Subject: We find joy in connection

Dear Church, 

 

It's hard to believe, but we are already at Advent! This year, the theme is "How a Weary World Rejoices." Each week during advent will be focused on the themes of: hope, peace, joy, and love. 

 

On December 10th, we will find joy in connection and light the advent candle of peace. 

 

On December 17th, we will allow ourselves to be amazed and light the advent candle of joy. 

 

On December 24th, we will make room and light the advent candle of love. 

 

Last week, we sent out an email about all things Advent - including themes, scriptures, service times, and ways for you to engage with the community during this season. Please take a look at that email to see how you can be a part of Advent at HMBFC! 

 

This week, we are thrilled to have a guest speaker join us, Rev. Liddy Barlow. Rev. Barlow will be preaching from Luke 1:24-25 on “we find joy in connection". 

 

You can find a short biography of Rev. Barlow below. Thank you Rev. Barlow for joining us! 

 

We will also have a liturgy for lighting the advent candle of Joy. 

 

Finally, a BIG thank you to our own Kathy Fullmer, who has agreed to lead the children’s ministry this week. Children have the option of joining Kathy upstairs during the service for card making, activities, and more. Thank you Kathy! 

 

We hope that this Advent season is meaningful for all, and that you are able to engage with us however you are best able to. 

 

We look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!

Short Bio of Rev. Liddy Barlow, this week’s guest preacher 

The Rev. Liddy Barlow became the first woman to be installed as Executive Minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania in 2014. For over fifty years, Christian Associates has built relationships among Christians who are Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant; Black and white; liberal and conservative; rural and urban; from 28 church bodies in the 10 counties of greater Pittsburgh. Together, these diverse Christians speak and act together for the common good and build bridges between the church and our interfaith, civic, and community partners. Rev. Barlow leads all of Christian Associates’ projects and programs, including unanimous public statements, worship services and community forums, The Call newsletter, and Sofa Spirituality online interfaith dialogues. She holds a variety of leadership roles in local organizations that serve people experiencing hunger, discrimination, or incarceration. Rev. Barlow grew up in New Hampshire and is ordained in the United Church of Christ. She is married and has two children: Pippa, age 13, and Edmund, age 10. She hopes you will like Christian Associates on Facebook: www.facebook.com/christianassociatesswpa and check out the Web site: www.casp.org.  


Update From Council

This Sunday, Council will give a brief update during church about some of the many issues we’ve been working on over the past months. We will provide updates about personnel, our work with the Presbytery, a brief financial update, and more...we hope you can join us on Sunday for this update! 


Calling Committee Member

Council is issuing a formal call for all volunteers to join our various committees! If you are interested in joining, or would like to learn more about, the personnel, compassion, worship, or finance teams, please let us know! Nominations are currently being accepted-you may either nominate yourself or someone you think may be good for the role. This is a great opportunity to share your voice and talents with our community. Thank you! 


A Note About Pastoral Care

If you are in need of Pastoral Care, the wonderful Rev. Elizabeth Ross has graciously agreed to be available to our community during this time. Her email is: elizabethmiriammichael@gmail.com


A note about the Children's Ministry

Our community has purchased a wonderful children's curriculum from A Sanctified Art to be used during this Advent season. BUT-we are in need of volunteers to help facilitate! We will also need volunteers over the next few months. If you, or someone you know, are interested in supervising our kiddos during worship, please let us know. Thank you! 


A note about the Nursery

A friendly reminder that the nursery space is intended to be available only for the little ones (those 5 years old and under). Our little ones have specific needs and we kindly ask everyone -including older children, teenagers, adults, and guests -to respect this space so that we can meet those needs. Thank you! If there are any questions about this, please contact a member of council. 


Giving Tuesday

While the date for Giving Tuesday has officially passed, our community is still grateful for any ways that you can support us moving forward. Whether through your money, time, skills, or presence, we invite you to give to our community as you best see fit. This community means so much to so many people, and giving is one way that you can ensure this community continues to be a place where people are "loved, fed, and affirmed as their whole selves, because Jesus welcomes all." You may give electronically by going through Donate - Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (churchcenter.com) , or make a donation through your phone by texting 84321. If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank You!


Advent

Please note the following points about Advent:

  • This year, there will be no Christmas Eve Eve service, due to capacity and staffing issues. However, we look forward to seeing everyone on Christmas Eve (Sunday, 12/24) at 7:00 pm for a meditative candlelight service. This will be a beautiful chance to slow down, take a breath, and center ourselves before Christmas Day. (Please note this will be the only service on Christmas Eve-there will be no morning service, just the one 7:00 pm service.)


  • This year's Advent devotional is available online. You can access it here: online.flippingbook.com/view/136123036/


  • We have two advent calendars available this year, one for children and one for adults. They will be available at church, and can be accessed in the advent email sent out earlier this week. 

Sunday Zoom Meeting // 10:30am:
https://zoom.us/j/789826837
Meeting ID: 789 826 837
Password: 031714






Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community
Weekly Worship Gathering Sundays at 10:30am
2700 Jane St. | Pittsburgh, PA 15203 | 412-481-4010
hotmetal@hotmetalbridge.com | www.hotmetalbridge.com


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