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Pastoral Message | March 2025

Living Love Through Lent
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!”—2 Corinthians 5:17

Transformation takes time. No matter how long we have been journeying with Jesus on this spiritual path, our “newness” in Christ is constantly unfolding. We are always growing. It’s never a one and done thing. Whether it’s spiritual growth, emotional healing, or breaking old patterns, real change requires patience and practice. Transformation requires spiritual patience and spiritual practice. It is no stretch to say that our spiritual patience and practice are being tested this year. Life events, turmoil, and uncertainty in our civic life are are all pushing our buttons and giving us angst. As we strive to speak up for the most vulnerable in our society, I suspect that we need to dig a bit deeper into our hearts and draw deeper from our spiritual center, God who lives within us.

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Worship with Us | Week of February 23

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

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 Luke 6:27–38.

Watch on Zoom

If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 824 2903 4526 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 and deliver his sermon, titled “A Fierce Labor of Love…for Our Enemies.”

Watch on YouTube

Watch on 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.

Living Love: Reading the Bible Queerly 

Are you frustrated with how some people use the Bible as a tool against LGBTQIA+ people? What does the Bible really say about same-gender relationships? This introductory offering is for anyone seeking to reconcile and affirm one’s sexuality with one’s faith, as well as those interested in understanding more. Join us as we study a few supposed “clobber passages” through the lens of love and current biblical scholarship. This study will be held in-person on the campus of ELPC in an environment that openly welcomes and celebrates queer people as beloved children of God.* 

We will meet for five consecutive Tuesdays, 5:30–6:30 pm. Please complete the form below to register. 

March 11 | Introductions and Judges 19
March 18 | Genesis 19
March 25 | Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13
April 1 | Romans 1:17–2:4
April 8 | 1 Corinthians 6:9–10

*CONTENT WARNING: Although this offering is primarily a study of scripture, some of the scriptures will necessitate conversations relating to homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, violence, and sexual assault.

 

Church School Classes | February 23

Here’s a list of what’s happening this week in our Adult Education Church School classes.

Journey with Scripture | Highland Room and Zoom

The Journey with Scripture class reads scripture readings listed in the Revised Common Lectionary. Participants seek encouragement from God—towards the direction of steadfast love, justice, and faithfulness in their lives. Prior knowledge of the scriptures is not necessary. Contact Sara Hackett for details.

Join us as we relate to the year “C” liturgical calendar, which includes the Gospels of Luke and John. The Scriptures will expand and deepen our understanding of our 500-year, “Reformed, Ever Reforming” faith legacy and ELPC’s 217 Sanctuary’s stained-glass windows.

Seekers | Garth Overlook Room and Zoom

The Seekers wish to grow in religious understanding, insight, faith, and practice. Classes create a space for spiritual and intellectual exploration, enrichment, and sharing. Together we seek a broad, inclusive dialogue, including respecting and learning about other faith traditions. All viewpoints are welcomed. Contact Gwen Puza for more information.

Confronting “Everyday Racism” (Subtle and Not so Subtle)
After reading vignettes from her book, Living while Black, ELPC member Beverly Harris-Schenz will engage participants in a lively discussion. What are their comments and feelings about these personal and professional examples of “everyday racism” that many people of color experience daily? How can we change ourselves and these situations?

Soul Food | Good Samaritan Room and Zoom

Soul Food focuses on feeding our spirits and nurturing our awareness of God’s presence. We use a prayerful, contemplative format that includes small group discussions of spiritually nourishing texts and personal experiences. For more information, contact the Rev. Joe Hajdu.

This Sunday we will begin a discussion of our next book, Necessary Risks, by Teri McDowell Ott, with the preface and introduction. New participants are welcome to attend.

Invite to Join Visual Enhancement Subcommittee

Do you love decorating for the holidays? Are JoAnn’s, Michael’s, and HomeGoods your happy place? Did you study set design in high school or college? Then, boy, do we have the Subcommittee for you! From the folks who bring you Worship, Music, and the Arts, comes an exciting, new team: the Visual Enhancement Subcommittee (VES).

This new group will coordinate the seasonal decoration schemes (such as banners, paraments, Christmas Trees, Lenten Crosses, and other visual aids to worship) throughout our church. VES’s focus will be the Sanctuary and Journey worship spaces, as well as the Narthex and Information Desk area. And, of course, the new team needs members of all ages and abilities. We would particularly love to have the gifts of our youth and young adults represented in VES. Whether you can hang a small wreath or that gigantic one over Penn Ave., we need you!

VES will meet about four times a year, as we prepare for each upcoming religious season. We will then decorate the church to bring our visions into reality. In other words, this will be a group more of action, rather than of meeting and taking minutes. If you’re interested in joining the VES team and influencing the look and feel of worship at ELPC, please Dr. Ed.

Church School Classes | February 16

Here’s a list of what’s happening this week in our Adult Education Church School classes.

Journey with Scripture | Highland Room and Zoom

The Journey with Scripture class reads scripture readings listed in the Revised Common Lectionary. Participants seek encouragement from God—towards the direction of steadfast love, justice, and faithfulness in their lives. Prior knowledge of the scriptures is not necessary. Contact Sara Hackett for details.

Join us as we relate to the year “C” liturgical calendar, which includes the Gospels of Luke and John. The Scriptures will expand and deepen our understanding of our 500-year, “Reformed, Ever Reforming” faith legacy and ELPC’s 217 Sanctuary’s stained-glass windows.

Combined Adult Class | Good Samaritan Room and Zoom

This week, the Seekers and Soul Food classes will meet in the Good Samaritan Room for Linda Lane’s presentation on The Long Black Quest for Reparations, facilitated by Gwen Puza. Growing up Black in America meant hearing about getting “40 acres and mule,” more as a joke than anything else. However, reparations to those who had been enslaved was briefly the law. In 1865, General William T. Sherman issued Special Field Order 15. In 2021, Evanston, Illinois, became the first American city to compensate its Black citizens for past discrimination. Contact Gwen Puza for more information.

Join us on Zoom

Worship with Us | Week of February 16

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

Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am

An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Michael will preach from Luke 6:17–25.

Watch on Zoom

If you’d like to join by telephone, call 929.205.6099 and enter Meeting ID 824 2903 4526 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 Michael will preach from Luke 6:17–25, and deliver his sermon, titled “Just Plain Talk.”

Watch on YouTube

Watch on 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.

Church School Classes | February 9

Here’s a list of what’s happening this week in our Adult Education Church School classes.

Journey with Scripture | Highland Room and Zoom

The Journey with Scripture class reads scripture readings listed in the Revised Common Lectionary. Participants seek encouragement from God—towards the direction of steadfast love, justice, and faithfulness in their lives. Prior knowledge of the scriptures is not necessary. Contact Sara Hackett for details.

Join us as we relate to the year “C” liturgical calendar, which includes the Gospels of Luke and John. The Scriptures will expand and deepen our understanding of our 500-year, “Reformed, Ever Reforming” faith legacy and ELPC’s 217 Sanctuary’s stained-glass windows.

Seekers | Garth Overlook Room and Zoom

The Seekers wish to grow in religious understanding, insight, faith, and practice. Classes create a space for spiritual and intellectual exploration, enrichment, and sharing. Together we seek a broad, inclusive dialogue, including respecting and learning about other faith traditions. All viewpoints are welcomed. Contact Gwen Puza for more information.

The Long Black Quest for Reparations, A Brief History
ELPC member Alexander Payton invites Seekers into a reflective journey through the often untold or unseen stories of Black Presbyterians and their contributions to the Presbyterian Church. By engaging with historical accounts, theological insights, and the narratives of resilience and faith, we will explore how these stories illuminate the intersections of race, faith, and community.

Grounded in Christ’s call to love and unity, we will reflect on how these narratives can deepen our shared faith and guide us toward living out the love of God in meaningful and transformative ways.

Soul Food | Good Samaritan Room and Zoom

Soul Food focuses on feeding our spirits and nurturing our awareness of God’s presence. We use a prayerful, contemplative format that includes small group discussions of spiritually nourishing texts and personal experiences. For more information, contact the Rev. Joe Hajdu.

This week, we welcome Sr. Janice of Casa San José, the recipient of our class offering. Non-class members are most welcome to attend.

Worship with Us | Week of February 9

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 Michael will preach.

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 824 2903 4526 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 Michael will preach and deliver his sermon, titled “Leaving Everything and Following Jesus.”

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.

Pastoral Message | February 2025

“Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”—Proverbs 4:25–27

“Stay focused.” Years ago when I was learning how to drive, my driving instructor implored me to turn off the radio, to pay attention to the road, and to stay focused. Those first few days of driver’s education behind the wheel were difficult for me. Any bright sign or clever billboard easily distracted my gaze. If I looked to the left for an extended period of time, the car I was driving would veer to the left. If I looked to the right for an extended period of time, my vehicle would veer to the right. For my safety and the safety of others on the road, I had to stay focused.

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