Pittsburgh Presbytery began its meeting on September 7, 2006 at the Crestfield Camp and Conference Center with a worship service.The Rev. Leslie Boone provided the music for the worship service. She led us in three praise songs that I do not remember singing before. "Ain't No Rock" and "Cry of My Heart" were particularly meaningful to me.
Pastor Jim Mead preached a powerful sermon entitled "What Counts" based on Micah 6:6-8 and Matthew 28:16-20. The sermon was about the Missio Dei. He acknowledged that many people were reacting in various ways to the Peace, Unity, and Purity report and the General Assembly's actions on it.
He told us what he was hearing. For some people the PUP report was something really big, and for others it was just a ripple. There are rumors about schism, and reports about an African church setting up a presbytery in this country to receive disaffected Presbyterian congregations. He acknowledged that the response to the PUP report was far more than a ripple in his life.He spoke about the importance of the mission of each congregation, in each community in the Presbytery. "In every community people are caught in systems that take life away as God intended it," he said. "Reaching people in your community with the whole of the Gospel is a mission."
He also pointed out that there is no Biblical example of of a faith community with perfect peace, unity, and purity.
The Presbytery received a Hunger Offering of $1,337.My other articles about this meeting: A. Preliminary thoughts B. Overview C. Worship D. Ordination Overture E. Reflective listening F. Administrative Commissions G. Vocational Matters
Update 10-14-2006: Pastor Jim Mead's sermon, "What Counts" has been posted on the Presbytery website.
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