Author Archives: Jenny

PNews 2/3/2022

Bedrock Church Jesus is clear about what will make credible his followers’ claim to be his disciples. They will be publicly recognized as his disciples by how they love each other. In a post-pandemic church that has lost much in … →

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Bedrock Church

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, February 3, 2022 Bedrock Church Over the past year these weekly letters have been exploring essential elements of the church’s identity, as set forth in our … →

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Dangerous Bubbles

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, January 27, 2022 Dangerous Bubbles Jesus’ final words to his disciples, according to Matthew, begin with “Go…” He had already given them practice in stepping out … →

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PNews 1/27/22

Dangerous Bubbles Jesus’ final words to his disciples, according to Matthew, begin with “Go…” For followers of Jesus, going out into the world is a strategy not only for making the world better – it also makes us better. Can … →

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PNews 1/20/22

The Big Sort One effect of the pandemic on churches is a sharply increased rate of member shift – to online worship, to other churches, or just dropping out. The pandemic has magnified discontentment with their congregations that some members … →

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The Big Sort

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, January 20, 2022 The Big Sort  I recently had a provocative conversation about church trends with a person who grew up in church but does not … →

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Severe Weather Policy Update

In the event of severe winter weather impacting travel conditions, the offices of Pittsburgh Presbytery will follow the schedule of the Pittsburgh Public Schools.  If Pittsburgh Public Schools close or switch to remote instruction due to unsafe travel conditions (and … →

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More than Enough

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, January 13, 2022 More than Enough Exclusion is an outward manifestation of an inner disposition. It reveals the influence of fear, usually the fear of not … →

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PNews 1/13/22

More than Enough In God’s economy, there is always more than enough for everyone to have their fill. The only miracle of Jesus recorded in all four Gospels is the feeding of the five thousand, suggesting that it is the … →

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Blinded by Epiphany Light?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, January 6, 2022 Blinded by Epiphany Light?  Where were you one year ago, on January 6, 2021? How did you learn about what was happening at … →

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PNews 1/6/22

Blinded by Epiphany Light? Epiphany is about God’s light blazing into our world. We can choose either to live by what it reveals, or to be blinded by it in our eagerness to live instead according to what we would … →

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PNews 12/16/21

The Mercy of Waiting Every year Advent invites us yet again to reflect on waiting. Waiting goes against the grain of human appetites and expectations. Advent focuses on our waiting on Jesus, but might it not also inform how we … →

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The Mercy of Waiting

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, December 16, 2021 The Mercy of Waiting Every year Advent invites us yet again to reflect on waiting. Waiting goes against the grain of human appetites … →

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Gathering in Person – Cause for Celebration or Alarm?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, December 9, 2021 Gathering in Person – Cause for Celebration or Alarm?[i] December’s presbytery meeting at Parkwood United Presbyterian Church is our first time to gather … →

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PNews 12/9/21

Gathering in Person – Cause for Celebration or Alarm? Giving each other the benefit of the doubt is not only a neighborly thing to do – it marks us as disciples of Jesus, who demands that we do to others … →

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