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2015 Mission Grants Available
Seed Money to Help Parishes Sow New Initiatives for Greater Fruitfulness
Has your parish perceived a need in your community and sensed God's call to engage and respond? Diocesan Council has recently allocated $55,000 in mission grants to help parishes implement new ways to answer this call. Initiatives are encouraged which embody local expressions of Bishop McConnell's three strategic priorities - proclaiming a Public Gospel; helping parishes become Missional Communities; and enhancing Leadership Formation, especially by helping laity deepen their knowledge and love of God in Jesus Christ and equipping them for His mission in the world. These grants, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, will be available as early as March, 2015 on a first-come, first-served basis. How might a parish identify a worthy prospect for such a grant? The short answer is prayer and discernment. A slightly longer answer can be found in the example of a new initiative at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Hazelwood. At their annual church picnic, a few neighbors joined in on the lawn for services and a meal. The senior warden, Teri Dillon, noticed that these folks seemed very hungry. They returned to church week after week for services and coffee hour. "Perhaps more so for the coffee hour," said Teri, "although it also gave Father Huett Fleming a chance to minister to them." Recalling her grandmother's words that "no one should ever be hungry," she started brainstorming on how Good Shepherd could provide a meal or two for the hungry families of their neighborhood. Learning that the Salvation Army was benefitting from donations of extra soup from some local restaurants, Teri and Fr. Fleming were able to partner with them to use excess donations for a meal to be provided with Good Shepherd's Thursday evening Bible Study. When the effort launched on the first Thursday of November, offering soup and sandwiches, no one came. The second week, one person came, the third week seven people, and the numbers continued to grow. On the Thursday before Christmas, 22 people attended the program now called "Feeding Mind, Body and Soul." It is hoped that Good Shepherd's story will encourage the prayers, perceptions, and creative thoughts of other parishes. The Mission Grant Application is available by clicking here or in the "Documents and Forms" section under the Resource tab on the Diocesan website. Completed applications with the required supporting documentation may be submitted to Judi Rogers at the diocesan office.
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This materials workshop will give resources and know-how to prepare your Godly Play Spring Stories. It 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 4.
- Materials to make The Faces of Easter and The Circle of the Holy Eucharist
- Patterns and materials to prepare The Mystery of Pentecost and The Holy Trinity
Parishes who register, but are unable to attend, will receive the materials, but miss out on the instruction and fun!
 When: Sunday, March 1st, 2 - 4 p.m.
Where: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 5801 Hampton St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Street parking is generally plentiful on Sunday afternoons.
Cost: $30 per parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, $80 per parish outside the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Click here for a registration form. Registrations must be postmarked no later than February 18.
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Last Day to Register: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015
A Celebration of the Life and Ministry of the First African American to be ordained in the Episcopal Church "A closer look: Race to Reconciliation"
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
328 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Guest Preacher: The Rev. Kim Latice Coleman, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Arlington, VA. Celebration Day Events:
- Holy Eucharist - Bishop McConnell, Celebrant
- Frank E. Bolden Literary Contest Award
- Musical Performance by youth of the Neighborhood Youth Outreach Program
- Luncheon - $8 per person or $15 per family
- Focus Groups, appropriate for all ages, will address current race issues
- Story time and activities for preschoolers and young children available throughout the day
If possible, please register online here and then pay at the door.
Questions? Call Nancy Travis Bolden at 412-683-8888 or the Rev. Nancy Chalfant Walker 412-243-6100
Click here for more information including a full bio for the Rev. Kim Latice Coleman. |
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Musical Offerings in Highland Park
 Friday, February 13 at 8 p.m. Organ Recital: Sarah Svendsen Virtuoso Canadian Organist Sarah Svendsen will present a recital including Healey Willan's monumental "Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue" The suggested donation of ten dollars will benefit St. Andrew's Organ Fund. St. Andrew's four manual E.M. Skinner pipe organ of 63 ranks is now entering its second century of outstanding service. Rebuilt 25 years ago, the organ is in need of a thorough cleaning (after 12 months of construction and restoration of the building) in addition to some minor repairs and tonal regulation in the newly improved acoustic (thanks to a new floor) of the beautiful Gothic Revival Church.
Sunday, February 15 at 4:30 p.m. Choral Evensong St. Andrew's offers Choral Evensong twice each month on the First Thursday at 8 p.m. and the Third Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Our guest preacher on February 15 will be the Rev. Ross Carmichael, Pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Shadyside. You can listen to some clips of Choral Evensong at St. Andrew's on Facebook at St. Andrew's Schola Cantorum.
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 Jazz in Mt. Lebanon
On Sunday, February 15th, at 4 p.m., the Friends of Music Guild at St. Paul's Episcopal Church will feature The Jazz Conspiracy Swingtet presenting a program jazz standards featuring their arrangements and the solo artistry of local jazz saxophonist, Lee Robinson. A donation of $10 will be asked at the door
The Jazz Conspiracy (TJC) Swingtet is an 8-piece sub-group of TJC Big Band that performs jazz and swing music with a focus on danceable tempos. Swingtet features some of Pittsburgh's finest instrumentalists who frequently lend their talents to such other local groups as The Civic Light Opera, The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Many of the ensemble members also teach instrumental music at Pittsburgh/Tri-State Area colleges and universities or run the music programs at area high schools.
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 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
All you care to eat, standard or buckwheat pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, juice, beverage. Bake sale, raffle and gift items.
Tuesday, February 17, 4-7 p.m. Donation: $8.00
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 336 East 10th Avenue, Homestead, PA 15120.
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 Lenten Fish Fry in Monongahela
St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Monongahela will have their annual Lenten Fish Fry every Friday during Lent beginning February 20 with the last fry on Good Friday, April 3.
They will be offering eat in or take out fish and shrimp dinners with French fries and cole slaw, fish sandwiches, shrimp, cheesy fries, cole slaw, halushki, pierogies, mac and cheese, hot and cold beverages, soup, pies and cakes, with local deliveries available.
Open from 11 a.m. thru 6 p.m. every Friday in Lent.
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 Lenten Theological Reading Group at Calvary
This year, the group will be reading John Macquarrie's book A Guide to the Sacraments, a relatively recent, in-depth theological study of the development and contemporary understanding of the Christian sacraments in relation to each other, scripture, and church history.
The group will meet at Calvary Episcopal Church, East Liberty, in the Evans Room on the following dates: February 25: 8-9 p.m. (following the Preaching Series), March 4: 7:15-9 p.m., March 11: 7-9 p.m., March 18: 7:15-9 p.m., March 25: 7-9 p.m.
Copies of the text will be available in the Calvary bookstore.
Please contact Jamie McMahon if you have any questions or to sign up for the email list at jamie.mcmahon@gmail.com. |
 Baby Shower Raises More Than $10,000 for Jeremiah's Place
The abundant generosity of so many women and men of the diocese shone forth through the outpouring of gifts for the benefit of Jeremiah's Place through the Baby Shower that was held on Saturday afternoon, January 10th at Calvary Episcopal Church.
Episcopalian Eileen Sharbaugh, one of the founders of Jeremiah's Place, inventoried the hundreds of items which were brought to the shower as gifts in kind.
Her list contained 42 categories of various things that included clothing (from 82 pairs of mittens to 85 children's outfits), food stuffs (from Cheerios to canisters of infant formula), toiletry items (from 18 cases plus 29 packages of diapers to 61 packages of baby wipes to a tube of Desitin diaper cream), and dozens of other helpful supplies (from 24 backpacks to 39 blankets to two buckets and a thermometer).
Eileen estimated the value of this dazzling array of gifts at about $3,400. Many others made financial contributions totaling $7,442 through $510 in cash, $2,236 in checks to the diocese for the Reading Nook and other needs, $3,601 in checks to Jeremiah's Place and $995 worth of gift cards. This brings the total raised to approximately $10,842!
Thanks to all who attended, donated, served, or in any other way helped to make this such a wonderful project!
Also, many women who attended the shower requested recipes for the delicious tomato soup, lemon curry chicken salad and kale & quinoa salad that were served at the shower. The recipes are available by clicking here.
--Photo courtesy Rebecca McNulty Randall
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 Treasurer Training Workshop
Saturday, February 21st - 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the
Diocesan office in Monroeville - 4099 William Penn Highway, Suite 502, Monroeville, PA 15146
Please plan to attend this workshop for all new (and long-standing) Treasurers, Financial Administrators, and others interested in the financial aspects of church governance. The program will be presented by Kathi Workman, Treasurer and the Ven. Jean Chess, Archdeacon and Director of Administration.
Coffee, tea, and homemade muffins will be served at 9:30 a.m. and training will begin at 10:00 a.m. sharp! Topics to be covered include: - Clergy Compensation Guide, Payroll, and Pension Overview
- Church Budgeting/Bookkeeping/Internal Controls
- Tax Requirements
- Diocesan Assessment
- Parochial Reports
- Denominational Health Plan Highlights
- Insurance
- Audit
- Grant and Loan Programs
- Question and Answer Session
Please let us know what topics and questions you would like to have addressed. Ample time will be reserved for a question and answer session to address specific questions you may have. Workshop will be available by webinar if you are unable to attend in person. Please reserve your seat by sending an email to kworkman@episcopalpgh.org. We look forward to seeing you on the 21st! |
Intentional emotional and spiritual care is an integral component of disaster response. Learn why from a nationally recognized expert on disaster-related emotional and spiritual care and get resources to enhance your response in a free webinar organized and hosted by Church World Service.
The 90-minute webinar will be held beginning at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. Special guest speaker the Rev. Mary Hughes Gaudreau has titled her presentation "Beyond Bricks, Sticks, Muck-out and Tarps: Emotional and Spiritual Care Following Disasters."
Click here for more information and to register.
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Bishop McConnell's Schedule:
February 8: Calvary, East Liberty
February 15: Holy Cross, Homewood
February 22: Emmanuel, North Side
March 1: St. David's, Peter's Township
Leadership at these parishes are reminded to complete and submit this form at least two weeks in advance of their visitation.
Hilltop Community Event: All Souls' Episcopal Church with the Hilltop Ministerium of East McKeesport and North Versailles will present the movie "Belle" followed by a dialogue about race relations on Sunday, February 8th at 12:30 p.m. Details here.
PEP to Discuss Prayer at February Meeting: Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh (PEP) is sponsoring a potluck supper and a presentation and discussion on the subject of prayer at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Highland Park on February 9 at 6 p.m. Details here.
Save The Date: Retired clergy lunch will be Tuesday, June 2 at St. Peter's, Brentwood. Details to come.
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Parting Shots
On Saturday, January 17, Bishop McConnell ordained the Rev. Bert Daly and the Rev. Frank Yesko to the Sacred Order of Priests at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Brackenridge.
On Saturday, January 10, Bishop McConnell ordained the Rev. John Mark Feuerstein and the Rev. Wally LaLonde to the Sacred Order of Deacons at Trinity Cathedral. |
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The deadline for submissions for the next issue of Grace Happens is February 10, 2015.
Future GH publication dates:
Feb. 17, 2015 - Submissions due Feb. 10
Mar. 10, 2015 - Submissions due Mar. 3
Mar. 24, 2015 - Submissions due Mar. 10
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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