"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:11
Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries
Annual Report 2021
PALM
PALM's Mission Includes: The initiation of new congregations and ministries. The support of new ministries or of ministries that are inherently unable to support themselves. The publication of periodicals and special information letters for reporting on the work and affairs of the organization or of its constituents. The conducting of joint celebratory worship services and other meetings involving all or several of the members. The management of local assets owned jointly by the members or by entities within the LCMS. The preparation, maintenance and publishing of calendars and/or schedules to minimize conflicts and interference among entities found within the Pittsburgh Area Community of member congregations. The collection of contributions from member congregations, from individuals, from Trusts and Foundations and from any other appropriate source for the support of the organization’s activities. The allocation of available resources among prospective and existing ministries. The application of criteria established by the appropriate District of the LCMS to allocation of funds given by that district.
Our purpose and mission
Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries was incorporated to assist the member congregations in their various ministries and foster, encourage and expedite those activities too large or too comprehensive for one congregation, such as missions, publications, chaplaincies, etc.
The Reverend Dr. Douglas H. Spittel
THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY
When the work is tiresome and the times make one weary, the Lord refreshes our souls. In a world and times that seem to be ever-changing, the Word of the Lord endures forever. The timeless Law of God reproves and corrects us when we are tempted to go astray. His sweet Gospel forgives and strengthens us when we cry to Him in confession and anguish of soul. He reminds us that He has claimed us in the waters of Holy Baptism. He nourishes us with His very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries was founded on the the firm belief that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life that we have in this world and the next. PALM exists to establish and assist missions and congregations that reach out to our neighbors across the region with the saving Good News of Jesus Christ. In ordinary cities and towns filled with ordinary people, the Prince of Peace sends us to do His extraordinary work of proclaiming His love in word and deed. We live in a technological world that brings news, ideas, goods, and services to us with the click of a button and with lightning speed. We have grown used to having instant results to our every whim. Sometimes we are perplexed when people do not respond immediately or positively to the Good News that we share with them. We grow impatient with missions and church plants that take years to be established. We are tempted to forget that the work of the Church is the work of the ages and that our God promises to be patient and long-suffering with us. We look at the Acts of the Apostles and we see that on the first Pentecost, three thousand people were baptized. We then expect that this is the Biblical norm and want to see that every time a new mission church is planted. But we forget that those people were Old Testament believers who were awaiting the Messiah. Each one of them had a lifetime of Biblical learning. All that they needed (and this was by no means a small need) was the final part of their catechesis, namely, to hear Saint Peter tell them that Jesus is the Messiah that they have been expecting. Then they were "cut to the heart," and "those who gladly received his word were baptized." The story does not end with just these three thousand, however. The story continues, "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." And in that part of the story is where we find ourselves today. The Lord is continuing to add to the Church those who are being saved, one soul at a time. So the mission of the Church and the mission of PALM continues. Sometimes we see the rapid movement of a church being planted or a large number of people being baptized or confirmed. Most days we see the simple faith of a child being brought to church or the kindness of a Christian toward his neighbor. Whatever the case may be, we have the privilege to participate in the saving activity of Jesus Christ among His people and in this we find much joy. May the Lord keep you steadfast in His Word even as He gives you the privilege and pleasure of proclaiming His saving work to your neighbors wherever you may be. The peace of the Lord be with you always!
From the President
the WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and state restrictions limit all activities across the region. Most PALM churches continue to hold Divine Services. October 25, 2020 Annual Reformation Service held at First Trinity Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh (Shadyside). April 4, 2021 Trinity Lutheran Church of Monroeville celebrates their last service as a congregation. PALM becomes the custodian of the historic Trinity, Pitcairn altar for use in a future mission church. June 15, 2021 The Rev'd. Stanley Lacey is ordained and installed as the second resident pastor of St. John's Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Clarksburg, WV. July 4, 2021 Vicar Benjamin Janssen is installed as the third full-time missionary to Hazelwood Neighborhood in the City of Pittsburgh. Zoë Huelsman is installed as PALM's first Deaconess Intern charged with the PALM and CLM senior care diaconal service along with mercy work with several mission outreaches. August 28, 2021 PALM co-sponsors the fourth annual Hazelwood Community Resource Expo with Holy Cross and UPMC at the Mill 19 Plaza in Hazelwood Green.
Milestones
The Structure of PALM
MARYLAND Accident - Zion Lutheran Church (Town) and St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Cove)* PENNSYLVANIA Arnold – John Huss Lutheran Church Beaver Falls (Chippewa Township) – Mount Olive Lutheran Church Brentwood – Concordia Lutheran Church Bridgeville – Zion Lutheran Church Cabot (Hannahstown) – St. Luke Lutheran Church (Cabot and Butler Sites) Central City – St. Peter & St. Paul Lutheran Church Fairhope* – Trinity Lutheran Church of Glen Savage Forest Hills – Christ Lutheran Church Freedom (New Sewickley Township) – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Glenshaw – Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church Johnstown – Holy Cross Lutheran Church McCandless Township – Ascension Lutheran Church McMurray – Peace Lutheran Church Millvale – St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Morrisdale/Munson* – St. John Lutheran Church Murrysville – Calvary Lutheran Church New Castle* – Christ Lutheran Church New Kensington* – St. Paul Lutheran Church Oakmont – Redeemer Lutheran Church Oil City* – Christ Lutheran Church Penn Hills – Grace Lutheran Church City of Pittsburgh: Allegheny – St. Matthew Lutheran Church Hazelwood* - Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel Lawrenceville – Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Lincoln-Lemington – Faith Lutheran Church Shadyside/Oakland – First Trinity Evangelical-Lutheran Church Punxsutawney – Martin Luther Lutheran Church Sharon – Ss. Peter & Paul Lutheran Church Slippery Rock – All Saints Lutheran Church State College and Huntingdon – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church West View – Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Whitehall – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of South Hills Wilkinsburg – Trinity Lutheran Church of the Deaf WEST VIRGINIA Clarksburg – St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Area and Member Congregations (non-members in italics with *)
David McElroy - Mount Calvary, West View INCUMBENT NOMINEE President, Barnett Davis, Inc.
The Rev'd. Brian P. Westgate - Redeemer, Oakmont INCUMBENT NOMINEE Parish Pastor
Board of Directors
Rick Crain - Peace, McMurray Senior Software Engineer, Carnegie Mellon University
The Rev'd. Jacob T. Deal - Saints Peter and Paul, Sharon Parish Pastor
Justin Spittel - Grace, Penn Hills INCUMBENT NOMINEE Associate Signaling Functional Design Engineer - Hitachi Rail STS
The Rev'd. Dr. Douglas H. Spittel - First Trinity, Pittsburgh Parish Pastor
Timothy Panzigrau - John Huss, Arnold Construction Project Civil Engineer, PennDOT
Kristi Price - First Trinity, Pittsburgh Physician Assistant - UPMC
The Rev'd. Robert E. L. McCanless - Concordia, Brentwood Parish Pastor
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Banking Services provided by PNC Bank - Pittsburgh, PA Investment Services provided by Lutheran Church Extension Fund - St. Louis, MO Legal Services provided by Fiffik Law Group, P.C. - Pittsburgh, PA Auditing Services (Forms 990) provided by R. D. Hoag & Associates, LLC - Pittsburgh, PA Auditing Services (Compilation and Audit) provided by Bryan Kress, CPA - Mount Lebanon, PA Insurance Services provided by Donald Hamm & Sons Insurance, LLC - Carnegie, PA Insurance Services Provided by GuideOne Insurance - Des Moines, IA
Financial Report
PALM is a silver-level Guidestar participant committed to transparency. PALM's IRS Forms 990 are available at www.GuideStar.org.
Investment Services provided by T.D. Ameritrade - Omaha, NE Endowment Fund management services provided by JFS Wealth Advisors - Pittsburgh, PA
The Rev'd. Brian Westgate, Secretary
Board Business
Changes to the Board of Directors Since the Last Delegates Meeting Additions: Timothy Panzigrau, Missions Director, 05/06/2021 Subtractions: Trevor Kemp, Missions Director, 01/26/2021 Changes to PALM Member Congregations Additions: None Subtractions: Unity Community Lutheran Church, Homewood, Pittsburgh; historically Holy Cross Brushton (closed, 09/30/2020) Holy Trinity, Albion (non-member transferred from Eastern District Pittsburgh Northwest Circuit to English District Buffalo Circuit, 03/22/2021) Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroeville, originally Pitcairn (closed, 04/04/2021) Activities by the Board of Directors 09/03/2020 (Held before Delegates Meeting but after printing of the 2020 Annual Report) The Board approved the 2021 PALM Unrestricted Budget to be ratified by the Delegate Assembly. The Board approved the 2021 PALM Restricted Budget to be ratified by the Delegate Assembly. The Board reallocated to the PALM Endowment Fund the $10,000 principal from a Certificate of Deposit that was to expire on September 21, 2020. The interest earned on that CD was to be used to fund 2021 PALM Mission Grants. 10/01/2020 The new Board signed the Acknowledgement of Policy of Confidentiality and the Conflict of Interest Questionnaire and Affidavit. The Board re-elected the Officers: Pastor Spittel, President; Mr. Spittel, Treasurer; Pastor Westgate, Secretary. The Board designated each member’s seat on the Board: Pastor Spittel, Functional Director; Pastor Westgate, Lutheran Education Director; Mr. Spittel, Urban Ministries Director; Mr. Kemp, Mrs. Price, and Mr. McElroy, Mission Directors; Pastor McCanless, Eastern District Representative; Mr. Crain, English District Representative; Pastor Deal, SELC District Representative. 11/05/2020 The Board authorized the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative as Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries DBA Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel. 01/07/2021 The Board resolved that PALM would continue administrative support of Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel in Hazelwood (Pittsburgh) for a period of three years or until the congregation is chartered. 02/04/2021 No official business to report. 03/04/2021 The Board resolved to join Alliance Defending Freedom as a Ministry Alliance member organization. The Board resolved to co-host with PALS and other missions Mrs. Jenny Zoë Huelsman as Deaconess Intern for the 2021-22 school year. NOTE: PALS was replaced by CLM in the final details. The Board named Holy Cross Chapel recipient of all offerings received for the 2021 PALM Sunday Appeal. 05/06/2021 No official business to report. 06/04/2021 The Board allocated $14,400.00 for the 2022 Mission Grant Cycle; $4000,00 of this money is reserved for Eastern District missions. The President, Secretary, and Mission Directors were to be in charge of soliciting mission project grant requests. The Board approved welcome gifts for the Deaconess Intern of a Giant Eagle gift card worth $200.00 and another gift card or certificate to a favorite Pittsburgh event or landmark institution. The President would be in charge of acquiring and presenting the Welcome Gift. 07/01/2021 No official business to report. 08/05/2021 The Board determined to distribute the 2022 Mission Grants in the following amounts: $1000 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, State College – 2022 Campus Ministry Spring Service Trip $3000 Grace Lutheran Church, Penn Hills – 90thAnniversary Steeple Project $500 Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind – Monthly Meals $500 Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry – 2ndSunday Socials $1900 Lutheran Student Fellowship – International Student Ministry Meals $7000 Holy Cross – Hazelwood Community Outreach Program 500 Ss. Peter & Paul Lutheran Church, Sharon – Community Day 2022 The Board selected All Saints Lutheran Church & Student Center, Slippery Rock, as the recipient of the 2021 Reformation Festival offering. Note: This is to be approved by the delegates at the 2021 Annual Meeting.
...continued...
Justin Spittel, Urban Ministry Director
Urban Ministries
By the grace of God, another year has passed, and 2021 has brought new challenges and opportunities for the urban congregations of PALM. We are still on the mend from the previous year's shakeup, but their spirits have not broken. New voices have heeded the call of duty, and together we brave forward into new mission opportunities. Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel - Hazelwood Neighborhood; Pittsburgh, PA The Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Mission continues to grow in both its new church home and in the Hazelwood community! The mission welcomes new confirmands and members, new persons served through the Holy Cross Food and Clothing Distribution, and maintains very strong relationships within the neighborhood. The missionaries and saints of Holy Cross continually demonstrate that they are a positive influence in this revitalizing community. The English District featured a segment on the mission at their 2021 Missions Gala. Check out Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries' YouTube channel to see the full video! Vicar Hasselbrook completed his vicarage assignment in June 2021, and he was succeeded by Benjamin Janssen, a seminarian from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. His vicarage is administered by PALM with ecclesiastical training and supervision supplied by Rev. Douglas Spittel and First Trinity. Vicar Janssen is joined by his wife Elizabeth and son Nathaniel. Our annual Hazelwood Community Day took on a new form: In partnership with UPMC, PALM and Holy Cross co-sponsored the Community Resource Expo on 28 August 2021 at the Mill 19 Plaza in Hazelwood Green. The Expo offered free community resources, physical and mental health services, and guidance for career starts, while also featuring some local vendors. The Expo brought together community resources in one place to showcase them to people who could benefit from such services or who would wish to join the efforts in improving the community. Holy Cross continues to be a sterling example of mercy and witness to the Hazelwood community, and none of this is possible without your continuing support. Please consider supporting this mission with your time, talent, and treasure thankfully and often in the coming year. All glory be to God! St. John's Lutheran Church - Clarksburg, WV Since their incorporation in October 2019, PALM has been blessed to aid in the continuing success of St. John's. Rev. Stanley Lacey was installed as parish pastor on 15 June 2021. In September, the English District designated St. John's as a recipient for their 1-1-1 Dollar for Missions campaign. We give thanks to God for His work through the congregation as they reach out in their community to serve those in need of hope and truth in desperate times. Sts. Peter & Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church - Sharon, PA In Sharon, PA, Rev. Jacob Deal and the saints of Sts. Peter & Paul conducted a Community Day celebration on 17 July 2021. Their mission was a simple yet wholesome one: offer their neighbors a free, family-friendly gathering in a safe environment. Sts. Peter & Paul stands as both a positive influence and a safe haven in their neighborhood. We give thanks to God for their continued success as they reach out to their neighbors in faith, hope, and love. Please continue to support the saints of our urban ministries with your prayers, time, talent, and treasure as your are able, and join us in wishing them all continued success in the years to come.
Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh is a preaching station of First Trinity Evangelical-Lutheran Church. The Hazelwood community and workforce experienced an economic crisis with the closing of the J&L steel mill in the late 1990s. Over the past year, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Holy Cross was blessed by God and continued to hold weekly worship services, provide food and clothing for families in need, host bi-weekly community dinners, and remain a lively Christian community that confesses the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to a world in need. Holy Cross is still a relatively new mission in the Pittsburgh area and as we all celebrate her third year of spreading the gospel in Hazelwood, we have many things to celebrate and be thankful for. Through generous food donations, donors, offerings, and grants, Holy Cross has been able to provide food and clothing multiple times for those in need located within the greater Hazelwood community. In total, well over a hundred individuals come through our doors each week for weekly worship services, Bible study, devotions, food distribution, clothing distribution, community dinners, and other special church activities. A day rarely goes by where Holy Cross’s doors are not open to the community, or we are unable to tell unbelievers about the love of Jesus Christ. The apostle John wrote, “We love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). These words explain Holy Cross in a nutshell. Our members and volunteers work multiple times a week to make sure that the greater Hazelwood community knows the love of Christ and that they never go hungry or unclothed in the process. This has led to a heightened community awareness as Holy Cross’ presence is felt throughout Hazelwood. We are blessed to teach people the love of Christ as He uses us to clothe and feed people’s bodies and souls in the Hazelwood community. Holy Cross is Jesus’ hands and feet in the Hazelwood community and the locals are recognizing this reality. At this time, Holy Cross is the only Sacramental and Creedal congregation in Hazelwood. We boldly confess to this dying world that we have a crucified and resurrected Savior who will bring His faithful to be with Him in heaven. We are working in a heavily unchurched area which is ripe for sowing the seed of Jesus Christ. More than ever, the residents of Hazelwood know Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel is here preaching the Word of God and confessing that Christ’s forgiveness comes through the Sacraments found within the Divine Service on Sunday morning. Holy Cross stands as a daily reminded to the people of Hazelwood that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for their sins. It is our prayer that each person in Hazelwood will one day confess with St. Paul, “For I decided to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). Here at Holy Cross, we confess Jesus Christ and Him crucified as we gather for our weekly Sunday services with Bible study, daily Matins services, Wednesday noontime Bible studies, and our Way of the Cross devotional each Friday at noon. When visitors enter our building, they know that we are Christians who worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And because He loves us, died for our sins, clothed us in the waters of Holy Baptism, feeds us His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and continues to bless us each day with countless gifts, we at Holy Cross work to spread His love and saving gospel to Hazelwood through everything we do throughout the week. We love because Christ first loved us. Lastly, we praise God that Holy Cross is a steadily growing Lutheran mission in the city. We are active in the community as the vicar walks through Hazelwood and socializes with local merchants and residents, attends community meetings which aim to improve and benefit the greater community, and supports local businesses with purchases and prayer. The vicar also works with community groups to support community engagement, writes articles for the local paper to increase awareness of Holy Cross and spread the Word of God, works with Propel Charter School as they seek to provide food and clothing for their students’ families, and is currently working to set up Bible studies within local apartment complexes. The residents of Hazelwood strongly feel the presence of Holy Cross and the vicar in the community. It is our earnest prayer that the Lord would continue to bless Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel and, use her to spread the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to the greater Hazelwood community, and continue to bring new people to faith in the Savior of the world.
Seminarians Silas Hasselbrook (2020-2021) and Benjamin Janssen (2021-2022) at Holy Cross, Hazelwood
The Vicars of PALM
Zoë Huelsmann
PALM's Deaconess Intern
Pittsburgh routinely tops lists of America’s most livable cities. Heralded for its high-caliber education, healthcare, and technology, Pittsburgh is presented as an ideal city. I love Pittsburgh and am delighted to call it home. Yet, I am keenly aware that these glowing portraits can gloss over the less-convenient realities of our city. In addition to the top-notch talent and cutting-edge innovation that regularly capture headlines, Pittsburgh is home to the challenges that inhabit any city. Those struggling with poverty, homelessness, disability, or aging are not a glamorous part of the narrative and are routinely ignored by those touting Pittsburgh’s virtues. They are not ignored by God. James summarizes, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27). The vulnerable are near to the heart of God and central to the mission of the deaconess. The deaconess motto, written by Wilhelm Loehe, articulates the deaconess’ desire is to serve “the Lord in His wretched ones and His poor.” I am honored to be placed as deaconess intern to serve the Lord in His wretched ones and His poor here in Pittsburgh. The lion’s share of my time is spent working with older adults in Concordia Lutheran Ministries' facilities and numerous other senior care homes in the region. This is a rich field for ministry. In order to provide necessary and important care, nursing homes can segregate older adults out of regular patterns of life—and, all too often, out of the purview of ministry. COVID-19 has compounded the isolation and loss experienced by many in senior homes. Through my internship, I conduct Bible studies and visitations with residents in these care facilities. The chaplaincy staff at Concordia Lutheran Ministries are dedicated, experienced, and insightful. I am grateful to learn under them. This is one of many contexts in which deaconesses can provide a unique contribution. The majority of residents in nursing homes are women and many respond positively to having a theologically trained woman who can provide spiritual care in addition to the vital word and sacrament ministry provided by pastors. First Trinity has a vibrant ministry, reaching out to the diverse residents of Pittsburgh. Through weekly lunch distribution and quarterly clothing distribution, the First Trinity Homeless Ministry is a mercy ministry for those struggling with poverty and housing insecurity. The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind hosts a monthly dinner, Bible study, and vespers for the visually impaired. Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry offers interpreted Divine Service, twice-weekly Bible class, and numerous outings for deaf and hard-of-hearing members of the community. Lutheran Student Fellowship serves students in Oakland and beyond through weekly Bible Study, discipleship, and outreach. LSF also interfaces with international students through weekly ESL classes and Bible study. Holy Cross Mission is sharing God’s hope with those in Hazelwood in myriad ways. Through my internship, I will be learning from the skilled directors of these outreaches and assisting in their ministry. In the midst of one of America’s most livable cities, it is my joy to practice incarnational ministry among its residents, including the least of these.
Mission Churches: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Huntingdon Satellite Huntingdon, PA Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel Hazelwood Neighborhood Pittsburgh, PA St. John's Evangelical-Lutheran Church (Chartered but listed as a mission by the English District.) Clarksburg, WV Campus Ministries: All Saints Slippery Rock Campus Ministry Slippery Rock University LCMS-U Campus Ministry of Pittsburgh Carnegie Mellon University University of Pittsburgh Chatham University Carlow University Duquesne University Point Park University Community College of Allegheny County Robert Morris University Revive at Penn State Penn State University - Main Campus Outreach Missions: First Trinity Homeless Ministry Oakland Holy Cross Food and Clothing Distribution Hazelwood Mileposters: A Christian Tandem Bicycle Group Outreach to Nepalese Immigrants Brentwood Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind Shadyside Pittsburgh Lutheran Deaf Ministry Shadyside Trinity Lutheran Church of the Deaf Wilkinsburg
Pittsburgh Area Missions
Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Schools PALS: Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Schools during the 2020-21 school year distributed $119,170 in scholarships to 156 students in our area LCMS schools. Area schools include – Calvary Early Learning Center, Murrysville (PreK-K) Good Shepherd Christian Preschool, Whitehall Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool, State College Holy Trinity Lutheran Preschool, Albion Prince of Peace Lutheran Preschool, Freedom Redeemer Lutheran School, Oakmont/Penn Hills (PreK-12) St. John’s Lutheran Preschool, Millvale St. Luke Lutheran School Cabot (PreK-8) Zion Lutheran School, Bridgeville (PreK) Lutheran Homeschoolers The Homeschoolers, led by Mrs. Anna Mussmann, a rostered LCMS teacher and member at First Trinity, met monthly at First Trinity during the school year, regularly serving several families.
Lutheran Education
PALM Functions
The Rev'd. Dr. Douglas H. Spittel, Functions Director
The Rev'd. Brian P. Westgate, Lutheran Education Director
Celebratory Services 2020-2021 The COVID pandemic limited our gatherings this year, but we were able to conduct our annual Reformation Service: October 25, 2020: Annual Reformation Vespers at First Trinity, Shadyside. The Rev'd. Wallace Vinovskis, SELC District President and Bishop - Preacher. PALM Website A brand-new PALM website went live on August 25, 2021 at www.palmpa.org. The Board of Directors contracted Terry Terhune V to design and maintain the site. The new site promises to be easy to update and navigate. Minersville Cemetery PALM continues to administer the Minersville Cemetery in the Herron Hill neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh on behalf of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The cemetery committee oversees the contracted maintenance of the grounds, fields genealogical requests, and maintains a strategic plan for improvements to the cemetery. Duquesne Light did us a favor by removing a few nuisance trees from the perimeter of the property. The committee is currently in discussion with Tree Pittsburgh, an urban forestry non-profit, about establishing a partnership with them to develop and enact a forestry plan for the cemetery. Future plans include the building of a decorative fence around the perimeter of the cemetery and the righting of fallen grave stones. Minserville
The Pittsburgh Lutheran highlights PALM News, Campus Ministries, Mission News, Upcoming Special Events, School News, News from Area Congregations, Houses of Worship (highlighting one Area Congregation) and Concordia Lutheran Ministries in each issue. There are ten monthly newsletters with no newsletters published for the months of January and July. A Call for News email is sent out the first of each month requesting articles to be submitted between the 10th and 15th. If anyone would wish to be added to our mailing list to receive this Call for News or to receive the newsletter itself, please send a request to pittsburgh.lutheran.editor@gmail.com. We currently have 163 Subscribers. According to reports provided by Mail Chimp which is the mechanism which we use to distribute our monthly newsletter, between 60% and 70% of our subscribers open this newsletter monthly. This compares with an average performance of 55% for our peers. This is very good news! The Pittsburgh Lutheran is only as good as its content so we encourage all to participate and submit your articles and pictures. Because we are now digital, there is no cost for a subscription so send your name and email address to pittsburgh.lutheran.editor@gmail.com.
The Pittsburgh Lutheran
Editors: Nancy Koester, Mary Lou Rilee and Layout Editor Megan Migyanko
*$4,000 of grants to be awarded in January 2022, above and beyond the $10,400 from the PALM Endowment, came from a special gift designated for Eastern District projects.
Make a Generous Contribution to the PALM Endowment Fund
The Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries Endowment Fund was established in 2019 to provide for the long-term funding of PALM mission and ministry projects. Originally funded by a generous gift of stock, the endowment has grown due to gifts and the wise management of our investment portfolio. The aim of the endowment is to protect and grow the principal while using yearly earnings to fund mission projects through grants. The growth in the PALM Endowment Fund in just one year allowed us to increase our funding of grants from $1,600 to $10,400*, an increase of 550%. While annual fund growth will vary from year to year depending on the economy and market performance, historically endowment funds such as ours have been shown to enjoy positive growth over time when properly managed. Your gift to the PALM Endowment fund will help our congregations and missions promote new and continuing missionary efforts across the Pittsburgh Area. Gifts may be monetary, investment transfers, or real estate. If a congregation, mission, or school is liquidating some or all of their assets, those funds may be deposited into the PALM Endowment and an agreement drawn up to sequester those funds in the principal to be used for a future mission project. The PALM Board of Directors encourages you to prayerfully consider giving a generous gift to the PALM Endowment Fund. For more information, please speak with our Treasurer.
The mission of the Church is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that our Lord Jesus has commanded. To carry out this mission, the Church must begin on Her knees both in humility and prayer. We are not worthy of so great a calling and certainly cannot fulfill it without the help, power, and direction of our Lord. Praying to the Lord of the harvest, we take up the Cross of Christ and seek to do His will in all things that His Name be glorified and extolled to our neighbors in order that they may be saved. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” - St. Luke 10:2
Photos: ©Erik Lunsford, LCMS Communications, The Pittsburgh Lutheran, and the Public Domain. Front Cover Photo: Christ the Good Shepherd Window at St. John's Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Clarksburg, West Virginia. Rear Cover Photos: Side Altar and Gethsemane Window at Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel, Pittsburgh (Hazelwood), Pennsylvania.
STEADFAST IN PRAYER.