Dear FPCA Friends:
As we wave our palms this Sunday and enter into the most sacred week of our Christian year, I’m reminded of the words shouted by the crowd as Jesus entered Jerusalem: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
Palm Sunday begins the final leg of our Lenten journey that will take us through the shouts of Hosanna, the intimacy of the upper room, the shadow of the cross, and finally to the joy of Easter morning. May this Holy Week meet you where you are and open your heart to God’s presence in every moment.
Before we gather in worship on Sunday, we hope you’ll join us for our children’s Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, April 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We’ve moved it indoors due to the forecast, but the fun remains the same! It’s free and open to the public, and we’d love to see you bring friends, family, and neighbors.
Next week, we invite you to walk through Holy Week with us:
- Maundy Thursday, April 17
- 7:00 p.m. – English-language service in the Sanctuary
- 8:00 p.m. – Arabic-language service in Fellowship Hall
- Good Friday, April 18
- 12:00 noon – English-language service continuing our Maundy Thursday message
These services are quiet, moving, and essential. I hope you’ll make space to join us in this sacred time.
And then! Easter morning comes! Our Fellowship Team is collecting individually wrapped treats to hand out that morning as a special treat for all who worship with us. If you’d like to contribute, please drop off donations in the church kitchen before 10:30 a.m. on April 20.
We also share a few important updates within our church family:
Errika Gonzalez, our Director of Children and Families, will soon be beginning maternity leave. We give thanks for this season of joy and transition in her life, and we pray for her, her family, and her growing baby as they prepare for the changes ahead. During her leave, I’ll be partnering with our Faith Formation leaders to cover her responsibilities. The Session has also approved hiring a Seasonal VBS Coordinator, and I’m excited to share that Jen Palaia will serve in this role! Jen is already a member of our church and staff, and we’re grateful for her leadership in this new capacity through the end of June.
Finally, we pause to remember Jean Barker, who joined the Church Triumphant on April 4. Jean was the wife of the late Rev. Dr. Bill Barker, former lead pastor here at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Many in our congregation remember the Barkers with deep affection and gratitude for their legacy here. We hold Jean’s family and all who mourn in our prayers, even as we trust in the promise of resurrection life.
In this Holy Week ahead, may you find Christ present in the waving of palms, the breaking of bread, the quiet darkness of Friday, and the joy of Easter dawn. Wherever you are in your journey, know that you are not alone.
God’s Peace,
