Author Archives: Jenny

PNews 4/7/22

A Time to Weep As he entered Jerusalem, Jesus began to weep, even as the crowd’s acclamations for his triumphal entry were still ringing in the air. Jesus’ anguish was not that they rejected his words or actions, but that … →

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A Time to Weep

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, April 7, 2022 A Time to Weep As a child I was part of a Sunday School that from time to time ran contests on who … →

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The Church’s True Beauty

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 31, 2022 The Church’s True Beauty Seriously? The church is “beautiful”? We know all too well the church’s ugliness. Its shortcomings. Its divisions. Its judgmentalism. … →

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PNews 3/31/2022

The Church’s True Beauty Jesus’ road to Calvary underscores that having everything look pristine and work in good order is not his highest priority; indeed, we know all too well the ugliness that can be found in the church. Yet … →

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The Divine Discount

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 24, 2022 The Divine Discount Last week my youngest grandson, a kindergartener, gave me a card he made for my birthday. It is full of … →

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PNews 3/24/22

The Divine Discount According to Scripture, God chooses to discount our shortcomings – and we are called to do the same with each other. If we cannot demonstrate reconciliation in how we live with each other, we have no credibility … →

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PNews 3/17/2022

Hope Hope. It’s one of the defining terms of the New Testament and yet hope can be frustrating when what you hoped for, doesn’t happen. Across the last two years, leaders have seen their hopes dashed as wave upon wave … →

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PNews 3/10/22

One, and Only One Jesus’ promise is that the coming of the Spirit upon the church will help unite his followers, even as he and the Father are one. The church’s visible unity is a public manifestation of what God … →

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One, and Only One

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 10, 2022 One, and Only One Paul is flabbergasted about what’s happening at the beloved faith community he helped found in Corinth. Evidence suggests that … →

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PNews 3/2/22

Holy? Really? The word “holy” is widely misunderstood. Holiness is about belonging. When we confess the holiness of the church, we affirm that it belongs to the Lord, and to the Lord alone. Do we honor the church’s holiness in … →

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Holy? Really?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 3, 2022 Holy? Really?  We continue our conversation about the “marks of the church” (Book of Order F-1.0302) by considering what it means to confess … →

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When One Suffers

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, February 24, 2022 When One Suffers[i] This year Pittsburgh Presbytery is breaking with its tradition of devoting its February meeting to celebrating the history and ministry … →

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PNews 2/24/22

When One Suffers The most important political gift the church can offer the world is for it to be true to its identity as the Body of Christ. In the church, not only are all members equally welcome; all are … →

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We Are Catholic

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, February 17, 2022 We Are Catholic! Today we continue a conversation about the ancient creedal “marks of the church” and how they are foundational for church … →

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PNews 2/17/22

We Are Catholic “Catholic” was not coined by nor is it a trademark of the Roman Catholic church. It derives from the ancient Greek katholou, which means literally “according to the whole.” When we say we are catholic, we are … →

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