Seriously. Worship is worth it. We were created to worship as surely as we were created to eat and drink. Come and worship with us – Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. and Easter Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Your presence enhances and blesses our time with God – for you are God’s child. All of yu’uns.
Seriously. Pastor Michael Oh…your friends are welcome and (I promise) will be embraced by a beautiful worshipping community. This Sunday we go deeper into the Lenten journey by sharing in liturgy and music from the Taize and Iona worship communities. The service will be more quiet and contemplative than a typical Sunday worship experience, allowing for meditative song, responsive prayer and reading, and a time for individual prayer, anointing, and lighting of candles. After worship, however, our focus becomes more outward and joyful as we join together to celebrate 100 YEARS of our dear friend and life-long FPCE member Florence Pickels. We'll gather in the social room for a meal together and share in memories and fellowship with this wonderful woman who has been a pillar of our church for so many years. Good morning everyone, These past few lovely days serve as an invitation to emerge…. Emerge from your warm, safe homes. Be thankful for the protection they provided. But let us walk into the light and the warmth of these days. Join us for worship - Emerging Worship – at 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning. (an adult Sunday School at 9:45 is waiting for you as well!) Worship will take us into the heart of wonderful and inspiring medleys. Meaningful liturgy. And a powerful reminder that when we are in the presence of the Risen One, we are in the presence of the One who brings us to life. See you in worship! Pastor Michael THANK YOU FOR READING THE FOLLOWING APPEAL FOR HELP. Remember – we are close to party time. Florence Pickels has reached the very big 1-0-0! Her actual birthday is this Sunday when she will be with her family. But we, her church family, will celebrate with her next Sunday, March 22. Immediately following worship, there is a luncheon in honor of Florence in the church social hall. PLEASE…PLEASE… (a special appeal from the planning committee!) PLEASE let us know if you plan to come and what dish you will bring. There is a sign-up sheet in this week’s bulletin – or call/email Judy at 412-241-4613; [email protected]. Thank you for your response.
Over the 10 or so years, we've held a Good Friday Prayer Vigil. This started as a full day event, where members could sign up to come in for a half hour or hour from 6AM-9PM. The idea was that we would be continuously in prayer as a congregation on the darkest day of the Lenten journey. As less individuals signed up, the vigil turned into a several hour window during the day when the sanctuary was open with candles and devotionals for anyone to come for as long as they'd like.
With less and less participation each year, the Worship Ministry Team decided it was time to change directions and try something new. So, on Good Friday, April 3, 2015, we will have a new prayer service at 1:00PM in the Lounge. This will be a very relaxed and informal service running approximately 45 minutes to an hour in length, allowing us to gather and focus on the last hours of Jesus's life on the cross. Please consider joining us for what we hope will be a new tradition in our worship life together at Edgewood. Dear members and friends of First Presbyterian, First of all, thank you brave souls who weathered minus degree wind chills last Sunday – we had a blessed and beautiful time. Also a big thanks to those who joined us on a night-so-warm Ash Wednesday. Again – a meaningful and joyful time together. So…what will Sunday morning bring? I do hope it brings you to church. We are going to sing some Taize music, good old traditional hymns – and a new one. One of the more beautiful pieces from last week will get a second hearing. I will be talking about one of the more difficult, interesting, disturbing, adventurous stories in the Old Testament. The story of God starting over. See Genesis 9: 8-17. See you Sunday! Pastor Michael 7:00PM in the Lounge We invite all of you—and urge you to bring your neighbors and friends—to an evening of reflective worship as we enter the season of Lent. We will pray, sing, hear the transforming word of scripture read and applied to our lives today. The service will conclude with the Imposition of Ashes. During the January 25th congregational meeting, it was discovered that the previous year's entry was mistakenly put in the 2014 annual report under the Pastor's Report section. Here is the correct and updated report by Pastor Michael that should have been included in the 2014 report:
Dear Members and Friends of FPCE, I knew there was something different about this place. I felt it back in the summer of 2012. I still remember that sunny, warm, July morning. The Pastoral Nominating Committee searching waited for me in the Pastor’s study. I was right on time. A good-looking, perpetually tanned, athletic Brad Masten answered the door, gave me a warm, welcoming smile, a firm handshake and we plunged into the interview. Ninety minutes later, I left the building but already carried this congregation in my heart. I had experienced something new for me as a pastor. As I spoke with the committed, articulate, energetic people on the PNC, I felt at home. I feel the same way today. I am profoundly blessed to serve as your Pastor. A few thoughts I’d like to share with you as we move into our 29th month together: I AM THANKFUL My how this church has grown! This congregation endured some difficult years. The issues you confronted were important, the years of conflict seemed to drag on forever. But in the end you - the dedicated members of this fellowship - emerged humbled, more disciplined, more mature and deeply committed to becoming “A Community Church.” I am grateful for your inquisitive minds, your thirst for spiritual development, your quest for effective mission and service and the compassion you show toward one another—and me and my family. After a painful parting from my previous call, I now rejoice, just as the Psalmist declared: “My mouth is filled with laughter, my tongue with shouts of joy.” (Ps. 126:2) I AM HOPEFUL As I look out at those who gather for Sunday morning worship, I am encouraged by what I see. Four generations are represented, from Florence Pickels to Sophia Grace. People from different levels of income and different racial backgrounds sit together in mutual love and support. The new members and frequent visitors all agree: this congregation accepts them at they are. There is no “FPCE member template.” I am hopeful that we will embrace future visitors in that same Christ-like spirit; where “there is no longer (division) between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female; for all of you are one in Christ.” (Galatians 3:28) I AM ENERGIZED No doubt, the Lord is testing the main-line Protestant churches. In many ways, we mainliners have become side-liners. I’m sure we all grieve that reality. Since the late ‘90’s, the mainline churches have sometimes tried to incorporate, even imitate, the ever-growing, contemporary, mega-church model. I believe we are moving out of that stage, and I am encouraged. We need to be more creative and disciplined in nearly everything we do, but, trust me, a myriad of ministry models are working their way into the imaginations of mainline church leaders Instead of ruing our lessened impact on society, ministry and mission that grows out of the natural strengths of congregations such as FPCE are multiplying every year. I thumb through the books piled on my desk, at least four recent purchases speak directly to our situation. And I have yet to plumb the depths of on-line resources. I’m 61. I’ve been a pastor for 31 years. In many ways I believe my ministry is just getting started. Your readiness to try new things only encourages me even more. “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, (is) what God has prepared for those who love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9) I AM PRAYERFUL. I invite, no, I strongly encourage all of you to pray that the leadership of FPCE is able take us to the next step of our journey. Pray that, as one united congregation, we discern, persevere, patiently await and boldly follow where God leads. May we never forget: “with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) In Christ’s service, Michael P. Rucker, Pastor As discussions continue around the possible upgrading of interior space with HVAC, restrooms, handicap accessibility, and functional use of common areas, a new blog page on this site has been created to keep the congregation informed and involved. Click the "renovations" tab under "NEWS" to see the latest discussions and developments. Sunday, February 1 SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY: In 1990, a Super Bowl Sunday prayer inspired a group of young people to do something more than celebrate a football game. They created the Souper Bowl of Caring, and have mobilized youth across thee country to raise more than $71 mission since ‘91 for people in need. ALL THE MONEY RAISED goes directly to a charity of our choosing—no administrative costs are deducted. Please drop at least $1.00 in a soup pot that will be at the exits of the sanctuary this morning. |
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