Easter 2005
It is a beautiful but chilly morning here in extreme southern Allegheny County. Because Easter is so early this year, and because March has been cold, our sunrise service was held in the auditorium of Elizabeth-Forward High School instead of in the stadium. I’m jealous of my sister, who lives in southern Virginia. Her family’s sunrise service was on the beach!
I am very thankful, however, for the many opportunities for worship way down here in the boondocks of southwestern Pennsylvania. As I’ve learned these last few days, scurrying from one service to another, each different and each in a different location, this area needs musical talent. We need it, but we also have it. We are very blessed that a small rural church like Round Hill Presbyterian has so much musical talent. We have a young lady (Stella) with the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard in this area who sings in our band each week. Round Hill’s minister, Rev. Meek, is a guitarist and has a beautiful voice. The guitarists, pianists, and drummers are also very talented. This morning at the community sunrise service, a young lady named Lindsey, who is a talented flutist, treated us to the perfect prelude and postlude for us early morning risers who were not yet quite awake. Many more churches than last year have been involved in the services, and there is so much talent to draw on.
At the same time, I have lived in many places such as Boston, southern California, San Francisco, and France. I’ve traveled a lot, and I went to college at Boston University. I have a need for a more urban and liberal setting. I am very lucky that I met wonderful people on the internet who directed me to the Sixth Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, which I will attend on Sundays. It is a More Light church and satisfies my need to be a more inclusive and accepting person. This is the direction in which God is taking me. This church is located in an area of town which feels like home to me: Squirrel Hill. I speak Russian, and I love the Russian language, a language which is widely spoken in Squirrel Hill by the many Russian-speaking immigrants who live there. I’m happy my childhood church, Round Hill, has so much to offer, and that I can go to a wonderful service which is a 10-minute drive away. But I’m also happy to be able to spend Sundays at a church in Squirrel Hill, which also feels like home to me.
I am very thankful, however, for the many opportunities for worship way down here in the boondocks of southwestern Pennsylvania. As I’ve learned these last few days, scurrying from one service to another, each different and each in a different location, this area needs musical talent. We need it, but we also have it. We are very blessed that a small rural church like Round Hill Presbyterian has so much musical talent. We have a young lady (Stella) with the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard in this area who sings in our band each week. Round Hill’s minister, Rev. Meek, is a guitarist and has a beautiful voice. The guitarists, pianists, and drummers are also very talented. This morning at the community sunrise service, a young lady named Lindsey, who is a talented flutist, treated us to the perfect prelude and postlude for us early morning risers who were not yet quite awake. Many more churches than last year have been involved in the services, and there is so much talent to draw on.
At the same time, I have lived in many places such as Boston, southern California, San Francisco, and France. I’ve traveled a lot, and I went to college at Boston University. I have a need for a more urban and liberal setting. I am very lucky that I met wonderful people on the internet who directed me to the Sixth Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, which I will attend on Sundays. It is a More Light church and satisfies my need to be a more inclusive and accepting person. This is the direction in which God is taking me. This church is located in an area of town which feels like home to me: Squirrel Hill. I speak Russian, and I love the Russian language, a language which is widely spoken in Squirrel Hill by the many Russian-speaking immigrants who live there. I’m happy my childhood church, Round Hill, has so much to offer, and that I can go to a wonderful service which is a 10-minute drive away. But I’m also happy to be able to spend Sundays at a church in Squirrel Hill, which also feels like home to me.
posted by Theodosia @ 6:14 AM
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