Measuring Church Vitality
September 1, 2022 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, September 1, 2022 Measuring Church Vitality Presbyterians love to document things. The meeting records of the Consistory (the church’s regional governing council) in Geneva during the …
PNews 8/25/22
August 25, 2022 | Posted in Weekly Newsletter
Refuge In this week’s Presbytery News “article”, Associate Minister Brian Wallace talks about the church as a place of refuge for its people and the community at large. Oh, and gets on his usual soapbox for a little while. read …
Sanctuary
August 18, 2022 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, August 18, 2022 Sanctuary “Praise God in his sanctuary!” the psalmist cries out. A sanctuary is literally a place set apart. It is a place of …
PNews 8/18/22
August 18, 2022 | Posted in Weekly Newsletter
Sanctuary A sanctuary is literally a place set apart. It is a place of safety from external intrusion and malevolence. Last week, Chautauqua’s cherished identity as a place of sanctuary was brutally shattered when celebrated author Salman Rushdie was assaulted …
PNews 8/11/22
August 11, 2022 | Posted in Weekly Newsletter
The Things We Do for Love When he commanded his disciples to love one another in the same way he loved them, it was just after he had washed the feet and shared the bread and cup with Judas. It’s …
The Things We Do for Love
August 11, 2022 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, August 11, 2022 The Things We Do for Love Last week’s letter, What’s Love Got to Do with It?, explored the necessity of pastors loving their …
PNews 8/4/22
August 4, 2022 | Posted in Weekly Newsletter
What’s Love Got to Do with It? The most important ingredient of a strong abiding relationship between pastors and their congregations is love. Not just any kind of love will do. A pastor needs to love the congregation just as …
What’s Love Got to Do with It?
August 4, 2022 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, August 4, 2022 What’s Love Got to Do with It? Many of you know I like to use popular songs as sermon titles. Last Sunday my …
Escaping the Echo Chamber
July 28, 2022 | Posted in Letters from the General Minister
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, July 28, 2022 Escaping the Echo Chamber The January 6 hearings have revealed a great deal of what went on in the White House in the …
PNews 7/28/22
July 28, 2022 | Posted in Weekly Newsletter
Escaping the Echo Chamber We cannot grow if we listen only to voices that declare what we already believe to be true; however, we tend to gravitate to voices and viewpoints that confirm our own already-settled convictions. When we stay …