Phone: 724-863-2040
Parish Events and News
WOMEN OF BRUSH CREEK
Our “Angel Tree” is available in the narthex. Please select a tag from the tree and purchase one of the items listed. The price range is between $25.00-$30.00. Gifts should be returned to the church by Sunday, December 3. Please do not wrap your gift. Thank you for helping to make Christmas a bit more joyful for a less fortunate child.
SNOWMAN CRAFT DAY
A day to make a fun snow man craft is planned for Monday, November 25, at 10:30 am. A light lunch of soup and craft supplies will be provided. Some painting will be involved so please dress accordingly. We will make one snowman to take home and one to gift to our homebound friends. A sign- up sheet is posted in the narthex. All are invited to join us for this fun activity.
The Women of Brush Creek will hold their annual Christmas luncheon on Wednesday, December 4th, at Persichetti’s, Jeannette. Please arrive by 12:00, noon. All women of the congregation are invited to attend this self pay event. Car pooling will be available. A sign-up sheet is posted in the narthex.
Church Council will be meeting on Tuesday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, December 10, at 6:30 p.m.
FOOD BANK
The next distribution date for the Holy Trinity Food Bank is December 9th. Please start bringing in your donations on Sunday, December 8th. Thank you for your support.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Our Lutheran congregations in the area continue to host a monthly Men’s Breakfast to hear about local ministries or to work on a special project following a time of food and fellowship. On December 14th, plans are to meet at Immanuel Lutheran in Irwin, topic to be determined. We meet at 8:00 AM and are usually done by 9:30 AM. Please sign up or inform Pastor Steiner if you plan to attend so whoever is hosting makes sure there is enough food for everyone. We have been averaging 12-20 in attendance.
COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER & SERVICE
The Penn-Trafford Ministerium will be hosting an “in-person” Thanksgiving Dinner and Service on Tuesday, November 26th at St Barbara’s Roman Catholic Church in Harrison City. Our time together will start at 6:00 PM. Different congregations of the Ministerium are providing the main portions of our meal. We ask you, though, to help provide desserts to round out our Thanksgiving meal together. Come join our brothers and sisters in Christ, and members of the community, for a time of fellowship to eat and to give thanks to God for the many blessings we receive from above.
PENN-TRAFFORD COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
The Penn Trafford Community Band will be performing at various venues during the Christmas season coming up. One concert hosted by the PT Community Concert Band in particular for the entire community
and guests will be held on Sunday, December 8th beginning at 3:00 PM at the Community United Methodist Church on Route 130 in Harrison City/Irwin. All are invited for an enjoyable time of good music and fellowship for the Christmas season. Admission is FREE.
SOCIAL MINISTRY & OUTREACH UPDATES
There are a lot of opportunities listed in the upcoming months. Please do not feel like you need to do everything. We hope, though, that you will find something of interest and share your gifts and be Jesus’ hands and feet in the life of the world.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD DROP OFF CENTER
We are again a drop-off location (at the Penn-Zion’s location) for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. ***Volunteers are needed to greet and assist people when they drop off their boxes. Collection Week is November 18 – 25th *** Listed below are the shifts that we will be receiving shoebox donations and are looking for volunteers. If you have questions prior, please contact Gwen or Pastor. Sign-up sheets for the shifts are in the narthex at Penn-Zion’s and clip board at Brush Creek. Children are invited to participate.
Monday, Nov. 18th – 9:00 am – Noon & 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, Nov. 19th – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday, Nov.20th – 9:00 am – Noon & 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday, Nov. 21st – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Friday, Nov. 22nd – 9:00 am – Noon & 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, Nov. 23rd – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday, Nov. 24th – Noon – 3:00 pm
Monday, Nov. 25th – 9:00 am – Noon
We are also looking for donations of cookies to offer as refreshments for donors and our shift helpers. These may be dropped off on Sunday, November 17th or throughout the week.
PROJECT BUNDLE UP & HATS AND SCARVES WITH LOVE
We will be collecting winter coats for the Salvation Army’s Project Bundle Up. New and Gently used (clean with no tears, broken zippers, etc.) may be dropped off at the church no later than Sunday, November 17th. We are also collecting winter accessories (hats, scarves, gloves, mittens…) These will be distributed through the Salvation Army and Hat and Scarves with Love to local shelters or programs reaching people experiencing homelessness. Please see Gwen or contact her with any questions at projecthopepz@verizon.net
STITCHES OF HOPE-MADE WITH LOVE
Our November project is Made With Love that provides hand knitted or crocheted hats and scarves to programs reaching people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, or financial hardships.
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE & NATIVITY DISPLAYS
Pastor Steiner and Gwen invite the parish and friends to an Open House on Sunday, December 22nd, 11:00 AM to 4 PM at Brush Creek Lutheran Church, 177 Brush Creek Road, Irwin, PA. On display are almost 200 nativities from around the world – PLUS — lots of yummy food. Your friends and family are welcome to this event to view the many ways people around the world depict Christ’s birth. We are excited to share that both the Saxophone Ensemble and Trombone Ensemble from the Penn-Trafford Community Band will each be providing performances. Cole Douglas will also be sharing solo and guitar instrumental offerings. There will be special Christmas activities for children and a Scavenger Hunt for items among the nativities. This is a cherished tradition for the Steiner family-sharing time with YOU our church family and friends. Please invite your friends and family to join us in this time of CHRISTmas fellowship.
USHERS AND COMMUNION ASSISTANTS
With our return to our formal communion practice we are in need of both ushers and communion assistants. Please contact Rich Siniawski if you would like to volunteer as an usher .
CHURCH LIBRARY
Just a reminder to stop by the church library to check out our selection of books for both young and old. We are certain there are books for all to enjoy!
THRIVENT ACTION TEAMS
All Thrivent members are encouraged to use the Thrivent Action Team Grants available to them through Thrivent as a way to give back to our church and our community. Each Thrivent member is entitled to two $250 grants per year to support an activity or mission project. This equals several thousand dollars of Action Team grants available through the number of Thrivent members we have within our parish. Let us be good stewards by not letting this money pass us by…see or contact Gwen Steiner if you would like suggestions of possible programs you can support through these grants and Project Hope or application support.