The Adult Fellowship Group will meet for an Oktoberfest gathering at Penn Brewery on the North Side, (800 Vinial Street. 15212) on Friday, September 24 at 6:00 PM. We will be seated together under an outdoor tent. Adults of all ages are welcome to attend. The cost will be $30/person which includes food and two pints of beer. Use the form below to indicate your intention to attend.

In addition to First’s monthly book discussions, adults are invited to consider whether they would like to be involved in an intentional small group, which last year chose to meet biweekly (twice a month) on Zoom. These are an opportunity to get to know and spend time with a group of adults from First on a new level, sharing prayer requests, and reflecting on scripture together with the help of leadership from the Yale Bible Study program. This semester groups will be doing an 8-week study on “Women in the Bible”. Express your interest and availability using the form below by Monday, Sunday, September 12. If you have questions, please contact Pastor McCurry (jpm@flcpittsburgh.org).

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

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 For those who were unable to make it, the service was livestreamed, and has now been archived on our YouTube channel.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

The pastoral staff of First Church speak on the available opportunities to engage with our ministry and examine the measures we are taking to keep you safe.

Featured in the April edition of our newsletter, the First Church Alert, this  message from associate pastor Jennifer Peters McCurry is available as a separate document that you are welcome to share. Click below to view / download:

Pastoral Message 04.2020

Our lives have been turned upside down in the past few weeks, and I know that my family is still trying to figure out this new way of life together. I pray that you and your family members are well, in body, mind, and spirit.

In the video above, you’ll see that I mention some specific resources for engaging your faith at home. Every family is different, so we want to offer a variety of supports so you can find what works for you. Here are some attachments and links, which you might find helpful:

By clicking HERE, you will find a PDF resource for daily devotions that you may want to use, which we will distribute to the whole congregation and can be done as a family.

Families can also consider using Faith 5 (https://faithink.com/the-faith5-steps), which Pastor Natalie and Father Dan Hall discussed at First’s Adult Education sessions a couple years ago.

Teens and adults can consider praying the “Ignatian Daily Examen,” which I have mentioned in Adult Educaiton sessions.  It is another five step way to reflect on God’s presence and guidance in your day, and to pray for the next day. Read more at:  https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/

For parents of littles, this online book uses helpful (secular) language to talk about why we’re staying home: https://www.mindheart.co/descargables

For those in need of emergency resources, the PDF document below details many that are available in the communities in Allegheny County.

CLICK HERE to view Allegheny County Emergency Resources

Effective immediately, all public events and worship services are cancelled until further notice. The building will remain closed to the public. Click HERE to read Pastor Evans’s recent letter to the congregation about the pandemic.

Virtual worship will be streamed live on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. You may visit our YouTube Channel to access the live stream. In the event of technical difficulty, an announcement will be made on our Facebook page for an alternate stream, or instructions on how to access one. Additional opportunities for virtual worship will be filmed and posted

The office staff will be available to answer your telephone calls 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The main office number is 412-471-8125. If you have need of anything: whether it be groceries, prescription medication pickup/delivery, prayer, or simply conversation during this period of social distancing, do not hesitate to call. The office staff will work to coordinate with our volunteers to get what you need and deliver it to you.

If you need to reach a pastor outside of regular office hours, know that you may always call our emergency line at 412-471-6507 and leave a message. The pastor on duty will return your call as soon as possible.

Remember: physical distancing does NOT have to mean spiritual distancing! The staff and volunteers of First Church will be available for you. Keep watching this website, our Facebook page, YouTube Channel, and all of our social media outlets for further details in the coming days.

Peace be with you.