First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood
  • Home
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Church History
    • Community Resource
    • Facility Use & Rental
    • Want to Join?
  • NEWS
    • ONLINE WORSHIP
    • NEWS & UPDATES
    • Newsletter
    • Renovation
    • Photos
  • Ministries
    • Worship Services
    • Christian Education
    • Music Ministry
    • Mission
    • Deacons
    • Presbyterian Women
    • FROGS Program
    • Community Meals
    • Stewardship
  • Calendar
  • Directions
  • Contact
  • DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Church History
    • Community Resource
    • Facility Use & Rental
    • Want to Join?
  • NEWS
    • ONLINE WORSHIP
    • NEWS & UPDATES
    • Newsletter
    • Renovation
    • Photos
  • Ministries
    • Worship Services
    • Christian Education
    • Music Ministry
    • Mission
    • Deacons
    • Presbyterian Women
    • FROGS Program
    • Community Meals
    • Stewardship
  • Calendar
  • Directions
  • Contact
  • DONATE

NEWS & UPDATES

day by day, step by step

3/26/2020

 
​Good morning people,
This bright sun is working for me – how about you?
I am intrigued by this “we are at war” metaphor we use when talking about the Covid 19 pandemic. The enemy is invisible, hiding, ready to ambush us. The enemy could be everywhere, we won’t know until we are attacked. The weapons in our arsenal are 1. stay at home, 2. wash our hands, 3. spray disinfectant everywhere, 4. Stock up on toilet paper (ha-ha)
What an odd way of fighting a war! The most difficult part for me is step one – stay at home. Not something I like to do. I seek distraction. Can’t sit still for long. Want to go out for any reason whatsoever.
The executive of Pittsburgh Presbytery, Sheldon Sorge, shared a reflection this morning that encourages me. Just take this battle one day at a time…one step at a time…and lean on Jesus, who is fighting this battle right beside us.
 
Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary … and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) The situation in which we find ourselves is just the sort of thing Jesus is addressing. With Jesus, the stressed find rest, reorientation, and renewal
 
Paradoxically, Jesus uses the metaphor of a yoke to characterize his promise of rest. We think of a yoke as signifying bondage, but he offers it as a pathway to freedom.
 
The image of yoked oxen was familiar to Jesus’ hearers. A strong, mature ox was typically yoked to a younger ox that hadn’t yet learned the disciplined art of plow-pulling. The newbie would pull to this side and that to check out interesting sights or dip toward the ground to catch a bit of some special grass. Meanwhile the elder ox would keep moving purposefully forward, and because of the yoke, the weaker apprentice was pulled away from all seductive diversions, back to the main task. Being yoked to the master saved the novice from the weariness that comes from chasing after every stimulus that cries out for attention.
Here is a different way of reading the verses Sheldon Sorge refers to: from The Message translation of the Bible.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
 
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you – now and forevermore…
Pastor Michael
 

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    RSS Feed

ABOUT US
Leadership
Church History
Community Resource
Facility Usage Policy
​
HOME
NEWS
Online Worship
News & Updates
Newsletter
Church Calendar
Worship Schedule
MINISTRIES
Christian Education
Music Ministry
​
Mission
Presbyterian Women
​FROGS Program
Deacons
Community Meals​
Photo Galleries
DIRECTIONS
CONTACT
​
DONATE
created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io
Staff Webmail Access
First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood   |   The Community Church   |   120 East Swissvale Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15218   |   412-241-4613