PCUSA article about Open Hands Ministries

Here's a link to a wonderful article about the amazing work being done by Open Hands Ministries here in Pittsburgh:

http://www.pcusa.org/seminaries/stantonpittsburgh.htm

The next work day is coming up soon on Saturday November 7th. Please contact Bryan Webler [ bryan.webler@gmail.com ] if you'd like to join the group from Sixth Church in their efforts to help to provide disadvantaged families the opportunity for affordable homeownership in the economically challenged Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Garfield and East Liberty.

THREE great ways to support EECM!

A lot is happening with the East End Community Ministry these days! In addition to Sixth's ongoing support efforts of EECM including our food pantry contributions and men's shelter meals, here are THREE great additional ways we can help to support this amazing organization that provides so much help to our neighbors in need:

Whole Foods 5% Day - Wednesday, October 28, 2009, - 8am to 10pm

Grab your grocery list and support EECM while you shop! On Wednesday, October 28th, Whole Foods Market will donate 5% of their sales for the day to East End Cooperative Ministry. EECM staff and volunteers will be on hand to distribute information about their many programs. They will also be giving away a limited number of EECM reusable shopping bags, so hurry in!

The 6th Annual Houses of Worship Architectural Tour

Celebrating the beauty within our community! (Church of the Redeemer, Sixth Presbyterian Church, and Temple Sinai,Sunday, November 1, 2:00 PM -- 4:00 PM)

Tour begins at 2:00 PM at Church of the Redeemer (5700 Forbes Ave.). Admission to the Tour is $20 plus a bag of non-perishable groceries for EECM's Food Pantry. Tour price includes docent-led tours of each congregation highlighting its history, art, and architecture, and a light reception at Church of the Redeemer. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 412.361.5549. Tickets will also be available the day of the Tour. This is a great way to help out EECM and to learn more about the amazing architecture of Sixth Church and a few of our neighbors' houses of worship as well! And feel free to quiz one of our Sixth Docents to test their newly-gained knowledge of our church! They are Joan Gaul, Carole Emerson, Fred O'Leary, Dave Wood, and David Miller.

Share the Warmth! EECM's Annual Coat Drive

Do you have coats and jackets taking up space in your closet that never get worn? Why not donate them to East End Cooperative Ministry's homeless clients? EECM is accepting new and very gently (lovingly, even) used coats and jackets. Especially needed are men's coats in extra large sizes. Coats may be dropped off at the barrel located near the back doors of the chapel at Sixth. More information can be obtained by contacting Dave Wood.

More details about all of these and other wonderful EECM programs can be found by clicking their link in our column to your right --->

Stewardship Sunday Nov 8th - C&C summary

Sixth's annual Stewardship Sunday is coming up on November 8th!

Here is the information about the Church and Community to be included for that day:

The Church and Community committee is the mission arm of Sixth Church. Our committee’s work allows the gifts of volunteerism and financial support from the members and friends of Sixth Church to reach local and global communities and people who need our help.

Our committee selects organizations that may need financial or volunteer support to better serve others for a mission that is aligned with Sixth’s own mission. These include organizations focused on hunger relief efforts, local cooperative ministries, and social justice organizations.

Our committee coordinates the More Light Presbyterians initiative at Sixth Church, working on inclusiveness and equality issues for lesbian, gay and transgendered persons.

Our committee has worked with and supported organizations like Wilkinsburg Community Ministry, East End Cooperative Ministries, Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Neighborhood Academy, Mars Home for Youth, Camp Crestfield (Youth Scholarship Fund), Lazarus Fund of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, Just Harvest, Church World Services, CROP, Goats for Gifts: For Rwandan Women Affected by the Genocide, Open Hands Ministry and Global Links to help to provide aid and help where needed for the people these organizations serve.

Our committee communicates through e-mail, a weblog, bulletin announcements, the Sixth Sense newsletter, word of mouth, and a few committee meetings, typically about four a year.

Please contact Fred O’Leary ( fredoleary@gmail.com ) or Kit Ayars ( kit@pitt.edu ) if you are interested in being a part of this amazing piece of our life here at Sixth Church!

Tom Juring and his committee have planned a very special program to kick off our stewardship campaign, and of course a delicious lunch as always! Hope to see you all there ....

Next Meeting: December 6th

We're heading into a very busy time of the church family year, but please set aside some time now for a Church and Community Committee meeting on Sunday, December 6th, in the parlor.

We will make our final set of 2009 allocations at this meeting, and we have the possibility of two guest speakers on issues of interest and concern (anti-sweatshop efforts and affordable neighborhood housing).

Mmm, Mmmm, Good!

Time to start thinking about lunch at the Neighborhood Academy!

The first lunch event of the fall is Tuesday November 3. Please let Diana Wood know if you can help with preparing food several days ahead, preparing food during the morning of the 3rd, transporting and/or serving, or purchasing supplies.

What's the Neigbhorhood Academy? In their very own words: "Our curriculum and program intentionally focuses on providing a college-preparatory education to low-income students. Our unique approach includes an extended school day (8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.), very small classes, close and ongoing communication with families and a college preparatory curriculum that culminates in senior seminars in the humanities and sciences. At The Neighborhood Academy, we afford to low income students a private school, college preparatory education that they would not otherwise be able to obtain. To help our students to succeed academically, we also provide counseling, transportation, three meals a day and assistance with emergency needs like medical care. The breadth of our services to students is based on the belief that low-income students face unique challenges and need much more than “school” to learn."

"Sharing Surplus, Saving Lives" for 20 Years!

Global Links celebrates its 20th birthday today! Happy birthday -- and thanks to all who've made this important effort such a success.

See http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09287/1005194-114.stm for more.

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Jan Maxwell and join the merry cohort of Sixth members and friends who volunteer together once a month for a couple of hours.

"Connecting our Faith with the Death Penalty": An Interfaith Panel

Sunday, November 8, 2009 at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
1:30 Gathering, registration, refreshments
2:00PM Program
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Panel:
Moderator -Rev. Don Green
Father Frank Almade - St. Juan Diego Catholic Parish, Sharpsburg
Pastor Don Green - Executive Director of Christian Associates of Southwest Pa
Rabbi Art Donsky - Temple Ohav Shalom, Allison Park
Rector Mon McIntyre - Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Homewood & Professor , Duquesne University
Rev. David Morse - Retired United Methodist Pastor & Chair WPA UMC Conference Board of Ordained Ministry

The panel will present and discuss the challenge of reconciling denominational statements with personal beliefs. The goal is to help people think about, question and discuss the topic of the death penalty in relation to their faith journey.

Sponsored by Pittsburgh Faith in Action Against the Death Penalty, An Interfaith Initiative