THE BRIDGE DECEMBER 2018 Your guide for what to do and where to go at Memorial Park Church. Map... 1 Welcome... 2 Weekends at MPC... 3 Monthly Calendar... 5 EduNations Concert... 8 Connections Cards... 9 Outdoor Café... 10
8800 Peebles Road Allison Park, PA 15101 1
Welcome We re so glad you re here! Welcome to Memorial Park Church, and our connections publication, The Bridge! Just as Pittsburgh is a city of bridges, connecting us as one city from various backgrounds and communities, our hope is that this booklet will help connect you to the life and ministry of the Memorial Park community of faith. As the weather changes and we transition into a season that has traditionally been thought of as a time of harvest, holidays, and family gatherings, we hope you will consider making plans to join us. This publication can act like a GPS, helping you to navigate across the landscape of Memorial Park Church, with signs and directions to the various ministries, programs, and activities that could enable you to connect with an authentic Christian community that feeds your soul. We hope that you would look through the pages of this resource (ministry map) and chart your course toward a lifechanging and ever growing relationship with Jesus Christ. As you will see, we have activities, ministries, and programs for all ages, interests, and levels of faith. It doesn t matter if you have been a follower of Jesus Christ all of your life, if you have just started back to church, or if you are just coming to check things out you are welcome here! We invite you to Come As You Are ask questions, seek answers, and explore who we are, what we believe, and what we believe God has called us to do. During December, our pastors will be exploring God s Generosity in Jesus. Each week of Advent, we will hear about how generosity can change our lives. We invite you to join us as we move through the Advent season, and in particular welcome you to Come As You Are to our Christmas Eve services! The great thing about bridges is that they help people connect and navigate whether they are native or new to the community. Whether you are new to MPC or have been part of this congregation for years, this simple resource can help you find your way. When the waters of life are rising, as our three rivers have done much of this past season, The Bridge gets you there! When you are trying to get to family or friends, The Bridge gets you there! When you are trying to get home again, The Bridge gets you there! There are many wonderful things in this edition of The Bridge to help you connect to the God who loves you and a church family that always has another chair ready for whoever shows up. I look forward to connecting with you! 2
Weekends at Memorial Park WORSHIP TIMES Saturdays 6:00 PM Clayton Center Sundays 9:00 AM 11:15 AM NURSERY (Newborn 12 months) and TODDLER WALKERS (1 Year Olds) childcare is available at both Sunday services. TRU EXPLORE (Ages 2 K) is available at both Sunday services. Kids experience ageappropriate exploration that expands on the morning lesson. TRU WORSHIP (Grades 1 5) offers an opportunity for families to worship together at the start of the 9:00 AM service. Kids are dismissed before the message for age appropriate worship. For locations, stop by the Connections Corner. 8800 Peebles Road Allison Park, PA 15101 (412) 364 9492 mpcepc.org Facebook.com/MemorialParkChurch DISCIPLESHIP HOUR Gathering and learning for all ages. Sundays 10:10 11:00 AM NURSERY (Newborn 12 Months) Our Tru Kids Nursery and Comfort Room is available at our Sunday morning services and during discipleship hour. The Nursery is staffed by professionally trained adults who lovingly care for God s children. KIDS (Ages 1 Grade 5) The mission of TRU Kids is to come alongside parents as the primary spiritual influencers of their children, inviting them into life changing and ever growing relationships with Jesus Christ. Toddler Walkers (1 Year Olds) Coral Reef Walking toddlers experience God s love and care through supervised engaging play in a safe environment. TRU Blessings (2 & 3 Year Olds) Woodlands Through sensory interaction, storytelling, joyful worship, and quarterly celebrations, your young ones will learn the fundamental truth that God made them, loves them, and is with them. TRU Wonder (4 & 5 Year Olds/Kindergarten) Savanna Through exciting exploration, interactive storytelling, purposeful response time, and connecting through games and crafts, your child will experience the wonder of who God is! TRU Story (Grades 1 5) Mountains/Rec Room Engaging worship, impactful teaching, and interactive response activities make TRU Story a place where your kids learn about God's redemptive plan revealed through The Big God Story.
TEENS (Grades 6 12) Our Student IMPACT teen programs are designed to support students as they journey through life during the challenging years of middle and high school. Middle School IMPACT (Grades 6 8) Clayton Center Gym Our weekly meetings build meaningful personal and spiritual relationships that impact their lives with the message of the Gospel, help it to take root and grow so they can make an impact on the world around them. High School IMPACT (Grades 9 12) Clayton Center Classroom 1 Our weekly meetings continue to build on the foundations of faith and build relationships by giving students the platform to examine their faith and make the decision to follow Jesus. NEW ADULTS Going Deeper Through Sermon Study: Isaiah Begins January 6, runs 8 weeks Instructor: Dr. Steven Little Location: Westminster Hall 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. Drawing Closer to God Begins January 6, runs 8 weeks Instructor: Terry McKaveney Location: Preschool Purple Room This class encourages you to go deeper in your relationship with God through spiritual practices. You will learn simple, yet powerful exercises to help you to connect with God through Scripture and prayer. Come with a heart that wants to draw closer to God. This class teaches God's way of handling money through class discussion and interactive small group activities. Participants will watch a video curriculum taught by Dave Ramsey at home and meet on Sunday mornings for discussion, follow up, and exercises. Course materials available online (only one per family needed). 1 Thessalonians 2: Effective Discipleship While Persevering in Faith Begins January 6, ongoing Instructor: Elder Pete Pugliese Location: Preschool Green Room 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 Begins January 6, ongoing Instructor: Rhea Christopher Location: Preschool Red Room This class is an inductive Bible Study of the Gospel of John. MEN Men s Class: The Book of Mark Begins January 6, runs 8 weeks Instructor: Elder Corky Semler Location: Conference Room Author and speaker Francis Chan invites us to walk with him along the ancient ways of the Master. Tracing the steps of Jesus and the Twelve through Israel, Francis explores the major themes of the Gospel of Mark, and asks: Are we willing to take this journey to embrace discipleship? Financial Peace University Begins January 6, runs 9 weeks Instructor: Jay Blum Order Class Materials at fpu.com/1078584 Location: TBD 4
MONTHLY CALENDAR WHOLE CHURCH & COMMUNITY Countdown to Christmas December 1 9:30 a.m. Westminster Hall $10/family Register by November 26 Contact: Jessica Parker, jparker@mpcepc.org Join Family Ministries for this Advent event! Enjoy a continental breakfast while spending time visiting spiritually engaging stations that will excite your family for Christmas. You ll even get to create and take home an advent activity that will help you focus on the reason for the season this December. First Wednesdays Speaker Series December 5 6:30 8:00 p.m. Meets the first Wednesday of every month (RSVP for childcare only at mpcepc.org/ community) Contact: Betsy Rumer, brumer@mpcepc.org Join us for First Wednesdays, a speaker series at Memorial Park Church. Each month, we open our doors to the community to hear engaging speakers on topics such as mental health, race reconciliation, trauma, sexuality, and equality. Childcare is available with advance registration. This month, join us as we engage in a fascinating conversation with a gifted scientist who is also a faithful Christian. We welcome Dr. Steven Little, MPC Elder and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh for his talk on Biblical Creation through the Eyes of a Scientist. For registration, a full schedule, or more information, visit mpcepc.org/community. Special Friends December 11 5 7:00 p.m. Meets second Tuesday of every month Clayton Center Contact: Marlene Pugliese, marlenekayp@gmail.com Special Friends, our ministry for adults with special needs, is a monthly free night of Bible stories, prayer time, songs, birthday celebrations, games, movies, snack, crafts, and fellowship. Family and friends are always welcome along with our many MPC volunteers. RSVP by e mail. Our entertainment this month is a music program. Please bring a donation for the North Hills Community Outreach food bank. Congregational & Corporate Meeting December 30 10:00 a.m. MPC members are invited to attend a Congregational and Corporate Meeting. The congregational meeting will convene at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of electing our 2019 officers, followed by a corporate meeting to approve the elders as our trustees. Please make plans to come early or stay late for the meeting. KIDS Friday Nite Kids December 7 6:00 p.m. Meets the second Friday of every month Children s Wing Register by e mail at thawbaker@mpcepc.org This program offers a chance for special needs kids and their siblings to gather for an evening while parents enjoy a respite night. Activities include large motor skills, sensory activities, music, computers, crafts and snacks, and is followed by a Bible story. TEENS High School Girls Breakfast December 1 10:00 a.m. Register by Email Contact: Sarah Pietryga, sarah.edunations@gmail.com
Girls in grades 9 12 are invited to this monthly breakfast with Sarah Pietryga. We spend time building our relationships with one another, as well as studying God s word and how it applies to our lives. We are using Francis Chan s Surrender, and this month we will look at what it means to Surrender Status. The link to the video can be found on the High School IMPACT website. Presents for Patients December 9 11:00 a.m. Clayton Center $ for lunch (optional) Contact: Tammy Hawbaker, thawbaker@mpcepc.org Middle and High School students are invited to join us in this annual outreach event! We will wrap presents, visit and deliver gifts to the residents of Kane Hospital, ending with lunch at a local restaurant. Student IMPACT Christmas Parties December 16 (HS), 6:30 p.m. December 19 (MS), 7:00 p.m. Clayton Center Contact: Tammy Hawbaker, thawbaker@mpcepc.org Students are invited to celebrate the holidays with us! Wear your favorite (or ugly) Christmas sweater, bring a grab bag gift ($5 and under), and a snack to share. Friends are welcome! MS IMPACT Lock In January 4/5 8:00 p.m. Clayton Center $10 Register by December 30 Contact: Jacob Soto, jsoto@mpcepc.org Middle School students in grades 6 8 are invited to our annual Lock In Event. The night will be filled with fun you don t want to miss! Register online at mpcepc.org/ middle school. YOUNG ADULTS College & Young Adult Christmas Party December 16 7:00 p.m. 6 Café Contact: Sam Taylor, staylor@mpcepc.org A time for returning college students, LaRoche students, and Young Adults to connect and celebrate the Christmas season. We ll enjoy food, games, and fellowship together. Hope to see you! WOMEN Women to Women Christmas Brunch December 5 9:30 a.m. Westminster Hall Contact: Michele Holmes, mholmes@mpcepc.org All ladies are welcome to attend the Women to Women Christmas brunch where we celebrate how the Lord is working in our lives and what He is teaching us through Scripture. We ll enjoy worshiping with Christmas music, listen to testimonies, and enjoy a delicious meal together. No registration required, just bring a dish to share and we ll see you there! MEN Men s Small Groups Various dates & locations Find Out More: mpcepc.org/men Contact: Men s Ministries, men@memorialparkchurch.org Are you looking for a place to connect with other likeminded men for small group study and fellowship throughout the week? Men s Ministries has small groups available every day of the week! Visit mpcepc.org/men for more information on our group meeting days and times or contact Men s Ministries to sign up. SENIORS Sealarks December 12 12:30 p.m. Meets the second Wednesday of every month Westminster Hall $25 annual dues, $2 per guest
Contact: Edie Haughton, ediehaughton@comcast.net This group for widows and other women alone meets every month for a bag lunch and an informative and/ or entertaining program. This month s program features a Christmas gathering with entertainment by James Gourlay of the River City Brass Band. Second Thursdays Senior Community Luncheon December 13 12:00 p.m. Meets the second Thursday of every month Westminster Hall $8.00 Register & Find Out More: mpcepc.org/seniors Register by December 10 Join us for our monthly Seniors luncheon where we will enjoy a delicious meal followed by a Christmas Celebration. Advance registration is required. MUSIC Christmas Cantata December 9 9:00 & 11:15 a.m. services Contact: Jim Lueers, jlueers@mpcepc.org Invite a friend to worship on December 9 to hear A Christmas Light, a cantata by Benjamin Harlan, led by the MPC Chancel Choir and Orchestra. Weaving scriptures and music together to proclaim the truth that Jesus is the Light of the World will inspire you to walk in the light. EduNations Benefit Concert December 14 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) + Goodwill offering Registration: www.edunations.org/benefit concert Contact: Sarah Pietryga, sarah@edunations.org Join us for an evening of music that will make a difference! Each year, EduNations holds a Christmas benefit concert in December to support the students in Sierra Leone. The concert is free of charge with a goodwill offering accepted. Advance registration is recommended. 7 Christmas Eve Choir Rehearsal December 20, 7:00 p.m. December 23, 5:00 p.m. Contact: Jim Lueers, jlueers@mpcepc.org The Chancel Choir invites singers to join them for our Christmas Eve services! Celebrate Christmas with candlelight and friends in the choir loft! Rehearsal for the 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service is scheduled for December 20. Rehearsal for the 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service for the special choir for young people (middle schoolers to 25 year olds) is scheduled for December 23. Christmas carols and beautiful music will make the evening meaningful and special! SERVE OTHERS Christmas Collection for UnCommon Grounds Café December 1 10 Contact: Michele Holmes, mholmes@mpcepc.org Women s Ministries is partnering with Student IMPACT to collect items for underprivileged families served by UnCommon Grounds Cafe in Aliquippa. Throughout the month of December, we will be collecting kids toys (ages 2 10), sports and art equipment for teens, and spa items for gift baskets that will be presented at the Uncommon Grounds Cafe Christmas party on December 13. We ll also be accepting monetary donations that will be used to purchase Giant Eagle and movie theatre gift cards. Drop off your items in the Women s Ministries office. Giving Tree December 1 December 3 Contact: Kathy Fenton or Nancy Lee Cochran More information: mpcepc.org/community outreach Share your blessings and the spirit of giving this holiday season by giving a gift to a family in need! Pick up a snowflake ornament from one of the Giving Trees (located in the Welcome area), purchase the gift listed, and return your wrapped gift (with your snowflake) by December 3. You can also make a monetary donation and our volunteers will shop for you! Packages will be distributed the following two weeks so the gifts make it to their destination before Christmas.
For the fifth year in a row, Memorial Park Church will play host for the free EduNations Benefit Concert, coming up on December 14 and featuring Christian music artist Fernando Ortega. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for refreshments, raffles, and fellowship, and the concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, and a goodwill offering will be taken to benefit the work of EduNations in Sierra Leone. EduNations, a non profit founded in 2004, is devoted to building schools and providing a future for the forgotten children across the continent of Africa, beginning in Sierra Leone. EduNations connects resources from affluent societies with the needs of the poorest in the world, providing education, opportunity, and hope. The annual benefit concert is one of the largest fundraisers for the organization each year, and proceeds from the concert will go directly in support of the 15 schools, teachers and staff, and students. Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver, Lead Pastor at Memorial Park, Co Founder and former President of EduNations, is amazed at how far the organization has come: 2019 will mark the fifteenth year EduNations has been working to provide education and growth to students in Sierra Leone. I can t think of a better way to begin our celebration of all that we have achieved than having an opportunity to raise support and awareness with a celebration of joyful generosity for the holiday season. Sponsors for the event this year include Tom Henry Chevrolet, Alpine Pools, Moran & Moran Attorneys at Law, and Grove City College. This year s featured artist, Fernando Ortega, is a deeply gifted singer songwriter whose music encompasses elements of folk, bluegrass, Celtic, classical, and Latin American. Also known for penning the original radio hits, This Good Day and Jesus, King of Angels, Ortega is most notably known for his famous renditions of classical hymns: Jesus Lover of My Soul, Be Thou My Vision, and Give Me Jesus, a song that is beloved worldwide. He will perform songs from his most recent album, The Crucifixion of Jesus (2017) as well as old favorites. Registration for this free event is recommended and can be completed by visiting mpcepc.org/bulletinboard or www.edunations.org/benefit concert.
Connections Count: Connections Cards are more than just attendance Have you ever had a question, but you re not sure who to ask? Did you ever want to sign up for something, but can t find more information about it? Not being able to find the right avenue to get started can be frustrating. We understand that, and we want to help make getting involved easy. At the beginning of the 2018 2019 ministry year, we launched our new Connections Cards alongside the opening of the Connections Corner, located across from the Café. These Cards, available in the pews and at the Connections Corner, serve as a way for members and visitors to let us know they are here each week. Why do we do this? I m glad you asked! Attendance helps us plan for how many bulletins to print each week so we have enough for all who attend, but more importantly, knowing that you are here helps us reach out to you! Our Connections Cards are available so we can help get you connected! We ve combined attendance, prayer requests, baptism requests, and scribble cards onto one central piece while also giving you a way to let us know what you need. Whether you are looking to sign your kids or teens up for TRU Kids classes or Student IMPACT, are wanting to sing in the choir, are searching for a way to use your spiritual gifts to volunteer in the church, are looking for ways to engage in community outreach, or simply want to ask a question you are not sure where to direct the Connections Cards are the place to do all of these things! By simply filling out your name and contact information, checking a box, and placing the Connections Card into the offering plate, you can get started on your journey. Did you check the box for Women s Ministries? Joleen or Michele will reach out to you to get you involved! Interested in our current class listings? Pastor Betsy will send you an e mail to get signed up. Looking to use your vocal gifts? Jim Lueers will be in touch about choir opportunities! Are you requesting a prayer? Your card is hand delivered to our dedicated prayer team. Our hope is that you will fill out one of these Cards each week for your family. If you are already involved, just fill in the top portion to let us know which service you attended. Drop the card in the offering plate, and you re all set! We appreciate knowing that you are here and your assistance in helping us with planning for our weekly services. If you are looking to get involved, take the extra step to check your areas of interest, and we ll take care of the rest! We will reach out to you and get you started. Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone's hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours. Let us take you by the hand and invite you to take the first or next step in your faith journey. Each of the options listed on the Connections Card is linked to a person. Behind the scenes, we work hard so you don t have to. Each time a box is checked, your name and contact information are sent to the staff member or volunteer who organizes that particular area or program.
Outdoor Café at Memorial Park Through the generosity of one of our members and memorial gifts received this summer and fall, we have been able to create a new, outdoor space where members and friends can gather in fellowship! Last month at the Thanksgiving Eve Service on November 21, we unveiled this beautiful new space, located right outside the current Café. With comfy Adirondack chairs, tables and seating for enjoying a cup of coffee, plus heaters and a fire pit, this space is a perfect place to gather. Our hope is that this space will be utilized not just on Sunday mornings, but throughout the week as a space for LIFE Group meetings, class discussions, book clubs, tutoring, or simply enjoying one another s company. Stop by the new outdoor café the next time you re here! Advent Devotional Each year, Women s Ministries recruits volunteer writers for the Advent Devotional. These dedicated members of Memorial Park are assigned a scripture and tasked with writing a daily devotional that will keep God in your heart and mind throughout the holiday season. The annual Advent Devotional is a great way to keep in mind the reason for the season all month long, and you can pick up your copy at the Connections Corner! See how dedicating a few minutes each day to thoughtful study and prayer can make an impact on your Christmas season. We hope you will enjoy these daily devotionals as we move through Advent together.