First Presbyterian Church Allentown

How can you bring hope to a place of grief? During our Easter Sunday service Pastor Stephanie Anthony wrapped up our Lenten sermon series, inspired by "Everything [in] Between" from A Sanctified Art , focusing on the topic "Grief & Hope". Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Psalm 47 & Luke 24:1-12 (Read by Linda Boyle) Join us Sunday mornings in person or...

Where is God whispering to you: ‘The Lord needs you for this’? This week Pastor Taylor Hall continues our Lenten sermon series, inspired by "Everything [in] Between" from A Sanctified Art . The Palm Sunday sermon looks at the topic of "Shouting & Silence", and reminds us that the "Lord Needs You!" Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings:  Psalm 24:1-10 &...

How does it feel to be restored to a community you have lost? This week Pastor Stephanie Anthony continues our Lenten sermon series, inspired by "Everything [in] Between" from A Sanctified Art . The fifth sermon looks at the topic of "Righteousness & Mercy" through the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19) Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings:  Ps...

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 readin...

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 b...

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...

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...

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...

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 entit...

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 mornin...

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 yea...

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 re...

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 Str...

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/sun...

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, visi...

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 McGare...

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 wee...

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...

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/sun...

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"...

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 p...

Consider Jesus' model of humanity? What adjectives would you use to describe his humility? Who has modeled some of those characteristics for you and how? Join us as Pastor Carter continues our sermon series on "Fruits of the Spirit", focusing this week on Humility. Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings:  Mark 10:35-45 & Philippians 2:5-11  (Read b...

Where might you be called to create new spaces of welcome? Consider both within and beyond our community of faith.  Join us as Pastor Taylor continues our sermon series on " Fruits of the Spirit ", focusing this week on Hospitality . Check out the whole sermon, as well as this week's scripture readings: Genesis 18:1-10 & Hebrews 13:2 (Read by Jenny Lucas) Join us Sunday morning's in perso...