Parish Events and News

The Penn-Zion’s Church Council meeting for September is on September 14th, beginning at 6:30 PM.  Brush Creek Church Council will meet on Tuesday, September 8th at 12:30 PM.  A Joint Council meeting will be held at Brush Creek in October, 6, 2026.  People are reminded that the meetings are open to members of the congregation to attend.

Women’s Group

The women will meet on Wednesday, October 28, at 12 noon, at Swiftee’s Lakeview, on Rt. 30, Greensburg, PA.
A sign-up sheet is posted in the narthex.  All women of the congregation are invited and encouraged to attend.

WEDNESDAY QUIET COMMUNION WORSHIP SERVICES

Members of both Penn-Zion’s and Brush Creek are reminded that our Cooperative Ministry has an alternative worship time on Wednesday evenings for those who are not able to make it on a particular Sunday morning, or whose schedule prevents them from being in worship on Sunday mornings.  An informal, roughly half-hour long service with Holy Communion is offered at Penn-Zion’s Lutheran Church in Harrison City beginning at 7:00 PM every Wednesday evening.  This is a worship tradition that has existed now for a handful of decades.

As a Cooperative Ministry, it is important to remember that we can live out our worship and service to God at a place or places other than “my church building,” primarily because it is not “your church building,” IT IS “CHRIST’S CHURCH BUILDING!”…and Christ’s invitation to each and every one of us is to participate in the wider ministry of worship, service, and fellowship together.  Benefits include new insights from and new friendships with others in the Body of Christ.  How exciting and amazing is that!?  The strength of a Cooperative Ministry grows as its people move beyond their comfort zones and take advantage of different events and happenings at both congregations.  You are challenged by Christ and your pastor to explore all the wonderful opportunities our congregations have to offer in our Cooperative Ministry.  Don’t come to the end of your life, or possibly to the closing of your own congregation, full of failed “would haves, could haves, and should haves” and handfuls of excuses.

Fellowship and good Bible-centered discussions abound on Friday mornings at Penn-Zion’s.  All who can place it in their schedules from BOTH Penn-Zion’s AND Brush Creek are welcome to join in on going deeper into Holy Scripture and being challenged to grow as Christ’s disciples.  It is also a time for moral and spiritual support.

One DOES NOT need to be a biblical scholar to attend; but, our goal is to grow into the Word and into love of God and neighbor.  The Bible discussion group meets from 10:30 – 11:30 AM every Friday.  Those currently attending would love to see some new faces from both congregations.

MEN’S BREAKFASTS

The local Lutheran Men’s Breakfasts will continue again this fall.  Our first get-together will be Saturday, October 10th @ Penn-Zion’s, beginning at 8:00 AM. 

Our guest presenter will be Don Andree (and possibly his wife) who will share his experiences as our Westmoreland County local committee chairperson for Operation Christmas Child, as well as his trip to Paraguay with Operation Christmas Child to help distribute shoeboxes.

November’s breakfast gathering is scheduled for Saturday, November 14th @ Holy Trinity in Irwin, beginning at 8:00 AM with a presentation from Tom’s Turkeys about its local outreach in and around the Irwin area.

Please sign up for these breakfasts when you see the sheets posted so we know how much food to prepare.

 

 

We’re ready to start up a new year of a fun-filled hour learning Bible stories and what it means to follow Jesus.  These Wednesday evenings are downstairs at Penn-Zion’s, our alternative to Sunday School for all of our parish children 3 years through 5th grade.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 23rd AS OUR FIRST CLASS.  These classes begin at 5:45 PM which allows for the opportunity for families to attend Wednesday night services, if unable to attend on a Sunday morning.  Please keep in mind that if the Penn-Trafford School District is off or has a half day for a holiday, cancelled classes for the day or students are sent home early due to weather related concerns, we will not be meeting that evening.  At this time there will be NO CLASSES on October 14 and 28.

NEW – MONTHLY MIX MONDAYS

We have some Middle Schoolers who have grown out of Learn and Grow and asked if there is something for them.  So, we are going to offer Monthly Mix Mondays.  We will meet once a month to grab a bite to eat, talk about what’s important to them and “What Would Jesus Do?”  Our first Monday Mix will be Monday, October 5th and we will meet at the Dairy Queen in Harrison City at 6 PM.  We plan to meet for an hour.  At our group we will plan the next location and confirm date.  The food is being covered so youth do not need to worry about this expense to come and chat.  Any questions, please contact Gwen.

PROJECT HOPE

During the month of September we will be collecting items for Zachary’s Mission.  Items collected will be used to fill Zack Packs.  These backpacks are provided to families with medically fragile children by providing basic necessities to help lessen the burden of thinking about packing while their child is in the hospital.  We are collecting solid deodorant, individual toothbrushes, dental floss, bath puffs/shower puffs, tissue packs, small notebooks, and granola bars.

During the month of October we will be collecting items for Operation Safety Net an organization that walks alongside those who are experiencing homelessness, especially living on the streets, and accompanies them in this journey to return to stable housing.  We are collecting band-aids, mini first aid kits, flashlights with batteries and bottled water.

Halloween Candy For Our Troops  We will again send candy to our troops this year.  We will be partnering with Operation Shoebox.  Candy must be individually wrapped (chocolate is OK).  No homemade candy, treats or trinkets.  Please have candy dropped off by Wednesday, November 11th.

NEW FLIP FLOPS are currently being collected.  These are on sale at Dollar Generals and Dollar Trees, etc…for typically under $1.00.  These flip flops will be delivered to various shelters to be used as shower shoes.  Men’s, Women’s and Children’s flip flops are needed.

WINTER COATS AND ACCESSORIES DRIVE

We are collecting gently used winter coats (children and adult sizes) as well as winter accessories (hats, gloves, mittens and scarves) for the Salvation Army, Jeannette.  These can be handmade or new.  Donations should be received by Sunday, November 15th at either congregation.

 

  WESTMORELAND COUNTY OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD PACKING PARTY

On Saturday, October 3rd you’re invited to join the Westmoreland OCC Team to fill and pack 1000 boxes (That’s not a typo-1000).  Unlike the regular OCC boxes that you can track where it goes, we will be unable to track these boxes.  But, we do know that each box is an opportunity to share Christ’s love with a child, his/her family, friends and community.  The packing event is from 10 AM -2 PM at Living Evidence Church located at 612 Center Avenue,  New Stanton, PA 15672 and you may drop in and leave at any time to pack boxes.  Please contact Gwen @ 724-882-4749 for more information, if needed.

 

LOOKING AHEAD – OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD DROP OFF CENTER

We continue to be a drop-off location (at Penn-Zion’s) for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.  ***Volunteers are needed to greet and assist people when they drop off their boxes.  Collection Week is November 16-23 ***.  Listed below are the shifts that we will be receiving shoebox donations and are looking for volunteers. WE ARE ESPECIALLY LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH LOADING THE CARTONS ONTO THE TRAILER AT THE END OF SHIFTS.  As Pastor will still be recovering from surgery, we need some additional strong arms and backs.  Please let Gwen know if you or someone you know is available (We are hoping to load the trailer at the end of each shift or evening).   Sign-up sheets for the shifts are in the narthex (Penn-Zion’s & Brush Creek).  Children are invited to participate.

Monday, Nov. 16th          9:00 am – noon & 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 17th          1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Wednesday, Nov.18th    9:00 am – noon & 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Thursday, Nov. 19th       1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Friday, Nov. 20th            9:00 am-noon & 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Saturday, Nov. 21st       10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Sunday, Nov. 22nd        noon – 3:00 pm

Monday, Nov. 23rd        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 15th or throughout the week.