SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES ARE AT THE BUILDING AT 11:30 A.M.
We plan to continue to provide the call-in phone conference option for any who cannot attend worship service in the building. Call around 11:25 a.m. and just wait for someone to greet you. The conference phone number is 412-307-7952. PLEASE NOTE -- WORSHIP SERVICE NOW BEGINS AT 11:30 A.M.
Upcoming Special Dates
September 4 Labor Day September 14 Open Mic Coffee House (7:30-9:00 pm - suggested donation $5) September 21 International Day of Peace September 23 First Day of Autumn October 1 World Communion Sunday Peace and Global Witness Offering October 12 Open Mic Coffee House (7:30-9:00 pm - suggested donation $5) October 29 Reformation Sunday October 31 Happy Halloween!
A MESSAGE FROM SESSION MEMBERS
Summer is almost over and autumn is just around the corner. When autumn comes, it signifies that the end of the year is almost here and that it may be a time for us to reflect and set new goals for the coming year. As members of Session, we look forward to new beginnings, fresh hopes, restored confidence, and many joys. Sometimes it is difficult to see hope in a situation. True hope is unseen. True hope comes from God. What are some of the words we find in the Bible about all of this? (Isaiah 40:8) "The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) "thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (Hebrews 11:1) "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Matthew 7:7) "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened for you." (Romans 8:25) "But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Jeremiah 29:11) "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope."
As we say farewell to you in this last newsletter message we write (future messages in the newsletter will continue to be written but not by us), we wish you a beautiful autumn, and give thanks to our members and friends for their support during the past two years as we searched for a new part-time pastor. We want to share with you our hope, confidence and joy for the coming year. What a beautiful and productive period we have had these past two months! Yes, our prayers have been answered, and it is with excitement that we announce that as of September 1, 2023 our new temporary part-time Pastor will be Rev. Dora Odarenko. This announcement is made prior to final approval of all documents by the Commission on Ministry at the Pittsburgh Presbytery. The Commission will review these papers at their next meeting. Our contact at the Presbytery has indicated that there appears to be no problem at this time that would prevent approval of the agreement.
Please attend worship service and meet Rev. Odarenko. We know she is anxious to get to know you. Below is information about her which you will find very interesting. Future newsletters will include a message from Pastor Dora.
With love and thanks, Your Session and Current Ruling Elders: Audrey Moore, Wayne Morrison, and Ronda Kopchak
WELCOME PASTOR DORA!
We are very excited to announce that Rev. Dora Odarenko has agreed to join us on a temporary part-time basis as our Pastor. Pastor Dora is a second career United Methodist Church pastor, seminary-trained, and is currently serving one small rural church outside of Sewickley; she lives in Ben Avon. She has been trained for one-on-one Spiritual Direction. She is a widow and she, with her husband Karl, were foster parents. On her own, when she lived in Connecticut, she created and ran a sanctuary for farm animals.
Rev. Odarenko was a teacher for many years, teaching pre-K through University, serving students in Harlem, NY, inner-city Bridgeport, and inner-city New Haven. She has also taught in schools that are considered more prestigious, helping to develop Community Learning and Women Studies at Skidmore College. She then became a member of the Feminist Press, where she did editing and teaching.
She is a writer and published poet, and has taught writing. She has been on mission to Honduras. The church which she was discerned for seminary was an inner-city church in Bridgeport, CT. She seeks a community that shelters, heals, and restores; that practices radical hospitality, and that, through Christ, honors the integrity of each voice and the emerging spiritual journey of each.
Pastor Dora's education is considerable. She graduated from Bernard College (B.A., 1961); Columbia University (M.A., 1963); holds a teaching certificate from Sacred Heart University (1998); has a certificate from the Hartford Seminary Women's Leadership Institute (2003); received the Berkeley Divinity School William Palmer Ladd Scholarship Prize for Academic Distinction (2004); and at Yale Divinity School has a M. Div. (2007) and a certificate from the Institute of Sacred Music (2007).
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please continue to keep in your prayers Dorothy Perrucci, Lois Baxendell , Christine Zarnich, Charolette Flamm, Janet and Jerry Bauer, Amanda Gordon, Juanita Johnson, Charlotte Taylor, Janet Frisch, Sharon A. Ives and her sister Janet Williams, Edna Czlapinski, Michelle Alker, and Sandra Winer.
CHURCH PICNIC
On Sunday, July 30, the South Side Presbyterian Church had its indoor picnic after worship service. There was plenty of delicious food, and grill master Wes Morar cooked the hamburgers and hot dogs to perfection. We are very grateful to Wes for his help and the time he devoted to our event. Also, we are very thankful to all folks who brought food, and setup and cleaned up for this picnic. And, as usual, no one left hungry! We had a drawing for prizes which was enjoyed by all. If you missed the picnic this year, we hope you will make it to next summer's event.
DEACONS FUNDRAISER - TOY DRIVE
The Deacons have voted to continue the Christmas toy drive for families in our community. Families interested in applying for a gift for a child should call the Church Office at 412-431-0118 for an application. If you are interested in donating a new toy or stocking stuffer item, it is suggested that the gift cost no more than $10. You can drop off your donation any Sunday morning at the Church. The deadline for submitting applications is November 6 .
OFFERINGS AND DONATIONS
We are always thankful to the Church members and friends who make weekly, monthly, or yearly donations to the church. There are on occasion, special offerings for which we ask support. One such special offering is the Peace and Global Witness Offering which will take place on Sunday, October 1. This offering encourages the Church to cast off anxiety and fear, discord and division, and embrace our God's mission of reconciliation to those around the corner and around the world. If you are able to make a contribution for this purpose, please put your donation in an envelope, mark the envelope for this purpose, and place it in the offering basket on Sunday, October 1. Envelopes marked "Peace and Global Witness Offering" will also be available at the Church.
KITCHEN KORNER
Sweet and Sour Kielbasa 3 lbs. kielbasa -- cut in 1/4 to 1/2 inch circles 1 bottle chili sauce 1 can crushed pineapple with juice 1/2 cup brown sugar Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix and place all ingredients in a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 25- 30 minutes.
OPEN MIC COFFEE HOUSE FOR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
After being on vacation for the month of August, the Open Mic Coffee House for September will reopen with live entertainment on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 7:30-9:00 pm. The suggested donation remains at $5 and refreshments will be available as well as a time for fellowship. The October Open Mic will begin at the usual 7:30 pm time on October 12, 2023. The suggested donation remains the same, refreshments will be available as usual and there will be plenty of time for fellowship.
If you would like to share your talent with others or know of someone who might want to share their talent in either the September or October Coffee House, please call Mike at 412-327-5498 or email him at mikevargo@aol.com.
FUNNY CHURCH JOKES
A little boy was overheard praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50." The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100." The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem. A small child replied, "They couldn't get a baby sitter."