East Liberty Presbyterian Church

Acknowledging White Privilege
2018-10-20 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | ELPC – Social Hall, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join other ELPC folks as the Mission Board hosts a potluck meal at 5:30pm and an engaging discussion about white privilege as part of their Systemic Racism: Uncovering Our Implicit Bias series. Come hungry to eat and learn. This is a specific invitation for young adults to attend, but the event is planned by the Mission Board and open to all.

LGBTQ Ministry Spiritual Gathering
2018-10-20 14:00 - 16:00 | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
All are welcome at this monthly spiritual gathering of LGBTQ Christians and their allies. Contact Wil Forrest at 412-260-2554 or wil@coh.net to learn more and to attend.

World Vision: Youth Service Day
2018-10-12 12:00 - 16:30, 2018-10-08 12:00 - 16:30 | PA
Youth in grades 6th-12th will meet at ELPC, eat lunch and then travel to World Vision in Sewickley to sort and count clothing donations which will be sent around the world. RSVP and permission form required. Friends are welcome!

Canceled: Mindfulness Meditation
2018-10-11 19:00 - 20:00 | ELPC – Prayer Room (Room 135), 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
We will take a break this week. Mindfulness Meditation will return on Wednesday, October 18, 7 pm.

Join us and Susan Spangler as we learn more about Mindfulness Meditation and engage in this ancient prayer form together.
Mindfulness is the moment-to-moment awareness of our experience with an accepting, non-judgmental, kind attention. In this ongoing practice, we’ll explore and deepen our experience of mindfulness. Our weekly time together will include meditation instruction, guided meditations, and practices for supporting mindfulness in everyday life.
Both those who are new to meditation and those with meditation experience are heartily welcome.

Canceled: Qigong
2018-10-11 18:30 - 19:00 | ELPC – Prayer Room (Room 135), 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
We will take a break this week. Qigong will return on Wednesday, October 18, 6:30 pm.

Qigong is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused intention. The word Qigong (Chi Kung) is made up of two Chinese words. “Qi” is pronounced “chee” and is usually translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things in the universe. “Gong” is pronounced “gung” and means accomplishment, or skill that is cultivated through steady practice. Together, Qigong (Chi Kung) means cultivating energy, it is a contemplative system practiced for health maintenance, healing and increasing vitality.
Linda Harrington will lead half hour of Qigong on Thursdays, 6:30 pm, in the Prayer and Meditation Room before Mindfulness Meditation. Beginners are always welcome!

Nathan Laube Organ Concert
2018-10-07 15:00 - 17:00 | ELPC – Sanctuary, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Co-sponsored with the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh with the premiere of a new composition by Craig Phillips. Complimentary tickets are available to ELPC members from Dr. Ed Moore.
Click here to view the printed program.

East Liberty Redevelopment Presentation
2018-10-07 12:00 - 13:30 | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join us after Sanctuary worship to learn about exciting redevelopment projects in our community, including a virtual tour of housing projects, led by Kendall Pelling, director of land recycling at East Liberty Development, Inc.
A light lunch will be served.

First Friday @ Arsenal Cider House
2018-10-05 19:00 - 22:00 | Arsenal Cider House, 300 39th Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, United States
We will gather at this local hot spot for some good drink and good conversation. Bring money to try some of the house beverage and an engaging question for the group to discuss. Learn more about the venue at http://www.arsenalciderhouse.com. This is a TRAIL young adult event.

Getting Your Just Desserts
2018-09-30 12:00 - 16:00 | Station Square, 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
After worship, let’s spend the afternoon together by going to Station Square for some delicious chocolate fondue and perhaps more. First round of fondue is on the house! Make sure you RSVP so you get a seat in the van and so we have the right number for the reservations. See https://www.meltingpot.com/pittsburgh-pa/ for restaurant details. This is a young adult event.

TransPride Conferences
2018-09-29 09:00 - 18:00, 2018-09-28 08:00 - 18:00 | PA
You are invited to attend and volunteer at the TransPride Professional Conference on Friday, September 28 from 8 am–6 pm and/or the TransPride Community Conference on Saturday, September 29 from 9 am–6 pm—both at the Persad Center in Lawrenceville. ELPC is co-sponsoring this event.
If you’d like to volunteer at the ELPC information table, contact Antwone Wright at 412.225.8154 or wrightantwone@yahoo.com.

LGBTQ Ministry Spiritual Gathering
2018-09-23 13:00 | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
All are welcome at this monthly spiritual gathering of LGBTQ Christians and their allies. Contact Wil Forrest at 412-260-2554 or wil@coh.net to learn more and to attend. Participants this month are encouraged to grab food from the church picnic before joining the group.

Radical Hospitality CE Hour
2018-09-23 09:45 - 10:45 | ELPC – Room 224, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh
What does it look like to have a fully-inclusive church that practices the radical hospitality of Christ? Join the discussion with others from ELPC as More Light Presbyterian Executive Director Alex Patchin McNeill joins us to lead the discussion. Café Justo will be served. This is a young adult hosted educational event open to all.

Facing Systemic Racism Series: Uncovering Your Racial Autobiography
2018-09-22 17:30 - 20:00 | ELPC – Social Hall, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206-3911, United States
Join us as we continue our series on systemic racism in our society and how it impacts our lives. The Rev. Dr. John C. Welch, dean of students at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, will lead us as we explore our own racial autobiography.
We will share a potluck meal in the Social Hall at 5:30 pm. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share if you are able. The program runs from 6–8 pm. Childcare is available with a reservation by leaving a message at 412.441.3800 x140.

The Rev. Dr. Welch is vice president for Student Services and Community Engagement, and Dean of Students at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He also is an adjunct professor of Business Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business and an adjunct in Healthcare Ethics for the University of Pittsburgh’s Consortium Ethics Program. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Economics at Carnegie Mellon University, a Master of Divinity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Healthcare Ethics at Duquesne University.

CASOP: A Requiem for Rice Choral Performance
2018-09-21 19:00 - 20:30 | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
A poignant choral movement of the full CASOP: A Requiem for Rice composition, by Dr. Trevor Weston, conducted by Thomas Douglas and performed by Colour of Music Festival Chorale. The full piece will debut in its entirety on February 13, 2019 at Carnegie Music Hall.
UNDERSTANDING CASOP: THE REQUIEM FOR RICE by Edda L. Fields-Black, Ph. D., Executive Producer & Librettist
from the Requiem for Rice website
The Requiem for Rice was originally conceived of as a modern take on a classic requiem—in the spirit of Verdi, Mozart, Faure, and Britten—that mourns the souls of the enslaved who died on Lowcountry rice plantations, their bodies unburied, their suffering unmourned, and their sacrifices unmarked for future generations. As Trevor began to compose, I completed the first draft of the libretto, and we began collaboration on arranging the lyrics, we began to feel as if something was missing. The requiem genre from the European classical music tradition provided a vehicle for the piece to lament and mourn the sacrifices and sufferings of Africans enslaved on Lowcountry rice plantations; but, it left no room to protest the injustices of enslavement, exploitation, and terror, a commercial agricultural system built on the backs of people stolen from West Africa’s Upper Guinea Coast, African genius, African bodies, African labor, African tears. We thought, there had to be a RECKONING before the REQUIEM. Casop: A Requiem for Rice was born.
CASOP is pronounced kəsəp; both the “a” and “o” in casop are pronounced like the initial “a” in “cassava” or the “u” in “custard.”
Casop is a funerary tradition among the Diola-Fogny, quintessential rice farmers along the Casamance River of present-day Senegal. In the event of untimely, accidental, and suspicious deaths, Diola-Fogny ritual specialists performed casop, a “ritual interrogation of the corpse” via spirit possession. During the funeral, the deceased was asked to tell his or her story about the circumstances of death. Once the truth was revealed, the dead would be buried and harmony and peace restored to the community.
In Casop: A Requiem for Rice, tens of thousands enslaved laborers on the Lowcountry’s rice plantations and 12 million Africans who endured the Middle Passage, many of whom died untimely, accidental, and suspicious deaths, will speak. Once the dead have told their story, the lamentation will turn to celebration of the critical role enslaved Africans’ ingenuity, technology, and industry played in the economy of the US South, laying to rest once and for all, the shackles of shame, blame, guilt, and denial that pervade this painful period in our nation’s history. Casop: A Requiem for Rice reclaims African and African-American history and fosters reconciliation.
A true marriage between West African and European classical traditions, Casop: A Requiem for Rice is an African-American inspired take on a classic requiem. By telling the stories of Africans enslaved on Lowcountry rice plantations, Casop becomes a new genre, the vehicle through which oppressed and voiceless peoples from around the world can tell their stories, mourn their dead, and celebrate their contributions to the world.
The Box office opens July 15th for the September 21, 2018 “Casop: A Requiem for Rice” Choral Performance and September 22 Colour of Music Festival’s “Casop: A Requiem for Rice” Black Classical Renaissance Benefit Performance. For tickets, visit requiemforrice.com.
Casop: A Requiem for Rice Creative Team
Edda L. Fields-Black, Ph. D., Executive Producer & Librettist
Trevor Weston, Ph. D., Composer
Julie Dash, Filmmaker
David Claessen, Cinematographer
CONNECT AND FIND OUT MORE
Facebook.com/requiemforrice
Twitter.com/requiemforrice
#requiemforrice

Sanctuary Worship: Visitor's Sunday
2018-09-16 11:00 - 12:15 | ELPC – Sanctuary, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join us and invite your family, friends, and neighbors for worship as we celebrate Visitor’s Sunday. Following worship, everyone is welcome to attend our Church Life Sampler in the Social Hall.

This service is held in the Sanctuary on the first floor, with an organ prelude before the service. We extend a warm welcome to our Latino friends and include several prayers in our service bulletin in English and Spanish. This is ELPC’s largest service, offering a traditional worship service with thought-provoking sermons, and the music of our Chancel Choir and organ to reinforce the spirit of praise and reverence. Like many of the great cathedrals of Europe, the compelling power and beauty of our historic, gothic-style Sanctuary enhances the spiritual experience. Children are invited to the chancel steps to hear their own message with one of the pastors. The service is led by ELPC’s senior pastor or other members of the pastoral staff. Special guest pastors or speakers periodically lead the service.
SEE DETAILS FOR THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP services HERE.

First Friday @ Unity
2018-09-07 19:00 - 22:00 | Unity Presbyterian Church, 1146 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15220, United States
It is time to have your voice be heard! This coffeehouse evening will include fellowship, treats and lots of Fair Trade PLUS Café Justo coffee. Participants are asked to bring a poem, song, reading, Scripture, a story or anything creative to share with the group focused on the theme of #MeToo, as well as to bring a dessert to share. This is a TRAIL young adult event.

The Great Exchange: The Great Outdoors
2018-08-26 11:30 - 13:30 | ELPC – Social Hall, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Folks of all ages are invited to this fun, interactive event where we together across the generations will explore some fun and intriguing discussion questions centered around the topic of nature. We will have a simple lunch while sharing our stories with one another. No prep necessary, just come and enjoy!

Balafon West African Dance - Free Trial Class!
2018-08-25 11:00 - 12:00 | PA
Kadiatou Conte-Forte (Mama K), the Artistic Director of and founder of Balafon West African Dance Ensemble, will teach this free trail class for young people aged 10-15.
Dance is integral to the culture of West Africa. Over time, the traditional dances evolved, incorporating new moves, rhythms and ideas, and influencing many popular American dance forms, such as hip-hop, salsa and jazz dance. While you’re moving in this class, you’ll also learn the meanings of the dances – and discover connections to West African culture.
You don’t need to have previous dance training but you do need to take off your shoes and socks, feel the rhythm and celebrate using your body to have a joyous experience. All levels of students are welcome to participate. Please wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move in.
RSVP for the Balafon West African Dance Trial Class here
The regular class will take place on Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:00 pm starting September 22.

Suzuki Baby & Toddler Class Info Session
2018-08-25 10:00 - 11:00 | PA
Hope Academy’s Suzuki program gives students the opportunity to build a solid foundation for their music training through the Suzuki principles of an early beginning, listening, loving encouragement, parental support, constant repetition, and learning with other children.
The first step in the Suzuki program is our new Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) Music Class for Babies and Toddlers – ages 0 to 3 years old. This yearlong course uses a repertoire of nursery rhymes, circle songs and activities that stimulates movement, singing and percussion playing. Parents/guardians learn how to become keen observers of their children, which contributes to building strong emotional bonds. The child builds confidence and a strong foundation for all learning experiences; while the parent learns how to create a nurturing and supportive environment to encourage joyful learning through music.
Meet the teaching artist, Jennifer O’Konski, to learn more about this unique approach and class. RSVP here.

Dancewear Recycle, Donate & Swap 2018-2019
2018-08-25 10:00 - 11:00 | PA
Recycle, Donate and Swap Gently Used Dancewear and Shoes at Hope Academy
We will have gently used dance clothing and shoes available in a range of sizes. If you are registering for Hope Academy’s Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dance classes, tap or West African dance, you are invited to come, with your child, to try on ballet and tap shoes and find appropriate leotards and tights.
We will be accepting cash donations (pay what you can) that will be used to purchase additional shoes and clothing. Additionally, if you have any dance wear that your child has outgrown, please drop it off at the Highland entrance of East Liberty Presbyterian Church (in a bag labeled “Hope Academy”) so that another student can put it to good use.
Then stay for a free West African dance class at 11:00 am to try it out for the fall term!

Hope Academy Onsite Registration & Info Sessions 2018-2019
2018-08-25 09:00 - 14:00 | PA
Register and pay for fall 2018 classes and private lessons, in person, from 9 am to 2 pm. Please note: many classes will be filled before this date. Call Karly Threets at 412-441-3800 x117 to make sure the class you are interested in still has space before coming in to register and pay in person.
Other events during open registration:

Suzuki Strings Info Session for 4 to 7 year olds with Parent/Guardian @ 9 am. More Information or RSVP
Suzuki Early Childhood Education Baby and Toddler Class Info Session @ 10 am. More Information or RSVP
Dance Wear Clothing and Shoes Donate, Recycle and Swap – 10 am to 12 noon – More information
Balafon West African Dance Trial Class – 11 am to 12 noon. More information or RSVP

Saturday Dance and Theater Program course descriptions can be found online, here.
Music Program course and private lesson descriptions can be found online here.

The deadline for scholarship applications was August 1 and all scholarships for the year will be awarded by September 1; however, there are scholarships available for Suzuki Pre-Twinkle, but interested families must attend the info session.

Suzuki Strings Program Info Session
2018-08-25 09:00 - 10:00 | PA
Children love music and movement; it’s natural – almost instinctual – for them to sing, clap, make rhythms, and move. But how early should they get started in more formal classes and lessons? What instrument should they play? How do you know if they are ready?
To help answer these questions, Hope Academy Suzuki Strings teachers, Kathleen Andrews and Jennifer Jennifer O’Konski (violin) and Beth Goldstein McKee (cello) will give a short presentation about the Suzuki method and answer your questions.
Please RSVP by filling out this online form.

Summer Celebration of Service and Volunteers
2018-08-23 18:00 - 19:30 | ELPC – Courtyard, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
All who have served this year (that’s you) are invited to take a break from serving and celebrate our year of service together. Hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share with about 6-8 folks (no serving utensil necessary and please label your container with your last name if you want it back). No need to RSVP, just come.

August LGBTQ Ministry Spiritual Gathering
2018-08-19 11:30 - 13:30 | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
All are welcome at this monthly spiritual gathering of LGBTQ Christians and their allies. Contact Wil to learn more and to attend.

Solar Power and Energy Efficiency
2018-08-19 11:30 - 12:30 | ELPC – Social Hall, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to bringing solar energy to homeowners. Join ELPC’s Justice Committee in the Social Hall to learn more about this exciting new initiative following worship on Sunday, August 19.
SUN will give a presentation on how homeowners can simplify and lower the cost of going solar through bulk purchasing solar panels.
We also will welcome Conservation Consultants, Inc., a non-profit organization that works in the area of energy efficiency and home retrofits. Learn tips, strategies, and the best ways to improve your home.
Refreshments will be served. Contact Lucy de Barbaro at lucyna.debarbaro@gmail.com for more info.

YAM Mystery Event
2018-08-12 11:30 - 15:00 | ELPC – Second Floor Parlor, 116 S Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
We will choose between three different mystery options of how we will spend our afternoon together. All you need to know is to come dressed to be outside and to bring your sense of adventure. Bring money for lunch or who knows what. This is a young adult event.

YAM Mystery Outdoor Adventure
2018-08-12 11:30 - 14:00 | ELPC – Second Floor Parlor, 116 S Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
We will choose between three different mystery options of how we will spend our afternoon together. All you need to know is to come dressed to be outside and to bring your sense of adventure. Bring money for lunch or who knows what.

Canceled: Mindfulness Meditation
2018-08-09 19:00 - 20:00 | ELPC – Prayer Room (Room 135), 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
We will not meet on Thursday, August 9. Our regular schedule will resume next Thursday, August 16.

Join us and Susan Spangler as we learn more about Mindfulness Meditation and engage in this ancient prayer form together. We begin with Qi Gong and move into meditation instruction, guided meditations, and practices for supporting mindfulness in everyday life.
Mindfulness is the moment-to-moment awareness of our experience with an accepting, non-judgmental, kind attention. In this ongoing practice, we’ll explore and deepen our experience of mindfulness. Our weekly time together will include meditation instruction, guided meditations, and practices for supporting mindfulness in everyday life.
Both those who are new to meditation and those with meditation experience are heartily welcome.
