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Christian Education at East Liberty Presbyterian Church

View the summer calendar (PDF)Christian Education (CE) offers classes and events for all ages--from infants to adults. It is is the life-long process of learning and living in relationship to God, our neighbors, and ourselves. All CE classes meet for Church School Hour on Sunday mornings from 9:45 - 10:45 from early September through early June unless otherwise noted. You can also sign up for our weekly E-News to get reminders of upcoming classes, or view our calendar. Youth and families: View the Summer 2013 Youth Calendar.

Our Wednesday evening Club 116 offers an evening of fellowship, study and worship for people of all ages. There will be homework help, open gym, educational workshops, dinner, and Bible Study each week. Read more on the Club 116 page or

We encourage you to try different courses and programs to find the best fit for you in your faith walk. Through the study of scripture and the practice of prayer, we begin to understand our life experiences as they relate to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Come and join us! Your questions, insights, doubts, and concerns are welcome. If you're not sure where to begin, , Associate Pastor of Educational Ministries.

Adult Christian Education

Contemporaries, second floor parlor

The Contemporaries are an intergenerational fellowship of Christians seeking to live faithfully in the 21st Century. We encourage one another to grow spiritually and carry out ministries of compassion, mission, panel dialogue and justice. Facilitated by Joe Kennedy and Mary Alice Lightle. Meets in the Second Floor Parlor unless otherwise noted.

  • Contemporaries class is on break for the summer!
  • September 8, Rally Day! Mark your calendars for our annual fall gathering when our regular worship and CE classes resume.

Journey with Scripture, second floor library

This class follows the three-year Sunday Revised Common Lectionary cycle of scripture readings and provides opportunity for reflection and response. Come practice the basic spiritual discipline of reading both the Hebrew and New Testament scriptures together. God calls its readers, through the Holy Spirit, to be enfolded into the work and body of Christ – a life of grace and a life of service. Jan Lyle Irvin (M.A. in Biblical Studies), facilitates the class. Prior knowledge of the scriptures is not necessary for participation. View the Sunday or daily lectionaries online.

June: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ  (Galatians 1:3).  This greeting from Paul's letter can be read as both a kind farewell to the past nine months of reading and reflecting on scripture together in our small group, and also as an encouraging send-off for the upcoming summer.  In Christ may we all experience such abiding love. 

  • Journey with Scripture is on break for the summer!
  • September 8, Rally Day: Mark your calendars for our annual fall gathering when our regular worship and CE classes resume.

Parenting Circle, Harambe room (first floor)Parenting Circle

Parenting Circle meets the first Sunday of the month in an informal gathering. We are a group for anyone involved in parenting: singles, couples, adoptive parents, step-parents, grandparents, guardians, mentors, etc. In monthly meetings and informal get-togethers, we share experiences, resources, prayer and scripture. We explore how our faith builds and nourishes our family lives and helps nurture our parent/child relationships. We learn from one another ways to foster closer family relationships in the context of creating active faith communities. All are welcome to join us!

Upcoming meeting dates to be announced. If you have any questions or comments . Facilitated by Pam Walaski.

Seekers, room 234

“The History of Bells,” with Jim Cover. Church bells have always been a part of our culture. Jim Cover will tell us how bells are made, how they differ from one another, and the role that they have played in our culture. Seekers wish to grow in religious understanding, insight, faith, and practice. ELPC's Seekers classes create a space for spiritual, intellectual, and experiential exploration. Participants have been interested in theological breadth, interfaith understanding, psychological and religious development, and progressive Christian activism. Together we seek a broad, inclusive dialogue, experience, and theology. All viewpoints are welcome and encouraged at our classes. Facilitated by Gwen Puza. Meets in room 234 unless otherwise noted.

  • Seekers class is on break for the summer!
  • September 8, Rally Day: Mark your calendars for our annual fall gathering when our regular worship and CE classes resume.

Soul Food, Pastor’s Conference Room (second floor)

Discover new ways to feed your spirit and live into the fullness that God offers each one of us. Facilitated by Joe Hajdu. Meets in the Pastor’s conference room, second floor.

  • June 23: Soul Food class meets Sunday, June 23 after the 10:00 worship service for a summer review discussion of Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality.
  • September 8, Rally Day: Mark your calendars for our annual fall gathering when our regular worship and CE classes resume.

Young Adults, Room 244

The Young Adults Ministry offers those in their 20s and 30s a range of opportunities to come together, share, learn and grow as Christians. All adults in their 20s and 30s--married, single, partnered, with or without children--are welcome to join! YAMs joined together this spring for a series of Sunday School classes focusing on what happens after we die, beginning with celebrated writer Rob Bell’s most recent tome, Love Wins. (View a preview of Love Wins in Google Books). Stay tuned for fall programming TBA. Contact Wil Forrest with questions.

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Youth (6th though 12th grade)

View the Summer 2013 Youth Calendar
  • Junior High Youth: Youth in grades 6-8 are invited to join teachers Carolyn Russ and Bill Johnson in room 341 for Biblical study based on the Feasting on the Word curriculum, which focuses lessons on readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
  • Senior High Youth: Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to join teachers Nicole Molinaro-Karaczun, Eddie and Jen Wilson in room 343 for a topical exploration of our faith using We Believe, the PC(USA)’s denominational curriculum for youth..
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Children (Kindergarten through 5th grade) and young children (infant through pre-K)

  • Young Children’s Ministry: Children from birth through age 3 (who have not started pre-school) gather in the nursery for a simple faith lesson and a time of free play. Our Young Children’s Ministry team, including parents and staff, serve the youngest children at ELPC by creating a loving environment that nurtures each child’s faith through developmentally appropriate activities. Jane Anabe and Candice Zawoiski are our ELPC Childcare Workers. The nursery is open from 8:30-12:30 each Sunday. During Extended Session, 11:30 to 12:00, teachers will include faith-based programming. We are pleased to offer a new curriculum this year, “Wee Believe.”
  • Preschool: Preschool age children (age 3-5) join teachers Jan Pressman, Mary Ruth Johnson and Vanessa Johnson in Room 240 for an interactive exploration of Biblical stories with the help of the Gospel Light curriculum. A light snack is served.
  • Kindergarten and first graders: Join teachers Valire Carr Copeland, Roberta London, and Judy Menk in Room 336 to explore Biblical stories through the use of the Godly Play curriculum. A light snack is served.
  • Second and third graders: Join teachers Carol Hoehn and Joyce Martinelli in room 338 to explore Biblical stories through the use of the Godly Play curriculum. A light snack is served.
  • Fourth and fifth graders: Join teachers Linda Benedict and Kay Shissler in room 335 to explore the Biblical stories based on the Revised Common Lectionary through the use of the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum.

Children’s activities during the 11:00 am service:

  • All children are invited to the Chancel steps for their special time with a member of our Pastoral staff during the 11 am service each week. Children hear a special lesson and have prayer time together.
  • After the children’s time on the steps, those in preschool through first grade are welcome to participate in our Extended Session program, where they are excused from the Sanctuary. The scripture for each week is explored through story and craft activity and a light snack is shared. Classes are led by a group of ELPC parent volunteers and are coordinated by ELPC Educational Ministries Assistant Katie Mohr. Children are asked to bring a green “ticket” (available at the 11:00 service) with them each week to Extended Session so that our volunteers are aware of their names, parent/caregiver, and any special needs. New families are asked to accompany their children to Extended Session for the first time and complete a registration form.
  • Children who are younger than preschool age are invited to go to the Nursery following the Children’s message. The nursery is available from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Parents or caregivers are asked to accompany their child to the nursery in person and drop the child off before returning to worship.
  • Kids’ Corner: Children in second grade or older (or younger children who choose to stay in worship for the entire service) are invited to visit our “Kid’s Corner” near the East Transept doors. There are activity sheets that will engage older children in the service, as well as Youth Bulletins and Bibles for readers of all ages.
Read more about childcare options

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Young adults (20’s & 30’s) View the YAM webpage for upcoming activities

Young adults in their 20’s & 30’s are an important and dynamic part of our church life. Whether you are single or married, living alone or in a group, working, job hunting, in college, or a little bit of everything, we welcome you! This can be a time of great change in your life, and so we offer a range of small and large group activities especially for those in this exciting (and sometimes scary!) time in your lives.

Young adults may choose from any of the adults Sunday School classes. For information on young adult-specific offerings, please click to the young adults page. If you’re a young adult and not sure where to start, , Coordinator of the Young Adults Ministry, for more information or view the Young Adults’ Facebook page.

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