As we journey through Advent, there are a number of activities for you to get involved in and spend the season together, virtually. Below is a roundup of events. Click on them to learn more.
The Faith Formation board is offering a gift to every family at ELPC—of every age and configuration! Since we won’t get to celebrate this special season together, we are bringing Advent materials to you, so that we might pray, anticipate, and celebrate together.
Your gift will include: materials for an Advent wreath, a devotional book, some items for “Advent Actions,” crafts, treats, and a “Christmas Pageant Scavenger Hunt” so that EVERYONE can participate in our Zoom Christmas Pageant this year!
If you have not yet received you Advent Gift Box, contact Megan Leisher or call 412.441.3800 x122 to schedule a time to pick it up or have it delivered by Sunday, December 13.
As in years past, the ELPC Deacons are organizing the Christmas Giving Tree to benefit children and families from ELPC’s Mission, Christian Education, and Hope Academy ministries, East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM), and Casa San José.
This year’s Giving Tree will be different. There will be no physical gifts, only $25 gift cards to stores like Target and Walmart, or monetary donations. Instead of having the Giving Tree signup before or after our worship services, we will be using SignUpGenius.
Both gift cards and donations will need to be sent to the church by Wednesday, December 9. You can mail the gift cards or drop them off at the church’s front desk. Donations can be sent in via checks made out to “ELPC Giving Tree” or completed online. Please designate that your donation is for the “Giving Tree.”
If you are not computer savvy, but would like to help out with the Giving Tree gifts, please contact Trish Buben at tab190@gmail.com or 410.504.2561 or Pastor Patrice at PatriceFS@coh.net or 412.441.3800 x130.
The ELPC Deacon Board thanks the congregation for its enthusiastic support of this ministry.
The ELPC Justice Committee will be collecting magazines, paperback books, puzzle books, and jigsaw puzzles for distribution at the Jail on Sundays, December 6 and 13, 1:30–3 pm, at the driveway on Highland Ave. Please remove address labels and any personal identification from the materials you donate.
Keep a look our for new information about donations to the jail in January.
While we can’t gather in the Sanctuary together, we will still be sharing the story of the Jesus’ birth through our annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 13, 10 am.
Our pageant is titled Can You Hear What I Hear? Middle-Schoolers will serve as narrators. Kids from infancy-grade 5 will dress in costumes and act out the story for us—some through pre-recorded vignettes and others live on Zoom.
This year, you are invited to help us tell the story of Jesus’ birth! Persons of all ages are invited to collect any of these items and participate in the pageant when prompted: bell; flashlight; bathrobe (to be a Shepherd); halo, wings, or white/sparkling shirt (to be an Angel); wooden blocks/spoons or soup cans (to make the sound of donkey hooves); and a sign that expresses “JOY!” (maybe it reads “Christ is born!” or “Glory to God!” or “God is with us!” or “Rejoice!”).
Contact Megan Leisher to receive the Zoom links. And please contact Sara Hackett if you would like to participate, so that we can include everyone!
The year 2020 has brought many challenges to our physical, emotional, and spiritual lives. As the season of Christ’s birth approaches, the Deacons of ELPC invite you to join us in worship to feel God’s presence in this time of unprecedented isolation, loss, and distress. The Blue Christmas service is designed as a resource of strength, hope and community as we journey together through this Advent season.
Due to ongoing safety considerations, this year’s Blue Christmas service will be held virtually. You can access the service on our YouTube or Facebook pages. Or, you may call in (at 7 pm only) by dialing 929.205.6099 and entering meeting ID 188 135 194# (press # if asked for a personal ID).
The service also will be archived and made available for on-demand viewing.
Celebrate the birth of Jesus at our early Christmas Eve service. This family friendly service will feature an intergenerational celebration of Christ’s birth—including video segments, carols, communion, and a candle-lit version of “Silent Night.” Pastor Heather will preach from Luke 2:1–20, and her homily will be titled “Unprecedented Love in Unprecedented Times.”
You can access the service here on Thursday, December 24, at 5 pm, or on our YouTube or Facebook pages. Or, you may call in (at 5 pm only) by dialing 929.205.6099 and entering meeting ID 188 135 194# (press # if asked for a personal ID). The service also will be archived and made available for on-demand viewing.
Celebrate the birth of Jesus at our late Christmas Eve service. Pastor Randy will preach from Isaiah 9:2, 6–7, and his sermon will be titled “From Darkness to Light.” This service also will feature special music, Christmas quotes, communion, and a candle-lit version of “Silent Night.”
You can access the service here on Thursday, December 24, at 8 pm, or on our YouTube or Facebook pages. Or, you may call in (at 8 pm only) by dialing 929.205.6099 and entering meeting ID 188 135 194# (press # if asked for a personal ID). The service also will be archived and made available for on-demand viewing.
ELPC will have prerecorded Christmas Eve services available at 5 pm and 8 pm, but young adults also will gather and lead a Virtual YAM Candlelight Service. If you would like to help, please contact Kelli Booher at KelliB@coh.net.