May 1, 2013 10 min read

Christ United Methodist Church, Bethel Park, will offer the Walk a Mile in Their Shoes Poverty Simulation from 12:30-4 p.m. May 4. Sponsored and facilitated by the Poverty team of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, this workshop will help people get a better understanding of the challenges facing low-income families.

Appropriate for high- school-age through adult, this interactive program includes role-playing where each person is assigned a profile of someone whose family is living in poverty. Throughout the simulation, each person will be faced with choices about how they will make ends meet based on the circumstances they are given. A debriefing will follow where participants can discuss what they experienced and how they will move forward.

The program is designed to overcome stereotypes such as “they should just get a job” and “their choices got them into this situation” that do not reflect the majority of real-life circumstances of people living in poverty. This program will be an eyeopener and raise awareness and understanding.

Preregistration is required. Contact Jeanna-Mar Simmons at 412-835-6621 ext. 109 or jmsimmons@christumc.net.

Bethel Presbyterian Church, Bethel Park, sponsors adult classes as follows:

• Glimpses of History and The Case for a Creator, both at 9 a.m.

• Women’s Vineyard: What Happens When Women Say Yes to God? and Digging Deeper Vineyard at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

• Men’s Vineyard: What is the Intersection Between our Faith and our Identity as Men?, 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

For more information, call 412-835-0405.

South Hills Assembly, Bethel Park, plans the following events:

• Soaring Eagles prayer group for men and women will meet at 6:30 p.m. May 2.

• CommuniTea, women of all ages, 9:30 a.m. May 3. Theme is “Hope Arising.”

• Care for Caregivers Alzheimer’s support group, will be held at 10 a.m. May 4.

• Miracle Healing Service, 7 p.m. May 6. Bring the sick and afflicted.

• People are God’s Most Prized Possession adult Bible teaching at 7 p.m. May 7.

Young adults from St. Benedict the Abbot Church, McMurray, will host a one-day Catholic retreat “Who do you say I am?” from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. May 4 for teens, including a parent session starting at 4 p.m.

The retreat will focus on the relationship teens have with Jesus and how to live for Christ in a counter culture way. Speakers for the day include high school teacher and coach Gary Goga, Father Joe Freedy and Father Scott Seethaler. Teens will have the opportunity to attend Mass as well as confession throughout the course of the day. They will be provided with a T-shirt, lunch, dinner and a glow stick dance to end the evening. There is a preregistration fee of $20 for teens and $10 for adults. Walk-ins on the day of the retreat will be charged $25. Students may join the event any time during the day.

The parent/adult session at 4 p.m. will include a joint Mass and dinner. Fr. Scott will speak to adults on Catholic issues in the media and joy and hope for the future.

To register or for more information, contact Alyssa Simmons at alyssa.simmons1@gmail.com or Janet Roberto at 724-941-9587 ext 112.

St. Benedict the Abbot Church, McMurray, will hold Eucharistic Adoration from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. May 2.

Our Lady of Grace Church, Scott Twp., offers “Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer” from 7:30-9 p.m. in Keefer Hall, May 9-June 27. Cost is $20 per person.

To register, call 412-279-7070.

Bethany Presbyterian Church, Bridgeville, will hold a program, “My New Life” presented by Dr. John Mazzola at 10 a.m. May 4 and 11. Learn steps to get rid of fears of rejection, failure and commitment.

Question and answer period, discussion groups and refreshments are included. For more information, call 412-600-0518.

The Bethel Park National Day of Prayer celebration will be held at 7 p.m. May 2 at the Bethel Park Community Center.

Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church, Green Tree, will sponsor its third Scripture and Arts Exhibit May 10-19. Opening night is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday which includes a juror’s critique at 7:30 p.m. Viewing will continue 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the remaining days. Artists are from western Pennsylvania. For more information, call 412-561-2431.

Peters Creek Presbyterian Church, Venetia, will host “Need a Friend? Learn How to Be a Good One” on May 12. How did we get too busy to have good friends? If you are longing for deeper friendships, learn what true friendships are and how to make the ones you have better.

• Strawberry Festival from 6-8:30 p.m. May 31. Enjoy fried chicken, roast beef, sides and strawberry shortcake. There will be games for kids and a theme basket drawing. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $5 for children. Cost of dessert only is $4. For tickets at 724-941-6210.

• A Men’s Breakfast will take place at 9 a.m. May 11 at the church. Men of the community are invited for food and fellowship. Call 724-941-6210 for details.

• Services are held at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

For more,visit www.peterscreekchurch.org.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, McMurray, will welcome the Char Val Singers at 7 p.m. May 4.

Donation to Spring Sing is $8.

The church is located at 105 Gateshead Drive.

Rev. Miro Stelmaszczyk will be honored with a luncheon on May 11 at the Doubletree Hotel, Green Tree, by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the nationally known Kosciuszko Foundation. Rev. Miro will be presented with the Outstanding Polonian Award.

In 1985 he arrived in Pittsburgh and was mentored by Rev. Zigmunt Szarnicki at St. Ignatius Church Carnegie. Rev. Miro was assistant pastor at Holy Child Church in Bridgeville in 1998. Born in Poland and fluent in several languages. Rev. Miro currently serves at Holy Family Church in Creighton, Pa. His parish bake sales and Lenten fish fries with a Polish touch are well known. He can also be seen at the annual Polish Day celebration at Kennywood Park making potato pancakes and Polish pickles.

For tickets at $35 each, contact John Bartus, president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation, at 412-884-3378.

Chabad of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon, will hold its Seventh Annual Women’s Spring Dinner at 6 p.m. May 28.

Guest speaker Mrs. Chani Baron, co-director of Chabad of Howard County, Maryland, will speak about “The Makeup of a Jewish Home-The many shades and colors of our role.” There will also be a hands-on presentation with a personal trainer and beautiful harp music.

Enjoy a dairy dinner, wine and cheese, auctions, raffles and a dessert table.

Cost is $36/person and $18/seniors and students. Register online at www.chabadsh.com or call Batya at 412-344-2424.

Baldwin United Methodist Church will offer a three-day trip to Allenberry & Gettysburg Sept. 26-28.

Enjoy the first day/night at the Allenberry Resort with buffet dinner and “Patsy Cline” at the Allenberry Theater. Day two features a trip to Gettysburg to tour the Museum, Film and Cyclorama at the Gettysburg Visitors Center.

Later, take a guided Battlefield Tour before checking into the Country Inn and Suites and a Colonial dinner at the Fairfield Inn. Day three includes a tour of Eisenhower Farm and lunch at Dobbin House. Depart Gettysburg with a stop at Round Barn in Biglerville for shopping.

Cost is $531 single occupancy, $435/double and $376 triple and includes transportation, lodging, meals and all stops listed, baggage handling, taxes, guide, meal and driver gratuity.

A $100 deposit per person is required. Final payment due by Aug. 20.

For cancellation/refund or other information, call Elaine Lewis at 412-885-4560.

Chabad of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon, will offer Curious Tales of the Talmud, a new six-week course from the Rohr Jewish Learning that will give insight to recognize the pervading goodness within everything, courage to navigate life’s most rugged moments, and an appreciation of the Jewish literary heritage.

The course will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through May 29 or 10:15 a.m. Sundays through May 26.

For registration and course-related information, call 412-344-2424 or visit www.chabadsh.com.

The Bible Chapel, McMurray, plans the following events:

• Sermon Series – Fear: What Are You Afraid Of?, through June 30. Explore what scripture has to say about fear.

• The Men’s Ministry will hold a Ride for the Wreaths on June 8. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. followed by the departure at 11. The ride will begin at Steel City Harley Davidson, 375 Washington Road, Washington, and runs approximately 45 miles long. Donuts, coffee and bottled water will be available before the ride. There will be a single stopover for a brief ceremony at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies before concluding at The Bible Chapel for lunch and entertainment. Donation is $20/rider or $25/pair.

For more information, visit www.biblechapel.org.

Peters Creek Baptist Church, South Park, will offer the following:

• Men’s Bible study, 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. The topic is “Battling Unbelief.”

• Women’s Evening Bible Study, 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Exploring the book “Beloved Disciple.”

• Women’s Daytime Bible Study, 9:30-11 a.m. on Tuesdays. Exploring the book “James: Mercy Triumphs.”

• Wednesday groups for all ages begin with dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• GriefShare classes, 10-11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

For more information, call 412-833-6111.

Legacy Baptist Church, Canonsburg, holds Sunday services at 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

• Choir practice starts at 10:10 a.m.; Sunday school starts at 10:30 a.m.; Bible study is held at 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, call 724-621-6785 or visit www.legacybaptistchurch.us.

Hamilton Presbyterian Church, Bethel Park, offers weekly contemporary service 6 p.m. Saturdays. Music will feature a three-four piece band led by Tom Coyne and supported by local vocalists. A message will be presented by the Rev. Lance Chapman.

• Adult classes begin at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Topics include anger management, divorce care, marriage enrichment and healing is a choice.

• GriefShare, 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. Thursdays. Cost is $15.

• The Hamilton Youth Group, “The God Squad,” is open to all teens. The group meets from 6:30-8 p.m. Sundays, September-May. Adult leadership is needed.

For more information, call 412-884-2722.

The Bridgeville Ministerium will sponsor a prayer breakfast from 7-8 a.m. on National Day of Prayer, May 2, at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Bridgeville.

Congressional Representative and Guest of Honor Tim Murphy will present the opening address, then prayers for the community, the Commonwealth and the country will be offered by local pastors and ministers from the churches that comprise the Bridgeville Ministerium.

A light breakfast and time for fellowship will follow.

The event is free.

For more information, contact Pastor Bryan Thiessen at 412-956-1910.

Emmanuel United Presbyterian Church, Eighty-Four will hold a Mother-Daughter-Friend Banquet at 6 p.m. May 9.

Cost is $11 per person. Call Lila at 724-377-1382 to make reservations.

St. Thomas More Church, Bethel Park, will hold a baccalaureate Mass for all 2013 high school seniors at 11:30 a.m. May 19. A reception will follow in the Family Life Center. Call Kelly Spadoni at 412-969-8374 to RSVP.