Blog Archives

Pastoral Announcement

10/14/2020

The Pastor Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the Rev. Anthony Rivera as our new pastor at FPCE. Rev. Rivera is originally from New York and received his Master of Divinity degree and Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Rev. Rivera has worked as an accountant and has experience teaching in colleges and seminaries. For many years, he was involved in the Office of Admissions at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where he started as the Associate Director of Admissions and then served as the Director of Admissions. More recently, Rev. Rivera was the transitional pastor at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church until earlier this year. The congregation members and his colleagues were impressed with his knowledge of scripture, compassion and sincerity. He has been known as a pastor who responds to those in need and loves developing relationships with others.

Please welcome Rev. Rivera to FPCE! He is scheduled to begin his position at our church on Monday October 19, 2020 and will be leading the worship service on the following Sunday. Below are samples of his sermons.

https://fhpcpa.org/Sermons/122419%20sermon.mp3
https://fhpcpa.org/Sermons/102019%20sermon.mp3
https://soundcloud.com/eastminsteraudio/2-11-18-to-be-with-god-anthony-rivera
https://soundcloud.com/eastminsteraudio/11-5-17-tithing-as-a-way-of-life
https://soundcloud.com/eastminsteraudio/the-take-at-hand-rev-anthony-rivera
https://fhpcpa.org/Sermons/100619%20sermon.mp3

In Christ,
Paul Ohori, Chair Pastor Nominating Committee
Tom Ochs
Marcia Haley
Tim Hoffman
Tim McKee

God's Presence

10/14/2020

God's Presence

pause

Take a deep breath right now.

Notice one thing you see,

one thing you hear,

one thing your body is touching.

You are here in this place. God is here with you, too.

listen

The Lord said, “I’ll make all my goodness pass in front of you, and I’ll proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord.’ I will be kind to whomever I wish to be kind, and I will have compassion to whomever I wish to be compassionate. But,” the Lord said, “you can’t see my face because no one can see me and live.” The Lord said, “Here is a place near me where you will stand beside the rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I’ll set you in a gap in the rock, and I’ll cover you with my hand until I’ve passed by. Then I’ll take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face won’t be visible.”

Exodus 33:19-23

think

I think it is interesting that Moses and God had such a close relationship, yet Moses is not able to see the face of God — if he tried, he wouldn’t live! Whoa! Instead, God hid Moses in a gap in a rock and walked past, only revealing God’s back to him.

Like Moses, we may not be able to see the literal face of God, but we can definitely see God in other ways. I see God when teenagers stand up for justice (teenagers are the BEST at that). I see God when my friend Joe helps at his local food bank. I see God when my little son asks if his baby sister is ok and gives her a hug. I see God when citizens come together and work to advocate for equality for all human beings.

Where do you “see” God?

Erin Spengeman Hutchison

pray

God, help me to look for you and see you today. Amen.

As you go, remember that God is with you and with those who do justice.

Dare to be with God, too.

CROP Walk: you can still donate!

The 2020 Pittsburgh East CROP Hunger Walk took place virtually this past Sunday, but donations are still being accepted to help the hungry in our area. So far, our team has raised $360 online (likely more with checks sent into the office).

Judy & Mariah Mysels, Rhonda & Jon Apessos are registered to "walk" this year. Help FPCE's team by donating on the Pittsburgh East CROP Hunger Walk page here!

Carr Memorial

We're grateful to all who were able to attend and participate in the celebration of life for our faithful brother, Tim Carr, last week. At the family's request, the service was recorded, and at the request of several members, we have posted it online. The link is unlisted on the church's YouTube channel so that it is more private for the family and also not the first video showing up on our channel's playlist. You can access it by clicking the video below or this link directly:

https://youtu.be/6Lqtqssr7Xo

World Communion Sunday and more...

10/5/2020

"What's Getting Me Through These Days"

A retired Presbyterian pastor suggests three tried-and-true tactics for challenging times

by Ken Rummer for Presbyterians Today | Special to Presbyterian News Service

I’m a small child in a crib, struggling to breathe in the night, clogged up with what will turn out to be allergies and asthma. My crying rouses my parents who take turns responding.

Being picked up and held vertically helps. I can breathe better and settle a bit.

Back in the crib, I’m feeling the congestion return, cutting off the air. Again I’m crying. Again a parent comes in.

After several trips, my father says they can’t keep doing this. He returns me to the crib, says a prayer putting me in God hands, and goes back to bed. My crying does not bring another parent visit.

The memory of that night came back to me recently when I made of list of difficult times in my life. What’s getting you through these pandemic days was the question, and I thought I’d see what had helped get me through hard days before.

Out of that inventory, I identified three tactics that have helped me in challenging times, and more than once. You’re welcome to borrow any or all.

Resync with music

In high school I played violin in a baroque musical ensemble — strings, recorders, harpsichord, lacy neckwear, knee britches. I noticed that after two hours of rehearsing Bach and Vivaldi, my unfinished homework had quit shouting at me. Somehow the ordered notes had restored my inner order, and I drove home feeling more calm.

Presently I’m playing beginner piano most days. When my fingers are on the keys, I’m not thinking about pandemics and worst-case scenarios and push-my-buttons posts on social media. And I’m feeling less anxious.

Cue up your favorite playlist. Take up a new instrument. Stream a concert by your favorite group. You may discover that your scattered fragments are finding their places. Engaging with music can do that.

Refocus with projects

Another tested tactic for difficult days is taking on a project. An out-of-state move in the middle of high school shook my foundations. But building a two-person sailboat with my dad that year filled a lot of empty places — even when the waves were sloshing into our open pontoons.

Currently, my wife and I are sorting pictures and adding captions for a photo book. The oldest grandchild just turned 10, so we are attempting a 10-year book featuring our four grandchildren.

Maybe for you it’s quilting or turning all the flour in your pantry into baked goods or applying the principles of tidying to your closet. Or painting your family room, or laying pavers for a new patio, or getting that old mower running that hasn’t started in two years.

Tackling a project paints a goal line out in the future, but not too far. Measured in days, a project takes the mind off uncertain months and years. And you can mark your progress.

Rebalance with faith

Reaching out to God is another of my tested tactics for getting through a difficult season. In the uncertainties of the present pandemic, an affirmation passed down through my faith tradition points to my deepest deep-down hope: in life and in death we belong to God.

I first leaned on this and found it strong as that small child struggling to breathe in the night. My parents had done all they knew how to do and they put me in God’s hands. Scared and exhausted, I finally did the same.

Not knowing if I would wake up again, I reached out to the God in whom my parents trusted and went to sleep.

Whatever your religious identity and commitment, you may find, digging down into your beliefs, something or someone you can trust, come what may. Stand there on that bedrock of your faith. It’s a way to regain your balance, even in these days.

Ken Rummer, a retired pastor, writes about life and faith from the middle of Iowa by the High Trestle Trail. Previous posts are available here.

October 4 Worship

We gathered at the table with brothers and sisters around the globe to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper on World Communion and Peacemaking Sunday. The Rev. Kellie Weekley-Mills led worship, and Sunny and Shaun shared music representing various countries. Those choosing to participate in communion from home while watching the video are encouraged to prepare their own bread and cup to partake when invited to do so.

PDF Bulletin:

https://www.fpcedgewood.org/uploads/2/3/8/3/23831749/october_4_-_pentecost_18a__world_communion_sunday_.pdf

SoundCloud Audio Only:

https://soundcloud.com/fpcedgewood/october-4-2020-worship

YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/cYYcPQuZZKo

Sad News

We received word on Saturday that our faithful Deacon, choir member, and brother in Christ, Tim Carr, passed away unexpectedly. We assume it was complications from the cancer he had been fighting over the past year or more.

At Tim's request, there will be no visitation. His family is meeting with Pastor Michael to plan a memorial service in our sanctuary some time this week. Once we know specific details and any COVID safety protocols, they will be communicated via email.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughters and extended family.

October Newsletter

The October issue of "News from the Edge" was sent out last week and should have arrived in your mailbox by now. In the event you haven't seen it yet, you can access it by clicking here.

CROP Walk is Next Week!

2020 Pittsburgh East VIRTUAL CROP Hunger Walk: Sunday, October 11, 2020

The CROP Hunger Walk may be Virtual, but the need could not be more real. Join with others from the Pittsburgh East CROP Hunger Walk as together we walk to end hunger and poverty here in the East End of Pittsburgh and around the world!

Judy Mysels, Rhonda and Jon Apessos are registered to "walk" this year. Help FPCE's team by donating on the Pittsburgh East CROP Hunger Walk page here!

NEWS & UPDATES

Pastoral Announcement

God's Presence

World Communion Sunday and more...

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