Spotlight

Christmas Concert and Carol Sing, December 19, 4pm
The musicians of ELPC and talented friends from the community will come together to present a special Christmas Concert and Carol Sing. This program will blend words, special music, and familiar carols into a holiday concert to be enjoyed by people of all ages. The handbell choir, adult choir, soloists, organ and piano music will be featured, along with readings that tell the inspirational “good news” of this time of year. Bring friends to this festive, holiday concert!.

December 20 Worship Services

• 8:00 am: Good Samaritan Worship; the Rev. Janice Rivers preaching, Orr Compassionate Care Center.
• 8:45 am: Journey Worship; the Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush preaching.
• 11:00 am: Sanctuary Worship; the Rev. Bush preaching the fourth in his four-part Advent sermon series, “The Advent Quartet.” The sermon for December 20 is “Luke’s Blessing,” Luke 1:35-45.
• 4:00 pm: Blue Christmas, the Rev. Miriam Chamberlain preaching. (Read more below for more information.)
• No Holy Ground this month; it will resume in March.

December 20 Christian Education

• Contemporaries: “”Rekindle the Gift of God Within Me,” led by Brian Bonsteel. Like a candle awaiting a match, our prayer is that God’s spirit will blow over ELPC so that our faith will be ignited. Stewardship is about conscious acts of “rekindling,” committing anew to lead lives of outward witness and inward faith. Brian will encourage and challenge us to step forward in a proactive manner as we build a vibrant congregational life.
• Journey with Scripture: Micah 5:2–5a; Luke 1:46b–55; Psalms 80:1–7; Hebrews 10:5–10; Luke 1:39–45, (46–55); facilitated by Jan Irvin.
• Parenting Circle: Join us for a special Christmas reading and discussion. Facilitated by Frances Irvin.
• Seekers: “Gifts of the Season,” led by Carla Depperman. We’ll share music, readings, and art forms in celebration of the Christmas season.

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. December 16 Taizé service will be followed at 8:15 by A German Advent Hour. Join us as we sing songs and carols in German and English, and make Christmas stars. Please bring cookies to share!
• 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 will resume in January.

Youth and Young Adults

• Christmas Caroling for All Ages, Sunday December 20. The Youth and Young Adult Ministry team is sponsoring a caroling event for all members of our ELPC family. Join us as we spread holiday cheer at area hospitals and nursing homes. Plan to meet at ELPC at 1:30 pm, and return by 3:30 pm, for cookies and cocoa. RSVP to Pastor Heather, (412) 441-3800 x21.
• Young Adult Holiday Fun: On Monday December 21, we’ll celebrate Christmas when we visit Phipps Conservatory and Hartwood Acres Celebration of Lights in a mixer with the Young Adult group from Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church (led by Wil Forrest). Everybody meet at ELPC at 6 pm to carpool. Cookies and cocoa included!
• Club One Sixteen will resume in January.
• Youth Basketball: Open to young men in grades 9-12; Saturday Dec 19 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. (No basketball Dec 26.)

ELPC weekly news highlights

Special seasonal services during the month of December
In addition to its regular Sunday services, ELPC will offer several additional services this month around the Christmas season:

• Blue Christmas, December 20, 4 pm: If the holiday season is a time where losses and grief dominate over joys and laughter, find solace in in a loving God at this special service. This service is a time of prayer and remembrance—lifting our sense of loss and sadness to the God who came near to us at Christmas in the Christ Child of Bethlehem. It’s also a time to remember God’s promise to be with us always, beyond the horizon of this life with its seasons of happiness and sadness.
• Family Christmas Eve, December 24, 5 pm: Join us for a time of Christmas carols and a re-telling of the Nativity story, so that it can enliven the hearts of the youngest and oldest listeners.
• Candlelight Communion Service, December 24, 11 pm: Join us for a service filled with beauty, grace, and celebration as we remember the birth of Christ and welcome the dawn of Christmas morning through carols, readings, and the shared sacrament of communion. Special music begins at 10:45 pm.
• New Year’s Eve Worship, December 31, 7 pm: Welcome in the New Year with songs, meditations, prayer, and faithful hope! Worshipers are invited to gather in the Sanctuary Chancel for a special service to give thanks for the benefits of the year past and seek grace for the year to come. Communion will be shared, as will thoughts and reflections on this annual time of transition. Join us as we recall the faithfulness of God who is with us all the seasons of our life.

Alternative Gifts
Here are two ideas for special gifts of the season:

• If you’re looking for a life-changing gift that only you can give, please consider the Be The Match Foundation, a national registry that helps those with leukemia and other diseases find a match for bone marrow and stem cells. Your gift could bring joy and health to someone for many years!
• Garfield Farm Garden and EECM are offering opportunities for alternative gifts giving that support programs in our community. For example, $40 will provide three days of emergency food and supplies for a family in need; $30 will plant fruit trees whose fruit will go to the local community. Contact EECM, (412) 361.5549 or Garfield Farm Garden.

Knitting Group, December 17, 1:00
Due to demand, we have added an extra session. Join us every third Thursday of the month from 1–2:30 pm, and/or the first Monday from 7–8:30 pm. If you’re interested in learning or sharing your skills, stop by or call Diane Jackson, (412) 441-6021.

 

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ELPC in the Community

Renaissance City Choir Holiday Concert, December 19, 8pm
The RCC, Pittsburgh's GLBT choir, will perform its 25th Anniversary Holiday Concert (with guest performance by the Edgewood Symphony) at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Guests are invited to sing along with us on Silent Night, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and The Twelve Days of Christmas. View event information details or order tickets online.

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!

East End Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry
December’s “Food of the Month” is Macaroni and Cheese.