IN YOUR CONGREGATION
ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1533 Springhouse Road, Allentown, will hold worship services at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays. Masks are optional. Streaming at live.asburylv.org.
HUFF’S UNION CHURCH, 540 Conrad Road, Hereford Township, will hold worship services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays in the sanctuary. The adult Sunday School meets at 9:15 a.m. and the children’s Sunday School meets during the 10:30 a.m. service. In all buildings on campus, face masks are optional for everyone who is fully vaccinated but will still be required for everyone else. Outdoor activities will not require masks. Communion will be offered in the pews, with ushers who are masked distributing the elements. On-line worship services are available at Huffschurch.com or on Facebook.
JORDAN UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, Route 309 and Walbert Avenue Allentown will hold in person indoor services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays. A virtual option is available with the 10:30 a.m. service being live-streamed. Info: www.jordanucc.org.
NAZARETH MORAVIAN CHURCH, 4 S. Main St., has reopened the church’s sanctuary for worship with limitations and precautions. Info: 610-759-3163.
NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP will hold Sunday worship at 10 a.m. in Southern Lehigh Living Memorial Community
Park, Community Building, E. Fairmount Street, Coopersburg. Info: 484-340-8805.
”GROWING EMPATHY,” an adult education class will be held 9:45-11 a.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St. All are welcome to attend, either in person or via Zoom.
Participants will explore why empathy has become so important, what empathy is and what it is not, what hinders the willingness to practice it more often, and how it can be put into action. Learn how to make empathy a more normal state in one’s faith journey.
For information, go to fpc-bethlehem. org/news.
THE YOUNG PEOPLES PHILHARMONIC OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY performs classical music by Mozart, Bartok, Viotti and more at 7 p.m. SundayMay22 at Christ Lutheran Church, 1245 Hamilton St., Allentown. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Info: www.ypplv. org.
BAHA’I FORUM FOR THE FUTURE WAS HELD MAY 7 AND 8. Members and friends of the Baha’i Faith in the Lehigh Valley, the Reading and Scranton Wilkes-Barre areas, New Jersey and Long Island joined together to discuss and reflect on the past century of community development and to consult on a program of spiritual and material prosperity in the communities where they live. The Lehigh Valley Baha’i Conference took place in the Charles A. Brown Ice House, a popular performing arts venue on Sand Island in downtown Bethlehem. Some 10,000 similar Baha’i Conferences have been taking place around the world beginning March and through June this year.
More than 60 Baha’is and with many friends of various faiths gathered in the Ice House in an atmosphere of mutual respect and with an attitude of learning together, inspired by arts of all kinds. Topics included a review of the progress of community building over the last hundred years, both locally and worldwide; current efforts to raise up vibrant communities; discussions spiritual educational programs for children, junior youth and adults; and consultations on future plans.
Participants enjoyed music by Bill
Jester of Reading and an interfaith band that goes by the name BaJewChris, symbolizing the Faiths of the members: Baha’i, Jewish and Christian. Robert Aptaker, a local storyteller, told a story of the Inuit of Barrow, Alaska, about cooperation; and another story about monks in a monastery, who saved an injured Rabbi, which then enabled the monks to restore their abilities to serve others.
Students from the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Arts choreographed three dances about current social issues of gentrification; a young person’s mental struggles; and a plague, set in medieval France. Over the two days participants got on their feet to learn three folk dances: one based on the song “Humble” by Enya; a Dubka from Jordan; and a easy-to-learn circle dance that focused on honoring the art of a patchwork quilt with the theme of “Building the Future. Each patch of the quilt was created during the conference by the attendees.
MORAVIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL. Registration is open now for the 26th Moravian Music Festival, which will be held July 26-30 live and in person in Bethlehem, on the campuses of Central Moravian Church and Moravian University.
The theme is JESUS STILL LEAD ON, a hymn text reflecting resilience and optimism as musicians emerge from the restrictions of the pandemic. Last year, because of public health concerns, the festival planning committee created an online-only festival, focusing on education with content, video and webinars held on Zoom and YouTube platforms.
This summer, singers and instrumentalists of all ages and all levels are welcome. There will be programs for children and youth, including a musical theater production entitled ACTS; tuition is free for children and youth.
Registrants may participate in the Festival Chorus or Concert Band and also join a smaller ensemble, such as trombone choir, steel pan ensemble, new worship ensemble, chamber music or handbell choir.
Two free public concerts will be presented each day and on the morning of July 30. Meal plans and on-campus housing are available. The early bird registration rate for adults ends June 1.
Volunteers are needed; contact info@ moravianmusic.org.
Complete festival information and details are at www.moravianmusicfestival.org.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
East Hills Moravian Church, Advent Moravian Church, and Central Moravian Church, “Food Truck Party,” 9 a.m. to noon June 20-24. VBS will be held at East Hills Moravian Church, 1830 Butztown Road, Bethlehem. For children ages 3 through completing fifth grade. Registration form available at easthillsmc.org/ wp-content/uploads/2022⁄05/RegistrationForm-for-VBS-2022-Revised.pdf and mail to Advent Moravian Church. to Advent Moravian Church, 3730 Jacksonville
Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Pre-registration encouraged. Info: contact East Hills Moravian Church, 610-868-6841.
Egypt Community Church, 4129 S. Church St., Whitehall, “Adventure Island,” 6-8:30 p.m. June 20-24. For ages preschool. must be toilet trained, through sixth grade. Register at www.egyptcc.org. 610-570-5766.