 St. Brendan's Plants "Garden of Hope" for Local Shelters and Food Banks Parishioners at St. Brendan's Episcopal Church planted a "Garden of Hope" in April and started donating harvested vegetables to local charities in May. The "Garden of Hope" project builds upon St. Brendan's ongoing, year-round efforts to support local food banks and homeless shelters as part of their commitment to outreach in the community. One of the outreach goals is to respond to the issue of food insecurity.
 "The purpose of this effort is to reach out to our neighbors who are struggling with food insecurity. At St. Brendan's we're keenly aware of the lack of access to fresh produce for many of our neighbors. Short term we are providing fresh produce directly to the North Hills Food Bank. In the fall we plan to reach out to other organizations," said Vanessa Capozzi, parish member and ministry leader for the Garden of Hope.
Parishioners of all ages, including many children and youth, have contributed to the effort by building raised beds, installing fencing, planting seeds, watering, weeding and harvesting. The garden is located in the backyard of St. Brendan's church on McAleer Road in Franklin Park. Funding for the garden was provided by St. Brendan's CRIES Advocacy Fund and a grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.
 "The 'Garden of Hope' is the catalyst for a summer program offered to the children and youth attending our Saturday service. We will be studying the 'Abundant Life Garden Project,' which is an interactive, scripture-based program offered by Episcopal Relief and Development. After each lesson we will be caring for our 'Garden of Hope' and taking vegetables that we harvest to the altar for Fr. Scott to bless," said Jill Halapin, Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries.
"We are pleased that the garden is thriving and we have been able to deliver bags upon bags of fresh produce to help our neighbors who are struggling," said Fr. Scott Russell, St. Brendan's Rector. "St. Brendan's is committed to community outreach and we especially enjoy hands-on activities where children and adults alike can be active participants in helping others in our community."  |
What: This materials workshop will give resources and know how to prepare your Godly Play Fall Stories.
This workshop is ideal for those curious about Godly Play, starting to tell stories, or woodworkers and craftspeople who would like to help make Godly Play materials. Each parish to register will receive:
- The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 2
- A plastic bin to be used as a dessert box
- A set of wooden People of God
- Instructions and assistance preparing up to three Old Testament stories
- Patterns and materials to get you started on many more Old Testament Fall stories
Each Parish who attends will be entered in a drawing to win a Noah's Ark set. Parishes who register, but are unable to attend, will receive the materials, but miss out on the instruction and fun!
When: Saturday July 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: St. David's Episcopal Church, 905 E. McMurray Rd, Venetia, PA 15367.
Cost: $30 per parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
Register now! Registrations must be postmarked no later than July 1st. Click here for a registration form.
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 Open Elected Diocesan Positions
Recommendations are now being taken by the diocesan Nominating Committee for leadership positions to be elected at the 149th Diocesan Convention, November 7 & 8, 2014, at Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh.
Positions are open on the Standing Committee, Board of Trustees, Committee on Constitution and Canons, Cathedral Chapter, Disciplinary Board, Commission on Ministry, and the Growth Fund.
The recommendation form with submission instructions is here (PDF). |
The Next Step Group of the Sam Shoemaker Community
The Rev. Dr. Sam Shoemaker believed in the power of small groups to transform individual lives and was very successful at creating several formats. A former Rector of Calvary Churches in New York and Pittsburgh, Dr. Shoemaker wanted to light a fire under his parishioners so that their spiritual life would extend beyond church on Sundays.
The Next Step Group uses the same spiritual principles taught by Dr. Shoemaker that were instrumental in the founding of many 12 step programs, but is done in a church setting that is open to all faiths and to those without a religious affiliation, as a means to spiritual growth.
Each Next Step meeting features a small group discussion on a topic suggested by a member of the group, or one of Dr. Shoemaker's six spiritual steps, or a reading from a text such as Courage to Change (selections from Dr. Shoemaker) or Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps (by Fr. Richard Rohr), among other resources. We begin and end with prayer.
The group meets every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, East Liberty.
For more information, contact the Rev. David Else at 412.653.4585, John Horchner at johnhorchner@gmail.com, or Sondra Krimmel, krimmss@yahoo.com.
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Farmers Market @ St. David's
A ministry of St. David's Episcopal Church in Venetia, the Peters Township Farmers Market provides an opportunity for residents of the South Hills to buy local, fresh products for their families directly from the farmers and artisans that produce them.
If you share a passion for sustainable farming and fresh, local goods, you are encouraged to visit the 23 vendors, ranging from artisan specialty foods to locally made gifts and personal care products, on Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. through September.
St. David's Episcopal Church is located at 905 E. McMurray Road, Venetia, PA 15367
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Bishop McConnell Visitation Schedule:
June 29: St. Thomas, Northern Cambria
2014 Diocesan Convention Documents Available: The 149th Convention of the Diocese of Pittsburgh will meet November 7 & 8, 2014 at Trinity Cathedral. Documents related to convention are available on the diocesan web site at www.episcopalpgh.org/2014-diocesan-convention. Diocesan Pre-convention Information Sessions Scheduled: Tuesday, October 21, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer, Squirrel Hill; Thursday, October 23, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, North Hills; Sunday, October 26, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at St. Michael's of the Valley Episcopal Church, Ligonier.
Save the Date: The Clergy Conference will be held at Antiochian Village October 8 - 10, 2014. The Clergy Association is in the midst of solidifying a speaker and a schedule. Details will be released as soon as they are available.
Save the Date II: The diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee has scheduled a work session at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne for Saturday, November 22. Additional details to come.
Diocesan Office Summer Hours: The diocesan office will be closed at Noon on Fridays through Labor Day.
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Twenty one young people and adult chaperones from St. Paul's, Mt. Lebanon, participated in a mission trip to McDowell County, West Virginia. Partnering with the Highland Educational Project (HEP), an ecumenical outreach ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia, the missioners repaired homes, worked in an animal shelter, and helped improve the HEP facilities.
--Photos courtesy Paul Barker
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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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