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. Youth classes are currently meeting after our Sanctuary worship service. Read more about our adult classes and children and youth offerings. Read More
Blog
Environmental Tip | April 2020
Now—before air conditioning season begins—is the perfect time to switch to an all-renewable source for your electricity. Rates tend to be lowest in early spring, so take this opportunity to lock in a good price for the next 12 months. Electricity supplied by distribution companies (like Duquesne Light) is produced with a hefty contribution from burning fossil fuels (natural gas, coal), which releases greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change.
Multiple companies offer plans that let you choose renewable sources. And switching is easy at PAPowerSwitch.com! Once you decide on a supplier, they will contact your utility company and initiate the change. Here are some tips:
- Look for 12-month, fixed-price contracts instead of variable-price rates
- Mark your calendar to renew your contract at a favorable rate in a year
The Environmental Team of the Justice Committee investigated this topic in depth. Contact Nancy Heastings at n.heastings@comcast.net for more details.
Worship with Us | Week of April 11, 2021
Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually.
Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This month’s theme is Seeing Old Things in New Ways. Pastor Patrice will preach from John 20:19–31.
Join us on YouTube or 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. Download this week’s bulletin. Pastor Patrice will preach from John 20:19–31 and her sermon will be titled “Believing the Unseen.”
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 and our Taizé musicians will lead a live, online service. Watch our livestream on YouTube.
Church School Classes | April 11, 2021
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. Youth classes are currently meeting after our Sanctuary worship service. Read more about our adult classes and children and youth offerings. Read More
Pastoral Message | April 2021
On Easter Sunday, our Book of Common Worship offers this prayer of adoration:
Glory to you, O God: you have won victory over death, raising Jesus from the grave and giving us eternal life. Glory to you, O Christ: for us and for our salvation you overcame death and opened the gate to everlasting life. Glory to you, O Holy Spirit: you lead us into the truth. Glory to you, O Blessed Trinity, now and forever. Amen. Read More
Worship with Us | Week of April 4, 2021
Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually.
Good Friday Service | Friday, April 2, 12 pm
Pastor Randy will be a guest preacher at St. James AME Church’s “Seven Last Words” service on Good Friday, April 2, 12–3 pm. He will be speaking on the First Word Jesus spoke from the cross, “Father, Forgive Them.”
You are invited to virtually attend the service on Facebook or Zoom. Or, you may call 346.248.7799 and enter meeting ID 815 5398 0911 and passcode 372 121 when prompted.
Good Friday Service | Friday, April 2, 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.
Watch our livestream on YouTube.
Easter Sunday Journey Worship | Sunday, April 4, 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This month’s theme is Seeing Old Things in New Ways. Pastor Heather will preach from Mark 16:1–8. This month’s theme is Seeing Old Things in New Ways. Communion will be celebrated.
Join us on YouTube or 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, April 4, 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Download this week’s bulletin. Pastor Randy will preach from John 20:1–18, and his sermon will be titled “It’s God’s City Now.” Communion will be celebrated.
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, April 7, 7 pm
Pastor BJ and our Taizé musicians will lead a live, online service. Watch our livestream on YouTube.
Taizé’s Relaunch & Reimagining
On March 3, I met with our Taizé musicians, a few staff, and members to discuss relaunching our weekly Taizé prayer service. That night, everyone was excited to be back in the space and begin thinking about moving forward. It was an energizing, creative, and hopeful conversation.
On behalf of ELPC and our faith family, I’m happy to announce that our Taizé prayer service will return to live services on Wednesdays, 7 pm, beginning April 14. The services will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
Many of us are seeing this time of COVID-19 dormancy from Taizé as an opportunity to reemerge with a new sense of imagination and creativity regarding how we lead our Taizé gatherings. Hopefully you participated in one of our pilot relaunch gatherings in March.
Moving forward, we will continue to experiment with making Taizé more interactive—engaging our bodies, hands, and feet—using different forms of praying—such as visual liturgies and guided meditations—all while drawing and building upon the foundation of Taizé’s beautiful music, sung prayers, and contemplative space.
I also hope these new wrinkles will strengthen our Taizé service as a space of outreach for our neighbors and those who are seeking a safe, quiet place to belong, rest, meditate, and receive ELPC’s radical welcome.
If helping us relaunch and reimagine Taizé is something that interests you, shoot me an email at BJW@coh.net and let’s chat.
—BJ Woodworth
Lent Devotional Week 6: Finding Hope in the Desert
Lenten Reflection on Matthew 26:36-46
Jesus knew that Judas had departed to set his betrayal in motion. Jesus leaves the place where he has shared the Passover meal with the disciples, and the eleven who remained accompanied Jesus to the place called Gethsemane, the place of the oil press at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Leaving eight disciples at the entrance to the garden, Jesus goes further into the garden, taking Peter, James, and John with him. Jesus is tired, sorrowful, and distressed, and grieved to the point of death. As he has done many times before, Jesus seeks his Father in prayer. Jesus knows his death is imminent.
Worship with Us | Week of March 28, 2021
Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually.
Palm Sunday Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This month’s theme is Grow Stronger. Kathryn Ophardt, our intern from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, will preach from John 12:9–19.
Join us on YouTube or 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. Download this week’s bulletin. Pastor Randy will preach from Matthew 26:36–46 and his sermon will be titled “Prayer Vigils.”
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 and our Taizé musicians will lead a live, online service. Watch our livestream on YouTube.
Church School Classes | March 28, 2021
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. Youth classes are currently meeting after our Sanctuary worship service. Read more about our adult classes and children and youth offerings. Read More