“Growing in Service through Outreach”
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me” ~ Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
Service & Outreach – November/December – Share the Joy of Christmas: Kane Senior Living Giving Tree
A thoughtful gift, a familiar Christmas carol, or a moment of shared joy can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. This Christmas season, Mt. Lebanon Christian Church invites you to help make the holidays brighter for residents of Kane Senior Living through our annual Giving Tree!
Our Connect · Grow · Serve mission comes to life when we reach beyond our church walls to share kindness, build relationships, and remind others that they are part of a caring community.
CONNECT — Choose a tag from the Giving Tree in the Outreach Corner of the narthex. Each tag represents a Kane resident whose Christmas you can help brighten. Please return your wrapped gift to the church by Sunday, December 6, with the gift tag securely attached.
GROW — Let your gift be an expression of love and compassion. As you prepare your present, take a moment to reflect on the joy that comes from giving and the ways small gestures can make a lasting impact.
SERVE — Share the spirit of Christmas with us in person! Join fellow MLCC members for an afternoon of caroling and gift delivery on Saturday, December 12, at Kane Senior Living, 300 Kane Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15243. Please arrive at 1:15 PM; caroling and gift giving will begin at 1:30 PM.
Every gift shares kindness. Every song brings joy. Every connection reminds someone they matter.
Thank you for helping MLCC live our mission this Christmas as we connect with our neighbors, grow in love, and serve with open hearts. Together, we can make the season a little brighter for the residents of Kane Senior Living!
Helping Future DOC (Disciples of Christ) Leaders
Since its inception in January 1984, the Schnars Memorial Scholarship Fund—established by Dr. Clarence H. Schnars, the inaugural pastor of Mt. Lebanon Christian Church (MLCC), and his wife, Alliene—has served as a testament to the church’s dedication to nurturing those preparing for ministry within the Disciples of Christ (DOC) tradition. Carefully managed by the Church’s Trustees, this fund has grown considerably over time, enabling MLCC to make a substantial impact on aspiring DOC ministers and leaders.
Recognizing the potential to further invest in the next generation of church leaders, MLCC has partnered with Higher Education & Leadership Ministries (HELM), an organization committed to theological education and leadership development within the DOC community. In celebration of Dr. Clarence and Alliene Schnars, as well as the congregation of MLCC, HELM will now oversee the new Mt. Lebanon Christian Church / Schnars Graduate Scholarship, with the first award scheduled for Fall 2027.
While the specifics of the scholarship program are being finalized, MLCC’s Trustees and Board have approved a $10,000 distribution from the Schnars Memorial Fund this year to support HELM’s Global Theological Fellows program. This initiative is designed to help seminary students broaden their perspectives by connecting them with a cohort grounded in theology and oriented toward global issues. The funds are being used to directly assist these students as they approach the final stages of their spring studies. Additionally, HELM will also allocate a portion of these resources to strengthen scholarship offerings for students embarking on PhD and DMin programs this fall.
Through these efforts, MLCC is expanding its outreach and reinforcing its role as a catalyst for positive change—both within the church and beyond its walls—by empowering future leaders to serve with compassion and vision.
Ongoing Outreach Activities
To help increase our impact in the community, Mt Lebanon Christian Church will begin narrowing our outreach focus to four primary organizations. Our church will collect supplies and monetary donations and build relationships through service opportunities. Encourage your family, friends and neighbors to help support these worthy causes.
We will support the following organizations: South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), Kane Community Living Center, Camp Laurelview and The Education Partnership (TEP).
We are proud to support the efforts of a variety of community organizations as we seek to fulfill the biblical call to help those in need.
South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) is an interfaith human services agency providing direct service to families experiencing the impact of suburban poverty and to newly resettled refugees. Their mission is to extend God’s love with dignity and respect to the people of the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Click here for their website.
Camp Laurelview
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) – Click here for our website. This is a DOC camp near Somerset, PA. It is a place where individuals develop a relationship with God, one another, and a deeper understanding of the Christian faith.
The Education Partnership – Their mission is to provide school supplies to students and teachers in under-resourced schools across Southwestern Pa. – click here for their website.
Kane Community Living Center – No matter what type of care your loved one may need, we’re dedicated to providing your family with peace of mind by offering our complete personal and professional attention on every level. Click here for more details.
The Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh creates and implements innovative programming aimed at preventing domestic violence and providing services to domestic violence victims. Their mission is to end intimate partner violence in the lives of women and their children. Click here for their website.
Church World Service works with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world. Their initiatives include the annual CROP Hunger Walk and the Blankets+ fundraising event. Click here for their website.