First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood will host a grief support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The monthly group will be open to members of the congregation as well as the public. It will be led by Chaplain Virginia Mayo, M.S. Ed. Counseling, M.A. Theology, of Anova Hospice and Palliative Care. Most of you already know Virginia from her previous preaching at FPCE. The intent of the group will be partly educational about the grief process and mostly supportive in working through feelings of loss. The work of grief is hard and cannot be hurried, but it can be reassuring to feel connected with a group. Spring is a wonderful time to open oneself to a new experience. Hope is what softens our feelings and gives us the belief that life can be worth living again. Give this some thought and if interested, please let Pastor Michael know or directly contact Chaplain Virginia at 412-247-5628. We are looking to begin early spring; specific times and dates to be determined. “Grieving together is growing together”.
If there is one thing that all of us, regardless of faith commitment, church affiliation, political persuasion, economic status, educational background can agree on it is this: these are challenging times for churches, communities, and our nation. We can do three things when the going gets a bit rough. One, bury our heads in the sand and pray for things to just get better. Two, address the current challenges in the same way we did in the past. Three, remember that God is our refuge and strength a very present help in times of trouble. Together, we can turn to the God who is our refuge and strength to help us now – in these challenging times. Throughout the season of Lent, I invite you to join us for two promising opportunities to grow and deepen our faith together.
ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:45 IN THE LOUNGE: The Journey to Jerusalem: A story of Jesus’ Last Days. In this imaginative retelling, author John Pritchard, a Bishop of Oxford from 2007 – 2014, explores the gospel of Luke by looking through the eyes of the disciple John. The Journey to Jerusalem provides weekday readings for Lent from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday, along with a poem for each Saturday. ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT 7:00 IN THE LOUNGE: Last year’s Wednesday evening classes proved to be a source of inspiration and fellowship for all participants. I anticipate that we will have the same uplifting experience this year. Holy Solitude: Lenten Reflections with Saints, Hermits, Prophets, and Rebels by Heidi Haverkamp, a writer, preacher, and retreat leader whose focus is spiritual development. Our faith is full of heroes who experienced God powerfully in solitude. Heidi Haverkamp offers their inspiring stories, thoughtful daily reflections, and practical spiritual disciplines to discover how time apart can open our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts to the still, small voice of God – and transform us for a life of faith and service. AN ON-LINE LENTEN COMMUNITY? I am a novice at social media, but a novice who is willing to learn. I am looking for a way to open the above two discipleship opportunities on-line. Most all of us have access to email, the FPCE website, or Facebook page. I am sure we can develop a way for you (and your friends?) to deepen their faith using the social media technology that is all around us “The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life that Follows” is the title of a “gripping, contemporary opera” recently performed by the Pittsburgh Opera Company on the stage of the theater of CAPA High School. “Gripping” only hints at the intense emotion and drama we experienced for over two hours with the others in the sold-out auditorium. The opera is a deeply personal exploration of a soldier’s return from Iraq where he served as an officer in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit and his battle with what he calls “the Crazy” as he tries to reintegrate into his family life. The opera is Based on the novel by the same title written by Brian Castner. (go to
https://www.pittsburghopera.org/show/the-long-walk if you want to view an exemplary three-minute clip from the opera). As the opera comes to a close, the shattered Castner family determinedly sings a piece that demonstrates the resolve and resiliency of the human spirit – “we have to begin again.” Brothers, sisters, and friends of FPCE, those words could be sung by us, and mainline congregations across this country. The elderly, wise theologian Walter Brueggemann says something I have been attempting to talk about, preach, and teach for the past four years; Everyone now agrees that we are at a new season in the life of the North American church, a new season that is starkly different from what was but that has almost taken us by surprise. That new season of dislocation is surely to be seen as a profound challenge to the church.” There are many explanations for how we got to this stage in American church life, but the dislocation is unmistakable. At times, I sit on my back-porch rocking chair and consider all these tectonic shifts across the American landscape. I recall what I thought my ministry would be like when I started seminary in 1980 and what has emerged here in 2017. There are times when I am discouraged, disheartened, and lost. But, as the Castner family learned, we have to begin again. In some ways, we do, too. I turn once again to Richard Rohr, an author, retreat leader, and teacher who has worked with the mainline church for longer than I have. He writes, “There is something the church has learned throughout its history that gives me hope. The word ‘change’ normally refers to new beginnings. But transformation more often happens not when something new begins but when something old falls apart. The pain of something old falling apart – disruption and chaos – invites the soul to listen at a deeper level. It invites and sometimes forces the soul to go to a new place because the old place is not working anymore.” In other words, we have to begin again. The season of Lent is a good time to do just that. An exciting adventure lies ahead of us. In Christ’s service, Pastor Michael Hello people,
This is going to be a full and meaningful Sunday for all of us. It is Transfiguration Sunday. We will ordain and install newly elected officers and celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The transfiguration of Jesus certainly must have changed the lives of the three disciples who were witnesses to this extraordinary event. (See Mark 9: 2-9) The question for us to consider, have our lives been transfigured? Filled with light – in a way we cannot forget. The Light of the world shines on. And as long as that is true, our lives can shine as well. See you Sunday, Pastor Michael Good morning good people of faith,
For those of us who are weary of winter, bad news - it is not over. Last week Punxsutawney Phil made his annual pilgrimage out of his hiding place, saw his shadow, and dived back into his hole in the ground - six more weeks of this cold, white stuff on the ground, if you buy into the groundhog’s prediction. Weary of winter? Jesus had an antidote. He too became weary at times, and he did not moan and groan about it. He did something. Made a mini-pilgrimage of his own. See Mark 1: 29-39 to uncover Jesus’ answer to weariness, confusion, and anxiety. We are merely one small decision away from making that very same, refreshing journey. What is holding us back? We will talk about that this Sunday. And, lest we forget, FPCE is “home” to Boy Scout Troop #23. Charlie Huse, Wayne Dean, Liz Held, and John Foster are members of our congregation who work with the young men. Tomorrow is Scout Sunday and a few of the scouts will assist in leading worship. It is a special Sunday for them, you can make it even more special by joining us. See you in church, Pastor Michael Most of us wait till the last minute to decide what we will do for Lent to deepen our faith, and we wind up doing the usual: giving up chocolate, etc. (fasting). But Lent calls on us to take part in praying and giving, as well as fasting. We have 2 weeks until the start of Lent; perhaps this will be the year we take on new activities in all three disciplines: read each day’s gospel or a new publication (e.g., Upper Room), make a charitable contribution each week, fast from a bad habit...and if you can do it for 6 weeks, who knows?! Lent could be the start of new habits and new blessings.
Hi everyone!
Well it looks as though the clouds will part, the sun will beam, the snow will melt, and a warmer Sunday morning will embrace us. Please join us for our Emerging Worship service. The Praise Ensemble has some stirring songs for us. And the story from Mark’s gospel is a bracing call from God that each one of us must hear and answer in our own way. I look forward to spending the morning with you. See you soon. Pastor Michael PS – there will be no adult Sunday School this week. I will be meeting with potential confirmands and their families. THE GOSPEL FOR 2018
Jesus said, “The time is at hand, the kingdom of God is near, repent, and believe the gospel!” Mark 1: 14 The word “gospel”, as you know, means “good news.” Brothers and sisters, I am writing to tell you - there is good news for the year 2018! Dr. Francis Collins is a scientist held in the highest regard around the world (he played a key role in the Human Genome Project.) Not many may know that Dr. Collins is a man of faith and conviction. His book “Faith” is well worth the read. Francis Collins sees a vibrant, new reality emerging in the world; the re-birth of a vigorous spirituality and commitment to faith. His observation is that a decades-long era of scientific empiricism and rationalism is coming to an end. (An era when something was true only if it could be proven scientifically, is a rough definition.) But the spirit of a living God cannot be denied or ignored forever. A profound and transformational spirituality is being born all around us! Recently I read an article by Diane Butler Bass, a theologian widely recognized as an expert in mainstream church life in the United States. For most of her career, she watched in despair as mainline denominations were being pushed to the sidelines. If there was ever a time when a nation needed a spiritual renewal it is now! She writes: Strange as it may seem in this time of cultural anxiety, terrorist fear, political violence, environmental crisis, and partisan anger, I believe that the United States (and not only the United States) is caught up in the throes of a spiritual awakening, a period of sustained religious and political transformation during which our ways of seeing the world, understanding ourselves, and expressing faith are being, to borrow a phrase, “born again.” I am convinced that Dr. Francis Collins and Diana Butler Bass are onto something. As I talk to younger people and read the blogs, articles, websites on the internet, younger people are rediscovering the reality of the human soul, a higher power, the need for deeper connection to one another and the world we live in. Young people are actively seeking and uncovering the reality of spirituality. Now, the catch is, this renewed spirituality does not have much to do with religious traditions, denominations, church structure, or structures. As Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” Jn.3: 8. It is an exciting time for people of faith. The question for those of us who have been main-line Presbyterians for decades is this: can we catch up? Are we willing to let the wind blow us where it pleases? I am reminded of a startling thing God spoke through the prophet Isaiah when God was rebuilding the nation and the faith of Israel: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43: 18-19 Pastor Michael Good afternoon.
Question. What is it about very cold temps, snow, and ice and Sunday mornings? I see an unfortunate trend developing…. This Sunday, let’s buck that trend! Let’s gather as fellowship of the Risen Lord anyway. (But please, if it is not safe for you to be out, take care of yourself - - we will be open every Sunday morning in the foreseeable future.) A meaningful and joyful service is in store for us this week.
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL at 9:45 a.m. This really is a provocative and stimulating time to be together! For this Sunday, read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism. (Matthew 3: 13-17, Mark 1: 9-11, Luke 3: 21-22, John 1: 29-34). What do you think is the significance of Jesus’ baptism? Why do you think God asked his Son to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins? See you Sunday, Pastor Michael And a happy brittle cold morning to all!
First of all – stay safe and warm everyone. Why is January 7 a Sunday of Light – it is Epiphany. The Sunday when we celebrate that the Star of Bethlehem was not for Jesus – but for strangers from far away. What star shines over FPCE? Who does it shine for? Four reasons that make this Sunday special
God bless you! See you soon. Pastor Michael |
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