Dear Hot Metal Community,

Another week still at home. I know some of us are starting to feel a weird sense of "normalcy," while others continue to feel overwhelmed. Wherever you are, however you are feeling, please know you are not alone. This community is a place where you are invited to be as you are.

I know last week Governor Wolf put out his "Plan for Pennsylvania," outlining details for relief, reopening, and recovery. This plan reminds us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if the road is still long. We give thanks for public officials who prioritize care for the vulnerable and listen to the advice of scientists and health officials as they help us all navigate a way forward.

For Hot Metal, we don't quite know how the Governor's plans relate to us a community. For now, we give thanks for the ways in which our virtual community remains strong. Council and Staff have started to have conversations about what the future may hold, all of which have been tentative and uncertain. What is clear are two things: 1) Allegheny County will remain on the "red" level of the Governor's plan for the foreseeable future, meaning we will continue with what we are doing for a while; and 2) the Hot Metal Community has never been primarily defined by a specific place or building, and we are in no rush to return to worship in a building if it means people will feel unsafe doing so, regardless of the plans of public officials.

So we will continue to monitor what happens in the wider world, while prayerfully considering what is the best way for us to continue to be in community and live out the mission God has called us to do specifically as Hot Metal. Please continue to stay connected; we have a number of new ways to connect and will continue to innovate and respond to the needs of the community. I am always here if you need a person to reach out to, even if it's just so you can say you talked to another human being on any given day :)

Peace be with you all,
Pastor Erin

Many of us are using this time to read more or learn more or listen more. If that's you, or you would like it to be, join with your fellow Hot Metal-ers for a discussion group around themes of vulnerability, emotions, connection, and more, inspired by the new podcast by Brene Brown. This group will meet on Thursdays, starting on April 30, at 8pm, via Zoom. The group will be facilitated by Hot Metal's Mental Health Therapist, Autumn Brownlee. But don't worry, you won't have to talk about your own feelings if you don't want to!

Brene Brown is a sociologist and researcher who has spent decades studying the connections between shame, vulnerability, and courage. She gained popularity and notoriety through her 2012 TedTalk, "The Power of Vulnerability," and has written a number of books. However, you do not have to have prior exposure to her work to enjoy and learn from the podcast, and to participate in the discussion group! "Unlocking Us" is available wherever you get your podcasts. The group will not discuss all the episodes already released, so stay tuned for episode selections and for the Zoom link! If you have any questions, contact Autumn or Pastor Erin.

Contemplative Book Club //

If you are looking for something to occupy your time with please consider joining the contemplative book club! The group will meet semi-regularly with anyone who is interested to read through and discuss some contemplative or mystic writings from the Christian tradition. This would be a time to discuss the book, to discuss the impact that it has on our lives, and to spend time in intentional silence and prayer together in the contemplative tradition. The hope is for the group to be a space of peace and calm for those of us feeling deeply unsettled and uprooted by the collective trauma of the pandemic we are experiencing together. Contemplation offers us a way of learning to experience the love of God directly and helping us find grounding and direction in uncertain times. For a brief introduction to contemplation please see: https://cac.org/the-christian-contemplative-tradition-2018-09-16/

Sunday Zoom Meeting // 10:30am:

Password: 031714

Wednesday Zoom Meeting // 10:30am: 
https://zoom.us/j/685174111

Password: 000513

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