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Be a Light in the World
Epiphany Luncheon & Baby Shower
Saturday, January 10, 2015, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside
Registration & Gift Suggestions Available Now
Betsy McConnell encourages women throughout our diocese to "be a light in the world" by participating in some way for the Epiphany Luncheon and Baby Shower benefitting Jeremiah's Place, a newly opened crisis-care children's nursery for ages newborn to six years.
If you plan to attend the luncheon, please register as soon as possible, by clicking the box below.. There is NO COST to attend and children's activities/childcare with refreshments is available with registration.
Gift Giving Suggestions - If you would like to give a gift, here are the four ways to give:
- Buy a needed item(s): Jeremiah's Place is signed up with the gift registries at Target and Babies'R'Us under the following: First name: Jeremiahs; Last name: Place. Please purchase items from the registry and bring them to the shower or put them in your parish's collection box.
- Buy a Gift Card: Gift cards in any amount from Giant Eagle, Target, or Costco may be brought to the shower or given to your Parish Point Person.
- Write a check to Jeremiah's Place: Consider sponsoring one of these targeted needs with your check made out to "Jeremiah's Place":
- $10 to cover the cost of one of the required clearances for a volunteer. (Many potential volunteers are college or graduate students who cannot afford to pay for their clearances.);
- $48 to cover the cost the of all required clearances for a volunteer; or
- $70 to cover the direct costs of a day of care at JP for one child.
- Give any amount towards one large diocesan gift of high quality child-size soft furniture for the Cozy Corner Reading Nook. The approximate cost of this furniture is $1,000. Checks may be made out to: "The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh."
Jeremiah's Place provides free, temporary short-term care to protect children and strengthen families experiencing a crisis or emergency situation. Their safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support is located in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. More information about Jeremiah's Place may be found on their website, www.jeremiahsplace.org.
Co-sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women and the Social Justice and Outreach Committee and hosted by Betsy McConnell, the baby shower will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church in East Liberty, beginning with refreshments at 12:30 and lunch at 1 p.m. Thanks again for your interest and support for Pittsburgh area children and their families. |
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 Bishop McConnell's 2015 Visitation Schedule Announced
Bishop Dorsey McConnell's 2015 Visitation Schedule has been released. Click here for the PDF or download at anytime from the diocesan website. Parishes are reminded to submit their completed Visitation Planning Form to the diocesan office no less than two weeks prior to their scheduled date. The planning form is also available for download from the website.
2015 Diocesan Cycle of Prayer Available Next year's edition of the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer is also now available. Click here for the PDF or download at anytime from the diocesan website. |
 Local Rector Pens Christmas Book
Jim Simons, the rector at St. Michael's in Ligonier, has been writing and telling Christmas stories since 1988.
"I wanted to set the Christmas story in a modern context," says Simons. "So instead of writing a sermon for Christmas Eve, I wrote and told the congregation a story. It is my Christmas gift to the parish and the stories have been very well received."
Now, twelve of these stories have been collected and published in the book "A Dog in the Manger and Other Christmas Stories."
The book can be found on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble web sites. Amazon has a Kindle edition. It is also available directly from the publisher, Rowman and Littlefield by calling 1-800-462-6420. The hardback has sold out and will be available again on December 18. The softback is in stock.
There will be an evening of storytelling and book signing at St. Michael's on Friday, December 12, at 7 p.m.. The public is invited. For more information call 724-238-9411. 
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On KDKA-TV, Bishop Speaks on Holiday Stress
Bishop McConnell sat down with Jon Delano, host of KDKA-TV's "Sunday Business Page" on Nov. 30 to discuss handling the stress of the holiday season. Watch it here:
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Episcopal Relief & Development Offers Matching Funds
Until December 31, any gift to Episcopal Relief & Development will be matched dollar-for-dollar as part of the 2014 Matching Gift Challenge. This includes contributions through Gifts for Life, Episcopal Relief & Development's alternative giving catalog, and monthly donations scheduled between October 30 and December 31.
This year's $750,000 match is the largest ever, enabling an even bigger impact on Episcopal Relief & Development's campaign against poverty, hunger, and disease with local partners in nearly 40 countries. Matching amounts will go to the 75th Anniversary Fund, which enables the organization to respond to needs where they are greatest. Additional information can be found in this press release.
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Bishop McConnell's Visitation Schedule:
December 14: Nativity, Crafton
December 21: St. Barnabas, Brackenridge
January 4: Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh
January 11: St. James, Penn Hills
Leadership at these parishes are reminded to complete and submit this form at least two weeks in advance of their visitation.
Messiah Sing-Along: St. Brendan's Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Road in Franklin Park, is presenting its 7th annual Messiah Sing-Along on Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m.
Youth Service Opportunity at Shepherd's Heart Fellowship: The Pittsburgh Youth Initiative and youth from the diocese will participate in Shepherd's Heart mission work and worship service on December 14 at 4:30 pm. Please contact Brent Hansen for more information, to make a donation, or to register to help at bhansen@episcopalpgh.org or 412-491-9738
Blue Christmas Service: The Church of Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, will hold its annual "Blue Christmas" service on Sunday, December 21, at 7 p.m.
Christmas Dinner Outreach Opportunity: Consider volunteering an hour or two on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, with the good folks at Church of the Atonement, 618 Washington Avenue in Carnegie, as they reach out to share the love of Jesus Christ through providing a free and full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings from Noon to 3 p.m. Visit www.episcopalpgh.org/calling-people-with-big-hearts-and-helping-hands/
Godly Play Materials Workshop: The Children's Ministry Team will sponsor its third Godly Play Materials Workshop on Sunday, January 11, 1 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 5801 Hampton Street in HIghland Park.
Creating Common Good: A Practical Conference for Economic Equality: January 22-24. A 2015 Trinity Institute Web Conference at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1066 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon. Additional information about participating in the event at St. Paul's, co-sponsored by St. Paul's and the Social Justice and Outreach Committee, please visit www.stpaulspgh.org/creating-common-good/
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Parting Shots
Volunteers coordinated by the Social Justice and Outreach Commission participated in the repack session at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank on November 22, 2014.
--Photos courtesy Jerry Stephenson
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The deadline for submissions for the next issue of Grace Happens is December 16, 2014.
All submissions to the Grace Happens newsletter and the diocesan web site are welcome and should be sent to info@episcopalpgh.org. When possible, the copy should be in a Word document and all original logos, pictures and artwork should be attached separately. Please be sure to include your contact information with any submission.
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