February 28, 2021 - Second Sunday in Lent 
Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, 31-35 
Sermon: "...as a hen gathers her brood under her wings..." 
Moment for Mission: World Day of Prayer 

February 22, 2021 - Contemporary Issues 
Topic: Why we need to talk about death 

During Lent, Contemporary Issues will talk about death and dying. Have you made the decisions you'll wish you had made by the end of your life? Have you made the arrangements your family will wish you had made? This week, Michelle Knox asks each of us to reflect on our core values around death and share them with our loved ones so they can make informed decisions without fear of having failed to honor our legacies. "Life would be a lot easier to live if we talked about death now," Knox says. "We need to discuss these issues when we are fit and healthy so we can take the emotion out of it -and then we can learn not just what is important, but why it's important." 

See Michelle's talk here 

February 21, 2020 - First Sunday in Lent 
Scripture: Luke 10:25-42 
Sermon: "Go and do likewise" 
Moment for Mission: One Great Hour of Sharing 

February 15, 2021 - Contemporary Issues 
Topic: This Is Your Brain on Polarization 

QAnon is only the latest conspiracy theory making the rounds. Contemporary Issues will look at the background of QAnon and talk about why humans are naturally susceptible to conspiracy theories in general. We want to respond with care to family and friends who may be drawn in by these ideas.

This class included the videos Do politics make us irrational? and What is QAnon? 

February 14, 2021 - Transfiguration Sunday 
Scripture: Luke 9:28-45 
Sermon: "Talking About Jesus' Exodus" 
Moment for Mission: Orchard Place 

February 8, 2021 - Contemporary Issues
Topic: San Isidro Update

Our neighbors in San Isidro have suffered yet another crop failure, in the midst of widespread food shortages related to the pandemic. Former mission coworker Kathy Bassett joins us to talk about the disastrous combination of poverty, Covid-19, and climate change in El Salvador. 

February 7, 2021 - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany 
Scripture: Luke 7:1-17 
Sermon: "Jesus gave him back to his mother" 
Moment for Mission: Souper Bowl of Caring 

February 1, 2021 - Contemporary Issues 
Topic: Religion for a New Generation 
What does the future hold for religious communities? Most churches, other religious congregations, and secular organizations have found younger generations are simply not joining in the same numbers we saw from older generations. Instead, Millennials (now ages 25-40) are forming meaningful community in new and perhaps unfamiliar ways. Casper ter Kuile and Angie Thurston have studied "How We Gather." They find people finding spiritual meaning at work, building life-changing community at the gym, and doing all the work we traditionally think of as "church" without religious institutions. 
See Casper and Angie's presentation here or watch below. 

January 31, 2021 - Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 
Scripture: Luke 6:1-16 
Sermon: Discerning God's Will 
​Moment for Mission: LifeServe Blood Center 

January 25, 2021 - Contemporary Issues 

On January 25, Contemporary Issues will hear from the Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy about “Bridging the Gap – The Story of a Mainline Church, Legacy and New Residents in a City Neighborhood.” Rev. Fowler-Searcy serves as the associate pastor for mission at East Liberty Presbyterian Church and board president of East Liberty Development Inc. She will share the history of a mainline denomination church that stood in the gap for decades as an anchor for an all but forgotten Pittsburgh neighborhood. The church's pastoral leadership and members have a long history of advocating and supporting the legacy residents through urban renewal in the 60s, white flight, and suburbanization, revitalization planning in the 90s, and redevelopment in the 2000s. She will explain how the church, by standing in the gap, helped to facilitate just diversification, rather than gentrification of the community.