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 Dear Friends in Christ:
On Saturday, February 2nd at Trinity Cathedral, the diocese will celebrate the life of Absalom Jones, the first African-American ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church.
We will be privileged to have as our preacher the Rev. Angela Shepherd, Canon for Mission in the Diocese of Maryland. I encourage you to attend, not only because it will be a great day, but for two reasons specific to our common life.
The first is that we, as a diocese, need ongoing reflection about the state of our congregations in regard to race. I am told we now have fewer clergy of color than a decade ago. We have one historically black congregation, but the rest are overwhelmingly white. With the exception of Holy Cross and (until recently) Calvary, our parishes have rarely crossed racial lines in choosing their rectors.
Moreover, our demographics do not reflect the diversity of Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania. There are growing minority communities in which we have no presence. These are not merely flaws in any reasonable strategy for growth. They are ways we fall short of the Gospel expectation that the Church should embrace and manifest "from every family, language, people and nation... a kingdom of priests to serve our God" (Revelation 5: 9-10).
We need to do more than ponder these things; as we shape our mission strategy, we need to think how God wants to reshape us to embody the fullness of His image. Marking Absalom Jones Day with appropriate prayer, preaching and Sacrament, is a good way to begin.
For more information about all of the events surrounding Absalom Jones Day, visit www.episcopalpgh.org/ajd
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 E-Waste Recycling Event
Calvary Episcopal Church, East Liberty, is hosting an e-waste recycling event on Saturday, January 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Commonwealth Computer Recycling will be in Calvary's parking lot and will accept all types of electronics (televisions, monitors, computers, etc.) from residents and businesses in the area. There is no charge to drop off these items. On-site hard drive data destruction will be available for $10 per hard drive.
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 Youth Leader Breakfast The Pittsburgh Youth Initiative invites anyone involved (or interested in being involved) in youth ministry around the diocese to a light breakfast. The event will take place at Calvary Episcopal Church in East Liberty from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 19. The get-together will provide an opportunity to discuss past and future events and share experiences in order to help one another be more effective in ministry. Please come to promote any youth events you have coming up, find out what other events your youth group may like to join, ask questions, and suggest ideas for the Youth Initiative. RSVP so we can be sure to have enough food for everyone. For more information or to RSVP contact Victoria O'Brien at 412-295-5616 or email vobrien@episcopalpgh.org |
The Social Justice Education Program at Church of the Redeemer in Squirrel Hill will show the 68-minute 2012 film Broken on All Sides: Race, Mass Incarceration, and New Visions for Criminal Justice in the U.S. on Thursday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m.
This film, exploring the intersection of race, poverty, and our criminal justice and penal systems, demonstrates that people of color have been targeted at significantly higher rates for stops, searches, arrests, prosecution, and harsher sentences, with the result that more African-Americans are under control of the correctional system today than were enslaved in 1850.
Since time in prison reduces people's life opportunities even after they are released, this mass incarceration is creating a new caste system in America. A panel will follow with Martha Conley, chair of Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, and Bret Grote, of Human Rights Coalition/FedUp.
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 Anti-Racism Workshop Reunion
Dear Participants of any diocesan Anti-Racism Training Workshop, The first reunion of workshop participants was a huge success last year and those attending requested another. Please come to our second Anti-Racism Training Reunion - January 25, 6- 9 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 378 Delaware Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139. Appetizers start at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program and discussion.There is no charge for this dinner, but we need to know how many plan to attend. Please e-mail your RSVP to me by January 21. See you at the reunion! Regards, Darrell Powell |
4th Annual Winter Wake Up Call! Youth Concert
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 2013 Absalom Jones Day Celebration
A Celebration of the Life and Ministry of the First African American to be ordained in the Episcopal Church
"Reconciliation and Healing Through Knowledge"
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Trinity Cathedral
328 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Celebration Day Events:
Program Video and Panel Discussion
Luncheon - $8.00 per person or $15 per family
Frank E. Bolden Literary Contest Award
Performance by youth of the Neighborhood Youth Outreach Program
Holy Eucharist - Bishop Dorsey McConnell, Celebrant
Guest Preacher - The Rev. Canon Angela F. Shepherd
If possible, please register online at www.episcopalpgh.org/ajd and pay at the door. The registration deadline is January 25, 2013.
Questions? Call Nancy Travis Bolden at 412-683-8888 or the Rev. Nancy Chalfant-Walker at 412-243-6100
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 Parochial Report Deadline Approaches
As per Canon III, Section 2 a, "The Parochial Report of every Parish of this Diocese shall be prepared annually for the year ending December 31 preceding, upon the standard forms, and shall be filed with the Episcopal Church, with a copy sent to the Diocesan office, not later than March 1. In every Parish the preparation and delivery of this Report shall be the joint duty of the Minister and Vestry."
To download the workbooks and a PDF of the 2012 Parochial Report, please visit: www.episcopalchurch.org/page/parochial-report |
21st Annual Shepherd Wellness Community Annual City Theatre Benefit
The Shepherd Wellness Community Annual City Theatre AIDS Benefit is always an exciting event. Each year, friends of SWC gather for a fantastic evening held at one of Pittsburgh's most vibrant theatres.
All are invited to join SWC on Friday, March 8, 2013 for an exciting evening filled with delicious food and delightful company.
The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with an open bar, hors d'oeuvres and bidding on our fabulous silent auction prizes. Breath and Imagination: The Story of Roland Hayes, a rags-to-riches musical about the famed opera singer, begins at 7 p.m. Following the performance, enjoy a dessert and coffee reception and pick up your auction prize. Your support of this theatre benefit helps SWC continue their HIV/AIDS programs at the only AIDS community center in Western Pennsylvania. More information about Shepherd Wellness Community along with ticket information for the Annual City Theatre AIDS Benefit is available at http://www.swconline.org |
 Around the Diocese
Bishop McConnell's Visitation Schedule
January 20: Atonement, Carnegie
January 27: St. James, Penn Hills
February 3: Holy Cross, Homewood
February 10: St. Thomas, Canonsburg
Holiday Observance: Diocesan offices will be closed on Monday, January 21 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance.
Ecumenical Ministerial Eucharist: January 23 at Faith Lutheran Church, 80 Bartley Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 (Upper St. Clair). Liturgy - 11 a.m. Lunch - 12 p.m. Hosted by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA. Please RSVP to Sandy DeLorenze, sandy.delorenze@swpasynod.org, no later than noon on January 18, 2013.
Clergy Lenten Quiet Day: Friday, March 1, 2013, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at St. Brendan's, Franklin Park. Facilitator will be Sr. Catherine Higgins, SSJ, a well-known authority on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Additional details and registration information will be available soon.
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All submissions to the Grace Happens weekly newsletter are welcome should be sent to asmuhl@episcopalpgh.org. Material should be sent before the close of business on Monday to be considered for inclusion in the current week's newsletter. Please be sure to include your contact information with any submission.
Submissions for publication of items on the diocesan web site and calendar should also be sent electronically to asmuhl@episcopalpgh.org.
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