Although we may wrestle with fear or grief, with worry or doubt, we remember that God is our stronghold and our shelter, the hope upon which we stand.
Spotlight
Rev. John Bell from the Iona Community, March 12 - 14
The Rev. John Bell from the Iona Community will be in Pittsburgh leading workshops and classes at ELPC and at Church of the Redeemer. Rev. Bell is a much sought after speaker, sharing a passion for congregational music, spirituality, and reclaiming Jesus for today’s times. Join us March 12 for a Friday evening workshop (7-9 pm) on “Why do God's People Sing?” plus two interactive workshops on Saturday March 13, “Celebrating the Lesser Known Jesus,” and “Scripture as a Source for Song.” For details including schedule, seminar descriptions, and costs, please view the brochure.
March Reaching Out
Read Rev. Bush’s March pastoral message. View the March Reaching Out newsletter on the web.
with Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
8:00 am: Good Samaritan Worship; Rev. Jermaine McKinley preaching, Pastor, Bethesda Presbyterian Church (Homewood). Ground floor dining room.- 8:45 am: Journey Worship; the Rev. Heather Schoenewolf preaching. Third floor music room.
- 11:00 am: Sanctuary Worship; the Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush preaching: “Shouts in the Marketplace,” Isaiah 55:1-11. Sanctuary.
- Contemporaries: What Do Presbyterians Say?, last session, led by Dr. Jim Russ. Traditional Christian language about sin and salvation is far removed from most of what we preach today. We’ll examine two books by Methodist theologian, pastor, and bishop William Willimon: Sinning Like a Christian, and Who Will Be Saved, which asks, who decides if I’m saved: you, me, or God? Second floor parlor.
- Journey with Scripture: Isa. 55:1-9; Ps. 63:1-8; I Cor. 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9. Second floor library.
- Parenting Circle: We continue reading Jan Johnson’s Growing Compassionate Kids: Helping Kids See Beyond Their Backyard. “This book isn't about doing compassionate things or social action as much as it's about forming relationships with people. These relationships heal everyone involved,” writes the author. The discussion is easy to join. Books available in class. First floor, Harambe room.
- Seekers: Join us as we continue our discussions on The Meaning of Jesus by Marcus Borg and (The Right Reverend) N. T. Wright. Led by the Rev. Heather Schoenewolf. Second floor, room 234.
- Soul Food, a new adult class offering, led by the Rev. Cynthia Jackson. Discover new ways to feed your spirit and live into the fullness that God offers. We will continue our study Joyce Rupp’s book Fresh Bread. (Please bring a journal.) Copies of Fresh Bread are available to purchase in class.
Additional worship, classes, and prayer opportunities during the week
Wednesday Connections, March 3: Join the Revs. Bush and Schoenewolf in the second floor parlor for an adult bible study, discussing this week’s bible scripture (Isaiah 55:1-11).- Taizé prayer service: Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm in the Chapel. Childcare available from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm. March 3 Taizé service will be followed at 8:15 with a class: Getting to Know Taizé, part II, led by the Rev. Christiane Dutton.
- Labyrinth Prayer Walk: Wednesday March 3, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm; Monday, March 8, 10 am - 3pm. In the Social Hall.
- Centering Prayer: Tuesday, March 9, 7:00 pm. Room 250.
Youth and Young Adults
- Club One Sixteen, March 3: “God's Love for Us: A Journey to Easter.” Come enjoy free Hope Academy classes and more!
- 3:30 - 4:00: Snacks and homework help.
- 4:30 - 6:00: Free Hope Academy classes for different ages.
- 6:00 - 6:30: Dinner; junior and senior high groups in ground floor suites; families in the first floor McKelvey Room.
- 6:30 - 8:00: Bible study for junior and senior high groups, ground floor suites.
- Youth basketball: For young men, grades 9–12; Saturday evening March 7, from 6 - 8 pm. In the gym.
- Young adults First Sundays: March 7, at 5 pm: Join us for our monthly group-wide gathering. This month: Easter candy making!
ELPC weekly news highlights
Strategic Vision Process, March 7
ELPC’s Strategic Visioning Process will follow the 11:00 worship on March 7. We ask the whole congregation to participate, as this discussion will shape our future vision, mission, and goals. What’s on your mind as ELPC plans for the future? Whose opinions need to be sought out? How can we best discern God’s will for our congregation’s mission to the city, region, and world?
Lenten crosses
Lent is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God. The Spiritual Life Committee invites you to imagine what you want to give to God during Lent. Offerings can be expressed on paper; there i no limit to what you can give to God: prayers, concerns, celebrations, and more.
Mission opportunity, March 6
Partnering with Open Hand Ministries the first, we will finish the rehab of a home in Garfield as well as work on other housing projects and urban gardening. All ages and skills are welcome! Call Emily Rosenthal (412) 963-0139 or the Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy (412) 441-3800 x30.
Put a “spring” in your step
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:
- JourneyDance with Yamuna, second Fridays (this month, March 12) from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Harambe room.
- Tai Chi: Tuesday mornings March 9 and 16, 10:00 - 11:00 am and 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Sewing room.
- Yoga with Yamuna, every Thursday evening from 7:15 - 8:45 pm. Sewing room.
RSVP and questions to Amanda Nolan, (412) 441-3800 x34.
“Watercolors”
Sue Schneider’s “Watercolors” are on display now in Room 234 and in the Second Floor Parlor through March 7. View the show’s brochure, with a list of titles to be displayed. 25% of any sales will be donated to support arts programming at ELPC. Greeting cards will also be available for sale, with a portion of proceeds to support the arts exhibition program and the Organ Fund. Join us for a special reception on Friday February 26, from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. For more information on the Watercolors show, contact Sue at (412) 242-6751. For more information about the church’s artwork displays, please
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ELPC in the Community
Presbyterian Women World Day of Prayer, March 5, 11 am
Join Christians for a service of song and praise at the World Day of Prayer, Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. The service was written by the women of Cameroon. A luncheon of foods from Cameroon follows the service. Call Mary Alice Lightle, (412) 682-1504 for details.
EECM “Have a Heart for Hunger” Campaign
Thousands of men, women, and children in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from. EECM’s Hunger Programs provided meals and groceries to over 4,000 individuals just last year alone. Through the end of March, any donations you make to the EECM will go twice as far! ELPC will also be having a special food drive in the coming weeks. Find out more about the Have a Heart Campaign.
East End Cooperative Ministries (EECM) Men’s Shelter
During the month of March, the Deacons are collecting razors and men’s underwear (M-XL) for EECM’s Men's Shelter. Donations may be left in the hallway baskets. Thank you for your support!
East End Cooperative Ministries (EECM) Food Pantry
The EECM Food Pantry provides food for individuals and families facing hunger in Pittsburgh. March’s “Food of the Month” is jelly, jam.
Pastoral Message, March 2010
by The Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush
Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe recently published a new book of essays. Achebe is internationally known for his classic 1958 novel “Things Fall Apart.”” It is the story of Okonkwo, a wrestler and husband living in a Nigerian village and trying to make sense of his changing world shaped by Igbo culture, British colonialism, and Christian missionaries. The title of his novel comes from a poem by W.B. Yeats, which contains the famous lines: “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”
It is a compelling image, this idea that things are changing and risk collapsing upon themselves when the “center cannot hold.” We are living in incredible times, in which change happens dramatically and exponentially. Growth in areas of technology and communication are unfolding around us with dizzying speed. I recently saw a short video by Sony, which pointed out that it took 38 years for radio to reach 50 million listeners and 13 years for television to reach 50 million viewers. But the same threshold of 50 million users was reached by the Internet in only four years, by the iPod in three years, and by Facebook in just two years. It also suggested that the top ten in-demand jobs today did not even exist in 2004, so that students today are actually being trained for work that will use technology not even invented yet. It boggles the mind!
Given both the speed and nature of change today, it is realistic to wonder whether the “center” can hold things together. I would define the “center” as the core values, ethics, and faith perspectives that unite humankind. We believe in God who is Lord of all times, and who commands us to love the Lord and love our neighbor as ourselves. We believe that a commitment to sacrificial love, coupled with the gift of God’s grace, are the two things that give shape to our lives and hope for the future. This wonderful truth was fully embodied in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In our lives as Christians, it is this “center” that holds things together.
Yet, are the changing times weakening our grasp of the “center”? Are we more influenced by the latest technology than guided by a God who never gets outdated? In Achebe’s new book, he makes this astute observation: “Without doubt, the times in which we live influence our behavior, but the best or merely the better among us ... are never held hostage by their times.”
That is the sentiment of Lent, the church season we are now celebrating. Lent is a time to re-focus on the “center” of things in a world spinning and changing at ever-increasing speeds. Lent is a time to see all that is around us through the lens of Christ’s story. Lent is a time to remember that the best among us are never held hostage by their times. That last statement is for you and me. For in Christ, we are “the best or merely the better among us,” not by our own efforts, but thanks to the indwelling grace of God. If it seems that anarchy is loosed upon the world, don’t forget that God’s spirit also is loose to make sure that God’s will, will be done. The center holds! Trust that, with God, all things are possible!
Randy Bush
