During the midterm election on Tuesday, November 3, COT will once again be hosting a pay-as-you-can bake sale. All proceeds will help support programs and student needs at William Penn Elementary School.

Donations of baked goods can be dropped off at church on Sunday, November 1 OR Monday, November 2 from 6 PM–8 PM. Bakers, please share your baking skills with the community as we continue to support William Penn.

One more thing — volunteers to help staff the bake sale on November 3 are needed! If you have time to help out, there is a sign-up sheet on the white table in Fellowship Hall. Any time you can give is greatly appreciated!

Children’s Sunday School meets twice a month during the 10 AM worship service for youngsters aged 3 through middle school. The children start in the Sanctuary and then are dismissed to the Sunday School room where they will enjoy a lesson, crafts, treats, and games. The Fall schedule is as follows:

November 8 & 22

December 13 & 27

Please mark your calendars and bring your children, grandchildren and their friends to share in the fun.

If you are interested in helping with Sunday School, please contact Alan Bosch.

Coffee and Conversation has a new name!

Tuesday Table now meets on the third Tuesday of every month for lunch and conversation. Due to many dietary restrictions, we ask that everyone bring their own bagged lunch and beverage of choice. Topics will vary from month to month, and all are welcome to attend. Please join us as we catch up and spend time learning and growing together. 

The next gathering will be on Tuesday, November 10.

Trim Beeswax Candles on Sunday, November 22

Stop by the refreshment table after worship to get a snack (COT will be hosting a special chocolate-themed Fellowship Hour). Then turn your attention to the window-end of Fellowship Hall where the Sacristans invite you to learn the simple art of preparing candles for use in Christmas Eve worship. Enjoy dressing beeswax candles in red paper frills, a cherished tradition in Bethlehem since 1752.

Do you have a hobby or an interest you’d like to share? Is there a topic you’d like to learn about? Either way, let Pastor Chris or Nancy Snyder know what you’re thinking about for a future Short Session!

During November, the Community Outreach Team would like to collect donations of food that contain chocolate — brownie mix or cake mix, cocoa or Cocoa Puffs. Anything chocolate. Have fun selecting a fun donation which will be delivered in time for Christmas. 

On November 22, COT will host Fellowship Hour with a celebratory offering of chocolate treats. Thank you for your dedicated support of the Food Pantry!

The Christian Education and Family Ministry team will lead an Advent workshop on Sunday, November 29 as part of the Church service. During the service, the congregation will move to Fellowship Hall where we will participate in a mission project (led by COT), share in a Lovefeast, make some crafts, and prepare cookie trays to share with others. The children will also help by decorating the Church’s Christmas tree.

Please bring a batch or two of cookies that will be wrapped and delivered, along with Christmas cards, to members 

who may need some cheering up during the holiday season. Please be prepared to sign up to deliver the cookies.

This will be a wonderful celebration to begin the Advent season. We hope that everyone will attend! Please sign up (on the white table in Fellowship Hall) to help us plan ahead or reach out to Alan Bosch.

Do you play a woodwind, brass, or string instrument? We’d love to put together an instrumental ensemble to debut Christmas Eve! Players of any age are invited (yea, verily — encouraged) to gather after worship on November 29, December 6 and December 13 (the first, second, and third Sundays of Advent) for a short rehearsal to learn some Christmas carols and hymns. Please see Gwyn if interested or just show up on November 29 with your instrument. Let the heavens ring!!!

Speaking of which...

(STILL) CALLING ALL SINGERS AND RINGERS!!!

There’s still room at our handbell tables and in the choir pews. It’s not too late to join one — or both — of our music ensembles! If your schedule doesn’t allow you to commit to a full year of singing or ringing, we would always welcome you for a season: Advent/Christmas or Lent/Easter. Please speak with one of the directors if interested in this possibility.

Choir rehearsals are held in the Choir Room (Room 6) from 4:00 PM–5:30 PM on Thursday afternoons. If you’re interested in singing, please contact Gwyn Michel at gwynmichel@aol.com—or simply show up!

Handbell rehearsals are held in the Bell Room (Room 10) Thursday evenings from 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM. If you are interested in joining the handbell choir, please contact 

Krysti Wallace at k.nappi1221@gmail.com.

December 9, throughout the day

Be part of the Worldwide Moravian Church’s constant, unbroken, 24/7 prayer chain by taking personal responsibility to pray for The World beginning at 12:01 AM on Wednesday, December 9. This is THE ONE DAY assigned to our congregation in 2026. (We share it with the Nazareth and East Hills Moravian Churches.) Let’s take our turn with compassion and conviction!

Sign up for a specific timeslot on the Unity Prayer Watch clipboard on the white table in Fellowship Hall or contact the church office. A Prayer Guide is available on the white table as well as a letter (originally distributed in 2023) from the Office of the Unity Board.

Sunday, December 20 at 4:00 PM

The Lehigh Valley’s only professional trombone quartet, Silver & Brass, will present a unique, stylized holiday program including a new collection of Moravian hymns for Advent and Christmas by Michael Moran. Members are (College Hill’s own) Andrew Bauer, Bryan Hay, Caitlin Heckman, and Michael Moran.

Step away from the bustle of the season and enjoy the sounds of the season, as only trombones can deliver, as we prepare for Christmas Day.

Proceeds from the free-will offering will support the Organ Fund.

The College Hill book group continues to meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 10:30 AM. We meet in Room 4.

November 24 Fatal Intent by Tammy Euliano

If you’re interested in joining us or just reading along, contact Sue Youtz at 610-751-0654/syoutz@ptd.net.

With Christmas (rapidly!) approaching, we continue to collect school supplies for William Penn. All items can be placed on the COT table in Fellowship Hall or placed in the bins under the table. Thank you for your generosity in supporting our community school.

SCHOOL SUPPLY DONATION REQUESTS FOR 2026 – 2027

*Brand-specific requested for quality and durability

• *Crayola markers (broad and fine-tip)

• *Elmer glue sticks

• *Expo black dry-erase markers

• 1" hard binders

• Backpacks 

• Board games/activities for indoor recess)

• Clorox wipes

• Construction paper

• Dry-erase markers

• Hand sanitizer

• Headphones with wires (NO EARBUDS)

• Individually wrapped snacks

(Goldfish, pretzels, popcorn, Cheez-Itz, etc.)

• Narrow pencil boxes or pencil pouches

• Primary writing journals

(marble front with primary-friendly lines 

and picture box)

• Scissors (adult and kid-size)

• Small whiteboards

• Tissues

FOR RECESS

• Adult-size basketballs

• Footballs

• Jump ropes

• Kickballs

• Soccer balls

• Sidewalk chalk

West Bethlehem Emergency Food Pantry

College Hill Community Outreach Team and Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church thank you for your generous donations to the West Bethlehem Emergency Food Pantry. 

CURRENT FOOD PANTRY NEEDS:

    • Shelf-stable milk

    • Jelly

    • Coffee, tea, powdered drink mixes

    • Juice

    • Canned kidney/black/baked beans

    • Canned corn/peas/mixed vegetables

    • Tuna

    • Pasta

    • Mac-n-cheese

    • Cooking oil

    • Personal care items

    • Toilet paper/paper towels

The Pantry also accepts items that are past the “expired” or “best by” date. Please place your donations on the COT table or in the grocery cart in Fellowship Hall. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated!