Ministry Partnership - Pine Springs Camp

Lenten Offering...

Our partnership with Pine Springs Camp continues to be a vital component of our Mission Ministry. This year we will be accepting contributions, through May 2, to Pine Springs as our Lenten offering. The offering is designed to provide financial support for one camp counselor for the entire summer season. Envelopes for this offering can be found on the tables in Laird Hall and the Narthex. Please write “Lenten Offering” on the check memo line.

Sunday School

Sunday Mornings

Beginning April 11, 2021

9:45 a.m.

Church Conference Room

Since Eugene Peterson first wrote this spiritual formation classic nearly forty years ago, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been inspired by its call to deeper discipleship. As a society, we are still obsessed with the immediate; new technologies have only intensified our quest for the quick fix. But Peterson's time-tested prescription for discipleship remains the same—a long obedience in the same direction. Following Jesus in this way requires a deepening life of prayer, and throughout history Christians have learned to pray from the Psalms. Peterson finds encouragement for today's pilgrims in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), sung by travelers on their way to worship in Jerusalem. With his prophetic and pastoral wisdom, Peterson shows how the psalms teach us to grow in worship, service, joy, work, happiness, humility, community, and blessing.

What's Happening:

April 1, 2021

Sunday Morning Worship

We continue to offer in-person worship at our regular service times (8:30 a.m. in Laird Hall and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary), while exercising physical distancing and wearing masks. Praise be to God!

In recognition and support of those who are worshipping from home, we will continue to offer online worship on our Church website and YouTube.

Music Ministry

Our Chancel Choir has resumed rehearsals every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Our hand bell choir meets every Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Communion

We will share communion next on Thursday, April 1, 2021 during our in-person Maundy Thursday worship service at 7:30 p.m.

Communion will also be served on Easter Sunday when we share a Communion Prayer Service between the two morning worship services at 10:00 a.m.

Murrysville Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels has continued to operate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. We are committed to meeting the needs of our area Seniors, therefore we are dedicated to continuing Meals on Wheels. We are working together with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to meet whatever standards are necessary to clean and disinfect our facility and provide for proper meal preparation and service. However, many of our current volunteers are in a high-risk category to contract the Coronavirus, and are not able to serve at this time. We need more volunteers to operate this ministry. Please contact us through Church email (firstpresbymurrysville@gmail.com), telephone (724-327-0728), Facebook, or this website if you can help.

Partnerships

Outside groups and activities that take place in our Church facilities have returned and are following the Church guidelines for safety as outlined by the CDC. These partnerships include Alcoholics Anonymous, Chess Club, Electric Car Club, ICAN, Moms in Prayer, Girl Scouts, and the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit. If you are in doubt about a regularly scheduled event, please contact the event leader, or the Church office at 724-327-0728.

Counseling Partnership Services

Essential individual counseling services conducted by The Blackburn Center and our contracted professional counselors are continuing at the Main Church Building.

FaceBook and YouTube

We will be posting information contained on this website to the Church Facebook and YouTube pages. Both are accessible from our home page.

Email

If you are on our email contact list, you will be receiving regular updates regarding church news in your email. This will generally be through a link to the Home Page, with updated highlights.

Office Hours

Staff has returned to intermittent, on-site working hours. It is recommended that you make an appointment if visiting the office so that we can minimize the amount of person-to-person contact at one time.

Deacons are Available

Our Deacons are one of our greatest treasures, and yours is likely keeping in touch with you during the COVID crisis. They are available to not only talk to you – but to listen. If you have a need, please share this with your Deacon.

Contact Us

If you are not on our regular email list and would like to be included, please provide your information in our Contact Us. We will include you in our efforts.

COVID-19 Update

We are committed to observing current State approved guidelines regarding the Coronavirus, including:

requesting that all persons in attendance be free of illness and illness-related symptoms;
limiting number of persons in attendance for gatherings;
requesting all persons wear face masks upon entering and exiting the building, in commonly used areas, and when it is not possible to social- distance six feet, or more;
providing hand sanitizers throughout all buildings;
disinfecting tables, chairs, and rooms after each use.

For a complete and detailed description of the efforts to maintain a safe and germ-free environment, please contact the Church office.

There is a place for you here.

Cast your worries and anxiety on the Lord, because God cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Have you ever wondered where you belong? Longed for a place to be welcomed for who you are? Searched for comfort and peace away from the storms of life? Desired to be lifted from the challenges of this world to experience the joy of life to its fullest?

We invite you experience the love of our Lord Jesus Christ in the vibrant worship and ministry here at First Presbyterian Church of Murrysville. Join in the renewal of God’s Holy Spirit as we build on established relationships in our community, develop exciting new partnerships, and create new opportunities to share the love and grace of our Lord.

Explore our website, visit our campus, and meet our people.

This is a place to grow. This is a place to feel loved. This is a place to know the Grace of God.

Rev. Edward Gray

PASTOR

Bio

Reverend Ed Gray came to First Presbyterian Church of Murrysville in October of 2017. He is a Pittsburgh native and attended Duquesne University before graduating from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1986 with a Masters of Divinity, subsequently serving congregations in both western Pennsylvania and Florida. In addition to solo pastoral, primary preaching and leadership responsibilities at First Presby, he is an active member of the church choir and frequent soloist in its expansive music ministry. Ed has also been an active participant through the years in the governance of the Presbyterian Church USA, serving in roles with local Presbytery, Synod and the General Assembly.

Ed and his wife of 31 years Karen have two sons, Eddie, a law enforcement professional in Pittsburgh and Aaron, a student at Waynesburg University. Among his many active community roles is sports officiation for a variety of school and local athletic organization programs.

Ruth Poscich

MUSIC DIRECTOR & ORGANIST

Bio

Ruth Poscich, a member of First Presbyterian Church, has been Director of Music and Organist since September 2001. She plays organ and piano for the Sunday morning services, directs the Chancel Choir, the Joy Ringers handbell Choir, and leads the children in music on special occasions. She also coordinates and directs various groups of instrumentalists who play for worship services on a regular basis. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has been a lifelong church musician. She is retired from a 30-plus-year career as an official court reporter. Most recently, Ruth conceptualized, and directs the Murrysville Cantata Choir, a community choir that offers Lenten and Patriotic Thanksgiving concerts during the year.

Lori Livingston

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Bio

Lori has been the Administrative Assistant since August 2013. She offers assistance to the Pastor, as well as the various Church committees. She plays handbells in two Church choirs, and values her daily interaction with members of the church, as well as members of the community.

Lori is a native of Southern California, and moved to Pennsylvania 20 years ago. She resides in Murrysville with her husband and two daughters. She is active in the community as a volunteer at her church and the Franklin Regional School District.

Carol Ludovici

NURSERY STAFF

Bio

Tom Johnson

CHURCH SEXTON

Bio

Tom Johnson was born in Wilkinsburg, grew up in Penn Hills, and served in the Army in the Viet Nam era. He lives in North Apollo with his lovely wife, Sherry. He has three children (all of whom were baptized here at First Presbyterian Church), and eight grandchildren. Tom is a firearms enthusiast, and loves to bake cheesecakes for his friends (rarely keeping any for himself). In addition to being the Church Sexton, Tom also volunteers at many of the Church's events and functions.

Ministry Partnership - Pine Springs Camp

Sunday School