Blog

Church School Classes | April 16

Here’s a list of what’s happening this week in our Church School classes. We offer Christian Education classes for persons of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, on Sundays, 9:45–10:45 am, unless otherwise noted. Read more about our adult classes and children and youth offerings. Read More

Worship with Us | Holy Week 2023

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. Copies of the bulletin are available online.

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, 7 pm

Pastor BJ will lead us as we journey through the 14 traditional Stations of the Cross, with readings, sung prayers, silence, and visual mediations from Vermont artist Janet McKenzie.

Maundy Thursday Service | Thursday, 7 pm

Pastor Heather will lead our Maundy Thursday service. She will preach from John 13:1–17,34–35, and deliver her sermon, titled “Final Instructions.”

Join us as we recall Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. As part of our service, you will be invited to participate in the sacrament of Communion.

Good Friday Service | Friday, 12 pm

Pastor Patrice will lead our noon service on Good Friday, April 7. She will preach from John 19:16b–30, and deliver a homily, titled “It Is Finished.”

Good Friday Service | Friday, 7 pm

Pastor Patrice will lead a Tenebrae service of light and darkness. She will preach from John 19:30, and deliver a homily, titled “It Is Finished.” The service will feature Lenten hymns, and readings of both the seven “I Am” statements made by Christ, as well as a compilation of seven “I Am Not” statements made by Christ’s adversaries as recorded in John 18 and 19.

Easter Vigil | Saturday, 7 pm

Pastor BJ will lead this processional vigil, beginning on the Penn Ave. steps. The procession will move into the Narthex and Sanctuary, culminating in the celebration of the first Holy Communion of the Easter season.

Easter Sunday Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am

An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Heather will preach from John 20:1–18, on the theme, Being Redeemed.

Join us on Zoom on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Easter Sunday Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, 11 am

Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Heather will preach from John 20:1–18, and deliver her sermon, titled “The View From Here.”

Join us in person or watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, 7 pm

Join us to experience Taizé’s prayerful songs and quiet meditations. Pastor BJ will lead us.

LGBTQIA+ Ministry: All Are Welcome

We are excited to share that ELPC’s LGBTQ Ministry is changing its name to thoughtfully and prayerfully grow and change to meet the needs and interests of its participants. Now in its ninth year, ELPC’s LGBTQ Ministry will now be known as the LGBTQIA+ Ministry, as to be more inclusive and reflective of our diversity!

What does the new name mean? “LGBTQIA+” is an evolving acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/ally. The “+” holds space for the expanding and new understanding of different parts of our diverse gender and sexual identities. Learn more from the Human Rights Campaign at tiny.cc/hjf5vz and read about the ABCs of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ from The New York Times at tiny.cc/gjf5vz.

Pastoral Message | April 2023

One of the things that has always struck me about the resurrection of Jesus is just how much the Risen Christ had changed. Whenever people encountered Jesus after he had risen from the grave, whether outside of the empty tomb or on the road to Emmaus, they did not even recognize him at first. Something about him was so different that even his closest friends could not tell that it was him…And yet he was also the same. He taught. He fed. His body still bore the wounds of the cross.

I have often thought about how the Resurrection of Jesus Christ might be a Gospel reality for us in our living, and not just our greatest hope in our dying. In different moments of my life I have asked: How does this mystery of faith play out in our world? I confess, sometimes the question sounds more like a complaint: “Really, God? Where is new life found in THIS mess?” Read More

Church School Classes | April 2

Here’s a list of what’s happening this week in our Church School classes. We offer Christian Education classes for persons of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, on Sundays, 9:45–10:45 am, unless otherwise noted. Read more about our adult classes and children and youth offerings. Read More

Worship with Us | Week of April 2

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship.

Palm Sunday Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am

An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Patrice will preach from Matthew 26:14–25, 31–35, on the theme, Being Redeemed.

Join us on Zoom on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Palm Sunday Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, 11 am

Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Patrice will preach from Matthew 26:14–25, 31–35, and deliver her sermon, titled “What a Difference a Day Makes.”

Download this week’s bulletin to follow along and read about upcoming events. Join us in person or watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, 7 pm

Pastor BJ will lead us as we journey through the 14 traditional Stations of the Cross, with readings, sung prayers, silence, and visual mediations from Vermont artist Janet McKenzie.

Maundy Thursday Service | Thursday, 7 pm

Pastor Heather will lead our Maundy Thursday service. Join us as we recall Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. As part of our service, you will be invited to participate in the sacrament of Communion.

Good Friday Service | Friday, 12 pm

We are pleased to welcome the Rev. Vincent Kolb to lead our noon service on Good Friday, April 7.

Rev. Kolb currently serves as pastor of Sixth Presbyterian Church and Commission on Ministry Liaison.

Good Friday Service | Friday, 7 pm

Pastor Patrice will lead a Tenebrae service of light and darkness. The service will feature Lenten hymns, and readings of both the seven “I Am” statements made by Christ, as well as a compilation of seven “I Am Not” statements made by Christ’s adversaries as recorded in John 18 and 19.

Easter Vigil | Saturday, 7 pm

Pastor BJ will lead this processional vigil, beginning on the Penn Ave. steps. The procession will move into the Narthex and Sanctuary, culminating in the celebration of the first Holy Communion of the Easter season.

Easter Sunday Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am

An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Heather will preach on the theme, Being Redeemed.

Join us on Zoom on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Easter Sunday Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, 11 am

Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Heather will preach.

Download this week’s bulletin to follow along and read about upcoming events. Join us in person or watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Worship with Us | Week of March 26

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship.

Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am

An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Patrice will preach from Ezekiel 37:1–14, on the theme, Being Human.

Join us on Zoom on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, 11 am

Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Patrice will preach from Ezekiel 37:1–14, and deliver her sermon, titled “Only God Knows.”

Download this week’s bulletin to follow along and read about upcoming events. Join us in person or watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, 7 pm

During Lent, Taizé will focus its prayerful songs and quiet meditations on Psalm 139 and practicing the Examen. Pastor BJ will lead us.

Church School Classes | March 26

Here’s a list of what’s happening this week in our Church School classes. We offer Christian Education classes for persons of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, on Sundays, 9:45–10:45 am, unless otherwise noted. Read more about our adult classes and children and youth offerings. Read More

Faith and Climate Action

People of faith are inspired to act on climate issues for a multitude of reasons.

  • If your religious experience is strongly connected to the sanctity of God’s creation, you will likely feel compelled to defend the natural world from the destruction that results from climate damage.
  • If peacemaking is a primary expression of your faith, you may be alarmed at the various ways in which climate change is sowing conflict over scarce resources.
  • If the alleviation of poverty is central to your faith, you may be concerned about how the poor are being hit the hardest by pollution and severe weather, yet have the fewest resources to cope with such obstacles.
  • If overcoming racism is a core aspect of your faith journey, you need not look far to witness climate injustice, such as racial disparities in childhood asthma rates or the inequitable response to disaster that often occurs when communities of color are the primary victims.
  • If your faith is driven by a passion to care for the next generation, nothing threatens our children’s wellbeing more than an unstable climate.

Whatever your faith journey and motivation, climate change is our shared responsibility as people of faith.

Worship with Us | Week of March 19

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship.

Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am

An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor BJ will preach from Ephesians 5:8–14, on the theme, Being Human.

Join us on Zoom on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, 11 am

Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor BJ will preach from Ephesians 5:8–14, and deliver his sermon, titled “Illuminate the Shadows.”

Download this week’s bulletin to follow along and read about upcoming events. Join us in person or watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook. If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 188 135 194 when prompted (press # if asked for a personal ID).

Taizé Prayer Service | Wednesday, 7 pm

During Lent, Taizé will focus its prayerful songs and quiet meditations on Psalm 139 and practicing the Examen. Pastor BJ will lead us.