First Presbyterian Church Allentown

Where in your life does God desire radical transformation? This week Pastor Stephanie Anthony continues our Lenten sermon series, inspired by "Everything [in] Between" from A Sanctified Art. The fourth sermon looks at the topic of being "Lost & Found" through the parable of the lost sheep... or perhaps the "incomplete flock". Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Psalm 34:1-7 & Luke 15:1-7 (Read by Nelson Rabenold) Join us Sunday mornings in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

Where you can you give someone the grace of more time? This week Pastor Stephanie Anthony continues our Lenten sermon series, inspired by "Everything [in] Between" from A Sanctified Art. The second sermon looks at the topic of Rest & Growth through the parable of the Fig Tree. Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Psalm 34:14-22 & Luke 13:6-9 (Read by Katherine Grum) Join us Sunday mornings in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

How can you make time and space to listen for what Jesus is saying to you this week? This week Pastor Stephanie Anthony continues our Lenten sermon series, inspired by "Everything [in] Between" from A Sanctified Art. The second sermon looks at the topic of Faith & Works through the lens of the story of Mary & Martha, exploring how these two aspects of our spiritual lives intertwine. Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Isaiah 55:1-6 & Luke 10:38-42 (Read by Linda Boyle) Join us Sunday mornings in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

When has a stranger seen you as a neighbor? How did that feel? This week Pastor Stephanie Anthony kicks off our Lenten sermon series, inspired by "Everything [in] Between" from A Sanctified Art. The first sermon in the series reflects on the story of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10. Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Psalm 15 & Luke 10:25-37 (Read by Bob Martin) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

What will you do with the light (the divine presence of God) you have seen? --- Join us as Pastor Taylor Hall preaches a sermon entitled "Divine Encounters" from Sunday March 2, 2025. Today's scripture readings are Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36 and 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (Read by Kim Ceccatti) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

Jesus commanded his followers to have agape love their enemies in Luke 6:27-38. This radical love isn’t passive; it disrupts cycles of hate and fear transforming the world rather than conforming to it. In this sermon, we explore what it means to embody a selfless love that refuses to mirror brokenness but instead works to heal and restore. --- Join us as Pastor Taylor Hall preaches a sermon entitled "Love That Disrupts" during a special combined worship service, bringing together our English, Arabic, and Chin/Burmese worshipers for one service.

Join us as Pastor Kathryn Foster preaches a sermon entitled "Watered or Parched". Today's scripture readings are Jeremiah 17:5-10 & Luke 6:17-26 (Read by Finn Bull & Lola Whitehead) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: https://blog.fpcallentown.org/sermons

Join us as Pastor Carter Lester preaches his last sermon at FPC Allentown entitled "TODAY". Additionally, the band performs an original acapella song written by our own Phil Henderson called "God's Love Will Always Prevail" Today's scripture readings are Isaiah 61:1-4 & Luke 4:14-21 (Read by Bruce Gunn [English], Moufid Khoury [Arabic], and Abraham Pa Cawi [Chin-Burmese]) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: https://blog.fpcallentown.org/sermons/2024/08/wonder-and-awe/

Join us as Pastor Carter Lester preaches a Sermon entitled "Sermon Reactions" Today's scripture readings are Jeremiah 1:4-10 & Luke 4:21-30 (Read by Bob Martin) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: https://blog.fpcallentown.org/sermons/2024/08/wonder-and-awe/

Rev. Liz Heinzel-Nelson, Executive Director of our mission partner, Villages in Partnership (VIP), preached on a snowy January 19th service. VIP is a faith based nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate extreme poverty in rural Malawi. Liz co-founded VIP after she and her family stepped away from serving Allentown (New Jersey) Presbyterian Church to live and serve in Malawi for one year. When they returned to Allentown they felt called by God to set up VIP in 2009, with a strategy to address and improve the six underlying areas human thriving: food, water, education, health, economics, and infrastructure simultaneously. In doing so, they have seen entire villages emerge out of extreme poverty. Liz has dedicated her life to inviting others to come alongside the poor and most vulnerable, leading several teams to Malawi each year. I think you will find her work inspiring – as have those in this congregation who have traveled to Malawi to work with VIP. Liz and her husband, Stephen, have four adult children and two grandchildren.

The Rev. Stephanie Anthony joins us for a special combined Worship Service this Sunday as we prepare to welcome her as our new Lead Pastor starting in March. Today's scripture readings are Isaiah 43:1-7 & Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (Read by Moufid Khoury in Arabic, Nelson Rabenold in English, and Abraham Pa Cawi in Chin) If you'd like your very own Star Word for 2025, stop by the church office, or reach out to us via Social Media or through the church's website. Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

Life often unfolds in ways that surprise us, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. How have you felt God's presence when your life took an unexpected turn? This Epiphany Sunday, we conclude our Advent and Christmas journey with a sermon that looks forward. Join Pastor Taylor as we embark on the road of a new year, exploring the unexpected paths and detours in a message titled "The Road Isn't Straight." This sermon concludes our series inspired by "Words for the Beginning" from "A Sanctified Art". Today's scripture readings are Isaiah 43:16-21 & Matthew 2:1-12 (Read by Bob Martin) If you'd like your very own Star Word for 2025, stop by the church office, or reach out to us via Social Media or through the church's website. Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

Join us this Christmastide as we look at the way Wisdom impacts us and our faith. The sermon, entitled "Wisdom's Ways" is the penultimate sermon in our series "Words for the Beginning" inspired by "A Sanctified Art". Today's scripture readings are 1 Corinthians 2:6-13, 16 & Luke 2:41-51 (Read by Nelson Rabenold) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

Merry Christmas! In a special Christmas Eve message Pastor Carter continues our Advent Season sermon series, inspired by "Words for the Beginning" from A Sanctified Art; reminding us this week that "Loves Knows Your Name". Checkout the sermon as well as the Christmas story read narratively by Pastors Taylor Hall, Kathryn Foster and Carter Lester. Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

What dream of God might you have a part to play in during this season of your life? This week Pastor Carter continues our Advent Season sermon series, inspired by "Words for the Beginning" from A Sanctified Art; reminding us this week that "Hope is Worth the Risk". Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Luke 1:46-55 & Matthew 1:18-25 (Read by Rev. Bobbie McGarey) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

Reflect on what it means to have a "with-us" God. If you have experienced a time of isolation, from God or others, what practices might help you break free from that isolation? How can you support others experiencing loneliness and isolation? This week Pastor Kathryn continues our Advent Season sermon series, inspired by "Words for the Beginning" from A Sanctified Art; reminding us this week that "We Can't Go Alone". Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 & Ruth 1:1-14, 16 (Read by Erica Simmons) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

You are a beloved child of God. When do you doubt this truth? What helps you remember that this is true? This week Pastor Taylor kicks off our Advent Season, inspired by "Words for the Beginning" from A Sanctified Art. The first sermon in the series reminds us that "You Are a Blessing" Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Isaiah 43:1-7 & Luke 1:26-38 (Read by Kim Ceccatti) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

For what do you want to thank God this morning? Join us as Pastor Carter wraps up our Autumn sermon series on "Fruits of the Spirit", focusing this week on Gratitude. Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Deuteronomy 8:7-18 and Philippians 4:4-7, 10-13 (Read by Kathy Matthews) Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

What are the gifts that God has given to you to share with others in this season of your life? What is one way you can use those gifts to bless someone in this church family or your community this week? This week we welcome guest preacher, and new Shared General Presbyter for Lackawanna and Lehigh Presbyteries Rev. Denise Pass, who joins us to deliver a wonderful sermon entitled "Merging Into One". Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org

Think back on a difficult decision you made in the past with God's help: how did God give you the wisdom you needed? Join us as Pastor Carter continues our sermon series on "Fruits of the Spirit", focusing this week on Wisdom. Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12, 16-28, Colossians 1:9-10 & Matthew 7:24-27 Join us Sunday morning's in person or online, visit fpcallentown.org/sunday-worship for more details. For a text transcript of the sermon, please check it on the FPCA Blog: blog.fpcallentown.org