Here’s what’s happening in worship this week. Click on “more” for details about this week’s Church School classes.
Worship Services
Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Just Christians. Pastor Randy will preach from Luke 18:1–8.
Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Randy will preach from Luke 18:1–8, and his sermon will be titled “Justice Grants.”
This week, we will continue lifting up our unity and uniqueness in Christ during worship by celebrating all of God’s people, seeking justice for everyone. The Renaissance City Choir—Western Pennsylvania’s only LGBTQA choral group—will be with us. You also are invited to join the Peace Committee, the International Partnership of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, and Crossroads Presbyterian Church for the 7th Annual Forum on Sudan and South Sudan, 1:30 pm, which will honor Congressman Mike Doyle, Esther Sprague, and the Enough Project.
If you’re out of town and/or unable to attend worship, join us in spirit. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Facebook and stream our service.
Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, 7 pm
Led by the Rev. Mary Lynn Callahan, our hour-long Taizé service includes sung prayers; simple, beautiful music; a time of silence; spoken and silent prayers; and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. If you’re unable to participate in person, join our live stream on your computer or mobile device.
Christian Education Classes
We offer Christian Education classes for persons of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, on Sundays from 9:45–10:45 am. Read more about our adult class descriptions and children and youth offerings.
Children and Youth
- Infants–Age 2 | Nursery
- Pre-school/Ages 3–5 | Room 110 B
- Kindergarten–Grade 1 | Room 206
- Grades 2–3 | Room 205
- Grades 4–5 | Room 211
- Middle School (grades 6–8) | Room 207
- Senior High (grades 9–12) | Room 217
Contemporaries | McKelvy Room
Telling Our Stories Through Art: Stained Glass
ELPC tour guide Penn Hackney will present photos of our stained glass windows and describe their stories.
Journey With Scripture | Highland Room
Alas! Lonely sits the city… Thus begins this month’s readings that interpret Israel’s crisis of national defeat and exile to Babylon in 587 BCE. This Lamentations reading is the first part of the book’s five poems of loss and confession. On a different tack, the prophet Jeremiah counsels the exiles to actively seek the welfare of their new foreign city. In the gospel readings of Luke, Jesus proclaims a similar defenseless wisdom; the despised ill foreigner, the tax collector, and the humble display of faith. They get upheld and healed. The rich, the great, get last. October’s readings address dislocation and the radically re-oriented life of the commonwealth of God. Can scripture readings be any timelier? Come join us as scripture grows with it readers!
Join us for this week’s readings: Jeremiah 31:27–34; Psalm 119: 97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5; and Luke 18:1–8.
Seekers | Garth Overlook Room
Unaccompanied Children Program at the Holy Family Institute
Yamuna Morgenstern will speak about the Holy Family Institute’s Journey of Hope program, which serves unaccompanied minors who are awaiting sponsorship in the U.S., as well as the Office of Refugee Resettlement, as they work to address this challenge. Yamuna serves as training and recruitment specialist for the Journey of Hope program.
Soul Food | Good Samaritan Room
Inspired | Deliverance Stories
Together with our Young Adult Ministry, we will discuss the chapters on War Stories from Inspired—Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, by Rachel Held Evans, led by the Rev. Joe Hajdu, Suzanne Wolfe, Michele Bossers, and Samantha Lowery