Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church
  • WELCOME
    • Weekly Update
    • Church Office
    • Job Opportunity
    • Staff Bios
    • Email and phone
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  • Worship
    • Service Schedule
    • Sunday Service Leaflet
    • Choral Evensong
    • Evensong service leaflet
    • Special Services
    • Service Leaflet Archive
    • The Parish Choir
    • Music >
      • Winter-Spring Musci
  • The Parish
    • Parish Culture Statement
    • Parish Profile
    • Vestry
    • History
    • Children
    • Adults >
      • Sunday Adult Education
      • Adult Program Archives >
        • 2017 ST. ANDREW'S LECTURE
        • 2018 st andrew's lecture
        • Phil Wainwright, on the Eclipse
    • The Neighborhood >
      • A Village Church
      • Neighborhood Partners
  • EVENTS
    • Outreach
    • Ongoing Activities
    • Past Events
  • Giving
    • Stewardship
    • Ways to Give
    • Pledges
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Sanctuary Open on Sunday Afternoons
Each Sunday in Lent, the church will be open from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. for prayer and communion. Please enter the church and find a seat for silent prayer, wearing a mask and maintaining social distance from others. As you come in, or at any point, you are welcome to approach the altar one at a time for Holy Communion, if you wish. Please limit your visit to 15 minutes. 
Children's Lessons in Lent
Children ages 5 through 10 are invited to join a Zoom lesson on Sunday mornings from 11:00 to 11:25, starting tomorrow (February 21) through Easter. Please contact Becky Marinov for more information, at beckymarinov@gmail.com.
Sung Compline on Thursday Evening
Thursdays in Lent, we live-stream a Sung Compline from 8:00-8:30 p.m.  From the ancient monastic practice of ending the day in prayer and praise of God, this liturgy offers a space for reflection and rest. Join members of our parish choir via Facebook for this experience. Recordings of the services are archived on YouTube.
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Lent 2021: Discovering Deeper Rhythms
Virtual Lenten gatherings are being held from Thursday, February 18, through Friday, March 26. Details of all the programs are posted on our website. Three programs are highlighted below.

Tuesdays, 7-8 pm: Claiming Your Identity, a 6-week exploration of the Christian faith, with an in-depth look into the beliefs and practices of the Episcopal Church. 
     Email chriscole@standrewspgh.org to sign up.

Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm: Hiding in Plain Sight: God on the Stage, in the Studio, and on the Screen. In five sessions beginning February 24, Riley Temple will lead a course focusing on discovering God’s presence in the arts.  This course will explore how each art form addresses the theological demands for America’s persistent racial divide.
     Cost: $25 per house (Scholarships Available)
     Register with Fr. Chris at chriscole@standrewspgh.org

Thursdays, 8-8:30 pm, Sung Compline. From the ancient monastic practice of ending the day in prayer and praise of God, this liturgy offers a space for reflection and rest. Join members of our parish choir via Facebook for this experience. Recordings of the services are archived on YouTube.

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Towels for Off the Floor Pittsburgh
St. Andrew's is partnering with the Highland Park Community Council to collect towels and other needed items for Off the Floor Pittsburgh (OTF), one of our ministry partners. OTF is a local faith-based volunteer ministry that provides basic used furniture such as beds, dressers, tables, and chairs to disadvantaged families who lack these items. The donations we collect will be packaged and sent along with furniture deliveries.

Please consider donating some of these essential items needed by the families that OTF serves (must be new):

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Please consider donating some of these essential items needed by the families that OTF serves (must be new):
  • Bath, hand towels, washcloths (sets preferred)
  • Dish towels
  • Dish cloths
  • Potholders

Donations can be placed in the bins on the porch of the Office Building (the former rectory), from now through February 28. A list of all the items being collected this Lent and Spring can be accessed with the green button below.
Lenten and Spring Donations

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Outreach Opportunities in Lent
Our Outreach Team has worked with our ministry partners to plan several volunteer opportunities that can be conducted in a safe, socially distanced manner. A handout with descriptions of these activities can be accessed with the teal button below.
  • Off the Floor Pittsburgh - a couple of volunteers still needed 
    Package donated towels for Off the Floor to deliver with furniture to area families in need

    Next Sunday, March 7, 1-2:30 p.m., Brooks Hall
    Contact Dawna Byrom, 412-367-2596 (leave message), or dkbyrom@yahoo.com

  • Treasure House Fashions (ladies only)
    Sort donated jewelry, clothing, shoes, and purses and prepare them for sale (clean, tag, package, etc.) 
    7607 McKnight Road, North Hills, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
         Wednesday, March 17, contact Pat Kennedy 412-967-0406,
              pmkennedy135@gmail.com
         Saturday, March 27, contact Terry Northcutt, 412-427-1649,
              ltnorthcutt@gmail.com


  • Transport Donated Items to a Ministry Partner (on day of your choice)
    Off the Floor - During week of March 8-13 
    EECM - During week of April 1-5
    Neighborhood Academy - During week of May 3-7
    Contact Pat Kennedy 412-967-0406, pmkennedy135@gmail.com
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Lenten Outreach

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Invitation to Share Awareness of the Beloved Community Initiative
As the Diocese of Pittsburgh continues this new collaborative effort of establishing a Beloved Community, an important step is for you to provide your thoughts on the Beloved Community Initiative (BCI).  – what you already know or need to learn; what you are doing or where you might need help; who is involved and how 0w1e might share our experiences among ourselves.

Within the next few days, please follow this link to the diocesan survey. You will first be given background information on the BCI; then you will be asked to answer a few brief questions. 
https://www.episcopalpgh.org/share-awareness-of-the-bci/
By providing your thoughts, you begin a dialogue that lays the foundation for future conversations and activities, whether among individuals, as a parish, across the diocese, or involving our neighbors.

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Easter Flowers
This Easter, as in previous years, we will decorate our altar area with Easter lilies and other flowers. If you would like to make a donation towards the Easter flowers, please send a check to the office (see address at the bottom of the page). 

Church Office
As COVID continues to be an issue in Allegheny County, the church office remains closed to the public.

If you need to reach the parish secretary, Michelle Young, please email her at office@standrewspgh.org. Emails will be received and returned Tuesday through Friday.  Messages left on the office phone (412.661.1245) for the parish secretary at ext. 301 will be picked up twice a week.

In the event of a pastoral emergency please contact the Rev. Christopher A. Cole at 412.475.8006, or you can leave a message for him at ext. 302.
Tips on Getting COVID Vaccinations
Bill Ghrist has called our attention to Vaccinate PA, a new site that has information on many facilities by county.  "We are a volunteer team calling hospitals and pharmacies to identify which facilities are currently administering vaccines. This website will be updated daily to reflect the latest information we are able to gather." 

There's also a Facebook page, Getting Pittsburgh Vaccinated - COVID-19 Appointment Tip Page, where people share information on where COVID vaccinations will be offered. 

Does anyone else have a vaccination tip to share? Please respond to this email.

If you need a ride to get your vaccine, you can email Michelle in the office at office@standrewspgh.org, and she will connect you with one of our Runners.

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Ordination to Diaconate
Our former member and Church School Director, Brandon Cooper, will be ordained as a Deacon on Saturday, March 6, at 10:00 a.m. For Brandon, ordination as a deacon is a step in preparation for ordination as a priest. The service will be live-streamed on Trinity Cathedral's Facebook page. 

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Let's Get Spiritual!
A small group of St. Andreans have recently begun a 3-month study of the Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (1998) by Richard Foster, a classic and practical presentation on the Christian disciplines, including prayer, fasting, solitude, meditation, and others. The group meets by Zoom on Wednesdays from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Foster’s text may be bought new or used from Amazon and other online book sellers. 

All are welcome you to join for thoughtful and lively discussion as the group reflects on and further develops these disciplines. Since they intend to keep the group relatively small, please contact Wes Rohrer at wmrun@pitt.edu at your earliest convenience if you wish to join the group and/or have any questions about this endeavor. 


Covid-19 Advisory from Bishop McConnell
In his Covid Advisory letter dated January 13, Bishop McConnell discusses the continuing threat posed by the pandemic and asks that we continue to be vigilant. While we may be moving into a time where some limited gatherings are possible, he emphasizes the need to continue our safety protocols for the indefinite future and to rely on live-streamed services and virtual modes of Bible study, formation and prayer. 

We at St. Andrew's will prayerfully consider his guidance, keeping the concern for our congregation's safety paramount while being open to the eventual possibility of gathering in a limited fashion for worship, study, and service.

The full text and a video of Bishop McConnell's message can be found here.
 
New Role for Our Former Rector
Bishop McConnell announced this week that he has appointed the Rev. Bruce Robison, our former rector, to serve as chaplain to the retired clergy of the diocese. Bishop McConnell stated: "Bruce+ and his wife Susy have deep and broad friendships across the diocese, and I know him as a man of prayer, a fine pastor and a wise counselor. I know his pastoral care will enrich the lives of us all."

More information on Bruce's role and responsibilities can be found here.


Revised Timeline for Bishop Election
Due to the continuing pandemic, the timeline for electing a new bishop has been extended. In a letter to the diocese, Bishop Dorsey McConnell stated:

"... I have revised the date of the special convention for the election of the next bishop, from April 24 to June 26, 2021. The date for the consecration of my successor has changed accordingly, to November 13, with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as the chief consecrator. I will retire, as originally planned, on September 11 and the Standing Committee will hold ecclesiastical authority until the new bishop is in place."

The full text of Bishop McConnell's message can be found here.
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Keeping in Touch
As the pandemic stretches on through the bleak days of winter, please remember to keep in touch with your friends from St. Andrew's, particularly those who live alone. Our "Buddies" are especially reminded to keep the calls flowing to the people they've said they'd keep in touch with. In truth, all of us could use a friendly call and a virtual hug!

  • WELCOME
    • Weekly Update
    • Church Office
    • Job Opportunity
    • Staff Bios
    • Email and phone
    • Social Media
  • Worship
    • Service Schedule
    • Sunday Service Leaflet
    • Choral Evensong
    • Evensong service leaflet
    • Special Services
    • Service Leaflet Archive
    • The Parish Choir
    • Music >
      • Winter-Spring Musci
  • The Parish
    • Parish Culture Statement
    • Parish Profile
    • Vestry
    • History
    • Children
    • Adults >
      • Sunday Adult Education
      • Adult Program Archives >
        • 2017 ST. ANDREW'S LECTURE
        • 2018 st andrew's lecture
        • Phil Wainwright, on the Eclipse
    • The Neighborhood >
      • A Village Church
      • Neighborhood Partners
  • EVENTS
    • Outreach
    • Ongoing Activities
    • Past Events
  • Giving
    • Stewardship
    • Ways to Give
    • Pledges