Spotlight

Wednesday Connections and Club One Sixteen begin September 23
Wednesday Connection and Club One Sixteen have something to offer everyone, from first graders to adults. Youth and teens have homework help from 3:30 to 4:30 and free Hope Academy classes from 4:30 to 6:30. Dinner for families is served in the Game Room (lower level), and a Bible study class with Revs. Bush and Schoenewolf is from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Call the church for details, (412) 441-3800. Hope to see you there.

Sunday services and classes

September 20 Services

• 8:00 am: Good Samaritan Worship; The Rev. Cynthia Jackson, former ELPC interim Christian Education director, preaching.
• 8:45 am: Journey Worship; the Rev. Heather T. Schoenewolf preaching.
• 11:00 am: Sanctuary Worship; the Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush preaching: "Breaking the Silence."
• 6:00pm: Holy Ground Service; Father William Kiel, Pastor, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Indiana, PA) preaching. Join us before the service at 6:00 for a potluck dinner; RSVP to (412) 441-3800 x21.

Christian Education

• Contemporaries: "Pulpit Momentum!" Insights and discussions on Rev Bush's sermon, "The Gift of Doubt." Second floor parlor. Read the sermon (pdf). Listen to the sermon (mp3).
• Journey with Scripture: Prov. 31:10-31; Ps. 1; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37.
• Parenting Circle: All are welcome. Our book this fall is the "pray" chapter of eat, pray, love; we're reading chapters 37 - 41, but all are welcome and books are available.
• Seekers: Our book for discussions on the 20th and 27th is Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism by (Episcopal) Bishop John Shelby Spong. Rev. Bush will be leading the discussion on the book, relating how literal interpretations of the Bible have been used in hurtful ways.

Additional worship and prayer opportunities during the week

• Taizé prayer service: Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm in the Chapel. Childcare available from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm. September 16 service followed by "Music on the Labyrinth," led by Charles Anderson. Labyrinth location is Social Hall.
• Labyrinth Prayer Walk: Mondays, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, and Wednesdays, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm.
• Centering Prayer: Tuesdays, 7:00 pm, room 250.

ELPC weekly news highlights

Advocacy workshop, September 22, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, room 234
Prayer plus advocacy can promote peace as well as social and economic justice. Just in time for the G-20, join us for an evening workshop designed to help you hone your ability to advocate for an issue, cause, or principle. Led by Dennis McManus, Government Relations and Advocacy Manager for the greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Light refreshments served. RSVP or questions to Amanda Nolan, (412) 441-3800 x34.

New exercise classes are starting!
A healthy body can help support a healthy spiritual life. Give yourself a gift that keeps on giving! Come to our low-cost / no-cost exercise classes: Yoga on Thursdays from 7:15 - 8:45 pm. Zumba on Thursdays from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Tai-Chi on Tuesday mornings, $25 for 10 sessions. RSVP and questions to Amanda Nolan, (412) 441-3800 x34.

Church picnic, September 20
All are invited to attend our church picnic in the courtyard after the service, with fried chicken, hot dogs, and Italian ice! Please bring a cold side dish to share. Games for children will be held in the gym and bowling alley.

Rent-A-Young Adult
ELPC's Young Adults are hosting a silent auction to raise money for the church's recycling efforts, with different services and items to bid on. Come support them on September 20 during the church picnic and on September 27 during fellowship.

Connections dinners
Last chance to sign up! Connections dinners are small (7-10) groups of people who meet for conversation and a pot-luck dinner, usually in each others' homes. This is a great way to meet, have fun, and get to know your fellow church members! Look for the sign-up sheets after the service on Sunday.

ELPC in the Community

East End Cooperative Ministries Men's Shelter
During the month of September, the Deacons are collecting razors and bar soap for the EECM'S Men's Shelter. Donations may be left in the hallway baskets. Thank you.

Journey and witness for the G-20, September 20
G6Billion, an inter-religious group affiliated with Bread for the World, the ONE campaign, and Jubilee USA, will gather at the Smithfield United Church of Christ for a time of prayer, meditation, and music in solidarity with the people and nations whose lives are affected by the G-20's decisions. Our own Rev. Bush will be one of the speakers. At approximately 3pm, the group will be led by flag barriers representing the 192 countries of the United Nations and will conclude with a prayer service at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the meeting location for the G-20. Want to carpool? Contact Michelle Bossers, (412) 241-5006. (What is the G-20?)

Help the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank win a truckload of food
For every action you take, you can earn minutes, and your accumulated totals will be assigned to the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The food banks with the most accumulated advocate minutes at the end of September will win a truckload of food! Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest, is sponsoring "September: Hunger Action Month." Through this advocacy program, the agency is asking the public to lend their voice in support of public policy solutions to hunger, and hopes to recruit new advocates in the fight against hunger, educate the public about the role of advocacy in hunger relief efforts, and deliver meaningful actions in support of child nutrition programs. You can help us accomplish these goals by becoming an active advocate. Thank you!