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News From Pittsburgh Presbytery
Vital congregations bringing people to Christ

A Letter from the Pastor to Presbytery
Click here to read "Pittsburgh Presbytery is a covenant community formed by the triune God, called to share together in the ongoing life and ministry of Jesus Christ…" by the Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge, Pastor to Presbytery, in which he continues to unpack the new mission statement of the presbytery.

Grants Available for Small Congregations

Urban Partnership Seminary Student Intern Grants: Deadline June 14
The Administrative Commission for Transformation (ACT) is funding students for the 2012-13 school year, September through May, to work with churches doing urban ministry who are in partnership with another church. It is the desire of ACT to give seminary students opportunities to work in urban and transformational ministries. Interns receive a stipend of $325/month. The church and student applications are available online.

Matching Grants: Deadline June 14
A matching grant of up to $5,000 is being made available to small churches through the Synod of the Trinity and Pittsburgh Presbytery. The grant could be for $5,000 for one church or broken down into smaller amounts if more church applications are approved. The grant is for capital improvements or outreach programs to the local community and can be used for ongoing improvements/programs. The church must be able to match half of the dollars being requested with the remaining half supplied by Administrative Commission for Transformation (ACT). For example, if a church applies for $5,000, it must match up to $2,500 and the ACT would match the remaining $2,500; if the church seeks $1,000, then it must come up with $500. THERE IS A QUICK DEADLINE OF JUNE 14 at NOON. Grants will be awarded this summer. The application, guidelines and examples of how funds have been used is available online.

Enhancement Grants: Deadline August 31
The Administrative Commission for Transformation (ACT) hopes to promote ministry partnerships with the 2013 Enhancement Grants. New for the coming year, the awards will be based on a 3-to-1 ratio. ACT will offer $3 for every $1 you raise with a maximum grant of $3,000. This can be done with lesser amounts as well. You are also encouraged to consider sharing in ministry with one or more congregations in your area and applying for a joint grant. This new venture calls for new deadlines. Applications are due by August 31. Grants are awarded on a one-year basis. Churches are eligible to receive grants for two consecutive years but must reapply annually. After two consecutive years of receiving a grant, a church should wait one year before applying again. Applications and guidelines are available online. Please email Cindy Miller or call her at 412-323-1400 X 321 if you have questions.

Vacation Bible School Donations
Crestfield Camp & Conference Center is Pittsburgh Presbytery's camp -- it belongs to all the churches and members of Pittsburgh Presbytery!  Coins for Crestfield is a new and unique way you can partner with the camp as we move toward our goal of new lodging, worship, and recreational spaces for children and adults.   Children could pool their spare change to help us raise the $15,000 needed for a new outdoor climbing wall.  This Coins for Crestfield mission outreach was piloted last summer during VBS at Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church.    The children loved bringing in coins and were excited to be supporting a mission site that was familiar and understandable.  Parents loved the simplicity of the collection -- they did not have to go out and buy anything for the mission collection. In addition, many of the parents shared the impact that summer camp had on their own faith development and were pleased to learn there is a thriving Christian camp and conference center so close to Pittsburgh. Visit the camp website for more information about the retreat facilities, programs, and special events that nurture others in their experience with God.

Mesi ampil! (Thank you very much!)
The people of Haiti are very thankful for your heartfelt donations enabling them to have clean water. The Haiti Clean Water project is very near to doubling the $50,000 goal! When $1,000 additional funds are donated, an application can then be made for a matching grant from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  Your gift will make a huge difference in the quality of life for many Haitians. Will you share the gift of clean, sustainable water with the communities in Haiti by helping to create new solar powered water filtration systems?  Will you save the life of a child who will otherwise die from disease in the unclean water they are now drinking?  Will you help us reach the $50,000 goal by June 30, 2012?  Please make your check payable to "Pittsburgh Presbytery," with "Haiti Clean Water" noted on the memo line.  If you need more information, please email the Rev. Karen Battle or call her at 412-323-1400 X 309.

Happy Graduation!
This month, our ten Presbyterian seminaries will graduate the new leaders of our churches. Certainly cause for celebration -- and support! This is an ideal time for congregations to send a “graduation gift” to the Theological Education Fund (TEF). TEF funds are the major source of undesignated financial support for most of our seminaries. The Pittsburgh Presbytery Treasury Service Remittance Form makes it convenient to send a contribution. Our local TEF representatives acknowledge, with gratitude, recent support from Bellevue United Presbyterian Church, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Bower Hill Community Presbyterian Church, Cross Roads Presbyterian Church (Monroeville), East Liberty Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood, Hiland Presbyterian Church, John McMillan Presbyterian Church, Ken Mawr United Presbyterian Church, Oakmont Presbyterian Church, The Presbyterian Church of Mount Washington, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Sharon Community Presbyterian Church, and Wexford Community Presbyterian Church. We celebrate with the nearly 20 candidates under our care who will be graduating this spring from three different seminaries and representing 15 churches within our Presbytery.

Sing a New Song to the Lord!
Have you heard about the new Presbyterian Hymnal?  Come, join the song!  First Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh) will host a Hymn Festival on Monday, July 2, at 7:30 PM.  The Princeton Theological Seminary Choir, Carnegie Brass Ensemble, members of FPC and the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song will lead us in hymns and songs from the old and from the new hymnals.  All are welcome to this General Assembly celebration.

General Assembly Updates

General Assembly is in need of recorders/transcriptionists for the Committees to assist them with their work. This is a great opportunity not only to help the commissioners but also to see how the committees operate up close and personal. Click here for details and information on how to volunteer.

Please contact Melissa Rossiter to RSVP.

Scripture Union President in Pittsburgh
Whitney Kuniholm, president of Scripture Union, USA and author of The Essential Bible Guide, is scheduled to be in Pittsburgh on Sunday, May 20, at Mosaic Community Church for the 11:00 AM worship service and at Southminster Presbyterian Church for a 3:00 PM luncheon. He will also present on Monday, May 21, at First United Presbyterian Church of Turtle Creek (232 Church Street, Turtle Creek) for an 8:00 AM breakfast meeting and at Warren United Methodist Church (2606 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh) for a 12:30 PM lunch meeting. Kuniholm will be challenging believers to read the Word and to share the Word in the community.  Click here for details!

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