Blog Posts

Strategic Planning Update

7/24/2019

Good morning,
What a lovely day it is!
A heads up. Immediately following worship this coming Sunday, the Strategic Planning team and I will present an update on our work and the ideas we are considering regarding the church facility.
It is well established the caring for the church facility is a costly and time consuming job. With the congregation shrinking number of members and a subsequent decline in giving, we need to think prayerfully and creatively about what to do with the facility.
I very much hope that you will be able to attend the worship service and the congregational conversation that a will follow.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Michael

What a week!

7/19/2019

Good morning brothers and sisters – people of the Way (as the earliest Christians were called),
What a week! The heights and depths of human nature were on full display:

We watched and celebrated the day that Neil Armstrong, representing the aspirations and determination of all humanity, stepped onto the moon. Do you remember where you were on that history making day?
We watched our President stand in front of thousands of American citizens – all from immigrant families – gleefully chant “Send her back!” to a more recent immigrant and fellow citizen.
And today, we remember and celebrate the life of the South African leader, Nelson Mandela. His life has become a beacon of light for all humanity, his words and witness must not be forgotten.

This Sunday, I hope you will join us for worship at 10:00 a.m. We will read that Jesus, walking defiantly into the tumult if his time, sat down with two of his closest friends – both women – and opened their eyes to what he called “the good portion” of discipleship. Do you remember what that good portion is?
See you in church!
Grace and peace to all – and please take care of yourself on these hot, muggy days.
Pastor Michael

After the Sunday worship service concludes, you will be invited to join me and other adults to explore further the meaning of the morning’s scripture readings.

A chance to make a difference...

7/16/2019

Good afternoon,
Real quick. If you or someone you know might have two hours a week to make a big difference – check this out:

Wilkinsburg Community Ministry runs a summer lunch program for kids. No kitchen help needed….however – sit at the entrance door from Noon to 1:30 p.m. on any weekday – open door for kids and ask them to sign in on sign in sheet that they all know about. One and a half hour one day a week…a big help.
Someone in the church is facing a health issue that is keeping that person out of the garden. The weeds are not waiting for that person to feel better. Spare an hour or whatever you can – your work will be deeply appreciated.

If you can help out in either of these situations – or know someone who can – let me know (421-298-3140 or mprucker@fpcedgewood.org)
Thanks – and God bless.

Sunday

7/13/2019

Good morning,
“May God fill your day with joy and happiness.”
A quick note: The Strategic Planning team must postpone our congregational conversation after worship tomorrow morning. We will in the near future.
However – there will be adult Sunday School in the lounge for all who are interested.
Grace and peace to all,
Pastor Michael

A Reason to Give Thanks

7/12/2019

Good morning everyone,
I am not the only one who is especially grateful for the ministry of community service freely offered by all who put together out Summer Community Dinners. Jim Segedy, Tyler McGuigan, John Foster, Judy Mysels – and so many more – thank you.
A Christian mystic named Meister Eckhart wrote, “If the only prayer you ever say your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” This Sunday we will hear the wonderful stories of two women, two families, who have every reason to live a life of thanksgiving after being gently touched just once by Jesus. Great stories they are! Come Sunday, 10:00 a.m. in the Gathering Place, to hear the stories and give thanks to God. See you soon.
Pastor Michael

A REMINDER: immediately following worship the Strategic Planning team will give an update on its work – and seek feedback from you. Please plan to stay with us a little big longer this Sunday.

10:00am Sunday Morning

6/30/2019

Good morning everyone…
Moses stood before Pharaoh and demanded: Let my people go!
Jesus turned to those who believed in him and promised: The truth will set you free.
On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr rejoiced: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!
Are you? Are you free? Are you feeling it? July 4 is nearly upon us…it is a question worth pondering.
This Sunday morning we will worship freely, thanks be to God, and we will discover that both Jesus and the Apostle Paul spoke powerful words about what it means to be free. We might be surprised at what we hear.
Sunday morning…in our Gathering Place. Worship is a celebration of our freedom. Come sing, celebrate, shake a few hands, give a hug or two - and pray with us. (God knows our nation and world need it!)
Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Michael

10:00 a.m. Sunday - a really cool story and really good worship

6/22/2019

Good morning,
I love the story Luke tells us in chapter 8 of his gospel. There are so many angles to it, so many surprises, so many questions…
That story, singing, praying, dancing (well, that has not happened yet, but who knows?) and warm fellowship await you this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the Gathering Place. I look forward to sharing the time with you.
“God respects me when I work, but loves me when I sing.” Rabindranath Tagore (a Bengali polymath, mystic, poet, musician)
See you Sunday,
Pastor Michael

PS – an adult class will follow worship. Our focus will be on that morning’s scripture verses from worship. Informal discussion. Check us out.

Summer 2019 Newsletter Article

6/17/2019

It’s time to turn the page!

I am grateful to the session and congregation for supporting my trip to an annual event called the Festival of Homiletics (preaching.) The Festival always inspires me and gives me an opportunity to talk informally with pastors of large and small mainline congregations.

Here is what I learned:

We are not alone. The reality is mainline churches across the country are becoming smaller. (Note: even many mega-churches are experiencing losses in membership and donations.)
The mainline church fulfilled meaningful and fruitful ministry for decades all across our nation. But those traditional ways of being and doing are no longer connecting with our communities and the younger generations.
It is not time to sit back, mourn, cling to traditional ways, wonder what happened or point fingers of blame.

It is time to turn the page! A meaningful chapter in Christian life across the country is coming to an end. The end of a chapter is not the end of the book! If anyone watched the movie and television series, The Everlasting Story, the story
of life – including church life – is always being written. It is time, past time, to begin writing the next chapter.

FPCE has a strategic planning committee (Paul Ohori, Tom Ochs, Jim and Lisa Segedy, Tyler McGuigan, and Pastor Michael) who will help us begin writing that new chapter. We will meet regularly beginning this summer. Your ideas, encouragement, and prayers are most welcome.

How it works

6/14/2019

Hi all….
God has tried three times. Three times to reveal what God is like – Father, Son, Holy Ghost…Creator, Redeemer, Comforter. Different names…different ways of being. Every time, God trying to tell us what He/She is about and how much He/She wants to be in a relationship with us. Was the third time a charm? What do you think?
I am excited about Sunday morning’s service. Great music. Intriguing verses from the Bible (Romans 5: 1-5 & John 14: 12-21)…See you soon.
Pastor Michael

Earth, Wind, and Fire

6/7/2019

It is Pentecost Sunday! We will read the story of the sudden, mind-boggling, raucous arrival of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit arrived with power – and a mission. That power and mission is with us. Do we find our life’s purpose in its presence? Let is worship together – this Sunday, 11:00 a.m.
See you soon,
Pastor Michael

Adult Sunday School class at 9:45 in the lounge. There is room for you!

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