Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network Public Action, Oct 26, 2006

Thursday, October 26, 7 - 8:30 pm

Petra International Ministries, 235 Eastgate Drive

Former East Hills Shopping Center--near the intersection of Robinson Blvd. and Frankstown Ave.

Register: bsimpson@tmail.com, 412-322-6419 or Wallace Watson wallwat1@verizon.net, 412-371-8138

Adequate and dedicated state funding for public transportation will be one of the major issues addressed by the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) at its Public Action. PIIN expects an attendance of 2,000 or more. Key public officials will be invited to commit to specific actions furthering our transit funding goals. All supporters of this effort are urged to attend.

PIIN meets with Rick Santorum at 10 am on Saturday

Be sure to attend at 10:00 am on Saturday as PIIN visits with Senator Rick Santorum on PIIN's issues at Bidwell Presbyterian Church, 1025 Liverpool Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 (Manchester District on the Northside).

If you attend, I'd love to see the minutes of the meeting.

Open House for July 4th

Friends from Sunnyhill are welcome to attend our annual open house on the evening of July 4th. We only provide lemonaid and some crafts for the kids. We have a water baloon toss and will play in both the new gameroom and at the park, badminton. Come after 6 pm.

This year we have a few extras however. Our special guest is Russ Diamond, from central PA. He is running for PA Governor and is working to get onto the November 7, 2006 general election ballot. Meet and mingle with him that night.

To hear Russ in action, come to the house at 4 pm when we'll be hosting a press event. Russ and I will both say a few things. I'd love to get you here for that too if you are interested in politics.

At 5 pm, a $17.76 fundraiser for Russ Diamond is going to be held at a eatery on East Carson Street. You are welcome to attend that if you wish. Do RSVP to me, Mark Rauterkus, Mark @ Rauterkus.com, or call my cell: 412 298 3432.

Lo-Fi Tribe - Blog Archive - Unitarian Universalist People

Lo-Fi Tribe � Blog Archive � Unitarian Universalist People I’m having a grand time at the 2006 Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly, in St. Louis, of course.

QED shows: seven 1 hour programs in a series

Seven weekly 1 hour shows on PBS. 3 p.m.-Sunday. WQED locally beginning this Sunday, June 25.

This series should have some valuable insights given that those who will be interviewed are all authors. It would do well to consider a method of meeting to dialogue on its content. Does anyone have a suggestion, asks Ken W.

Ken's alert about TV show on PBS and discussions

Bill Moyers is returning to PBS on June 23 for an seven-part series called Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason, premiering June 23 at 9 p.m. on PBS (please check local listings).

In it he will explore how religion has affected and impacted our world--talking with authors such as Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Martin Amis, Richard Rodriguez, and Mary Gordon.

An advertisement for the series reads, in part: "In a world where religion is poison to some and salvation to others, how do we live together?"

Should we start a discussion built around the contents of this series? If we do, I strongly urge that we watch to see if and how they distinguish between religion (personal conviction and commitment) and church (group dynamic and tradition).

Invitation to Interfaith Panel on "Art of Living Together"

Pittsburgh Dialogue Foundation & West Penn Cultural Center cordially invite you to an interfaith panel on “Art of Living Together”

Speakers:
Dr. Frances Leap, Professor of Religious Studies, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Dr. Ellen Posman, Professor of Religious Studies, Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH
Imam Salih Yucel, Muslim Chaplain, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, President, Boston Dialogue Foundation, Boston, MA

From 7 to 9:30 pm on Thursday, June 15, 2006

Andy Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Registration is required. Please RSVP via e-mail by Friday, June 9. events -at- pghdialogue -dot- org. PDF Url: www.pghdialogue.org

WPCC Url: www.wpcc.org

Phone: (412) 628-6871

Special thanks to Andy Warhol Museum.

Lay Service -- hitting home -- Thanks T -- different perspectives

Sunnyhill has a great tradition of lay-led services. Yesterdays' was especially good. It was about 'different perspectives.'

Then we had a nice feast and cook out. Yummy.

If I get a copy of the service -- via email -- I'll make some highlights known on the blog.

Photo above, Title: Upside Church - Vancouver, from quinet is Community Commons license with Attribution License.

Tippi's eclipse links

First, photos from this year's trip. These are not all mine, but a mix taken by the group.

www.shadowlawn.us/Turkey2006

Second, my web page about all the eclipses:

www.pittsburghdiary.com/travel/eclipse

Finally, my video of the eclipse -- the one I showed at Sunnyhill but with this year's eclipsed sun inserted in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0EhEKetT0I

House Concert host by Mark Rauterkus with Joe Jencks

with a second set at 8:30 pm

Join Mark Rauterkus and family (Catherine Palmer, Erik & Grant) in hosting friends, family, neighbors, bloggers, strangers and fellow music lovers from school, church, labor and sports – and perhaps politics too, at their home and office:

108 South 12th Street, South Side, Pittsburgh.

RSVP is necessary as space is limited to 35 seats.

Call 412 298 3432 or email Mark @ Rauterkus . Com

Kids who can sit and enjoy the concert are welcomed (first set).

Joe Jencks, singer/songwriter, plays guitar and is equally talented as the other excellent performers hosted in the past. Joe's original music and ballads are for the everyday, modern workers with many union songs, tunes of history, struggle, rails, fast-food workers, Rosie the Riveter (Revised), John Henry and even the Deportee.

Joe happens to be on tour with his latest CD, Rise As One.
Artist donations accepted. CDs for sale.

The next release of the Mark@Rauterkus.Com CD might include the Joe Jencks tune(s): "We Won" and/or "We Do the Work." Help us decide.

WINNER 2005: Plowshares, Songwriting Contest; South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Contest
Winner 2004: Winfield Music Festival Songwriting Contest
Winner 2004 and 2003 Tumbleweed, Folk Festival Songwriting Contest

CHURCH YARD SALE, June 3rd!

Purge your basement and attic while supporting your church. Drop off times will be 6-9 Thursday, June 1st and Friday, June 2nd. Books, toys, baby items, kitchen items, jewelry, glassware, furniture, practically anything you can think of (except clothing). Call Cori Vipperman to arrange for large item pickup (412)563-0632 or email coriv1@verizon.net. Also think about signing up to volunteer. We are in special need of two people who own trucks for pickups on Thursday and Friday night! Strong backs on Thursday to set up tables also. Please let Cori know if your interested!

Refreshments will be provided all three days. Sign up sheets will be posted Sunday on the community board. Please remember to include your phone number for reminders or changes. It's a lot of fun! Hope to see you there!

It’s Back andIt’s More Delicious Than Ever! The Sunnyhill Annual Pancake Breakfast Saturday, May 13 from 9 am to 1 pm

Be there on May 13, 2006, 9 am — 1 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (often called Sunnyhill) 1240 Washington Road — Route 19, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228.

It’s the home of Turtle Pancakes.

Unique pancake shapes for childrenas featured in the May 1, 2003, Post Gazette Food Section. Also featuring Specialty Scrambled Eggs / Homefries Link Sausage / Regular PancakesCoffee / Tea / Milk / Orange Juice / Butter & syrup. All you can eat for $7.00 for Adults and $4.00 for Children ages 12 and under. Makes a great Mother’s Day present!

THOMAS JEFFERSON THINK TANK takes on Darwin

Here is a meeting I've attended in the past. This presentation and discussion might interest some from Sunnyhill.

May 3, 2006

Intelligent Design – Science or Religion? Does It Belong In A Classroom, And If So, Where?

The notion of “intelligent design,” or, the belief that scientific evidence customarily used to support an evolutionary system to explain the origin and diversity of life on Earth can and does also support the existence of a/an “(intelligent) designer” of this system, has been in the news and in the courts in recent months. What exactly is this “intelligent design” theory? Does it conform to accepted notions of a scientific theory, or is it better said to be a belief based on religion or faith? The theory of “intelligent design” was formerly taught in the Dover School District here in Pennsylvania, recently the subject of a federal court case--should this be taught in our schools, and, if so, where? In biology classes, religion classes, or any similar type of class?

Professor Sandra Mitchell, the Chair of the world-famous Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, will present her views on this matter. Prof. Mitchell has written and lectured extensively on topics related to the general philosophy of science, with particular regard to the fields of biology and evolution. Whether you are interested in the specifics of this particular theory of “intelligent design” or the general notion of what might qualify as a scientific theory in the academic community today, this talk will be one that you won't want to miss!

Come early to enjoy the food, drink, and bring a friend. We will see you Wednesday, May 3, 2006 located at Silvioni’s, 2125 Babcock Boulevard. Dinner will be served until 7:00 pm. The meeting will start at approximately 7:15 pm.

Dave Nachmanoff -- playing Pittsburgh and Kent

Sunday, May 7th
Pittsburgh, PA
Club Cafe - http://www.clubcafelive.com

Wednesday, May 10th
Cleveland, OH
The Winchester - http://www.thewinchester.net

Thursday, May 11th
Kent, OH
Kent Stage - http://www.kentstage.org

Saturday, May 13th
Elkhart Lake, WI
Jazz On The Vine Festival
http://www.elkhartlake.com/events/2006/may06.html

Lynn Swann to PIIN event on North Side

Dear Fellow Leader,

I bring greetings to you as president of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) and as co-chair of the NAACP Religious Affairs Committee. I want to alert you to an upcoming event where your attendance is critical. On Friday, April 21, 2006 from 9:30 to 11:30 am the African American Leadership Caucus of PIIN is sponsoring a “meet and greet” with Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann. During this time, Mr. Swann will address those gathered and briefly share with us the key points of his campaign.

In addition, a panel of six pastors will present separate questions crafted to highlight poignant concerns of the African-American community. This event will be held at the Bidwell Presbyterian Church, 1025 Liverpool Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Please plan to attend and share this information with members in your congregation so that we can have a strongly attended public gathering to continue demonstrating our power in assembly.

Let us show our unified support in this matter as we have shown those struggling for comprehensive immigration reform.

Sincerely,

Rev. John C. Welch

Self -- meeting of selves

Sunnyhill Self-Masquerade Party!

To welcome and meet our new members, everyone is invited to join us on April 15th at 7:00 pm.

This year, come dressed in whatever clothes or accessories best represent YOU! Find items around the house that show off your favorite hobbies and interests; come with gardening gloves, a Hawaiian shirt, or a lab coat… and, of course, expect to see lots of Steelers’ gear!

We’ll have an evening of games and good company, and leave knowing each other a little bit better. RSVP Werner or Anita Hager.

SI.com - Olympics - Norwegian ski coach rewarded with maple syrup - Wednesday April 5, 2006 12:54PM

We should get this guy to attend the Mothers' Day Pancake Breakfast. And note, the fit folks in Norway don't even know about the Maple Syrup -- and it is on the flag of Canada.

SI.com - Olympics - Norwegian ski coach rewarded with maple syrup - Wednesday April 5, 2006 12:54PM Maple syrup is little known in Norway, and the 37-year-old Haakensmoen said he recently tasted it for the first time.

'It's sweet, and a little unusual,' he said. 'We might have it from time to time, but not five times a day.'

Read the entire article at the Sports Illustated site.

It is all Greek to me.

Service Auction Action.

"Do I hear?????...."

Service Auction Action

"Do I hear.. ??? Greek theme'd Service Auction.

Who was Jesus, sent around as an email joke

Who was Jesus?

Opinions vary ...Who was Jesus? (Here are all kinds of options}

My friend from Baton Rouge, LA, says that Jesus was a Cajun:

1. He liked to serve fish to his friends
2. He could make his own wine
3. And he wasn't afraid of water.

My black friend had 3 arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone "brother"
2. He liked Gospel
3. He couldn't get a fair trial.

My Jewish friend had 3 arguments that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into His Father's business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his mother was sure he was God.

My Italian friend gave his 3 arguments that Jesus was Italian:

1. He talked with his hands.
2. He had wine with every meal.
3. He used olive oil.

My California friends had 3 arguments that Jesus was a Californian:

1. He never cut his hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.

My Irish friend then gave his 3 arguments that Jesus was Irish:

1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.

BUT my LADY friend had most compelling evidence that Jesus was a WOMAN:

1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.
3. And even when he was dead, he had to get up because there was more work to do.

(Source unknown If you know the source, put it in

the comments, please.)