A MESSAGE FROM REV. J.C. AUSTIN: Love in the Time of Coronavirus We are now in the season of Easter for the church year. In the Lectionary, the schedule of Scripture readings that covers most of the Bible in a three-year cycle, the season of Easter unsurprisingly focuses on stories...

A MESSAGE FROM REV. J.C. AUSTIN: Behind the scenes Earlier this week, I was on a videoconference call with the rest of the Advisory Board of Macedonian Ministry, a national and ecumenical clergy development organization that was started by the Rev. Dr. Tom Tewell, whom some of you know from...

A MESSAGE FROM REV. J.C. AUSTIN: Completing the Lenten journey In our Mid-Week Update, I explained something of what Maundy Thursday and Good Friday would look like this year during Holy Week observances with First Pres this year. Today, I want to talk about what will happen on Holy Saturday,...

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM’S RACIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY Rev. J.C. Austin’s special message of June 6: Opposing Racial Injustice Spotlight Newsletter Article: “More Than Good Intentions” We are undertaking an active response to the ongoing reality of systemic racial injustice in our country. These actions include: The 21-Day Racial Justice...

Read Pastor Austin’s Mid-Week Update for Wednesday, April 1 A MESSAGE FROM REV. J.C. AUSTIN: A different kind of journey Friends, we are about to enter Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday this Sunday. This, obviously, is going to be a different experience of Holy Week than we’ve ever had...