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

ONLINE WORSHIP

Sunday Sun

1/19/2018

 
Hi everyone!
                Well it looks as though the clouds will part, the sun will beam, the snow will  melt, and a warmer Sunday morning will embrace us.  Please join us for our Emerging Worship service.  The Praise Ensemble has some stirring songs for us.  And the story from Mark’s gospel is a bracing call from God that each one of us must hear and answer in our own way.  I look forward to spending the morning with you. 
See you soon.
Pastor Michael
 
PS – there will be no adult Sunday School this week.  I will be meeting with potential confirmands and their families. 
Picture

January 2018 Pastor's Point of View

1/13/2018

 
THE GOSPEL FOR 2018
Jesus said, “The time is at hand, the kingdom of God is near,
repent, and believe the gospel!”
Mark 1: 14
 
The word “gospel”, as you know, means “good news.”  Brothers and sisters, I am writing to tell you - there is good news for the year 2018!

Dr. Francis Collins is a scientist held in the highest regard around the world (he played a key role in the Human Genome Project.)  Not many may know that Dr. Collins is a man of faith and conviction.  His book “Faith” is well worth the read.
 
Francis Collins sees a vibrant, new reality emerging in the world; the re-birth of a vigorous spirituality and commitment to faith.  His observation is that a decades-long era of scientific empiricism and rationalism is coming to an end. (An era when something was true only if it could be proven scientifically, is a rough definition.)  But the spirit of a living God cannot be denied or ignored forever.  A profound and transformational spirituality is being born all around us!

Recently I read an article by Diane Butler Bass, a theologian widely recognized as an expert in mainstream church life in the United States.  For most of her career, she watched in despair as mainline denominations were being pushed to the sidelines.  If there was ever a time when a nation needed a spiritual renewal it is now!  She writes:

Strange as it may seem in this time of cultural anxiety, terrorist fear, political violence, environmental crisis, and partisan anger, I believe that the United States (and not only the United States) is caught up in the throes of a spiritual awakening, a period of sustained religious and political transformation during which our ways of seeing the world, understanding ourselves, and expressing faith are being, to borrow a phrase, “born again.”

I am convinced that Dr. Francis Collins and Diana Butler Bass are onto something.  As I talk to younger people and read the blogs, articles, websites on the internet, younger people are rediscovering the reality of the human soul, a higher power, the need for deeper connection to one another and the world we live in. Young people are actively seeking and uncovering the reality of spirituality.

Now, the catch is, this renewed spirituality does not have much to do with religious traditions, denominations, church structure, or structures.  As Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” Jn.3: 8.

It is an exciting time for people of faith.  The question for those of us who have been main-line Presbyterians for decades is this: can we catch up?  Are we willing to let the wind blow us where it pleases?  I am reminded of a startling thing God spoke through the prophet Isaiah when God was rebuilding the nation and the faith of Israel:

Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43: 18-19

​Pastor Michael

Snowy Sunday

1/13/2018

 
Good afternoon. 
                Question.  What is it about very cold temps, snow, and ice and Sunday mornings?  I see an unfortunate trend developing….  This Sunday, let’s buck that trend!  Let’s gather as fellowship of the Risen Lord anyway.  (But please, if it is not safe for you to be out, take care of yourself - - we will be open every Sunday morning in the foreseeable future.)
A meaningful and joyful service is in store for us this week.
  1. Two young families with infants will be presenting their little ones to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. 
  2. A congregational meeting will occur directly after worship.  The meeting will begin at noon and be “to-the-point.”  We will vote on a change to our by-laws, elect officers for the class of 2020, and have the first reading of the budget for 2018.  We will get through the business as soon as we can, while being fair to those who have questions to raise. 
  3. I know – Steelers play at 1:00.  I know.  I will do everything I can to make sure all of you get home in time for the kick-off.  (I see a Steelers victory.  20 – 6.  How about you?)
 
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL at 9:45 a.m.  This really is a provocative and stimulating time to be together!  For this Sunday, read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism.  (Matthew 3: 13-17, Mark 1: 9-11, Luke 3: 21-22, John 1: 29-34).  What do you think is the significance of Jesus’ baptism?  Why do you think God asked his Son to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins?
 
See you Sunday,
Pastor Michael

A Sunday of Light

1/5/2018

 
And a happy brittle cold morning to all!
First of all – stay safe and warm everyone.
Why is January 7 a Sunday of Light – it is Epiphany. The Sunday when we celebrate that the Star of Bethlehem was not for Jesus – but for strangers from far away. What star shines over FPCE? Who does it shine for?
Four reasons that make this Sunday special
  1. At 9:45 – a nifty study on Epiphany
  2. We will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during worship
  3. There is an important congregational meeting immediately following the service
  4. Help us – PLEASE – help us un-hang the greens.

God bless you! See you soon.
Pastor Michael
Picture
    created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io

Archives

January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 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
May 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
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
September 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
January 2019
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
December 2015
November 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014

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