January 2022
Hello Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek!
This is a second (or third) career for me! I worked for over 40 years in the Information Technology department at Westinghouse Electric Company, first in Monroeville and then in Cranberry. I retired from Westinghouse a little over three years ago. After taking a year off to unwind, I started a second career as a part-time project management consultant for a person whom I met while working at Westinghouse. It was during this time that my pastor at Oakmont Presbyterian Church asked me to come to his office for a cup of coffee and conversation. Little did I know that the conversation we had would start me on the journey that would eventually bring me to the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek! Pastor Wilson told me that Pittsburgh Presbytery wanted to restart a Commissioned Pastor training program due to increasing need within the presbytery. He suggested, based upon his observations of my involvement at the presbytery and at Oakmont Presbyterian Church, that I was an excellent candidate and should consider entering the program. After praying about this suggestion, Steve and I got together with Brian Wallace at the presbytery office and the ball was rolling. I was eventually enrolled in the Inter‑Presbytery Leadership Formation (IPLF) program for training to prepare me to receive a commission to serve a church as its pastor. The IPLF program was started by Redstone, Washington, and Upper Ohio Valley presbyteries in conjunction with the Synod of the Trinity. With my enrollment, Pittsburgh Presbytery joined the other presbyteries. At this writing, I am the first Pittsburgh Presbytery Ruling Elder to graduate from IPLF and be placed. To my knowledge, there are three more candidates from Pittsburgh Presbytery who are currently enrolled in the program.
My family is supporting me in this new calling. Maria and I have been married for 36 years. Maria is a Vision Development Therapist, plays violin with the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, and enjoys weaving. We have two daughters. Sarah is a doctoral candidate in the English Cultural Studies program at Carnegie Mellon and is engaged to be married this summer. Julia graduated from Davis & Elkins College with a degree in Outdoor Recreation Management and a minor in Sustainability Studies. Julia is now working in Wooster, Ohio. All of us enjoy kayaking in the summer.
I am excited and thankful that God has brought the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek and me together to walk with Him! While this is my first full-time pastoral relationship, I bring 19 years of experience serving the presbytery and its churches as a member of the Commission on Ministry and serving a term as the Moderator of the Presbytery. Although I do bring a lot of experience with me, my first priorities for service here are to maintain or improve the quality of worship, become familiar with each of the boards and committees and their work on behalf of the church, and to meet all of you. Please feel free to seek me out for conversation or questions.
I am looking forward to continued growth in my faith while serving and worshiping God together with you.
Happy New Year!
Pastor Frank Hancock
Email: Pastor.Frank.PCPC@gmail.com
Office: (412) 793-4525
Cell Phone: (412) 860-3719 – Please feel free to leave a message
Change Sunday Update
After publication of the December Caller, the Deacons’ received another $60 by mail for their Change Sunday Fundraiser. With the support of our members, the Deacons’ collected a total of $403.91. The donations collected will help support Helping Hands Ministry and other special deacons’ ministries.Your donations and support are very much appreciated.
THANK YOU!
The Deacons would like to thank those who donated to Every Child Inc. The gifts are greatly appreciated and will be distributed to children in foster care across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Your kindness and generosity are helping to spread the Christmas spirit.
Coat Drive Update
The Deacons received the following thank you note for our participation in the recent winter coat drive:
The coats have been distributed and just in time for the coat weather.
Thank you, Plum Creek family!
2022 MONTHLY BLESSING BOX DONATIONS
JANUARY – BREAKFAST MONTH
Instant Breakfast, Instant Coffee, Instant Flavored Oatmeal, Children’s Cereal, Crackers, Box of Instant Hot Chocolate
Please no Expired Food. Other Non-Perishables always accepted.
What is happening at Plum Creek in January!
CHURCH INFORMATION
Church Address: The Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek
550 Center New Texas Road
Pittsburgh, Pa, 15239
Church Webpage: www.plumcreekpc.com
Office Phone Number: 412-793-4525
Email Address: Secretary@plumcreekpc.com
Pastor: Pastor Frank Hancock
Business Administrator: Kathy Kirk (in the office Tuesday-Thursday
Director of Media/Communications: Ian Kist
Worship Services: Sundays at 10 a.m. (live-streamed & in-person)
Sunday School: Sundays at 9:00 a.m.