Empty Chairs: 10 Years after Sandy Hook
It has been a decade since 20 children and 6 adults were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Since then,15,000 Pennsylvanians have died by gun violence. Their memories are what remain as family and friends prepare to gather around holiday tables with too many empty chairs. But we will not rest until we honor them by preventing the next empty chair – the next victim of the gun violence epidemic.
Survivors and friends will gather at a vigil in Pittsburgh's North Side community to honor the memories of those we've lost and demand an end to the violence.
Join Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, CeasefirePA, Moms Demand Action and others at Bidwell Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh’s North Side on Thursday, December 15th at 7:00 PM for a vigil to remember those lost at Sandy Hook and everyone lost to gun violence in Allegheny County this year.
We will honor their memory and demand our leaders #EndGunViolence.
RSVP today. (https://act.ceasefirepa.org/a/pittsburgh-vigil-10-years-after-sandy-hook?emci=7ac8a2d5-9575-ed11-819c-000d3a9eb474&emdi=260cd387-a175-ed11-819c-000d3a9eb474&ceid=36871)
Parking and security will be on-site.
Reader/Actors for Christmas Eve EVE!
As always, we will gather on December 23rd at 7pm to kick off our Christmas celebrations with a Family-Friendly and celebratory service. This year, we need YOUR help to tell the story! We need at least 7 volunteers of all ages to read the parts of characters in the story! NO REHEARSAL Needed! Just get to HMBFC at 6:00pm on the 23rd for a run-through and to get your (very simple) costumes! https://forms.gle/iB2SJXZCpBjjDLxx6
Office Closed
December 25-January 1 Our whole staff will be off and taking sabbath rest for the season from December 25 through January 1. Pastor Erin will be on-call for pastoral emergencies that week, as needed at (412) 204-7105. The following week, January 1-6, Pastor Erin will be away on vacation and pastoral care needs can be directed to Karl Casey (karl@hotmetalbridge.com) or LaChan Russell (lachan@hotmetalbridge.com).
Advent and Christmas at Hot Metal
Advent begins on Sunday, November 27th! Join us for worship at 10:30am on Sundays as we tell the story of Jesus "From Generation to Generation"
Other ways to celebrate the season!
Sunday, December 11th 12pm - Advent Art Extravaganza! Join us after worship for an intergenerational time of making art and ornaments for the season, and packing cookie boxes for our Table and Homeless Ministry! Contact Makayla if you can make cookies!
Friday, December 23rd 7pm - Christmas Eve EVE Worship! A family-friendly and exuberant celebration of the birth of Jesus! Join us for carols and story and fun!
Saturday, December 24th 7pm - Christmas Eve Worship! A contemplative and prayerful worship as we wait for Christ to be born!
Sunday, December 25th - NO WORSHIP at Hot Metal! Enjoy the day with your family and loved ones!
Sunday, January 1st 10:30am - Worship with Lessons and Carols! Ring in the New Year with your favorite Christmas Carols and Stories! We'll also kick off the year right with a potluck breakfast! Bring your favorite breakfast dish to share!
Darkness as Hope //Reframing the Language of Advent
Join us on Tuesdays at 8pm on Zoom (the Sunday Worship link) as we delve into the practice of Advent! We’ll confront the ways in which we have used the language of light and dark have been steeped in racialized biases, and how to create a robust antiracist language for this season. We’ll hear from a variety of Black and Womanist theologians and writers and artists to help us expand our understandings and wrestle together to help us find greater hope, peace, joy and love as we experience this season of anticipation. Sign Up here.
Support Group for Young Women Grieving Violence
On Tuesdays, beginning December 6, from 4-5:30pm gather with young women (ages 16-24) grieving the aftermath of gun violence, and other forms of violence. Our therapist and pastor will be present to lead this group, and create safe and sacred space for sharing and processing and beginning to heal. This group is designed especially for young women of color in the aftermath of gun violence throughout the city. Contact therapist LaChan Russell at 412-376-7559 or lachan@hotmetalbridge.com.
Support our Seminarian travelling to the Holy Land
Dear Hot Metal Faith Community,
After prayer and consideration, I have decided to take part in an intercultural experience to Israel/Palestine, January 6-16, 2023. This opportunity is offered through World Mission Initiative of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
The Intercultural trips are offered in conjunction with the course, Intercultural/Experiential Learning, which is now a required course for many of the Seminary’s students. This January, the Seminary is sending groups of students and trip leaders to four different destinations: Guatemala, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon/Iraq and Philippines.
A student team, led by Rev. Dr. De Neice Welch, Bidwell Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. John Welch, 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church and Dr. Bob Ross, Point Park University will travel to Israel/Palestine to examine “How do Palestinian Christians understand their context of conflict and violence and their consequent engagement in God's mission? What does faithful witness look like in a context of exclusion and control? In the Middle East and in Pittsburgh, is it possible to engage in God’s mission without attending to God’s justice?”
I am writing to invite you to participate in this intercultural experience, which will help prepare me and 30 other students for ministry. Graduates from Pittsburgh Seminary consistently rank the WMI trips as one of the most formative experiences of their seminary career. Please consider praying for me and all participants and leaders of our Israel/Palestine team. Pray for the new friends we will make Israel/Palestine. And pray for us: for health and protection on the trip, for our effectiveness in ministry and ability to learn new things from this experience. Pray that we will find the financial support to make this trip possible. Pray that we will return with stories and a vision to inspire the church in the United States.
Another way that you can participate is to support this intercultural experience financially. I have received financial support from the World Mission Initiative, but still need $700 towards my balance due December 9. I am trusting God to provide the resources for this mission trip. If you feel that you could participate in this way, please follow the instructions below.
Thank you very much for considering this request.
Gratefully in Christ,
Sherri Lynn Dunik
Instructions for Supporting a World Mission Initiative Trip
1. Write a check payable to World Mission Initiative.
2. Write “Israel/Palestine Trip” on the memo line.
3. Send your check to me at the address on this letter (129 Stewart Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15227)
Hot Metal Worship: NOW WITH COFFEE - Sign up to be a Coffee Host
Help us create a space for community, connection, and caffeine on Sunday mornings! Coffee Hosts will show up around 9:30am to make the coffee, set up the coffee station, and greet people as they arrive for worship. After worship, they clean up and wash mugs. Instructions are available and Pastor Erin is around for troubleshooting! Providing goodies is always appreciated, but optional! Sign up here.
