1 Corinthians 15:1-2

November 13, 2014

 

Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:

 

Many of us enjoyed our unified worship service of Ingathering last Sunday during which dozens of us walked forward to dedicate ourselves to God's work in 2015 by presenting our Financial Faith Commitment Cards and our Time and Talent Survey Sheets. Afterward, several members mentioned how inspiring it was to see the sanctuary aisles filled with people making their way to the front as two of our youth--Olivia McMahan and Billy Hasley--provided beautiful special music on piano and violin. My favorite comment was by a long-time MLEPC member who said that she was "so excited to see so many people that she did not know participating." I love that she was thrilled not only by familiar faces, but also by the newcomers God is sending our way. Let us join together in praying and working for God to send many more visitors to MLEPC in 2015 and beyond.

 

In this week's pastoral letter, let us consider, "Why do we hold Ingathering Sunday as a single unified service? Why don't we just have two services as usual?" The reason is that we are emphasizing our unity and oneness as a church family in our mission and ministry on Ingathering Day. To be sure, we typically feature two styles of worship services with the contemporary Contact service at 9:00 a.m. and the traditional Heritage service at 11:15 a.m. on most Sundays. But this does not make us two different congregations as some people mistakenly believe and voice. No, we are one congregation with two options for drawing near to God through weekly worship. Think about how very much we otherwise share in common:

• We share the same Sunday school classes.
• We all are welcome to pick up coffee and a doughnut at the Bright Beacon Café.
• We all have opportunity to eat dinner together twenty times each year at Family Fusion.
• We all can attend special worship service, picnics, concerts, and so forth.
• We support the same missionaries through our annual missions budget of nearly $100,000.
• We unite to reach out through Mission Possible Week each summer to the same local community.
• We work with and support the same church staff members who are committed to helping us all move forward in faith.
• We sit together on Session, the Deacon Board, the Board of Trustees and the many teams and task forces that run our church's ministry.
• Most importantly, we know, love, and follow the same Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Presenting our commitment to God during our unified Ingathering service is symbolic of how very much we share as a community in Christ. Our money, our time, and our talents work as one for Christ's Kingdom and God's glory at MLEPC. May it truly remind us that "there is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

 

Along with thanking everyone who participated last Sunday, allow me to encourage those of us who were not present to submit our Financial Faith Commitment Cards and Time and Talent Survey Sheets as soon as possible. Please mail them to MLEPC, 255 Washington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15216, with attention to Shannon Hohowski, or simply drop them off at the church business office. The details of your financial commitment are kept confidential by Shannon, who is our MLEPC Financial Administrator. Your Time and Talent Survey Sheets are shared among the staff members and elders as they look for ways to involve you that match your skills and interests. We're grateful for each and every card and sheet we receive from our MLEPC members and friends--including you!

 

Pastor Tim

 

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