Blog

This Week in Worship: March 10–16, 2017

Here’s what’s happening in worship this week. Click the “more” link for our Church School programming.

Worship Services

Journey Worship | Sunday, at 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Following. Pastor Patrice will preach from Matthew 4:1–11.

Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, at 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Heather will preach from Ephesians 2:11–22, and her sermon will be titled “Unfaithful Phrases: I Got Here First.”

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, at 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. Stay afterward for Contemplative Prayer. If you’re unable to participate in person, join our live stream on your computer or mobile device.

Read More

Exploring Science, Cosmology, Theology, and Mysticism

March marks the beginning of the Spiritual Life Committee’s new focus on Science, Cosmology, Theology, and Mysticism. Our journey will be based on the work of Teilhard de Chardin—a 20th Century Jesuit and world-renowned paleontologist. Don’t miss any of these exciting opportunities to explore faith, the world, and spirituality. Download our brochure for more information.

Sun., March 5: Interfaith Panel on Our Role in the Universe 12:15 pm
The Spiritual Life Committee invites you to an Interfaith Panel that will discuss the question, “What is our (human) role in the universe?” Pastor Randy will join representatives from Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and more in this intriguing discussion with diverse religious perspectives. A light lunch will be served.

Please RSVP with Kate Carlson by calling 412.441.3800 x16.

Thurs., March 23: Book and Video Study 6:30–8 pm
Continued on Thurs., April 6 & 20, May 4 & 18, and June 1
All are welcome to a study series as we read and discuss Teilhard’s Mysticism: Seeing the Inner Face of Evolution (Orbis Books, 2014), and watch several videos by other scholars on cosmology and theology. Join the conversation!

Fri.–Sun., June 16–18: Teilhard’s Mysticism—Spiraling into the Cosmic Christ
Mark your calendar now for a retreat guided by Teilhard’s Mysticism—Spiraling into the Cosmic Christ. Our retreat will be led by Dr. Kathleen Duffy—a Sister of St. Joseph (S.S.J.) and a professor of Physics at Chestnut Hill College, where she directs the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and the Institute for Religion and Science. Download our brochure for more information and a registration form.

Pastoral Message, March 2017

This year the month of March rests firmly in the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday literally occurs on the first day of the month, and when we turn over our calendars, we still have 16 days to go until Easter. Lent is a time for us to focus on ourselves and our world in relation to God—the One who knows us completely, calls us to live justly and compassionately, and loves us enough to redeem us by the sacrificial grace of Jesus Christ. It is a season for asking “God, how are we doing?” as well as “What could I do better?”

Given that the good news of Jesus has been with us almost 2,000 years, are we doing a better job today of putting the Gospel into practice than we did yesterday? In many ways, we can answer that question in the affirmative. We have a greater sense of the universal nature of God’s realm and the church of Jesus Christ than we did in centuries past. We are doing better at seeing our missionary work as “service with co-workers of the faith” instead of “converting the heathen masses.” And the nature of the global internet means that people in distant lands can read the same devotional books, listen to the same sermons, and discuss aspects of faith with Christians here in America and around the world.

But are we progressing as a human species as well as people of faith? Robert Gordon recently wrote an interesting book called The Rise and Fall of American Growth, in which he argued that the advances from 1870–1970 far overshadow the inventions and advances of the last half century. The late 19th century brought amazing improvements to the quality of life through inventions such as electricity, urban sanitation, and the internal combustion engine. The early 20th century continued this trend through the development of chemicals, medicines, and modern communications. Suddenly electric lights replaced oil lamps, flush toilets replaced outhouses, cars and electric trains replaced horses, and prescription medicine ended the risk of death from common infections.

But in many ways, the great age of inventions is behind us. Air travel and computer technology have connected us more nationally and globally, but it can be argued that, in and of themselves, these advances have not dramatically improved our quality of life. While life expectancies have risen, they have not been evenly distributed across race, gender, and nationality. Surely the investments into wrinkle creams, male baldness cures, and sexual potency drugs could have been better utilized in battling cancer, malaria, and AIDS. Infant mortality remains a troubling issue in both developed and developing nations. Educational standards and workplace improvements are not where we might have hoped, given the great strides made in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Lent is when we recommit ourselves to walk beside Christ in his ministry of healing, protecting, and loving God’s creation. It is done with “Easter” hope, even as we recognize how far we still have to travel to reach the “promised land.” Be prayerful in asking, “Lord, what can we do now as your people in the 21st century to offer good news to this world?” Be it through actions or activism, prayers or moral progress, I am very sure God wants both to hear this question and offer us an answer we can take to heart.

–Randy Bush

ELPC Health Ministry Offers New Resources

Did you know the Health Ministry offers magazines, periodicals, books, and pamphlets on a variety of topics in the ELPC Library?

Looking to learn more about good nutrition and healthy living? Explore the Nutrition Action Healthletter newsletter.

Wondering how to stick to a balanced diet while living with diabetes or celiac disease? Flip through The New Diabetic Cookbook, 5th Edition, as well as Diabetic Living and Diabetes Self-Management magazines. Or, browse through a guide for celiacs and the Cholesterol Control Handbook and Cookbook.

Are you caring for a loved one or trying to deal with a difficult end-of-life situation? Read through a variety of available books, such as The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers and The Mayo Clinic Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease. There also are pamphlets on palliative care, hospice care, the Patient Care Partnership, and the Allegheny Family Caregiver Resource Guide.

Stop by the ELPC Library and take advantage of all the information that is available.

This Week in Worship: March 3–9, 2017

Here’s what’s happening in worship this week. Click the “more” link for our Church School programming.

Worship Services

Journey Worship | Sunday, at 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Following. Pastor Heather will preach from Genesis 12:1-4a. Communion will be celebrated.

Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, at 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Randy will preach from Genesis 12:1–4 and his sermon will be titled “Unfaithful Phrases: My country, right or wrong.” Communion will be celebrated.

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, at 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. Stay afterward for Contemplative Prayer. If you’re unable to participate in person, join our live stream on your computer or mobile device.

Read More

This Week in Worship: February 24–March 2, 2017

Here’s what’s happening in worship this week. Click the “more” link for our Church School programming.

Worship Services

Journey Worship | Sunday, at 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Back on Track. Pastor Patrice will preach from Matthew 17: 1–9.

Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, at 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Randy will preach from Exodus 33:12–23 and his sermon will be titled “Glorious Freedom.”

Ash Wednesday Service| Wednesday, at 12 pm
Amidst the gray and darkness of winter, we pause to reflect upon our lives as children of God. This can involve both lighting a candle of hope and offering up prayers of repentance. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the special season of Lent—an important time for thoughtfulness and personal reflection.

To mark this sacred time, Pastor Patrice will lead a special service featuring the imposition of ashes in the Chapel. Following this service, a simple lunch of soup and bread will be served in Room 234, and we will welcome Dr. David Esterline, president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, as our guest speaker. All are welcome!

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, at 7 pm
Our hour-long service includes sung prayers; simple, beautiful music; a time of silence; spoken and silent prayers; and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. The Rev. Mary Lynn Callahan will lead this service of sung Taizé prayer. Stay afterward for Contemplative Prayer. If you’re unable to participate in person, join our live stream on your computer or mobile device.

Read More

2017 Lenten Devotionals are Available

As we look ahead to the start of our Lenten journey beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 1, Christian Education (CE) is offering Lenten devotionals for people of all ages. These materials will be available on Sun., Feb. 26. They will be located on the table outside of the East Transept, on the Second Floor CE table, and in the Social Hall during Journey worship.

Read More

This Week in Worship: February 17–23, 2017

Here’s what’s happening in worship this week. Click the “more” link for our Church School programming.

Worship Services

Journey Worship | Sunday, at 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Back on Track. Pastor Randy will preach from Leviticus 19.

Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, at 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Heather will preach from Matthew 7:7–11 and her sermon will be titled “Words from the Mount: Unanswered Questions.”

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, at 7 pm
Our hour-long service includes sung prayers; simple, beautiful music; a time of silence; spoken and silent prayers; and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. The Rev. Mary Lynn Callahan will lead this service of sung Taizé prayer. Stay afterward for Contemplative Prayer. If you’re unable to participate in person, join our live stream on your computer or mobile device.

Read More

This Week in Worship: February 10–16, 2017

Here’s what’s happening in worship this week. Click the “more” link for our Church School programming.

Worship Services

Journey Worship | Sunday, at 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Back on Track. Pastor Heather will preach from Luke 15:11–32.

Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, at 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Randy will preach from Matthew 5:33–37 and his sermon will be titled “Words from the Mount—To Tell the Truth.”

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, at 7 pm
Our hour-long service includes sung prayers; simple, beautiful music; a time of silence; spoken and silent prayers; and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. The Rev. Mary Lynn Callahan will lead this service of sung Taizé prayer. Stay afterward for Contemplative Prayer. If you’re unable to participate in person, join our live stream on your computer or mobile device.

Read More