 Excerpts from the June 2010 issue of The Spire
InSPIREd Dear Friends, Glinda: "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" Sincerely, Camp Downtown 2010: "Let Your Light Shine" This June, children, youth, and adults from seven downtown churches will come together for Camp Downtown: the Pittsburgh Downtown Ministerium's annual vacation Bible School program celebrating all our city has to offer.  Our 2010 theme is Let Your Light Shine. Through games, crafts, music, and snacks, we will explore biblical stories about the faith of children. We'll share lunch together, visiting a different congregation each day. Each afternoon, we will take a field trip around our city, sailing Pittsburgh's three rivers on RiverQuest, touring the Benedum Theater, and even visiting the Children's Museum! Of course, there will be plenty of time for splashing in the fountains and making new friends. The camp will take place Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children entering grades K-6 are invited to participate as campers, and youth in grades 7 -12 can serve as counselors.  The suggested donation is $30 per child and includes five days of lunch and snacks, a t-shirt and all excursions. Registration forms are available from the church office. The final day to register is June 13. Adults are also invited to participate; the camp's success depends on our crew of dedicated, creative adult volunteers. If you can spend the week with us (or if you can help a day, a morning, or an afternoon) we would love to have you! Call the church office for contact information. Camp Downtown is supported by Smithfield United Church of Christ, First Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, Epiphany Catholic Church, St. Benedict the Moor, St. Mary of Mercy, and Trinity Cathedral. Together, learning more about our diversity and finding common ground, we live out Jesus' prayer that "they may all be one".  Strawberry Festival Offers Delicious Treats! It's that time of year again! Be sure to stop by Smithfield Church's Annual Strawberry Festival on Friday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The festival will take place on Strawberry Way and will feature live jazz music, wonderful lunch foods, and, of course, strawberry sundaes and strawberry shortcake. There will also be vendors selling flowers and homemade candies. The festival is coordinated by the Fellowship and Outreach Ministry of the congregation. Stained Glass Treasures: The Windows of 620 Smithfield Street The current Smithfield United Church of Christ building has a history that dates back to its construction in 1925. The building features a host of unique architectural elements and was declared an historical landmark in 1976. In part two of our series exploring the architecture and history of 620 Smithfield Street, The Spire continues to examine our sanctuary's majestic stained glass windows, focusing this month on windows four through six.  The fourth upper window shows John baptizing Jesus. Below is a depiction of Smithfield's first pastor, Rev. Johann Wilhelm Weber, crossing the mountains in 1782. Rev. Weber, a German from Westphalia who came to America in 1764, was sent to western Pennsylvania in September 1782 by the Reading Synod. Here he ministered to four churches, including Smithfield. Weber lived in Westmoreland County and journeyed from church to church on horseback. He served Smithfield for nearly a decade, helping to put it on a firm foundation and into its own building. His records can be found in the church archives. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is depicted in the next window while the lower window shows the Penn family deeding the land for the church in 1787. John Penn, Senior and Junior, heirs of William Penn, granted one-half an acre bounded by Sixth Avenue, Smithfield Street, Strawberry Way, and Miltenberger Alley (now Montour Way) in order "to further the religious life as well as morals and piety." Smithfield still owns the original property deeded by the Penn family.  The Parable of the Prodigal Son graces the next window in the sanctuary. Then President-elect Abraham Lincoln visiting Pittsburgh in 1861 is shown in the lower window. En route to his first inauguration, Lincoln stayed overnight in Pittsburgh at the Monongahela House, at the foot of Smithfield Street. The stories told within the sanctuary windows are not simply just a lesson in the history of the church, but a reminder of who we are and where we came from. They shine a light on our fundamental beliefs and our humble beginnings. In the next issue of The Spire, we will shift our attention to the crowning glory of 620 Smithfield Street — the Spire. See also Our Building and Windows Operation Safety Net and Smithfield UCC As we enjoy the beauty of spring and warmer weather, the harsh realities of this past winter seem a distant memory to some. However, we at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and Operation Safety Net have not forgotten winter's wrath. We extend heartfelt thanks to the many individuals and organizations that stepped up and gave so generously of their time, talent and financial assistance to those served by the Severe Weather Emergency Shelter this past winter. Sponsored by Operation Safety Net in collaboration with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Smithfield United Church of Christ, the shelter provides a warm and welcoming place where individuals who are homeless receive a warm meal, a kind word, and respite from the elements. The shelter was fully operational for a record 62 nights, irrespective of weather and road conditions. Between November 2009 and March 2010, the shelter served up to 130 people a night. Altogether, there were 3,466 visits. It is our sincere hope and prayer that each of those who entered the shelter will be one step closer toward a life off the streets. – Linda Sheets, Program Director, of Operation Safety Net  In the Mailbox The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart. My heartfelt thanks to all the members, staff, and friends of Smithfield United Church of Christ for all the Thinking of You and Get Well cards, phone calls, presents to the shut-ins, and personal visits and prayers through the many years of Bill's patiently waiting for Jesus to take him by the hand and lead him home. My family and I are very appreciative for all your kind words and support in our loss.
Love and Prayers, See the sitemap for earlier issues of the newsletter
6/24/10 |
– through you and me!