East Liberty Presbyterian Church

Yoga & Centering Prayer
2022-01-31 08:00 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Online, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
The ELPC Spiritual Life committee is excited to offer Yoga & Centering Prayer with Katrina Woodworth on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8–9 am, in the Sanctuary.
This class include breathing practices along with Hatha Yoga postures and ends with 10–15 minutes of silent Centering Prayer
Please register in advance. Donations accepted are accepted.

CLICK TO REGISTER

Taizé Prayer Service
2022-02-02 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-02-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-02-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-02-23 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-03-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-03-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | ELPC – Chapel, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
ELPC offers evening prayers with chants from Taizé every Wednesday, 7 pm, in the Chapel. The hour-long service includes sung prayers, beautiful music, a time of silence, spoken and silent prayers, and opportunities for individual prayer and anointing. For more information, view our Taizé page.
Download this week’s bulletin.

About ELPC’s Taizé Prayer Service
Our Taizé prayer service is based on a style of worship developed at the Taizé community in France founded in the 1940s by the late Brother Roger. Originally a refuge during the war, Taizé has developed into an ecumenical prayer center for visitors from all over the world. Today, the Taizé community is made up of over a hundred resident brothers, both Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds/traditions. Taizé wants to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.

Intermediate SSL Class
2022-02-03 16:00 - 17:00, 2022-02-10 16:00 - 17:00, 2022-02-17 16:00 - 17:00, 2022-02-24 16:00 - 17:00, 2022-03-03 16:00 - 17:00, 2022-03-10 16:00 - 17:00, 2022-03-17 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Our intermediate SSL class meets on Thursdays, 4 pm, via Zoom. We’re finishing up the present tense and preparing to learn the past paradigm.
If you already have some knowledge of Spanish, you are welcome to join this class as we continue to learn about ourselves, our neighbors, and God through the Spanish language!
Join us on Zoom

Trinity Chapel Tour
2022-02-06 12:00 - 12:45 (America/Halifax) | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Join us for a tour of the Trinity Chapel following Sanctuary worship.
It may be small, but the Trinity Chapel is filled with symbolism and features a unique, one-of-a-kind stained glass window.
Meet at the Highland Avenue entrance following worship.

Foundation of HOPE | Adult Diversion
2022-02-06 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | PA
As a Matthew 25 congregation, ELPC is committed to supporting justice efforts in our community related to human safety and dignity. To learn more about some of these efforts, the Justice Committee invites you to a presentation on the Foundation of HOPE’s Adult Diversion Program in Allegheny County following Sanctuary worship on Sunday, February 6.
The HOPE Adult Diversion Program equips law enforcement with intervention approaches that are designed to redirect adults who are involved in low-level offenses into the program and away from a criminal record, prosecution, and incarceration. Services include mental health support, substance use treatment and harm reduction support, medical treatment, housing, food assistance, and more.
We will be joined by Mica Williams, who serves as the director of the HOPE Adult Diversion Program. Mica will discuss their work in the community and opportunities for involvement by ELPC members.
Join us in person or over Zoom. Light snacks will be provided.
To join virtually, click the button below or you may call in by dialing 312.626.6799 and enter meeting ID 813 2173 1297 and passcode [REDACTED] when prompted.
Join via Zoom

Book Discussion | All We Can Save
2022-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | PA
The Environmental Team of the Justice Committee is reading a new book, titled All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson. This diverse collection of essays and a few poems are written by female activists, scientists, artists, architects, policymakers, and thinkers of various ages.
We invite you to read some or all of the book, and to join us to talk about your favorite parts on Thursday, February 10, 7 pm, via Zoom. For more details or to RSVP, contact Nancy Heastings at n.heastings@comcast.net.

Climate Change and the Green New Deal
2022-02-13 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | PA
The Environmental Team of the Justice Committee invites you to a panel discussion on Climate Change and the Green New Deal following Sanctuary worship on Sunday, February 13.
Together, we will examine the issue of climate change, its implications for racial and economic justice, and how we can combat it by building a mass movement for a Green New Deal. Panelists include Patricia DeMarco, Ph.D.; Claire Cohen, M.D.; and Helen Gerhardt.
Join us in person in the Social Hall. Light refreshments will be provided.
You also may join us online over Zoom or by calling 646.558.8656 and entering meeting ID 827 3760 9292 and passcode [REDACTED] when prompted.
Join via Zoom

Yoga and Mindful Meditation
2022-02-16 08:00 - 09:00, 2022-02-21 08:00 - 09:00, 2022-02-23 08:00 - 09:00, 2022-02-28 08:00 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Online, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Start your day on your mat, stretching, and moving your body for 45–50 minutes of gentle Hatha yoga and 10–15 minutes of guided mindful meditation.
Our mindful movement and meditation classes in February will have gentle and slow mindful movement, linking postures and breath, and end with guided silent meditation.
A donation from the heart is suggested.
Register on Zoom

LGBTQ Ministry Spiritual Gathering
2022-02-20 12:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
You are invited to the next Spiritual Gathering of ELPC’s LGBTQ Ministry to share food and fellowship at the church. Allies and LGBTQIA+ folks alike are welcome.
Contact Wil Forrest at 412.441.3800 X118 or Wil@coh.net to learn more, to RSVP, and/or to participate.
GOD CREATED YOU. GOD LOVES YOU. BE YOURSELF.

Forest Bathing
2022-02-26 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Courtyard, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
What is forest bathing? Well, it is not a nature walk or a fitness hike. It is a 60-minute, guided visit into the natural world, where we will slow down, awaken our senses, and nurture our relationship with nature. Through a series of invitations, we will find our own ways of connecting with nature as we relax into being present with the sights, smells, sounds, textures, and tastes of the woods. There’s no rush and there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
Join us in ELPC’s Courtyard to explore the hidden beauty found within the space’s architecture, plants, trees, and flowers—even amidst winter. We will have a fire for warming as we slowly reflect on the beauty of the natural world. We will sit a lot and move slowly, so dress appropriately and consider bringing a blanket.
RSVP to Pastor BJ by Wednesday, February 23.

Global Links: Youth Service Day
2022-03-05 12:00 (America/Halifax) | PA
6th-12th graders are volunteering at Global Links, a nonprofit which shares medical surplus rescued from the US healthcare system to support health programs globally and locally. We will meet at ELPC at noon and return at 3:45pm. We will be eating lunch in the McKelvy room before we leave. Global Links requires all volunteers be vaccinated and wear masks while volunteering. Youth must be vaccinated and masked to ride in the van. Youth are also able to meet us at Global Links in Greentree at 1:00pm.
RSVP by completing the permission slip below or contacting Sara Hackett.

Contemplative & Centering Prayer for Lent
2022-03-07 07:30 - 08:00, 2022-03-14 07:30 - 08:00 (America/New_York) | ELPC – Online, 116 South Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
During the season of Lent, our Monday morning Contemplative Prayer will involve the reading of a Psalm and Centering Prayer (20 minutes of silence), in community with one another.
Click the button below at the scheduled time to join via Zoom or call in by dialing 312.626.6799 and entering meeting ID, 959 8065 3992.

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Dial-in Passcode: [REDACTED]
JOIN VIA ZOOM

Youth Roller Skating at Beulah
2022-03-13 12:00 - 15:15 (America/New_York) | PA
6th-12th graders are going roller skating at Beulah Presbyterian Church with Beulah’s youth group on Sunday, March 13th after worship until 3:15pm. We will be eating lunch in the McKelvy room before we leave. Youth must be vaccinated and masked to ride in the van. Youth are able to meet us at Beulah Presbyterian at 1:00pm.
RSVP by completing the permission slip below or contacting Sara Hackett.

Letter from Birmingham Jail | Session 2
2022-03-13 12:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Following Sanctuary worship on Sunday, March 13, the Facing Systemic Racism Committee will present our second session on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s, Letter from Birmingham Jail. Led by Dr. Beverly Harris-Schenz, we will explore a summary of one of the seminal issues in Dr. King’s letter: “just” vs “unjust” laws.
Dr. King explains the use of “legality” in authoritarian societies, as a means to control and discriminate against marginalized people. Such “laws” apply to those groups, but rarely to those in authority. As examples, Dr. King cites laws used by segregationists in Alabama to prevent Blacks from voting; the laws of Nebuchadnezzer, which led Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego to follow a higher moral law; as well as the laws employed by Hitler to discriminate and isolate Jews, and those in Hungary against their freedom fighters.
There is no dearth of other historical examples. However, our discussion will focus primarily on how “unjust” laws have been used in the past and are currently used in our country to discriminate against and marginalize people of color. This presentation will be followed by small group discussions, both in person and on Zoom.
Join us in person in the Social Hall or online via Zoom. You also may call in by dialing 301.715.8592 and entering meeting ID 841 7387 8710 and passcode [REDACTED] when prompted.
Join via Zoom

Lenten Silent Retreat
2022-03-18 17:00 - 2022-03-20 12:00 (America/New_York) | St. Emma Monastery, 1001 Harvey Ave, Greensburg, PA, 15601, United States
In returning and rest you shall be saved.
In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
We invite you to come away with God, in the middle of the Lenten season, for a quiet weekend retreat at St. Emma’s Retreat House in Greensburg, from 5 pm, on Friday, March 18, until 12 pm, on Sunday, March 20.
The retreat will be a time to rest your body, mind, and spirit; to play and pray; to eat and be still; to walk and sit; to talk and be silent; and to simply follow “the unforced rhythms of grace.”
“Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace… Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”—Matthew 11:28–30 (The Message)
If these words from Jesus ring true in your spirit, join us. The cost is $150. (Scholarships are available. Contact Pastor BJ at BJW@coh.net for details.) Spots are limited, so RSVP by to Norma Meyer at Norma@coh.net by Sunday, March 13.
