Organ Artists Series, March 17, 4pm

Robert McCormick will be the featured soloist at this event, through the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh. Mr. McCormick is director of music at St. Paul’s Parish, K Street, in Washington, D.C. Read more

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30 Hour Famine: Sponsor a youth, March 17

This weekend, youth will be raising money and awareness by asking family, friends and members of ELPC to sponsor them in the 30 Hour Famine. The 30 Hour Famine will take place on March 23rd thru March 24th. Youth in grade 6 through 12 will be spend 30 hours fasting, praying, playing, worshiping, and learning about world hunger to raise awareness of the hunger in our neighborhoods and world and to raise money to prevent famine and save lives in Malawi, Africa. Read more

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Worship services, Sunday March 17

• 8:00 am: Good Samaritan: Mr. Paul Spangler, Seminarian, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. (In the ground floor Dining Room.)
• 8:45 am: Journey Worship: Rev. Heather T. Schoenewolf. (In the third floor Music Room.)
• 11:00 am: Sanctuary Worship: Rev. Dr. Randy Bush ·  Lenten Life Lessons: Grief  ·  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  ·  Read the scripture (In the Sanctuary.)
  

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Have a Heart for Hunger | Pick up grocery bags March 17

Hunger is on the increase in Allegheny County. Hundreds of people in the East End of Pittsburgh do not know where their next meal is coming from. Join East End Cooperative Ministry as we reach out to those who are experiencing hunger. Support EECM’s Have a Heart for Hunger Campaign. Grocery bags will be distributed this Sunday, March 17; bring filled bags next Sunday March 24. Donations made between February 14 and March 31 will have a matching donation made up to $30,000! See the announcements for more details.

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Lectio Divina workshops continue, March 17 at 6pm

The Spiritual Life Committee invites you to a series of Lectio Divina workshops. The workshops aim to deepen the relationship of participants with the Divine through a practice based on two approaches: Lectio Divina and the four senses of scripture. Lectio Divina is an ancient practice for meditating on scripture, listening and responding to the scripture as if in conversation with God. Leah Marmo and Ben Rainey will facilitate these workshops over a series of dates from January through May. Join us as you can; attendance at all sessions is not mandatory. All sessions are Sunday evenings beginning at 6pm. Read more

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ELPC members on Hurricane Sandy mission trip, leaving March 17

Author Richard Rohr has said that “hope is the willingness to live without resolution or closure.” Our team from ELPC--Michele and Henk Bossers, Joe Hajdu (right), Liz Hopkins, Wil Forrest, and Heather Schoenewolf--will join with 16 volunteers from the Carlisle Presbytery for work with residents of Point Pleasant, N.J., through Lend A Hand, a PC(USA) mission. As the six are present to each other and to those working with them, to the people they are serving, and to the tasks to which they are called together, we pray they will feel the hope and joy that comes from being involved with God’s people and God’s work. Please keep the team in your prayers!

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Presbyterian Prayer Breakfast, March 16

Presbyterian Women in ELPC will host a prayer breakfast for Presbyterian Women in Pittsburgh Presbytery on Saturday, March 16. Michelle Hanna-Snyder from Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute will be teaching “Spiritual Practices to Reduce Anxiety and Depression.” Registration begins at 8:30 am, followed by breakfast, study and worship led by the Rev. Mary Lynn Callahan. Walk the labyrinth from 8:30-9 am or after the program. Registration is $10 and reservations are required. Call Mary Alice Lightle (412) 682-1504 for more information.

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South Highland Bridge closed, March 4 to November

The bridge on Highland Ave, just south of the church, will be closed from March to November for repairs. According to the contractor, both the deck and steel superstructure of the bridge will be replaced. The existing stone masonry abutments and pier are to be retrofitted. (View the information sheet) City of Pittsburgh documents also note that Ellsworth Avenue, which runs under the bridge, will be lowered to increase the clearance between Ellsworth and the bridge above. The bridge was originally constructed in 1925. Detours will be posted.

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Our Lenten Journey

• Wednesday Bible 116: Please join us for a special Lenten evening Bible Study, every Wednesday in Lent, from 5:45 pm to 6:55 pm in the Second Floor Parlor. The Bible 116 class is an informal (adult) gathering in which Pastor Randy and/or Pastor Heather lead a conversation about the scripture passage that is the focus of the upcoming Sunday worship service. Bring your own bible, or bibles provided. A simple meal of soup and bread will be available, and volunteers are encouraged to assist in providing these refreshments.
• Lenten Life Lessons: Throughout the Lenten season, the pastors will be preaching on the theme “Lenten Life Lessons” at both the 8:45 Journey and 11 am Sanctuary services. This week’s theme focuses on youth. In conjunction with this series, the Christian Education Committee has created Lenten devotional materials to serve as roadmaps for our journey together. Each weekly devotional offers an opportunity to explore scripture, reflect, pray and respond to how God is and has been at work in your life, through milestone events and in the day-to-day. The materials will be passed out at the doors of each service on Sundays.
• You are also invited to draw deeper into your own personal “Lenten Life Lessons” with our Lenten Life Lessons Journal. Each section follows along with the weekly worship theme, and has spaces to write your thoughts, to draw pictures, and to write out prayers--either as an individual or as a family. View the PDF
• “From Ashes to Resurrection,” offered by Presbyterians for Eco-Justice, includes an Easter devotional which Rev. Bush contributed. View the PDF

View the Holy Week/Easter worship services page for more details

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Safe exercising program for those with arthritis, Mondays & Wednesdays through May 1

The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is designed specifically for people with arthritis or arthritis-related conditions. The class includes gentle, joint-safe exercises from the Arthritis Foundation. This 10-week program can help relieve stiffness and decrease arthritis pain, and can help improve balance. This low-impact, fun class can be taken either sitting or standing and is taught by an Arthritis Foundation-certified instructor.

Classes offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4pm, through May 1. In the Sewing Room. For more information or to register, call (412) 383-1303.

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