Smithfield United Church of Christ
The Spire - November2024
INSPIRED
by Rev. Shannon M. Garrett-Doege
Notes from the Organ Loft
by Christopher McCloskey​
Dearest Saints,
As we move through the seasons of life, it’s all too easy to become preoccupied with daily worries and forget to pause and reflect on the many blessings that surround us. As we approach Thanksgiving this month, let's take a moment to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness and recognize the abundance of grace we often overlook.
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Thankfulness is more than a simple "thank you." It's a profound acknowledgment of the goodness in our lives and the people who touch our hearts. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are reminded to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." This scripture teaches us that gratitude isn't just a response to blessings; it's a way of life.
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Each day brings small miracles that we might take for granted. The warmth of the sun on our face, the comforting embrace of a loved one, the sound of children laughing—these are the threads that weave our lives with joy. When we begin to see these everyday moments as gifts, our hearts open to a deeper sense of peace and contentment.
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Our church community is a testament to the power of collective thankfulness. We gather not just to worship, but to support and uplift one another. We gather to share meals; we gather to discern the future of our building and to dream big about our future as “the church” apart from the building. We share our gratefulness for the gifts each of us bring and our gratefulness for an all knowing, all loving God. By sharing our stories of gratitude, we inspire each other to see God's hand in the smallest details of our lives. Whether it's through fellowship, service, or prayer, every act of kindness becomes a reflection of our thankfulness.
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This month, let's challenge ourselves to practice intentional gratitude. Keep a journal, share your blessings with others, or simply take a moment each day to thank God for their unwavering love. As we cultivate a heart of thankfulness, we become more attuned to the beauty of our faith and the richness of our community.
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May we always remember that thankfulness is a powerful force that transforms lives. It draws us closer to God and to one another, reminding us that we are never alone on this journey. Let's embrace this season of thankfulness with open hearts and minds, ready to receive and share the countless blessings that come our way.
People, look east. The time is near /
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able, /
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today: /
Love, the guest, is on the way…
Angels, announce with shouts of mirth /
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming /
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today: /
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
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- Eleanor Farjeon
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Yes, we started seeing Christmas decorations the same week that Halloween décor hit the big box stores. I’ve learned that if I don’t stock up on Candy Corn this time of year, I won’t be able to find it at the real candy corn holiday, Thanksgiving. I’m OK with all of this because I love Advent and Christmas. I like the planning. I like being intentional in my preparation. I like to make my house as fair as I am able.
Planning is going on here at Smithfield United Church of Christ. We are working with the Buhl Foundation and Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership to activate Smithfield Street and Strawberry Way for Light Up Night on November 23. Things will be going on in our Gymnasium and the Social Hall. In addition to the third annual Carol Sing, featuring our new Music Director, Christopher McCloskey, there will be a laser light show in our Sanctuary and on our building.
A year has gone by fast. It is difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that this will Pastor Shannon Garrett-Doege’s second Christmas with us as our Senior Minister. Planning continues as our Envision Smithfield team explores expanded use of our building. The stabilization of the colonettes at the base of the steeple has been completed.
The Church Office has been refurbished after the water damage. The original hardwood floor was refinished, walls painted, new ceiling and LED lighting installed. Materials and labor were donated by Church members. A new telephone system has been installed. The project includes wifi connectivity throughout the building including the Sanctuary. This means we will soon be able to live stream our services rather than uploading afterwards. It is an exciting time for Smithfield as we continue our Extravagant Welcome in downtown Pittsburgh.
In this month's newsletter, I thought it would be good to give everyone a little ‘behind the scenes’ look at what the choir and I hope the upcoming choir season will look like. Over the summer, I had been able to come to worship a few times and when people found out I was the new Music Director, the constant refrain I heard was that they wanted to see the choir on a much more frequent basis–something I wholeheartedly agree with!
During the choir organizational meeting a few weeks ago, it became abundantly clear that the choir agreed as well. After discussing it at length, the choir settled on a schedule of regularly singing the first Sunday of the month with stand alone rehearsals during the month, using those stand alone rehearsals to develop a repertoire of new anthems to draw from. As our repertoire grows, we would then add more Sundays.
I was not sure how long this might take–a few months or more perhaps was my estimate. Judging from our first choir rehearsal last week, we should be quickly ramping up the frequency of participation at worship much faster than I was expecting (a wonderful thing!) and are hoping that we will be able to sing for 3, if not all 4, Sundays of Advent. Not sure what the regular schedule for the choir will be after the new year but everyone is very eager and willing to do the work to make the choir as vibrant and visible every Sunday as possible. Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers!