{"id":60426,"date":"2025-12-14T01:08:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T01:08:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/60426\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T01:08:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T01:08:49","slug":"new-bethanys-luminaria-night-returns-saturday-to-support-neighbors-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/60426\/","title":{"rendered":"New Bethany\u2019s Luminaria Night returns Saturday to support neighbors in need"},"content":{"rendered":"

BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 New Bethany will host the 28th annual Luminaria Night on Saturday, Dec. 13, continuing a Lehigh Valley tradition that brings neighbors together to support those experiencing poverty, hunger and homelessness.<\/p>\n

For nearly three decades, communities across the region have lined their streets and sidewalks with glowing luminaria on a December evening, raising awareness and funds for New Bethany\u2019s mission. Last year, more than 73,500 candles were displayed across the Lehigh Valley, helping raise over $125,000 through kit sales and donations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been an especially difficult year for so many families across the Lehigh Valley,\u201d said J. Marc Rittle, executive director of New Bethany. \u201cWith budget freezes, rising costs and increasing need, more of our neighbors are facing hardship than we\u2019ve seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luminaria kits remain available for purchase both online and in person. One kit costs $15 and includes ten white paper bags, ten votive candles and ten cups of sand. Payment options include checks, PayPal, Venmo, credit cards and cash.<\/p>\n

In-person kit pickup locations and hours:<\/p>\n

First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St. \u2014 Dec. 9\u201311 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

New Bethany, 333 Wyandotte St. \u2014 Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

Upcoming pop-up kit sales:<\/p>\n

South Mall \u2014 Dec. 12 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

New Bethany is also seeking volunteers. In 2024, 37 volunteers donated more than 1,500 hours to make the event possible. Those interested in assisting this year can sign up at volunteerlv.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuminaria Night has always been a symbol of hope, but this year, it means even more,\u201d Rittle said. \u201cWhen thousands of lights line our streets, they remind every struggling neighbor that our community sees them, supports them and refuses to let them face the darkness alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luminaria Night dates back 28 years to three Bethlehem neighbors who connected their homes with candlelight to symbolize unity and care for those in need. The event has since grown into a beloved regional tradition that complements other December celebrations centered on light, including Hanukkah, the winter solstice and Christmas.<\/p>\n

In case of inclement weather, the rain date is set for Dec. 20.<\/p>\n

More information about Luminaria Night is available at newbethany.org\/event\/luminaria-night<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New Bethany provides a range of services for neighbors facing poverty and housing insecurity, including meals, showers, laundry access, a Choice Food Pantry, case management, job search support and housing assistance.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Isabel <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Isabel Hope is a journalist and website designer based in Bethlehem, PA. She graduated with a degree in journalism from The University of Alabama in 2022, where she served as News Editor of the student newspaper. Isabel has lived in the Lehigh Valley for three years and is passionate about reporting for the communities she now calls home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 New Bethany will host the 28th annual Luminaria Night on Saturday, Dec. 13, continuing a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60427,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":{"0":"post-60426","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bethlehem","8":"tag-bethlehem","9":"tag-bethlehem-headlines","10":"tag-bethlehem-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60426\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}