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The text of Bishop Dorsey McConnell's address on Saturday, November 2, is available on the diocesan web site at www.episcopalpgh.org.
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Bishop McConnell and the entire Convention warmly welcomed the Rev. Huett M. Fleming, Jr. and deputies of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Hazelwood, as the parish resumed full and active participation in the Episcopal Diocese after a period of five years. As with other parishes that have followed a similar path, Good Shepherd's return to active status came without penalty or repercussion.
Kathi Workman was introduced as the new diocesan Treasurer. She replaces Carl Hockenberry, who returned to private practice earlier this year. Kathi spent the last ten years as accountant and office manager at St. Paul's Episcopal Nursery School and previously worked at Action Industries and Ernst & Young. She can be reached at kworkman@episcopalpgh.org.
The Rev. Scott Russell was re-introduced to the diocese as the new rector at St. Brendan's, Franklin Park. The parish's recent interim rector, the Rev. Dr. William Pugliese, will continue to be involved in Fresh Start and several other projects in the diocese.
Tribute was paid to the people of St. Andrew's, New Kensington, under the recent leadership of the Rev. Norman "Chips" Koehler and Alice Ramser, as they conclude a period of assessing their future. Bishop McConnell indicated the diocese will, for the foreseeable future, maintain the property for the benefit of the local community.
The former site of St. Christopher's, Warrendale, has been sold, with the bulk of the proceeds to be returned to the diocesan investment pool. Closing occurred on November 7. The bishop has asked his strategic planning task force to explore new ministries for the Warrendale/Cranberry area.
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National Poll Finds Discrimination Prevalent in the United States
A new national poll commissioned by the Episcopal Church has found that nearly all Americans (98 percent) feel that there is at least some discrimination in the United States today.
In addition, African-American respondents (49 percent) are three times as likely as white respondents (16 percent) and Hispanic respondents (11 percent) to feel there is a "great deal" of discrimination.
Harris Interactive conducted the poll online in October among more than 2,000 U.S. adults.
 These findings and others will be explored by a distinguished panel of national experts including Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and former Mississippi Governor William Winter during a public forum on Nov. 15 in Jackson, Mississippi, Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America.
The forum will be webcast live from St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral and keynoted by the presiding bishop. Details are available here .
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 Centering Prayer Workshop
Centering prayer is the way or the tool that helps us consent to God's presence and action in us... thereby clearing out whatever keeps us from deepening our relationship with God and drawing us ever closer. Discover the meaning of Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." Join us for an "Introduction to the Centering Prayer" workshop hosted by Contemplative Outreach of Pittsburgh at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave, Squirrel Hill, on Saturday, November 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donation is $20 per person and includes the workshop and six optional follow-up sessions. Please contact Wiltrud Fassbinder at 412-901-3998 or wiltrud.fassbinder@wiltrud.com to register or for more information. |
 Pittsburgh Youth Initiative Mission Trip/Youth Event Information Dinner
Come and learn about all the great events and mission opportunities that are available to diocesan youth this spring and summer of 2014.
 These events include: Episcopal Youth Event in Philadelphia, Middle School Mission to St. James School in Philadelphia, Mission Trip to Highland Education Project in West Virginia and more.
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 Holiday Arts & Crafts Show in Franklin Park
Saturday, November 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.St. Brendan's in Franklin Park presents more than 50 high-quality vendors selling jewelry, woodcrafts, stained glass, Christmas wreaths & ornaments, stationery, children's clothing, homemade chocolates, photographs, paintings, home d�cor, accessories, Pittsburgh themed items, and more. Great opportunity for holiday shopping!The Cookie Walk, with almost 100 different varieties is always a favorite, so come early to make your selection of favorite gourmet cookies. If you can resist them, the cookies can be frozen and kept for a later date.$2 admission fee buys a ticket for door prize drawings. For more information, visit www.stbrendans.org or call 412-364-5974.
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 Integrity Meeting
Integrity Pittsburgh will hold its next meeting is at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh.Topics for discussion will include deciding and planning upcoming outreach and service activities. All are welcome to attend!Integrity Pittsburgh is a chapter of Integrity USA, a national group for LGBTQ and straight Episcopalians and their families, friends and allies. For more information, please visit our website at www.integritypittsburgh.org, or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/integritypittsburgh. |
 5th Annual Christmas on the River Outreach Project
On Friday, December 6, at 10:30 a.m., the Diocese of Pittsburgh's Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will be packing Christmas boxes for the Seaman's Church Institute at St. Paul's in Mt. Lebanon.
Needed donations are hand lotion, chewing gum, wrapped candy, puzzle books, microwave popcorn, lip balm and paperback books. Items can be brought to the packing party or left in the church offices at: St. Paul's, Mt. Lebanon, Church of the Nativity, Crafton, St. Thomas Memorial Church, Oakmont or the diocesan offices in Monroeville.
In addition to packing boxes for the mariners, the ECW will also be collecting books, toiletries, children's books and children's craft supplies for the women's prison ministry led by Dana Phillips. We ask that the books for the women please exclude any violent or sexually explicit material.
It will be community work day with lunch provided. Please RSVP by December 3 to Debbie Wiles at 412-512-5185 or debwiles@verizon.net.
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 New Advent & Christmas Book from Forward Movement
Forward Movement is pleased to announce the publication of Dog in the Manger: Finding God in Christmas Chaos, written by the Rev. Tim Schenck and illustrated by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham.
"Our faith is a gift, but it isn't a perfectly wrapped present with exact folds and a precisely tied bow. Fortunately faith isn't about being neat and tidy," writes Schenck. "You may burn the Christmas roast, Santa may not bring your child exactly what she wanted, you might even get sick and miss out on the best party of the year. But through it all, God remains."
With its laugh-out-loud humor anchored by spiritual truths, Dog in the Manger helps us maintain our spiritual sanity through the often-frenetic chaos of Advent and Christmas.
Illustrated by popular cartoonist Jay Sidebotham, Dog in the Manger also explores the major characters of the season in new ways, including John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph - and of course, Jesus. Thoughtful questions following each section make Dog in the Manger ideal for personal reflection, seasonal book groups, or a last-minute Christmas gift.
To order Dog in the Manger: Finding God in Christmas Chaos, visit www.forwardmovement.org. Forward Movement is a ministry of The Episcopal Church.
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Bishop McConnell Visitation Schedule:
November 17: St. Matthew's, Homestead
November 24: Church of the Good Shepherd, Hazelwood
December 1: St. Paul's, Kittanning
December 8: Advent, Jeannette
December 15: St. Bartholomew, Scottdale
December 22: Nativity, Crafton
Hold the Date: There will be a Winter Tea for all Retired Clergy in the Diocese and their spouses on December 5, 2013, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the home of Chris and Mary Barker in Gibsonia. Invitations will be sent out via "snail mail" very soon.
Next Step Group of the Sam Shoemaker Community: Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the Parish Hall.at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue in East Liberty. More information at http://www.episcopalpgh.org/next-step-group/
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Parting Shots
Below are images from the 2013 Diocesan Convention held November 1&2 at Trinity Cathedral. View many more pictures from the convention on the diocesan Facebook page.
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All submissions to the Grace Happens newsletter and diocesan web site are welcome and should be sent to info@episcopalpgh.org. Please be sure to include your contact information with any submission.
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