week?

If you missed the Mid-Week Lenten Service this past Wednesday, Derek did his best to bring it to you online over on our East Hills Moravian Group Page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/109455987443/. If you aren’t a member yet, please consider joining us!

Have a Prayer Request?

Please email the church office: office@easthillsmc.org. We will not be mentioning persons by other than their first name during worship or delving in too deeply into individual circumstances since the YouTube broadcast is literally available to the world. We soon will have a new prayer list which will contain the information normally present in the Sunday morning bulletin.

Need Pastoral Care?

Contact Derek via email at pastorfrench@easthillsmc.org, via text message, or via Facebook messenger. His personal and cell numbers are available to members in the East Hills Moravian Church directory. If you need a directory, please email the church office and we will gladly send you a .pdf copy.

Please Consider Online Giving

Please consider using our Online Giving portal for submitting your tithe or other donations. This is safe and secure and helps provide needed resources not only for our congregation but also for the emergency funds we provide to those in our community. All Moravian congregations and fellowships in the Northern and Southern Provinces in the United States have online giving enabled through the Giving Portal at https://mmfa.info/giving-portal/. The Moravian Ministries Foundation in America is happy to do its part to help Moravians support the ministries of their local churches and worship God with their tithes and offerings from the safety of home. Answers to frequently asked questions are available at https://files.constantcontact.com/4979844f601/4ee20b1b-d3a0-4f5a-ac32-c1846e2e30f4.pdf

Mid-Week Lenten Services

Derek is going to try and post this week’s Mid-Week Lenten Service on our YouTube channel. That said, we are using some external content so we need to make sure copyrights are observed. Please bear with us; this might remain in our East Hills Moravian Facebook Group page instead. Many thanks, again, to Peter Diehl for the idea for this program. This week’s focus will be on the disciples.

Ministry Opportunities

A Can a Week

Please hold those with food shortages in your thoughts and prayers as changes at both the Northeast Community Center Foodbank and Second Harvest take place. We will not be collecting canned foods at this time, but if you’d like to continue to help with this effort, please mail a check in any amount to the church at 1830 Butztown Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Please note “A Can a Week” on the memo line. Cash cards will be purchased to help meet the needs of the hungry at this time of stress and uncertainty. Thank you for your faithfulness to this ministry.

Victory House

Interested in helping to feed the hungry. Contact Rob Greenawald at 610 438 2626 or rgreenawald@rcn.com for more information or to volunteer.

EHMC Preschool Fundraiser

Ongoing fundraiser with Primary.com which sells quality children’s clothing at affordable prices. Please visit our school’s special URL at primary.com/school/easthills and use the code EASTHILLS when checking out after shopping. Information to register for Primary.com is available through the Preschool, and you will also receive an extra 25% off your first order.

Book Club

All are invited to join the East Hills Moravian Church book club on Monday, April 27th at 7 pm in the parlor where we will discuss “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson. Questions? Contact: Amy Frantz Gross at bartlet4pres@yahoo.com.

Cancellations

WHY KNOTS, scheduled for March 25, and WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP, scheduled for April 7, are both canceled. Please hold one another in your thoughts and prayers, and maintain connection by phone, email, or text. 

Northeast Community Center 2020 Annual Italian Buffet Fundraiser on Saturday, April 4, that was in the March Newsletter, has been canceled. If anyone would like to send a donation for the 2020 Summer Camp Program, they would be so grateful. Northeast Community Center, P.O. Box 1463, Bethlehem, PA 18016 

Preschool Information

Bunny Breakfast (tentatively)

Saturday, April 4th, 9 AM to 10:15 AM. Open to the community. Pictures with the Bunny from 9:15 to 10:15 for a donation (bring your own camera). Egg Hunt at 10:30. Tickets are $5 for anyone over two, two and under are free but need a ticket. For reservation/tickets please email EHMChurch1830@yahoo.com with your name, how many tickets for two and up and how many tickets for under 2 and the best way to contact you. Questions please email EHMChurch1830@yahoo.com or call 610-737-0012. Includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, tater tots, cheese sauce and other condiments, and a juice and coffee bar. Proceeds will benefit the East Hills Moravian preschool marketing budget. The deadline to get tickets is March 27, 2020.

Spring Preschool Lovefeast Service (tentatively)

The Spring Preschool Lovefeast will be tentatively held on Wednesday, April 15th at 9:30 am. This is in celebration of the Week of the Young Child. 

Preschool Registration

Registration for East Hills Moravian Preschool is open! Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about our wonderful school. We have a beautiful facility, friendly and knowledgeable teachers, and a new curriculum. We offer the following programs:

  • Three-Year-Old, M/W/F; 9:00-11:45 am
  • Four-Year-Old, 4 days M/Tu/Thu/Fri; 9:00-11:45 am or 5 days M-F; 9:00-11:45 am. The first Wednesday of the month is 9:00 am-1:00 pm for 5-day Fours only. 

If you want to extend the fun, children can bring their lunch and stay 11:45 am-1:00 pm or until 3:00 pm. Please call us at 610-868-6242 and let us know your preschool needs. 

Sunday, March 15th Worship Service UPDATE

Dear Church Family,

Out of an abundance of caution and love for those who are most vulnerable in our congregation and community, we will not be holding worship, Sunday school, or other events tomorrow, Sunday, March 15th.

We will share more information regarding how will we continue to carry out our ministry under present circumstances with you via email, the web, text messages, and voice.

Peace, grace, and good health to you and all your loved ones,

Pastor Derek

Holy Communion and Unity in Christ

We believe in and confess the Unity of the Church given in the one Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior. He died that He might unite the scattered children of God. As the living Lord and Shepherd, He is leading his flock toward such unity.

By means of His presence in the Holy Communion He makes our unity in Him evident and certain even today. The Ground of the Unity, Doctrinal Statement of the Unitas Fratrum or Moravian Church

world communion sunday

Christianity encompasses a broad range of belief – in understanding of God, interpretation of scripture, and stance on social issues. On some of the most emotionally charged of these issues, one finds Christians on opposing sides. So why does our primary Moravian doctrinal statement, The Ground of the Unity, confess “the Unity of the Church” when there seems to be so much evidence to the contrary?

The Bible teaches that common faith in Christ as Savior, rather than doctrinal agreement or
institutional integration, is the true foundation of Christian Unity. Diversity and unity need not be opposed to each other. As the Apostle Paul realized two millennia ago, persons of different genders, social classes, ethnicities, nationalities, and cultures can find solidarity in Jesus Christ.

Unity is based on believers’ shared relationship with their Savior.

For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.Galatians 3: 26-28

World Communion Sunday began in a Presbyterian Church in 1930’s America as tangible expression of the essential unity of the church. It is observed the first Sunday in October every year. On this day of confession and recommitment, followers of Jesus “confess their share in the guilt which is manifest in the severed and divided state of Christendom,” and recommit themselves to “give evidence of and seek unity in Him with zeal and love.” (Ground of the Unity.)

What’s In An Anniversary?

Time, it is said, flies when you’re having fun. If so, each passing decade of life must be bringing me more fun than the last. These days, time seems to pass much more swiftly for me now than it did a quarter century ago. I find myself searching for markers of time in the great journey of life.

Anniversaries are one such marker.

The year 2017 is the 275th anniversary of the founding of Bethlehem, the 60th year in the life of our congregation, and the 50th anniversary of the dedication of our sanctuary,

An anniversary provides an opportunity to pause in the midst of our routine, all-too-rapid lives to consider what truly matters to us. It is an occasion to reflect on the persons, places, and experiences which have shaped us. It is a time to look back and a time to look ahead, a time to celebrate and a time to reflect. For a congregational anniversary, it is also a time to give thanks to God for guidance and blessings received.

This church has felt your blessing for lo, these many years; your Spirit’s gracious leading through all its joys and tears; we join with those before us in holding high the cross. O use us, Lord and Master, whate’er may be the cost.

And now, O God, our Father, we pledge ourselves anew by work and prayer and worship to serve your kingdom too. With grateful hearts we praise you and pray, O Lord, that we who are your church at present, may serve you faithfully. “We Come to You, Our Father” (MBW, 433)

As East Hills Moravian Church enters its 61st year of ministry, I would encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what I pray truly matters to you – relationship with God and your personal growth in faith and the witness of a distinctively Christian life.

I offer the following questions to help start this process of reflection:

  • How has your relationship with God deepened in the past year?
  • How have you found satisfaction and blessing as you participated in the Lord’s work through East Hills Moravian Church? How recently and in what capacity?
  • How has God challenged you to grow personally and demonstrate Christian aspects of character as you have interacted with others (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, generosity and self-control)

– Pastor Derek French

Let’s move together with the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community

LET’S MOVE TOGETHER!

…by participating in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on Saturday, June 2.

We can form an EHMC TEAM or participate individually!

For information, call 866-620-9255 or go online at www.walkforahealthycommunity.org. We suggest choosing Habitat for Humanity as the agency to receive any EHMC donations.

The walk begins at the SteelStacks campus. Parking is free and the walk will be accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Food, beverages, music, activities, and prizes will also be available.

You can help EHMC members walk as a team by offering to be our Team Captain. Notify the church office if you are able to help in this capacity.

LET’S KEEP MOVING TOGETHER!

Special Services of Praise and Healing Prayer

SPECIAL SERVICES OF PRAISE AND HEALING PRAYER will be offered on Sunday morning, March 4, at 8:30 and 11 am. We will bring before God our petitions for healing of body, mind and spirit, and have an opportunity to experience healing touch through Anointing. As Christians, we believe that God is indeed the source of wholeness in our lives, and it is appropriate for us to offer special prayers for wholeness and healing. No one is exempt from needing God’s healing presence in this life. Join us as we pray for ourselves and others.

Italian Buffet tickets available now!

On Saturday, March 3, East Hills Moravian Church Men’s Club will present the always delicious Italian Buffet and salad bar.

There will be two seatings: 4:30 and 7 PM

Tickets are only $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors (65 and over) and $5.00 for kids 6-12. If your children are 5 or under, there is no charge.

On the menu this year

  • Antipasto Salad Bar
  • Italian Bread
  • Pasta Bar
  • Marinara Sauce
  • White Clam Sauce
  • Alfredo Sauce
  • Stuffed Shells
  • Hand Made Meatballs
  • Sweet Italian Sausage
  • Chicken Mediterranean
  • Fresh Brewed Iced Tea
  • Lemonade
  • Ice Cream

Yummy!

For Tickets contact Bob Wingrove: 610-867-0537.

Please note that this year all tickets are advance sale, they will not be available at the door.

This event typically sells out, so get your tickets now.