August is here! This month brings us more opportunities to reach out into the community and make connections.

The first opportunity to do so is to join us for our annual Blessing of the Animals which will take place on Tuesday, August 11. This is a fun evening filled with furry (and sometimes feathered, shelled, or scale covered) friends. We will once again be collecting donations for Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh.

I will be on vacation from July 29 through August 3. That means we will have a wonderful guest preacher for the first Sunday of the month (August 2) — the Rev. Marlaena Cochran. She is a pastor, spiritual director, and hospice chaplain, and I know that we will be blessed by her message.

Sunday, August 9 brings us to Matthew 14:22-33 where we encounter Jesus walking on water. Peter is able to accomplish this amazing feat by trusting in Jesus but, when his fear outweighs his faith, he starts to sink. What might we be able to glean from this story?

On Sunday, August 16, we will explore Matthew 15:10-20. In this part of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that it is vital that we are mindful of how we interact with the world.

Monday, August 17 will be Prayers with the Pastor. I have been encouraged by the number of folks attending these evenings throughout the summer months.

On Sunday, August 23, we will read Matthew 16:13-20. This passage will help us ask the question of who is Jesus by looking at who the disciples thought he was.

Finally, on Sunday, August 30, we will be holding worship in the parlor for a special mission project. Throughout the month, we will be collecting items for the Shaler Area Backpack Initiative. On this Sunday, we will have a brief worship service, then we will work together to assemble the bags for our friends in the Shaler Area School District. Stay tuned for more details!

I am praying that you are all weathering the summer well and looking forward to seeing you in worship!

Pastor Emily