 Excerpts from the May 2011 issue of The Spire
InSPIREd Most of our energies are expended in the areas of anticipation and preparation, not remembrance. For weeks, maybe months, we will obsess over the details of upcoming celebrations, holidays, parties, athletic events, vacations, and projects. Hours will be spent worrying about weather, attendance, finances, receptivity and perception. But once the big day has come and gone we're usually left with nothing more than a few hours of afterglow, or disappointment. And all of our big plans are reduced to a few photos, newspaper clippings, and occasional mental flashbacks. Should we be disturbed by this? Absolutely not! Looking forward with eagerness is what gives life its "juice." Our existence on this planet is not measured by what's behind but what we're looking forward to. That's what makes life satisfying, meaningful, and fun. Easter is not a day to be remembered, but a state of mind and spirit to be lived. As people of faith we don't awaken each day and say, "I'm glad Jesus rose from death." No, our days begin with an affirmation: Jesus is alive! And the very next thing we ask is, "OK Jesus, what are we going to do today?" People who dwell in the past are defensive, cynical, arrogant, and wary. They tend to fight a lot. But people of faith embrace and anticipate what life can be. They see possibilities, potential, and joy. And they tend to laugh a lot. Christ is risen! What are you going to do today? Sincerely, Special Saturday Evening Worship for Marathon Weekend  The Pittsburgh Marathon is the perfect opportunity for us to reflect on the race of faith and to extend hospitality to the more than ten thousand athletes who will visit our city to participate in the marathon. Because the streets around the church will be closed on Marathon Sunday, our weekly worship service will take place on Saturday, May 14, at 5:00 p.m. The 11:00 a.m. Sunday service on May 15 will be very brief. The Saturday evening service will include a special "Blessing of the Runners," a sermon by Rev. Liddy Barlow, and music. The nursery will be open for children under 3, and worship activity bags will be available for older children. Please plan to join us for this special worship event! "Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize?
Many images and thoughts of Sunday's worship float in my head in the days following services. In quiet moments of reflection many of these pieces come together. On April 3rd we welcomed three new members: Josh and Jessica Young and Tony Richardson. During the same service we recognized Dolores Mamaux, a life-long member on her 80th birthday. On April 10th Donn Neal, the church archivist gave an account of two Civil War soldiers who were buried from our church. In the same service Amy Keller spoke of what Smithfield Church meant to her and her family and why she and Matt chose to join the church and raise their children here. Each person has a story to tell. As I thought of these events, I whispered a prayer of thanks for the continuity of membership all of them bring. What a rich history we have. When I sit in church I often look up at the ceiling and think of the craftsmen who labored to create the intricate details and carvings. I think of their hands sanding pieces of wood and cutting out the German letters that hang above the sanctuary. They proclaim the words: "A Might Fortress is Our God" and "Glory to God in the Highest." Do you ever feel the history of the people who came before us? Do you wonder what brought them here? Do you ever acknowledge the responsibility and excitement we all have to carry Smithfield into the future? Each of us has a story for why we chose Smithfield United Church of Christ as our church. Each of us has a special way to contribute to the future of our church. We do that by being involved, volunteering, or by offering our time and talents and resources. When we work together for our future, we feel the connection not only to the people around us but also to those who came before us and those who will follow. Some day, when you sit down next to someone you may not know, ask the question, "What's your story?" –Regina Sewall 
Camp Downtown 2011: Wild Things God's Wild Things are coming to Smithfield! This summer we will be hosting Camp Downtown, the Downtown Ministerium's vacation Bible school for campers entering grades K-6 and youth counselors in grades 7-12. Children from all the downtown churches will join our kids for a week of fun, friendship, learning, and adventure. Our "Wild Things" theme will engage us in the stories of animals of the Bible. We'll board Noah's ark, tremble at John's dragon, and even meet real live sheep! Every afternoon, we will take a field trip throughout downtown Pittsburgh. This year's excursions include a tour of the Consol Energy Center, a visit to the National Aviary, a scavenger hunt, and of course lots of fun in the fountains. Camp Downtown will take place Monday, June 20, through Friday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration forms will be mailed to our families, and extra copies are available at the welcome table. Take one to pass along to your friends and neighbors — the more the merrier. The suggested donation of $30 per child includes all activities and excursions, lunches, and a t-shirt; scholarships are available in cases of financial need. We are in need of adult volunteers for the camp. Whether you can give a single morning or afternoon, a few days, or the full week, we would be thrilled to have you come along! Please speak with Liddy Barlow for more information or to sign up. – Liddy Barlow Dance Class We can praise God not only with words but also with movement. Beginning on May 29, Nathan Hart will offer a three-week class on liturgical dance for children from age 3 to grade 6. The class will meet in the gymnasium at 10 a.m. The children will be learning a dance that they will share in worship on Pentecost Sunday, June 12. Please sign up on the in the Social Hall or email: lbarlow@smithfieldchurch.org. A Letter from Liddy Dear friends, Drumming with (1) giant puppets on the very first day of Smithfield School  ... (2) learning the "stanky leg" dance on the youth mission trip  ... sporting an eye patch to promote "One Great Arrrrrrgh of Sharing" ... (3) thanking God in children's chapel for dirt bikes and Chuck E. Cheese  ... (4) building a labyrinth in the Social Hall  ... (5) splashing in the fountains at Camp Downtown [and other adventures]  ... (6) crawling inside Jonah's whale.  In the past four years, we have learned and laughed and prayed together, making lasting memories. I hope you have grown in faith and in knowledge; I know I have. It has been a great honor to serve you as Minister of Christian Education. It is with bittersweet emotions that I will be leaving this position on June 30. My husband, Greg, is finishing his Ph.D. dissertation at Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute and plans to accept a job at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Our family will be moving to that area in early summer, and eventually I hope to serve a church there. I will miss you enormously and am so grateful for all you have taught me. You will always be in my prayers. Yours in Christ,  Strawberry Festival to Offer Delicious Treats and More!  Smithfield Church's Annual Strawberry Festival on Strawberry Way will take place Friday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The festival is being coordinated by the Fellowship and Outreach Ministry of the congregation. As always, there will be a festive atmosphere in the heart of downtown created by some good jazz, wonderful lunch foods, and of course, terrific desserts, including strawberry sundaes and strawberry shortcake. Volunteers are always needed to help with set-up, food preparation and serving, cash box, and clean-up. If you can help with the festival in any capacity, please contact Connie Connelly. Operation Safety Net Partners with Smithfield UCC for Severe Weather Shelter Operation Safety Net, in collaboration with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Smithfield United Church of Christ, once again provided a severe weather shelter for the city's homeless this past winter. Offering a warm and welcoming place for people to receive a hot meal, a kind word, and, most importantly, a respite from the elements, Operation Safety Net was open for a total of 63 nights this season. The organization provided emergency shelter to 568 homeless men and women, housing an average of 88 individuals per night. In an effort to continue to meet the changing needs of the homeless population, specifically homeless youth, the shelter coordinated with Familylinks, Three Rivers Youth and Auberle to identify temporary housing resources for those homeless individuals under 21. The shelter closed its doors for the season on March 15, but its effects continue to be felt throughout the year. As a result of the shelter's programs and resources, Operation Safety Net was able to connect 135 homeless individuals with ongoing case management; 22 people were placed in year round shelters; and 65 homeless individuals were given permanent housing. If you are interested in making a donation to Operation Safety Net, please visit: www.pmhs.org/operation-safety-net. Donations of men's hats and gloves are also welcome. Food Pantry Purchases Carts for Seniors Thanks to a generous donation from the Downtown Ministerium, the food pantry at Smithfield UCC was able to purchase 12 new grocery carts for its pantry participants. "It was an unexpected windfall," noted food pantry administrator Rena Thomas. "I decided to use part of the money to purchase carts for my clients. We have people who come to the pantry with backpacks and suitcases to transport their food." The carts should prove especially helpful to those in the senior program. "The food ends up being too difficult to carry," said Thomas, "so they have to leave behind canned goods they would otherwise take with them. The carts will allow them to easily transport their food home each month." With the remaining money, Thomas plans to purchase additional food from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for distribution during Help Week. See the sitemap for earlier issues of the newsletter
4/29/11 |
From the President's Pen
– through you and me!