At Prayer in West Virginia

Scenes from a student-led prayer service on Wednesday evening during the mission trip.

Thanks to Jamie Dillon for the pics!

Appalachia 2015 Begins!

Here are some pictures from packing the vans on Saturday, June 20.

 And some from the departure on Sunday morning!

Youth Ministry Leadership on the Move!

     Our Youth Ministry leadership team went pedaling around Pittsburgh together on June 9!

Vacation Bible School 2015

     More than 90 young students, teenage helpers, adult volunteers, and staff members participated in Vacation Bible School from June 8-12.  Young people aged 5 to 9 years participated in games, crafts, and other activities to introduce them to stories from the Bible. 

Hungry hippos game recalls Noah and the ark.

Making crafts in Crafts!

Becoming fishers of men

Special thanks to Jamie Dillon and Meredith Troyan of our religious education staff for their planning and leadership of the event!

Trappist Ales Event

     About forty parish members and guests gathered on June 4 for “Tapping Our Monastic Heritage.”  After an opening prayer, the group heard a brief overview of the tradition of monastic brewing from Brian Balonick of our parish. The Trappists are an offshoot of the Cistercian religious order, itself an offshoot of the Benedictine order begun by St. Scholastica's brother, St. Benedict.  In the Middle Ages, Cistercian monasteries were started in many unsettled areas of Europe, and they brought large tracts of European land under cultivation.  As water supplies were not always healthy, monasteries usually made wine or, in more northern areas of Europe, brewed beer.  We sampled eight ales brewed by Trappists in Europe or in the United States.  The lineup appears in the picture below.

The ales along with guest barkeep Chuck Wallander (left) and speaker (and pourer) Brian Balonick (right).

Meeting people and sampling beers.

     After sampling the ales, we tried another legacy of monasticism-- lectio divina, the prayerful reading of the Scriptures. Led by staff member Andrew Bechman, the group reflected on a passage from Isaiah about God's generous promises, and looked for a message in the passage for each of us.

Waiting for the next round!

     Many participants commented on how they enjoyed meeting people they had not known before.  “It was fun to have a cross section of people,” one said.  Another noted that it “was very interesting to hear the historical background and religious connection of an enjoyable item.”  “The beer tasting was very interesting and educational,” another participant wrote, “but the prayers were better!”

         Thanks to all who took part, and extra thanks to those whose generous donations covered the costs of the event!