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Sunday, March 30, 2025
The Fourth 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]
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Are you looking for a way to fully enter Lent this year? Join this year’s Lenten Book Group. We will read Praying the Stations of the Cross: Finding Hope in a Weary World by Margaret Adams Parker and Katherine Sonderegger. The book includes original artwork by Margaret Adams Parker. The book’s first half explores the Stations of Cross, and the second half includes a meditation on each Station.
The book group will meet again via Zoom on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. To sign up, please get in touch with Rev. Bonnie-Marie at byagerwiggan@calvarypgh.org. Even if you missed the first session, you are welcome to join. Copies of the book are available in the Calvary Bookstore with a 10% discount.
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Help Restock the Shelves at EECM
Calvary Church contributes non-perishable food to the food pantry at the East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) throughout the year. These donations are even more important right now, because the shelves at the food pantry are really empty. This means that guests are quite limited in the amounts and variety of food they can receive. There are several reasons for this: area organizations like the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (an important source of food for EECM) are confronting uncertainties and shortages amid the push for a federal funding freeze, rising prices of the foods EECM purchases, and continuing difficulties with the supply chain. Calvary parishioners can help meet this shortfall by bringing in food for the food pantry and placing it in the grocery cart in the reception area. Particularly needed items are: rice, dried beans, cereal, tomato sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, shelf-stable milk, and tuna. Thank you for helping.
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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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Join us for Evensong at 5 p.m.on
Sunday, April 6
(The Service will be Livestreamed)
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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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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.
| | Due to unforeseen circumstances, this Saturday's Parents' Morning Out has been cancelled. Keep watch for a rescheduled date! | | |
Faith Formation Highlights
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Last Sunday, the younger Faith Formation students continued their Lenten journey by reflecting on how much Jesus loves us and seeks to be close to us. We explored a new parable that helps us understand who Jesus is by listening to Luke 15:4–6 in which Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that is lost. Using the Good Shepherd materials, the children helped set up the sheepfold and acted out the parable. They watched as the shepherd gently searched for the lost sheep, carried it on his shoulders, and celebrated its return. The children responded thoughtfully to wondering questions such as how the sheep might have felt when it was found and what this story tells us about Jesus’ love for each of us.
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The students also enjoyed making Easter cards to send to people who are in the hospital this Easter season. This hands-on activity allowed them to express the joy and love of the Good Shepherd by reaching out to others who may need comfort and encouragement.
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The older Faith Formation students explored the Parable of the Leaven by making pretzels from scratch. The class learned about the biology of yeast and its power to change flour and water into rising dough, connecting this process to the hidden but powerful work of God’s Kingdom in our lives. They also learned about the Lenten tradition of pretzel-making, a practice begun by monks as a prayerful, simple food during a time of fasting. As they shaped their pretzels into the form of praying arms, students reflected on how Lent invites us to slow down, pray, and prepare our hearts.
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Once the pretzels were baked, the kids shared them with the younger children during Children’s Liturgy of the Word. It was a great reminder that God’s Kingdom is something we’re meant to grow and share with others
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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
| | 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! | | 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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Have you heard? All year we’re offering 20 percent discounts on selected items, in celebration of the Bookstore’s 20th anniversary.
Sunday is your last day for 20 percent off devotional aids, including Anglican rosaries, comfort crosses and devotional books, all wonderful tools to help deepen your prayer life this Lenten season. Stop in and take a look! Next Sunday April ushers in a great new discount: all Bibles, Prayer Books and Hymnals, 20 percent off.
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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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 1.
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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Spring Lecture Series
Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall
Free and Open to the Public
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“East Liberty: An American Parable”
With a history of more than two centuries, Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood has been reinvented over and over again – from a commons open to all during the colonial era to one of the wealthiest trolley-line suburbs in the United States, a community welcoming immigrants from Europe and migrants from the South to an urban neighborhood marred by ill-conceived urban development. Now as a gentrifying neighborhood, for better and worse, East Liberty reinvents itself again. Ed Simon, whose first neighborhood was East Liberty, discusses this historic community as the story of Pittsburgh in miniature, and even more importantly, as a symbolic story of America itself. A book sale and signing of Simon's “The Soul of Pittsburgh” will follow.
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Dear Friends,
Our diocesan-wide Epiphany prayer course has concluded, and I now invite you to join me for an online book study during Lent. Since my heart continues to nudge me toward prayer, I invite you to read with me How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by English author and pastor, Pete Greig.
This book study will take place online via Zoom on Sunday afternoons at 4 p.m. The group will meet virtually for 1-hour sessions ending Sunday, April 6.
One can register here or via the link below. If you signup, please purchase a copy of the book as soon as possible and read the first 47 pages in advance of the March 16 session.
I hope you will join me in this continued effort to delve further into the art of learning and practicing the spiritual discipline of prayer.
Faithfully,
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Bishop Ketlen's Schedule:
March 30: St. Thomas, Oakmont
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 March 28, 2025
James Solomon Russell, Priest, 1935
12:00 p.m. DePaul School Speech Assessments
Saturday March 29, 2025
John Keble, Priest and Poet, 1866
Sunday March 30, 2025
The Fourth 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. Holy Eucharist with Heinz Chapel Choir
11:00 a.m. Children’s Liturgy
12:00 p.m. Coffee Hour
Monday March 31, 2025
John Donne, Priest and Poet, 1631
6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer
7:00 p.m. Contemplative Prayer
Tuesday April 1, 2025
Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, 1872
11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m. Lenten Preaching Series at St. Stephen’s, Wilkinsburg
7:00 p.m. AA Meeting
7:00 p.m. Spiritual Reflection
7:00 p.m. Lenten Book Group
7:30 p.m. Architectural History Group
Wednesday April 2, 2025
James Lloyd Breck, Priest, 1878
10:00 a.m. ESL Conversation Class
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
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
7:00 p.m. East Liberty Valley Historical Society Lecture
Thursday April 3, 2025
Richard of Chichester, Bishop, 1253;
Mary of Egypt, Monastic, c. 421
6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
6:30 p.m. Mahjong
7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
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
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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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