How We Worship
We are a Presbyterian Church (USA) Congregation: member-run and Spirit-led, where questions and doubt don’t threaten our faith.
Inclusive Language
Words matter. Jesus Christ, the living Word, reached out to all people to bring them into God’s fold. The kingdom of God includes all people; therefore, our language should reflect the inclusivity and equality among the people of God. To that end, when possible, we seek to eliminate the inherent bias of the English language toward the masculine gender without altering passages that reflect the historical situation of ancient patriarchal culture, out of which the Bible originated.
Lectionary
Sunday worship services are usually based on the Common Lectionary for the liturgical season. These texts are based on a three-year cycle of Biblical texts. Rev. Charissa Howe leads a weekly Bible study of the following Sunday’s lectionary texts that meets Wednesdays at 10:30 am over Zoom. Contact the office to be added to the email update list. For a link to this year’s lections on the Vanderbilt Library Web site, click here.
Music
The choir at Sixth Presbyterian sings an introit and an anthem each Sunday. These pieces are selected to correspond with the scripture readings. The repertoire includes music from the great traditions of Christian music, from the past to the present. The choir rehearses every Thursday evening from September through May and sings most Sundays during this time. It also rehearses on Sunday morning before Sunday School.
Children and Worship
We believe that children are a vital part of our worshipping community and welcome them in worship. It matters to us that they know they are part of our community of faith.
Care is available for infants through 3-year-olds for both the Sunday School and the Worship hours (during Worship only in the summer). Preschool through 3rd-grade children are welcome to attend Extended Session during worship following the Passing of the Peace. to join caregivers who lead them in activities which include prayer time, learning songs and scripture passages, crafts, and creative indoor and outdoor play.
The church nursery and Extended Session are located on the second floor and nursery care is available each week at 10 a.m. until the conclusion of the worship service. We invite and encourage all students to remain in worship with their families on the first Sunday of each month when we celebrate Communion.
Communion
Communion is celebrated as a part of our worship on the first Sunday of the month and on the special Sundays of Easter, Christmas, and Pentecost. People (adults and children) of all faiths are invited to gather around God’s table to partake in this feast of love. We often say that regardless of one’s belief, disbelief, or unbelief, all are welcome at God’s table. In our communion, the congregants come forward to receive the elements by intinction, an ancient tradition in the Church.
Location and Accessibility
Sixth Presbyterian Church
1688 Murray Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
We are located in the heart of the Pittsburgh city neighborhood of Squirrel Hill at the intersection of Murray Avenue and Forbes Avenue. Our accessibility ramp is at the Murray Avenue entrance.
Parking is available on Sunday morning across Murray Avenue in the city lot beneath the Carnegie Library.
Several buses stop right at our door: 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 64, and 74.