WHAT’ S NEWS IN SEWICKLEY
AN EVENING OF SPARKLE FOR THOSE IN NEED: AUTISM CONNECTION OF PENNSYLVANIA’ S 16TH ANNUAL GALA
The spectacular Carnegie Music Hall Foyer in Oakland was the perfect setting to celebrate spectacular volunteers and supporters at Autism Connection of Pennsylvania’ s( ACOPa) 16th Annual Gala.
Organized by Sewickley residents MJ and Steve Crane, the gala’ s festivities included food, libations, entertainment, special recognitions and auctions.
Proceeds benefited ACOPa, a privately funded nonprofit located in Etna, whose mission is to serve as a lifeline for families and autistic adults by providing support, information and advocacy.
EASTER HAPPENINGS AT SEWICKLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The new day reveals itself, with all of its possibility, promise, serenity and certainty, to the wooded hilltop before spilling into the sleeping village in the valley. Meet Easter on the hilltop.
An Ecumenical Sunrise Service, hosted annually Easter morning by the Sewickley United Methodist Church in the chapel at the Sewickley Cemetery, is the year’ s most predictable event. Darkness will dissolve. Light will emerge and embrace and empower.
The service, coordinated by the Rev. Russel Shuluga, begins at 6:30 a. m. in darkness and ends, less than an hour later, in daylight. The public is invited.
The glass-walled room is warm and offers protection from the elements, but provides an unbroken view of the light show as it moves through the Ohio Valley. The sunrise
Frank Coonelly, President of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and MJ Crane, gala organizer.
Spencer Crane, a junior at Quaker Valley High School in Sewickley.
Jim Walter, of Shaler, spoke at the gala.
service is one component of SUMC’ s Lenten calendar. Lenten dinners are held each Sunday, March 12 through April 9, at 5 p. m. Family-oriented programs follow each potluck dinner. No RSVP is necessary.
During Holy Week, SUMC holds services Thursday at 7 p. m., Friday at noon, and Sunday, in the sanctuary at the church on the corner of Thorn and Broad streets, at 9 and 11 a. m.
SAINT SEBASTIAN SCHOOL COLLECTS BIBLES FOR INMATES More than 350 new Bibles will be distributed to inmates at the Allegheny County Jail, thanks to students at Saint Sebastian School in Ross Township.
The idea for the service project originated with Peyton Rihn, an eighth grader who serves as Student Council service director, a position she shares with seventh grader
Rachel Sweeney. The students learned that the jail is in constant need of Bibles after a call was made to Reverend Kimberly Greway, director of chaplaincy services at the Allegheny County Jail. The jail currently houses more than 2,000 men and women.
The student council worked with teacher advisor Celeste Dickson to finalize the details of the project. As students are generally required to wear uniforms, the council sponsored a dress-down day as a way to raise money for the project.
“ We anticipated having more than one fundraiser and probably doing something more elaborate to raise this money; however, once students and families heard what the money was going toward, they donated such a large amount that we only needed one quick fundraiser,” says Dickson.“ The response to this cause was overwhelming, and many families have not just donated money, but also have donated additional Bibles.”
The school raised enough money to donate 360 new Bibles, approximately one per student at the school. Each will include a prayer card, and each child will sign his or her first name on the card. The Bibles will be distributed to the inmates through the jail’ s chaplaincy office.
“ Both the kids on Student Council and the other students at Saint Sebastian have such big hearts and always want to help in charitable causes,” says Dickson.“ They always come through for us when we have fundraisers for different causes, or help others in the community.”
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