The Last Sunday after the Epiphany February 14, 2021

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II at 11 a.m.

Online Worship

Follow either of the following links for the live stream: Our website: www.calvarypgh.org/live Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryEpiscopalChurch/

The bulletin, readings, and Prayers of the People may be viewed on the Calvary website as PDFs at www.calvarypgh.org/bulletins-and-readings-archive

1 of 12 The service at 11 a.m. each Sunday will be online only with no worship in person. We will stream and record the services and then post it on YouTube and put a link to it on Calvary’s website.

The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. You are welcome to pray in the church, and drop off items (plastic for recycling, pledges, food or clothing for donations, etc.). The best way to contact clergy or the church office is by email or phone.

Read the February issue

The Rector's Gospel of Matthew Class is a series of video lectures posted to the Calvary website and YouTube on Sundays at 10 a.m.

February 17, 2021

Noon – 1 p.m. Imposition of Ashes at the West doors of the church 6 – 6:50 p.m. Drive-up Imposition of Ashes in the circular drive 7 p.m. The Proper Liturgy for Ash Wednesday livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.

2 of 12 Practical and Theological Notes about Ash Wednesday

Everyone should remain masked for the imposition of ashes. The clergy will sanitize their hands after imposing ashes on each person. Before receiving ashes, you will be asked whether you would like them imposed on your forehead in the shape of a cross or sprinkled on the top of your head.

This second option not simply an accommodation to the realities of the pandemic. Though it is an unfamiliar practice it is the older and historic method of imposing ashes.

Both methods of receiving ashes have deep theological meaning. In receiving a cross-of-ashes on the forehead we recall the signing with Chrism in the baptismal liturgy. We recall both our mortality and the new live we have received through Christ’s Easter victory as we begin our time of penitence.

The older practice of sprinkling ashes on the top of the head recalls the Biblical practice of “putting on sackcloth and ashes” as a symbol of penitence. It is also reminiscent of the earth that is cast upon our bodies at the time of burial (J. Neil Alexander, A Note on Ash Wednesday and the Imposition of Ashes in a Time of Pandemic). That we reclaim this tradition for reasons of hygiene at a time when the realities of death are before us in a way that they have not been for some time is especially poignant. The connection between the Burial of the Dead and the beginning of our Lenten observance reminds us that in times of fasting, fear, and even at the grave we, as the Prayer Book says “make our song Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia” because Christ is still Risen Indeed!

It is worth noting that the Prayer Book makes the imposition of ashes optional. While the imposition of ashes is a powerful symbol and ritual it is important not for its own sake but because it helps us to remember our mortality and need for as we make the transition from the season of Epiphany to Lent. The invitation to a Holy Lent and the extended confession that makes up the Litany of Penitence are at the heart of Ash Wednesday.

If you need a pledge card, please visit the Calvary website or contact Kim Pieratt in the Church office at 412.661.0120 extension 111 or email her at [email protected]

Stewardship of All Our Gifts Thank you to all who have made a commitment to support Calvary

3 of 12 in this upcoming year. Giving from parishioners constitutes the majority of our income. We appreciate your generosity and commitment during these difficult times.

Twenty-three families have made new pledges this year. About 30% of those who have pledged have raised their commitment from last year. If you are able, please join us and make a pledge to support Calvary’s mission and ministry.

Please Wear a Mask

This winter, Calvary will be offering a Discipleship Class. The class is an opportunity to take a closer look at who we are as Episcopalians and more fundamentally who we are as Christians. The class is also an opportunity for those who are newer to Calvary to connect with others and learn more about the congregation.

The Discipleship Class also serves as preparation for those who are interested in the rites of confirmation, reception, or the reaffirmation of baptismal vows in the Episcopal Church.

The class will be held on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. The class will take place over Zoom and use breakout rooms for small group discussions.

4 of 12 This is the Zoom link for the class: https://us02web.zoom.us /j/87350371507?pwd=NVFPZCs4UE9nd1VwZDIxQS8rQ1o5Zz09. Sessions will continue every Sunday through April 25.

Each session will include a short talk by a member of the clergy or a member of the parish, small group discussion, and an opportunity to ask questions. Over the course of the class you can expect to hear about prayer, the sacraments, Calvary’s buildings, Calvary’s history and identity as a congregation, and get to know others who are new to Calvary.

If you are interested in attending or have any questions about the class or about confirmation, reception, or the reaffirmation of baptismal vows contact the Rev. Neil Raman at [email protected].

The Reverend Geoffrey Royce hosts Reading the Saints, a ministry which will help us to keep the memory of the saints and encourage us to look into the wisdom of their example and writings. A saint is an ordinary person, now born into eternal life, who has accomplished in their lifetime extraordinary outcomes as a result of their devotion in faith. We are encouraged by our tradition to celebrate their witness and contribution to the Kingdom of God in our midst. This video series is posted on the Calvary website under Recorded Classes.

The Teaching Family is a new course for the POLO Group (Parents of Little Ones) on Tuesday evenings with Tammy Lewis and Geoffrey Royce. We’ll be using The Path Family Storybook: A Journey through the with Families as our guide. Parents will be presented with a Bible story to read with their child(ren) every two weeks. Along with this story, we will provide summaries of each lesson with some discussion questions for the family to talk over at home. Parents will then meet on Zoom for a 25-30 minute presentation by Geoffrey Royce with engagement of the story by class members. Our goal is to help parents teach their children how individual Bible stories fit together into one greater story: the story of God’s incredible love for us. The POLO group will meet by Zoom the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Tammy Lewis at [email protected] to sign up.

5 of 12 If you are interested, we’ll need your email address to send you the Zoom link. This is a great time to join the POLO Group, no matter what your child’s age!

Spiritual Reflection – Frederick Buechner

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 peer ministry.

For the winter quarter, we continue to use Frederick Buechner as our guide. A Presbyterian and contemporary author, Buechner had success as a novelist but is also renowned for his memoirs and essays on Christian faith and spirituality. See http://frederickbuechner.com. We have purchased for the group his book, Listening to Your Life, which is comprised excerpts of his writings presented as daily meditations.

Meetings are held using Zoom from 7-8 p.m .on the first and third Tuesday evening of each month. Upcoming meetings will take place on February 16, March 2, and March 16.

Email Matt Muldoon ([email protected]) or Sondra Krimmel ([email protected]) for more information or to be added to the email list. Please feel welcome to join at any time.

Click here to read the latest bookstore newsletter as a PDF + + +

6 of 12 With more of us our working and spending more time at home due to the pandemic, the “And Also With Yinz” hoodies can be both a warm and fashionable addition to your wardrobe. Also available as a short sleeve tee shirt and both garments are available in size small to XXL. A portion of the proceeds from all ‘yinzer’ related items available at the Bookstore are donated to Sheldon Calvary Camp located in Conneaut, OH. Established in 1936, Harry E. Sheldon Calvary Camp is a camping ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of . To learn more about the camp, please go to www.calvarycamp.org.

If you are interested in these titles or obtaining any other items, contact the Bookstore at 412-661-0120 ext. 133 (please leave a message) or by email - [email protected] and we will contact you. In addition, we can arrange for contactless pick-up of your items.

7 of 12 2021 Absalom Jones Day Service

Please join Bishop McConnell and ELCA Bishop Kurt Kusserow at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2021, for an ecumenical celebration of the lives of the Rev. Absalom Jones and Pastor Jehu Jones.

The homilist will be the Rev. Charles L. Fischer III, VP for Seminary Advancement at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. More about Fischer is available at www.pts.edu/Charles_Fischer_VP.

Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, will be the host of the service. The service will be streamed live on the following Facebook pages:

Trinity Cathedral: https://www.facebook.com/trinitycathedralpgh Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh: https://www.facebook.com/EpiscopalPittsburgh Beloved Community Initiative: https://www.facebook.com/welove1st

8 of 12 Click the image above to join the ZOOM Meeting; Click here to View the flyer as a PDF

Home Communion If you would like to have Communion (bread) brought to your home, the clergy are happy to do so. It will be prepared and placed in a sealed plastic bag and brought to your door. Please contact the clergy or the church office to make arrangements.

Church Office Hours The church office will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We ask all who come to Calvary for worship or to the building on a weekday to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash or sanitize one's hands regularly.

Church Finances: A Reminder You are encouraged to make every effort to keep up with your pledge payments during this time of the Church not holding public worship. Our expenses continue apace. Every staff member is paid during this time. They are all busy at Calvary in different ways than usual. You may send payments by mail or electronically. The Church office receives mail delivery daily. Many thanks.

Groceries If you are unable or do not feel safe going to the grocery, some members of Calvary have volunteered to shop for you. Please contact the Rector if you are in need.

Soup Group Update We have a sufficient supply of soup in the freezer. Soup can still be delivered to fellow parishioners, friends, and family members. Please call the Calvary Church office (412.661.0120) to check on the times that access is available to the kitchen. Because of social distancing, I continue to recommend that the soup be left outside the door of the recipient. Then call to let that person know the soup is there. Contact me if you have any questions. -Adele Eley, [email protected], 412.371.6921

Holy Baptism Please contact the Reverend Neil Raman at nraman@ calvarypgh.org or 412.661.0120, ext. 112 if you, or someone you know, desires to partake in this sacrament.

All are welcome to join us virtually for shared silent prayer and reflection on Mondays at 7 p.m. It works better than you might expect! For a Zoom invitation, email Catherine Davidson at [email protected]

9 of 12 Pastoral Care

If you need to reach one of the clergy, the best way is to contact us is by email. We are ready to help.

The Rev. Jonathon Jensen, [email protected] The Rev. Leslie Reimer, [email protected] The Rev. Neil Raman, [email protected] Deacon Geoffrey Royce, [email protected]

Be safe. Be careful. Be hopeful.

East End Cooperative Ministry Food Pantry is still operating during the pandemic, with appropriate plans to protect those receiving food. Donations can be dropped off at Calvary during office hours: Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until Noon. Below is a list of items particularly requested at this time. Thank you for your on-going support of this ministry.

* Bottled Water * Canned tomato sauce, vegetables, beans * Spaghetti and macaroni pasta * Instant mashed potatoes * Canned soups * Oatmeal and whole grain cereals * Mac & Cheese boxes * White and brown rice * Disposable utensils (fork, spoon, knife) * Disposable plates * Disposable bowls * Ziploc bags, any size * Napkins * Paper Towels * Sugar * Salt

AA: Alcoholics Anonymous; CYAM: Calvary Young Adult Ministry; EfM: Education for Ministry

Sunday February 14, 2021 The Last Sunday after the Epiphany 9:45 a.m. Discipleship Class 9:50 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Gospel of Matthew Study 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Monday February 15, 2021

10 of 12 Thomas Bray, Priest and Missionary, 1730 7:00 p.m. Contemplative Prayer

Tuesday February 16, 2021 8:30 a.m. Beginnings 2:00 p.m. Organ Class 7:00 p.m. AA Small Group Meeting 7:00 p.m. Music Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Spiritual Reflection

Wednesday February 17, 2021 Ash Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Beginnings 12:00 p.m. Ashes to Go 6:00 p.m. EfM 6:00 p.m. Ashes to Go 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service

Thursday February 18, 2021 Martin Luther, Pastor and Church Reformer, 1546 8:30 a.m. Beginnings 9:30 a.m. EfM 5:45 p.m. CYAM Holy Happy Hour

Friday February 19, 2021 Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, Agatha Lin Zhao, and Lucy Yi Zhenmei, Catechists and Martyrs, 1856, 1858, and 1862

Saturday February 20, 2021 Frederick Douglass, Prophetic Witness, 1895

Sunday February 21, 2021 The First Sunday in Lent 9:45 a.m. Discipleship Class 9:50 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Gospel of Matthew Study 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

11 of 12 An archive of the past months weekly email blasts may be viewed as a PDF on the Calvary website at www.calvarypgh.org

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Calvary Episcopal Church | 315 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

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