Bible Study for Advent: Jesus' Birth

Nativity scenes can get kind of crowded. Magi and camels next to shepherds and sheep. Sometimes, a Star Wars action figure gets in the mix. The way we tell the story of Jesus’ birth gets a little convoluted. Let’s read the stories from each Gospel account independently of one another.

  • December 1: Matthew 1-2

  • December 8: Luke 1:26-2:39

  • December 15: John 1:1-18

Tuesday morning Bible study meets at 10:00 on Zoom.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3577569746

Call-in: (312) 626-6799 and use meeting ID 357 756 9746.

November Letter from Session

Letter from November 25

Dear First Presbyterian Church,

The City of Middletown has issued a health advisory encouraging everyone to stay at home to “the greatest extent possible.” The reason for this advisory is that Middletown is experiencing exponential growth in the number of COVID-19 cases, and hospital staff and facilities are “becoming taxed beyond capacity.” This breaks our heart, and we call on our congregation to pray for all medical and hospital workers, as well as people exposed or infected with the virus.

Worship on November 29 worship will be live-stream only. The service will be available on the virtual worship page of our website. Session will meet next week to discern what God is asking us to do next. The Pre-K Readiness program is not meeting this week because of Thanksgiving, and Session will consider the next steps for this program at our meeting next week.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we give thanks for each of you. If you are feeling isolated or lonely, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our elders or our pastor. Please call on one another and encourage one another.

In Christ,

Session

UPDATE from December 2

After prayerful consideration, Session decided that pausing in-person worship for the next two weeks was the most prudent option available for us at this time. Worship on December 6 and 13 will be live-stream only and available online at https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/virtual-worship. Join a Zoom call at 11:15 following worship to check-in with one other and offer prayer requests. Session will meet again on Tuesday, December 15.

The best way to find the live-stream is from our virtual worship page of our website. You may have to click on “Watch this video on YouTube” after clicking on the video.

The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/3577569746. You can also call-in at (312) 626-6799 and use meeting ID 357 756 9746.

Bible Study: 1 Thessalonians

Join us for Bible Study on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3577569746

Call-in: (312) 626-6799 and use meeting ID 357 756 9746.

Tuesday morning Bible Study will be focusing on 1 Thessalonians this November. This letter is the first book of the New Testament to be written, and it is considered a letter of encouragement, which is something we all probably need right now.

Week 1, Nov. 3: Chapters 1 & 2

Week 2, Nov. 10: Chapters 3 & 4

Week 3, Nov 17: Chapter 5

Session Update: Worship Plans

 To our beloved First Presbyterian Church:

Session has developed a plan at our September meeting that includes indoor worship. We remain committed to mitigating as much risk as possible from COVID-19.

Beginning October 4, we will have both an indoor service in Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m. and an outdoor service at 11:00 a.m. (with an exception for October 11). Fellowship Hall will allow us to create cross-ventilation in our worship space. In the meantime, we are modifying our HVAC system in the sanctuary with ionization technology. Session will consider in-person worship in the sanctuary as soon as that modification is complete. 

Upcoming Worship Schedule

September 27 

  • 10:00 a.m. Outdoor Worship (please note change in time)

October 4, World Communion Sunday

  • 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall

  • 11:00 a.m. Outdoors in Parking Lot      

October 11, Kirking of the Tartan and guest preacher Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick (Interim Executive of the Synod of the Covenant)

  • 10:00 a.m. Outdoor Worship (one service)

October 18  until sanctuary is fitted with sanitization system

  • 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall

  • 11:00 a.m. Outdoors in Parking Lot

Indoor worship will require diligence in wearing masks and physical distancing. We can seat about 55 people in Fellowship Hall. Once capacity is reached, people will be invited to the 11:00 a.m. outdoor service. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 (which can be reviewed at this link) will be asked to worship on the live-stream, as well as anyone who has recently traveled to a state with a high advisory level from the state of Ohio. Temperatures will be taken with an infrared thermometer before entering the worship space.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns as we proceed. We thank everyone for their diligence, support, and prayer. Let’s continue to work and pray for healing and wholeness for all people during this challenging time.

In Christ,

Session