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. 

January 24, 2021 - Third Sunday after Epiphany 
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11 
Sermon: "From Now On" 
Moment for Mission: LifeServe Blood Center 

Contemporary Issues discusses “Decolonizing Mission” from the Pittsburgh Seminary World Mission Institute. Systemic racism silently twists and deforms human relationships and, as our congregation engages in local and global mission, can derail our most sincere efforts. This workshop will identify the pervasive power of racism and white privilege in Christian mission and what mission leaders can do about it.

This class included an excerpt from the workshop by Hunter Farrell and Tony Igwe. See the full workshop here.

January 17, 2021 - Second Sunday after Epiphany 
Scripture: Luke 4:14-30 
Sermon: "Good News Begins Where?" 
Moment for Mission: Our Sister Parish

January 11, 2021 - Contemporary Issues 
Topic: "Where Do We Go From Here?" 

A conversation between the Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and the Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil. We know how the history of mission by white Christians has been infected by what Wilson-Hartgrove calls “slaveholder religion.” However, we also know that we are called into mission beyond ourselves. How then can we move out in mission so we can truly bear witness to Christ’s love for the world? 

January 10, 2021 - Baptism of the Lord 
Scripture: Luke 3:1-22 
Sermon: "What then should we do?" 

January 4, 2021 - Contemporary Issues 
Topic: Journey to Reconciliation 

From Pittsburgh Seminary’s World Mission Institute Conference in October: the Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil follows Peter’s journey in Acts 10 to see how God breaks open our perspectives about who can receive Jesus’ grace. If in fact there is no difference between “us” and “them,” how do we respond to a world that treats people differently? 

This class included an excerpt from Dr. Brenda's lecture, "Journey to Reconciliation."

January 3, 2021 - Second Sunday of Christmas / Epiphany of the Lord 
Scripture: Luke 2:41-52 
Sermon: "Missing, Not Lost"