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The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
Celebrates Absalom Jones
Ordained in 1804, Absalom Jones was the first African American to be ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church. He is listed on the Episcopal calendar of saints and blessed on the date of his death - February 13, 1818.
Celebration Theme:
Race to Reconciliation: Prayer & Practice
328 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
 Friday Evening, February 12, 2016
WORD WAR Movement
7 - 8:30 p.m.
Reception Following
Mission: To use our words - speaking the truths of the Gospel- to reach, revive, and rescue all people on earth.
 Saturday Morning, February 13, 2016
Holy Eucharist
Bishop McConnell, Celebrant
The Rev. Randy Callendar, Guest Preacher
10:30 a.m.
Lunch Following (Free Will Offering)
The Rev. Callendar is the Rector at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Annapolis, MD. He serves as UBE's youth advisor and is an active member of the following organizations in the Diocese of PA: The Black Clergy, the Anti-Racism Commission, and Youth Advisory Committee.  Registration Deadline: February 5, 2016
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 Sheldon Calvary Camp - 2016 Registration Available!
Established in 1936, Harry E. Sheldon Calvary Camp is an outdoor camping ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh located on the scenic shore of Lake Erie in Conneaut, Ohio.
Campers ages 7-16 can choose from a variety of activities to participate in each day including swimming, fine arts, tennis, kayaking, athletics, archery, sailing, low ropes course, photography, and farming. Beyond these electives, campers engage in friendly competition throughout the session. There are two counselors for every cabin who help guide and support the camp experience. Staff members undergo training at the beginning of the summer and are first aid and CPR certified. Each day ends with a campfire or chapel service.
| Session 1 | 1 week | June 19-25 | | Session 2 | 1 week | June 26-July2 | | Ready, Set, Camp! | 3 nights | July 6-9 | | Session 3 | 1 week | July 10-16 | | Session 4 | 2 weeks | July 17-30 | | Session 5 | 1 week | July 31-August 6 |
Please visit www.calvarycamp.org for more information and to register online. You can also call the camp at (440) 593-4381 with any questions. |
 Pancake Supper at Redeemer
The Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, will host a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by Compline at 8 p.m.
On the menu will be pancakes with a variety of toppings, applesauce, pork sausage, vegetable sausage, and beverages. Suggested donation: $5.00.
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 Weekly Lenten Fish Fry in Monongahela
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 130 West Main Street in Monongahela, will have their annual Lenten Fish Fry every Friday during Lent, beginning February 12 with the last fry on Good Friday, March 25.
Eat-in or take-out fish and shrimp dinners (includes French fries and cole slaw), fish sandwiches, shrimp, regular and cheesy fries, cole slaw, halushki, pierogies, mac and cheese, hot and cold beverages, pies and cakes with free local deliveries available.
Open from 11 a.m. thru 6 p.m. every Friday in Lent. Questions? Call 724-258-7792 |
Treasurer Training Workshop
Saturday, February 20th - 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon
Diocesan Offices on the 3rd floor of Trinity Cathedral,
325 Oliver Ave, Pittsburgh, 15222
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 Rev. Canon Ted Babcock, Director of Administration. Coffee, tea, and muffins will be served at 9:30 a.m. and training will begin at 10 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
- Property Insurance/Medical Insurance including HDHP with Health Savings Account
- Audit
- Grant and Loan Programs
- Question and Answer Session
A portion of the material presented will be a repeat of the 2015 training material. However, the content for many topics has been expanded to include additional, more detailed information. Please indicate specific topics and questions you would like to have addressed. Ample time will be reserved for a Question and Answer Session at the end of the workshop.
This workshop will be available by webinar if you are unable to attend in person.
Please register online by clicking here and indicate whether you will be attending in person or by webinar when registering.
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 Seder Dinner at St. Thomas, Oakmont
On Palm Sunday, March 20, at 5 p.m., St. Thomas Church in Oakmont will host a Seder Dinner led by Bishop Dorsey McConnell Cost for adults is $12. Children will receive a children's meal for $5. Tickets will go on sale on February12 through March 17. Space is limited. You may call the church at 412-828-9680 or mail in your request to 378 Delaware Ave.,Oakmont, PA 15139. |
 Opportunities in Social Justice and Outreach
The new year is upon us, and the Social Justice and Outreach Committee recommends many activities in which our parishes may take part.
Winter days are with us, and besides the food pantries and clothing drives you all support, there is the opportunity to provide a meal for the Severe Weather Emergency Shelter. Contact Megan Walker at mwalker@pittsburghfoodbank.org or 412-460-3663 x304 for details.
Bread for the World is a faith-based advocacy organization that promotes legislation and action for the hungry of the U.S. and the world. If members of your parish or organization would be interested in learning from and/or working with them, our local contacts are Donna Hansen at 412-731-2460 or donna.hansen@verizon.net or Joyce Rothermel at 412-780-5118 or rothermeljoyce@gmail.com. They would be happy to visit your group and present their program.
A few words from Scott Russell, a member of our Committee and Rector of St. Brendan's, Franklin Park, who works with our concern for gun violence in our cities and country:
On January 5th, President Obama did a courageous thing - he stood up to the gun lobby! With tears he spoke of how many innocent lives have been lost in this country due to lax controls on access to guns. In the group of witnesses invited to the White House to stand with the President was John Woods, a friend of mine from my Virginia Tech days. His girlfriend was one of the 32 victims of the mass shootings on that campus in April 2007. John has dedicated so much time and energy ever since, despite his work on a Ph.D., to speak out for sensible gun laws and gun safety measures. There were many tears shed, but also some smiles of hope, believing that we might finally see some change in this country, as much of an impossible dream as that has seemed for too many years in this country.
Can we, as Americans, begin (or continue) to have conversations about the rights of ALL of our citizens, not just gun owners? Can we find safe places to hold reasonable conversations about gun safety and the related fears on every side of the issue? In December, we were invited to observe a Sabbath from Gun Violence. With the busyness of the holiday season, no doubt this weekend was overlooked by many parishes, priests, and lay people. Be watching for more invitations from the SJO committee to engage in conversations around this issue. Please join us in prayer for the mission of this committee, and join us in our commitment to strive for justice and peace among all people.
As we marvel at the successful community gardens of our parishes and organizations which have been nurtured with help from the small grants of our SJO Committee, the applications for 2016 grants will soon appear in Grace Happens and on the Diocesan website. The 2016 deadline will be March 15.
Finally, a great Lenten activity will be to join fellow Episcopalians from across the diocese at our next volunteer workday, Saturday, March 12, at the Repack Center of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. More information will be forthcoming in Grace Happens, or contact jjmestephenson@verizon.net or 412-367-1032
Let us hope and pray we can do our small part in meeting the needs of our nation and the world. Let us labor together in Christ's work.
The Social Justice and Outreach Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh,
Nancy Lapp, Chair
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 Tidbits from the Archives
On January 25, 1866, John Barret Kerfoot is consecrated as Pittsburgh's first bishop in a service at Trinity Church, Pittsburgh.
The diocesan archives has provided small historical tidbits from the appropriate month for each Grace Happens. Watch to see if your parish shows up in one of them!
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Bishop McConnell's Visitation Schedule:
January 31:St. Paul's, Monongahela February 7: St. Stephen's, McKeesport February 14: All Souls, North Versailles February 21: Holy Cross, Homewood
Parish leadership is reminded to complete and submit this form at least two weeks in advance of their visitation.
Save the Date I: All clergy of the diocese please save the date for a mandatory Safe Church Training, Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Calvary Episcopal Church, East Liberty. More information to follow.
Save the Date II: All acolytes and young people are invited to a special Acolyte & Youth Ministry Festival and Eucharist at Trinity Cathedral on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Details to come.
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 Parting Prayer
From the diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee:
May God bless us with a restless discomfort
about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,
so that we may seek truth boldly and love deep within our heart.
May God bless us with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people. May God bless us with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy. May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we really CAN make a difference in this world, so that we are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. |
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Grace Happens upcoming publication dates with deadline for submissions:
February 9 (Submissions due February 2)
February 23 (Submissions due February 16)
March 8 (Submissions due March 1)
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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