Christian Leaders Fellowship to Hold Prayer Service at the Pittsburgh Crèche Site

PITTSBURGH – The Christian Leaders Fellowship, an ecumenical group of local bishops and denominational executives, will lead a prayer service at the annual dedication of the Pittsburgh Crèche, on Friday, November 22 at noon in the plaza in front of US Steel Tower on Grant Street, Downtown.

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“Our hope is that tens of thousands of people will return to visit the crèche this season, and let this larger-than-life symbol emphasize the true spirit and meaning of Christmas in the greater Pittsburgh area,” said Monsignor Ronald Lengwin, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, who for 21 years has served as staff for the crèche on behalf of Christian Leaders Fellowship.

Blessed Trinity Academy Choir and Band will perform at the crèche at 11:30 a.m., before the prayer service. The choir is under the direction of Mrs. Frieda Flaminio and the band is under the direction of Mrs. Susan Chambers.
           
Erica Gamerro, director of the Diocesan Department for Liturgy and Worship and episcopal master of ceremonies for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, will MC the event. The Rev. Brian Evans, senior pastor of First English Evangelical Lutheran Church on Grant Street, will lead the singing.

This special crèche is a project of the Christian Leaders Fellowship. In addition, many individuals, as well as business, labor and religious organizations have contributed financial support and services. The crèche is truly a community effort.

Clothing for the figures has been designed, sewn and maintained by two local communities of religious women – Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and Sisters of the Holy Spirit.  A group of volunteers has joined the sisters in preparing the clothing and dressing the figures for the annual display.

The crèche will be blessed by Christian Leaders Fellowship representatives at noon and will remain up for viewing through January 7, 2020. 
 
Members of the fellowship expected to participate at the service include Bishop David A. Zubik, Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh; Bishop Dorsey W. M. McConnell, Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh;  Major Raphael Jackson, divisional commander, Western Pennsylvania Division, Salvation Army; The Rev. Linda Miller-Pretz, representing the Rev. David  Ackerman, conference minister for the Penn West Conference of the United Church of Christ; Bishop James Hobby, Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh; Bishop Kurt Kusserow, Southwest Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; The Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn, representing Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church; Metropolitan Savas, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh; Archbishop William C. Skurla, Byzantine Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh; and the Rev. Sheldon Sorge, general minister to Pittsburgh Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (USA).

There is a designated place for donations at the crèche. Donors may also send tax-deductible gifts designated to The Pittsburgh Crèche Fund in care of The Pittsburgh Foundation at Five PPG Place, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.