Good afternoon FPCE family,

This week I have another resource to share with you for devotions or individual prayer and reflection.  heartlight.org is a site that is full of options: articles, daily scriptural quotes, devotions, artwork, and more.  I was clicking around the site, and in their list of devotionals, one grabbed my attention called "God's Holy Fire," which they describe as a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Here is today's, titled "Made by the Holy Spirit."  Enjoy!

God's Holy Fire: 'Made Holy by the Spirit'
Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
— 1 Peter 1:1-2 NIV

Key Thought
"Sanctifying work of the Spirit" sounds so formal and religious. Some translations put, "his Spirit has made you holy," but even that wording really doesn't capture the essence of the meaning for me. What I believe Peter is trying to tell us is that our souls were like an old stained rag we used to clean up messes in the garage. When the Spirit comes into our lives, he takes this stained rag, and he cleans it, makes it new, and gives it incredible value. Instead of being the rag for messes in the garage, it is now a beautiful, clean, white tablecloth normally used for special occasions, but to be shared in all its glory in daily life. The Holy Spirit of God takes our broken, stained, and battered souls and makes them clean, new, and valuable — not just for us, but for God. This concept is crucial, as evidenced by it being repeated several times in the Bible (Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:29; 1 Peter 1:2).

Today's Prayer
Make me new, Lord God. Make me new and holy and valuable to you through the work of your Holy Spirit. Forgive and cleanse me, and make my heart and my life pure so I can bring you glory and live for your honor. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

It’s been a couple of months since we’ve shared a musical offering. I had forgotten that Sunny sent this recording to me right around Easter after our flurry of Holy Week services. She plays an arrangement of the old hymn tune “He Hideth My Soul” by Fanny Crosby. The beautiful running water is video that I took while on some social distancing walks with my neighbor on the paths that used to be the golf course at the former Churchill Valley Country Club.

Here’s a little story behind the song:

She could not see with her natural eyes, but she could see with her heart. She could not explain what a human face looked like, but she knew the face of God. Blind from six weeks old because of a surgical mishap, her life was different than most, but it was not worse than most.

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) supported herself as a teacher at a blind school, she had dear and close friends around the world, and she wrote and published thousands of beautiful hymns, many that are still sung today. Regarding her plight in life she wrote the following words:

“It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.”

For those who have natural sight, but are blind to the things of God, Fanny Crosby’s songs bring a sense of His Presence.

He Hideth My Soul

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life with the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,

He taketh my burden away;

He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!

When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love
I’ll shout with the millions on high.

“Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by.”(Exodus 33:21,22)

​Blessings,
Shaun

Happy Tuesday,
I hope you're staying cool in this heat wave that is apparently not letting up over the next week. Make sure to check on each other, especially those you know may not have the benefits of being in a comfortable space (I will admit to staying in more than out in a house set to 68 degrees!).

Speaking of comfortable, the following (slightly longer) recent article from the "Outpost" Blog of The Presbyterian Outlook publication website challenges our comfort level as the church in this unprecedented time. It is written by the Rev. Rebecca Gresham-Kesner, pastor at Faith Presbyterian Church in Medford, New Jersey, and is titled "The Spirit at Work in the Pandemic." (original article can be found here)

Enjoy the read.

Peace,
Shaun

This postcard was sent to our membership on Friday:

Good Morning,

There are lots of things that can cause stress and anxiety in our lives.  Keep the news on for any length of time in the past few days and you can feel your levels rising with each story and statistic.  COVID cases rising, new restrictions in place, fights over mask wearing, debates about how and when schools will reopen.  It can certainly make your head spin!  I know if I dwell on what the next month might look like for my own teaching situation my mind will definitely go to a not-so-happy place.

I'm betting this article from Guideposts might help you when those thoughts, anxiety, and stress overtake you:

6 Short and Simple Prayers for Coping with Stress
Quick, simple prayers for coping when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
by Bob Hostetler
original article found at: https://www.guideposts.org/faith-and-prayer/prayer-stories/how-to-pray/6-short-and-simple-prayers-for-coping-with-stress

Maybe your life is all sunshine and cotton candy. No shadows, no sadness, no stress.

Well, good for you. Feel free to move along, because the rest of us are dealing with stress—lots of it for some of us. And at times it feels like we’re about to buckle under.

But that’s why I’m so happy that I can turn to God in prayer, even though at times, when I’m super stressed, the words don’t come easily. When that happens, I call on just a few go-to prayers. Short ones. One word. Two. The longest is only six words. Sometimes I pray just one, over and over. Other times, I pray several, in order, more or less. See if any of these prayers for coping with stress help you:

A 1-word prayer: Breathe
Sometimes when I’m stressed, I hold my breath. I don’t even know I’m doing it. But when I realize it, I remind myself and turn it into a prayer of sorts: “Breathe.” My wife’s watch even reminds her to breathe! It’s a helpful practice. Stop. Slow down. Breathe.

A 2-word prayer: Hide me
David sang, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 17:8, NIV). Oh, I pray that often, and I frequently condense it and simplify it into just two words: “Hide me.” While the storm rages. Until the storm passes. Until the stress evaporates like summer rain on a hot sidewalk.

A 3-word prayer: Peace be still
When His closest friends were stressed and scared by a storm at sea, Jesus rebuked the storm, saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39, KJV). And the squall surrendered. It’s a great prayer at any time, for any soul in stress: “Peace. Be still.”

A 4-word prayer: I come to You
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT). Remember these words in the midst of a stressful situation, and pray, “I come to You.” Let Him give rest to your soul.  

A 5-word prayer: My help is in You
On one occasion, I was so stressed—panicked, even—that I spent a half hour on my face on the floor of my study, praying, “My help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (see Psalm 124:8). Over and over. Until my heart and mind began to agree with my lips and my voice. And calm and hope returned to my soul.

A 6-word prayer: I have calmed and quieted myself
One of the shortest psalms in the Bible, Psalm 131, is a lullaby. I love it and pray it often when I’m stressed—especially the second verse:

   But I have calmed and quieted myself,
   I am like a weaned child with its mother;
   like a weaned child I am content (Psalm 131:2, NIV).

The picture is that of a child contentedly snuggling with its mother, not complaining or clamoring, but simply and completely content to be in its mother’s arms. Those six words—“I have calmed and quieted myself”—remind me that I am in the arms of a loving and protective God, a realization that relieves stress and revives my soul.

That’s it. Altogether, just 21 words. But they do often soothe me and save me from stress. I hope they do the same for you.

* * * * *

Tomorrow afternoon at 1:00, we will record Sunday's worship.  The Rev. Carol Divens Roth will join us and lead the service.  If you would like to join and sit in the back of the sanctuary, you are welcome to enter using the East Swissvale Avenue door.  Wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, sit socially distanced, and refrain from singing, but please join in the responses and prayers.  Everything in the service is printed in the bulletin, so you won't have to touch a bible or hymnal.

Take care of your mental and spiritual health.  Stay safe.  Wear a mask.  Wash your hands!  Pray!

Peace,
Shaun

Good morning brothers and sisters,

I came across a site you might consider using for your spiritual disciplines. d365.org is a daily devotional that is technically targeted toward students, but I like the simplicity of what they do. It's also supported by the PC(USA) Office of Christian Formation.

Each day's entry is divided into five steps:

pause, listen, think, pray, and go. You can likely read it in under 5 minutes. I scrolled through a few of the most recent entries on the "archives" tab. It appears that each week has a theme that ties the devotions together. 2 weeks ago was "Be Loved," last week was "Be One," and this week is "Be With." I thought I'd share the entry for this past Sunday, 7/12...Be With:

pause
Stop for a moment. Lift your eyes. Become aware of the needs around you.
Who are your neighbors? How might you share your life with them this week?
listen
When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. -- Matthew 14:13-14

think
It’s a familiar story, right? Many of us have grown up hearing about Jesus' miracles on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Yet today, I read it a little differently. Did you pay attention to that first verse? Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.

Sometimes the weight of the world is too heavy. We must retreat. Spend time in solitude. Grieve. Cry. Pray. Grief wasn’t foreign to Jesus. Jesus knew the hurt of losing someone he loved! And then did you notice what happened next? Jesus recognized the needs around him, had compassion for the people, and healed the sick.

It’s been a difficult season. There are many losses to grieve. The loss of security, community, experiences, and life. Take heart. God goes with us into our places of solitude and grief, but God also moves with us to the places where we find community and to the people who need our love, companionship, and compassion. It’s up to us to recognize needs around us and to respond.
--- Mary Katherine Johnson

pray
Loving God, thank you for the promise that you are always with us – in the most difficult times and in the most joyous times. Help me to be a source of love, companionship, and compassion in my community today. Amen.

go
Go today with your eyes wide open and a new awareness to the needs of others around you.
Look for ways to Be With your neighbors today... even if not face to face.
And the wisdom and strength of Christ, who is With You always, be your guide.

* * * * *
Pause. Listen. Think. Pray. Go.

Simple...and a great way to approach our faith and spiritual development.

Always looking for ways to Be With you as a church family,

Shaun

The folks running social media on the East Shore account (community & business initiative joining Braddock, North Braddock, Rankin, and Swissvale) sent some reminders about today's heat advisory:

Extreme #heat can be very dangerous! Stay safe this summer + avoid heat-related illness:
drink plenty of water
avoid alcohol
stay cool indoors
limit time outside
wear light, loose clothing
check on older family + neighbors
never leave kids or pets in cars

Don't forget pets shouldn't be left outside and watch walking pets on hot sidewalks.

On the Upper Room website (upperroom.org), under the "daily" tab, they post a daily reflection from one of their many books each day on a page called "New Every Morning."  Here is today's:

Today's Reflection
The gardenia prompts our awareness of life’s high moments of sweetness that can sustain us through the not-so-sweet times—the embrace of a loved one, the adoring smile of a child, the strains of great music, the delectability of a piece of chocolate, the smell of rain . . . or a homemade corsage. Those charming delights strengthen our spirits and nourish our souls if we pay attention and say thank you.
—Linda Douty, Rhythms of Growth: 365 Meditations to Nurture the Soul (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today's Question
What moments of delight can you notice and say “thank you” for today? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
—Psalm 119:103 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week
​Thank you, God, for sun and showers
Thank you for each lovely flower
Thank you for each stately tree
Through all these, you speak to me.
—A Gardener's Prayer

Happy Wednesday FPCE Family,

We don't often talk about things happening within the Presbyterian Church (USA), which of course we at FPCE are members.  Especially during this closure time, we've focused mostly on talking with each other and figuring out how we go about the business of "doing church" in the present and near future within our own congregation and Edgewood church family. However, there are things that are taking place in the larger portions of our denomination that may interest you, as they eventually trickle down to individual congregations.  You'll recall that the governing structure we belong to as Presbyterians is: local congregation, which belongs to a presbytery, which is part of a regional synod, all that make up the national bi-annual gathering called the general assembly.  

Believe it or not, the 224th General Assembly (GA) actually did take place 2 weeks ago.  Due to the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in, they made the decision to move to an entirely virtual convention.  Typically, these are days-long events that involve hundreds of volunteers, a host city, many churches opening their doors for special services, thousands of delegates from congregations across the country, reports of committees, and long debates and votes on a series of overtures and amendments in a tediously precise parliamentary process following Robert's Rules of Order. (Sunny and I participated in the closing worship back in 2012 when GA was held in Pittsburgh at the David Lawrence Convention Center...they were running over on the final plenary session and we patiently waited in the backstage area for well over an hour before they were ready for us to begin, so we got to hear how it all happens!).

Attached, you'll find a PDF summary of the actions by this year's GA.  You'll note that no major policy or rules changes were voted upon in favor of addressing them in person at the next GA in 2 years.  However, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, some position statements and calls for action were adopted.

At the regional level, the Synod of the Trinity recently posted that they have begun a featured blog series called "Through My Eyes."  Their description is as follows: 

"During this time when the pandemics of both the coronavirus and our culture of racism cannot be ignored, this series titled “Through My Eyes” allows for those in the Synod’s bounds to share openly what they are experiencing on a regular basis. This is not meant to be a political forum, but instead a chance for people to express their personal feelings about what they are seeing and feeling during this unique time."

To read the first article, visit https://www.syntrinity.org/featured/through-my-eyes-i-am-not-ok/

Here in our own city, the General Minister to Pittsburgh Presbytery, Sheldon Sorge, writes a regular message to the congregations in our area.  His most recent letter from July 2, titled "Liberty and Justice for All," can be found (on their newly redesigned website...long overdue!) here: https://www.pghpresbytery.org/2020/07/liberty-and-justice-for-all/

In the absence of a pastor providing regular words of comfort, encouragement, and leadership, I thought it was worthwhile to hear what the leaders in our denomination are saying and doing.  If you have a particular scripture, devotional, or site that you turn to for spiritual guidance that you think the members of our church family would benefit from, I'm happy to share in these email communications.  My hope is to keep us feeling as connected as possible while we're not physically meeting...I will definitely admit it has felt odd and slightly unsettling in the past week not seeing any emails or texts from Michael as we were in the habit of communicating many times in a week.

One more final note/reminder: our sanctuary will be open for socially distanced congregation members to be seated in the back while we record the Sunday service on Friday at 1:00PM.  The Rev. Kellie Weekley-Mills will again be at the pulpit.  If you choose to attend: use the Swissvale Avenue entrance, wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, sit socially distanced in the back portion of piews, refrain from hugs, handshakes, and singing...but participating in the responses and prayers is encouraged!

The scripture in yesterday's "Upper Room" devotion encourages us in times of hardship to find the joy.  From James 1:2-4...
2 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing.


Peace,
Shaun

The Worship Committee invites anyone who wishes to attend the recording sessions on Friday afternoon for our Sunday worship services online.  When arriving for the 1:00PM session, follow these health and safety guidelines: