East Liberty Presbyterian Church

We the Messiah – A Hip Hop Remix of Handel’s Messiah
2025-12-15 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join Pastor Michael and other Pittsburgh faith leaders as they help narrate the production of We the Messiah, a Hip Hop remix and social justice reimagining of Handel’s Messiah. This theatrical concert is a crescendo call for collective action and an instrumental invitation to awaken the Messiah that lives in us all. ELPC community members contributed to the project earlier this fall through activism conversations that helped shape the community-voices component of the production.
Performances are on Friday, December 19, 7:30 pm, and Saturday, December 20, 3 pm & 7:30 pm. Tickets are free, but please register at kelly-strayhorn.org.

Hot Chocolate Reception - for EVERYONE, including families
2025-12-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
EVERYONE is invited to a Hot Chocolate Reception following the Christmas Pageant which **NEW THIS YEAR** is part of our 11 o’clock worship.
This is part of our monthly family events hosted by The Children and Families Ministry Team to foster a caring community of families at ELPC, where kids and adults feel loved and empowered to explore their faith.

Un-hanging of the Greens
2026-01-04 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Halifax) | ELPC – Sanctuary, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
We’re looking for volunteers who would like to help take down and put away our Christmas decorations following our Sanctuary worship service this Sunday, January 4. Even if you can only stay to help for a few minutes, it would be a tremendous help. Thank you in advance!

Cathedral Concert | Cody Conley and Friends
2026-01-04 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Sanctuary, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Cody Conley, violin
Devin Arrington, violin
Grace Burns, piano
Featuring a new violin duo composed by Devin Arrington for Cody and Devin.
Program
Click here for a PDF of the printed program.
Scherzo in C minor (violin and piano)
Johannes Brahms (1883-1897)
Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 17 – Devin Arrington 2025 (premiere)
III. Sicilienne
IV. Finale con brio
Cody Conley, violin
Devin Arrington, violin
Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30 No. 2 (Violin and piano)
Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
I. Allegro con brio
II. Adagio cantabile
III. Scherzo: Allegro
IV. Finale: Allegro; Presto
Intermission
Sonata for Violin and Piano
César Franck
(1822-1890)
I. Allegretto ben moderato
II. Allegro
III. Ben moderato: Recitativo-Fantasia
IV. Allegretto poco mosso

Environmental Team January Book Study
2026-01-05 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
For its next book, the Environment Team of the Justice Committee has selected Shade: the Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource by Sam Bloch. The discussion session will be held on Thursday, January 22, 7 pm, via Zoom.
In his new book, environmental journalist Sam Bloch encourages us to look to the past for solutions to our ever-warming urban areas as climate change creates heat waves that are more frequent, hotter and longer lasting. Bloch’s call for more shade in urban areas, with more trees in parks and residential areas and new ways to design public areas and buildings, comes as policy makers grapple with a growing crisis in heat-related illness and death.
For further information and the Zoom link, contact Nancy Heastings.

Taizé Social Gathering
2026-01-07 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-02-04 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-03-04 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month following our Taizé prayer service for a time of fellowship with some light refreshments in the Narthex.
Taizé is a unique spiritual community at ELPC, and we desire to have time for those who gather to get to know one another, converse, and move from solitude into community and expand the connection that exists amidst our prayerful songs and quiet meditation.

Impactful Advocacy
2026-01-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-01-14 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
We learned at our October Adult Education presentation on Impactful Advocacy that individualized calls and emails to legislators are more impactful than form letters and emails. To facilitate such advocacy, the Environmental Team of the Justice Committee will offer two, identical info sessions on Zoom. The first will be held the evening of Monday, January 12, and the second will be held the morning of Wednesday, January 14.
You will receive examples, tips and tools. We ask you to bring an issue or cause that’s important to you. We will practice on a common issue.
If you are interested in participating, but did not attend our October presentation, you can request the recording link. Contact Nancy Heastings for more information or to register.

ELPC Families' Variety Show
2026-01-18 13:15 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Families with children and teens are hosting a Variety Show at Ivy Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Sunday, January 18! Families are invited to eat lunch and coordinate tasks here at ELPC after worship in the First Floor Fellowship Room. We will leave ELPC at 1:15 pm to head over to Ivy Park to set up and welcome residents (you can ride in the church van or drive on your own). Come with a musical performance, joke, magic trick, story, art piece, dance or whatever you dream up to share with the residents! Sara will have some fun and easy things folks can help with if you forget your kazoo!
Please RSVP to Sara Hackett.
There is a small parking lot at 5609 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, and street parking behind the building.

Pray Always in All Ways
2026-01-21 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-02-04 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-02-11 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Have you ever wondered what prayer is or if you even believe in prayer? Have you ever longed to pray more but struggled to know how? Whether you feel like a novice or practiced expert, we all need to practice prayer. There is no right or wrong way to pray, nor is there no one starting point or a finish line. There is only the continual showing up to practice prayer and allowing our deepest longings for God, others and the world to emerge. Together we will talk about our struggles and hopes with prayer and explore a wide variety of prayer forms, including body prayer, prayer beads, icons, silent, written fixed-hour prayer and prayer as simple awareness in life. It will be playful, inspiring and interactive with lots of time to practice together.
Please register using the form below. You only need to register ONCE for the series, although this form is found in all 4 instances of this event, it is just there for ease of access to people joining.

“Prayer is easy only for beginners and for those who are already Saints. During all the long years in between, it is difficult. Why? Because prayer has the same inner dynamics as love, and love is sweet only in its initial stage, when we first fall in love, and again in its final, mature stage. In between, love is hard work, dogged fidelity, and needs willful commitment beyond what is normally provided by our emotions and our imagination. It’s when I say, “I don’t know how to love,” and “I don’t know how to pray,” that I first begin to understand what love and prayer actually are.” – Ronald Rolheiser

Confirmation Retreat
2026-01-24 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
On Saturday, January 24, 10 am–3 pm, our Confirmation Class, for youth in grades 8–9, will explore the Bible through conversations, games, art projects, and more…asking questions like, ”What’s in the Bible? Why don’t Christians agree on what the Bible says? What does it mean that the Bible is the ’Word of God’?”
Contact Sara Hackett with questions.

ONLINE ONLY - Pray Always in All Ways
2026-01-28 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York)

Cathedral Concert - Hope Academy Teaching Artists in Concert
2026-02-01 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Sanctuary, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
PROGRAM
Click here for a PDF of the printed program.
Six Suites for the Viola
Johann Sabastian Bach (1685-1750)
i. Prelude
ii. Allemande
Omari Abdul-Alim, viola
C Minor Prelude
Johann Sebastian Bach
Nostalgia
Caleb Smith
Caleb Smith, piano
Libertango
Astor Piazzolla
Liza Barley, violin and Gil Teixeira, guitar
Safety – SHUAA
LTR to an ex – SHUAA
Joshua Rouse, voice
Jayla Griggs, piano
‘Untitled’
Music by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
Members of Shana Simmons Dance Company
Brittany Nettles
Madisyn Montgommery
Abby Breznak
Broken Pieces – Idasa Tariq
It’s On Me – Idasa Tariq
Soulman IT, MC
Dream Keeper
Poem by Langston Hughes
Music by Anqwenique Kinsel
Anqwenique, voice
Joshua Rouse, piano
The concert is free and open to all. A freewill offering will be received at the concert.

Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty Postcard Campaign
2026-02-08 12:15 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
The Justice Committee encourages everyone to join Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty in the statewide effort to pass legislation that will finally abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania! On Sunday, February 8, immediately following Sanctuary worship, join us in the Garth Overlook Room, where each person will sign five postcards that will be delivered, along with hundreds of others, to the Harrisburg offices of the Governor, Attorney General, District Attorney, State Representatives and Senators. Let them know your support for abolition!
Contact Vivienne Selia at vselia@comcast.net for more details.

Justice League - Art Edition
2026-02-18 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-25 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-11 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Art as Prayer: Visio Divina
Wednesday evenings in Lent
from 5:00-7:00pm
Families and Tweens are invited to share dinner, make art, and explore different ways of praying.
Activities will follow the themes in our Lenten worship and devotional series, Tell Me Something Good.
Families with kids of any age are welcome and tweens in 3rd-6th grade can join with or without a parent.
RSVP to Sara Hackett at SaraH@coh.net
Feb 18th theme: All are Invited
art: Weaving
dinner: Lasagna
Feb 25th theme: So Good it Catches us by Suprise
art: Pottery with the Union Project
dinner: Chicken Sandwiches
March 4 theme: Great Love for God and Neighbor
art: Painting and Gold Leaf
dinner: Tacos
March 11th theme: Together the Impossible is Possible
art: Block Printing table cloths
dinner: Pasta
March 18th theme: All are Invited
art: Papermaking
dinner: Pizza
March 25th theme: Inspiring us to Act
art: Protest Banner/Signs
dinner: Soup and Grilled Cheese

Congregational Meeting
2026-02-22 12:15 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Social Hall, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Session scheduled the annual Congregational Meeting to take place on Sunday, February 22, 12:15 pm following our Sanctuary worship service. All official members of the church are invited to participate and vote for new candidates for Elder and Deacon for this next year. The meeting will be held in the Social Hall. Refreshments will be served.
If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you can attend via Zoom by completing the form below. Please note, congregation members participating online will not be able to vote remotely.
Our annual report and meeting materials are available online, and hard copies will be available on the information tables on the first floor, and at the meeting.
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
2026 NEW OFFICER BIOS

Confirmation Class
2026-02-22 12:15 - 14:30 (America/Halifax) | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
On Sunday, February 22, 12:15–2:30 pm, the Confirmation Class will have lunch, learn about the church and what it means to be Presbyterian, including: what sacraments Presbyterians celebrate, what type of government Presbyterians use to discern God’s call for the church, and the questions people are asked in worship when they become members.
For more details, contact Sara Hackett.

Lenten Conversations: Tell Me Something Good
2026-02-25 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-03-04 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Good Samaritan Room, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Feeling overwhelmed by the headlines or life in general? Join Pastor Michael on Wednesday evenings as we slow down and listen for a different kind of news. Each week, we’ll gather for honest, hope-filled conversations rooted in Sunday’s sermon and our series, Tell Me Something Good: Grounding Ourselves in the Good News This Lent. Together we’ll explore Jesus’ life through the scriptures and ask deeper questions about the text, the sermon, and what it means for us today. Whether you’re curious, weary, skeptical, or hopeful, there’s room for you. Our goal is not to give each other easy answers but to speak from our own perspective and experiences. A light dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.
Please register by completing the form below. You only need to register once for the entire series. This sign-up form is listed under each date occurrence for convenience of folks joining mid-way through the series.

On a Sunday – Music of Sondheim
2026-03-01 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Sanctuary, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
ELPC soloists and choir are featured in a revue of music by the 20th Century’s most influential musical theatre composers, Stephen Sondheim.
LIVE in the Sanctuary at 3:00 PM and streaming on the
ELPC YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/EastLibertyPresbyterianChurch
ELPC Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/EastLibertyPresbyterian
The concert is free and open to all. A freewill offering will be received at the concert. http://tiny.cc/elpcdonate
PROGRAM – Click here for a PDF of the printed program
Putting It Together – from Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
Ensemble
Dr. Edward Alan Moore, piano
Being Alive – from Company (1970)
David Jennings-Smith
Maria – from West Side Story (1957) – music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Logan Williams
Green Finch and Linnet Bird – from Sweeney Todd (1979)
Denise Sheffey-Powell
The Glamorous Life – from A Little Night Music (1973)
Adrianna Cleveland
Everybody Says Don’t – from Anyone Can Whistle (1964)
Todd Farwell
Uptown Downtown – from Follies (1971)
Laura Alstro
Moments in the Woods – from Into the Woods (1986)
Gail Novak Mosites
The Ladies Who Lunch – from Company (1970)
Kym, Laret, Gail Novak Mosites, Denise Sheffey-Powell
Send in the Clowns – from A Little Night Music (1973)
Todd Farwell
The Last Midnight – from Into the Woods (1986)
Adrianna Cleveland
Losing My Mind – from Follies (1971)
Kym Laret
I Remember – from Evening Primrose (1966)
Laura Alstro
Old Friends – from Merrily We Roll Along (1981)
Tim Chaplin, Adrianna Cleveland, Logan Williams
Sorry Grateful – from Company (1970)
Tim Chaplin
Later – from A Little Night Music (1973)
Logan Williams
Not While I’m Around – from Sweeney Todd (1979)
David Jennings-Smith
Children Will Listen – from Into the Woods (1986)
Denise Sheffey-Powell
Sunday – from Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
Ensemble, Chancel Choir

Tree Equity in the Pittsburgh Region
2026-03-08 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | ELPC – McKelvy Room (114), 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
As noted in last month’s Reaching Out, the Environmental Team of the Justice Committee is currently focusing on the issue of Tree Equity—ensuring that all communities have equal access and benefits from the presence of trees. Disadvantaged Pittsburgh neighborhoods have 20% fewer trees, which has serious implications for health outcomes.
Join us on Sunday, March 8, 12:30–1:30 pm, in the McKelvy for a presentation by an expert from Tree Pittsburgh and a speaker from the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, who will provide a faith and justice perspective. Refreshments will be provided in the Fellowship Room.
Tree Pittsburgh and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy also will offer advice on tree maintenance, volunteer opportunities, how to get a tree for your yard, and more. See them and our Landscape Subcommittee in the Garth Overlook Room.
Tree activities in underserved neighborhoods will be coming in the spring and fall. The program also will be available online. Contact Nancy Heastings at n.heastings@comcast.net for the Zoom link.
