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 Imagine church for those who don't do church. Come and explore new ways of building Christian community.
A fresh expression of church is a new form of church for a fast-changing world that serves those outside the existing church, listens to people and enters their culture, makes discipleship a priority and intentionally forms Christian community.
The Fresh Expressions organization exists to encourage and support the fresh expressions movement, working with Christians from a variety of denominations and traditions. The initiative has resulted in hundreds of new congregations being formed alongside more traditional churches. It was started in 2004 by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York with the Methodist Council, but now involves an unparalleled range of partners.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Moynagh, one of the developers of the UK Fresh Expressions movement, is going to be in the diocese, and arrangements have been made for him to spend an afternoon with any interested Episcopalians during the afternoon of Friday, April 12, at St Martin's in Monroeville.
This is open to all Episcopalians, clergy and lay people. Please share this opportunity with leaders in your parish.
The Fresh Expressions website is http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/
Please respond to the Rev. Philip Wainwright at pw35@kentforlife.net if you will be attending.
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New this year, the diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee (SJO) offered grants to support the efforts of creating and sustaining parish-based vegetable gardens. Depending on the location and circumstance, it is expected that such produce will be distributed through local food pantries or to support parish-based outreach efforts.
These grants are intended to support Episcopal parishes and organizations to create new vegetable gardens or to support an already functioning garden with small material needs such as seed or plant purchases, fencing, bed construction, soil or fertilizer purchases, soil testing costs, hand tool purchases, water connections, rain barrels, etc.
The 2013 grants, totaling $1,450, went to:
- The Community of Celebration in Aliquippa
- Shepherd Wellness Community in Bloomfield
- Sheldon Calvary Camp in Conneaut, OH
- St. David's Episcopal Church in Peters Township
Committee chair Nancy Lapp and project chair Pat Eagon said in the award notifications, "We congratulate you on your application, and your plans for this garden. We anticipate great success and many blessings for you and your community!" |
 Relationships: God, Self, and Others A free educational workshop presented by the Iona Project
The workshop on "Relationships: God, Self, and Others" will discuss issues related to personal, spiritual and collective growth and development in relationship to God, self, and others. A broad-based approach will be utilized and the workshop is intended for all individuals and groups that share a personal and/or collective interest in the topic. Specific areas of focus include: - The spiritual nature of relationship
- How to develop intimacy with God, oneself, and others.
- What are the obstacles or roadblocks to personal and spiritual relationship building?
- Individuals who attend this workshop will add to their conceptual and experiential knowledge of spirituality and will be empowered to continue relationship development with God, oneself, and others.
For more information contact Dr. Frank M. Yesko at 412-371-7745 or Blas� Barrett at 412-422-4125
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Recognizing Racism is no longer simply a black and white issue.
Today, Racism is hidden in infinite shades of gray.
But Racism is still WRONG!
Attend the free diocesan Anti-Racism Workshop on two consecutive Saturdays - May 4 & May 11, 2013 at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 336 East Tenth Avenue, Homestead, PA 15120
Schedule for both Saturdays:
- 8:00 a.m. Registration/Sign In - Continental Breakfast served
- 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Workshop Sessions
- Holy Eucharist Service - at conclusion of workshop on May 11th.
To meet Canon requirements, attendance is required both days. Continental breakfast and lunch served on both Saturdays. A contribution to help cover food costs would be gratefully accepted.
All are encouraged to attend. If you are in a position of leadership (lay or clergy), these workshops fulfill the Episcopal Church's requirement for all persons appointed and elected to positions of leadership on committees, commissions, agencies and boards within a diocese or parish.
Visit www.episcopalpgh.org/arw to register online. Feel free to bring a friend!
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Drones and Just War
Panel Discussion
Panelists will relate the current U.S. use of drone strikes to Christian and Islamic theories of what is just in war and to American constitutional law.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
5700 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill
Panel participants:
- Susan Hascall, Professor of Law, Duquesne University, has written several articles about Islamic Law.
- Jules Lobel, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh, is a co-author of Less Safe, Less Free: Why America is Losing the War on Terror (2007) and is president of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
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Ronald Stone, Professor Emeritus, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, is the author of Prophetic Realism: Beyond Militarism and Pacifism in an Age of Terror.
Attendance is free and this event has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for one hour of substantive law, practice and procedure CLE credit. Click here for details.
--Image credit: Reaper from MoD
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 UTO 2013 Spring Ingathering
Saturday, May 11, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Cathedral Celebrant: The Rt. Rev. Dorsey McConnell
Guests: City Charter High School Choir
All congregations are requested to bring their parish banners and participate in the processional and recessional.
At the Fall 2012 UTO Ingathering, Dana Phillips highlighted the needs of women incarcerated in the Pittsburgh jail. Sturdy grocery bags and appropriate books (not murder stories) are being collected for this ministry. Items may be dropped off at St. Thomas in Oakmont and St. Paul's in Mt. Lebanon.
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 Phase two of the process continues through April 20.
O GOD,
By your grace,
You have called us into
partnership with You to establish
a Community of Living Faith
in the rebuilding of our Diocese.
We pray that we may be an
oasis of hope built on spiritual trust
inviting all to know the love of Your Son
Jesus Christ our Savior.
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
reveal to us Your unfolding
plan and give us the grace
to see, hear, and follow You.
Open our hearts and minds
to hear the needs and concerns
of each other.
Keep us faithful
to proclaim
Your Holy Name
and keep us united in
Your purpose.
Through our Lord
Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
-Diocesan Prayer Team
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Around the Diocese
Bishop McConnell's Visitation Schedule
April 14: St. Brendan's, Franklin Park
May 5: St. Paul's, Mt. Lebanon
May 12: St. Andrew's, Highland Park
May 26: Trinity Cathedral, Downtown Pittsburgh
Women's Quiet Day in Brighton Heights: Women of the diocese are cordially invited to attend a day of reflection with the Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3577 McClure Ave., Brighton Heights. Click here for more information.
Choral Evensong: Sunday, April 21, 4:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 5801 Hampton Street in Highland Park. Sung by St. Andrew's Schola Cantorum. Sermon by the Rev. Heather Hartung Vacek,Assistant Professor of Church History, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
St. Brendan's, Franklin Park Rector Search Committee Accepting Applications: Instructions and the Parish Profile are available at www.stbrendans.org.
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Parting Shots
Bishop Dorsey McConnell preached at the Great Vigil of Easter at Calvary Episcopal Church in East Liberty on Saturday, March 30th. There were two baptisms during the service, Titus Logan Gesin, age 9 months, son of William Gesin and Scott Curry, and Anders James Lerach, age 1 year, son of Richard Lerach and Elizabeth Krans.
--Photos courtesy Ken Smith
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All submissions to the Grace Happens weekly newsletter are welcome and 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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