November 29 Worship Services

• 8:00 am: Good Samaritan Worship; The Rev. William Thomas preaching, First United Presbyterian Church of Boston.
• 8:45 am: Journey Worship; the Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush preaching.
• 11:00 am: Sanctuary Worship; the Rev. Bush preaching.

November 29 Christian Education

• Contemporaries: “Whom Will You Follow? How Will You Lead?” led by Joe Kennedy. Directional thrust is a key ingredient in an effective, Christian approach toward team building. Phil Hodges’ four point plan inspires us and connects the dots between the instructions of Jesus and what we’re called to do as citizens of the Kingdom.
• Journey with Scripture: Jer. 33:14–16; Ps. 25:1–10; I Thess. 3:9–13; Luke 21:25–36, facilitated by Jan Irvin.
• Parenting Circle: Sharing Thanksgivings, Joys and Concerns, facilitated by Frances Irvin.
• Seekers: “Advent,” the Rev. Christiane Dutton leads us in a deeper appreciation of Advent.

Additional worship, classes, 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. November 24 Taizé service will be followed at 8:15 by a time celebrating birthdays, milestones, and anniversaries in September. Do you celebrate a birthday, milestone or anniversary in September?Write it down and put it in the collection plate! We’d like to celebrate with you.
• 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.
• Wednesday Connections for Adults: Note there are no Wednesday Connections classes on November 25; classes will resume on December 2.
• Spirituality 101: Two sessions are available for this six week class: Monday afternoons at 1:30 and Monday evenings at 7:00. With Dr. Lois Lang. See more information below.

ELPC weekly news highlights

Hope Academy Winter Concert, December 6, 3:00 pm
Please join us for a free concert! Hope Academy of Music and the Arts will present its Winter Concert on Sunday, Dec 6 at 3 pm in the Sanctuary. Performers include students from Musical Theater, HAT Co, Voices of Hope ensembles, EL CEO (our community orchestra) and more.

Christmas Giving Tree — Nov 29 and Dec 6
Each year, the Deacons organize the Christmas Giving Tree to benefit children and families from EECM, our ELPC Mission Ministry and the Christian Education Ministry. On Sundays, Nov 29 and Dec 6, the Giving Tree will be set up near the Highland Ave entrance from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, and on Wednesdays, Dec 2 and 9 following Taizé. Stop by the Giving Tree, select a tag, and leave your name and phone number on the donor tag. Wrapped gifts, with tags, are due back to the church office no later than noon on Sunday, Dec 13. If you’d like to make a monetary donation, checks may be made payable to “ELPC Giving Tree,” and dropped off at the church office.

Presbyterian Women Horizons Bible Study, December 1, 10 am
Join us for our December Horizons Bible Study, at 10 am in the Second Floor Parlor, as we continue our journey through Joshua. Joan Heckel will lead our lesson, “The Land of Promise, or the Promised Land?” (Joshua 1:2-3, 10-15; 5:10-12). A potluck lunch follows. Please bring a salad or snack to share along with your own place setting. Beverages and soup are provided. Call Mary Alice Lightle, (412) 682-1504 for details.

Cookies needed
If you enjoy baking, please help out by making some cookies to take when carolers go to the Allegheny County Jail on Saturday, December 12. Call Mary Alice Lightle, (412) 682-1504, to learn more about this mission of justice.

What’s new in ELPC’s library?
“Prayer is the chief exercise of faith,” writes John Calvin. Look in the ELPC Library New Arrivals section for:

• Great Prayers of the Old Testament, by Walter Brueggmann;
• Prayers for Life, by Nancy P. Brummett and June Eaton;
• Talking to God: Portrait of a World at Prayer, edited by John Gattuso.

Spirituality 101: Growing Closer to God (6-week class)
Would you like to feel closer to God and more aware of God’s presence in your life? Often different ways of praying can help us to accomplish this. This class will focus on various forms of prayer, choosing different prayer forms each week. Join us on Monday afternoons, 1:30 - 3:00 or Monday evenings, 7:00 - 8:30. (And if you can’t come to all of the classes, that’s OK!) For more information, contact Lois Lang, (412) 441-3800 x41.

ELPC ministry volunteers needed
Are you interested in becoming involved with the ministry of ELPC? We need some extra hands to help in these areas. Please call Amanda Nolan, (412) 441-3800 x34.

• Sunday office worker, from 9:00 - 10:55 and from 12:15 - 12:30 pm, once every four weeks. Greet members and visitors in the front office, make copies, assist with attendance and offering records, and distribute mail.
• Noontime weekday hospitality worker, from 12:30 - 2:00 pm, once every 1 - 2 weeks. Greet visitors and members at the front desk, supervises sign-in, answer and forward telephone calls, administer key log.
• Landscape team member. Assist with planting and cleaning of plant beds, mow lawns, trim shrubs, rake leaves, pick up litter, etc.

Errata
Wil Forrest, who delivered the message at the November 22 Good Samaritan service, was incorrectly identified in last week’s Flash as being a former member; he in fact is a current member of ELPC and serves on the church’s Board of Deacons; he is also Youth Director at Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Green Tree.

And... A Happy Thanksgiving to all!

ELPC in the Community

East End Cooperative Ministries Men’s Shelter
The Deacons are collecting socks, gloves, and hats for EECM’s Men's Shelter. Donations may be left in the hallway baskets. Thank you for your support!

East End Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry
November’s “Food of the Month” is Instant Mashed Potatoes.