by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Dec 8, 2023
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: A SPECIAL VISITOR It’s my privilege and pleasure to announce that the Co-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has accepted my invitation to preach in worship at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Dec 1, 2023
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: ADVENT – IT’S ALREADY HAPPENING When I was a child, Advent always made a lot more sense to me than Lent. In the Christian church, we typically talk about Advent as a season of waiting, and that’s exactly what Advent felt like:...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Nov 22, 2023
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: A DAY OF GRACE I think I’m right in saying that Friday is the only “Day After” holiday that we celebrate in the United States. Some other countries, particularly those with ties to Great Britain, have Boxing Day (the day after...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Nov 17, 2023
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: GIVING AS AN ACT OF GRATITUDE It’s that time of year once again: the time when Thanksgiving has to fight for its place among our holiday celebrations. Stores shift over almost immediately from being defined by Halloween to being...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Nov 10, 2023
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: FOUNDATIONAL ACTIONS Over the past few weeks in worship, as part of our emphasis on stewardship, our sermons have been exploring some of the most foundational and important actions in the ministry and life of Christian...
by The Rev. J.C. Austin | Nov 3, 2023
A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: SAVORING OUR SAINTS On the Christian calendar, All Saints’ Day is celebrated every November 1. In the Reformed theological tradition, from which Presbyterians come, there is not a tradition of saints being particularly virtuous or...
