Witness
As a follow up to our Love Thy Neighbor Community Prayer Gathering, we encourage you to visit the prayer station in the Simpson Room. Choose a block and write the names of some of your neighbors that you want to pray for. Think of people you interact with regularly, as well as people behind the scenes who help to ensure that our community functions smoothly. Which of your neighbors need to be better seen and heard in the community? Who do you need a reminder to love and support? Add your block to our Church Community building and pray for everyone on your block, as well as the others listed.
UWF
The United Women in Faith members want to thank everyone who helped to make our May Rummage Sale for Missions a huge success. We raised $2,880 for UWF mission projects. We appreciate everyone who helped, whether it was by setting up or taking down tables, carrying boxes and items to various locations (including up the steps and outside onto the lawn), emptying boxes, bags, and more bags, placing items on display, donating items, donating money for our treasures, “straightening” tables to keep them nice-looking throughout the sale, or distributing leftover items. Every task, big or small, is important and needs to be completed in order to have a successful fundraiser. Thanks to all who helped in any way.
Speaking of funding UWF mission projects, our unit received a certificate for contributing money to all five areas of UWF mission giving. The money we contribute through the five UWF mission channels of giving goes to fund national and international UWF projects. We are happy to receive the special recognition for UWF mission support. Additionally, we select our own local mission projects to support as well.
Music Ministry
As we head into summer, I want to thank everyone for the continued support of our music ministry at Sewickley UMC. I’m grateful for everyone who helps make this ministry what it is. We have a busy summer ahead with several great musical opportunities coming up at the church.
I extend an invitation to join our Pride Choir, which will sing during the 11:00 am worship service on Sunday, June 28. This choir is open to everyone, both members of the church and the broader community. If you or anyone you know are interested in participating, please reach out to me directly for rehearsal information and details.
Upcoming Concerts
Sunday, June 7 at 4:00 pm — Voces Solis presents Path of Miracles. Admission is free.
Saturday, June 20 at 7:00 pm — Pittsburgh Girls Choir presents their end of tour concert, Singing, Bring Me. Suggested donation: $15.
Saturday, August 8 at 4:00 pm — The Voces Solis Summer Singers return with more than 130 choral musicians for a spectacular afternoon of music and community.
We also continue to make progress on the ReVoice Organ Campaign. Our pipe organ remains an integral and historic part of worship, our community, and our sanctuary. I am currently working with several organ builders to secure competitive bids for the remaining restoration work that began in 2014. This is an incredibly special and beautiful instrument, and I am excited to continue building momentum as we move toward bringing this restoration to its long awaited completion. We are hopeful that work can begin within the next couple of months.
As always, thank you again for your continued support of music ministry at SUMC. I’m excited for what’s ahead this summer and beyond.
Charles Wesley Music Foundation
Join us on Sunday, June 7th at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary as Voces Solis presents Path of Miracles, Joby Talbot’s acclaimed a cappella work depicting the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Through four movements, the work traces a spiritual journey marked by separation, transformation, and connection, weaving together medieval chant and contemporary musical language. Admission is free, and donations are accepted.
Sanctuary A/V Upgrade
We’re excited to share that Sewickley United Methodist Church is officially moving forward with Phase 1 of our Sanctuary A/V Upgrade project! Over the past several months, the Technology Committee and Leadership Board have been evaluating the future of our sanctuary audio and livestream systems. Our current system has served the church well for many years, but much of the equipment is aging and becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and expand. After reviewing multiple proposals, the church selected Horizon Information Services, a local woman-owned business with extensive experience in worship and performance spaces.
Phase 1 focuses on establishing a modern, reliable audio foundation for the sanctuary and includes:
A new Allen & Heath Avantis digital audio mixer
Modernized stage and chancel audio infrastructure
A new digital audio network and rewiring updates
Phase 2 will expand the system with wireless microphones, in-ear monitoring, assistive listening technology, and enhanced livestream audio that better captures the natural sound and experience of worship in the sanctuary.
This project represents an investment not only in technology, but in worship, music ministry, accessibility, and the long-term future of SUMC. Thank you to everyone who has helped support and guide this process. We look forward to sharing additional updates as the project moves forward this summer!