Blog

Pastoral Message | July 2021

Everybody loves a good volunteer. You know the person I’m talking about—that one volunteer who is dependable, quick with a smile or to ask “What do you want me to do?”; the person who makes others’ jobs easier by their competence and good natured skills. Think of all the times you’ve relied on volunteers—people to help with a school project, to coordinate meals for someone in need, friends who help you pull together a surprise birthday party, or good souls willing to sell raffle tickets or staff a table at a neighborhood yard sale. The Rotarians always talk about “service above self,” and that is the motto of a good and faithful volunteer. Read More

Worship with Us | Week of July 4, 2021

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually. Click here for a live feed of worship services at their scheduled times. Please note, there will be an error message if there is no live broadcast.

Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 am

Pastor Patrice will lead worship in the Courtyard. She will preach from John 10:11–18, and deliver her sermon, titled “The Others.” We also will celebrate Communion. Download this week’s bulletin to follow along and read about upcoming events.

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 a live service in the Courtyard as we continue our summer-long theme of “Praying with the Elements.” We will focus on “Sister Wind” in Genesis 1:1–2; Psalm 104:3–4.” Watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook.

Worship with Us | Week of June 27, 2021

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually. Click here for a live feed of worship services at their scheduled times. Please note, there will be an error message if there is no live broadcast.

Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 am

Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Download this week’s bulletin. ELPC youth will lead worship in the Courtyard. Graduating seniors will share their Senior Message, 2020 Confirmands will be baptized, and much more!

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 a live service in the Courtyard as we begin our summer-long theme of “Praying with the Elements.” We will focus on “Living Water.” Watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook.

Worship with Us | Week of June 20, 2021

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually. Click here for a live feed of worship services at their scheduled times. Please note, there will be an error message if there is no live broadcast.

Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 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 Jonah 1:1–10, and his sermon will be titled “Stormy Weather.”

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 service guided by Lamentations 3:2–29 and focused on the theme, “Waiting on God.” Watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook.

Celebrating Juneteenth

What is Juneteenth?

  • On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation
  • Two and a half years later, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers pulled up at Galveston, Texas, with word that the Civil War was over and that those enslaved in Confederate states were now free
  • The celebration of this day of liberation on June 19th, is called Juneteenth or Freedom Day
  • It took the 13th Amendment in December 1865 to officially end slavery nationwide
  • President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, recognizing June 19 as the national day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
  • Celebrations include family gatherings, barbecues, picnics, parades, and street fairs with public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing of traditional songs and Miss Juneteenth contests.

Read More

Worship with Us | Week of June 13, 2021

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually. Click here for a live feed of worship services at their scheduled times. Please note, there will be an error message if there is no live broadcast.

Summer Worship | Sunday, 10 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 Mark 4:21–28, and his sermon will be titled “Gifts Prepared in Advance.”

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 service guided by Mark 4:25–41 and focused on the storms of life. Watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook.

ELPC Updates Mask Policy

We continue to require everyone over 2 years old (and without a prohibitive health condition) who enters ELPC or participates in ELPC sponsored programming to wear a mask—both indoors and outdoors—regardless of vaccination status.

East Liberty Presbyterian Church (ELPC) seeks to be a place of radical hospitality for all God’s people. During this time of pandemic, the manner in which hospitality is lived out continues to change. While directives about mask-wearing vary from place to place, we seek to be a community where all people, especially the most vulnerable, can be safely welcomed. While we are encouraged by increasing rates of vaccination in our area, there are still many members of our community who cannot be vaccinated (due to age and or compromised immune system).

We look forward to a time when these measures are not necessary. The Session and Staff of ELPC will continue to monitor CDC, state, and local public health guidelines; vaccination rates and availability; and rates of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus, and will adjust our policy accordingly.

Thank you for your continued patience and partnership as we move ahead in these uncharted waters, and continue to strive to be a faith community that is inclusive of all.

Seekers’ Summer Reading

In 1994, Immaculée Ilbagiza was a college student who was caught up in the three-month slaughter of more than one million Tutsis (an ethnic group from the African Great Lakes region) in Rwanda. She was a Tutsi who survived by hiding in the bathroom of her Hutu pastor’s bathroom—with seven other women in a three-by-four-foot bathroom for 91 days. They had to be quiet at all times, could not speak to one another, and could not lie down to sleep.

During this time, she discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from the hideout with a love so strong that she was able seek out and forgive her family’s killers.

This summer, the Seekers class invites you to read Left to Tell. In this amazing book, Immaculée shares her story and how she maintained awareness of God being with her during this time. This fall, we will listen to a video of her speaking about how her relationship with God enables her to now speak about forgiveness toward the murders.

Carnegie Library has copies available to borrow. Ask them to send one to your local branch.

Environmental Tip: Electrify Your House

As more renewable generation is added to the grid, electricity will become a greener energy source than natural gas or oil. You can tap into this renewable source by making a few choices now that will likely persist over the next 10–15 years. For example:

  • Select an electric lawn mower or electric grill the next time you need to upgrade.
  • Consider electric tank or electric heat pump hot water heating when your current hot water heater comes to the end of its life.
  • If you make any kitchen upgrades, an induction stove and cooktops are excellent options—not only is the technology much more efficient in heating and cooking food, it’s also a healthier choice as it avoids indoor air pollution associated with burning gas. And induction cooktops take no time to cool down.
  • You can even find a heat pump clothes dryer, which is more efficient than all other clothes dryers—except the clothes line!

For more advice on these matters, contact Nancy Heastings.

Worship with Us | Week of June 6, 2021

Here’s what’s happening this week in worship. As a reminder, our services are currently being held virtually. Click here for a live feed of worship services at their scheduled times. Please note, there will be an error message if there is no live broadcast.

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 Re-Emerge. Pastor Patrice will preach. 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).

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 Genesis 3:8–13, 20–21, and his sermon will be titled “One Step Back, Two Steps Forward.” 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, 7 pm

Pastor BJ and our Taizé musicians will lead a live service guided by 2 Corinthians 5:14–17 and focused on the newness of life that comes in Christ. Watch our livestream on YouTube or Facebook.