EVERYONE is welcome at Smithfield United Church of Christ!
Ours is an inclusive congregation, committed to oneness in Christ across all boundaries
of race, social class, culture, gender, sexual identity, and disability.
DIDACHE
Smithfield School's new monthly newsletter |
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Smithfield School is not in session this day.
Light refreshments and beverages in the Social Hall – 10:40-10:50 a.m.
There will be no fellowship lunch today.
Morning Worship – 11:00 a.m.
Reading from the Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon: Of Gifts, Dreams, and Stars
The Rev. J. Douglas Patterson, preaching
Liturgists: Rev. Dr. Susan Cherian, Liddy Gerchman Barlow
Following the "Time with the Children," activities are provided for children age 3 - kindergarten and grades 1-3 in the church gymnasium. Children in grades 4 and higher will remain in the sanctuary and participate in worship. A professionally staffed nursery is provided for infants and toddlers through age 2.
A time for giving
The Stewardship Committee is in the midst of its Fall stewardship campaign. This year's theme is "The Big Secret of Giving," based on Paul's Letter to the Philippians (4:12-13) in which Paul tells the early Church about the secrets of giving. What secret gift do you have to give back to God?
If you have not yet returned your commitment card, you can still do so. Simply complete this form (a .pdf document for which you will need Adobe Reader, available free here) and return it to the church office: Smithfield UCC, Attn: Stewardship Campaign, 620 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Smithfield School notes
Read the inaugural issue of DIDACHE, the monthly newsletter of Smithfield School, and learn of the exciting new opportunities for children, youth, and adults.
Beginning January 6, 2008:
Adult classes: Exploring world religions
Children's classes: The Sermon on the Mount
Youth classes: A study of the Biblical texts to be read during morning worship
Watch for news of the next Youth Group activity.
In the meantime don't miss the photo stories of recent activities:
dancing with Nathan and bowling.
See "Making a Christmas Pageant"
and Smithfield in the news:
Pittsburgh Tribune- Review: Salvation arrives in Pittsburgh in 1783
| Think about it:
"A witty saying proves nothing."
Voltaire |
UCC Coffee Project
Our congregation participates in this program, offering coffee, tea, and chocolate at reasonable prices and guaranteeing fair compensation to growers in developing countries. These "Equal Exchange" products are available Sunday mornings in the Social Hall.
For more information about the project, see http://www.equalexchange.com/ucc
Keep in touch with what's happened or is about to happen at Smithfield Church.
Read the on-line edition of The Spire.
Weekly opportunities
- The sanctuary is open for meditation and prayer Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Wednesdays, from 12:10 - 12:30 p.m., we offer a brief service for business people, shoppers, and passers-by who may want to spend part of their lunch hour in a restorative and spiritual way.
- Thursday mornings and every third Sunday, Women's Fellowship meets in the Blue Room to sew, knit, and crochet blankets for Project Linus, a national nonprofit organization that gives the blankets to seriously ill and traumatized children. Lunch is served with the Sunday gathering. All are welcome.
- Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. the Choir rehearses. New members are always welcome.
Monthly opportunities
- Thursdays: Smithfield Drum Circle meets with Jim Donovan at noon. The cost is $10 per person and drums are provided. Accomplished drummers as well as beginners and all those in between participate. Specific date each month will be announced in this space.
Community opportunities
- Melissa Minnich, our church secretary, is co-coordinator of the 10th Annual Summit Against Racism, Saturday, January 26, at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. For more information, visit www.blackandwhitereunion.org.
See the most recent
Lancet study findings on Iraqi civilian mortality
and September 2007 data on the four million-plus displaced Iraqis,
a disproportionate number of them children.
Access
- Bulletins and hymns for the day are available in large print.
- Portable listening devices are likewise available.
- The worship service is recorded and saved to CDs. Copies are available through the church office.
- An elevator by the church's front entrance makes our second floor sanctuary accessible for anyone who has difficulties with stairs.
Parking
We're at 620 Smithfield Street. If you park in the public garage across from the church,
bring your parking ticket with you, have it validated when you enter the building, and be charged only $1 for parking.
Please note: if you exit the garage onto Smithfield Street, a one-way street,
you must turn left into the middle lane.
The lane nearest the parking garage
is a bus-only lane headed in the wrong direction.
On Sundays, limited on-street parking is available on Smithfield Street
in the lane nearest the church as well as on nearby streets.
Directions to the church
SITEMAP (Index of pages)
Many pages about past events are no longer directly accessible, but they may still be available. Check the Sitemap for them. For example, it is still possible to read the pages about the aftermath of the January fire, the reception honoring the Reverend John Thomas, the Pentecost celebration, and the first post-fire fellowship meal at the Smithfield Cafe. The sitemap is also a good place to start if you want to go directly to a particular page.
We are committed participants
in the United Church of Christ's
God is still speaking initiative.
"Never place a period where God has placed a comma."
Gracie Allen
Questions or concerns? Call us at 412-281-1811
