The annual Ash Wednesday Soup Supper will begin at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall on February 22. Following the supper, at 7:00 PM, there will be a Communion worship service in the Sanctuary marking the beginning of the Lenten season. Please join us to commemorate the start of the Lenten season.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Download the PDF version of the Sunday, February 5, 2012 Bulletin
This Sunday the Rev. Dr. David Antonson is preaching on Isaiah 40:21-31 and I Corinthians 9:16-23.
Bulletin for January 29, 2012
Download the Sunday, January 29, 2012 Bulletin
This Sunday we have a combined worship service at 10:00 AM before the Annual Congregation Meeting. The Rev. Dr. David Antonson is preaching.
Parents with children in 2nd-5th grade are invited to a meeting at 6:00 PM this Thursday, January 26, (convieniently after you’ve signed your child into JAM), for a short meeting about the new children’s choir program. Jonathan Wooding, our Director of Worship and Music, will be there to explain everything about the choir. All are welcome! If interested, please call Jeanne at the church at extension 128 or email her.
Greetings and peace to all of you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ! It is an absolute joy to return to Pleasant Hills to serve as its Director of Worship and Music. I am blessed to already know this community so well and to have so many good friends here, and I look forward to growing those friendships and to starting new ones as I move into this position.
For those of you who don’t know me, I am proud to call myself a son of PHCPC, where I was baptized by Rev. DuPree, confirmed by Dr. Ott, and married by Dr. Thwaite. I owe much of my formation as a professional musician to Jim Lueers, PHCPC’s Director of Worship & Music from 1989-2007, who got me involved in all the different aspects of this church’s music ministry when I was young. I was honored to serve as Interim Director of Worship & Music at PHCPC.
I graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2002, went on to Duquesne University where I graduated in 2006. It was in the Duquesne Concert Choir that I first met my wife, Nici, who was a Music Education major also studying voice.
Many of you approached me with the same question: “I thought you and Nici were in Chicago! What brought you back here?!?” The answer is a bit too long and better reserved for a chat in Fellowship Hall after a service when there’s time. The simple answer is that, after a year in Chicago, Nici and I felt called to return to the Pittsburgh area. This call was confirmed when, shortly after our return, we were able to be with our familiesfor two very important events, the death of my grandmother, Marjorie Gorrell, in October of 2010 and the birth of our nephew, Logan Orsi, in March of 2011.
I have been working with the music ministry team and with Pastor David to develop a vision for the future of our music ministry. I am excited to “hit the ground running” with my work here. I will of course continue working with our adult music ministry programs, especially the Chancel Choir and the Carillonaires (our handbell ensemble). Please don’t hesitate to contact Jeanne or myself if you’d like to learn more about joining these programs.
As I interviewed for this position, the search committee stressed to me their great concern for the future of children’s music ministry in our congregation. My top priority this year, following our worship services, will be the development of a quality choir program for children and youth at PHCPC. The ultimate goal will be to prepare our children and youth to participate competently and enthusiastically in our adult music ministry programs, perhaps even coming back to help with the children’s choir program of the next generation (Reach, Grow, Send!).
One very important change is that I am no longer directly responsible for leading the music at the contemporary service. In this new model my direct leadership will fall with the traditional service and with our church’s various music ministry programs as I mentioned previously. The responsibility of leading our contemporary service, and the Praise Team, now rests with Robby Peterson, our Contemporary Worship Leader, who has been working with our Praise Team. I will be supervising Robbie’s work. I also plan to stay active with the contemporary service by assisting with worship planning and regularly playing piano and singing with the praise team.
I am glad to once again work with Jeanne Hutchison, our Administrative Assistant for Worship & Music. While the music ministry was in transition last year, Jeanne stood in the gap, putting in time and energy far beyond the scope of her actual job description. I am thankful to her for the work she’s done in keeping things going these past several months. I would also like to acknowledge Carolynn Schrading and Joan Johnston for their work with the choir during this transition time (both of whom are former teachers of mine), and Carol Higham for her work with the Carillonaires. Our congregation is truly blessed to have such talented people with such servant hearts. Their work has made this transition much smoother and easier for me than it could have been, so again I say, Thank You!
I’ve taken up too much space already, so I will conclude by reminding you that this music ministry is as much yours as it is mine. If you ever find yourself saying “Boy, someone ought’a step up and help with that…”, that “someone” is probably YOU! Don’t wait for a hand-written invitation to step up and ask to be involved! Music truly brings everyone together and I am grateful to again have the opportunity to share this ministry with you.
In Our Lord’s Service,
Jonathan
If you have a child in 3rd-5th grade, we would love to have them join us in our new children’s choir program starting here at PHCPC! All are welcome! If interested, please call Jeanne at the church at extension 128 or email her.
Come to the Chapel on January 29 at 7:30 PM for a time of worship and praise with a very brief message. All ages and age groups are encouraged to be a part of this experience. The emphasis of this time of worship is praising our Lord with song and music. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Comer at the church at extension 130.
Bulletin for January 22, 2012
Download the Sunday, January 22, 2012 Bulletin
This is the Sunday in the church calendar when we celebrate the baptism of Jesus! The Rev. Dr. David Antonson is preaching at both services.
Pastor Carolyn Cranston
The Trustees and Session are pleased to announce that the Rev. Carolyn Cranston has accepted the position of quarter-time Temporary Associate Pastor, effective today. Working on a six-month contract, Carolyn will be available to us about 12 hours per week. Her office will be next to Walt Kavala’s office. We hope you will stop by and welcome her.
Some years ago, Carolyn served at PHCPC for 20 months as a parish associate pastor. She is a resident of Pleasant Hills and has been Director of Alumni and Church Relations for Pittsburgh Theological Seminary since 2000. She is on the Committee on Local Arrangements for General Assembly when it meets in Pittsburgh in July. Her job description calls for being liaison to the Board of Deacons, visitation, staff meetings and some preaching. Welcome Carolyn!
If you have a child in 3rd-5th grade, we would love to have them join us in our new children’s choir program starting here at PHCPC! We are having an important parent information meeting about the choir this Thursday, January 19, at 6:00 PM in the Music Room (under the Great Room). All are welcome,! To insure that we have enough materials for you, please call Jeanne at (412) 655-2000 x128 to register your attendance ahead of time. Thank you!
