All posts by flc

Youth Group 03/24 RSVP

Friday, March 24 the youth will gather at the Wilson home at 5:45 PM for our next youth group meeting.  Please join us for dinner, dessert, and a FUN Escape Room activity!  After dinner the youth will walk to Greenfield Ave to participate in the Diamond Heist Escape Room!  After they have escaped, they will walk back to the Wilson home for dessert and pick up.  Pick up will be at 8:30 PM.   Youth should bring $20 to help cover the cost of this event.  Please sign up using the form below by March 16, as we have to register ahead of time and need an accurate count.

Choral Vespers featuring PGH Compline Choir & Seton Hill Singers

Join us for Choral Vespers next Sunday, 12 March.  At 4:00 PM, we shall pray Choral Vespers. We are pleased to welcome the Seton Hill University Chamber Singers and the Pittsburgh Compline Choir, as they join together to offer choral anthems and psalm settings by John W. Becker. John was a member of First Church, and our Composer-in-Residence for many years. A light reception will follow in the Parish House. Bring a friend, and pray Lenten Vespers with nearly 50 choral singers in this holy season.

Youth Missions Trip Sign-Up

Hello FLC Families and Youth:  We are excited to share details and registration for this summer’s YouthWorks Mission Trip to Niagara Falls, NY the week of June 25-30, 2023.  Here are some of the details:

Dates:  June 25-30, 2023.  We will plan to arrive at our site in Niagara Falls by 6 pm on June 25th, so families should plan for an early afternoon departure from Pittsburgh on the 25th.  The group will leave Niagara Falls on Friday around 9 am, for its return back to Pittsburgh.  Niagara Falls is roughly a four hour drive from Pittsburgh.
Cost:  Each family is asked to contribute $250 towards the cost of the trip.  This covers the registration fee (food and lodging) and transportation which will be by car and/or van.  If the cost of the trip is an impediment for your family, please reach out to Pastor Evans for assistance.  The youth may also participate in fundraisers.
Meals and Lodging:  Typically, participants stay at churches, schools or community centers and sleep on classroom floors.  We will have more information about our accommodations closer to the date of the trip.   Meals will be provided.
Chaperones:  There will be 2 adult chaperones on this trip from FLC.  Pastor Evans will be one chaperone, along with another adult TBD.
Mission:  The youth will work along local organizations to meet needs in the Niagara Falls community through food and clothing distribution, home repair projects, community beautification projects and youth programming.   Additional information about the trip can be found here:

Sign up below!

Adult Small Groups 2022-23

Adults are invited to participate in a small group and we will begin with a study of Ephesians, with a Lutheran resource that is new for us. Small groups have usually met twice each month at a mutually convenient time and each group’s members choose whether to meet in person or by Zoom. To express interest and be matched with a group that fits your availability and preferred format, sign up using the form, below:

Select as many as apply to your situation.
Select one that applies best to your situation.

Pastor Halle’s Archived Ordination Liturgy

For those who were unable to view Vicar Halle’s ordination live, the archived footage is now available on McFarland Lutheran’s YouTube channel. Click the image above to be directed to the video, and click below to download a copy of the bulletin!

HLK Ordination Liturgy – Online Version

 

Archived Funeral Liturgy for Bill Luft

First Church laid to rest parishioner Bill Luft on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 2:00 PM. For those who were unable to make it, the service was livestreamed, and has now been archived on our YouTube channel. Use the link below to download a copy of the bulletin, and click on the thumbnail access the video footage.

Rest eternal grant him, O Lord – and let light perpetual shine upon him.

3.14.2021-WILLIAM LUFT REQUIEM BULLETIN

Vital News from Pastor Evans Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dear Beloved of God,
Yesterday I announced some temporary but drastic changes affecting the life of our parish during this pandemic. Today we must go a step farther. It is now clear that it necessary for the greater good that we practice social distancing immediately. This comes at the urging of many of our own members who are doctors and medical experts, as well as with the general consensus of our leadership. Therefore, after the celebration of the Eucharist today at noon, our building will close for all public gatherings and worship. Except for staff presence, the building will remain closed at least through the end of March. Bob Beer’s visitation and funeral is postponed and will be announced at a later date.
This does not mean that the Church’s work is paused. On the contrary, our ministry must intensify. Our staff and leadership will be coordinating resources for worshipping and tending to our faith from home. We will also be organizing multiple ways in which we will be helping the elderly, the sick, and all those in need. Meetings will go on by internet as announced. Worship will be offered virtually as well. Your prayers, as well as your time, talents, and treasure are needed more than ever.
It is the instinct of the Christ’s flock to keep close together in body as well as in spirit. How good it is to be in the house of the Lord! But sometimes, every once in a great while, the danger is such that the flock must disperse in body for the good of the whole herd. Yet because we live not to ourselves but in Christ, we are never truly apart in spirit.
We have been rehearsing for a moment such as this throughout our whole lives as baptized children of God. Today, we are called to act with one mind and one heart toward the greater good. This must be our generation’s finest hour. Be not afraid. The Lord has prepared us already for this moment. In the words of St. Paul:
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
With you in Christ,
The Rev. Brian A. Evans
Senior Pastor

Assisted Listening Devices NOW AVAILABLE!

First Church is pleased to announce the installation of our new sound system! Many of you probably noticed the improved clarity of the audio this past Sunday. We are also pleased to announce that we are now able to offer assisted listening devices to our members and guests who are hearing impaired. We have easy-to-use receivers that may be used with our headphones or neckloops (we have antiseptic wipes to clean them before use, if desired), or you may bring your own headphones. Hearing aid users who have telecoil-equipped hearing aids can take advantage of our new induction loop by simply switching their device to its T-Coil setting. A feed from the audio system will automatically be picked up by their hearing aid with no additional equipment required!

A happy side-effect of our new sound system is the ability to generate broadcast-quality recordings of our services that you may listen to at will from our website or by visiting our Soundcloud page. Feel free to share these recordings with your familes and friends!