Feburary 2007

	Emmanuel Christian Church News February 2008
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Elementary (K-grade 5); Leviathan (grades 6-8); 4Twelve (grades 9-12)

Didn’t know what an orzo was, when I ordered it, but a friend said the soup was good, so I thought I’d give it a try.

Turns out the soup WAS good. Spicy, Tomato-y. Served with a big slice of wholemeal bread, toasted and cut up into four chunky strips. Perfect for dunking!

Turns out that orzo is a tiny rice-shaped pasta made of semolina (or so says Wikipedia). But along with the bread, it made the soup really filling. A proper meal. And only $3.48.

Tilapia’s a fish. I knew that much. It was breaded and baked. And beautiful. Same with the Mac & Cheese. Not as good as my mom’s (what Mac and Cheese is?), but still very tasty. And the greens were tender and shot through with porky goodness.

Nikki, the owner, told us they cook five times a day. Everything is homemade. They even do tuna noodle casserole. And you can’t get more homemade than that! And for those of you who used to stuff yourselves at The Plates in Bellevue, there is an added bonus: Big George is one of their chefs. And they serve Bread Pudding.

The Café ‘n’ Creamery, located at 2700 Shadeland Avenue, right across the bridge. The former Homeplate Bar. It features gelato and gourmet coffee. The New Hope Church is running it. It opened on Martin Luther King Day. And if you aren’t familiar with gelato (amazing Italian ice cream – that’s not Wikipedia, that’s me), you owe yourself a trip.

Well, they’re on the Northside of Pittsburgh – some right down the street from us. They’re run by people who like Jesus. And they all have this idea that food and community and neighborhood somehow belong together. Which is kind of a Jesus thing, too. I mean, he was always eating, wasn’t he? At least that’s how it seems when you read the Bible. I know we have this picture of a thin, almost emaciated figure, but given the calories he was constantly packing away, Jesus should have been as big as a house. And who knows, maybe he was. Less Robert Powell. More Robert Morley (can you believe there’s a Wikipedia entry for ‘obese actors’?)

Whatever his waistline was, Jesus knew something. He knew that when you got people around a table, you got to know them. And when you got to know them, you were no longer suspicious of them, or envious of them, or afraid of them, or a stranger to them. He knew that tables make friends. That coffee cups and counters make community.

That’s what the folks who run these eateries know, too. And that might be the reason I’m writing this article. To encourage you to support them because of what they are doing for the community in which some of us live and all of us serve.

It might be the reason, but it isn’t. I’m far too focused on my taste buds for that. I think you should slurp some soup and drink coffee at The Vault, eat bread pudding at Bistro To Go, and lick gelato at The Café ‘n’ Creamery, because what they serve is among the best fare you will find anywhere in this city.

And if, as you bow your head to give thanks for those tasty little orzos or that homemade tuna noodle casserole, you want to thank God for what they’re doing for our community as well, then God bless you, too.

Spring is just around the corner (hopefully) and that means that Easter is not far behind. The Emmanuel Family’s Cup of Cold Water will be in full force collecting candy to fill 100+ Easter baskets for the day school children at Holy Family Institute*. Please place all donations in the big basket located in the back of the Sanctuary during February. We will be filling the baskets on Sunday, March 9^th at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and delivering the baskets to Holy Family on Monday, March 10^th at 2:30 p.m. Please keep this project and all the children and employees at Holy Family in your prayers. *Holy Family Institute was founded in 1900 by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Today, Holy Family touches the lives of more than 5,500 children and 6,000 families in need each year with a comprehensive network of care that provides programs and services in a nurturing and caring environment.

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

A February Sweetheart Senior Luncheon will take place on Monday, February 4^th at 11:30 a.m. If you are 50 or over, come join us for Soup, Rolls and Dessert . . . along with a bit of friendly fellowship – all Free! Please see Donna Ford or Peg Hartman if you can lend a hand in any way.

Mark your calendars and plan to be at Emmanuel on Saturday, February 9^th at 6:30 p.m. for our Valentine’s Dinner. You and your sweetie will be treated to a romantic dinner and a night of fun and games, all for only $15 per couple. Still single? You can join in the fun as well as get a good meal for $7.50. Questions? Please see or call Tim or Lisa Lego.

What does the Education Ministry do? Well, we oversee Sunday School, special Sunday School programs (such as a Christmas or Easter one), teacher training (for Sunday School classes and for home groups), and Vacation Bible School. As part of our beginning of the year fresh starts, I’d like to have a brain storming session about the Education Ministry and see what else we could be involved in or how differently we could do some things we’re already currently overseeing. If you’d like to be part of our ministry and that session, please contact me by February 10^th at susanhartman2@hotmail.com or leave a message at home at 412-766-0962. I’d like to know what evenings you are free, as that’s pretty much when the meetings would have to be – not Thursdays as I lead a home group on that night. Thanks for considering this need.

The ECC Book Club is beginning once again! The first book to be read in its entirety is “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller before our first get together on Tuesday, February 19^th at 6:30 p.m. at The Vault Coffee & Tea Bar. Bob Hartman is heading up the discussion and sends along the following:

1. What do you think of Don’s attitude to ‘church’? Do you agree or disagree with how he feels? Do you think a lot of people feel that way? Why?

4. Identify one idea you found in the book that might change how we do things as a church at Emmanuel?

5. If you wrote a book about your experience as a Christian, what would you call it?

The Leviathan CIY “Believe” Weekend is coming up – Feburary 15^th-16^th in Cincinnati, Ohio. Please keep our young people and sponsors in your prayers.

The Brighton Heights Athletic Association 2008 Registration Session will take place on Saturday, February 2^nd from noon to 4:00 p.m. at ECC. Call 412-513-7087 for additional information.

Urgent Need . . . His Place is currently collecting warm hats and gloves for homeless men and women. If you would like to help with this, please place all donations in the back of church. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Robbins.

The His Place Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, February 23^rd at 6:00 p.m. 2008 marks the 35^th year of this ministry. Come and hear updates on how God is blessing His Place and exciting plans for the New Year. Dinner will be provided. Please rsvp to Debe Weiss at debe@hisplace.org

Here is some important information about the His Place Newsletter: In order to lower expenses and be better stewards, His Place has decided to switch to an e-mail newsletter. You can e-mail Jamie@hisplacecc.org to sign up. If you do not have e-mail access, call Jamie at 412-969-9674 and leave a voicemail with your name and address and they will continue to mail you a newsletter.

One of the missions our church supports is ACM International – Howard & June Crowl in Nairobi, Kenya. Here is the latest letter received from the Crowls dated January, 2008:

Where will it all end? A friend of ours expressed it this way, “Peace, where have you gone?” Just a week ago we were living in peaceful Kenya. Even during the presidential elections held on December 27^th there was peace. Then two days later when the results were announced there was an instant outbreak of violence as many people felt that the election was rigged. It was a very close election – the closest in the history of the nation. Because one party thought they were ahead only to learn that they lost resulted in their rejecting the outcome and called for their supporters to form a rally in protest. The result was that houses were burnt, shops looted, and people killed because their looks or their name indicated that they were of a different tribe. A church was burnt down with refugees of riot areas taking shelter inside the building. Between 40-50 people were burnt to death.

Now a week later there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Desmond Tutu, Nobel peace prize winner and archbishop of the South African Anglican Church arrived to hold peace talks and presidents of surrounding countries are offering to come to try to settle the dispute by mediation. The landlocked countries of central Africa depend on Kenya for their imports and oil, etc. It is to their best interest that Kenya does not break apart. Unfortunately, enemy tribes are taking advantage of the turmoil in the country and are beginning what seems like an ethnic cleansing. This is not good.

The Red Cross has been taking food and other items into the villages which have been hit the hardest for people are starving and have lost all they owned through raids and fighting. In spite of all that is taking place in Kenya, God has been faithful and has kept us and the boys in our care safe. We live in an area with relative calm. Thank the Lord. Please, please pray for Kenya and the safety of innocent people.

Because Life Is Priceless . . . a friendly reminder to please keep filling up your bottles for the Pregnancy Care Centers’ Baby Bottle Campaign. There are plenty of bottles still available in the Sanctuary in case you did not get one yet. All bottles are due back to church on Sunday, February 24^th. The Pregnancy Care Centers reach thousand each year who need: pregnancy testing, medical services, limited obstetrical ultrasound and pregnancy confirmation, referrals for adoption, medical and social services, support groups, post abortion support, maternity clothing, baby clothing and furnishings, chastity counseling, evangelistic outreach, education and community resources. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Thanks so much to everyone who signed up to be a part of our Church Rotation. Please note that if you are unable to serve on your scheduled Sunday, you must contact someone else in the rotation to be your substitute or to switch with you. Thank you for serving.

First-Time Visitors…Our Gift Of Thanks To You … As a thank you for visiting with us at Emmanuel Christian Church, we will send you a card for a free 12 oz. drink from The Vault, a coffee and tea bar in Brighton Heights at 3619 California Avenue. This offer is being made to all first-time visitors to our Sunday services who give us their contact information. Even if you’re not a first time visitor, The Vault is a great place to stop any time. The hours are Monday-Saturday, 7 am-8 pm.

Be Environmentally Responsible! Our church is partnering with Abitibi Consolidated, the world’s largest newspaper manufacturer and world’s largest newspaper recycler. A bright green and yellow paper retriever bin is located in our church parking lot. Here is a list of what is acceptable to put in the bin:

Newspaper, Magazines, Catalogs, Mail, Envelopes, Folders, Fax and Copy Paper, Colored Paper, Shredded Paper. Please, no phone books or cardboard, plastic, glass, metals, trash.

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him.”

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