January 2024 Newsletter
Local MLK Day events
MLK Prayer Breakfast and Program - Monday, January 15 from 7:30am-10am at Bethel AME (2720 Webster Ave, Pittsburgh). The Prayer Breakfast commemorates the life of Dr. King and his contributions to changes in law and social justice. The event will feature a buffet-styled breakfast, followed immediately by an ecumenical church service and recognition program. Debbie Norrell of the Soul Pitt will emcee the event. If you can't attend in-person, the event will be livestreamed here. No pre-registration is required, and the event is open to the public. Non-perishable food items will be collected on-site to help stock the Bethel AME Church community food pantry.
Wilkinsburg Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Peace - Monday, January 15, 1pm at the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg (748 Wallace Ave., Wilkinsburg). The Prayer Vigil will be followed by a reception and networking. Livestream available here.
Other Pittsburgh region events taking place throughout the weekend can be found here.
Installation of Pastor Jin Kyung Ko
Your prayers and presence are requested on Sunday, January 14 at 4pm at St. Matthew, Crafton as Pastor Jin Kyung Ko is installed as pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and Crafton United Presbyterian Church. For clergy who wish to vest and process, the color of the day is red. A reception will follow.
Book Discussion Group
All women are invited to join the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden and the "Good Women, Better World" book club for a discussion of The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day on Thursday evenings at 7pm on January 18, February 8 & 29, March 21 at Trace Brewing in Bloomfield. The cost is $25. Find more information here.
Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit
The Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit will be held January 19-20 at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The theme is “From Othering to Bridging: Reconnecting for Social Change”. The goal of the event is to engage and empower the entire community present in discussions about how to build connections and coalitions across differences to collectively work toward racial justice in Pittsburgh and beyond. Find registration information here.
SWPA Synod MLK Event - April 7, 2024
Join us on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at House of Prayer Lutheran Church (2100 W Irwin St, Aliquippa) for The Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Fires of Freedom and Cloud of Witnesses.
Schedule for Sunday, April 7
2pm - Pre-Event in Aliquippa - more information to follow
4pm - Education time / Panel Discussion
5:30pm - Dinner
6:30pm - Worship with Holy Communion, with the Rev. CeCee Mills preaching and Bishop Kurt Kusserow presiding
A livestream will be available for the worship service as well as for the panel discussion.
Childcare for children age 0-5 is available during this event. Please pre-register for childcare here.
LAMPa Lutheran Day in the Capitol
Save the date! Join LAMPa and advocates from across the Commonwealth in Harrisburg on Thursday, May 9 for Lutheran Day in the Capitol and Gala Celebration of Advocates. Participants will also be celebrating the 45th anniversary of LAMPa and 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger.
ELCA Task Force: Human Sexuality - Gift and Trust Study Process
In 2022, the Churchwide Assembly authorized a review of the Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust social statement. A task force will begin working on the review in 2024, and applications to be a member are currently open until January 31, 2024. To apply or to nominate someone, learn more at elca.org/reconsiderations.