Life Above the Mason-Dixon: Coraopolis, PA Adventures
Greetings friends! It's been some time since I posted a themed blog or a life update. It's high time we remedy that situation. Isaiah and I are currently residing in Coraopolis, PA--an area close to Pittsburgh (20 min. drive). Most of the smaller towns surrounding Pittsburgh are divided via bridges since this is a town of rivers (and steel!). We live in "Cory" (what the locals coin Coraopolis), but we go to church via a bridge since Grace OPC is in Sewickley, PA (9 min. drive), and on Fridays, I often head to Moon Township (one of the only areas I don't cross a bridge to access) to nanny for a wonderful kiddo named Asher. We've crossed some of the bridges leading into Pittsburgh, PA on a few trips there (places we've visited since moving include the Pittsburgh Zoo for a date, the downtown area to vote, a Chris Tomlin concert with our Pastor and First Lady, and the Strip District to have the most amazing cod and crab with Elder Karl and his daughter Bea). We've also crossed a few bridges when visiting different members of the congregation (some of the areas our folks dwell including Cranberry, Ambridge, Beaver Falls, and Aliquippa, etc.).
Most things around here are arrived at within 20 mins due to minimal traffic and well-made and engineered roads (one of the things Pittsburgh is famous for--along with steel, Heinz ketchup, Mr. Rodgers, the Tuskegee Airmen, Pierogies, and many sports teams). It is quite an experience NOT driving 1 hour+ to RTS Charlotte, or 40 mins+ to Harvest OPC, or even the 20-30 min. drive to Rockwell Christian I'd grown used to. I sometimes miss my (and our) longer NC drives, but, for the most part, I'm simply glad for less time in transit. It's also quite a good thing that the drives here are shorter since the gas and EasyPass bills can quickly add up, and the roads are often curvy and hilly--which, unlike Isaiah, I am not quite used to (Isaiah has the advantage of having driven up and down the mountain at Covenant College, whereas, at that time, I still didn't have a license!).
It may seem strange starting this email off with a discussion of roads, cities, and bridges, but it's one of the first things one learns about in a new place, and it's a easy way to let you, dear reader, know exactly where we are in the space and time of this thing called life. I've been learning the importance of these types of details, having become a recent member in a church which consists of a lot of engineers! Details, numbers, and the placement of items (including people) matter.
Considering that we've only been here 2 or so months, I feel we've gotten to know quite a good chunk of the congregation, though of course there are still families to visit and have over, and there is always more to know about a person. I would already have been focused on getting to know the congregation at Grace OPC via visits and visiting people, but I am perhaps even more honed in on knowing these beautiful folks due to a book Chris Zozzaro lent me during Summer and the pastor at Grace emphasizing pastoral visits in his time with Isaiah.
Isaiah's internship has gone great thus far! Since our arrival, we've been helped with moving, expenses, and have been known much kindness. As I told Elder Steve in his home on Sunday, I see this congregation as "dynamite" for the gospel due the generosity, hospitality, and willingness; can't wait to see that lit fuse in action! Isaiah meets with Pastor Geoff once a week for a check-in and often for a visit to a member together. Isaiah also has been given the gift of preaching 3 Sundays out of the 4 per month, which means sermon preparation time has become a part of our weekly schedule here. He often preaches 2 evenings and 1 morning each month. Having memorized and meditated on a good amount of the Book of Hebrews, that has become his focus for sermons during this internship. He'll be doing Hebrews 3:1-4 this coming Sunday; "Christ as Architect." In addition to weekly check-ins and sermon prep, Isaiah visits at least 3 folks per week. This (in addition to occasionally helping with outlines since I love structure) is the area I've been more a part since I deeply enjoy invites, inviting, and planning our social calendar.
As mentioned, there is still (and always will be) more to know about this particular group of believers and their families, but we have begun the beautiful joy of the journey. Just this past Sunday, a more emotional one for me, I was looking around and genuinely feeling that "these are my people." It is one thing to "know" that you belong in the church since it is a Christian's spiritual family, and it is another to "feel" that you are a part and that you are beginning to know the other parts. That is a truly wondrous and joyful thing--that feeling of connection to the Body and that starting to know how some of her parts function; those skills and additions you can see that folks bring to things like Bible study, prayer time, and fellowship. As I begin to see the sinews, joints, and bones of this particular Body of Christ, I weep a little at the humble thought that I get to be a part of such a glorious calling from the Lord--to play a part in the Body of our Lord Jesus, who is the guiding head, leading this Church to work for Him; to fulfill such a large calling of works He has prepared in advance for us to do!
Part of the role I am filling in this Body of Christ, I am finding, has little to do with gifts, personality, or abilities, and more to do with simply the "being" who I am. Just yesterday while I ran some laundry at the Campbells (the blessing of a free washer and dryer is never to be underestimated--Thank God for Myers and Campbells!), Chris spoke to me of the importance of simply having "young people; the next generation" around being encouraging to a more-well-seasoned congregation. He mentioned that the simple act of being a young family or being youthful and remaining a member of the Church, especially in certain seasons, was part of adding to the Body; of filling a certain role. I wept (and almost an now) at the humbling idea of me just being a certain age and having a certain energy being of great use--I don't even have to "try" to fulfill what the Lord has called for me to do sometimes; sometimes just being who I am in this season and showing up is immensely helpful. What a a strange and glorious thought for a Type-A overachiever who's an eldest child! God uses all to aid his Church--even the simple things; our age, our children, our energy, even our newness.
As far as what our weekly lives look like here in PA, I must admit that our schedule is still forming, and we continue to become more and more disciplined with our time now that we have received some much needed rest after busy and stressful seasons of Seminary and the Boardwalk Chapel (a fantastic ministry that is NO joke as far as schedules are concerned; after all, it's run by a military man who is more strict on himself than everyone else--it's why Pastor Jim's veins are made of coffee and doctrine; he won't mind me giving this compliment!). That being said, there are many elements of this PA schedule of two-eldest-children-who-married-each-other which are of course already formed and active. Sundays are the best and busiest of days, as should be the case for in Pastoral Intern, with Sunday School and morning service, fellowship with members and guests at someone's house or at our own, followed by more coffee and evening service. Isaiah often preaches at least one of the sermons of the day, and sometimes leads the worship portion of the service.
<As we get into talking about the week, one should know that there are items we do basically everyday and some we strive to do everyday. We try (and mostly succeed) at our morning routine: waking up and doing Bible Reading time while we drink bullet coffee, walking along the Montour Trail, and returning to drink electrolytes and check our emails/phones as we start the day (of course, this is all after my impressive husband has gone on a run and made the coffee before waking me up). As I've told my new friend Karl--"I married up!">
On Mondays, Isaiah and I are often tired from the weekend happenings but often find time to clean the house a bit along with completing our morning routine as well as a meal plan for the week (if I haven't done it Saturday) and we discuss the week's schedule together. We sometimes find time to discuss or work on the budget, go on a date, get groceries, and/or watch a night-time movie over a simple meal like chicken and rice or extreme nachos. (Last night's move was a Doris Day and Clark Gable classic: "Teacher's Pet.") Tuesdays are more structured and always include sermon prep time, which almost always includes the Sewickley Library (where I am as I type this update!). Tuesdays are a good day for sermon prep since the Order of Worship for the bulletin deadline is motivational. After our morning routine (or as much of it as we can do), we head to the library--Isaiah to work on sermons and me to read for fun, read for book club (which meets once a month), do my Ladies Bible Study Book (which meets once a month), complete correspondence (letter writing, blogging, emails, calls and texts), and in general get into my introvert side and have a grand time (I've never been one to mind being alone or next to Isaiah as he works). I'm also trying (and often failing, but trying counts!) to get into piano practice on Tuesdays, since that saves on gas as the church where the piano is, is already close to the library. Tuesday evenings often include some type of church item; often it's a ladies event.
Wednesday's main event is evening Zoom prayer at 7, and often we join someone for lunch or dinner (at our place or theirs); if it's a typical week, Andrew Zhou (our friend from the BWC who has recently joined our church) often comes for dinner and prayer at our house and sometimes sleeps over in our living room after further prayer together. Thursday is my official call-day. I often chat with my mentor, Dorothy-Jane, and sometimes she does counseling (it's called Accu-Prayer and is her special blend of awesome) with me. I also often chat with friends from the BWC, young ladies I am invested in, family, etc. Thursday and/or Saturday is often another sermon-prep day for Isaiah. Thursday night is also sometimes includes Session meetings for Isaiah, and sometimes fellowship over a meal with folks. Fridays are normally Asher days, a wondrous 3-year-old whom I nanny from 9-4. I often do laundry whilst I watch Asher as the Myers are generous; Asher enjoys helping me load laundry and make lunch--he is a naturally charismatic helper and overall outgoing hoot. If it's a typical 9-4 day, I often take him out for an outing mid-day; though sometimes our days are shorter. We usually have someone for dinner on Friday, and it's a glorious time.
Saturdays are sometimes book club, church workday, ministry meetings for the things I am pursuing, men's study, etc. But Saturday is always cleaning, prepping for Sunday, and having our Bro Andrew come, since he spends the night for church on Sunday (and I might as well mention on here that Andrew's being away this week has felt funny; only cooking for Isaiah and not prepping Andrew's Japanese-style floor cot in the living room has left me feeling odd). Come Sunday, Isaiah is blaring Steve Green and Michael Card, and I know that's my wake-up call (aka: the Sunday playlist!) to get ready for the Lord's Day. On the once a month fellowship meal day, we often tote some type of sourdough goody, since Hannah Marsh gave us starter this Summer, and I married a husband with skills. Sourdough has become an English staple and a huge money saver for us in this season. Praise the Lord for my Marshwiggle (whom I have a letter for, but it needs more stamps first)!
All of that being said, there is still much we're still working on. Isaiah has recently emailed folks about his Licensure Exams and has started making study schedules for that (specifically for Greek and Hebrew, which are the ones he is most concerned about). We've also been packing and unpacking from lots of weekend trips lately (Ohio Presbytery Ladies's Retreat, Presbytery *where Isaiah came "under care" of the Ohio Presbytery!*; trip to Chatt to see Isaiah's brother from the UK, etc.), and I am hoping that with more consistent "home time," I can feel more settled and get even more of a schedule going. I am also hoping for more time to blog (yay! One item down!) and organize and beautify our apartment entryway and hallway, which is currently the least impressive part of the apartment. The rest of it looks great! (Though I know that if my mom was here, it would look better; she's the true aesthetics queen.)
I am excited about two possible ministries I am getting training for--including CEF: Child Evangelism Fellowship, which is opening a chapter near our church; and Besthesda Disability Ministry, part of the SeeJesus ministry under Paul Washer. I hope to eventually do what my friends Tim and Emma do with Bethesda, but that's still in the works. So, there is much settled and much unsettled, as the Christian life and ministry tends to be in general. There is nothing new under the sun, and Isaiah and I are not special; however, we are working and striving and being in the grace and favor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Life; therefore, is grand since our Lord and his plans are grand.
My current reads include The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali for book club (just ordered it t be sent to the library), SaltFatAcidHeat by Samin Nosrat (a cookbook I've long admired due to the docu-series released years ago, and which I was reminded of seeing it on the Myers shelf--I got my own copy and am attempting to learn all of the basics of cooking I don't and have never known!). Also reading The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rodgers by Maxwell King (since he is from the Pittsburgh area, Latrobe to be exact, and I like to read about the people that make up the place where I live). So, like usual, my M.O. is one fiction book, one learning book, and one book on a local or locale I'm a part of! Next on the list of local is Annie Dillard's An American Childhood. Next on the list of learning would be foraging books or perhaps books that might teach me how to fish (since I'd like to save us grocery money by contributing in this way!).
To quote the late great Porky the Pig --"That's all Folks!"
Until next time,
Calli Jade English: Warrior Princess for Jesus; Wife to the Greatest Man on the Planet....I could go one with further kennings; however, I shall bid you ado and attempt to actually finish the other things I need to accomplish.
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