News regarding the life and ministry of our wonderfully diverse and energized faith community

THOMAS MERTON CENTER AWARD

Join others who are committed to racial justice as KEEANGA-YAMAHTTA TAYLOR receives the THOMAS MERTON AWARD on Friday, November 22 at the August Wilson African-American Cultural Center – the acclaimed art galleries at the center will be available at 5:00p along with hors d’oeuvres from Arnold’s Tea and a cash bar in the main lobby. Programming starts at 7:30p

Dr. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor is a scholar, activist and author who teaches in the African American Studies department at Princeton University.  She is the author of three books; the most recent titled: Race for Profit: How Banks and The Real Estate Industry Undermine Black Homeownership.

Tickets for this Thomas Merton Center Fundraiser:

Members of the Thomas Merton Center are $55.00 and for non-members $65.00

Tickets may be purchased at EVENTBRITE or on the Thomas Merton website.

For more information you may contact the Thomas Merton Center or Pastor RoBear (Bob) Wilson: a49always@gmail.com  He is a member of the Board of Directors

HANGING OF THE GREENS

On Sunday, November 24th right after worship we will be spending time decorating our church for the Advent and Christmas season! It is always a wonderful time and we will provide something to eat! Come, add visual beauty to our experience this Advent!

ECO- MINISTRY  NEWS: HELP WANTED! …. TO DEVELOP NEW LEGISLATION LETTER WRITING PROJECT. 

We are partnering with the Environmental Team of East Liberty Presbyterian Church on a joint earth care legislation letter writing project. ELPC’s team already prepares researched educational materials and model letters for their congregation on legislation requiring action. This terrific resource will be available to our legislation project.

We propose to create a small Eco-Legislation Team as a special project of the Eco-Ministry Team. Recognizing people’s time constraints, people working on legislation letter writing can choose whether or not to also participate in monthly Eco-Ministry Team meetings. In either case, the Eco-Ministry Team will support the legislative work and coordinate with ELPC.  If you would like more information, or want to help design the letter writing project, contact Claudia at cdetwiler4@icloud.com.

CONCERT SEASON IS COMING UP!

• HALLELUJAH! CONCERT DECEMBER 7 and 8 at 4pm at Calvary UMC

Bask in Handel’s inspiring Messiah while surrounded by candlelight and Calvary’s magnificent Tiffany stained-glass masterpieces. Our FUMC Choir will be joining the choir at Calvary UMC AT Calvary church as part of our 125th Anniversary Celebration.
We will be performing the “Christmas” portion of Messiah. Calvary’s Music Director Brian Burns conducts the event which includes popular regional soloists, a chamber orchestra comprised of some of the area’s most accomplished instrumentalists, and the Festival Choir. David Bridge, a past conductor and organist, is at the parlor organ and Calvary’s restored 1895 Farrand & Votey organ. The concert is followed by a cookie reception in the Victorian Chapel.
The concert is family-friendly – each child 12 and under will receive an activity pack. This concert is also a sing-along. As an audience member you are not required to sing, but you are certainly invited to sing along on each of the choruses sung by the Festival Choir.
We also offer this concert in support of outreach ministries on Pittsburgh’s Northside. This year, as in years past, we ask audience members to bring non-perishable food items and extra shopping tote bags for Northside Common Ministries Food Pantry. Also, tickets are given to neighborhood schools, smaller churches, and groups such as Tickets for Kids.
It’s a fantastic way to kick off the holiday season, and we invite everyone to join in and sing for the joy of it!
Tickets are available now at CalvaryPgh.com!

• OUR OWN CANDLELIGHT CONCERT

We hope you will also consider joining us on Saturday, December 14th at 7pm for our own Candlelight Worship Concert in the sanctuary at FUMC. This decades-long tradition is special and will be a bit more subdued this year due to our involvement in Calvary’s concert. This gives our church musicians the chance to take you on a special journey towards Christmas. Wonderful reception following. Hope to see you there!

FUMC GREETERS NEEDED FOR SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

First Church is known for its warm hospitality – the mantra being, “All are Welcome and Belong here”.  Our Greeters on Sunday mornings are an important way we demonstrate our welcome statement and this hospitality to all.

We are in need of several more Greeters to offer friendly greetings and welcome to members/guests and hand out bulletins at the Sunday morning worship service.  We especially need greeters for the teams that greet the second and fourth Sunday of the month.

If you would like to be a Greeter for one Sunday a month or possibly a substitute Greeter (when a regular team member is absent on a Sunday), please see Karen Merrick or email her at crimmerr@aol.com for more details.  We encourage you to consider becoming a part of this meaningful ministry at First Church!

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS 

Hosts are needed after worship on:

            November 24

            December 8, 22, and 29

If you are able to help in this way, please e-mail Karen Jacobs ballroombuddies@verizon.net or call 412.828.3854   

FAMILIES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

Please provide us with a current college address for your son or daughter.  Please send to: office@fumcpittsburgh.org.

SHORT-TERM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS OFFERING

Inspired, Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, by Rachel Held Evans, will guide our conversation as we gather to discuss the stories, events, people and history of the Bible.  This class will be led by Pastor Tracy and all questions and comments are welcome.  Reading the book Inspired, ahead of the class may be helpful for you, but not required to participate in conversation. The class will meet in the parlor where we will be joined by the Seekers Class.

MEDITATIVE SCRIPTURE READING GROUP

Would you like to re-engage with the scriptures? Join Companions in Christ in practicing meditative readings of scripture, guided by the lectionary text. Wednesday, December 11^th, 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be biblically literate, have any experience with “meditative reading,” or even know what that means! We’ll all learn a new practice together! A light dinner will be provided.  For more information, please talk to Joe. If you don’t catch him in the hallways, you can contact him at 304-731-8717 or joe@fumcpittsburgh.org

THIS WEEK AT FUMC

Sunday, November 17

  9:00am          Handbell Choir Rehearsal

  9:35am          Chancel Choir Rehearsal

  9:35am          Education for All Ages

11:00am          Worship in the Sanctuary

12:30pm          All-Church Dinner

  2:00pm          Recorders Society

  6:00pm          Sunday Night Yoga

Monday, November 18

 9:30am           IWAP English Class

  6:00pm          Hospitality Team

  6:15pm          Phoenix Institute

  7:30pm          Leadership Council

Tuesday, November 19

7:45am            Susan Rupani Yoga

10:00am          Play Group

10:15am          Unity in Motion

10:30am          Staff Meeting

  1:00pm          East End Song Studio

  2:00pm          Strengthen & Stretch

  6:00pm          B.C.I.

  7:00pm          Edgewood Symphony

  7:30pm          NA Reading Group

Wednesday, November 20

9:30am            Shake Hands & Share

1:00pm            East End Song Studio

7:00pm            Mystics in Motion

7:30pm            NA

Thursday, November 21

9:30am            IWAP

1:00pm            East End Song Studio

2:00pm            Strengthen & Stretch

7:00pm            Interplay

7:00pm            Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Friday, November 22

12:00pm          AA – Cookies & Kisses

1:00pm            East End Song Studio

5:30pm            Women’s AA

7:00pm            Ecstatic Dance

Saturday, November 23

  9:00am          First Food & Friends

STAFF