Had enough of the polar vortex swirling around us? Nothing says spring like planning a garden!

In recent years, several groups have developed vegetable gardens to help meet the needs of urban and suburban residents who have limited access to fresh produce and healthy food supplies. One such garden was featured in Grace Happens (www.episcopalpgh.org/boaz-fields-project-yields-unexpected-results/).

In 2014, the diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee (SJO) once again will offer a few small 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 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 seeds, plants, fencing, bed construction, soil, fertilizer, soil testing costs, hand tools, water connections, or rain barrels. These grants are not intended to support an exclusive or private garden. A guide to setting up a small garden; this guide is available here. Grants will be awarded will be in early spring 2014.

The maximum grant request for this program should be no more than $500. Funds are to be used in the calendar year 2014 unless an extension is submitted and approved by the SJO committee. Priority will be given to those applications that seek to start new gardens, but the committee will also consider applications seeking to sustain existing gardens that meet eligibility requirements described in the application, available here. Deadline for submission is March 15, 2014.

For additional information, contact Pat Eagon (pkeagon@gmail.com) or Nancy Lapp (nlapp@pts.edu). 

The ECW established the Memorial Membership Fund to aid students with educational grants. The fund was begun in 1927 to be used for two missionary training scholarships. In the 87 years of its existence, the scope of the fund has widened to include nursing, theology and other humanitarian fields of study.

Funds are raised through gifts from individuals or groups in memory of a loved one or friend. This money is invested and the interest used for the granting purposes.

Each applicant must:

• be an Episcopalian in good standing (active) in a parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh,
• have completed one year of college or the equivalent,
• be pursuing education in either church or humanitarian related fields,
• submit an application, including a letter stating goals and need, and
• submit a reference letter from their parish priest.

The Memorial Membership Committee will consider each request based on individual need and circumstances. Scholarships are completely unencumbered and may be used as needed to aid the recipient in achieving their educational goals. Each eligible applicant is able to apply once a year for three years.

 

The applications must be received prior to March 15, 2014. The application form is available online  by clicking here.

 

For additional information please contact Nancy Kenny at 724-325-4769.

 

The Diocese of Pittsburgh's Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will be making outreach grants in the spring.

 

The ECW particularly seeks to support "hands-on-ministries" that help children, adults and families in need of assistance with food, nutrition, health care, housing, education and counseling.

 

The grants are primarily designed for ministries within the diocese and with the goal of even distribution across all districts. It is hoped that these small grants will enable the continuation of existing ministries on the local level. However, the ECW will continue its policy of also awarding grants to some national and international ministries such as Episcopal Relief & Development.

 

 Click here for the grant application and submission instructions. Applications for the Spring 2014 Grants must be submitted before April 1, 2014.

"So as you enter Lent, consider how you will live in solidarity with those who are hungry, or broken, or ill in one way or another," Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said in her Lent Message 2014.

 

The Presiding Bishop's video message is available here. 

 

The full text is available here.

The  Church of the Redeemer in Squirrel Hill is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Michael Foley as their new rector. Fr. Michael earned his Masters of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary, graduating cum laude in May 2013. While in seminary he worked part-time for The Episcopal Church in Ecumenical and Inter-religious Collaboration Mission. After graduation he served as Deacon to L'Eglise Francaise du Saint Esprit (Episcopal) on the upper east side of New York City. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Los Angeles in January, 2014 and began his ministry at Redeemer on Epiphany.

The monthly newsletter from the diocesan Children's Ministry Team is now available.

 

This issue features tips and tools to engage children in the practice of observing Lent. Also featured is a review of the annual Forma Tapestry Conference, held this year in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

The Thiel College Choir, under the direction of Dr. Michael Bray, director of choral activities, and accompanied by pianist Kathryn A. Gray, will perform a St. Paul's Friends of Music concert at 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening, March 8, 2014 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1066 Washington Rd. in Mt. Lebanon.   

 

This year the choir will perform a variety of sacred works by Bach, Tavener, Gabriel Faur�, Knut Nystedt, Kenneth Jennings, Paul Manz, and Howard Helvey. They will also perform Magnificat by Johann Pachelbel; The Wedding Cantata by Daniel Pinkham; arrangements of folk songs and hymns by Bob Chilcott, Paul Christiansen, F. Melius Christiansen and Robert Wetzler; and arrangements of spirituals by Andre Thomas. An admission donation of $10 is asked at the door.

Presenting a series of presentations and meditations on the topic of "Jesus, the Good Shepherd."

Sunday, March 9 - Presentation by the Rt. Rev. Dorsey McConnell, Bishop of Pittsburgh

Sunday, March 16 - Dinner (only) followed by Evensong

Sunday, March 23 - Presentation by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bailey, Middle Eastern Scholar 

Sunday, March 30 - Presentation by the Rev. Dr. Rodney A. Whitacre, Professor of Biblical Studies, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

Sunday, April 6 - Presentation by the Very Rev. Dr. Justyn Terry, Dean, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

A light dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Soup, salad, bread & coffee will be provided. You are invited to bring a dessert to share. Each presentation will begin at 6:15 p.m. 

Now that the worst of the winter weather is upon us, there is no better time to look forward to summertime and Sheldon Calvary Camp. 

Session I	1 week	June 15-21
Session II	1 week	June 22-28
Ready, Set, Camp!	3 nights	June 29-July 2
Day Camp	Weekdays	June 30-July 4
Session III	1 week	July 6-12
Session IV	2 weeks	July 13-26
Session V	1 week	July 27-August 2
Family Camp I	1 week	August 3-9
Family Camp II	1 week	August 10-16
Labor Day Camp	3 Nights	August 29-September 1

 

The Episcopal Youth Event 2014 (EYE '14) will take place July 9 - 16 in Philadelphia. This special event is held every three years in various dioceses throughout the country. The Diocese of Pennsylvania is hosting the event with assistance from most of the other Province III dioceses. 

 

Delegations from all 119 worldwide dioceses in the Episcopal Church are expected. In all, over 2,000 students are expected to take part! Because the event is only held every three years and is only open to high school students, this may very well be a once in a lifetime opportunity!

 

For more information about how you can participate visit www.episcopalpgh.org/episcopal-youth-event-2014/

  

Bach's birthday

 

featuring Chatham Baroque

with Michael Lynn, flute

Justin Wallace, harpsichord

Jim Burns & Nathan Carterette, organ

Vocal Ensemble directed by Don Franklin

 

A birthday cake follows the concert

Sunday, March 23, 2014, at 4 p.m.

 

Church of the Redeemer

5700 Forbes Avenue,  Pittsburgh PA 15217

 

Free will donations accepted