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.

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

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!

Good afternoon.
The Lord has called a beloved brother home. Most of you have not had the opportunity to meet Dick Roller or his devoted, wonderful wife, Myrna. Dick and Myrna were long time members of the Mulberry Presbyterian Church – the church home for Dick since his baptism 91 years ago. Dick suffered from a terrible fall not too long after I came to FPCE. Unfortunately, he complication followed complication and Dick was never able to recover. Dick was called to the place where there will be no more pain, crying, or death on Sunday afternoon, June 2.
The funeral service for Dick will take place at 11:00 a.m. this Thursday at the Rose Funeral Home (10940 Frankstown Road, Penn Hills 15235.) Keep Myrna and her large, tightly-knit family in your prayers.
Grace be with all of you,
Pastor Michael