Tag Archives: letter
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Getting Out of the Way
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, December 2, 2021 Getting Out of the Way In my Pentecostal youth I heard preachers urge, “Let go and let God.” It was meant to motivate …
Giving Thanks – A True Win-Win
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, November 25, 2021 Giving Thanks – A True Win-Win In his book Thanks A Thousand: A Gratitude Journey, A. J. Jacobs chronicles his year of seeking …
Table Manners
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, November 18, 2021 Table Manners I remember well “table manners” being drilled into my young self. We studied “etiquette” in elementary school. How quaint, how antiquated! …
Waters of Welcome
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, November 11, 2021 Waters of Welcome Water is often present in Jesus’ ministry. When we say that administering the sacraments rightly is an essential “note” of …
For All the Saints
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, November 4, 2021 For All the Saints Each year at our September meeting, our presbytery celebrates the saints of our number who have been promoted to …
Lenses
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, October 21, 2021 Lenses I wear vision lenses. They change my perception of the world. Wrong lenses would distort it, but the right ones clarify it. …
Getting a Hearing
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, October 14, 2021 Getting a Hearing The first of the “Reformed Notes” of the church is that the Word of God is truly preached and heard. …
Keeping it Honest
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, October 7, 2021 Keeping it Honest Marks. Notes. Ends. The Book of Order describes the church’s essentials in three broad categories: 1. Its Marks. 2. Its …
Breathing Again
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, September 30, 2021 Breathing Again The horror of covid is that it robs its victims of their ability to breathe. The pandemic has created a corporate …
A War with no End?
A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, September 16, 2021 A War with no End?[i] In recent weeks the U.S. has withdrawn its troops from Afghanistan, marking the end of our nation’s longest …