Lisa reminds me that there is no HPCC Newsletter in January, but since I had already composed this . . . . BruceR Around St. Andrew's By Bruce Robison January arrives with a "Happy New Year 2006" greeting to all our friends and neighbors. The month begins and ends with musical events of interest to the wider neighborhood. The New Year begins actually in the Old Year, Saturday, December 31st, as our New Year's Eve tradition at St. Andrew's includes an 11 p.m. Musical Recital followed by Midnight Bellringing in the Churchtower, followed by a champagne (or non-alcoholic alternative) toast to 2006. Stop by to Ring In the New Year with us! On Thursday evening, January 5, at 8 p.m., the Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, a service of Choral Evensong, sung by St. Andrew's Choir, will be followed with a very special recital featuring Charlotta Klein Ross, of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Cello, with Elizabeth Ross, Voice, and Barbara I. Lewis, Associate Organist of St. Andrew's, Piano. A wonderful program, followed by a festive "Twelfth Night" reception in the Parish Hall. On Sunday afternoon, January 29th, St. Andrew's will be the venue for the Winter Concert of the Eastern Pittsburgh Youth Orchestra. As Gary Mosier wrote in a recent notice on the Neighborhood E-List, "EPYO was formed in 1996 to provide an additional outlet for young performers in Western Pennsylvania. The rehearsals and the concerts provide young adults with a broad-based exposure to traditional, orchestral performance practices, including a professional focus for students of more serious intent." Two notes as well for movie lovers. On Saturday evening, January 14, the St. Andrew's Youth Group is hosting a "Dinner and a Movie" Fundraiser, with dinner served at 5:30 p.m. and a screening of the classic family film, "The Black Stallion," at 6:45 p.m. Suggested donation [to cover both the meal and the movie] $8.50 per person ($5 for children 11 and under). On Saturday evening, January 28, the St. Andrew's Adult Education/Program Committee is hosting a showing of Pasolini's 1964 film classic, "The Gospel according to St. Matthew"--a little-seen 1964 masterpiece by the controversial Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini . . . a film that veteran British critic Alexander Walker was not alone in proclaiming "grips the historical and psychological imagination like no other religious film I have ever seen." The film begins at 7 p.m., and is shown without charge. We are invited to bring a food or beverage item to share for a "pot luck" dessert "movie fare" table. St. Andrew's has been a part of our Highland Park neighborhood for a century. Sunday services are 9 a.m. (Holy Communion) and 11 a.m. (Choral Morning Prayer, with Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month), and our Sunday morning educational programs for Children, Youth, and Adults begin at 9:45 a.m. If there are pastoral needs we can assist with--a baby to be baptized, a marriage to celebrate, a sick or shut-in family member or neighbor to be visited, a family to support at the time of a death . . . or if you simply would need to borrow a few folding chairs, or locate a "rainy day" location for a family event--please do call. Our office is open Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., and our phone number is (412) 661-1245.