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Episcopal Bishops Issue A Word to the Church
[March 15, 2016] The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church, meeting in retreat, unanimously approved the following Word To The Church.
A Word to the Church
Holy Week 2016
"We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others."
On Good Friday the ruling political forces of the day tortured and executed an innocent man. They sacrificed the weak and the blameless to protect their own status and power. On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead, revealing not only their injustice but also unmasking the lie that might makes right.
In a country still living under the shadow of the lynching tree, we are troubled by the violent forces being released by this season's political rhetoric. Americans are turning against their neighbors, particularly those on the margins of society. They seek to secure their own safety and security at the expense of others. There is legitimate reason to fear where this rhetoric and the actions arising from it might take us.
In this moment, we resemble God's children wandering in the wilderness. We, like they, are struggling to find our way. They turned from following God and worshiped a golden calf constructed from their own wealth. The current rhetoric is leading us to construct a modern false idol out of power and privilege. We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others. No matter where we fall on the political spectrum, we must respect the dignity of every human being and we must seek the common good above all else.
We call for prayer for our country that a spirit of reconciliation will prevail and we will not betray our true selves.
The Episcopal Church House of Bishops met in retreat March 11 - 15 at Camp Allen Conference Center in Navasota, TX.
On the web: Episcopal Bishops Issue A Word to the Church -
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/episcopal-bishops-issue-word-church
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Garden Grants Awarded by the Social Justice and Outreach Committee
Spring is here, the snow is hopefully gone, and the Diocese of Pittsburgh is starting to bloom!
In the last few years, several groups in our Western Pennsylvania region have instituted vegetable gardens to help meet the needs of urban and suburban residents who have limited access to fresh produce.
Starting in 2013, the Social Justice and Outreach Committee (SJO) has offered a small grant program (maximum $500) to help Episcopal parishes and organizations create new vegetable gardens or to support an already functioning garden. These grants are intended to assist with small material needs such as: seed or plant purchases, fencing, bed construction, soil or fertilizer purchases, soil testing costs, hand tool purchases, water connections, rain barrels, etc.
Once again in 2016, the SJO is pleased to announce the awarding of garden grants. Because of additional funds from outreach commissions at St. Paul's, Mt. Lebanon, and Christ Church, North Hills, along with private donations to supplement the SJO budget, we were able to fund eight garden grants this year.
We are delighted to support at full request new garden initiatives at St. Andrew's, Highland Park and Church of the Redeemer in Squirrel Hill. In addition, continuing support goes to Holy Cross, Homewood; St. Brendan's, Franklin Park; Sheldon Calvary Camp, Conneaut, OH; St. David's, Peters Township; Shepherd's Wellness, Bloomfield; and Spring Street Farms at the Community of Celebration, Aliquippa.
If you are a gardener, please consider volunteering at any of these gardens. Volunteers are what make our gardens grow and prosper. Or, if you have the proverbial "black thumb," you can volunteer to package, transport, and distribute produce. There is always plenty to do around a garden. Contact Pat Eagon Stafford with questions at pkeagon@gmail.com.
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 Steadfast Hope
Steadfast Hope, a study group on the Palestine/Israel issue will be sponsored by the Social Justice and Outreach Committee of the Diocese. There will be three sessions, Saturday mornings, 10 a.m.-Noon, April 9, May 7, and June 11, 2016, at the Church of the Redeemer in Squirrel Hill. The study will be led by Nancy Lapp and the Rev. Michael Foley. The three sessions will allow consideration of how things got this way, the occupation, settlements, and situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories today; and hope for the future. There will be film clips of things you don't often see in the news. In fulfilment of the recommendations and resolutions of our General Convention and our own diocese last November, we hope each parish will send at least one representative to these sessions. |
 Cursillo Ultreya
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 2 - 4 p.m. at St. Thomas Memorial Church, 378 Delaware Avenue, Oakmont, PA 15139
Oakmont, PA
Music leader: The Rev. Bert Daly
Lay witness: Jessie Hipolit from Emmanuel, North Side
Clergy response: The Rev. Carol Henley, Calvary, East Liberty
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Bring a friend. All are welcome to attend this Cursillo event.
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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 88 years of its existence, the scope of the fund has widened to include nursing, theology and other humanitarian fields of study. |
 Spring 2016 Anti-Racism Workshop
The Commission on Race and Reconciliation presents
"Seeing the Face of God in Each Other"
Spring 2016 Anti-Racism Workshop
Schedule:
- Friday: 3:00 p.m. Registration / Opening Program / 5:30 p.m. Dinner / adjourning after 8:20 p.m. Compline
- Saturday: 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast / Lunch / 4:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist / 5:00 p.m. departure
To meet Canon requirements, attendance is required both days. The workshop is FREE.
Registration Deadline is April 15, 2016
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(and the SPRING U.T.O. INGATHERING)
Episcopal Church Women
of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
Saturday, April 23, 2016 10am - noon
Trinity Cathedral Parish Hall
328 Sixth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Free Will Offering for Lunch
Special Presentation
 The mission of the HOPE Center is the safe elimination of domestic violence through intervention, prevention, and collaboration.
A 24/7 HOTLINE provides support, education & options regarding Domestic Violence.
SAF-T program provides shelter also for pets of victims of domestic violence.
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Pittsburgh
Daughters of the King
2016 Spring Assembly
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Hosted by Daughters of Advent Chapter
Church of the Advent, 101 Clay Avenue, Jeannette, PA 15644, 724-523-9390
Registration: 9:30 a.m., Opening Eucharist: 10 a.m., Luncheon: 12 Noon
Cost is $12.00. Click here for a printable registration form. Contact Jan Murtha at 724-388-1721 with any questions.
The speaker will be Mrs. Peggy Noll. She and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll, served as missionaries to Uganda and Dr. Noll taught at Uganda Christian University. Peggy will be sharing about her time in Uganda and the impact it has had on her life.
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Presiding Bishop Updates Staff on Independent Investigation
[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs press release] Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry today [April 4, 2016] addressed the staff of The Episcopal Church and provided the following update about the independent investigation he called for after placing three members of senior management on administrative leave in December.
As you know on December 9, 2015 I placed Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Sam McDonald, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Mission, and Mr. Alex Baumgarten, Director of Public Engagement and Mission Communications, on Administrative Leave pending an investigation into formal complaints and allegations of potential violations of personnel policies of the DFMS, received from multiple members of the staff of the Presiding Bishop.
At my request, the firm of Curley, Hessinger & Johnsrud conducted an independent investigation into these complaints and allegations. In calling for an independent, external investigation, I presumed neither guilt nor innocence, but committed only to a search for the truth. That search for the truth required a thorough and comprehensive investigation. The investigators met with or had phone conversations with over 40 different persons, including the three individuals named in the complaints, and reviewed thousands of pages of documents. The Episcopal Church offered no constraints nor influence on the investigation, and the confidences shared with the in-dependent investigators have been safeguarded. The actions that I am taking are based on the facts determined and findings reached by that independent investigation.
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Tidbits from the Archives
On April 11, 1827, the cornerstone for a church in Meadville is laid; it is the first building west of the Allegheny River in the diocese.
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:
April 24: St. Mark's, Johnstown May 1: St. Thomas, Oakmont May 8: Calvary, East Liberty
May 15: St. Paul's, Mt. Lebanon
Parish leadership is reminded to complete and submit this form at least two weeks in advance of their visitation.
Children's Ministry Team: Join Bishop McConnell and the Children's Ministry Team at their monthly luncheon. Discuss the Bishop's vision for children and youth in the diocese as well as great summer programming ideas, no matter how large or small your congregation. They will meet for lunch at the Banksville Rd. Eat'n'Park on Thursday, April 14 at 1 p.m. Please RSVP to Lisa Brown at lcbrown@stpaulspgh.org if you will be attending.
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Grace Happens upcoming publication dates with deadline for submissions:
April 19 (Submissions due April 12)
May 3 (Submissions due April 26)
May 24 (Submissions due May 17)
June 14 (Submissions due June 7)
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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