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This Sunday
May 28, 2017
Sermon Title:
"A Day to Remember"
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 May 28, 2017
Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:
On Monday, May 29, we celebrate Memorial Day, a federal holiday in the United States, a day to remember the people who died while serving in our country's armed forces. Originally called Decoration Day, the tradition of decorating graves with flowers and American flags began after the Civil War, giving the holiday its original name. This week I had opportunity to be in two cemeteries, one with a member as we go annually to visit her parents' grave, and another to officiate at a graveside memorial service for the relative of a family friend. Flags were already in place to decorate the graves of those who sacrificed their lives for this country.
On another note, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, a season that ends on Labor Day. And life doesn't slow down in the summer season at MLEPC. On Memorial Day, we will provide hospitality to people who watch the South Hills Memorial Day parade that passes by the church. Because we are reported to be the highest point in Mt. Lebanon, many people come with chairs or blankets to sit on our hillside, while others gather on the sidewalks around the church. We'll be giving out candy and literature on our Vacation Bible School and red, white and blue "rocket" popsicles to advertise this year's VBS, Galactic Starveyors. And we'll offer cold bottles of water to parade watchers and thirsty participants who make that trek uphill from Brookline to the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery (been there, done that - in my younger years!). The church will be open so people can use our restrooms (yes, the ones that are being remodeled soon). Come join us to help or simply come and watch the parade as part of the MLEPC church family. Wear a Mission:Possible or a VBS shirt if you have one!
For children, Vacation Bible School is June 26-30, with around 250 children and 100 volunteers from Middle School age through senior adults expected to be in attendance. Fired-Up Friday, for elementary school children, will be held on the first Friday evenings in June, July and August. Our youth will spend a week doing mission work through the Wade Center in Bluefield, West Virginia.
As we worship together this summer, we'll celebrate the weddings of church members on two weekends in June. Each Sunday, we will have Spirit-filled worship services, with plans to hold our Contact service on the roof once a month beginning on June 11 (pray for good weather!). There are two new small groups meeting on Sunday mornings beginning on June 11, one on the Fruit of the Spirit between the two services and one on the I Am statements of Jesus after the Heritage Service. The Welcome Class will continue to meet between the services, and continental breakfast time will provide a weekly opportunity for fellowship.
Our tenth annual mission outreach to the South Hills community will be held July 16-23, and the church will be full of people participating in one or more of 16 projects. Stop in Fellowship Hall on June 4 between the services, enjoy an ice cream or yogurt sundae, and meet the project leaders to see where you can serve in Mission:Possible 10. There is much to look forward to in the life of MLEPC in the weeks to come!
On Sunday in worship, we'll be looking at a scripture passage from a significant day to remember in the life of Jesus, the day before his crucifixion. In John 17, we listen in to an intimate prayer that Jesus prays to His Father as He is with His disciples in the Upper Room. In the last part of that prayer, Jesus prays for those who will believe in Him based on the witness of those who took on his work after his death, resurrection, and ascension. As we open our church for the many events described above, our prayer is that those who come through our doors will begin or strengthen a relationship with Jesus through our witness. In His prayer, Jesus prays for unity, and as the Christian church comes together in unity, it serves as a witness. Take advantage of the events mentioned above as you are able, and if you are one of our members at home, please pray that the truth of the gospel will touch many lives through MLEPC in the summer of 2017. Jesus closes his prayer by praying that God, Jesus, and the faith community will truly be one in love. May that be true of MLEPC as we officially begin our summer season!
Love, in Christ,
Linda Pokrajac, Director of Congregational Care
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