Blog Archives

Emerging in the Gathering Place

7/22/2016

Hello all,
Greetings on this gray, drippy Friday morning. I don’t know what the weather will be like outside this coming Sunday at 10:00 a.m. But we will be celebrating our faith in the Emerging Worship style. Great music. A cool and newly painted Gathering Place. A scripture reading that I hope sheds a little bit of light on an important question.: what to do when our prayer life becomes dry and uninspired….when deeply felt prayers bounce off the ceiling and echo hollowly through our souls? We’ve all been there. Read Luke 11: 1-13. How do those verses help…or do they?
Plus, one additional, intriguing question: when it comes to dealing with God – could bargaining work? See Genesis 18: 20-32. Very interesting.
See you Sunday!
Pastor Michael

Camp SOS Thank Yous

7/17/2016

Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers who helped to make our first summer of service middle school outreach camp so successful.

SOS...SOS...This SOS is for you!

7/14/2016

Hi all,
It is awesome to see a 15 month old vision spring to life! Camp SOS (Summer of Service) is on a roll! A wonderful and diverse group of young people…tremendously dedicated, hard-working, patient, talented, fun-loving adult volunteers… memorable visits with the library, the police and fire departments, Wilkinsburg Community Ministry, our own FPCE FROGS and Food Pantry ministries, and a very informative visit to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Our young people and adult volunteers have learned a lot about how a community works together.

Camp SOS Community Dinner
This coming Friday (July 15) from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the social hall.

Grilled hamburgers, sausages, probably some hot dogs and drink will be provided.
Please bring a side dish (nothing fancy, keep it simple) and join us.
We will be fed, enjoy the fellowship, share memories of the week and
The young people will perform some intriguing, dramatic acts inspired by the events of Camp SOS.
You are invited to the closing celebration of our 1st annual Camp SOS!
See you at 5:00 p.m. this Friday.
Bring a friend.

Pastor Michael

Sunday - A Call to Prayer

7/9/2016

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We need to pray together. Maybe we even need to talk – and listen. The storm clouds of violence are hovering over our nation. We are surrounded by the fog of senseless loss. Raw emotions are simmering and, sometimes, erupting with frightening consequences. Church is a place and a people where our hurt, fear, confusion, doubt, and loss can emerge and the powerful process of repentance, healing, and redemption can begin. This coming Sunday, our church really will be a sanctuary.
Providentially, the scripture lesson this week is the story of the Good Samaritan. (see Luke 10: 25-37.) We can no longer walk on by, pretending all is well. Instead of walking on by, we can become instruments of healing.

A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: You will hear more about this on Sunday. A special offering will be received to help the family of the young man who was shot and killed this past 4th of July. Kinnear Parr
was growing up to become a very special and wonderful young man. Two families in our congregation knew Kinnear very well. They, along with hundreds of others, are grieving. We will mourn with those who mourn.
Please worship with us this Sunday. Bring friends. Bring those who are confused, angry, and hurting.
See you in church,
Pastor Michael

Adult Sunday School at 8:45 a.m.