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by Charlie Smith Presbytery Pastor In the first weekend of October, I gathered with high-school classmates to celebrate 50 years since graduation. Organizers of the weekend asked me if I might lead a memorial service for classmates who have died since 1975. The service, though somber, turned out, in the best Presbyterian tradition, to be a celebration of hope and Witness to the Resurrection. I’m indebted to Sheldon Sorge, the retired Executive Presbyter of Pittsburgh Presbyt

From members of my home congregation to strangers in the checkout line at Walmart, I have been told throughout my life that I was destined for ministry. At first, I would smile politely and dismiss such comments as well-intentioned but misplaced. Yet as I moved through life, their words began to echo more deeply. During my years in music education, the call grew stronger. In my Bachelor’s program, I even made what I thought was a harmless bet with God, thinking that if God co

A perhaps Reformed experience of the communion of saints.  More questions than answers. In the letters of Paul, the word Saint is used to refer to the faithful in each of the churches  to whom he writes. In the first few centuries the saints were mostly martyrs. Veneration of the saints is a practice of honoring martyrs and other people who were seen as models of faithfulness. Veneration  of the saints developed over five centuries, and often arose from local celebrations of

After being away for nearly 20 years, in 2002 I moved back to my hometown (and the home I grew up in) to take care of my mother who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. For several months previous, I had been investigating the feeling that I was being called to “do more” than just attend church on Sunday. I rejoined the Presbyterian Church in my hometown and began “reconnecting” with some of the long-time members there and becoming friends with the newer members of the co