Tag: South Hills Partnership

Holy Week

Fairhaven UMC will host Maundy Thursday service at 7pm on Thursday, 4/14. This will be a jazz service, a new thing for us that is going to be a beautiful experience as we recall Christ’s last supper with his disciples and share in Communion.

There will be a cross procession beginning at Hill Top on Good Friday, 4/15, at 2pm. Together with Abiding Missions, we’ll carry a cross up Beltzhoover Avenue toward Grandview, stopping along the way to read Scripture that tells us of Jesus’ passion. It will end at Abiding Missions on Excelsior Street with the stripping of the altar.

Good Friday service will be held at Spencer at 7:30pm. As is our tradition in the Partnership, this will be a Tenebrae service (a service of darkness) that walks through Jesus’ betrayal, journey to the cross, and finally his death. If you’ve never attended before, Tenebrae is an extremely powerful service.

Worship will be preceded by a fish dinner. If you plan to eat, please RSVP to the office at (412) 881-4000 by Wednesday, 4/13.

If you’re at all able, I strongly encourage you to make time for Maundy Thursday and/or Good Friday worship. Easter Sunday has a far deeper feeling of meaning and grace when we have walked with the Lord to the cross first, rather than just coming from the celebration of Palm Sunday the week before. The silence of Good Friday makes Easter’s “he is risen!” all the greater.

South Hills Partnership Worship Service Update

As you likely know, the governor’s order for limiting gatherings expired this Monday, January 4th. Accordingly, conversations have begun about returning to in-person worship in the South Hills Partnership. This Sunday, January 10th, we will remain online-only.

For the immediate future, here is where each church stands so far:

  • Carnegie and Spencer plan to reopen for worship next Sunday, January 17th, at their usual times (9:30 and 11). 
    • Waiting for the 17th rather than the first Sunday after the order is lifted gives us a full two-week “quarantine period” after the New Year holiday, and additionally will allow us to get a clearer picture of COVID-19 trends as testing picks back up.
  • Fairhaven and Hill Top have not yet made plans to open their sanctuaries for worship, and the leadership of the congregations will be in discussion moving forward.

Please be aware that–to my knowledge–we are currently at the highest number of COVID cases among the people of the Partnership that we’ve yet seen. Even as the end of the pandemic is finally on the horizon, we are still in a very difficult time. I ask your continued caution and patience, as well as prayers for those suffering from the virus, for those who mourn, and for those engaged in medical and front-line work.
Additionally, you should be aware that free COVID testing is available locally if you need it, including at Fairhaven on Thursdays. There are limited walk-ups, but you can also register in advance at alleghenycovidtesting.com. Fairhaven is also blessed to be a vaccination site for medical personnel and EMS, and hopes to offer vaccinations for the general public as it becomes available.

Bible Study Starts on January 6, 2021

Prayers that you have had a joyous, blessed holiday season. As we step into a new year, new opportunities to connect are coming up.


After a break for Christmas (thank you to Pastor Peg for hosting a wonderful Advent series!), Bible study is starting up again on January 6th, resuming our normal schedule of Wednesdays at 7pm.

We’ll begin with the book of James, then move into the book of Revelation, two of the most challenging books in the Bible.

If you’ve never joined SHP Bible study before, now–in the new year and as we begin new books–is a great time.

Since we’re currently online, no worries about traveling in the dark and in the snow. And if you’ve never used Zoom, it’s way easier than you think.

Contact Pastor Dylan or Dave Smoyer for more information.