FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BETHLEHEM’S
DISCIPLESHIP CLASSES & RACIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY
- Rev. J.C. Austin’s special message of June 6: Opposing Racial Injustice
- Spotlight Newsletter Article: “More Than Good Intentions”
Links to videos of previous Discipleship classes are at the bottom of this page.
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 Immersion Project- Sermons (below)
- Video series: “Faith in Living Color: Race, Racism and Christian Discipleship” (scroll to bottom of page)
SERMONS:
We launched a new sermon series for the month of June: “Sermons in Extraordinary Time.” Pentecost does not begin a new liturgical season on the Christian calendar; as was mentioned in the sermon that Sunday, we are in what is known as “Ordinary Time.” But is anything is clear at the moment, it is that we are not in ordinary time.
As we transition into a new time of struggle with a global pandemic, as we simultaneously find ourselves in a time of reckoning with the history and ongoing reality of systemic racial injustice in the United States, we are certainly in “Extraordinary Time.” And so we focused our attention in worship on what the gospel of Jesus Christ says to us here and now, in this extraordinary time, about what God is up to and how we are called to follow and share in that.
FOR SUNDAY, JULY 19:
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: SERMON – “Advent in July“
FOR SUNDAY, JULY 12:
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: SERMON – “Up With a Twist”
FOR SUNDAY, JULY 5:
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: SERMON – “Pulling Our Weight”
FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 28:
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: SERMON – “A Command Performance”
FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 21:
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: Sermon – “A Clear Signal”
FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 14:
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: Sermon – “The Big Reveal“
FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 7:
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: Sermon –“Putting Things in Order”
FOR SUNDAY, MAY 31 (PENTECOST SUNDAY):
VIDEOS: Contemporary Worship Service and Traditional Worship Service
TEXT AND AUDIO: Sermon – “What Do We Do Now”
SERIES: “FAITH IN LIVING COLOR”:
Rev. Austin offered a new series, “Faith in Living Color: Race, Racism, and Christian Discipleship” in June. Scroll down to view the videos from each of the three sessions.
Says Rev. Austin: “’Faith in Living Color’ was designed for anyone, but white people in particular, who want to understand the basics of why race and racism are such important and such difficult topics for white people to engage. It was specifically designed to look at these issues from pastoral and sociological and theological standpoints.”
SEE THE VIDEOS OF PREVIOUS DISCIPLESHIP SESSIONS:
Series: Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons)
May 27: The Social Gospel in Hymns (Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons)
May 20: Slave Quilts and Their Symbols (Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons) Handouts
May 12: FPCB Book Club – “Devotions” by Mary Oliver (Anne Taylor) List of poems
May 6: Listening for God (Jan Bickford)
April 13: “Why Are People So Complicated?” (Bob Costello)
Three part session on “Constructive Conversations in Difficult Situations” by Mary Lou Hatcher:
April 15: “Leaning In and Listening: The Foundation for Dialogue”
April 22: “Trusting and Growing our Own Capacity for Staying Present to the Other”
April 29: “Staying in the Game in Difficult Circumstances”
