A friend suggested I set up a TikTok account. She assured me that there were inspirational people I could follow and no shortage of videos that would make me laugh. So I downloaded the app, started clicking through the boxes to set up an account…until I got stuck on a basic question: What should my name be? Read More
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Blog
Hope Academy’s Fall 2022 Term
Hope Academy’s 2022 Fall Term Begins Saturday, September 17
- 2022–2023 Overview calendar and schedule, courses and upcoming events for the year
- Scholarship Application for students from low-income families and/or those of Black, African American or Indigenous descent
Registration in Hope Academy’s Family Portal opens on September 1
- Current Families | log into account
- New Families | set up an account
Private Lessons for new, tuition paying students (limited openings)
REGISTRATION FOR FALL TERM – SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS
- Scholarship students receive priority placement and scheduling. Please fill out this Scholarship Application.
- There are very few scholarships available for new private lesson students, but we can be very generous with scholarships for classes. If your family has special financial circumstances, fill out a scholarship application and detail the circumstances in a letter to receive consideration for a course scholarship.
Please note: scholarships are reserved for low-income families and/or students of Black, African American or Indigenous descent. Low-income families are asked to provide verification of their income status.
REGISTRATION FOR FALL TERM – TUITION PAYING STUDENTS
- Registration for tuition-paying students will open on September 1
- Families who have accounts in the Family Portal will be sent an email to let them know that registration is open.
- New families should create an account in the Family Portal.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Because of the staffing changes, we will only be adding new students as space in studios opens up (if a current student leaves or discontinues lessons)
- There are currently no openings for violin or viola private lessons, and limited openings for cello, voice and classical guitar.
- Scholarship students will be prioritized in placement and scheduling.
- There will be a Cello Information Session on Saturday, September 10, 11 am if you are interested in meeting the teaching artist, Beth Goldstein-McKee, to find out more about the Suzuki strings program at Hope Academy and have your child try a cello.
DANCE
The schedule for dance classes is fairly similar to last year, with a few exceptions:
- HA Dance Company is returning! This performance dance group is by invitation only, and will begin on TUE Oct 11.
- Creative Movement for 3 and 4 year-olds is moving to Saturday mornings – in person – from 9 to 9:30 am
- Levels 1 and 2 are in the same time blocks, so register for the age of your child and the teaching artists can move them into the group that will be best for them. The same holds true for Levels 3 and 4.
- There will be an Open Class on Saturday, September 10 at 10 am for 5-8 year-olds to try out a class and be placed.
HIP HOP ORCHESTRA (HHO) PARTNERSHIP
- NEW HHO Vocal Ensemble for 9-13 year-olds on Wednesdays from 5-6 pm.
- Hip Hop Orchestra Band, comprised of teen instrumentalists, vocalists and MCs, along with young adult mentors and professional teaching artists, moves to Wednesdays from 6-7:30 pm. Acceptance into this performance group is by HHO Application.
- You can try out HHO’s Vocal Ensemble or Band on Wednesday, Sept 21 before making a commitment to join.
ACTING
- Acting 2 for 9–13 year-olds on Wednesdays from 6-7:30 pm, after HHO Vocal Ensemble (an evening of singing and acting)
- Acting 3 for ages 13 and up on Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm.
PLACEMENTS AND OPEN CLASSES
- Saturday, September 9, 10 am–12 pm | Dance Clothing and Shoes Recycle and Swap
- Saturday, September 9, 10–10:45 am | Dance Open Class and Placement – Pre-Ballet and Level 1 – ages 5–8
- Saturday, September 10, 11 am–12 pm | Suzuki Cello Info Session with Beth Goldstein McKee
- Wednesday, September 21, 5–6 pm | Hip Hop Orchestra – Open Class – Vocal Ensemble
- Wednesday, September 21, 6–7:30 pm | Hip Hop Orchestra – Open Jam Session – teen singers and instrumentalists
SEPTEMBER PERFORMANCES & EVENTS
- Sunday, September 11, 3–10 pm | Karl Sellner Memorial Benefit for Hope Academy – Sly Fox Brewery & Pub at the Highline
- Thursday, September 15 | Remake Learning Bash – Hip Hop Orchestra – New Hazlett Theater
Just the FAQs: Hope Academy’s Dance Program Dress Code 2022-2023
Hope Academy’s first day of dance classes for 2022-2023 is on Saturday, September 17. This will be a “get to know you” and “get settled” day as older students are placed in classes that fit their age / experience levels.
There will be an OPEN CLASS on Saturday, September 10 at 10 am for 5-8 year olds to try out a class and be placed in either Pre-Ballet/Tap or Level 1 Ballet/Tap & Jazz. Please come wearing something easy to move in.
We are also arranging for a dance clothing and shoe “swap” so that families can return their gently-used items and pick up new sizes on Saturday, September 10 from 10 am to 12 noon.
Anyone can donate (and we are grateful for all items that fit our dress code), but we will only be able to provide dance clothing and shoes to our students. Our dress code includes: black leotards, pink tights, pink or black ballet shoes (leather or canvas), tap and jazz shoes (all styles). Donations can be dropped off at the Highland Ave entrance of East Liberty Presbyterian Church (TU-TH 9 am to 8 pm; FR 9 am to 5 pm; SA & SU 9 am to 4 pm). Please put donations in a bag labeled “Hope Academy” and include sizes on items, if possible. Read More
Worship with Us | Week of August 28
Here’s what’s happening this week in worship.
Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 am
Pastor Heather will preach from Hebrews 13:1–8, 15–16, and deliver her sermon, titled “Book of Love.” Join us in the Courtyard (weather permitting). Additional seating is available in the Garth Overlook Room for those who prefer to stay indoors, and the service will be livestreamed to a screen inside.
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
Taizé’s prayerful songs and quiet meditation will ponder the beauty of be clay in the hands of the Potter from the prophet Jeremiah. Rev. John Titus will lead us.
ELPC Face Mask Policy Updates
Updated August 26, 2022
Because COVID transmission in Allegheny County is medium (yellow), masking is generally optional in the ELPC building; the one exception is that masking is required in areas where children are present.
Going forward, masking is required anytime children are present, including worship services, extended session, childcare rooms, etc. Masks will be optional when we are at medium to low transmission rates. Individuals are always welcome to wear masks when at ELPC, and masks will continue to be made available to all who enter our building.
ELPC will continue to adhere to the guidelines of the CDC and Allegheny County Health Department, and may shift guidelines as community conditions change. Please observe posted notices when entering the church building.
Check back for the most up-to-date information about ministries, pandemic protocols, and building hours.
Worship with Us | Week of August 21
Here’s what’s happening this week in worship.
Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 am
Pastor Patrice will preach from Luke 13:10–17, and deliver her sermon, titled “Sabbath Healing.” Join us in the Courtyard (weather permitting). Additional seating is available in the Garth Overlook Room for those who prefer to stay indoors, and the service will be livestreamed to a screen inside.
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
Taizé’s prayerful songs and quiet meditation will ponder humble wisdom of Proverbs 25:6–7. Pastor BJ will lead us.
Worship with Us | Week of August 14
Here’s what’s happening this week in worship.
Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 am
Pastor Heather will preach from Luke 12:49–56, and deliver her sermon, titled “Sings of the Times.” Join us in the Courtyard (weather permitting). Additional seating is available in the Garth Overlook Room for those who prefer to stay indoors, and the service will be livestreamed to a screen inside.
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
Taizé’s prayerful songs and quiet meditation will ponder the invitation to wholistic restoration from the prophet Isaiah (58). Pastor Patrice will lead us.
Interim Pastor Nominating Committee Update | August 2022
The Interim Pastor Nominating Committee (IPNC) has completed our Ministry Information Form (MIF) process. The MIF is our church’s job description for potential interim pastoral candidates to review. The Pittsburgh Presbytery and our Session have approved our MIF and, shortly, it will be posted online at Church Leadership Connections for potential interim pastors to access. We are prayerful that the IPNC will start receiving applications soon after our MIF is posted.
What can you do to help?
- Pray for Pastors Heather and Patrice as they lead us during this time ahead of an interim pastor.
- Pray for the ELPC congregation that God will prepare us for our interim pastor.
- Pray for the IPNC for God’s discernment as we continue to move through this process.
- Pray for the candidates and their families as they discern God’s call to apply for our interim pastor position.
- Pray for Session as they work with the IPNC to eventually call an interim pastor to ELPC.
Thank you and blessings,
Interim Pastor Nominating Committee
Active Living with Chronic Conditions
Do you have an ongoing health condition, such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, asthma, heart disease, chronic pain, cancer, depression, or another condition that affects your daily life?
The ELPC Health Ministry, in collaboration with Vintage Senior Center, is offering a “Self-Study” program to help you solve problems, manage your symptoms, and set and achieve goals. The program is free, but limited to people age 60 and older.
The program—presented in the memory of Carla Coles, who first launched this program at ELPC—begins the week of September 26. For more information and to register, contact Tom Sturgill at tsturgill@familylinks.org or 412.361.5003 x104.
Volunteers Needed for Club One Sixteen
Volunteers are needed for Club One Sixteen, ELPC’s afterschool youth group for kids in grades 1–12. Starting in September, Club One Sixteen meets on Wednesdays, 4:30–6:30pm. Volunteers have a range of responsibilities depending on their interests—from planning Bible lessons, leading games, serving food, or showing up, hanging out, and listening to kids.
We are looking for adults who enjoy working with kids and/or teens, either on a regular basis or as a ““substitute” when we have another volunteer out sick or away. If Club One Sixteen sounds like a ministry you might want to be a part of, please contact Sara Hackett for more information.
ELPC requires those who volunteer with youth to be vaccinated for COVID 19 and have clearances and trainings as outlined in ELPC’s child safety policy.