News regarding the life and ministry of our wonderfully diverse and energized faith community
Welcome to First Notes!
If you have items for our notes, we ask that they be submitted to the office by email no later than Wednesdays at 9:00 AM.
Save the Date – Membership Journey Lunch and Conversation
Aug 20th after worship. More details to follow.
Join Us July 30th – "If Stones Could Talk" Come Celebrate With Us
July 30th after worship, we will celebrate that we retired the remaining loan from the church construction and project that ended in 2010. It's time to reflect on and retell the story. Join us for storytelling, a gallery that shows key developments in our building's history, food and fellowship.
Art Camp
August 7th-9th, 6:00-8:00 pm
For all ages!! Dinner is provided. Come all three nights or just one. If you think that you’re “not creative” or “not artistic,” then this art camp is especially for you! The goal is not to make something beautiful (though we will do that, too!). The goal is to reflect the image of our Creator and to hear from the parts of ourselves that are tamped down by over-thinking everything.
Come play!
Please RSVP to joe@fumcpittsburgh.org.
Family Promise of SWPA: Second Annual Family Fun Fest
Friday, August 11th - 6pm to 9pm at Discovery Church
(170 Sharberry Lane, Mars PA 16046)
Please join us for our Second Annual Family Fun Fest benefitting Family Promise of Southwestern PA. All proceeds will help serve our mission at FPSWPA: supporting children and families in danger of becoming homeless. Feel free to share this invitation to all of your family and friends, as well as your houses of worship!
First Food and Friends Items Needed
Monique McCain is gathering cereal for First Food and Friends for the month of July. FFF is trying to offset the reduction in SNAP allowances by providing some pantry staples for individuals and families, so be on the lookout for updates about needs.
Additionally, FFF is looking for a free stackable washer/dryer. Please contact the church office if you know of anyone who might be willing to donate.
EECM Coat Drive
Dear EECM Supporter,
As summer comes to an end, we know that the winter holiday season is right around the corner. Here at EECM, we are gearing up for our annual Coat Drive and Holiday Toy Drive. We hope that you will join us in sharing warmth and joy with our community’s most vulnerable families this holiday season.
Coat Drive: EECM will be collecting new and gently used winter coats, and distributing them to community members. We are partnering with Strong II Dry Cleaners who will provide free dry cleaning for any donated coats as well as discounts for participating families’ personal dry cleaning as a thank-you. Please see the enclosed flyers for more information and return the participation form via mail or email by August 31, 2023. Rev. Tracy Hudson will then contact you.
Holiday Toy Drive: EECM is asking donors to sponsor a child this holiday season. Participants also have the option to give a monetary donation, and EECM will purchase the gifts. If you are interested in providing gifts for a child, please fill out the participation form and return via mail or email by September 30, 2023. Rev. Tracy Hudson will contact you with a specific child’s wish list this holiday season.
All-Church Picnic – Save the Date, September 17th!
The Annual First Church Picnic will be on Sunday, September 17th, immediately following worship. Please mark this date on your calendars and plan to come and enjoy the fun!
More details to follow in the next couple weeks . . .
Reconciling Ministries Convocation: October 13-15, 2023
The national Reconciling Ministries Network organization has periodically conducted Convocations as educational, inspirational, and organizing events. The next “Convo” will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 13 – 15, 2023.
Please use the following link to learn more about this amazing event:
A number of folks from First Church have already indicated an interest in attending! If you are so inclined, please let Tracy Merrick or Joe Smith know. There may be an opportunity to share transportation.
Please note:
The price breaks for early bird registration end July 31st!
The link to the Convo website identifies: costs for the event, accommodations options, and limited scholarship possibilities. As soon as specific presenters are known, the website will also include the worship leaders and the array of breakout sessions.
Please consider taking advantage of this great opportunity and please pass this information to anyone who might be interested in attending!
Special Music Requested
If you are interested in providing music for one of our summer worship services, please contact Tim Coles or the church office and we’ll be happy to oblige!
Covid-19 Recommendations
As always, we encourage one and all to make sure you are updated with the latest vaccine booster that is available right now.
If you are showing any symptoms of sickness at all we ask that you heartily consider staying home and testing. If you are at a higher risk level you are encouraged to mask inside the building. We will continue to have masks available.
Hands-On Mission
Many thanks for the support of our Caring Cupboard projects. The supplies in the Caring Cupboard have helped many friends and neighbors who stop in during the week, or who come on Saturday for the community meal. We currently have some water in the Aiken Ave. Caring Cupboard for neighbors who might need a cool drink on these hot days.
In August, we will be working with Monique McCain and First Food & Friends on several projects. Keep an eye on this space for more details.
Black Lives Matter Prayer Vigils
Please consider joining the vigil at 6 pm on the first and second Wednesdays of each month!
Our Prayer Vigils for Social Justice, at the corner of Centre and South Aiken, where we hold Black Lives Matter signs and, during the winter season, candles that glowing in the dark, are a very important, loving witness to the people of the community who pass First Church!
These vigils are held now on the first two Wednesdays of each month, at 6:00 PM, for about 30 minutes. It is important to demonstrate our stand on the questions of social justice on this busy street corner while we reflect on how we can become Living Stones that act against the racism that still pervades our society. Numbers matter, so we encourage you to prayerfully consider your participation. Please also prayerfully consider how you can lead one of these vigils, sharing from your own personal journey to become an anti-racist. Please contact the church office if you need more information or would like to contribute to this witness as a leader.
Sunday School Will Resume in the Fall
The Seekers is facilitated by one of our former pastors, Rev. David Keller. The Seekers discuss various topics related to the Bible, spirituality, justice, and personal growth. During the summer the Seekers Class will meet in the parlor for casual conversation Sunday mornings at 9:30.
Coffee & Chat is a more organic conversation in that takes place in the church library (off of the Gathering Space). Just pour a cup of coffee or tea and pull up a chair.
Children and Youth
“It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading. A reading people will always be a knowing people”.
--John Wesley
“Beatrice’s Goat” tells the story of how the lives of one poor family in Africa were greatly improved by the gift of a goat from Heifer International. Beatrice desperately wants to go to school, but her family cannot afford it. Instead, she spends her days caring for her younger siblings and helping in the fields on their small plot of land in a rural African village. Then one day, Beatrice’s family receives a precious gift – a goat! In time, the goat provides milk to sell as well as baby goats, and soon the family has earned enough money so Beatrice can go to school.
You can learn more about goats and about Heifer International from our Godly Play Heifer series of videos. Look for the Heifer videos (and many more) on the FUMC YouTube channel.
Older children and youth are invited Joe and Rudeene in the courtyard or Fellowship Hall (depending on the weather) for games and discussion.
The nursery (just outside the sanctuary) is staffed by our loving and nurturing childcare professional, Emily Burke 9:30 – 12:30 each Sunday.
Church Staff
Pastor | Tracy Cox |
Deacon | Anais Hussian |
Director of Music and Community | Tim Coles |
Director of Spiritual Formation | Joe Smith |
Office Administrator | Gwendolen Jackson |
Office Assistant | Sherrie Kaiser |
Building Maintenance Manager | Nelson Viola |
Custodians | Tacoma Woods Freddie Griffin |
Digital Tech Engagement Specialist | Michael Dodin |
Youth & Community Intern | Rudeene Jackson |
Opmerkingen