Newsletter - Forest Hills Presbyterian Church

November - December 2014
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of
God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the
Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:18-22
What a joy the past two weeks have been! It is hard to summarize all of the experiences that I
was afforded in the two weeks I spent in Ethiopia into one brief article, but I will try. Let me start with
another re-stating of trip’s purpose. I went with five other pastors with only one thing in mind- to listen
and observe what God is doing in the Mekane Yesus Church. What we found was a church that stands
in the midst of deep persecution and yet by the power of prayer is transforming the world.
The church has more than seven million members and close to eight thousand congregations.
What is really staggering is their attentiveness to where God is leading them. Over the next five years
the Mekane Yesus has set goals to present 30,000,000 unreached people with the gospel. How do they
plan on doing this? Simple, every member of the Mekane Yesus Church is expected to share their faith
with at least one person. As they grow through personal evangelism, they hope to start another 8,000
congregations, train 100,000 missionaries, and call another 20,000 evangelists (lay-pastors) and
ministers. As astonishing as those numbers are that isn’t the full story. They are passionate in their
commitment to living for God and have hearts that are attuned to sing God’s Grace from the mountain
tops. These are not just nominal Christians, these people are deeply committed to living sacrificially for
God. One of the churches we visited grew from being a 24 member church two years ago when it was
founded, to being more than 500 at the point of our visit. The only requirement they ask of new members
is that they offer the church one month’s salary and bring someone new to Christ every year. Are you as
convicted by those requirements as I am?
Their Story
The Mekane Yesus Church is the Evangelical National Church of Ethiopia and is made up of
Presbyterians and Lutherans. There are primarily only four religious presences in Ethiopia. There are
the Christians in the Mekane Yesus Church, the nominal Christians of the Orthodox Church, Muslims,
and those that practice ‘traditional religion’ or what we would refer to as ‘witchcraft.’ There is very little
Roman Catholic presence in Ethiopia. Those that follow the Orthodox Church are generally regarded as
‘nominal Christians’ due to the fact that their services are held in the language of Ge’ez which is neither
spoken nor understood by the general public. Those that attend Orthodox services tend to have a
rudimentary at best understanding of what they are professing and generally have little understanding of
salvation by faith and what God has revealed to His people in His Word. Their bible is also in Ge'ez!
While, the Mekane Yesus do acknowledge the Orthodox sacrament of baptism they also see the
Orthodox Church as a mission field in need of 'Christian Discipling' to the life of freedom in Christ.
Therefore, the Mekane Yesus have gone about trying to reach Orthodox Christians, Muslims, and the
adherents of traditional religion for Christ. In these pursuits they have experienced much persecution.
Muslims burn Christian churches and kill their pastors. There have been threats to the men attending
worship that they will be killed and their widows married off to Muslim men as a means of converting
their families. The Orthodox Church uses the government to raise property prices and levy taxes on the
Mekane Yesus Church in order to prevent them from acquiring property to build new churches. The
Orthodox Church views their 'discipling' as sheep stealing and therefore is generally hostile to Mekane
Yesus efforts. The adherents of Traditional Religion have no qualms with killing those who encroach on
their territory. They tend to still be very 'tribal' oriented and live in the most remote parts of the country.
On top of the conflicts that these other faith traditions pose for the Mekane Yesus they also endure
extreme poverty. However, persecution for the Mekane Yesus Church is not a new thing.
Their Past
Through the late 1970’s and into the early 1980’s the Communist regime that controlled the
country, known as the Derg, killed and imprisoned many Christians. Churches were chained shut.
Prayer meetings were raided. The property of those faithful to God was seized and pastors were thrown
into solitary confinement which meant they would receive no food unless a loved one brought it to them
daily. In fact, very few current leaders of the church who were around during the Derg escaped a prison
sentence. I was stunned at how many of their testimonies began, “when the Derg arrested me…” The
Derg systematically shut down Christianity in Ethiopia. It was in this season of intense persecution that
God began to lay the framework for the incredible things that are happening in the Ethiopian Church
today. While pastors, elders, deacons, and church members spent time in prison and were forced from
their places of worship two things happened. The church was forced underground and every believer
began to pray fervently. They had nothing else to cling to. Every Christian was humbled and forced to
their knees to seek God in a season of absolute desperation. The Derg lasted from 1974-1987 and in
the latter portion of their reign a severe famine, responsible for over 400,000 deaths, struck the weary
and oppressed country. The church prayed vigilantly for more than a decade that God would deliver
them. They did not know what tomorrow held. They did not know if they would even make it through the
day. They only knew that they needed God. They relied completely on God’s providence to get them
through. They prayed that God would deliver them from the Derg, the famine, and that they would have
the freedom to worship God in the open.
God answered their prayers. When the doors to the churches were unchained and sermons were
finally allowed to be heard in the free air, the spirit of God descended and began to transform a country.
Hundreds upon hundreds of people crowded around the open doors and windows of the churches to
hear the word of God preached. Hundreds upon hundreds overnight came to a saving faith in Christ.
The country was hungry for the truth of the Word of God and it spread like wildfire.
The point of all of this isn’t to talk just about the wonderful and incredible things that are
happening in Ethiopia. The question that we need to be asking is- why? Why is there so much growth?
Why are churches growing by leaps and bounds? Why are their members so deeply committed? There
many things that we could point to as reasons for why everything is coming together so perfectly in
Ethiopia for the spreading of God’s Word, but to create a list of what is going 'right' would be to miss the
point. Ethiopia is experiencing a revival because of prayer. The transformation of that country and its
church are the fruits of God in action. They are witnessing the results of continual and persistent prayer.
God laid it on my heart to read a book I have mentioned many times on the trip. The book is Prayer
by Ole Hallesby and everyone would be blessed to read it. As I listened to testimonies of the revival that
was happening in Ethiopia God brought this passage to my attention from that book to my attention:
“We long for revivals; we speak of revivals; we work for revivals ; and we even pray a little for
them. But we do not enter upon that labor in prayer which is the essential preparation for every
revival. Many of us misunderstand the work of the Spirit in the unconverted. We think that this
work is limited essentially to the time when the awakenings are taking place. We seem to think
that the unconverted are not subject to divine influence between times. This is a complete
misunderstanding. The Spirit works without interruption, during awakenings and between
awakenings, even though He works differently, and the effect therefore also is different in the
hearts of men.
The work of the Spirit can be compared to mining. The Spirit's work is to blast to pieces the
sinner's hardness of heart and his frivolous opposition to God. The period of the awakening
can be likened to the time when the blasts are fired. The time between the awakenings
corresponds, on the other hand, to the time when the deep holes are being bored with great
effort into the hard rock. To bore these holes is hard and difficult and a task which tries one's
patience. To light the fuse and fire the shot is not only easy but also very interesting work. One
sees "results" from such work. It creates interest, too; shots resound, and pieces fly in every
direction!
It takes trained workmen to do the boring. Anybody can light a fuse. This fact sheds a great
deal of light upon the history of revivals, a history which is often strange and incomprehensible.
There are many people who would like to light the fuse. Many would like to be evangelistic
preachers. And some preachers are even so zealous that they light a fuse before the hole has
been bored and explosive matter put in place. The resulting revival becomes therefore, nothing
but a little display of fireworks!
But that is just when the Spirit calls us to do the quiet, difficult, trying work of boring holy
explosive material into the souls of the unconverted by daily and unceasing prayer. This is the
real preparatory work for the next awakening. The reason why such a long period of time
elapses between awakenings is simply that the Spirit cannot find believers who are willing to
do the heavy part of the mining work.
Everybody desires awakenings; but we prefer to let others do the boring into the hard rock.
There are, God be praised, in every community some who take up this work which tries one's
patience so sorely. The Lord reward you, brother and sister, and, above all, give you grace to
persevere in the holy work which you have taken up!”
Prayer is the answer. God uses the church to transform lives and nations. In Ethiopia we witnessed
many examples of how the church is impacting the country to the glory of God. They are rehabilitating
girls who had been abducted into prostitution. The church provides treatment, testing, and information to
those who are afflicted with AIDS. The church cares for the deaf and blind as most of the specialized
schools for those with physical and mental needs are run and funded by the church. The church
partners with programs like Compassion International to provide food and aid to families that are very
poor. The church helps poor rural churches begin to farm, raise bees, and raise livestock to support both
the pastors and their starving members as well as provide income for their impoverished community.
Also, it is the church that is leading the way to teaching safety to a nation that has been thrust overnight
into the modern world. There is very little information published in Amharic or Oromo (the two major
languages of the people in Ethiopia) regarding the dangers of the internet and pornography. Zerihun
Gebre, a good friend I got to know well during our time there, has just finished a book and is raising
money to publish it that will become the first work in their country on this issue. He has more than 50
congregations under his care and is concerned about how their spiritual lives are being transformed by
dangers and addictions that they are blindly walking into. The church is a beacon of light in Ethiopia. It
not only cares for the spiritual well-being of the nation but also has a hand in socially providing for those
who have been cast off.
I would invite you to join me in prayer. The Ethiopian Church was a beautiful picture of what the
church can be. We do not need to mimic how the Mekane Yesus Church is organized or try to make
ourselves into them. God has placed us uniquely where we are with a purpose. What we need to do, is
begin praying that God might use us as He has used the Mekane Yesus Church. Pray that through us,
souls might be saved spiritually and lives might be changed as we selflessly give and provide to those in
need. Pray that God would renew us and give us vision. Pray that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit
and bear the fruits that are promised the church. Pray that God would begin to remake your own life and
give you a heart to love. Finally enter into prayer while keeping Colossians 1:9-12 close by, the Mekane
Yesus Church is praying this for us:
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be
filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a
manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his
glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has
qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
May we be stirred to a revival through prayer and by the power, grace, and providence of God in the
leading and work of His Holy Spirit given abundantly to those who abide in Christ.
To God be the Glory
Pastor Ben
Necrology Service
As part of our morning worship on Sunday, November 23, 2014,
we are planning for our annual Necrology service.
The Necrology service is a time when we remember and honor our loved ones who have gone
on before us and have joined the Church Triumphant through faith
in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thank you so much. If you have any questions, please see Donna Shuster
Trusting God with Obedience
So, here’s a question for you: how do you feel about traveling to Ethiopia? It was a question put
to me as simply as that by a dear friend and Christian Brother. How would you respond to a question like
that? My initial reaction was probably no different than yours. My friend, Timothy Scoonover, is a friend
who I often joke with and I naturally assumed that his question was a peculiar joke. As the conversation
continued, it became crystal clear that he was completely serious. I didn’t write it off but I certainly didn’t
say yet. I said I would pray about it, talk with my wife, Sarah, and try to learn more about the trip. The
trip in question was an invitation only trip, focused on pastors who had been in the ministry for less than
ten years and was being put together by The Outreach Foundation. The Outreach Foundation’s Mission
and Vision is to engage Presbyterians and global partners in proclaiming the Good news of Jesus Christ
by creating dynamic relationships that deepen mission passion and build mission capacity. Reverend Dr.
Rob Weingartner, the director of The Outreach Foundation flew to Pittsburgh within the month of my
initial invitation and shared with me his hope of what this trip would do for young pastors in America. In
short, things are happening in Ethiopia. The church is growing, prayers are being answered, and God is
moving in incredible ways. The goal is to take young pastors and sit them down with the leaders of the
Ethiopian Church and let them witness first-hand how God is working in a different culture and context.
The hope being that in this new context, these pastors would be able to develop new connections and
think critically about what could happen in the context of the Western Church as well.
As in my conversation with Timothy, Rob left our conversation without an answer from me as
well. I had a lot to think about, pray about, and digest. I talked with Sarah, looked at what I had accrued
in my study leave, examined the timing for the trip, and I prayed. I prayed a lot. What happened was
pretty remarkable. Every doubt, reservation, and hesitation I had regarding the trip systematically
vanished. God was answering prayers I did not even voice out loud. It was a reminder of how incredibly
God works when we begin to pray the prayer “not my will, but yours be done.” I phoned Dr. Weingartner
and informed him that I would be traveling with him and the other pastors to Ethiopia. I never in a million
years would have guessed I would be awaiting a flight to Ethiopia. Ethiopia has never been on my list of
“top ten places I must see before I die.” I think that list would look more like: The Holy Land, Hawaii,
Paris, Ireland, Greece, etc. However, God has a way of humbling us when we step out and follow him.
He has taken care of every matter, even the seemingly small things like getting Maddie to childcare in
the morning, which is typically my job. I also think that just the step of saying “yes” to traveling to a
distant country on the other side of the planet 7,257 miles away was a reminder that God will take care
of everything when we are obedient to His voice. When we are obedient to God, there is nothing else we
have to worry about. The passage from Luke 12:6-7 keeps reverberating in my head “Are not five
sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of
your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” God has everything
covered.
We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with messages of fear. Just today, I got
an “EMERGENCY BULLETIN” in my email proclaiming that three people from Pennsylvania were on a
flight with the stewardess carrying Ebola. I found myself, first wondering how those people must feel but
then secondly wondering what the purpose of that email was? We live in a world where there is disease.
Tragedy strikes every day, yet is not God still in control? If we have not already, we will all likely find
ourselves in uncertain places, bumping shoulders with things that could be potentially be fatal. Some of
us, have already found ourselves facing these tragedies and uncertainties of what tomorrow might bring
whether it be from illness, cancer, an auto-accident, the list could go on. The question before us is this:
do we believe that God is really in control? Do we believe that if we are obedient to Him, He will take
care of the rest? Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. You are valuable and God has a
purpose for your life. God is calling you to something right now. It most likely isn’t Ethiopia, but God has
something for you, if only you pray, listen, wrestle, and obey.
My challenge for all of us is this- please pray. Keep me in prayer as I travel, keep my family in
prayer over these next two weeks, and pray over your own family and your own heart that God might
lead you in obedience. It is only by listening to what God has for us through prayer and carefully
studying His Word that we can find contentment and peace in a world that constantly thrusts anxiety,
worry, and doubt into our mouths and down our throats. So pray together and trust that God is in control,
because he does have purpose for your valuable life exactly where he has called and placed you.
Peace and Joy to you from across the globe,
Pastor Ben
Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one
another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer. ~ Charles Finney
Worship & Music News
“Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His
holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek
the Lord rejoice!
(Psalm 105: 2-3)
It’s exciting to have the choir back in the service.
We are learning a variety of anthems and
working on this year’s Christmas Cantata. We
are also hosting the Thanksgiving Eve Service,
so we are looking forward to singing with our
local choirs.
We have also begun a children’s choir. They
rehearse every other Sunday, and practice
directly after the service. The choir will sing for
the congregation several times a year.
We have been blessed to guest musicians this
fall.
Marissa Knaub blessed us with her
beautiful harp playing. Sam Middlemiss has
inspired us with her voice. We will be hearing
from others this fall.
The Praise Team continues to play monthly. We
are excited to have new members on the team.
This fall, we have introduced several new songs
to the congregation. We so enjoy sharing this
contemporary music as we all come together to
worship our Lord. I would also like to thank the
sound team. You help us each week, and we
appreciate your hard work.
Thank you for supporting the music ministry.
In Christ,
Jennie vanMastrigt
Looking ahead to
Christmas Festivities
Sunday, November 23
Pie for Stewardship
Wednesday, November 26
Community Thanksgiving Eve Service
7:30 pm - Forest Hills Presbyterian Church
Sunday December 7
Communion to Shut-ins following worship
service
Sunday, December 14
Light luncheon.will be provided in the Parlor
before we leave for Christmas Caroling to the
area nursing homes.
Sunday, December 21
10:30 am – Christmas Cantata
Wednesday, December 24
7:00 pm - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Life Groups
Meet Weekly
If you haven’t been to a Life Group study yet
why not stop by and see what’s all the talk
about. Everyone is welcome and you can start
anytime during the study! The group is studying
the letter to the Galatians throughout the
summer. They meet Wednesday evenings at
7:00 pm at Phil and Cindy Sherer’s house. Their
house is located at 165 Avenue A, in Forest
Hills. If you have any questions or would like
more information please see Phil or Cindy.
Deacon’s corner
can sign-up by completing and returning the
sheet in the bulletin or contact any Deacon. Join
us as we gather to give thanks.
Ministry of Compassion
Visiting the Homebound: A Portrait
Singing,
laughter,
wisecracks,
prayer,
conversations, eye contact, hand holding,
sharing personal life stories, communion, bible
verses, —the elements of a picture painted in
the rich hews of Christian community. This is
not, however, a picture of Sunday morning at
Forest Hills church or a special event at 1840
Ardmore Boulevard. It depicts a Deacon visiting
his or her homebound friend. Each month we
spend time sharing life together, amazing things
happen! It is a surprising adventure. We invite
you to come along with us! Contact any Deacon;
we’d love for you to ride along!!
Our primary emphasis is the care and support of
the congregation and others who are in need;
members who cannot worship with us or who
are ill. If you know of someone in need, please
refer to the schedule of Deacons on Call or any
one of the deacons.
November 2014
Sue Lescinsky
December 2014
January 2015
AJ Lescinsky
Darla Yesko
Meals Ministry
Join the team to provide
meals to families or
individuals during difficult
times. You will be called
and asked to prepare and deliver a meal. If you
are busy or you don’t like to cook, buying an
already prepared meal is a great offering.
Contact Kristie Stumme 412-271-2077.
Community Thanksgiving Eve Service
and Reception
Forest Hills Presbyterian Church is sponsoring
the Community Thanksgiving Eve Service on
Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 7:30 pm.
The Deacons are providing a time for fellowship
following the service. We are asking for help
baking cookies, serving and cleaning up. You
Thanksgiving Baskets
The Deacons will be preparing 8 Thanksgiving
Baskets for families in the Woodland Hills school
district. We are looking for assistance packing
the baskets following worship on Sunday,
November 23rd in the Cascade Room. We can
also use help with the final prep before pick up
and delivery on Monday, November 24 at noon.
There are sheets in the bulletin to sign-up.
Christmas Caroling and Luncheon
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Once again the Deacons are sponsoring
Christmas Caroling. Following worship, we will
gather in the Parlor for a light luncheon. We will
then head out to car pool to Hamilton Hills,
LGAR and Juniper Village to sing Christmas
Carols with the residents. This is a terrific way
to celebrate this wonderful season. There will
be a sign-up sheet in the bulletin during Advent.
FHPC Deacons
Mike Ash, Sharon Bindas, AJ Lescinsky, Sue
Lescinsky, Cindy Sherer, Darla Yesko, David Perkins
and Dorothy Buchanan
Do You Have Information
For “The GooD news”
If you have announcements,
stories, pictures of events, thank
you notes, births, sympathies or
any other information for The Good
News, please feel free to send it to
Kathy in the church office for
consideration for the next newsletter, 1840
Ardmore Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15221 or email to
[email protected].
Forest Hills Presbyterian Church
Financial Statement
September, 2014
Budgeted Income
YTD
$148,027.19
Actual Tithes & Gifts
YTD
$156,306.15
Actual Expenses
YTD
$161,790.04
Unfavorable
YTD
$ (5,483.89)
Newsletter Available
by E-Mail
Get informed as soon as possible by receiving
the Newsletter to your e-mail promptly after it is
finished. By doing this you save FHPC postage
and printing cost and most importantly you get
the information before it is out dated. Please
call the office or send an email to Kathy Lippke
at 412-271-1647 or [email protected]
Keep Informed
A Weekly email announcement is sent out on
Thursdays to keep everybody informed of what
is happening
here at
your church. If you do
not
receive
the
announcement
and
would like to, please let
Kathy in the office know
so she can add your
email to the weekly list. Call the office at 412241-1647 or email: [email protected].
Mission and Outreach
Fall 2014
The leaves are falling fast and we are well into
planning for the upcoming holidays. How the
year passes so quickly. In the last few months
and the remaining of the year, Mission Team
thanks all who have been involved in outreach
projects. We thank you in advance for getting
involved by sharing your time, gifts and
assistance future events. We do this all to give
Glory to God.
Feeding the Homeless
We feed the Homeless every second Saturday
of the month. This is an ongoing outreach we
are happy and Blessed to be able to minister to.
Thank you all that have volunteered your time
and participated. We meet at 5:00 PM at church
kitchen.
Juniper Village Nursing
Fellowship and bible study continues on each
second Saturday on the month. We explore
God’s Word with our friends at Juniper Village
Nursing Home. We invite anyone that may be
interested in joining us with this ministry. We
welcome anyone that would enjoy playing a
piano or guitar during our service. We meet at
3:30 PM every second Saturday.
Pittsburgh Project
A great way to help others who need help
repairing, restoring their homes and bringing
hope back to their lives is through this ministry.
It’s foundation is for individuals to come together
for one purpose, to serve those in need and
being a witness to Christ. The next outreach
event is October 25th, for the One Day Plunge.
Food Bank
We are maintaining a collection of can and dry
foods each week to take to our local banks. We
ask for your steadfast support by bringing in
food for the local bank. Place your donations
inside the food pantry in the hallway. Food is
collected each week.
Thank you for your donations.
Mission team welcomes any ideas or information
for current or future events that may fit our
vision, “to be a witness to Christ in this
community and to the world”.
Mission and Outreach Team:
Submitted by Darrell Matthews,
Mission Team: Susan McKibben, Eunice Yang and
Darlene Yesko and Jim Garard
Stewardship and
Communication Team
Scripture Reflection
Membership Rolls
Starting in 2015 we will be going through the
Forest Hills Church membership rolls. We will
start by going through the church directory and
then sending out letters to those members we
haven’t seen or heard from for a while.
I Chronicles 29: 12-14
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and
the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for
everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours,
O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head
over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you
are the ruler of all things. In your hands are
strength and power to exalt and give strength to
all. Now, our God, we give praise and glory for
your glories name. But who am I, and who are
my people, that we should be able to give a
generously as this? Everything has come from
you, and we have given you only what comes
from your hand,” (NIV)
Stewardship Campaign
The Stewardship Campaign will begin on
November 9, 2014. We will be handing out your
pledge cards and letters before the worship
service. Then on November 23, 2014 during
worship you will have an opportunity to place
your pledge cards on the Communion Table.
Also on Sunday November 23, 2014 we will
have a luncheon for the congregation. We will
be serving roast beef, chicken, lunch meats,
salads and Macaroni and Cheese. Please plan
on joining us to fellowship with our church
members.
Pie for Stewardship
Submitted by Jane DiMenno
Join us Sunday, November 23 following worship
for some feasting and fun! Hot lunch will be
provided.
Stewardship & Communication Team:
Jane DiMenno, Phil Sherer, Betty Powell
Fun and Festivities will include:

Pie Baking Competition

Pumpkin Pie Eating Competition

Pie Sale
Support our Stewardship Team while checking
an item off your busy Thanksgiving schedule
and purchase a pie: Apple $7.25 and Pumpkin
$8.25. Pre-Orders for pies will be accepted now
through Sunday November 16. A limited number
of pies will be available to those who have no
pre-ordered the day of the sale. Money is due
the day of the sale.
Calling All Scribes!
The Forest Hills Newsletter, The Good News
can use your help! Do you have something to
say? Do you have news to share? Do you have
pictures of an event? Do you have a story of
how God is working in your life or something you
have seen recently to which you would like to
draw attention of the church? We are looking for
people who would be willing to contribute,
edit/proofread, and provide the FHPC The Good
News with… news! Also, a picture is worth a
thousand words - so if you snap a few digital
photos and include them with your submission
we would be very grateful! If you would like to
be a part of that process or have something to
share, please call the church office 412-2411647 or contact us at [email protected]!
Thanks!
FOREST HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Bringing Christ into Lives…and Living
2014 - 2015
SESSION (ELDERS)
Darrell Matthews (15)
Charlie Jefferson (15)
Bert Axelson (16)
Phil Sherer (16)
Suzie Thompson (16)
Bob Bindas (17)
Jane DiMenno (17)
Jim Garard (17)
Clerk of Session: Sue Lescinsky
DEACONS
AJ Lescinsky (15)
Darla Yesko (15)
Mike Ash (16)
Sharon Bindas (16)
Dorothy Buchanon (16)
Sue Lescinsky (17)
David Perkins (17)
Cindy Sherer (17)
NOMINATING TEAM
Michele Axelson (15)
Bob Edinger (15)
Gary Skerlec (16)
Heather Whitmore (16)
August 2014
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
We like to wish everyone a Happy Birthday who is celebrating his or her special day during the
months October, November and December.
Listed below are the birthdays of which we are aware of; we apologize if we overlooked anybody.
Please call the church office if you would like your birthday listed.
October Birthdays
Oct. 2
Oct. 3
Oct. 5
Oct. 6
Oct. 7
Oct. 7
Oct. 10
Oct. 13
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 19
Oct. 19
Oct. 20
Oct. 21
Oct. 26
Oct. 26
Oct. 26
Oct. 30
Oct 30
Oct. 31
Lydia Garard
Ron Slover
Ben Black
Brandon Bindas
Bonnie Theiss
Keith Tebroski
Dot Elek
Hayden Douglass
Janet Sivak
Vince D’Alesio
Mark Jefferson
Timmy Patsko
Robert Lehew
Abigail Garard
Viola Patsko
Peggy Reding
Barry Kohlhoff
George Getty
Terry Sypolt
Janice Milligan
November Birthdays
Nov. 1
Nov. 1
Nov. 1
Nov. 4
Nov. 4
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
Nov. 5
Nov. 7
Nov. 8
Nov. 8
Nov. 9
Nov. 11
Jim Shuster
Lauren Sivak
Mark Glew
Bruce Sivak
David Lescinsky
Jim Powell
Mitch Jarosz
Phil Sherer
Hannah Garard
Lora Kramer
Tim Patsko
Tetyana Tebroski
Cathy Adamson
November Birthdays Cont’d.
Nov. 11
Nov. 11
Nov 13
Nov. 14
Nov. 17
Nov. 22
Nov. 22
Nov. 29
Nov. 30
Nov. 30
Daniel Theiss
Jim Tobin
Dez Farkas
Adam DiMenno
Kathy Kramer
Lorraine Hogan
Mary Whitmore
Sarah Black
Eleanor Weaver
Timothy Rindt
December Birthdays
Dec. 3
Dec. 4
Dec. 13
Dec. 18
Dec. 18
Dec. 20
Dec. 22
Dec. 22
Dec. 24
Dec. 26
Dec. 27
Dec 28
Dec. 30
Jim Theiss
Jack Byers
Elaine Ash
Jean Bunyan
Zeta Thomas
Beka Garard
Kim Lescinsky
Lowell Thomas
Amy Collins
Erin Patsko
Cindy Sherer
Nathan Patsko
Ginny Adamson
Forest Hills Presbyterian Church
1840 Ardmore Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
DATED MATERIAL
Looking Ahead to the Holidays
November 26
Ecumenical Service at FHPC Church 7:30 pm
December 7
Serving Communion to Shut-ins following Worship
December 14
Christmas Caroling After Worship Service
December 21
Christmas Cantata
December 24
7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service
December 25
Merry Christmas
November 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
30
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 Worship
Saturday
1
2
3
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
4
7 pm Discipleship
7 pm Session
5
Life Groups 7 pm
FHPC Parlor
6
6:30 Chancel Choir
7
8
5:00 Feed Homeless
Package Food and
head downtown
9
10
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
11
6pm Stewardship
7pm Worship
7pm Finance
7pm Mission
12
Life Groups 7 pm
FHPC Parlor
13
6:30 Chancel Choir
7:30 Praise Team
14
15
16
17
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
18
7 pm Deacons
19
Life Groups 7 pm
FHPC Parlor
20
6:30 Chancel Choir
7:30 Praise Team
21
22
23
24
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Necrology
After Worship
Pie for Stewardship
25
7pm Session
26
7:30 pm
Thanksgiving Eve
Service @ FHPC
27
Thanksgiving
28
29
December 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
7 pm Discipleship
3
Life Group 7pm
FHPC Parlor
4
Chancel Choir 6:30
5
6
7
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
Communion to Shut-ins
8
9
6 pm Stewardship
7 pm Worship
7 pm Finance
7 pm Mission
10
Life Group 7pm
FHPC Parlor
11
Chancel Choir 6:30
Praise Team 7:30
12
13
Feed Homeless
5:00 pm
Package Food and head
downtown
14
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
After Worship—Caroling
15
16
7pm Deacons
17
18
Chancel Choir 6:30
Praise Team 7:30
19
20
21
9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Cantata
22
23
7 pm Session
24
7 pm Christmas Eve
Service
25
Christmas
26
27
28
10:30 am Worship
29
30
31
New Year’s Eve
1
New Year’s Day
Church Office
Closed