Spotlight

Wednesday Connections and Club One Sixteen begin today!
Wednesday Connection and Club One Sixteen have something to offer everyone, from first graders to adults. Youth and teens have homework help from 3:30 to 4:30 and free Hope Academy classes from 4:30 to 6:30. Bible study class with Revs. Bush and Schoenewolf is from 5:00 - 5:45 pm (note the time correction from last week's Flash). Dinner for families is served in the Game Room (lower level). A bible study for grades 1 through 12 goes from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Call the church for details, (412) 441-3800. Hope to see you there.

Sunday services and classes

September 27 Services

• 8:00 am: Good Samaritan Worship; The Rev. Suzanne Bennett preaching.
• 8:45 am: Journey Worship; the Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush preaching.
• 11:00 am: Sanctuary Worship; the Rev. Heather T. Schoenewolf preaching. (Sunday is ELPC's observance of Children's Sabbath.)

Christian Education

• Contemporaries: "Pulpit Momentum!" Insights and discussions on Rev Bush's sermon, "Back to the Basics: What is Love?" Second floor parlor. Read the sermon (pdf). Copies available in class.
• Journey with Scripture: Esth 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; Ps 124; Jm 5:13-20; Mk 9:38-50.
• Parenting Circle: All are welcome. Our book this fall is the "pray" chapter of eat, pray, love; we're reading pages 134-148. All are welcome and books are available.
• Seekers: Our book for discussions on the 20th and 27th is Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism by (Episcopal) Bishop John Shelby Spong. Rev. Bush will be leading the discussion on the book, relating how literal interpretations of the Bible have been used in hurtful ways.

Additional worship and prayer opportunities during the week

• Taizé prayer service: Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm in the Chapel. Childcare available from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm. September 23 service is "Prayers for Peace on the Eve of the G-20 Summit." No after-Taizé class this week.
• Labyrinth Prayer Walk: Mondays, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, and Wednesdays, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm.
• Centering Prayer: Tuesdays, 7:00 pm, room 250.

ELPC weekly news highlights

Presbyterian Women Fall Retreat, Horizons Bible Study Returns
"Christ Our Hope" is the theme of this year's Presbyterian Women's retreat, September 26, with Dr. Ellen McCormack leading. The retreat will be held at ELPC from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Join us for singing, worship, workshops and fellowship.

"Horizon Bible Study" returns on Tuesday mornings. Join us at 10 am. We will explore themes such as leadership, the promise of land, the concept of holy war, and outsiders becoming insiders; we also learn to find rest in the mercy of God. A potluck lunch follows. Bring something to share and beverages are provided. Call Mary Alice Lightle, (412) 682-1504 for more information.

Handbell Choir rehearsals begin Oct 1
Do you have an interest in discovering handbells and the wonderful sounds they make? Join us on Thursday, October 1 at 6pm. The only requirement is a comitment to rehearsals and the other ringers. It also helps if you can read treble or bass clef music. For details, call The Rev. Dr. J. Richard Szeremany, (412) 441-3800 x24.

New exercise classes are starting!
A healthy body can help support a healthy spiritual life. Give yourself a gift that keeps on giving! Come to our low-cost / no-cost exercise classes: Yoga on Thursdays from 7:15 - 8:45 pm. Zumba on Thursdays from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Tai-Chi on Tuesday mornings, $25 for 10 sessions. RSVP and questions to Amanda Nolan, (412) 441-3800 x34.

Rent-A-Young Adult
ELPC's Young Adults are hosting a silent auction to raise money for the church's recycling efforts, with different services and items to bid on. Come support them on September 27 during fellowship.

ELPC in the Community

East End Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry
We continue to answer the call in the struggle against hunger. September's requested food-of-the-month for donations is: jelly, jam. Thank you.

Help the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank win a truckload of food
For every action you take, you can earn minutes, and your accumulated totals will be assigned to the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The food banks with the most accumulated advocate minutes at the end of September will win a truckload of food! Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest, is sponsoring "September: Hunger Action Month." Through this advocacy program, the agency is asking the public to lend their voice in support of public policy solutions to hunger, and hopes to recruit new advocates in the fight against hunger, educate the public about the role of advocacy in hunger relief efforts, and deliver meaningful actions in support of child nutrition programs. You can help us accomplish these goals by becoming an active advocate. Thank you!