VOL 03 ISSUE 01 SEPTEMBER the good news MEMORIAL PARK CHURCH

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1 VOL 03 ISSUE 01 SEPTEMBER 2018 the good news MEMORIAL PARK CHURCH

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3 what s inside A Message from Pastor Dean Memorial Park Christian Preschool TRU Kids Student IMPACT Women s Ministries Men s Ministries Senior Ministries Prayer & Care Music & Arts Groups & Membership Adult Classes Missions & Outreach A Message from the Deacons Stewardship & Financials Employee Milestones

4 02 PASTOR MESSAGE Come As You Are: Kicking off the New Year at Memorial Park Church BY PASTOR DEAN WEAVER September 8 & 9 marks the beginning of the new ministry year at Memorial Park, and you are invited to come as you are to be a part of God s growing family! Each year, we kick off a new year of worship, classes, events, and more the weekend after Labor Day, but 2018 marks a special kick off as we move towards more intentional intergenerational worship. In an effort to bring kids, teens, adults, and seniors together as a church family, we have changed the structure of our weekend worship. First and foremost, our desire is for all people, young and old alike, to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Our mission is inviting you into a life changing, ever growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just you, but your entire family, too. We believe that producing long lasting faith is so vital that we ve changed our services to accommodate these goals. We also hope to encourage everyone, from birth to when we enter glory, to be in a regular habit of study. With these goals in mind, we are kicking off a new worship structure this fall. Services will be offered on Saturday Nights at 6:00 p.m. in our Clayton Community Youth Center, providing an opportunity to sing God's praises, pray for one another, and seek to apply the Word of God to our lives. A full band leads us in a wide variety of worship songs and hymns; and the service features a time of community prayer and the same Biblical message you'll hear on Sunday morning. The atmosphere is casual and laid back, including a meal after the service on the first Saturday of each month. On Sunday mornings is where we ll see the most exciting changes. At Sunday Services (9:00 & 11:15 a.m.) in the Memorial Park Sanctuary, we gather together as the whole family of God to worship and grow as His disciples. At both services, you will experience an uplifting mixture of music that may include both rich hymns and powerful worship songs. Our deepest desire is to glorify God in worship, and we love to utilize the many gifts of our members and all instruments including our organ, piano, instrumental ensembles, worship band, vocalists, and choir. During the 9:00 a.m. service, children will join their parents in worship to sing their praise and greet one another. This provides kids an opportunity to learn how to worship as a family while still hearing a Biblical message geared towards children. Childcare for newborns through Kindergarten age will be available during this service, and children in grades 1 5 will be dismissed before the message for their own ageappropriate worship time. At the 11:15 a.m. service, we will join together as a church family for intergenerational worship for the entire service. Childcare for newborns through Kindergarten age will be available at this service, but we encourage parents to worship together with their older children. New this year is our Discipleship Hour from 10:10 11:00 a.m. This designated time is an opportunity for people of all ages to grow in their faith by participating in our education opportunities. Childcare is offered for newborns 12 month olds, TRU Kids classes are offered for children ages 1 through fifth grade, teens have an opportunity to engage in Student IMPACT for middle school and high school, and adults are encouraged to sign up for a Sunday morning Adult Class, of which we have many options. This time allows each member and visitor to grow in their faith as one church family. We are very excited about the new Sunday Morning Worship format and can t wait to begin this Sunday, September 9! For more information, visit us on the web at memorialparkchurch.org or check out what s happening in the new monthly publication, The Bridge, which you can pick up in the Connections Corner near the Café. We hope to see you this fall at Memorial Park!

5 03 PRESCHOOL The Year Begins: Updates from Memorial Park Christian Preschool BY JAN MORETH You ll see more children than usual beginning on Monday, September 10, as we welcome new and returning students to the first week of school at Memorial Park Christian Preschool. We expect a combination of tears and smiles that week, with most of the tears coming from moms! Our parent and student orientations will have helped all family members become more familiar with the school and our policies and established a starting rapport between families and school. How grateful we are to be an outreach arm of this church, reaching across the street as well as down the road to our neighbors! ALL sizes are welcomed! Please refrain from dropping off flip flops because their construction doesn t allow much use time. Won t you join us in this huge effort? There is GOOD news on the shoe front! Each October we highlight the collection of shoes for an organization called Soles for Jesus (check out their website for inspiration!), whose mission it is to place shoes on the feet and the gospel in the hands of those who need both in African countries. Because our shipments over the past nine years have increased steadily, we are now sending out two shipments in each calendar year. Since 2015 we have shipped over 30,000 pairs of shoes to Milwaukee then on to one of the African countries! Who knew that God s people would respond faithfully and generously? Each country receiving shoes must submit a detailed plan as to how shoes will be received, inventoried, and then distributed into villages and small towns. As our shipments have grown, so have contributions from other schools and churches such that MANY countries in Africa are now receiving a second delivery. Collection boxes sit beside the hallway entrance to the preschool and inside the Clayton Center. During the entire month of October, we hope to fill, empty, refill, empty again, and keep repeating the process. New and lightly used shoes of

6 04 KIDS A New Year: Coming up in Children s Ministries BY JESSICA PARKER As we prepare to kick off the new school year with Move Up Day on September 9, excitement builds for the months ahead! Children s Ministries is thrilled to have our elementary students participating in worship with their families. These intergenerational worship services will be so meaningful for families to grow spiritually together. We are also excited to introduce TRU Explore times to our early childhood classes. During the 9:00 and 11:15 services in TRU Explore, our young kids will experience hands on activities that build on the morning lessons, leaving them with an even stronger knowledge of that day s Ponder Point (the key truth about God for the day). Lastly, at the Discipleship Hour, all of our TRU Kids children (infants through fifth graders) will be spiritually fed, learning about The Big God Story (the Bible lesson) and respond to God in creative ways. We are bringing on several new TRU Kids volunteers this year to lead these newly structured programs, with a total volunteer team of around fifty people. We praise God that so many people in our congregation feel called to serve our ministry, but we always have room for more! Children s Ministries has many of our traditional events lined up again this fall. Breakout Sessions our program to disciple fourth and fifth graders begins at the end of September and runs for eight weeks. There will be another communal infant baptism celebration in October, so if you want to have your child baptized, register on the MPC website today! We will once again present Bibles to our class of first graders in October, providing both students and parents with tools to incorporate Bible reading into everyday life. Lastly, we give children the opportunity to serve through Operation Christmas Child, where families pack shoeboxes with gifts for underprivileged children around the world. In addition to all these happenings this fall season, we have two new events that we are very excited for! The first is our Parenting Conference Webcast, featuring pastor and best selling author Dr. Paul David Tripp! Paul presents four gospelcentered principles that will radically change the way you raise your children. We hope each parent will see the value in this, as we receive biblical and practical wisdom together to encourage us in our parenting walks. If you are considering joining us, save the date for September 29! Lastly, Children s Ministries will host a Family Fun Night on October 5, designed to engage intergenerational fun and spiritual growth. We ll have dinner and activities that will create a memorable night for your family. We are very excited for our families to experience these transformative fall events! We welcome and appreciate your prayers and support for the start of another new year.

7 05 TEENS IMPACTing Teens: Coming up in Student IMPACT BY RYAN PIETRYGA There is a lot of excitement surrounding the fall for Student IMPACT this year! We will be kicking off the year with a Foam Party for all middle school and high students on September 9 from 6:30 8:30 p.m. in the Clayton Center. The event will include food, games, door prizes, a live DJ, and a foam cannon. Middle School IMPACT is ready to start another exciting year of ministry! We are kicking off our Wednesday Night youth group with a Taco Party that you won t want to miss. We are starting off the year with a challenge to form good friendships as we enter a new school year. We are also excited for the Sixth Grade Bible Presentation happening during the 9:00 a.m. service on September 23. We are inviting all rising sixth graders and their families to be celebrated by the whole congregation as they enter this new season of life. This October be on the lookout for the Middle School girls and guys small groups that meet during the week. These are a chance for those who cannot make the normal Wednesday meetings, or those who just want to go deeper, to come together for great discussion and fun. Also coming this October is our annual Pumpkin Olympics. This is a fun night of pumpkin themed games and fellowship that is always a highlight of the year. up as well! The MPC Selects, Student IMPACT s inline hockey team, will also kick off their season in October. Everyone is invited to come out and support them as they look to defend their North Park Inline Championship Title this season! Games are played at the Wildwood Sports Park off of Wildwood Road in the same facility where RAW training is held. Students will have the chance to enjoy the fall season when we take a trip up to Irons Mill Farmstead on Saturday, October 20 for a fun night of corn mazes, a bonfire, and games! The highlight of the fall season is just around the corner: Laurelville! Here are the dates for both weekends: MS Laurelville: Nov 9 11 HS Laurelville: Nov We are excited for all that is happening in Student Ministry this fall! The first High School youth group of the year will be September 16 where By the Wayside coffee truck will be joining us! Students will have fellowship, fun, and start off the new series titled Gray Areas: Finding Truth when Life isn t Black and White. This will be a great and challenging series for our high school students! As October starts up, so do small groups! High School Guys Group will kick off the first Tuesday of the month. High School Girls Group (day TBD) will also be starting

8 06 WOMEN Willing and Open Hearts Welcome! Join Women s Ministries This Fall BY MICHELE HOLMES & JOLEEN CLOUSE Was your summer refreshing, ladies? Or was it one long, hot stretch of months? I m guessing that either way, you re all ready for autumn to arrive. It s funny that so many of us look forward to summer for so long, savoring our plans for get aways and time in the sun and delicious corn on the cob. But then after June, July, and August pass, we re ready to close the book on those things and start something new. And the smell of leaves and warm apple pie is even more tantalizing than summer sun and corn on the cob. So, if you re ready for something new, we d love for you to check out what God is doing in Women s Ministries this fall. He simply has the best things in store for us, and I am praying that you are willing to step into them with us! While Sunday mornings now offer a whole host of exciting new adult classes, Women s Ministries classes will still be held throughout the week as they have been. Consider joining us for one of the many options we offer on Monday mornings, Wednesday mornings, Wednesday nights, and Saturday mornings to get your mid week boost with the Lord and with your church family! Details and registration for all new classes can be found in the e mail you received in late August or on the web site at mpcepc.org/women. We are also joining together for service and fellowship this fall with a Service Night at RePurposed planned for late September, a Girls Night In held at MPC featuring a jewelry make and take event with the ladies from Aliquippa s Uncommon Ground Café, and a bulk cooking event to benefit Living in Liberty just before Thanksgiving. These nights are designed to allow us to spend time together in a relaxed setting while also serving others outside the walls of our church. And do us a quick favor mark November 2 & 3 on your calendar right now because you don t want to miss this year s Christmas Spree, Coffee & Tea! MPC will become a winter wonderland where you will have the chance to do some Christmas shopping (so many new crafters are joining us!) and support many non profits at the same time. Did you know that the proceeds made at the Spree go right into the hands of local and international non profit groups who are growing God s kingdom? Not only that, but you ll have the chance to enjoy beautiful Christmas music, snack on free cookies, and purchase delicious homemade soup all for a great cause! Keep your eye out for the many ways you can help make this year s Christmas Spree an unbelievable success. We expect to open our doors to over 1,000 people in our community, and we know we can t possibly do it without the willing and generous hearts of our church family! Did you just read all of this and think this all sounds great, but I don t know anybody, so I don t know if I should sign up? Or maybe you d love to start a new Bible study, but you think you have to have a lot of Bible knowledge to attend. Or maybe you re wondering if your ability to bake, or make phone calls, or cook soup, or sing could ever be of use to God s kingdom? We re inviting you to come as you are no need to try to get your whole act together before joining us! Just come with a willing and open heart. The Lord is up to new things this fall, and we want to experience them with you.

9 07 MEN Men s Breakfasts Are Back! Saturday Mornings at MPC BY DAVE DANIEL September marks the second year of our Saturday morning breakfasts with the Joshua League. We have another great lineup of speakers to add their unique perspectives to the proceedings. Batting first is former Pittsburgh Pirate Mike McHenry, who will bring us all a little closer to the game than we can get sitting in the stands. He will also tell us how his faith intersects with his skills as a professional athlete. These breakfasts are a fun time to get to know other members of our team, the body of Christ, hear a word of encouragement and of challenge from leaders in the Christian community. It is a good opportunity to introduce starters and draft picks alike to the goings on at the church in an informal setting. All men are invited, and are encouraged to bring friends, neighbors, and seekers. The first pitch is at 8:00 a.m. on September 15, and a hearty meal will be served. Please sign up on MPC Connect, so we can have enough hot dogs and popcorn. Check out the Men s page of the Memorial Park website for upcoming speakers and other ways you can get involved in Men s Ministries here at MPC. Get Involved with Men In Action We welcome and encourage men of all ages to connect with one another and Christ. We seek to become God honoring men, not just in church, but in our homes, workplace, and community. We offer a wide range of activities designed to bring men together, from classes and Bible studies, sports outings and a softball league, to prayer groups and monthly breakfasts. One of the ways we offer to get involved in the life of the church is through our Men In Action group. The function of this group is to help complete handy man projects for people in need. To join the group or request help, contact Jeff McManus (jeffmar@zoominternet.net) and Scot Kurtz (scotkurtzarchitect@gmail.com). A few of our upcoming projects are: MPC New Shed Installation: Date TBD MPC is purchasing a new shed to be placed behind the garbage dumpsters. A crew of 3 4 men is needed to put the shed together. MPC Parking Lot Crew for Christmas Spree: November 2 & 3, 2018 A crew of 3 4 men is needed to assist in directing traffic in the parking lot and assisting with clean up after the Christmas Spree in November. To sign up or view a full list of projects, visit the Men s Ministries page of the MPC website at mpcepc.org/men.

10 08 SENIORS Growing Older in God s Family: Senior Ministries this fall BY PASTOR KAREN ANDERSON This fall brings some exciting changes in our ministry for Senior adults thanks to decisions made by our wonderful Senior Ministry Team. First is changing the name of our monthly luncheons from Celebration of Life to 2 nd Thursday Senior Community Luncheons. This change was made so that those outside our church family would be able to recognize immediately what this event was and who it was for older adults both inside and outside the church membership. We are publishing this event in community newsletters in the hopes of attracting new folks to our church. Another exciting change to the luncheons is that we will be adding a December Christmas party luncheon to this year s schedule. It will feature games similar to last May s luncheon and a Christmas carol sing. A not so exciting change is that we will be raising the cost of the luncheons to $8 to cover the rising expense of food and beverages. Meals will continue to include an entrée, beverage, and dessert. A reminder, please always register and pay for the luncheons by the Sunday preceding the luncheon. You can do this by registering after worship in the Connections Corner on the two Sundays before the luncheon, or by calling Dee Cuffman at the church (x128) and sending in a check. Of course, once you attend the luncheon you can register for the next month at the luncheon. We are also pleased to announce that our Primetimers ministry is expanding to include a fourth assisted living facility to our ministry. At this time, we do monthly worship services at Vincentian Home (first Monday), Hampton Fields (third Thursday), and Cumberland Crossing (fourth Thursday) from September to June. This September we will begin visiting the Haven of North Hills on the first Thursday of the month. Primetimers involved around 25 volunteers along with the talents of three singing groups in the last year. The residents of these facilities enjoy singing the hymns, plus hearing the special music and preaching that these volunteers bring with them each month not to mention the fellowship and love of Christ. Starting September 13, a Bible study for Seniors will begin to meet in the Geneva Room every Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. for 10 weeks. The class is entitled Growing Older in God s Family and will feature stand alone lessons that one can drop in on at any time. Subjects include: Continuing Significance, Being in the Right Place at the Right Time, and Building a Godly Heritage, among others. All topics are discussed within a scriptural context. We hope you can join us for our exciting opportunities this fall!

11 09 PRAYER & CARE Prayer & Care at MPC BY PASTOR KEVIN GOURLEY As we approach fall and the academic year, the Pastors, Session, and Staff are praying that Memorial Park Church would continue to grow deeper in our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that we will take advantage of the Discipleship Classes offered between our Sunday 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Worship Services. Dallas Willard says, the word disciple occurs 269 time in the New Testament. The word Christian is found only 3 times and was first introduced to refer precisely to the disciples. Not only is corporate discipleship needed in terms of discipleship classes, but personal spiritual disciplines are needed to grow deeper in Christ. I would like to offer some basic tools for personal discipleship: Of course, the greatest book ever written is the Bible, which is our source of God s special revelation to both the Church and to each of us personally. At the top of my list is the NIV Study Bible. This is one of the best Study Bibles and its translation is the one we use in our classes and sermons at MPC; it is readable, understandable, and is a dynamic translation of the original language. The study notes are invaluable. Next is the Reformed Study Bible, which is a more word for word literalist translation that is good for in depth study with theological and applicable study notes. The Message by Eugene Peterson is not a translation of the Bible, but a modern day paraphrase that is more readable and gives a unique up to date understanding of Scripture. The New Testament is a definite read in this paraphrase! There are 3 devotionals that I would recommend that many at MPC use on a regular basis: The first is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. This was the first devotional given to me while I was in Seminary. It is an absolute classic written almost 100 years ago, but with relevant and deep messages for today. The next is a modern day classic called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Christians from all over the world are reading this in their own language! My wife Betsy and I have used this in our private devotions together for many years, and God speaks to us through it. Finally, I would recommend Kenneth Boa s Handbook to Prayer Praying Scriptures Back to God. My older brother gave this to me when I turned 50 (almost 12 years ago!) and it is the one essential book that has taught me how to pray scripturally. I have given many people, including our Deacons, this book over the years. Again, I hope you will invest the time and energy into the most important eternal discipline we have spiritual growth through regular Worship, our Discipleship Hour, and Personal Spiritual Disciplines!

12 10 MUSIC & ARTS Music & Arts Opportunities BY JIM LUEERS Are you an ear?! News from the Sound Booth We are excited about the many ways our ministry is allowing MPC to reach the world for Christ! Each week, three volunteers at the sound booth in the back of the Sanctuary run the sound board, videotape the service, and display visual elements during worship. Following the service, we upload the audio to our podcast, edit the service for broadcast on the Pittsburgh Faith and Family Channel available online, and release the sermon on our YouTube channel. If you are ever away from Pittsburgh, you can stay connected by catching the sermon live on our Facebook page at about 9:30 a.m. DVD copies of the services are available for check out in the new Library across from the Huston Room. We hope you will use these opportunities to share our services with friends and family! You can help us spread the good news of Jesus Christ! To join the A/V crew contact Michael McAdams at and learn some fun new technical skills! Are you a mouth?! Presbytery Choir, September 21 Calling all singers! Start the year with a bang by joining in a worship service of the Presbytery of the Alleghenies on Friday, September 21. This worship event will be an opportunity for our Band, Choir, and Ensemble to join with our denominational pastors and elders in joyful praise and meaningful vision for the church. The service is open to everyone and one thing that is so amazing is to hear how fervently our pastors sing! Open to the whole congregation, we would love to invite singers to join the choir. We only have two rehearsals before the date: September 13 and 20 at 7:00 p.m. The service will be on Friday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. For more information contact jlueers@mpcepc.org Are you a leg?! Get moving with the Lancaster Fall Theater Excursion Mark your calendars for October 19 & 20 to see Jesus in Lancaster! Join MPC for a bus trip to see the new dynamic musical Jesus at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The trip cost of $295 includes: charter motor coach transportation, continental breakfast for both days, dinner at the Hershey Farm Inn, a ticket to the show, and deluxe accommodations at Homewood Suites. We will also be stopping at Hershey's Chocolate World and you have the opportunity for an additional excursion for either Kitchen Kettle Village shopping or The Amish Experience. Contact Jim Lueers at jlueers@mpcepc.org or (412) x118 for more information or with questions. Register online at mpcepc.org/music arts by September 27. Come be a part! Worship Services Schedule Saturday Night Worship 6:00 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Some Startup Dates: Hand Bells 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 11 Encore Men Singers 9:30 a.m. Thursday, September 13 Melody Makers 7:30 p.m. Monday, September 17 For more information on Worship and Arts groups contact Jim Lueers at jlueers@mpcepc.org

13 11 LIFE GROUPS (New) LIFE Groups One change you may have noticed as of late is the transition of the name NEWLIFE Group Ministry to Life Groups. Life. Together. The vision for our groups remains: Grow in our faith as we apply God s Word to our lives, care for one another through the victories and struggles in life, connect with God and others within authentic community. Our hope is to establish LIFE Groups in our neighborhoods. However, we also understand the challenges of bringing a group together. If you are part of a LIFE Group that is already set on a time and place, fantastic! Keep up the good work! For those of us experiencing the challenge of coming together, we are excited to host Wednesday nights at the church for people looking to join a group, needing childcare, or groups in need of space to meet. This designated time will be an opportunity to gather in prayer, fellowship, and discussion as we engage in a series provided by RightNow Media. Please join us on the second and fourth Wednesday nights, starting September 26, for 6 weeks from 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. in the Huston Room. Childcare also available, but you must RSVP. If you re interested, please contact me by e mail at jscott@mpcepc.org or give me a call! Membership Inquiry Class BY JASON SCOTT Our church is not only growing spiritually, but in numbers! Over the course of a year, we have added 49 people as members of MPC. One of my greatest joys is to witness one of our guests become a member of our church, engage in their faith through discipleship opportunities, and participate in serving the church and beyond. And along the way, find ingcommunity. Growing as a community is something we should celebrate as a whole church. REJOICE! AND AGAIN, I SAY REJOICE! As the church works together, we are promised that it will grow (Ephesians 4). So, my many thanks to you for the part you have played in fulfilling the mission at MPC, Inviting people into a life changing and ever growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Membership starts with a connection. That connection comes largely in part through our people, the various ministries we offer, and what takes place during our worship services. Beginning this September, we are intentionally focusing on connecting with the people God brings through the doors of Memorial Park Church. Through our new Connections Team, we will be engaging more fully in our efforts to link each person that walks in the doors at MPC, to a person and ministry that can help them grow spiritually and in community. This team not only helps people in deciding that next step in their faith, but even helps people find their faith. This intentionality moves beyond being welcomed, to building a sense of belonging. Remember a time when you felt like an outsider, and the moment you felt accepted into the group. Every person that walks through the doors of MPC on Sunday is a divine appointment to love and serve in the name of Jesus. Challenge: Invite one person to the membership class. Whether you are part of Men s Ministries, Women s Ministries, a LIFE Group, Senior Ministries, Children s Ministries, an Adult Class, an Outreach Ministry, or in another way, extend an invitation be it to a neighbor, friend, or co worker to come to the membership class. Encourage someone to Come As You Are, bring their questions, and then decide for themselves. Our next gathering will be Sunday, October 7 in the Preschool s Purple Room, from 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (during the Discipleship Hour) for 4 weeks. Call or e mail to sign up today!

14 12 ADULT CLASSES New Adult Discipleship Format BY PASTOR BESTY RUMER We are so excited to introduce you to our new Discipleship Hour that begins on Sunday morning September 9 th. We will be expanding our teaching to an every Sunday morning format from 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and we hope you will make this a regular part of your weekly worship. Here is what our new class structure will look like for the 2018/2019 year: Session 1: 8 Weeks 9/9 10/28 Session 2: 8 Weeks 11/4 12/23 Session 3: 8 Weeks 1/6 2/24 into God s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to work in and through us to bring about personal transformation as well as transformation to the world! A list of class options can be found in the new Connections Corner or on our website. Registration is open now and also can be done in person at the Connections Corner or online. Going Deeper through Sermon Study: The Letter to Ephesians Instructor: Rev. Kevin Gourley This class is designed for those who long to go deeper in their understanding of the Bible. Utilizing the sermon of the week, this class will undertake a more detailed exposition of the scripture text. Session 1 Adult Classes Men s Class: The Book of James Instructor: Elder Rick Corliss Pastor and author Francis Chan unpacks the Book of James with a verse by verse look to help us see that true faith ought to produce fruit. A faith without action and without life change is ultimately a dead faith. Session 4: 7 Weeks 3/3 4/14 Session 5: 7 Weeks 5/5 6/16 Session 6: 7 Weeks 7/7 8/18 The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard Instructor: Elder Roger Rumer Book Cost: $11 Dallas Willard presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life. The Spirit of the Disciplines is for everyone who strives to be a disciple of Jesus in thought and action as well as intention. 1 Thessalonians 2: Effective Discipleship While Persevering in Faith Instructor: Elder Pete Pugliese This class will be a Bible Study format that focuses in on the powerful verses found in Chapter 2 of 1 Thessalonians. The Gospel of John Instructor: Rhea Christopher Inductive Bible Study of the Gospel of John. Every year we will have 6 consecutive sessions of classes with each class lasting at least 7 or 8 weeks (see above diagram). During each session there will be several class options with the hope that throughout the year there will be something for everyone at all times. We hope that you will join us as we lean Old Testament Survey Instructor: Martha Daniel God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gospel, in fact, finds its roots in the beginning pages of Genesis, and God s redemptive plan is lovingly and graciously revealed throughout the tumultuous history of the Old Testament. Discover how God worked through the lives of faithful men and women to extend His hand to us and draw us to Himself. We will see how all 39 books fit together into one straightforward story of God s redeeming work.

15 13 MISSIONS & OUTREACH Neighbors Near and Far BY PAUL HOUSMAN Visits from our Missionaries We have enjoyed several of our mission partners here lately. The Muckle family from Spain was staying at our mission house. The Umaña family from Honduras had a wonderful mission report with Latin Lattes and American Pies in Westminster Hall. The Shraders from North Africa gave a mission moment. Arturo and Elizabeth Velasco from Mexico City came to surprise Don Creasy when we celebrated his retirement from faithful service at MPC. Mirna Sotomayor and Diana Garrett from the Mexican Gulf Coast were here for a few weeks. Our mission partners work incredibly hard at inviting people into a life changing and ever growing relationship with Jesus Christ in areas that we can t reach on our own. You make a difference when you cover them in prayer and when you give your tithes and special offerings to provide needed financial support. Your kind interactions with them while they are here and visiting them on our mission trips are such a blessing, as well. We are a giving church and it makes a real difference for time and eternity. PRISM Garage Giveaway This year your generous donations filled a larger than usual U Haul truck over two times for the Pittsburgh Region International Student Ministries (PRISM) Garage Giveaway! PRISM is a ministry to international students coming to college in Pittsburgh. This year, they had 425 students from 25 different countries. 40 students signed up for friendship partners and 20 signed up to be in a discovery Bible study. 140 students came back to the welcome dinner the next evening and many are signed up for other fall activities that will allow them to connect with Christians in local churches. Thanks so much for your amazing support! Please pray for successful follow up. Lord, bring many more to the throne of grace through these ministry efforts! For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

16 14 MISSIONS & OUTREACH / DEACONS Clothing collections Our annual Coat Collection for North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) is happening now through October 12. NHCO provides coats to low income families in need. Help support this cause by bringing in your new and/or gently worn, clean winter coats! Our New Hope EPC Clothing Drive is also happening starting September 23 and running through October 14. Please bring in clean, quality clothing and footwear sizes infant to kids XL to the Welcome Center to benefit our sister church on Pittsburgh s Northside. Support Network & Local Outreach Class I am excited to let you know about a new Monday night class that is starting September 24 in the Geneva Room called Six Steps to Sanity. This class is designed to provide hope and healing for people who are struggling with their adult children. The class is made for families, parents, step parents, grandparents, and relatives who have a loved one that struggles with addiction and relationships. Six Steps to Sanity is a 12 week class/support group that uses proven methods by author Allison Bottke s book, Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children ($10). In this class you will find hope and healing. If you know the pain of maintaining a kind of silent home concerning the circumstances and issues surrounding your adult children, you should consider Six Steps to Sanity. Register online at mpcepc.org/ outreach. A Privilege & Honor to be a Deacon BY AMY MACNEIL, MODERATOR OF THE DEACONS The word Deacon came from the Greek word diakoneo which means one who serves and ministers to others. In Acts 6:1 6, as the early church increased in size and in needs, the first Deacons were elected to minister. These seven Deacons, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, were chosen to administer help to the poor, freeing up the Apostles to keep their focus on teaching and preaching the Good News of Jesus. The result was that the Word of God spread and the church grew. Then and now, serving as a Deacon is one way God calls people according to their gifts to participate in His greater plan, both in His church and for their own transformation. The great news is, being a deacon requires minimal effort on your part to serve and minster to those within our community, while fulfilling God s mission. When asked how she feels about serving those in need as a MPC Deacon, Tracy Weller, replied So many can not and I can. I want to share the gifts God has given me to help others and further His kingdom. She added, During the Thanksgiving season, a delivery of a Thanksgiving basket or fellowship at our Thanksgiving Eve reception provides personal warmth and kindness. It may be all that someone will receive at that time. When Tracy is thanked for the many ways she has served, she always replies, The privilege is mine. The impact has been bigger on me. Being a Deacon has placed in me in relationship with home bound friends who are further along life s spiritual journey and I have grown in my faith by knowing them. At Deacon gatherings, I see all that it takes to be a church of open doors and open arms and I am honored to be a small part. The MPC Deacons are blessed to serve alongside the Master, to reflect His love & care and to serve in a variety of responsibilities in His church. As we serve together, we personally grow from the fellowship with each other, all along sensing that the Holy Spirit is working through each of us in different ways to fulfill our call to glorify God in all that we do. If you want to answer God s call to serve His church, or if you would simply like more information about a Deacon s role, please contact Kevin Gourley (kgourley@mpcepc.org).

17 15 STEWARDSHIP Next Steps BY MPC DEVELOPMENT TEAM We are nearing the end of our three year Next Steps capital campaign, which will officially end in October. As you will recall, this campaign was undertaken to pay off a long term debt and costs remaining from the renovations to the Education Wing. The goal was to raise $2 million to pay off the debt and build our new entrance further down on Peebles Road. With only $1.2 million in pledges received, the new entrance was put on hold, and all proceeds of the campaign were directed towards debt repayment with the usual 10% being tithed, as has been Memorial Park s practice. We are so appreciative of everyone who pledged and contributed to this campaign! There has been great progress in paying down the debt, but it will not be completely paid off by the time the campaign ends. We estimate that there will be a balance of $ K remaining at the end of October. We encourage you to complete your pledge as soon as possible. If you did not pledge, please don t let that stop you all contributions are welcome! If you would like to continue your electronic giving to the debt reduction beyond October, please log onto to MPC Connect and make the necessary changes or mark your check in the offering plate for Next Steps or debt reduction. As always, Cathy Pavlock or Kelly Baker are available to answer any questions regarding your pledge or financial giving. Join us for a new monthly workshop that will give you the tools to manage your finances better so that you can live an EPIC life filled with peace, security, and generosity. Our classes will meet the second Saturday of every month. There is no charge, but please register so that we can have materials ready for you. Childcare is available, but you MUST register no later than the Monday before the class so that we can schedule adequate staff. This class is open to the public, no need to be a member to join us! We will be covering topics such as insurance, retirement, budgeting, college planning, & more. For a full list of topics, visit mpcepc.org/adult classes and click on the Fall 2018 Weekday Adult Education tab.

18 16 STAFF RECOGNITION Employee Milestones Congratulations are in order for these employees who have met an anniversary milestone at Memorial Park Church this quarter! Our thanks to... Cathy Kelly Preschool Aide Celebrating 20 years Sandie Seiferth Preschool Substitute Celebrating 20 years Edie Krom Preschool Aide Celebrating 15 Years Gail Henry Organist Celebrating 11 Years Betsy Rumer Pastor Celebrating 10 years Heather Berner Preschool Aide Celebrating 5 years

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20 VOLUME 03 ISSUE 01 SEPTEMBER 2018 SAVE THE DATE Memorial Park Church 8800 Peebles Road, Allison Park, PA (412) mpcepc.org Find us on Facebook!