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Sunday, March 24, 2024
The Sunday of the Passion:
PALM SUNDAY
8 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
A said service of Holy Communion
in the Chapel
9 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
A service at the Crossing,
with congregational hymns and organ music
11 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
A service at the High Altar in the Church
with music for choir, organ, and congregation
[This service will be Livestreamed]
5 p.m. - A Musical Meditation
on the Passion of Christ
incorporating Biblical readings tracing the events of Christ’s passion, and choral and congregational musical reflections on those events. The service will last just over an hour, and all are welcome.
[This service will be Livestreamed]
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Holy Week and
Easter Services at Calvary
Palm Sunday, March 24
The Blessing of Palms and the Holy Eucharist
In the Lady Chapel at 8 a.m.
At the Crossing at 9 a.m.
At the High Altar at 11* a.m.
Musical Meditation on the Passion of Christ
A choral service of Word, Reflection, and Prayer at 5* P.m.
Monday in Holy Week, March 25
The Holy Eucharist, in the Lady Chapel, 6 p.m.
Tuesday in Holy Week, March 26
The Holy Eucharist, in the Lady Chapel, 6 p.m.
Wednesday in Holy Week, March 27
The Holy Eucharist, in the Lady Chapel, at Noon and 6 p.m.
Maundy Thursday, March 28
The Holy Eucharist in the Lady Chapel, at 12 Noon;
The Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar, 7:30* p.m.
Good Friday, March 29
Good Friday Liturgy, 12* Noon
(Nursery Care is available at 11:45 p.m.);
Following the service, the Church will remain open
for meditation from 1:30 until 3 p.m.
Good Friday Liturgy, 7:30* p.m.
Holy Saturday, March 30
The Great Vigil of Easter, 8* p.m.
Lighting of the Paschal Candle, Scriptural Prophecies,
and the First Eucharist of Easter
Easter Day, March 31
Holy Eucharist and Homily at 8 a.m.
Festal Holy Eucharist and Sermon at 9 & 11* a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt, 10:15 a.m.
* Services marked with an asterisk are livestreamed.
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Funeral for John O'Rourke
A funeral to celebrate the life of John O’Rourke will be held at Calvary on Thursday, April 11, 2023 at 11 a.m. in the Lady Chapel. The family will receive visitors in the Parlor, beginning at 10 a.m. A reception will follow the service in the Parish Hall, with interment at 2:30 p.m. at Allegheny County Memorial Park Cemetery in Allison Park, PA. All are welcome to attend. Please join us in holding Peggy and their family and friends in your prayers.
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We are very pleased to report that the Capital Campaign currently has 61 pledges totaling $2,576,500, which is 43% of our $6,000,000 goal. While this is great progress, we need to have many more members participate in the Campaign. In order to facilitate this, we are offering several opportunities to learn about the Campaign and make it easy to pledge.
During the early phase of the Campaign we organized neighborhood Awareness Gatherings, mostly in members’ homes, to reach other members and share details about the Campaign. These were followed by individual meetings to solicit pledges to the Campaign. However, we understand that while an Awareness Gathering fits some members’ needs for information, not everyone wants to, or has the time to attend an informational meeting. To address that, and simplify the process, we are offering several ways for you to get the information you need to participate in the Campaign.
To that end, please send an email to us at campaign@calvarypgh.org:
1. If you would like to attend an Awareness Gathering. Once we have enough responses we will organize a meeting around the schedules of those who respond. As with all prior gatherings, this will be an informational meeting only; you will not be solicited at the meeting. Afterwards you will be contacted personally to discuss your participation in the campaign.
2. If you just have a few questions, either about the Campaign or methods to pay your pledge. The appropriate committee member will respond to you. All discussions are confidential and it is not necessary to discuss your pledge amount.
3. If you are ready to make your pledge, and want a pledge form. Please specify whether you would like to have a hard copy sent in the mail. Otherwise you will receive the form attached to an email.
All the above methods are also available ‘in person’ every Sunday in the Parish Hall before and after services. The Campaign Committee Co-Chairs and Ambassadors will be in the Parish Hall near the children’s progress chart and will happily address your questions and comments. They will have relevant documents available for you: the Campaign Case, the Campaign Project List, a List of Naming Opportunities, a description of the numerous “Ways of Giving,” and Campaign FAQ’s. As outlined above, you may also request to be put on the list for an Awareness meeting, request a pledge card or have a Campaign person contact you for specific questions.
We look forward eagerly to sharing the details about this critical campaign and to having you join us as we work together to meet the financial goals needed to preserve, sustain, and share Calvary’s buildings and mission!
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| The wonderful campaign video that was produced by our talented Rector, is now available for your viewing pleasure on YouTube. The link to watch it is https://youtu.be/oR-VBMGHrw0, or click the thumbnail below. As you are watching it, please take a minute to jot down any questions that it raises for you and bring them to one of our sessions for answers. | |
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One of the many traditions at Calvary Episcopal Church is the delivery of the Easter flowers to those for whom prayers were offered during the past year.
This is a one-day volunteer opportunity and only requires that you give time on Monday, April 1 to deliver the Easter flowers to parishioners. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the Parish Hall between 9–10 a.m. The list of recipients will be sorted by neighborhood and zip code. Kim Pieratt, our Parish Administrator, will prepare the delivery tag which will include the name, address and telephone for each of the recipients. We suggest you call the recipient before leaving the church to let them know you will be delivering an Easter flower to them and ask where you should leave the flower. If you would like to volunteer for this task, please call or email Kim Pieratt by March 25 (kpieratt@calvarypgh.org or 412.661.0120, ext. 111). If you have any questions, please contact the Rev. Cameron Soulis (csoulis@calvarypgh.org or 412.661.0120, ext. 123).
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A Priest and a Rabbi Walk Into a Classroom | |
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There will be class on Palm Sunday. There will not be class
on Easter Sunday.
Rabbi Aaron Bisno and the Rev. Jonathon Jensen will continue to teach a class together. We will focus on the great stories of Judaism in the Book of Genesis. The classes will be in person in McClintic Hall, also known as the choir room, on Sundays at 10 a.m. Sessions are recorded and available on Calvary’s YouTube page. All are welcome to attend.
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Prayer and Anointing for Healing on Sundays at 11 a.m.
The ministry of healing prayer is rooted in Jesus’ own ministry, a significant portion of which involved healing and caring for those who suffered in body, mind and spirit. Throughout the season of Lent, we will offer healing prayer by anointing with oil and the laying on of hands during communion at the 11 a.m. service. If you would like to receive this healing prayer, please come to the Lady Chapel after you receive communion. The priest who is distributing communion at the station by the pulpit will join you there to offer this healing prayer. In Easter, we will evaluate to see if we want to continue this practice.
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Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 11 a.m. Service | |
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Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLW) at the 11 a.m. Service is a special time for children to pray, ask questions, and hear the good news of God’s love. The Sunday scripture readings are proclaimed and explained on a level appropriate to children ages 4-11. Any child in this age group may participate - no registration is necessary.
Children are invited to gather with adult leaders after the Opening Prayer and process to the Refectory. They return to their families at the time of the Peace. If you are running a little late and miss the beginning of the service, no worries! Drop in and join us in the Refectory.
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Open on Sundays from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and for other church events as published.
Details at https://www.calvarypgh.org/the-nursery
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Easter Egg Hunt
Children of all ages are invited to find eggs hidden in the
Swan Garden and adjoining courtyard. All are welcome!
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Faith Formation Highlights | |
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The Faith Formation classes concluded their work with the Kingdom Parables, focusing on the Mustard Seed. Students were amazed to see tiny mustard seed from Israel, just like the one Jesus referred to when teaching about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. Some reflections included,
God's great strength and power within the seed makes the tiny seed grow and change into something much bigger and so very different - a tree.
There are so very many seeds in the world, seeds of all kinds, and each of those seeds has this same great strength of God working within it to cause such growth and change. How much of this strength, this energy, is at work in the world all around us!
We are like the mustard seed. We began life so very tiny, and yet we are growing and changing. This strength of the life of God that is in the mustard seeds is also at work within us, causing us to keep growing and changing until and beyond our death.
Afterward, the students took a close look at various garden seeds, selecting some to plant and sprout for later use in our summer garden.
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With the remaining time, we couldn’t forget to mention Saint Patrick and some of the many ways he helped share God’s message of love including his creative use of the shamrock to explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity. | |
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Holy Week with Children
As we approach Holy Week when we experience the Paschal
Mystery — Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, a question might be, how do we present this most important (but also at times troubling and dark) event to the youngest in our community?
Sofia Cavalletti, a Hebrew Scripture Scholar who co-developed the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, noted, “The proclamation of the death of Christ should never be disjoined from the announcement of His resurrection. ‘Christ has died’ is always followed immediately with, ‘and Christ is risen.’ At the Last Supper, Jesus anticipates the events of the coming day for his disciples. He tells them, “This is my body which is given for you,” and “this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:19-20). In these words, Jesus explains that “what will happen on Good Friday will be the gift of his whole self; Jesus will give himself completely as an offering to the Father and to all of us”, a tremendous act of love.
Our greatest gift to our children can be to initiate them into this mystery, the mystery that life is stronger than death and light overcomes darkness. We can affirm with the child that indeed, the love evidenced in Christ’s passion and death is the love that brought about the resurrection — the love that continues to cover the whole world.
(Adapted from All about the atrium paschal mystery in the home -
CGSUSA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2022, from https://www.cgsusa.org
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The Bookstores has several children’s books for Easter including My First Easter by author and illustrator Tomie dePaola. The importance of family and sharing are beautifully shown in this brightly illustrated board book all about Easter celebrations. It is the perfect size for little hands and makes a great addition to any Easter basket.
The Bookstore is open on Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call the Bookstore at 412.661.0120 ext. 133 (please leave a message) or email at bookstore@calvarypgh.org and we will contact you. Cash, check, Discover®, MasterCard®, and Visa® along with touch-free payments are accepted.
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You can support the Calvary Bookstore both in-person and now online. Instead of using Amazon to find any books that you are interested in, please turn to Bookshop.org, type zip code 15206 in the Bookstore Near Me box, click on Calvary Bookstore, then the red Support this Shop! box. You will be taken to the Calvary Bookstore homepage on their site where you will find suggested readings. You can also use the search bar to find most any book your heart desires. The books will be sent directly to you.
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Spiritual Reflection –
Kate Bowler
Adult spiritual formation may be described as the step-by-step discovery of God’s presence in our lives and our personal transformation along the way. Calvary’s Spiritual Reflection meetings continue to be a regular and familiar forum for small group sharing and prayer.
For this term we use Kate Bowler’s Good Enough. Bowler is a Duke religion professor best known for her book, Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I've loved), written after her Stage IV cancer diagnosis at age 35. Good Enough is a collection of devotionals and prayers "overflowing with grace, good humor and clear-eyed counsel," says one reviewer.
Meetings are held in the Evans Room from 7-8 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday evening of each month. The meetings are hybrid, allowing “in person” conversation while others join remotely using Zoom. Our next meeting date is April 2.
Email Matt Muldoon (mattmuldoon@msn.com) or Sondra Krimmel (sskrimmel@gmail.com) for information or to be added to the email list. Please feel welcome to join us at any time.
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The Contemplative Prayer group meets for silent prayer and reflection, both in person and on Zoom Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Evans Room. For more info and a Zoom invitation, contact Lucy Weingartner at lweingartner20@gmail.com | |
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2024 Sacred Ground Dates Announced
Sacred Ground is part of the Beloved Community Initiative, the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society.
There will be sessions of Sacred Ground going on at various locations throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh this year. Please encourage friends, family, fellow parishioners and other congregations or faith based groups to participate.
There are some very positive changes to Level 1 based on feedback from the surveys from participants. This will give us time to implement some of the new initiatives (less readings, more up to date articles, more discussion time, and only 8 sessions). We are also adding a "Sacred Ground" Level 2 for those who took Sacred Ground and want a deeper dive into the content, more research and/or more action oriented programming. The level 2 sessions consist of 6 sessions.
New Level 1 Session for Sacred Ground on Tuesdays at St. Thomas Church, Oakmont, at 6 p.m. Dinner will be provided.
New Level 2 Sacred Ground Sessions on Thursdays at St. Thomas Church, Oakmont, at 6 p.m. Dinner will be provided.
New Level 2 Sacred Ground Sessions on Wednesdays, April 3 - May 8, 2024 in the Conference Room at Calvary Church, East Liberty, at 6 p.m. Dinner will be provided.
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Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
AA: Alcoholics Anonymous; CYAM: Calvary Young Adult Ministry;
ESL: English as a Second Language
Friday March 22, 2024
James DeKoven, Priest, 1879
Saturday March 23, 2024
Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary, c. 332
Sunday March 24, 2024
The Sunday of the Passion: PALM SUNDAY
The Holy Eucharist at 8, 9, and 11 a.m.
10:00 a.m. Children/Youth Formation
10:00 a.m. Priest/Rabbi Class
10:00 a.m. Gospel and Breakfast (GAB)
10:00 a.m. Choir Warm-up
11:00 a.m. Children’s Liturgy
12:00 p.m. Coffee Hour
4:00 p.m. Choir Warm-up
5:00 p.m. Musical Meditation on the Passion of Christ
Monday March 25, 2024
Monday in Holy Week
5:00 p.m. Capital Campaign Meeting
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
6:30 p.m. TOL Design Committee
6:30 p.m. Vestry Dinner
7:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting
7:00 p.m. Contemplative Prayer
7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday March 26, 2024
Tuesday in Holy Week
11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
7:00 p.m. AA Meeting
Wednesday March 27, 2024
Wednesday in Holy Week
9:00 a.m. Wednesday Workspace
10:00 a.m. ESL Conversation Class
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
Thursday March 28, 2024
Maundy Thursday
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
6:30 p.m. Mahjong
6:30 p.m. Choir Call
7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist with Stripping of the Altar
Friday March 29, 2024
Good Friday
The Church offices will close at Noon
11:00 a.m. Choir Call
11:45 a.m. Nursery open
12:00 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy
1:30 p.m. Church open for Meditation
6:30 p.m. Choir Call
7:30 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday March 30, 2024
Holy Saturday
8:30 a.m. Flower Arranging
4:00 p.m. Egg Hunt Preparation
7:00 p.m. Choir Call
8:00 p.m. Easter Vigil
Sunday March 31, 2024
The Sunday of the Resurrection: EASTER DAY
The Holy Eucharist at 8, 9, and 11 a.m.
8:00 a.m. Choir Warm-Up
No Christian Formation Classes this day
10:00 a.m. Choir/Clergy Breakfast
10:15 a.m. Egg Hunt in Swan Garden
Monday April 1, 2024
Monday in Easter Week
The Church offices will be closed this day
9:00 a.m. Easter Flower Delivery
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An archive of the past months weekly email blasts
may be viewed on the Calvary website at
www.calvarypgh.org
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