Blog

Church School Classes | September 11

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

Chapel Market is Open for Business

The Chapel Market is ELPC’s free clothing ministry located near the Whitfield St. entrance. It is currently open for customers on Thursdays, 10 am–12 pm. Customers register and are invited to visit the Chapel Market twice a month. There are restrictions on the number of items per person, so that we have enough clothes to serve many. Read More

How Can We Help Refugee Families?

Pittsburgh is still receiving refugee families. And AJAPO (Acculturation for Justice, Access, and Peace Outreach) assigned two new families to ELPC in July. Here’s a brief review of how you can help:

  • We have a small team of volunteers that help with obtaining and moving essential items like house goods and furniture. If you’d like to be part of this team, contact Eric Jester.
  • In May, ELPC held a furniture drive for “Angels in Overalls,” the group that provides furniture for AJAPO’s refugee families. Even though the turnover in furniture is frequent, we would like to help Sister Florence find a less expensive place to store and organize donated furniture than rented storage facilities. If you know of a small warehouse/facility that she could use, please contact Eric Jester with the details.
  • AJAPO is looking for volunteers who are willing to meet with individuals or families and practice English through conversation. These are not formal classes. You’d meet in a central location or at their home, develop a relationship with them, and set how often you meet. If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Eric for a volunteer application with AJAPO and send it to mhess@ajapopittsburgh.org.
  • If you’re interested in helping with more formalized English conversation classes held by Casa San José at ELPC, please contact Ruth Farrell for more details.

Meeting families from other countries and helping them make the transition to a new country and new culture has been a most amazing experience. It is so much more than welcoming the stranger. It is about making new friends. It is about being a neighbor. Your life will become richer, and you will begin to see the expanse and warmth of God’s children in ways you never imagined.

Worship with Us | Week of September 4

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

Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 am

The Rev. Ralph Lowe will preach from Luke 14: 25–35, and deliver his sermon, titled “CO$T OF DI$CIPLE$HIP.” We also will celebrate communion. 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 being lost and found. Pastor BJ will lead us.

Pastoral Message | September 2022

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

Hope Academy’s Fall 2022 Term

Hope Academy’s 2022 Fall Term Begins Saturday, September 17

Registration in Hope Academy’s Family Portal opens on September 1

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

SEPTEMBER PERFORMANCES & EVENTS



 



 

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.