TRINITY - Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

TRINITYTHE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGHNew Ministry inAliquippaCafé To FeatureWalk-in EvangelismBlairsville 175 thAnniversary138 th DiocesanConventionDECEMBER A.D. 2003 VOLUME 24, NO. 7

A Gift for Christ this ChristmasBY THE RT. REV.ROBERT WM.DUNCAN, BISHOPOF PITTSBURGHFOUNDATIONON THE SUREBeloved in the Lord:It is hard for me to imagine anyone who does not have an affection forChristmas carols and Christmas hymns. In fact, I do not think that I knowanyone who does not like the music associated with the nativity of JesusChrist.One of my favorite hymns at Christmas is “In the Bleak Midwinter,” a text bythe poet Christina Rossetti, set to music by Gustav Theodore (von) Holst. Thelast stanza of the hymn ends with these words:What can I give him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;If I were a wiseman, I would do my part;But what I can, I give him: give him my heart.What shall we give Jesus this Christmas? What shall I give Jesus thisChristmas?At our recent diocesan convention, we focused on the many partnerships weparticipate in as congregations and individual Christians. One source ofextraordinary partnerships is represented in the 654 children we, as a diocese(more accurately, individuals and congregations in the diocese), sponsor: 572of us give $26 a month to change a child’s life in Rwanda. We do what we dothrough the agency of World Vision, whose international distribution centeris here in our diocese.In 1999, we set a goal of sponsoring 1,000 children in genocide-devastatedRwanda, doing so by the end of the year 2004. I would like to challenge 346more Episcopalians — you who are reading this article — to “adopt” a childthis Christmas. If you haven’t figured out what to give our Savior thisChristmas, this would be bound to please him. And if not this, consider aspecial gift to a local relief, social service or missionary charity. After all, it isJesus’ birthday that all the singing is about.Faithfully your bishop,Bishop of PittsburghWriter’s NoteTo sponsor a World Vision child in Rwanda,contact Jeanne Hungerman, developmentrepresentative, at: (412) 749-1806. Be sure totell her you are part of the Episcopal Dioceseof Pittsburgh.2

The EpiscopalDiocese of PittsburghThe Rt. Rev. Robert Wm.Duncan, Bishop20,000 baptized membersin 77 parishes andinstitutions Est. 1865TRINITYEDITOR: Marjie SmithCOMMUNICATIONS BOARD CHAIR:the Rev. Paul CooperDESIGNER: Catherine HoemkeCOPY EDITING: Lynne WohleberPROOFING: Diocesan staffCOLUMNISTS: Bishop Robert Duncan,Michael Eversmeyer, Canon MaryMaggard Hays, Bishop Henry Scriven,Lynne WohleberCONTRIBUTORS: Blairsville parish (withLynne Wohleber), Capt. Margaret Collins,the Rev. Mary Gustafson, Paul Haebig,Johanna Knapschaefer, the VenerableGreg Malley, Joan Malley, Church ArmyCanada Capt. Bruce SmithPHOTOS: Melanie Contz, the Rev. Don Cox,Church Army USA Capt. Lisa Faulkner,David Sadd, Marjie Smith, Lynne WohleberCONTACT INFORMATIONCommunications office (editor):Phone: (412) 281-6131, ext. 134E-mail: editor@telerama.comWeb site: www.pgh.anglican.orgFax: (412) 471-5591Trinity will now run on a bimonthlyschedule with the intention of having itin mailboxes by the third week of everysecond month, starting with theNovember/December issue.Submission deadlines: The 10 th of eachmonth prior to publication (basically,six weeks ahead of mailing).Documents that are not created in MSWord should be sent as text documents.Photos should be minimum 200 dpi.Photos to be returned must beaccompanied by a self-addressed, stampedenvelope with proprietary information onthe back of each photo.COVER: Kellie Stanton, 8,was baptized recently atSeeds of Hope, Bloomfield.Photo by David Sadd.INSIDE: This photo showsChurch Army Australia Capt.John Stanley at the site ofthe upcoming outreach caféin Aliquippa. Read the articleon p. 18. Photos by MarjieSmith.THIS ISSUEOn the Sure Foundation 2Inklings 4Encouraging Words 5Pew To You 6Blairsville Celebrates 175 Years 10Convention 2003 12Redeemer: 100 Years of Parish Life 18Art Monitor 20This Old Church 21Aliquippa Café to Meet Needs at Street Level 22Visions, Dreams and Support 23Letters to the Editor 24Diocesan Calendar 26Scriven’s Scribblings 27 3

TRINITY DECEMBER 2003InklingsTrading Sorrow for JoyBY MARJIE SMITH,EDITORINKLINGS4In the middle of our 138th AnnualConvention, a little girl started to enterthe world.While her daddy was helping see thatPowerPoints went off without a hitch at theEmbassy Suites Hotel, on Friday, and thatmicrophones were working, on Saturday,so that clergy and deputies could debateissues of prevailing rights and canonicalresidency, her mother was experiencing thesigns of her impending arrival.While media focused on the wrong part ofwhat it means to be the body of Christ, thelittle girl’s mother quietly found the gift offellowship in her sister-in-law, Elizabeth,who inexplicably was going throughexactly the same process at the same time.That weekend, Rachael Sadd was born. Butshe could not live. You see, Rachael wasborn prematurely, just as her cousin Joywas. Neither of the tiny babies lived. In theabsence of their husbands, two womenlinked by marriage, became bonded by theanguish of knowing they were about to losetheir babies and the joy of knowingtogether the peace and presence of a risenLord.They found great comfort in the song,Trading My Sorrow, by musician DarrylEvans:I’m trading my sorrow; I’m trading myshame;I’m laying it down, for the joy of the Lord.I’m trading my sickness; I’m trading mypain;I’m laying it down for the joy of the Lord.Why do I share a sad story like this atChristmas? Because two millennia ago, twowomen, Mary and Elizabeth, found solacein each other just as Emily and Elizabethdid. They faced the uncertainty of carryingchildren who had been set apart by God tocarry forth his purposes in redeeming afallen humanity.… I’m trading my sorrow …In the midst of their difficulties – Maryfaced death by stoning; Elizabeth thetroubles of giving birth as an older womanand a priest husband who had been struckdumb – the two women found comfort ineach other. Elizabeth announced that herbaby had leapt in the womb at the sound ofMary’s voice; Mary declared that her soulmagnified the Lord. Did either woman havepremonitions that her son would face asacrificial life and terrible death? We onlyknow that they glorified God.… I’m laying it down …As I nervously dialed the Sadd number, notknowing what to say, Emily answered thephone. Like Mary before her, she wasentrusting the clouds and pain of herexperience to God and trusting Jesus, herredeemer and Lord, to make his way clear.As I hung up the receiver, all the frustrationand stress of trying to bridge thecommunications needs of the diocesemelted away and I knew as surely as I haveever known anything, that the faith that isseeing Emily and David through thisexperience is the faith that we are all calledto – a faith that calls us to magnify the Lordin all that we do.… for the joy of the Lord …If Mary were to walk into our homes andsee the extravagance of our Christmascelebrations, the exotic mythologies andtraditions we have developed, I wonder ifshe would laugh hysterically or cry. Ourtraditions – so comforting to us – have farto go to reach Bethlehem.That day, talking to Emily, I came as closeas you can get.This story has been shared with the blessing ofthe parents

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYEncouraging WordsWe Could Use Bathing in PrayerDear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,In October, I was asked to preach at theAAC Conference, A Place to Stand. Itwas an awesome experience to processdown the aisle with nearly 800 clergy andstand before 4,200 people, all hungry tohear the word of God. The conferencecenter was immense and my face wasprojected onto four huge screens. Presscameras recorded every word and gesture.A bishop said to me before I spoke, “This isprobably the most important sermon youwill ever preach.” Someone else said, “Thissermon had better be a home run!” It couldhave been an incredibly intimidatingexperience. But it wasn’t.As I waited in the hall, preparing toprocess, I felt no fear, only excitement. As Ilooked out at the rows of people, stretching“for miles,” I felt extraordinary joy andcompassion for the spiritually hungrycrowd. An amazing peace settled on me asI preached, “We do not lose heart.”I am convinced that the reason I felt onlypeace, joy and excitement on this occasionis that literally thousands of people wereDAVID SADD PHOTOThe Rev. Canon Mary Hays, canon missioner for thediocese, during a regular visit to talk to students andfaculty at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry.praying for me. I have a group of peoplewho have personally committed to pray forme; the conference had a large group ofintercessors who bathed the conference inprayer; and scores of people told me (inperson, by phone or by e-mail) that theywere praying for my sermon. Some of theseprayer warriors I knew; most I had nevermet.I have never experienced such a sense ofGod’s presence and calm. It was as if I wasenveloped in a cloud of loving care. Andfrom many reports, I have never preachedwith more power. People told me specificways in which God used my words in theirlives. This experience has been lifetransforming for me. I have wondered:“What would it be like if all of us wereprayed for that much all the time?” “Whatwonderful things of God would bereleased?” I have begun to pray moreintentionally for clergy and lay leaders, forpreachers and caregivers, for the ministersall around me.This experience has also made me thinkabout our diocese. There are big, importantthings that God wants to do in and throughus. I am wondering what it would look likeif all of us recommitted ourselves topraying for each other, for our leaders andfor God’s power to be unleashed in ourmidst.Will you join me in recommitting yourselfto prayer? Will you ask God to do veryspecific miraculous things in our midst, sothat many of us and many others will beable to experience God’s love and power innew and life-transforming ways? I amconvinced that only as we recommitourselves to ongoing intercessory prayerwill we truly become One Church ofMiraculous Expectation and MissionaryGrace.Faithfully,BY THE REV. CANONMARY MAGGARDHAYS, CANONMISSIONER OF THEDIOCESEENCOURAGINGWORDS5

Pew To YouNews Around the DioceseYour Giving KeepsPeople Warm and FedThe people of Shepherd’s Heartsend a warm thank you to allthe churches and people whohave helped us by providingmeals and other support for ourministry to the poor andhomeless. We are thanking Godfor all of you in the wake ofThanksgiving.As winter approaches,donations of blankets, wintergear, socks, hats and gloveswill be very much appreciated.Clean, used items in goodcondition are an excellentcontribution.For Christmas time, we givetoiletry kits to the homelessfolks. Your donations willenable us to continue thisoutreach.These kits include:Men: Disposable razor,shaving cream, deodorant,soap, wash cloth, toothbrush,toothpaste and shampoo (allsmall trial or sample sizes);Women: Disposable razor,deodorant, soap, wash cloth,shampoo-conditioner,toothbrush, toothpaste, bodywash, perfume and hand lotion(all trial or sample sizes);Kids: A blank tablet, crayons,small bag of candy;We need about 110 kits formen, 50 for women and 40 forchildren. We also need toreceive them about mid-December. Thank you for yourgenerosity!We are so thankful for thosewho have brought Sundaydinners for people. We are nowscheduling these for Sundays inJanuary, February and March2004. Please call our office at(412) 682-6557 and we will behappy to arrange a date for you.Please remember the poor inPittsburgh during the holidays.May Jesus bless you all!God bless you!the Rev. JimMorehead6 Shepherd’s HeartTwo Oakland ParishesForm Bond Over MealsBY THE VENERABLE GREG MALLEY, ARCHDEACONThe Church of the Ascension,Oakland, has tried to work as aneffective partner with Shepherd’sHeart, Oakland, since it first began; bothfinancially as well as in “sweat equity.”One of the ways that this second aspecthas taken shape is in their meal ministryfor the Sunday worship service. Like somany other churches, we contact thekeepers of the calendar, Elaine or the Rev.Jim Morehead, to find an open date. Oncethe date is set, we recruit both financialsupport and people to help prepare themeal, take it to the service and serve itafterwards.Typically, we need a crew of four to six toprepare and serve a dinner that usuallyconsists of a green salad, a main dish,starch and a vegetable. We also providesome whole fresh fruit that can be carriedhome, as well as a “portable” dessert, suchas a large fruit muffin or pastry. To find acrew, we post the request in our weeklynewsletter. House groups, study groups orCursillo reunion groups are often thesource of our volunteers. This is an intergenerationalopportunity at its best, asyounger children are very welcome andcreate instant friendships with many of theShepherd’s Heart congregation.We have fed as many as 150 people.Ideally, the same people who prepared thedinner will also come and serve the food.It is in serving the food that the realPew To YouPHOTOS COURTESY OF ASCENSIONTRINITY DECEMBER 2003LEFT:Jim Franzenpreparingchickens forroasting.FAR LEFT:Ascension teamprepares foodfor Shepherd’sHeart.blessing is revealed. The congregation atShepherd’s Heart is both hungry and verygrateful for these meals. Seconds arepermitted once everyone has eaten and theserving crew ends up wrapping food totake home for later until it runs out.We have discovered the blessing thatcomes from serving the Shepherd’s Heartcommunity: the realization of ourcommon link as children of the same God.None of us is loved more or less thananother. In getting to know people whomwe might otherwise never meet, wediscover others in the family of God.Generous Donation MeansNewly Gowned ChoirArchdeaconGreg Malleyis deacon forministries atChurch of theAscensionBurgundy and gold are two new colorssparkling up the front of All Saints’,Verona, due to a generous gift of choirrobes from St. Alban’s, Murrysville.Thanks to the coordination efforts ofSarah (Kellar) Bitsura, the All Saints’choir was able to initiate the newlyacquired robes in early October. Therewere 25 burgundy and 20 gold robes withsatin overlays provided. And thisheartening partnership between twoparishes has an extra little kick to it –Bitsura grew up in All Saints’.

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYSet the time aside now forIntro to the Diaconate 2004Tues. April 13 to Sat. May 1at St. Martin’s, MonroevilleIn this four-session course you willexplore the ministry of the permanentdiaconate and how it relates to thediocese and the church as a whole.The course will:• Examine the biblical perspective onservanthood;• Trace the development of the diaconatethroughout church history;• Examine the emerging role of thediaconate in the contemporary church andin the diocese;• Explore the full range of diaconalministries;• Introduce the formation program and theordination process in the diocese.For more information, contact:Deacon Mark StevensonDirector, deacon formation program(412) 265-1167, stevenson@chatham.eduorBonnie CatalanoSecretary for the canon missioner(412) 281-6131 x150,catalano@pgh.anglican.orgSeminary Snow Angels Recognized by BoroughLast year, after the Borough of Ambridgeinitiated a law requiring people to cleartheir walks within 24 hours of thecessation of snow or be fined, MarciaKing organized a team of shovelers atTrinity Episcopal School for Ministry.About 20 seminarians committedthemselves to shovel walks for theelderly and disabled. The names wereprovided by the borough.It was a snowy winter and well over 3feet of snow fell. “Every time it snowedwe’d go out and shovel,” says King, whoalso noted that it was done anonymously.Sometimes people would try to pay them,PAROCHIAL PEOPLE POSTINGSThe following moves have beenannounced or have taken place in thediocese:• the Rev. Cathy Brall will be provostat Trinity Cathedral, effective January;• the Rev. Jay Geisler became rector atSt Stephen’s, McKeesport, earlier thisFall;• the Rev. Jonathan Millard will berector at Church of the Ascension,Oakland, effective January;• the Rev. John A. Porter will be rectorat Grace, Mt. Washington andEdgeworth effective Dec. 6;• Vicente Santiago has been appointedlay leader at St James, Penn Hills;• the Rev. Paul Sutcliffe became priestin charge at Church of the Atonement,Carnegie, Aug. 1.CondolencesMr. Huett M. Fleming Sr., father of theRev. Huett M. Fleming, Jr., rector ofChurch of the Good Shepherd, Hazelwood,died on Sun., Nov. 2.Sgt. Nicholas “Nick” Tomko, fiancee ofJessica Baillie (daughter of the Rev. Ron(Sue) Baillie, priest-in-charge, GoodSamaritan, Liberty Borough), was killedon duty in Iraq on Nov. 9.but they wouldn’t take the money. “Wewere doing it for Jesus,” she says.In February, a proclamation was readthanking the Snow Angels, and they werepresented with certificates. King, whowas dubbed the “archangel,” because ofher liaison work, was given a sweat shirt.Although there were 45 people on theofficial list, King says many peopleshoveled for folks nearby who may nothave called the borough and been enteredon the list. One student, Jeff Mead,shoveled 11 walks every time it snowed.“As far as I was concerned he was thearchangel not me,” she says.Absalom Jones DayFEB. 7, 2004The Rev. Jayne Oasin, socialjustice officer at theEpiscopal Church Center inNew York City, will addressthe diocesan celebration ofthe life and ministry ofAbsalom Jones, Sat., Feb. 7,2004, at Trinity Cathedral.The celebration includes10:30 a.m. Eucharist, lunchand workshops for all ages.Oasin is responsible for theimplementation of theEpiscopal Church’s antiracism,economic justiceand anti-violence programs.Prior to being at the churchcenter, she held a number ofpositions in the not-forprofitand public sectors;including the YWCA andNew York City Departmentof Juvenile Justice. She hasalso headed her ownmanagement consulting firmand taught as an adjunctprofessor of non-profitmanagement at EasternCollege, St. David’s, Pa.,and Baruch College, NewYork City.As a life-long Episcopalian,Oasin has been active inboth her parish and herhome diocese – theEpiscopal Diocese of NewJersey. She has been amember of the vestry, thesearch committee, and theevangelism committee. Shehas served on the diocesancouncil and urban ministrycommittee. Her nationalchurch duties includeserving as a member of theboard of directors ofthe Episcopal UrbanCaucus. 7

Pew To YouNews Around the DioceseSchool and ParishUnite in EvangelismWeekendBy Bryan Bywater,Trinity Episcopal School forMinistry junior“As God’s people gatheredtogether as the Body ofChrist, our ministry is todevelop and share ourrelationship with JesusChrist, through the spreadingof his gospel in word,sacrament, service andexample, because we areloved by God.” … MissionStatement of All Saints’Episcopal Church,(Rosedale) Penn HillsOn the weekend of Nov. 14 –16, All Saints’ EpiscopalChurch lived out its call tomission and ministry as itwarmly hosted a group ofseminarians from TrinityEpiscopal School forMinistry. The students wereunder the direction of theRev. Canon John Macdonald,professor of mission andevangelism.On Friday night, they shareda meal, laughter and prayeras the students, members ofMacdonald’s evangelismclass, helped the churchleaders see how they can puttheir talents to use for thekingdom of God.Saturday evening, thestudents returned toparticipate in dinner groupsarranged by church familiesand shared the gospel withfriends of the church. It wasa powerful evening. Somepeople heard the good newsfor the first time. Otherswere again stirred. Theweekend culminated inworship with praise musicand a sermon delivered byMacdonald on Sunday.All Saints’ is a vibrantchurch being led by DavidRucker, a passionate,dedicated senior at TESM.They have a hunger to growin faith and to sharethe gospel to a world8 that needs to hear it.BY MARJIE SMITHThe golden tones of the eveninglighting within the grey walls of St.Andrew’s, Highland Park, added apainterly touch for the Thursday-eveningfinale of a week-long All Saints’ MusicFestival.There was a quiet reverence as thosecongregated followed the side-by-sideLatin and English order of service forchoral Compline as it was sung in Latin bythe Men of Cantores Polyphonicae: Aperi,Dómine, os meum ad benedicéndumnomen sanctum tuum … Open thou, OLord, my mouth to bless thy holy name.”The choral service, featuring works byTallis and Liszt, among others, was led byStephen Lipnichan, choral director forCantores Polyphonicae, and accompaniedby Peter Luley, St. Andrew’s organist andchoirmaster. The solemn evening woundFestival “a real treat in an EastEnd neighborhood”… Peter Luley, St. Andrew’s, HighlandPark, organist.up a week of varied musical services andconcerts, beginning with Music ‘tilMidnight, Halloween night, with guestorganist Charles Huddleston Heaton, andincluding a Monday concert featuringBach Cantata No. 80 and the MendelssohnReformation Symphony with fullorchestra, conducted by Melissa McBride.Other featured presentations were aSaturday recital – Beethoven, Ravel,Schumann and Prokofiev – by LindaMorgan Ellison on piano and Sunday’sSchubert Mass in G Major with the St.Andrew’s choir and the All Saints’Festival Orchestra, again conducted byMcBride, who is conductor of theEdgewood Symphony and a member ofSt. Andrew’s.TRINITY DECEMBER 2003Inaugural All Saints’ Festival Highly Successful“That’s a real treat in an east-endPittsburgh neighborhood,” said Luley.The Thursday event was coordinated byLipnichan, an organ scholar studying atDuquesne University, who works withLuley and Barbara Lewis, associateorganist. Lipnichan previously sang in theTrinity Cathedral choir, where he added tohis repertoire of Latin liturgical music.This was followed by a period at St.Boniface where he “encountered liturgyon a weekly basis.”After being offered a position with thechoir at St. Andrew’s earlier in the year, heSee FESTIVAL, p. 9Peter Luley, organist/choirmaster atSt. Andrew’s, Highland Park, andStephen Lipnichan, choral directorfor Cantores Polyphonicaeand organ scholar at St. Andrew’s.MARJIE SMITH PHOTO

BlairsvilleCelebrates 175 YearsPeace be within thywalls and prosperitywithin thy palaces.Blairsville Celebrates175 YearsTOP:Those gathered for theanniversary celebration.RIGHT:Carolyn Klingensmith and hercousin Trudy Brunot, who aretied into the history of St.Peter’s, Blairsville, participatedin a special celebration of thechurch’s history.10BY THE PARISHIONERS OF ST. PETER’S, BLAIRSVILLEWITH LYNNE WOHLEBER, DIOCESAN ARCHIVISTNortheast of Greensburg and Latrobe,on the southern edge of IndianaCounty, lies the modern town ofBlairsville, population 3,600. Developedaround 1818, as construction of thePennsylvania Mainline Canal pushed into theConemaugh Valley, the population of thesmall community grew to more than 500 by1827, with many engineers of Englishdescent settling in Blairsville, the largest port.During this time, Episcopalians in the areamet occasionally under the direction ofearly Western Pennsylvania missionaries.According to the Rev. Sanson K. Brunot’sdiary, at the chartering of the congregation onAugust 17, 1828 the wardens and vestry ofSt. Peter’s resolved that with God’s blessingthey would “use all possible means in theirpower to erect a building for the worship ofAlmighty God, in that borough.” Theycontinued to meet in a log schoolhouseduring construction of the present church.The frame, Gothic-revival-style edifice waserected between 1829 and 1830 on landdonated by burgess William G. Davis. At thefirst service, held in the fall of 1830, Brunot,rector, preached his first sermon within itswalls from Psalm 122:6-7: “Pray for thePeace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper thatlove Thee. Peace be within Thy walls andprosperity within Thy palaces.”Bishop Henry V. Onderdonk, assistant bishopof Pennsylvania, consecrated the church onJune 7, 1831. The congregation prosperedLYNNE WOHLEBER PHOTOuntil Brunot’s resignation in 1832. During thenext 10 years, the parish declined until aseries of priests from Christ Church,Greensburg, took over repairing andimproving the building.The second period of prosperity for St.Peter’s began with the leadership of the Rev.John H. McCandless, during the years whenthe railroad offices brought new peopleinto the community, including manyEpiscopalians. However, when therailroad offices removed to Allegheny Cityin the late 1890s, the parish suffered a loss ofmany parishioners from which it never fullyrecovered.The church building was partially renovatedin 1884 and again in the 1890s, when theVictorian-style parish house was constructed.Between 1980 and 2003, in what has beencalled the “jubilee restoration,” countlesshours of work and considerable sums ofmoney were spent refurbishing the historicstructure. The interior, substantially intactfrom the 1890s restoration, includes suchfeatures as an arched ceiling of pine, framedin oak, which resembles a boat’s hull; a stonebaptismal font with an oak and brass cover; aleaded glass window above the sanctuarydoor and stained glass windows. The stainedglass rose altar window, with its symbolicmiter and key of Saint Peter, was given inmemory of the Rt. Rev. John Barrett Kerfoot,first bishop of the diocese. An outdoor chapelarea was constructed from the original slate

sidewalk. Unfortunately, none of the stonesmarking the graves in the small burialground behind the sanctuary survivedthrough the years.Because of the unique history of St. Peter’sand its importance to Blairsville and thediocese, the parish applied for recognition asa National Historic Site. According to thePennsylvania Historical and MuseumCommission, the 1889 rectory that standsnext to the church is of unusual design. Theframe, two-and-a-half story Queen-Annstylebuilding is gabled on the hip roof withan intersecting gable to the front. On May 9,1988, both the church and rectory wereofficially recognized by the NationalRegister of Historic Places of the U. S.Department of the Interior.LYNNE WOHLEBER PHOTOIt is believed that St. Peter’s has thedistinction of being the oldest Episcopalchurch in continuous use in WesternPennsylvania and the second oldest inexistence west of the Alleghenies.For a building to remain intact and in use for175 years is a significant milestone. Itseemed fitting, therefore, that on Sept. 21,2003, the elegant little church of St. Peter’shold a celebration of life and longevity. In hishomily, Bishop Henry Scriven reminded thecongregation that, “This building and the onenext door are living testimony to thefaithfulness of God.” As he preached on theninth chapter of Mark, he went on to say thateach person is important in how a churchgets along. “The next 175 years will bedifferent... and difficult. Like Christ in theGospel of Mark,God is calling us totake up our crossand follow him. It’snot business asusual. Now, morethan ever, we’recalled to followJesus faithfully.” Asthe congregationfiled out of St.Peter’s on that day tothe excellentluncheon awaitingthem in the historic parish house, you couldfeel the voices of those long departedblending into the final hymn.Among the guests at the service ofcelebration were two descendants of theBrunot family, Carolyn Klingensmith andher cousin Trudy Brunot. For Klingensmith,it was an especially important occasion sinceher father, William Isaac Klingensmith, wasbaptized Sept. 21, 1890, at St. Peter’s.Sanson Brunot, the church’s first rector,was the son of Dr. Felix Brunot, towhom both women are linked.Sanson, born on Brunot’s Island Dec.23, 1808, to Felix and his Huguenotwife Elizabeth Krieder, was the firstnative-born Western Pennsylvanian tobe ordained an Episcopal clergyman.After a two-month period serving asinterim at Trinity, Pittsburgh, his firstcharge was St. Peter’s, Blairsville. Hisjournal tells of travels on stagecoach,horseback and canal boat toBlairsville, Brownsville, Greensburgand Bolivar, and by steamboat toBeaver. When he became ill, he traveled toKey West, Florida, where he established Sts.Peter and Paul Episcopal Church. Hereturned to Pittsburgh in 1833 and died at theage of 24. In his short span of years asclergyman, he not only was founding priestof St. Peter’s, Blairsville; Christ Church,Allegheny City, where his father built thefirst church building; and Sts. Peter and Paul,Key West, but also served as vicar of bothChrist Church, Greensburg, and St. Luke’s,Georgetown.Part of St. Peter’s mission statement speaksto it’s past ... and of its future: “We accept theBible as the revelation of our faith; we seekthe truth; and we trust in the Father, the Sonand the Holy Spirit to provide for us now andforever. We, therefore, freely acknowledgethe covenant, ‘I will be your God and youwill be my people’.”PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. PETER’SBlairsvilleChurch andparish hall“This building andthe one next door areliving testimony tothe faithfulness ofGod.”... Bishop Henry Scriven11

Convention 2003TRINITY DECEMBER 2003Convention2003ABOVE:Agnes PangburnBELOW:Ed JacksonCOMMUNICATIONS PHOTOCOMMUNICATIONS PHOTOArmy of Volunteers Well OrchestratedIt’s somewhere between 6:30 and 7 a.m.on the Saturday of the 138th DiocesanConvention and St. Stephen’s,Sewickley, is already bustling withactivity. The carefully orchestratedsuccession of about 50 conventionvolunteers from St. Stephen’s, coordinatedby Becca Chapman, has kicked in. Thefirst parking attendant is in place with therest of the morning team to arrive shortly.Greeters, if not already there, will bearriving shortly.Kitchen volunteers are starting to put outbreakfast food, and they keep the foodrolling all day for the hungry hordes ofover 400 deputies, clergy, volunteers andjournalists who are there to worship, pray,debate, vote, serve and report. Throughoutthe day, this small army of people, whichis serving in every capacity from parkingand break-down to ushering and praying,will be working so efficiently as to bealmost invisible.Ed Jackson, chief sexton, is everywhere.But he has time to figure out how to hangthe convention banner, which boldly statesthe focus: Celebrating Partnerships.Sometime mid-morning, he cheerfullyappears with an extension cord and a rollof tape so that a laptop can stay juiced.He refuses to take credit for anything. “Mein the mirror is We,” he says. “I could nothave done this by myself. The volunteersare the ones we cannot do without.” At thetime we are speaking, his team of fivevolunteers has just disassembled in onehour the tables used at convention and issetting up for the ECW luncheon in apartitioned area.On Thursday, it took four hours forJackson and fellow sextons Tom Richardsand Joe Gulish to set up the room for theevent (and that’s not including audio,which he and Richards set up on Friday).It is the volunteers that make thingshappen quickly, he says.One of those volunteers who was busysetting tables for the ECW luncheon isAgnes Pangburn, who has been a memberof the parish for 49 years. She’s done it all,taken orders and given them. Today, she ishappy to be working under the guidanceof Judi Erno, lovingly known by all as“the kitchen czar.” Pangburn will beleaving early, at 1 p.m., in order to babysit.This from a woman whose day started at 7a.m. as a greeter.And so, a salute to the army of volunteerswho made this convention a seamlessevent!12As well as organizing the volunteers at St. Stephen’s,Sewickley, on the Saturday of convention, BeccaChapman, left, was a speaker at one of the preconventionworkshops as well as the speaker at theECW meeting following convention. Other guestspeakers were Bruce Wilkinson, right, who was thekey note speaker on the Friday night of convention.To his right are four additional speakers at preconventionworkshops: (from left to right) JeanneHungerman, World Vision; John Stanley, ChurchArmy; Richard Priestley, Church Army; and the Rev.Jay Geisler, St Stephen’s, McKeesport.

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYCelebrating PartnershipsNOW MORE THAN EVERBoard of TrusteesDistrict 7 Lewis Amis, Trinity Cathedral,PittsburghDistrict 8 Robert Fleming, St. Martin’s,MonroevilleDistrict 10 John Stevenson, St. David’s, Peter’s Twp.Elected by convention:Alan Wright, Trinity, WashingtonCouncilDistrict 1 Jim Forney, St. Stephen’s, SewickleyDistrict 2District 3District 4District 5District 7District 8District 10The Rev. Dan Crawford, St. Thomas,Gibsonia (3 yr.)Richard Martin, St. Thomas, Gibsonia(2 yr.)Eleanor Borland, St. Barnabas,Brackenridge (1 yr.)Deacon Norman Koehler, St. Andrew’s,New KensingtonCurt Henry, Christ Church, GreensburgThe Rev. Paul Sutcliff Jr., Atonement,CarnegieThe Rev. Moni McIntyre, Holy Cross,HomewoodSheila Burkholder, Transfiguration,ClairtonDeacon J. Edmund Hay, St. Mary’s,Charleroi2003 DiocesanConventionElection ResultsStanding CommitteeThe ArrayCathedral ChapterCommittee on CanonsThe Rev. John M. Heidengren, Prince ofPeace, Hopewell Twp.Susan Uram Lear, St. Thomas, OakmontThe Rev. Canon James D. Shoucair,Christ Church, North HillsElise Glenn, Holy Innocents, LeechburgCharles Weiss, St. James, Penn HillsThe Rev. Dr. W. Jay Geisler, St.Stephen’s, McKeesportGlenn P. Crytzer, St. Peter’s, ButlerThe Rev. C. Bradley Wilson, Fox ChapelJennie K. Bullard, Holy Innocents,Leechburg13

TRINITY DECEMBER 2003Convention2003ABOVE:Secretary to Convention, JackWalshBELOW:Visiting convention andPittsburgh’s bishops Duncan andScriven was Bishop AlphaMohammed of Rift Valley,Tanzania.14138 th Convention Celebrates Partnerships,Debates AmendmentsBY JOAN MALLEYOur annual Diocesan Convention,through which we take legislativeaction, pass a budget and elect avariety of officers, also allows deputies tocatch up withfriends, meet newpeople and hear andsee what’s going onin other parishes.This year’s conventionwas no exception,partly dueto the theme,Celebrating Partnerships,whichshared the joys andaccomplishments ofboth new and establishedcongregationsCOMMUNICATIONS PHOTOSand missionaryagencies, allworking together.Friday’s legislativesession includedBishop RobertDuncan’s address, inwhich he exhortedus to “Keep watch,stand firm in yourfaith, be courageous,be strong. Let allthat you do be donein love.” (1 Cor.16:13-14) We participated in an exercisethat showed that during our currentdisagreement all of us have tried to be trueto the first part of the statement, but manyof us have failed in the latter part. Perhapsit was that acknowledgement that led tomostly cordial and open debate the nextday.As a deputy who has now attended fourchurch conventions in one year’s time(three diocesan, one national), I’mbeginning to get the hang of parliamentaryprocedure, rules of order, special rules oforder and the like. I can only sympathizewith those who attended this last diocesanconvention as their first! I am thankfulthat the debate around the twoI’m beginning to get the hang ofparliamentary procedure, rulesof order, special rules of orderand the likeconstitutional amendments was civil andthat we behaved – outwardly at least –with patience, if not love.All deputies seemed deeply engaged inSaturday’s debate, listening carefully andrespectfully. As the bishop presided, it wasnecessary on several occasions to haveRobert Devlin, vice-chancellor of thediocese, render an opinion not just onparliamentary procedure but on thelegality of the proposed constitutionalamendments. Twice, a ruling of the chairwas challenged, and twice it was upheldby a substantial majority.Because a motion to suspend theparliamentary procedure that wouldrequire a roll-call vote was approved, avoice vote by orders on both amendmentswas taken, and both passed. Theseamendments will not take effect until theyare passed following a second reading atnext year’s convention.As in most family disagreements,convention moments of levity and joyserved as much needed tension-breakers,and our closing worship reminded us ofthe one whom we all are called to serve.Joan Malley is parish administrator atChurch of the Ascension, Oakland, as welldeputy to three diocesan conventions and toGeneral Convention.

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYCelebrating PartnershipsNOW MORE THAN EVERYoungest Deputy Not Intimidated by ExperienceHe’s not your average 18 year old.Zach Simons, the youngest deputyat convention, was unintimidatedby the responsibility of representing St.Michael’s-of-the-Valley, Ligonier, as analternate. His leadership in Happeningand involvement in Youth andGovernment through his school haveprepared him for the responsibility and thedebate and process aspects.In spite of being initiated during acontroversial time in the life of theEpiscopal Church and the diocese, he sayshe is “encouraged by the faith I see inmany of the leadership” and “the basisthey have in the word (of God) and theirfaithfulness to what God has told us.”He says he is “saddened” by the currenttension in the church but says “it isimportant to talk about it … to bring theissues to the table.” He also believes thattwo things happen wherever humansgather: leaders arise and people developfactions “because of that basic tendencyof humanity to want to follow.” He says“It is important to have leaders in thechurch who have Christ as the center.”His closeness to his father, the Rev. JamesSimons, rector of the parish, has helpedPROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTSArticle I, Section 1Resolved, by this 138th Annual Convention of theEpiscopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, that a secondsentence be added to Article 1, Section 1 of theConstitution:In cases where the provisions of the constitutionand canons of the Church in the Diocese ofPittsburgh speak to the contrary, or whereresolutions of the convention of said diocese havedetermined the constitution and canons of theProtestant Episcopal Church in the United States ofAmerica, or resolutions of its general convention,to be contrary to the historic faith and order of theone holy catholic and apostolic church, the localdetermination shall prevail.This is the first reading of both amendments.Each amendment must be read and passed atnext year’s convention in order to go into effect.prepare him for debate as they regularlytalk about matters of the faith. And he hasa good handle on the inevitability of beingacknowledged as his father’s son – mostoften he is told how much they look alike– or being regarded as a teenager.Yes, it can be difficult, but he also views itas an opportunity to be introduced topeople and have them get to know him asan individual, and there are many who doknow him throughhis own activity inthe diocese.Article III, Section 2Resolved, by this 138th Annual Convention of theEpiscopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, that the words“and actually” be deleted as follows:Every member of the clergy, in regular standing,who shall have been canonically and actuallyresident in the diocese, and engaged in theparochial, missionary, or educational work of thechurch, under the ecclesiastical authority of thediocese, for three months preceding anyconvention, shall be entitled to a seat and vote insuch convention in all cases except in the electionof a bishop, in which case the qualificationsnecessary to vote shall be as hereinafter providedin Article XIV of this constitution, provided, thatno member of the clergy so qualified shall lose hisor her right to a seat and vote by reason of sicknessor old age.COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOConvention deputies fromSt.-Michael’s-of-the-Valley,Ligonier, Kathie Kendall andZach Simons, share a carefreemoment.15

TRINITY DECEMBER 2003Convention2003DON COX PHOTOABOVE:Special speaker at the closingEucharist was Bishop DonaldMcCoid, of the SouthwesternPennsylvania Synod of theEvangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica.BELOW:Stacy Roseberry, of Rock theWorld, chats with Marilyn Ziegler,of St. Stephen’s, McKeesport.DON COX PHOTOThe annual convention is a mixing bowl wherein the mainingredients of the diocese, human, spiritual and legislative,are poured together, guided by a baseline recipe governingofficial interaction. What comes out is a powerful composite of allthose ingredients. The unifying theme of the convention wasCelebrating Partnerships. The underlying motto was: Now MoreThan Ever. Some thoughts and moments:Pre-convention workshops were conductedby Capts. Richard Priestley andJohn Stanley, Church Army; BeccaChapman, St. Stephen’s, Sewickley;Jeanne Hungerman, World Vision; andthe Rev. Jay Geisler, St. Stephen’s,McKeesport.During his address, Bishop RobertDuncan appealed to the people of thediocese to call on the three core values wehold in common to see us through thesetroubled times. They are:1) One Church - We work together in theareas where we can work together.2) Miraculous Expectation - We rely onAlmighty God as the chief resource forour ministries severally and together.3) Missionary Grace - The diocese existsto strengthen the mission of the localchurches.Duncan noted that “things can’t go backto the way they were, but let’s do ourbest.”It was announced that Trinity,Connellsville, and Epiphany, Avalon, willboth close in 2003. It was also announcedthat Trinity Cathedral is pulling itselfback together and has aggressivelytackled debt issues. The Rev. CathyBrall has been named the newprovost of Trinity Cathedral.At the same time parishes areclosing, church plants are takingroot. As Jenni Bartling noted inher report on congregationaldevelopment for newchurches, there are threeintegral aspects to successful churchplanting: gathering, training and coaching.She referred to the lull in the wake of the“Novocain of romance” that came withthe initial idea of church planting. Reportson the church plants such as Three Nails,as delivered by the Rev. Don Cox, wereencouraging. Cox said Three Nails hasestablished six cells. He reported that theyoung folks want to open a juice bar in theold book store, which echoes the call ofthe Lunch Room, developed by TrinityCathedral 100 years ago to meet the needsof women working downtown.Bishop Henry Scriven pointed out thejoy of getting to know parishes on apersonal level compared to his previousexperience with strung-out parishes inEurope. He also recognized the valiantstruggle of many small parishes to survivefinancially.Diocesan administrator Nancy Norton,in bringing forth the budget, which was16

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYCelebrating PartnershipsNOW MORE THAN EVERpassed without challenge, pointed out thatexpenses had been pared in order to createa budget that better met the diocesanmission.The Cathedral flag project was officiallyunveiled with a parade of flagsrepresenting the many countries supportedby diocesan parishes.In addressing the issue of partnerships inthe diocese, the Rev. Mary Hays, canonmissioner, reported, “We’re about toordain our largest group of deacons in thisdiocese.” Hays pointed out thecollaborative process in which anordinand is formed in a parish, whosepriest and ministry committee and vestrymust discern the calling; the commissionon ministry, clergy and lay leadersinterview the aspirant; potential deaconsand priests do internships in otherparishes, with oversight from priest andCOMMUNICATIONS PHOTOlay people; and, finally, the ordinationinvolves people from sponsoringorganizations, preparation from thechurch and work on behalf of the diocesanstaff. It is the ultimate partnership.Most humorous moment: When NancyNorton, diocesan administrator, showed aslide of a David Sadd creation depictingmultiple headshots of the Rev. Don Cox,someone called out spontaneously,“Bishop, what’s your stand on cloning?”Convention celebrated the manypartnerships of the diocese with missionsocieties headquartered in the diocese,including: South American MissionarySociety (SAMS); Episcopal ChurchMissionary Community (ECMC), Rockthe World Youth Mission Alliance,Brotherhood of St. Andrew, NationalOrganization of Episcopalians for Life(NOEL), the Church Army and TrinityEpiscopal School for Ministry.Local outreach, as well as parishpartnerships with missions andecumenical and social serviceorganizations, were also highlighted. Thekeynote address at the Friday nightbanquet was given by BruceWilkinson, a senior vice presidentwith World Vision. The Rwandapartnership established between thediocese and World Vision in 1999was celebrated duringconvention. The diocese has654 sponsorship accountswith 576 active sponsors.COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOABOVE LEFT:Teri Dillon, left, and Jane Pattersonwere two of the many volunteershelping out during convention.Here, they are helping withregistration.ABOVE RIGHT:Closing Eucharist of convention.BELOW:The Rev. Patrick Dominguez,assistant rector at St. Stephen’s,Sewickley, holds his place at theprocedural mike, waiting to makea point.DON COX PHOTO17

Stained GlassRedeemer: 100 Years of Parish LifeBy Johanna KnapschaeferRedeemer’s stained glasswindows are crown jewels forthe parish and historicallysignificant for Pittsburgh.Howard Gilmann Wilbert, aglass artist at PittsburghStained Glass Studios andRedeemer parishioner, craftedRedeemer’s richly symbolicstained glass windowsbetween 1939 and 1962.In Boston, Wilbert workedunder glass artist CharlesConnick, who craftedwindows in about sixchurches in Pittsburgh and inthe Heinz Chapel, said JoanGaul, a writer and stainedglass expert who lives inShadyside. In deep admirationof the quiet, modest Wilbertand his highly skilled work,Redeemer’s former rector, theRev. Hugh S. Clark once said,“These windows represent thefinest stained-glass techniquein the true medieval traditionto be seen in this country.”“Indeed, this is true,” saidAlbert Tannler, historicalcollection director atPittsburgh History andLandmarks Foundation. Henoted that Wilbert was part ofan 1890s revival of themedieval stained glasstradition, using hand-blownantique glass. “The techniqueis characterized by use ofsmaller translucent glasspieces and more lead than isfound in the then-popularopalescent glass, known asAmerican glass,” he said.The windows incorporatecolor symbolism to vividlydepict scriptural imagery —including the Ascension, thePentecost and the LastSupper. Red often symbolizesdivine love and holy zeal;blue, the color of heaven;green, the color of spring andwhite, the color of the Lord,Jesus Christ or light. Spiritualfigures include Saint Cuthbert(634-687), an English monkof the Celtic church andBishop of Lindisfarne, withan inset showing the otter andfish that enliven the legends18See GLASS, p. 19BY JOHANNA KNAPSCHAEFERFrom its humble beginning as a tinychurch school, the Episcopal Churchof the Redeemer has relied on theenergy and vitality of its parishioners toreach out to the East End community.In September 1900, Mrs. Charles P. Smithopened a Sunday school for her threechildren at her home at 1401 WightmanStreet “on Squirrel Hill.” Soonneighborhood children joined and by1903, a nucleus of energetic families hadorganized a thriving parish. They set up abuilding fund, acquired a site at 5700Forbes Ave., erected a temporary woodenchapel at Woodmont and WightmanStreets and called the Rev. John R.Wightman from Trinity Cathedral indowntown Pittsburgh to be its first rector.The church school grew from 14 studentsin 1908 to nearly 100 in nearly a decade,and Redeemer became the first diocesanchurch to have a Young People’s Society.In 1940, Robert Izod joined Redeemer asorganist and choirmaster while the Rev.Hugh S. Clark (1936-1969) was rector.During this time the church flourishedunder both men, culminating in theformation of a men’s and boy’s choir ofsome 40 members who sang at churchservices, weddings and many communityoutreach events. Later in the 1950s,Redeemer offered space in its parish hallfor a small school, initially calledAscension Academy, and later, St.Edmund’s Academy. By 1955, St.Edmund’s had moved all eight grades outof cramped quarters at Redeemer and intoa new facility next door, where it is stillhoused today. St. Edmund’s continues tohold weekly chapel services and manyschool activities at the church.Currently, as the parish celebrates its 2003centennial, it is home to about 150TRINITY DECEMBER 2003Redeemer:100 Years ofParish Lifeparishioners and has 25 children attendingits church school. It hosts manyorganizations including the 60-memberEast End Youth Orchestra, six 12-StepRecovery groups, a daily English-as-asecondlanguage class for Russian seniorcitizens and a Russian-language musicprogram for English-speaking children ofRussian emigres.By opening its doors to a diversity ofpeople in the community, Redeemer isfulfilling part of its mission. “Redeemerstrives to be a church at the center of thecommunity — not just a communitycenter,” says the Rev. Cynthia BronsonSweigert, rector of the church since 1994.Through her experience with interfaith“Redeemer strives to be achurch at the center of thecommunity — not just acommunity center.”… the Rev. Cynthia BronsonSweigert, rectorministry, Bronson Sweigert has given newmomentum to Redeemer’s commitmentto Jewish-Christian dialogue andcooperation. Since 2000, she has servedas a co-chair of the American Jewishcommittee’s Christian-Jewish dialogue,currently based at Tree of Life Synagogue,and is active in the interfaith community inPittsburgh.Last year, Redeemer invested nearly$500,000 in a church renovation — thesecond in its history — to maximizeexisting space and create new multi-usemeeting and educational space to supportthe greater community. Now with theSee REDEEMER, p. 25

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYPHOTOS COURTESY OF REDEEMERGLASS continued from p. 18of this saint; Saint Columba(521-597), an Irish missionaryto Scotland and founder of theScottish Island of Iona shownwith an Irish wolfhound, thecross of Iona and the shiplanding on the coast ofScotland; and Saint Patrick(389-461), apostle and patronof Ireland, depicted in onelancet window as St. Patrickbaptizing King Laoghaire onthe hill of Tara.Perhaps the best description ofthe beauty found in thesewindows is embodied inWilbert’s own words: “Thecraft of stained glass is alliedclosely to great music, theharmonies of color and the playof light. The underlyingpatterning of the leads andcross bars, necessary in theconstruction of a window, arelike the bars in a music score.The color suspended in light isconstantly changing with theweather, the time of day andthe cycle of the seasons”New Music Commemorates Redeemer CentennialBY PAUL HAEBIG, REDEEMER MUSIC DIRECTORWhen Church of the Redeemerdecided to commission a newwork to commemorate ourcentennial, we had several composers withclose ties to the parish to consider.Ultimately, the committee decided tocommission two new works, a hymn tuneand a choir anthem. Former Redeemerorganist and choirmaster, David Durkop,was selected to write the hymn tune. Hiscompositions have been performed by theChapel Choir of Duke University and byorganist Diane Bish on her syndicated Joyof Music television program. For a text,Durkop chose to set the old hymn “MyHope Is Built on Nothing Less,” bynineteenth century hymn writer EdwardMoore. The new hymn tune, named“Redeemer,” was premiered at a recital bythe composer on Oct. 19, and was sungagain for the bishop’s visitation on Nov. 2.That afternoon saw the premiere of thecommissioned anthem at a festivalevensong for All Saints’ Sunday,Redeemer’s patronal feast. A new text waswanted for the anthem, and committeemember, Dr. Joan Gundersen, a churchhistorian, contacted her colleague, thehymn writer, Madeleine Forell Marshall.Marshall has published many hymn textsand translations in a variety ofdenominational collections and numbersof books and articles treating hymnody asa literary enterprise. Inspired by Chapter44 of the book of Ecclesiasticus, (thepassage which begins “Let us now praisefamous men”) Marshall created a newinclusive language text, celebrating allmanner of saints, from long ago and in ourcongregations today.Pittsburgh composer Joseph WillcoxJenkins, professor emeritus ofcomposition at Duquesne University, wascommissioned to set this new text forchoir and organ. He was Redeemer’sinterim organist and choirmaster during1996, and is organist for St. Edmund’sAcademy’s chapel services, which areheld in Redeemer’s sanctuary. Jenkinsintends to pursue publication of this newanthem. In commemorating ourcentennial, we have added twoworks of enduring worth to the music ofthe church.Sing the praise of famous people,Men and women long ago,Known in legend, song and story.God has granted them great glory-So might we their life’s work know.Prophets, poets, fine composers,Call their excellence to mind:Rulers, warriors, wise advisors,Scientists and organizers,Best, most gifted humankind!Godly, peaceful, goodly peopleSaints by faith and saints in deed,Known in our own congregations,Parents, mentors, dear relations,May we their example heed.Thus assembled, sisters, brothers,We recall and celebrateAll our forebears, high and lowly,Wise and faithful, brave and holy,We remember every saint.Copyright Madeleine Marshall,200319

TRINITY DECEMBER 2003Art MonitorNARA DUNCANARTMONITORChoral to Floral ArrangementsWhen she earned her degree inmusic with a major inperformance and voice, NaraDuncan did not see floral arranging in herfuture. But then, what clergy spouse whofollows the meandering path of service tothe church ever anticipates where it willlead?St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Newark,Delaware, was the influential stop on herjourney in terms of her emergingrelationship with flora and fauna. Shecredits this to an elderly parishioner at St.Thomas, Jack Robinson, a retired Englishprofessor. Robinson, who with his wife hadpreviously owned a flower shop, wasappalled at the regular appearance in thesanctuary of unimaginative triangularbundles of carnations, placed tocommemorate loved ones and reflect God’screativity. He proceeded to round up andtrain a flower guild.“The guild was responsible for all thedecorating of the church. It didn’t evenallow outside florists to do weddingflowers,” she says. Rather, the guildcoordinated the arrangements with florists.Robinson died just a little under two yearsago, but his legacy lives on.Fully infected with the flower bug, Duncanstarted taking photographs, as she traveled,of church arrangements, especially incathedrals. “In music, I always said, ‘Halfof what you learn, you learn by listening toothers.’ It’s the same with flowers,” shereflects. “You have to get the basics. Onceyou are classically trained (in music) youcan do whatever you want. It’s the samewith flower arranging.”Her knowledge continuedto evolve with herexperience. Whenshe moved toPittsburghwith herhusband, whois nowbishop ofthediocese, the thoughts of starting all overagain in the academic world werediscouraging. She opted not to return toteaching (She had formerly taught atWesley College, Dover, Delaware).Her debut in Pittsburgh started with thearrangements for the wedding of BishopAlden Hathaway’s daughter (Hathawaywas Bishop Robert Duncan’s predecessor).She had learned a lot of “fiddly stuff” whileworking for a florist in Newark. Whenliving and studying in London, England, inthe 1990s, she had also worked with JanePacker, who arranges flowers for the Dukeand Duchess of York. After the Hathawaywedding, her career developed by word-ofmouth.It also led to lecturing on flowerdesign and, subsequently to demo lecturesfor altar guilds.She calls church flowers one of those “900-pound gorillas in the sanctuary.” Theycome with a lot of rules that beg to bechallenged, rules such as: the flowers can’tbe taller than the arms of the cross or, youcan only put flowers on either side of thealtar. Why not put them at the back by thefont when there is a baptism, she asks. Orhow about decorating the pulpit forMorning Prayer?Alternatives provide parishes with a betterproduct at greater savings. Just as the guildat St. Thomas did, she encouragesdeliberate plantings of cutting flowers likehydrangea and spring bulbs forfuture cuttings. She suggestsparishioners contact the altarguild director when pruningin the garden. She evenencourages people to think interms of the guild whendeciding what time of yearto trim bushes andevergreens. Andif you thinkinvasiveplants likeivy, mint andlemon balm areonly there to trygardeners’20COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOSee FLOWERS, p. 25

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYStone Walls Need Maintenanceand CleaningA column dedicated to the care and upkeep ofolder churchesIn the last column, I stated that the roofis the most important building elementin the defense of the church buildingagainst water. After the roof, the wallsplay a major supporting role in the struggleagainst water. Actually, the walls playother roles as well, especially providingthe physical support of the floors and theroof structure itself. They also form thepublic face of the institution, and so play amajor role in setting the visualarchitectural character of the church.Most old churches in WesternPennsylvania have masonry walls – eitherstone or brick. In many cases, the firstchurch on the site was a small woodframedbuilding, which was replaced (orreused as a chapel) as the congregationgrew, prospered and wanted a morepermanent church building. Masonry wallshave the obvious distinct advantage ofbeing extremely durable (in the currentparlance, “low maintenance”), but eventhey can fall prey over the long term tomaladies associated with a lack ofmaintenance.COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOStone and brick come out of the groundand are prepared by human hands ormachines for final assembly into walls.Stones are cut and shaped, and sometimescarved; sandstone and limestone are thebest stones for these purposes, thoughoccasionally the harder granite is used.The stone walls of my church, St.Andrew’s, Highland Park, are made oflimestone, a close examination of whichreveals the innumerable tiny sea shells thatmake up the limestone and betray itsorigins at the bottom of the sea. In somebuildings, stone is laid up in the (very) oldfashioned(think ancient Egypt) way,course upon course, supporting itself. Inothers, stone is a thin veneer on hiddenbrick walls (as in, for instance, such anarchetypically “stone” building as theAllegheny County Courthouse). Stonewalls can also be hollow and supported bya steel framework. In all instances, thestone blocks are joined – and separated –by layers of a cement-like mortar thatserves to cushion against block-on-blockfriction and to prevent the infiltration ofwater between the stones. It is essentialthat the masonry joints be maintained byreplacing them when they have becomeeroded by the weather (a process called“pointing” or “repointing”, or sometimes“tuck-pointing”). Otherwise, water willhave a clear passage into the stone walls,and will cause damage ranging fromefflorescence – the deposit of a whitepowdery substance on the surface of thewall – to the delamination or crumbling ofthe stone.The architect’s original design visionincluded the color of the stone, but this isoften obscured by the general darkening ofstone over time (“patina”) and the stainingof stone by pollutants in the air. Sometimesair pollutants are so bad that the outer layerof stone is blackened, or even its chemicalcomposition is changed (witness theblackened skin of Trinity Cathedral).Today, smoke pollution causes fewerproblems than in the past, but acid rain ismore of a problem – particularly forSee STONE, p. 25This Old ChurchBY MICHAELEVERSMEYER,ARCHITECTTHIS OLDCHURCH21

Virtual Stable Leads toReal JesusBy Capt. Margaret CollinsChurch Army USAEach Sunday, Church ArmyNorth Side opens the doors ofhospitality to anyone whowants it at the AlleghenyUnited Church of Christ. Mostof the people who come are thepeople who have few, if any,choices of places to go —especially places that have aTV, a toilet, a telephone and agood meal, all without cost tothem. We share our day withpeople who are otherwisewithout shelter.For the past three Christmases,Church Army North Sideshared the festival of the birthof Jesus with the samepopulation. Like you, we havedecorations, a feast andpresents for all.This year we are adding a newelement to our celebration. Weare turning an office into anativity scene! Would you liketo have been one of the peoplethat visited Jesus in His firstdays of life on earth? I wouldhave. With that in mind, we arecreating a “virtual stable”. Wewill have a modern adaptationof the manger scene that wecan walk into and give homageto our Lord. We will providesimple costumes soparticipants can be a shepherd,Mary, Joseph or even go in asthemselves as we visit Jesus asa newborn.You are invited to join us toshare in our celebration inwhatever way you would like— sharing the day with us,helping us to providedecoration, food or presents.And you are most welcome tocome and join our “visit” toJesus in the virtual stable at theAUC Church.For more information, contactCapt. Margaret Collins at:margaretw@churcharmyusa.org22Andrew Robertson and Reed Fleming,Church Army Canada volunteers, helprebuild a porch for the future OxfordHouse in Aliquippa.Aliquippa Caféto Meet Needsat Street LevelBY MARJIE SMITHAs Church Army Capt. John Stanleysurveys the semi-gutted former barand strip joint in Aliquippa that isbeing slowly converted by the sweat ofvolunteer brows into an outreach café, heenvisions transformed lives.The first-level floor was a major task, withvolunteers removing 11 layers of mostlyrotten flooring. And then there was thegarbage to be dealt with: “We took one tonof broken bottles out of the basement, abucket at a time, to be recycled,” he says.There was also the foot of meat in thebottom of a six-foot freezer that had beenleft unrefrigerated for five years. It wasemptied by a teenage girl named Abbeyand Prince of Peace parishioner PaulMorales. It’s pretty indicative of theregeneration project as a whole: bucket bybucket; often dirty and definitely laborintensive.He’s thrilled at the generosity andingenuity of God’s people from around thediocese, the country and even the world.This particular week, he had the help of 13first-year students from Church ArmyCanada’s Taylor College, along with oneof their instructors, Reed Flemming. Theyworked at the café and scraped andpainted the interior as well as building anew porch on the exterior of a house thatis being refurbished as a joint project ofChurch Army USA and the Community ofCelebration. Assisting with the work wereJim and Frankie Ring, as well as MeganGreenwood and fellow students fromQuaker Valley High School.The house undergoing the facelift will beThe Oxford House, part of an internationalproject that offers a place for people whoare recovering from addictions and areTRINITY DECEMBER 2003Aliquippa Café to MeetNeeds at Street Levelserious about furthering their spiritualjourneys. Church Army in Aliquippa hasThe Well, which provides seven 12-stepprograms, and it will have the café, foroutreach. Oxford House will round out theministry.Inside the café, Stanley points out framingfor the bathroom, counseling room andkitchen, and the large expanse that will bethe main café. “The whole idea is that this“The whole idea is that this is alistening room”… Capt. John Stanleyis a listening room,” he says. And therewill be coffee, of course – the libation oflisteners.If people can’t express themselves bytalking, they can do so by drawing,gardening, singing – doing somethingcreative. He waves toward an expansewhere senior students from HopewellHigh School will paint a mural. Manyyoung people come to help, includingstudents and Eagle Scouts from Ambridge.Church youth groups pitch in. Many teamstravel. One came from Michigan.The project depends on these volunteers.And the timing can be amazing. Just as theCanadian team left, a large group fromKen Mawr Presbyterian Church arrived toframe in a stair tower and connect theplumbing for the gutters.Stanley conducts a tour through the upperfloors where there will be administration,training and project space. The attractiveSee CAFÉ , p. 23COMMUNICATIONS PHOTO

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYVisions,Dreams andFinding SupportBY BRUCE SMITH, CHURCH ARMY CANADA DIRECTORLISA FAULKNER PHOTOBreak my heart with the things thatbreak Your heart, O God. Whilethis is always a dangerous prayer topray, it is one our Lord wants to hear.Some of those who have struggled withsuch prayer gathered in Pittsburghrecently to find out how to put legs onthose dreams. They journeyed from GreatBritain and across the United States andCanada to share the burdens God hasshared with them. They came to praytogether, to support one another and tohelp each other strategize toward a meansof making those dreams reality.This was a Church Army gathering ofpioneer evangelists. Each has a call to dowhatever it takes to restore hope incommunities. Most of the evangelists arealready in the thick of ministry, butsupport for their work is always a majorchallenge. Be it serving on First Nationreservations with youth at-risk, plantingchurches in red-light areas or helping tobring back hope into communities,CAFÉ continued from p. 22new windows throughout came from theWorld Vision storehouse. “We got$15,000 worth of windows for $300,” hesays. Downstairs, he shows equalenthusiasm over doors donated by St.Stephen’s, Sewickley. And U.S. Gypsumhas supplied wallboard, while companyelectricians have volunteered to do thewiring. There has been $120,000 in inkinddonations, as well as a $40,000 grantfrom Beaver County to help rebuild thefront of the building.The café, which will be named by thecommunity when it opens, is targeted tobe ready in January as a means ofevangelism, of building and equipping thelocal church. In spite of the fact that thefinding support for such projects can be abit overwhelming.Capt. Steve Brightwell, national directorfor Church Army USA, led in instructingthis gathering in the “how to’s” of raisingpersonal support for ministry. For many ofthe American delegates, this was awelcomed refresher program. ChurchArmy USA ministry was represented fromBranson Missouri, Virginia, SouthDakota and Pennsylvania. Canadianrepresentatives included a youngMohawk evangelist with a deep passionto return to his First Nation reservationwith the hope only Christ can bring.“It’s been great for me,” said Capt.Murray O’Coin, of Tyendenaga NativeReservation in Ontario. “The sooner I canget enough people to help me reach teenswith the good news of Jesus, the sooneryoung people can turn from destructivelifestyles and give Christ a chance. Thistime in Pittsburgh has been reallypractical and inspirational.”ministry has a large labor component atthe moment, worship is incorporated intothe work. “If we are just renovatingbuildings, we could be a buildingcompany, but we arerenovating the hearts ofAliquippa,” he says.John Stanley, his wife Alison, andthree sons Zac, Ben and Luke,were brought, in 2001, by ChurchArmy USA, from Sydney, Australia.They were called to the closedEpiscopal Church in Aliquippa tobuild a base for evangelism. It is afaith ministry. Those wanting to help can reachhim by phone at: (724) 375-7510 or by e-mail at:johnstanley@churcharmyusa.orgCapt. Lisa Faulkner,Church Army USAdevelopmentcoordinator, has beenan important liaison indeveloping thesestories and providingfeedback, as well astaking the groupphoto on this page.“We are all on God’ssupport-raising teamand must shine thelight of ministries likeChurch Armywhenever andwherever so we canhelp hurting people allaround us,” she says.ABOVE:An International group fromAustralia, Canada, the UK and theUS, who attended a special trainingconference at the Martina Centerin Pittsburgh.BELOW:The Church Army Canada team andsome locals who helped inAliquippa.COMMUNICATIONS PHOTO23

LettersTo The EditorJesus’ Healing MinistryGrowingI am writing to commend Trinity for itsarticle last month about the Rev. Dr.Peter Ostrander who recently becamethe new OSL regional warden for thisarea. Not only is Ostrander’s dreamcoming true, but with the growth ofOSL, I think Jesus’ vision for his churchis, in part, coming true too. The healingministry is one of the chief ministriesJesus gave to his disciples. Withmembers of different churches comingtogether as agents of healing to a brokenworld, this is indeed good news!The International Order of St. Luke thePhysician (OSL) has had a presence insouthwestern Pennsylvania for sometime now with a strong participation ofEpiscopalians. Last year, a new chaptercame into being in Oakland, formedinitially by members of Shepherd’sHeart Fellowship and Church of theAscension. About 20 people,representing five different churches (andnot all Episcopalian) came together tostudy Jesus’ acts of healing in theGospels.The Oakland Chapter of OSL has begunto practice what members have beenlearning by conducting monthly publicEucharistic healing services hosted atChurch of the Ascension. OSL chaptermeetings have been a place ofencouragement for ordinary Christiansto learn to pray for healing. For thosewho have been involved in healingprayer ministry for a long time, OSLprovides support and further training.Good resources are available throughOSL, including books, conferences andhealing missions.We are pleased to have Ostrander’sdream come true in our midst anddelighted to be a living part of Jesus’healing ministry here in Oakland.Suzanne PerkinsConvener of the Oakland OSL Chapter24Fundamental DiscrepancyBishop Duncan’s public calls for “Godlyrebukes” directed at members of his ownchurch who happen to disagree with his“religious” views and his declaration ofwar on those same people hardly reflectsthe “merciful, humble, steady andpatient” character he calls for from hisPittsburgh diocese (Trinity, Oct. 2003).Such a fundamental discrepancybetween what he expects of others andwhat he displays in his own actionshardly recommends him for leadershipin what he calls a “Second ProtestantReformation.”William LuneburgSewickley PAAnother Perspective on the wayJesus Would BehaveIn a letter published in your Octoberissue, one Ms. Ferguson expressesdismay that a communication from herdaughter, published “in many differentplaces” appeared in a “newspaper”Trinity containing much that is“judgmental and unlike the way Jesuswould behave.”The writer seems unaware that Jesuscould be very judgmental indeed, andeven express his disapproval in violentaction; his response to thecommercialization of temple offeringswas the overthrow of the moneychangers’tables and the seats of thedove-sellers, and to one individualadulteress he said “go, and sin no more.”He repeatedly condemned adultery ingeneral, using very strong terms (e.g.,Matt. 19:5-9) and in both Mark 10:11-12and Luke 16:18 a man’s putting awayhis wife is branded by Jesus as adultery.Even lust is a form of (pre-)adultery(Matt. 5:28); and fornication isadmissible grounds for divorce (Matt.5:32).Our Lord does not mention a man’sdivorcing his wife to enter a homosexualrelationship, or indeed refer tohomosexuality in general. ThusFerguson is technically correct in statingthat Jesus does not condemnLetters to theTRINITY DECEMBER 2003homosexuality. No more does hecondemn incest, or polygamy, orpederasty or bestiality. These werepossibilities perhaps not unknown, butso abhorrent to first-century Judaismthat there was no need to pronounceagainst them; such practices marked thesurrounding contemporary pagancultures, firmly rejected by the Jews andin relation to which the Jews, as God’schosen people, were notably differentand conscious of their difference. In hisrecorded teachings on sexual moralityJesus was entirely consistent with theJewish scriptures, in which he wassteeped.The writer of the letter rather confusedlysays that “a sin is a sin,” and while thustacitly admitting homosexuality to thecategory of sins refuses to rank them.But then she does. She accuses thebishop of this diocese of showing selfrighteousnessin condemning sexualimmorality; this, inconsistently, sheranks as a graver sin. We should notethat Jesus repeatedly condemned bothbehaviors. Was he self-righteous inholding sexual immorality to beoffensive to God, and in warning peopleagainst yielding to temptation in thisrespect?It is not only the right but the duty ofbishops and all other clergy, acting inloco Christi, to teach those who wish tofollow Christ that there are clearscriptural distinctions between right andwrong in many spheres including that ofsexual behavior.Barbara N. BaurPittsburgh, PALetters to the editor must be signed and mustindicate they are for publication by beingaddressed “The Editor” or “Dear Editor” orby having “For Publication” written at thetop. They must be signed. Letters over 200words may be subject to editing for length.Letters will run only as space allows andmust be in regard to the content of Trinity.This is not a general opinion page. The editoralso reserves the right to withhold letters thatare not clear in their intent, contain errors,or are incendiary or libelous in nature.

DECEMBER 2003 TRINITYCoal Country Hang-outCommunity Youth CenterCoal Country Hang-Out CommunityYouth Center, located in northernCambria County, PA, is trying tomake a difference in the lives oflocal youth in this economicallydepressed area by providing a fullserviceyouth facility. It not onlyvalues, but depends on outsidecontributions for this ministry.Deacon Ann Staples, president of theboard of directors, encouragesEpiscopalians to support thisoutreach this Christmas. It is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt agency. For moreinformation, call (814) 948-8493STONE continued from p. 21limestone and marble, which aredissolved by acids.The darkening of stone walls is oneof the signs of the age of a building,and many people oppose the cleaningof a building as an erasure of thebuilding’s history. However,eventually all stone should becleaned, for several reasons. First,cleaning will restore the originalarchitectural design of the building.Second, it will reveal problems withthe structural integrity of the stonethat can be hidden by dirt. Third, ifrepointing of the stone is needed,cleaning the stone is a necessary firststep in matching the color of themortar to that of the original mortarand to the color of the stone. Stoneshould be cleaned by the gentlestmeans possible. Sometimes thissimply means scrubbing away dirtand grease with detergent andbrushes. Most of the time, though,chemical cleaners are needed, andFLOWERS continued from p. 20patience, you haven’t seen them in anarrangement. She wants people tocare about the flowers in theirchurches. In terms of her business,Duncan arranged wedding flowersout of her home for years beforebecoming a partner in Blossoms andWicks flower shop on Butler Street inLawrenceville. She hasn’t abandonedher music. She substitutes at FoxBishop Henry Scriven and other ecumenical leaders participate in the blessing of thePittsburgh Creche at USX Plaza in downtown Pittsburgh. Sponsored by the Christian LeadersFellowship, it is the world's only authorized replica of the creche erected in front of SaintPeter's Basilica in Rome.these should be chosen with care(avoiding the use of acidic cleanerson limestone, for instance). I’venoticed that many people in this areause the term “sandblasting” to referto cleaning in general. However,stone should never actually beblasted with sand (or even highpressurewater, for that matter). Theouter layer of a stone eventuallybecomes the densest and most waterresistantpart of the stone, as themineral-laden water found in allstones taken from the earth migratesto the surface and evaporates.Blasting will take off this resistantouter layer and make the stone morevulnerable to the infiltration ofrainwater and the weathering effectsof the elements.Stone is the most durable of buildingmaterials. If the mortar joints aremaintained properly, and the stone iscleaned properly, stone walls shouldendure – well, nearly forever.Chapel and has helped out around thediocese behind the organ console andin the choir.Next time you think of Nara Duncanas “the bishop’s wife,” (who marriedher own personal pastor), think of thebishop as “Nara Duncan’s husband,”(who married his own artisticdirector).REDEEMER continued from p. 18renovation nearing completion, thechurch has improved existing spacewhile preserving its Early EnglishGothic character.Redeemer’s first renovation tookplace more than half a centuryearlier. Walter C. Kidney,architectural historian at thePittsburgh History & LandmarksFoundation (PHLF), said E. DonaldRobb of the Boston architecturalfirm Frohman, Robb and Littlebegan renovating the church in1936, some years after taking overthe design of the National Cathedralin Washington from HenryVaughan. The renovation includedrotating the church 90 degrees,setting it on new foundations,encasing it in Gothic limestone andadding a stone bell tower andextensive interior improvements.The stone rectory on DarlingtonStreet, designed by Lamont Button,was erected in 1938.“As Redeemer looks to the future,we are committed to serving Godand keeping the doors of our churchwide open to the community,”Bronson Sweigert said.Johanna Knapschaefer,a member of Redeemerparish, is a freelancewriter in Greenfield.MELANIE CONTZ PHOTO25

CalendarDIOCESANDECEMBER 2003 - JANUARY 2004JANUARY 20041 New Year’s Day (diocesan office closed)3 Diocesan council planning day (9 a.m. –3 p.m.) St. Martin’s, Monroeville6 Nancy Chalfant-Walker priesting (7p.m.) Church of the Redeemer, SquirrelHill7 Ordinands training program (10 a.m. – 3p.m.) Trinity, Washington8 Cathedral Chapter executive committee(4:15 p.m.) Trinity Cathedral10 Cathedral Chapter planning day (9 a.m.– 3 p.m.)11 Bishop Scriven at St. George’s,Waynesburg (confirmation/visitation)13 Clergy Association board meets at St.Andrew’s, Highland Park (12 noon)Commission on racism (4:30 p.m.)Redeemer, Squirrel Hill14 Commission on ministry (3 p.m.)Calvary, East Liberty15 D/7 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)Calvary, East LibertyD/10 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)Trinity, Washington17 Board of trustees planning day (9 a.m. –4 p.m.) Fox Chapel18 Bishop Duncan at St. Peter’s, Uniontown(confirmation/visitation)Bishop Scriven at St. Peter’s, Brentwood(confirmation/visitation)Deborah Carr priesting (4 p.m.) St.David’s, Venetia19 Martin Luther King Day (diocesan officeclosed)Standing Committee meets at DiocesanOffice (4:15 p.m.)20 D/1 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)Prince of Peace, HopewellD/5 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)Grace, Mt. Washington21 Paul Rodgers priesting (7 p.m.) TrinityChurch, Tariffville, CT22 D/8 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)St. Martin’s, Monroeville2622 D/4 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)St. Peter’s, BlairsvilleCathedral Chapter (5:15 p.m.) TrinityCathedral24 Bishop Duncan at St. Paul’s Kittanning(5 p.m.)25 Bishop Duncan at St. Paul’s, Kittanning(confirmation/visitation)25 Bishop Scriven at St. Barnabas,Brackenridge (confirmation/visitation)26-27 Christian Associates Council retreat –Greensburg27 D/3 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)St. Barnabas, BrackenridgeD/2 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)St. Brendan’s, Franklin Park28 Jonathan Millard installation (7 p.m.)Ascension, Oakland31 Deacon’s convocation (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)Location not yet determinedFEBRUARY 20041 Bishop Duncan at Church of theAtonement, Carnegie(confirmation/visitation)Bishop Scriven at Christ Church, Indiana(confirmation/visitation)3 Diocesan Council meets at Trinity House(6 p.m.)4 Bishop Duncan at Christian leadersbreakfast (7 a.m.)ECW board meets at Trinity House (9a.m.)Ordinands training program (10 a.m. – 3p.m.) St. Stephen’s, Sewickley5 Cathedral Chapter executive committee(4:15 p.m.) Trinity Cathedral7 Absalom Jones Laity Day (10 a.m.)Trinity Cathedral8 Bishop Duncan at Church of the Savior,Ambridge (confirmation/visitation)Bishop Scriven at St. Philip’s, MoonTwp. (confirmation/visitation)10 Bi-vocational clergy fellowship (7 a.m.)TESMClergy Association board meets at St.Andrew’s, Highland Park (12 noon)Board of trustees meets (12 noon)Trinity CathedralCommission on racism (4:30 p.m.)Redeemer, Squirrel Hill11 Commission on ministry (3 p.m.)Calvary, East Liberty12 D/7 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)Calvary, East LibertyD/10 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)Trinity, Washington15 Bishop Duncan at Christ Church, NewBrighton (confirmation/visitation)Bishop Scriven at St. Thomas,Canonsburg (confirmation/visitation)16 President’s Day (diocesan office closed)Standing Committee meets at DiocesanOffice (4:15 p.m.)17 D/1 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)Prince of Peace, HopewellD/5 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)Grace, Mt. Washington19 D/8 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)St. Martin’s, MonroevilleD/4 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)St. Peter’s, Blairsville19-22 Cursillo men’s weekend at LigonierCamp and Conference Center22 Bishop Duncan at all Soul’s, NorthVersailles (confirmation/visitation)Bishop Scriven at St. David’s, Peter’sTwp. (confirmation/visitation)Bishop Duncan men’s Cursillo closing (3p.m.) Ligonier Camp and ConferenceCenter24 D/3 clergy fellowship (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)St. Barnabas, BrackenridgeD/2 clergy fellowship (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)St. Brendan’s, Franklin Park25 Ash WednesdayBishop Duncan at Trinity Cathedral (12noon)Bishop Duncan at Canterbury Place (4p.m.)26 Cathedral Chapter (5:15 p.m.) TrinityCathedral29 Bishop Duncan at Church of theTransfiguration, Clairton(confirmation/visitation)Bishop Scriven at All Saints’, BrightonHeights (confirmation/visitation)

My MotherI remember a sermon once in which the preacher said he could not talk aboutGod as father because he had a very bad relationship with his own father. Ihave my opinion about that , but don’t get me going! Instead I want to thinkabout mothers and Mary, the mother of Jesus.My mother is still alive and in a home, aged 86. She was trained as a doctorduring World War II and was delivering babies as the German bombs fell onManchester. She has a firm, down-to-earth faith and has always insisted thather children be independent and free to pursue their callings. So, nocomplaints when we took her granddaughter, aged six months, to Argentinaand she did not see us again for four years. No complaints when we chose toleave again and live in Spain for 11 years; her home was always availablewhenever we returned; we could stay as long as we wanted. No complaintsrecently when we left again to come here. Also, no complaints or regrets whenshe moved to her care facility; the house was packed up and the thingsdistributed or sold. She is genuinely happy with whatever she has, anddoesn’t miss all the things that she lived with for years. I call that a work ofGod and I pray that I might be like that when my time comes.“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to yourword.” That was what Mary said, and that is how we are called to imitate her.Mary had no idea of the implications for the future – no goals or game plan,no assurance that everything would be OK. It wasn’t for her. And yet sheaccepted with a humble graciousness the work that God was about to do inher.This Christmas many of us are facing uncertainty and pain. It could bepersonal, family, or the whole business with our family, the church. We don’tknow what lies ahead. But we can accept what God sends and not complain;we can pray for the Holy Spirit to fill and direct us as he worked in Mary andas he works in my mom.My wife’s cousin always says, ‘we don’tgrow old, we just get more so.’ My motheris now ‘more so’ what she has cultivatedBishop Scrivenwashing dishes atShepherd's Heart.through her life. I need to be cultivating agracious character so that when I am oldand forgetful, I might be ‘more so.’Happy ChristmasBY THE RT. REV.HENRY SCRIVEN,ASSISTANTBISHOP OFPITTSBURGHSCRIVEN’SSCRIBBLINGSDAVID SADD PHOTO27

High BrowSupportBishop Robert Duncan was greetedby a blend of 22 young people fromdifferent churches as he left St.Stephen’s Church following thefinal Eucharist at convention.Wearing Bishop Duncan eyebrows,the youth greeted him singing,“Open the Eyes of My Heart.” Theywere gathered together by e-mail,by Micah Chaney of Seeds of Hopechurch plant, who said, “We did itbecause everything we learn inchurch is countered in culture.Because the bishop supports us inthe way he does, we wanted to showour appreciation for him.”DON COX PHOTOTRINITYOfficial publication of theEpiscopal Diocese of PittsburghPOSTMASTERSEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO:900 Oliver Bldg.535 Smithfield St.Pittsburgh PA 15222-2467phone: (412) 281-6131fax: (412) 471-5591editor@telerama.comwww.pgh.anglican.orgNONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDPITTSBURGH,PAPERMIT NO. 529Printed on recycled paper