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Sunday, April 6, 2025
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
8 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
A said service of Holy Communion
in the Chapel
9 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
A service at the Crossing in the Church,
with congregational hymns and organ music
11 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
A service at the High Altar in the Church,
with music for choir, organ, and congregation
[This service will be Livestreamed]
An architectural tour of the church,
led by The Rector and Phil Maye,
begins at 4 p.m. Meet in the Parish Hall
5 p.m. - Choral Evening Prayer, Rite I
The Calvary Choir sings Evensong
[This service will be Livestreamed]
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Funeral for Nancy Denney
A service to celebrate the life of Nancy Denney will be held at Calvary on Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. A reception will follow the service in the Parish Hall. All are welcome to attend. Nancy died on February 19, 2025. Please join us in holding their family and friends in your prayers as they mourn.
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Help Restock the Shelves at EECM
Calvary has done a wonderful job contributing non-perishable food to the food pantry at the East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) in the last few weeks. Thank you to all who brought in contributions! We have delivered over 1000 pounds of food in the last month. It is great to empty the grocery carts only to see them refilled within the week. We still need your help! Particularly needed items are: rice, dried beans, cereal, tomato sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, and tuna. However, no perishables or glass containers, please. Thank you!
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If you are interested in the service of Evening Prayer (prayers at the end of the day’s work) at Calvary, consider joining a group of parishioners each Monday and Wednesday during the weeks of Lent (continuing through Lent with the last service on Wednesday, April 9) at 6 p.m. in The Lady Chapel. The service is about 20 minutes long and includes Psalms, Scripture, and Prayers for the day (but no sermon or music).
Praying at certain points of the day has its origins in Judaism and was practiced in the early church and monastic traditions, and it is one of the Daily Offices found in our Book of Common Prayer.
If you have questions
or are interested in helping to lead this service,
please contact Steve Shandor (steve.shandor@gmail.com)
or Michael Salmon (oriolefish@gmail.com).
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The Nominating Committee of the Vestry will receive nominations in the Parlor for Vestry and Parish Council members on Sunday, April 13, 2025 after all services.
Laura Marchl, chair, Jean Carr, Kelly Glass, Adam Bailey, and Peter Lewis are the members of the committee. The Rector is an ex officio member. Names may be also be submitted at any time to members of the Nominating Committee, or by email, to the chair, Laura Marchl, at laura.marchl@yahoo.com or the Rector at jjensen@calvarypgh.org. The relevant by-laws regarding the annual meeting and Nominating Committee have been posted on the bulletin board.
The 170th Annual Parish Meeting of
Calvary Church will be held on
Sunday, May 18, 2025
at 10 a.m., in the Parish Hall.
Election of members of the Vestry and Parish Council will take place and reports from the Wardens, Treasurer and others will be given. Please make every effort to attend.
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The deadline for submission of news and notices for the next issue is Friday, April 4, 2025. Please e-mail your text to calvary@calvarypgh.org or deliver it directly to the church office.
Agape, the newsletter of Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is published monthly (except July), and is mailed to active members and friends of the Parish. You may opt out of receiving a printed copy and read each issue online at www.calvarypgh.org/agape/. Contact the Parish Office at 412.661.0120 for details.
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Open on Sundays from 8:45 AM. to 12:30 PM and for other church events as published. Details at https://www.calvaryfaithformation.org/nursery.html.
Special Nursery Hours for Holy Week
Holy Thursday 7 p.m. Service (open 6:30–8:30 p.m.)
Good Friday Noon Service (open 11:30–1:30 p.m.)
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Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLW) at the 11 o'clock service is a special time for children to pray, ask questions, and hear the good news of God’s love. The Sunday scripture readings are proclaimed and explained on a level appropriate to children 4 years and older. Any child in this age group may participate - no registration is necessary.
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Children are invited to gather with adult leaders after the Opening Prayer and process to the Refectory. They return to their families at the time of the Peace. If you are running a little late and miss the beginning of the service, no worries! Drop in and join us in the Refectory.
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Calvary’s Calming Corner is a dedicated space designed to support families every Sunday from 8:45 AM – 12:30 PM and during special events. Whether your child needs a sensory break, a quiet moment, or a comfortable spot for nursing or feeding, this peaceful space is available for you.
Location: Level A (Downstairs, next to the Nursery and Faith Formation classrooms)
No registration or payment required.
Parents and guardians must remain with their children at all times.
We invite you to make use of this space whenever you need a moment of peace and comfort.
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Faith Formation Highlights
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Last week in Faith Formation, the students explored the image Jesus gave us in the parable of The True Vine. We began by recalling our last story about the Good Shepherd, and then listened closely to the words of John 15:1–11. We discovered that Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches, and God is the Vinegrower. The children learned that just like sap flows through a vine to help it grow, the Holy Spirit flows in us to help us bear good fruit like kindness, love, and peace.
After our discussion, the children helped plant a real grapevine which we will care for throughout the year. It was a special reminder that we are all branches connected to Jesus.
As a creative activity, students decorated small grapevine wreaths with flowers and symbols of new life. These wreaths serve as a reminder that we are always part of Jesus’ love.
Enjoying the Gift:
• In what ways do you experience the gift of being part of the Vine?
• How have you seen and enjoyed the beautiful fruits of the branches?
• What helps you to remain on the Vine and continue to be filled with life-giving sap?
• What sort of fruit does this sap help you to bear?
• When you examine your branch and see that there are blocks to the fullness of sap that God desires to give, how could you ask for his help in removing those blocks in order to remain even closer to him and bear, once again, the most beautiful fruit?
| | The Rector and Rabbi Aaron Bisno will continue a discussion of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. Join the class live at 10 a.m. in McClintic Hall. The class is recorded and posted on the Calvary YouTube page. | | On Friday, April 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m., CYAM and POLO will gather for dinner and game night in the Calvary Refectory. Please RSVP to Bonnie-Marie. Please bring your favorite game and join us! | | |
Special Service Times on
Marathon Sunday, May 4, 2025
Because the Pittsburgh Marathon route limits access to Calvary on May 4, we will have a celebration of the Holy Eucharist only at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The 5 p.m. service will be Livestreamed.
The Parish Council is hosting the Third Annual Finish Line Party after the 5 p.m. May 4 Marathon Sunday service. This party will provide a chance for parishioners from all services to meet and
celebrate Calvary. We will ask folks to bring a cold appetizer for eight to share as we chat and play. Details to come.
| | New Altar Flower Delivery Ministry Volunteers Urgently Needed | | One of Calvary's oldest lay ministries needs to add some new volunteers. We have lost a number of our long-serving volunteers this year due to illness, retirement and relocation; and we need to add to our volunteer cadre ASAP so we can continue delivering altar flowers to our parishioners who need to know of Calvary's care and concern for them. If you would like to be part of this meaningful ministry, please contact Bonnie Weiss at janekeenanweiss@gmail.com or 412.780.5649, or Judie Compher at jmcompher@aol.com or 412.608.3916. Training is provided, and you will teamed with an “old hand” the first time you deliver altar flowers. –Bonnie and Judie, Co-Chairs | | We are calling everyone ages 5 to 105 to join the Acolyte Guild! Acolyte service provides valuable assistance to clergy and the congregation throughout our worship. It also gives you a front row seat to our beautiful building and liturgy. Whether you are new to Calvary or a seasoned acolyte, please consider joining this important ministry. It is a fun way for you or your family to meet new people and learn more about worship. Training opportunities will be arranged at your convenience. Please contact the Rev. Cameron Soulis (csoulis@calvarypgh.org) or the acolyte coordinator, Adam Bailey (atfbailey@gmail.com), with your interest! | | |
We are continuing to schedule hosts for coffee hours after the 11 a.m. service. Your group can sponsor a coffee hour by bringing, plating and arranging small sweet and savory snacks. If you are interested, please sign up with Kathy Farrington at farringtonk@me.com or use the sign in the Parish Hall.
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If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a new Bible, now is a great time to act, as the Bookstore is offering a 20 percent discount throughout April on all Bibles, Prayer Books and Hymnals. It’s all part of the celebration of our 20th anniversary year.
Stop by and browse our selection - the variety of Bibles available today is astounding, with many of them geared toward specific needs or containing accompanying devotionals or space for note-taking.
Looking online for Lenten or Easter readings? We’d be thrilled if you’d visit bookshop.org. There you can browse the Bookstore’s recommendations, or order any book at all and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Bookstore. Just type zip code 15206 in the Bookstore Near Me box, click on Calvary Bookstore, then the red Support the Shop! Then start your orders!
The Bookstore is open Sundays from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also call the Bookstore at 412-661-0120, ext. 133 (please leave a message) or email bookstore@calvarypgh.org and we will contact you.
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As you read in the recent Agape, one Calvary family has increased their pledge by $100,000, challenging others to do the same. This is not a traditional matching challenge; they will give the extra amount regardless of what other pledges and donations we receive. Rather, they want their fellow members to see this as an incentive to increase their own pledges, donate more, or finally complete the Campaign pledge form that has been sitting on their desk for months. It is this family’s love for, and commitment to Calvary’s mission, that led them to increase their pledge, firmly believing that many others feel the same. By accepting this incentive challenge and putting the campaign total raised by our members and other friends over $4MM, we will also send a very strong message to the several private foundations who will be making their donation decisions soon. We are, indeed, committed to preserving, sustaining, and sharing Calvary’s mission and building.
To respond to this incentive, and for any questions, please contact us soon. Thank you!
Campaign: campaign@calvarypgh.org
Don MacLeod, Co-Chair: donaldterrymacleod@gmail.com
Mary Lou Southwood. Co-Chair: marylou.south@gmail.com
Sarah Wilson, Campaign Coordinator: sarahwilson@calvarypgh.org
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Spiritual Reflection –
Lost in Wonder
Adult spiritual formation may be described as the step-by-step discovery of God’s presence in our lives and our personal transformation along the way. Calvary’s Spiritual Reflection meetings continue to be a regular and familiar forum for small group sharing and prayer.
For this term we use “Lost in Wonder: Rediscovering the Spiritual Art of Attentiveness,” by Esther de Waal. A foremost scholar in the Benedictine and Celtic traditions, de Waal has published extensively in both fields. In Lost in Wonder, she uses the everyday circumstances of our lives - the restrictions and frustrations as well as the gifts and opportunities - as our own way to God.
Meetings are held in the Conference Room from 7-8 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday evening of each month. The meetings are hybrid, allowing “in person” conversation while others join remotely using Zoom. The next meeting is on April 15.
Email Matt Muldoon (mattmuldoon@msn.com) or Sondra Krimmel (sskrimmel@gmail.com) for information or to be added to the email list. Please feel welcome to join us at any time.
| | The Contemplative Prayer group meets for silent prayer and reflection, both in person and on Zoom Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Evans Room. For more info and a Zoom invitation, contact Lucy Weingartner at lweingartner20@gmail.com | |
What’s coming up in 2025?
2025 is our year of cultivation at Incarnation. We will begin to gather as a group, small but ever-growing, to be formed in community by the presence of God in our midst. These events will also be a way for you to get to know the Episcopal tradition and Incarnation in particular.
Our hope for Incarnation is that it would be a place of welcome and a harbor of spiritual safety for all who are yearning for good news and the deep belonging and abundant life that comes with it. With that in mind, please share this email with anyone who may be interested in taking this journey with us. “Let anyone who is thirsty, come” (Rev 21:6).
Questions? Visit our website or contact the Rev. Deanna Briody at deanna.briody@incarnationbc.org
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How Did We Get Here?
The Origins of the Church, its Shattered Witness,
and its Role in God’s Plan of Salvation
April-May / Meeting weekly for 6 weeks / Details to be announced
One of the most convincing arguments against Christianity is the Church—its division, its abuses, its lack of coherence across denominations. In this course, we will dive into the Church’s origins, uncover its evolution through the centuries, and explore its current state of disrepair. Our goal? To understand the role of the Church in God’s plan of salvation, that we might answer Isaiah’s call to “seek the Lord where he wills to be found” (Isa 55:6).
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Bishop Ketlen's Schedule:
April 6: St. Brendan’s, Franklin Park
April 13: All Souls, North Versailles
April 20: Trinity Cathedral (Easter)
April 27: Calvary, East Liberty
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Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
AA: Alcoholics Anonymous; CLASP: Calvary Lincoln After school Program;
CYAM: Calvary Young Adult Ministry; ESL: English as a Second Language;
FLMH: Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti
Friday April 4, 2025
Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Leader and Martyr, 1968
Agape Deadline
6:30 p.m. CYAM/POLO Dinner and Game Night
Saturday April 5, 2025
Harriet Starr Cannon, Monastic, 1896
1:00 p.m. Nancy Denney Funeral
Sunday April 6, 2025
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
The Holy Eucharist at 8, 9, and 11 a.m.
10:00 a.m. Children/Youth Formation
10:00 a.m. Gospel and Breakfast (GAB)
10:00 a.m. Priest/Rabbi Class
10:00 a.m. Choir Warm-up
11:00 a.m. Children’s Liturgy
12:00 p.m. Coffee Hour
12:45 p.m. CYAM Sunday Brunch (at Margaux)
3:30 p.m. Choir Warm-up
4:00 p.m. History and Landmarks Foundation Architectural
Tour of Calvary
5:00 p.m. Evensong
6:00 p.m. Refreshments
Monday April 7, 2025
Tikhon, Bishop and Ecumenist, 1925
6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer
7:00 p.m. Contemplative Prayer
Tuesday April 8, 2025
William Augustine Muhlenberg, Priest, 1877
11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
4:00 p.m. Curates’ Training Program
6:00 p.m. Lenten Preaching Series (at St. Andrew’s, Highland Park)
7:00 p.m. AA Meeting
7:00 p.m. Shadyside Dems
Wednesday April 9, 2025
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor and Theologian, 1945
10:00 a.m. ESL Conversation Class
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
12:00 p.m. Soup Group Cooking
6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer
6:00 p.m. Interlude Group
6:30 p.m. Dinner in the Refectory
7:00 p.m. Inquirer’s Class
7:00 p.m. Bible Study Class on Ruth
Thursday April 10, 2025
William Law, Priest, 1761
6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
6:30 p.m. Mahjong
7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
Friday April 11, 2025
George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand,
and of Lichfield, 1878
Saturday April 12, 2025
9:00 a.m. FLMH Meeting
3:00 p.m. Shelter Dinner Prep
Sunday April 13, 2025
The Sunday of the Passion: PALM SUNDAY
Nominations received in the Parlor following all services
The Holy Eucharist at 8, 9, and 11 a.m.
10:00 a.m. Children/Youth Formation
10:00 a.m. Gospel and Breakfast (GAB)
10:00 a.m. Priest/Rabbi Class
10:00 a.m. Choir Warm-up
11:00 a.m. Children’s Liturgy
12:00 p.m. Coffee Hour
3:30 p.m. Choir Warm-up
5:00 p.m. Musical Meditation on the Passion of Christ
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An archive of the past months weekly email blasts
may be viewed on the Calvary website at
www.calvarypgh.org
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