Sacraments in the revised Directory for Worship

“Therefore, let it be regarded as a settled principle,” wrote John Calvin, “that the sacraments have the same office as the Word..

Presbyterian News Service

Overcoming our fear of transformative change in the PC(USA)

LOUISVILLE (OGA) Rethinking ministry is difficult. Implementing new ideas and establishing them is even more difficult. We should be acutely aware of this..

Presbyterian News Service

Presbyterians advocate for rural women at the UN

Nineteen women of the PC(USA) are participating in the Commission on the Status of Women session at the United Nations in New..

Outlook Features

What about the sacraments?

Churches like our own are “challenged more strongly by the sacraments than by anything else,” according to J.J. von Allmen, a Swiss..

Voices

Meeting the Spirit while writing a sermon

Sermon-writing day is rough. It’s painful, boring, heart-wrenching, soul-draining, and it makes me whine a lot. Most weeks, I’ll come home one..

Insights columns

To those who are not present

Most Sunday mornings after proclaiming the benediction, I walk with the acolyte down the sanctuary’s center aisle.

Presbyterians in Action

Barry and Shelly Dawson

The Yao hill tribe, one of Thailand’s indigenous people groups, live among steep mountains. But 80 baptized Christians host visitors at a..

He/She Said

John Leland

“Being an expert is exhausting. Being a student — letting go of your ego — is like sitting for a banquet at..

From the Archives

60 years ago

60 years ago — March 24, 1958 Here’s what readers were saying about one particular article back in 1958: To the Outlook:..

Benedictory

Participating in worship

Within months of graduating from seminary, I was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. I remember the first time I..

Presbyterian News Service

American religious leaders seek preliminary injunction to stop deportation of immigrants

Churches like First Presbyterian Church in Metuchen, New Jersey, continue to voice opposition to the arrests of immigrant Christians for possible deportation...

Editorials

Lord, make me useless

Lately my prayer has been to be useful: Make me useful, God. Where this plea originates during days overflowing with unending tasks..

Presbyterian News Service

Katie Geneva Cannon reflects on being first African American woman ordained in the PC(USA)

Katie Geneva Cannon. (Photo provided) LOUISVILLE (PNS) — The Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon was ordained April 24, 1974, in Shelby, North..

Voices

When you know your angels — A Lenten reflection

Guest commentary by Jordan B. Davis This year, Lent has had a new and beautiful meaning in my life. For the first..

Voices

Fellowship Community National Gathering: A reflection

Guest commentary by Joseph D. Small The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was once blessed and/or cursed by an abundance of special interest organizations..

Looking into the lectionary

4th Sunday in Lent — March 11, 2018

Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21 Lent 4B John 3:16. Even in this age when education through memorization has fallen out of..

Presbyterian News Service

Presbyterian Historical Society releases rare early video of Fred Rogers’ “Sunday on the Children’s Corner”

PHILADELPHIA (PHS) The Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) has recently transferred to digital video a rare 16mm print of Sunday on the Children’s..

Presbyterian News Service

Nepal continues recovery nearly three years after devastating earthquake

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has co-sponsored a number of relief programs through its partners in Nepal to help people recover from the 2016..

Voices

Fellowship Community gathering discusses the crossroads of human division

Guest commentary by Jerry Andrews Relationships. Theology. Addressing divisions. These issues were at the forefront of sermons and discussions at the National..