NewsFlash fromEast Liberty Presbyterian Church
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
God hears our prayers, and God’s spirit intercedes for us.
November Reaching Out
Read the November Reaching Out newsletter on the web. The Rev. Bush's pastoral message is included in this Flash (see below.)
November 1 Worship Services
with Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
8:00 am: Good Samaritan Worship; The Rev. Tom Menk preaching, honorably retired Presbyterian minister.- 8:45 am: Journey Worship; the Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy preaching.
- 11:00 am: Sanctuary Worship; the Rev. Heather T. Schoenewolf preaching, “Called to Life.”
- Contemporaries: "Success, Addiction and Peace," led by Jason Riley.
- Journey with Scripture: Isa. 25:6–9; Ps. 24; Rev. 21:1-6a; John 11:32, facilitated by Jan Irvin.
- Parenting Circle: Joys and Concerns, facilitated by Frances Irvin and Anne Jackson.
- Seekers: Meaning of All Saints Day, also called "All Hallows Day," led by the Rev. Pat Frick.
Additional worship, classes, 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. October 28 Taizé service will be followed at 8:15 by a time celebrating birthdays, milestones, and anniversaries in September.
Do you celebrate a birthday, milestone or anniversary in September?Write it down and put it in the collection plate! We’d like to celebrate with you! - 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.
- Wednesday Connections for Adults: Join us Wednesdays from 5:00 - 5:45 for Bible study with the Revs. Bush and Schoenewolf.
- Middle school retreat: Youth in grades 6–8 are invited to join us for our annual fall retreat at Camp Crestfield. We’ll meet at ELPC at 6 pm, on Friday, and return by 2 pm, on Sunday. Cost is $75/person (scholarships are available upon request). Join youth from area churches for a weekend of worship, fellowship and fun! Also, we’ll be spending an evening at Slippery Rock University for swimming, wall climbing, and court activities. RSVP to Rev. Schoenewolf by Tues., Nov. 3, (412) 441-3800 x21.
- Young Adults: Those in their 20's and 30's are invited to join our warm and dynamic group for faith and fellowship. Join us Sunday, November 1 at 5:00 pm for "First Sundays at ELPC"--a time for all of the young adults to gather. Bring a snack to share and enjoy a movie night.
ELPC weekly news highlights
Thanksgiving Bags on November 1 and Joy Sunday, November 8
Celebrate with joy all that God is doing in our church’s life and our personal lives! On Sunday November 1, grocery bags and lists of suggested Thanksgiving items for EECM’s food pantry will be distributed at the 8:45 and 11:00 services.
On Sunday November 8, Stewardship Sunday, we will bring forward the bags to feed the hungry as well as our Stewardship pledge commitments for 2010. It’s always an inspiring sight to see the diversity of people associated with ELPC come forward as a visible expression of faith and re-dedication. The Stewardship Committee is naming this date “Joy Sunday,” because that is the emotion most closely linked to acts of spiritual trust and generosity. Following the 11 am service, we will gather in the Social Hall for a luncheon and a short presentation on the good news of our growing stewardship commitment over the past few years. Join us as we “rekindle the gift of God within us” with joy!
Upcoming Organ Concert, November 9, 7:30 pm
Join us as Jon Tyillian, ELPC’s Associate Music Director and Organ Scholar, presents An Evening of Spectacular Organ Transcriptions—a concert of orchestral music, transcribed for the mighty Aeolian-Skinner! Hear Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, Stravinsky’s Firebird, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, featuring the ELPC Festival Choir and guest conductor Dr. Larry Allen, and more. Admission is free; a light reception follows. Want to hear some of the organ right now? Click to our YouTube channel to hear Dr. Szeremany explaining why the organ has so many keys, and to hear a short sample from Boëlleman's Gothic Suite.
Housing ministry volunteer opportunity, November 7
All ages and skills are invited as we engage in demolition work with East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI). Call Emily Rosenthal, (412) 963-1039 for details, or the Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy, (412) 441-3800 x30.
Fall exercise classes
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, every Thursday from 7:15 - 8:45 pm through November 19. Zumba, every Thursday 6:00 - 7:00 pm, through November 19.Tai-Chi, every Tuesday morning 10:00 - 11:00 am and 6:00 - 7:00 pm, through November 17. RSVP and questions to Amanda Nolan, (412) 441-3800 x34.
ELPC in the Community
Pancake breakfast November 7, benefits EECM, needs volunteers
Every year the Pittsburgh East Rotary Club sponsors a Pancake Breakfast benefiting charities in the East End including EECM. The breakfast will be held Saturday, November 7th at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 8am - 12pm. We need help with set-up, guest assistance, serving, clean-up and more. Please volunteer! It's fun and it's for a great cause (and you get free pancakes!) Contact Deborah Hughes, hughesdf@yahoo.com OR (412) 242-1075 and mention the Pancake Breakfast.
East End Cooperative Ministries Men’s Shelter
The Deacons are collecting socks, gloves, and hats for EECM’s Men's Shelter. Donations may be left in the hallway baskets. Thank you for your support!
Pastoral Message, November 2009
by The Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush
I love language and discovering the origins of peculiar words and phrases. Thinking about words reminds me of several things, such as Reader’s Digest quizzes, or the maddening, multiple-choice vocabulary questions on standardized tests. I asked myself which are my favorite words, and among the ones that came to mind were “hitherto” (which makes the speaker sound like someone on Masterpiece Theatre) and “pusillanimous” (which is delightful to stumble across in literature, but almost impossible to work into a conversation unless you’re Spiro Agnew.)
One word that always makes me smile is quotidian. According to the venerable Oxford English Dictionary, its first recorded usage dates back to 1340. It’s a Latin word meaning “things occurring on a daily basis” (quotus: things which occur; dies: day). It’s commonly used in medical language, referring to symptoms that occur on a regular basis. Despite its exotic appearance, it’s the basis for the French word daily, as in a “quotidien newspaper.”
I had, perhaps wrongly, assumed that quotidian was synonymous with the word mundane, since things that happen day after day are likely to be less interesting details of our life story. But the aspects of our faith that our quotidian are actually some of the most crucial parts of what we believe; so I fear I have been mis-characterizing this word all these years.
Reflect for a moment on the quotidian elements of your faith. It’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “Thank you, God, for waking me up this morning.” Remembering the daily gift of life is a key part of faith. Saying grace over a meal may seem like a mundane daily ritual, yet it serves as a time to remember that we have blessings of food that so many others lack (and hopefully to pray that God and others will provide for them). Later this month, we’ll celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving, which comes around each year with (what feels like) quotidian frequency. It’s also an opportunity to recall how God’s providential care is showered upon us daily.
November also is our month to emphasis Christian stewardship. In practical terms, this is more of a weekly, monthly, or annual event; but in regards to faith, it’s definitely a quotidian part of our life. Almost every day, we handle money and incur obligations that’re reflected in monetary amounts (e.g., rent, bills, etc.). What do your daily finances look like, and where is the presence of God reflected both in the money you earn and the money you spend? There are things on which we spend money that are purely for momentary pleasure, and things that are for our long-term health and security. The time and treasure we devote to God should not be calculated solely at the end of the day from whatever resources are leftover. Quotidian stewardship starts each day with God and consciously sets apart our “first fruits” and best resources for the Lord. The amount is secondary; the spirit of gratitude and generosity are what’s most important.
Think of your own favorite words and reflect on them in light of your ongoing faith in God revealed in Jesus Christ. Who knows, maybe this can be a daily, quotidian part of your Christian identity during this month’s Stewardship season!
Randy Bush