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 Mennonite Youth Choir to Perform at Trinity Cathedral
The Mennonite Youth Choir from Schaefferstown Mennonite Church in Myerstown, PA, will be performing at Trinity Cathedral on Saturday, May 28, from 11 - 11:45 a.m.
The choir will consist of approximately 60 choristers coming together for this performance from Pennsylvania, Oregon, Ohio, Maryland and Ontario, Canada, They represent 14 Mennonite congregations.
The cathedral will be open for docent-led tours of the Sanctuary and Burial Ground from 10 - 11 a.m.
Trinity Cathedral is located at 325 Sixth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. The performance and tours are free and open to the public. |
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Safeguarding Resources Available
Relationships among people are at the foundation of Christian community, and are central to the life of the church. All who minister in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, lay and ordained, volunteer and paid, are entrusted with the care of God's people, and are responsible for preserving that trust. Abuse of children and youth in congregations, institutions, agencies, or programs of the diocese is wrong and will not be tolerated. The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh's comprehensive "Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse" is available on the diocesan website here. |
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 Growth Fund Applications Due June 6
The Growth Fund will be meeting in June to consider the first round of applications for 2016.
Parishes wishing to apply for a loan or grant from the Growth Fund should submit a completed application no later that Monday, June 6, to Kathi Workman, diocesan treasurer at the address on the form. The application can be found on the diocesan website. Any questions or requests for help completing the application should be directed to Amy Shelley, Chair, at ashelley@controlledclimatesystems.com or Kathi Workman at kworkman@episcopalpgh.org. |
Farmers' Market Ministry
A ministry of St. David's Episcopal Church, the Peters Township Farmers' Market provides an opportunity for residents of the the area to buy local, fresh products for their families, directly from the farmers and artisans who produce them.
The market encourages relationships between producer and consumer and limits the distance food and goods travel from farm to table. If you share a passion for sustainable farming and fresh, local goods, we hope you'll come and see what the market has to offer.
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 Bingo Night in Squirrel Hill
On Saturday, June 18, 7:00 pm, Church of the Redeemer, Squirrel Hill will be hosting a fun bingo night with prizes ranging from cakes to cash.
Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Proceeds benefit Redeemer's operating fund.
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The Rev. Dr. Theodore (Ted) Babcock has been named Interim Rector at St. Brendan's Episcopal Church in Franklin Park, effective June first. Ted also continues his duties as Director of Administration for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. In accordance with the Canons of The Episcopal Church, the Rev. Wade W. Lawrence has been restored as a duly licensed ordained deacon by Bishop Dorsey McConnell, and is now serving at All Saints Episcopal Church in Brighton Heights. Wade was ordained as a vocational deacon in 1984 in the Diocese of Michigan. He previously served the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1990 until 2012, primarily at Trinity Cathedral and Christ Episcopal Church, North Hills. Christopher Garrett Yates was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by Bishop McConnell at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon on March 19, 2016. Garrett is now serving at St. Paul's as assistant rector. A graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, he was ordained as a transitional deacon in July 2015. His wife, Katie, is an administrative assistant at PTS where she is involved in urban outreach as well as the school's foreign mission program. The Standing Committee has appointed the Rev. Eric McIntosh to the Commission on Ministry to fulfill the uncompleted term of the Rev. Scott Russell. Eric is rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Penn Hills, and also serves on the Commission on Race and Reconciliation. The Board of Directors of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary voted at their annual meeting in May to elect the Rt. Rev. Dorsey McConnell to serve as a Board Member. Bishop McConnell's three-year term will begin June 1, 2016
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 Support Bread for the World
Are you interested in helping end child hunger in your community?
Are you interested in helping end child hunger in your community?
The Social Justice and Outreach Committee (SJO) urges you to learn more about Bread for the World, a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.
Please join the Southwestern Pennsylvania Bread for the World Team as we travel to Washington D.C. for Bread for the World's annual Lobby Day on Tuesday, June 7. All are invited to attend.
Contact the SJO's Erin Morey at erin.katharine@gmail.com if you have questions, would like more information about joining the SWPA Bread Team, or attending Lobby Day.
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 Steadfast Hope
A study group on the Palestine/Israel issue will be sponsored by the Social Justice and Outreach Committee of the Diocese. The resource, Steadfast Hope, was developed by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship to help Episcopalians understand the "facts on the ground" and to fulfil their baptismal covenant to " . . . strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being."
There will be three sessions, Saturday mornings, 10 a.m. - noon on May 7, June 4 and 25, 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 present the background for the present situation, the occupation, settlements, and life in Israel and the Occupied Territories today; and hope for the future.
There will be video clips of interviews and news we don't often see in the mainstream media.
In 1948, about 18% of the population of the Holy Land was Christian, but today they number less than 2%. What has happened to our sisters and brothers in Christ?
In fulfilment of the recommendations and resolutions of the General Convention and of our own diocese last November, each parish is requested to send at least one representative to these sessions.
If possible, please let us know your plans to attend so preparation materials can be sent to you. Call or email the Church of the Redeemer, with your name, email and mailing address. Call 412-422-7100, or email RedeemerChurch@aol.com
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Tidbits from the Archives
On June 10 & 11, 1919, Bishop Whitehead dedicated the chapel at the new St. Barnabas Home building. The next day a gala festival was held at the new building for St. Barnabas Home (predecessor to St. Barnabas Communities). It began with communion and the profession of vows for three new brothers, and then at a later service the clergy, visitors, and others processed from room to room blessing each as they went. Festivities included both lunch and dinner.
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:
May 29: St. Stephen's, Wilkinsburg June 5: St. Andrew's, Highland Park June 19: St. Michael's of the Valley, Ligonier June 26: St. Barnabas, Brackenridge
Parish leadership is reminded to complete and submit this form at least two weeks in advance of their visitation.
Being Church Conference at PTS - June 5-11 / Gracious Leadership: Forming Christian Community in a Diverse World / Henderson Summer Leadership Conference (June 5-8) in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Miller Summer Youth Institute (June 9-11) / Keynotes: Eric H. F. Law Rachel Held Evans, and Nadia Bolz-Weber Learn more here.
Save the Date: Retired Clergy and Surviving Spouses luncheon on Thursday, June 2, at Redeemer, Squirrel Hill. Details to come.
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Donegal Property Available for Retreats, Relaxation
Schedule your getaway today! The diocese welcomes groups and individuals to book a stay at the Donegal Clergy House, a modern resort house on 160 acres just a stone's throw away from Lake Donegal. The house is within a short half-hour drive to popular Laurel Highlands attractions including Fallingwater, Idlewild Park and Soak Zone, Fort Ligonier, Seven Springs, Laurel Ridge, Hidden Valley, and the Connellsville bike trails.
The four-season, two-level house is fully furnished, with linens, blankets, and cookware, and a cleaning service readies it for each use. A three-season barn on the property can serve as a picnic shelter.
It is available at very affordable rates. Clergy, parish staff, and church groups have first priority on bookings and can schedule up to a year in advance. Parish members who are seeking a vacation site may schedule up to four months in advance.
Please be aware of these other important details:
- Due to water restrictions, the maximum overnight capacity is 8-10 individuals.
- There is no water at the barn, and sanitary facilities must be rented to accommodate larger groups.
If youth groups are looking for service projects, we would love help in re-establishing some of the hiking trails on the property.
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Grace Happens upcoming publication dates with deadline for submissions:
June 14 (Submissions due June 7)
July 12 (Submissions due July 5)
August 9 (Submissions due August 2)
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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