Letters from the General Minister
Hope That Never Disappoints
February 20, 2020 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister February 20, 2020 In his litany of the good fruit Christ bears in us, Paul says that Jesus gives us hope that “does not disappoint us.” …
The Memorial Mandate
February 13, 2020 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister February 13, 2020 In Hebrew Scriptures, God’s people are commanded to erect memorials to help them remember God’s saving acts in very specific times and places. One …
Of Councils, Emperors, and Powers
February 6, 2020 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister February 6, 2020 As I write, we still await the final Senate vote on whether President Trump shall be removed from office in response to the …
Wisdom Amid Acrimony
January 30, 2020 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister January 30, 2020 During last week’s Senate trial, Chief Justice John Roberts reprimanded Democrat accusers and Republican defenders of President Trump by asking them to remember …
Justice Delayed
January 23, 2020 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister January 23, 2020 In his Letter From A Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. cites a legal maxim to his clergy colleagues who claim to be in …
Naming the Elephant
January 16, 2020 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister January 16, 2020 When I was interviewing for their pastoral vacancy, the congregation’s search committee told me that the church needed its next pastor to lead them …
Persistence and Adaptability
January 9, 2020 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister January 9, 2020 Jesus prizes persistence. He teaches that persistence has more to do with salvation than great faith and power. (Matthew 10:22) Persistence is never …
A Holy Night, A Holy Place
December 19, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister December 19, 2020 Much is made of the inhospitable “no room” response Mary and Joseph encountered as they sought accommodations in Bethlehem. Yet there was a place for them, …
Hopes and Fears
December 12, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister December 12, 2019 The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. (Phillips Brooks, 1868) These familiar words from verse one of “O …
The One Who Comes to Stay
December 5, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister December 5, 2019 Today our presbytery gathers for its final meeting of 2019. My but how our years together have flown by! At our 2009 December …
The Gift of Thanks
November 28, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister November 28, 2019 The Greek word for “thanks” is eucharisto, which we transliterate “Eucharist.” Receiving the gifts of Christ’s body and blood both expresses and elicits …
You Can’t Go Home Again – Or Can You?
November 21, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister November 21, 2019 Thomas Wolfe’s final novel, published posthumously, is entitled You Can’t Go Home Again. It explores the disconnect and rejection the protagonist feels from his …
Spiritual but Not Religious
November 14, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister November 14, 2019 Last week I was privileged to spend some Continuing Education time, together with Tammy, learning about the rapid rise in our culture of those …
With All the Saints
November 7, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister November 7, 2019 Last weekend the Presbyterian Association of Musicians hosted a workshop on the newly revised Book of Common Worship, led by its editor, David Gambrell. …
Possibility Posturing
October 21, 2019 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister October 21, 2019 I write this from the annual meeting of Mid Council leaders, where we have enjoyed much provocative discussion about new possibilities for being …