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August 30, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Bulletin - 8/30/26
Welcome to the weekly roundup 👋 This is your one-stop spot for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, August 16th 10:00am Worship Gatherings - Join us for Sunday service in person or online. Wednesday, September 2nd Level-UP Student Ministry Kickoff - 6:30pm-8:00pm: Mosaic Sanctuary Upcoming Events Night of Worship - Friday, September 11th at 6:30pm. Fall Kick-off Service and Small Group Fair - Sunday, September 13th at 10:00am SafeChurch Training - Sunday, September 20th at 11:30am Prayer Soaking Service - Tuesday, September 29th at 7:00pmNew here? We'd love to connect. This Week's Message "The Divine Tenacity of the Father" Pastor Erik Germesin | Jeremiah 15:15–21 & Matthew 16:21–27 In Week 4 of our Stubborn series, in the grand finale of our series, we uncover the ultimate truth behind it all: God is infinitely more stubborn than we are. Human stubbornness eventually burns out, bitter and exhausted. But God’s divine tenacity never quits, never yields, and never gives up on us Watch last week’s sermon 👇 Community Prayer We carry each other through the spiritual practice of prayer. Here's what our community is lifting up this week: 🙏 Chaplaincy Ministry – Pray for school resources, officers, and safety for our kids as the school year begins. Submit your own prayer request here. Giving Your generosity makes our work in this city possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Here Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with us here. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM 140 Imperial Plaza Drive, Imperial, PA 15126 Next Week: "Covenant Partners " – Philippians 1:1–11 See you soon ☀️

Rev. Erik Germesin

Rector

August 27, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
When Sandcastles Crumble: Finding Your Foundation on the Rock
There is something both endearing and heartbreaking about watching a child build a sandcastle at the water's edge. Hours of careful work go into shaping towers, smoothing walls, and digging moats. Then the tide rolls in. And instead of stepping back and accepting the inevitable, the child throws both hands into the wet sand, desperately trying to hold up what is already crumbling. We smile at the sight. It is, after all, just sand. But here is the uncomfortable truth: most of us spend our adult lives doing the exact same thing, just with higher stakes and more sophisticated materials. We build sandcastles out of our reputations. We build them out of our need to be right, our carefully managed public image, our track record of achievements, our control over outcomes. And when the tide of criticism, failure, or uncertainty rolls in, we dig in our heels. We throw up defenses. We fight the ocean with wet sand and stubborn pride. The result is exhaustion, anxiety, and a fragile sense of self that requires constant maintenance. There is a better way. Scripture points us toward it, and it begins with a single word: rock. Look to the Rock from Which You Were Hewn In Isaiah 51, God speaks through the prophet to a nation of people who are feeling small, forgotten, and overwhelmed. The Israelites are in exile. Their great city lies in ruins. They are slaves in a foreign land. Their instinct, much like ours, is to either surrender to despair or to scramble in anxious self-reliance. God's response is striking in its simplicity. In Isaiah 51:1-2, he tells them to look backward, not forward. He points them to Abraham and Sarah, an elderly and barren couple whom God called out of obscurity and multiplied into an entire nation. The message is not a pep talk about their own potential. It is a reminder of his track record. You did not build this on your own strength, God says. And you will not sustain it on your own strength either. This is the heart of what Scripture calls holy patience, a stubborn tenacity that is fundamentally different from stubborn pride. Stubborn pride digs in its heels to defend what it has built. Holy patience rests securely on what God has already built. The distinction sounds subtle. In practice, it changes everything. Isaiah 51:6 reinforces this with a stunning contrast. The heavens will vanish like smoke. The earth will wear out like a garment. But God's salvation will be forever, and his righteousness will never be dismayed. When the things we lean on for security are revealed to be temporary, the rock beneath us remains unmoved. Who Do You Say That I Am The Gospel of Matthew chapter 16 brings us to a remarkable moment. Jesus and his disciples are in Caesarea Philippi, a region dominated by a massive rock cliff dedicated to the Greek god Pan, dotted with pagan temples, and home to a cave known as the Gates of Hades. It is not a coincidence that Jesus chooses this setting for one of the most important questions he ever asks. "Who do you say that I am?" Public opinion at the time offered a range of thoughtful guesses. Some believed Jesus was John the Baptist in a new form. Others thought he was Elijah or Jeremiah. Human wisdom could recognize that Jesus was significant. It could not, however, arrive at the truth on its own. Peter, impulsive and unfiltered as ever, speaks what the Spirit has revealed to him. In Matthew 16:16, he declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus responds by affirming that this confession did not come from flesh and blood but from the Father in heaven. And then he makes a declaration that still echoes through the centuries: on this rock, he will build his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Notice who does the building. Jesus does not say that Peter will build the church, or that a gifted leader will build it, or that the right strategy will build it. Jesus says I will build my church. The church is not sustained by political maneuvering, human grit, or any individual's strength or charisma. It is built by Jesus Christ himself. We are invited to participate, empowered by the Holy Spirit for his mission, but the foundation and the builder are one and the same. Letting Go of the Sandcastle This has deeply practical implications for how we live, particularly in our relationships with people who do not yet know Christ. Have you ever shared your faith with someone and then grown defensive or frustrated when they pushed back? Have you ever felt the sting of rejection so personally that you closed your heart to someone who needed to see the love of God in you? This is what happens when our evangelism becomes about our ego rather than about Jesus. We internalize people's skepticism as a verdict on our worth, and we either argue harder to protect our pride or we give up because we feel bruised. But consider this: when you tell someone about the risen Christ, your security is not on trial. Jesus is the Christ whether anyone acknowledges it or not. His resurrection is not contingent on anyone's approval. People's doubts do not diminish who he is. When your identity is anchored in the rock, you are free to love people patiently, to stay in their lives for the long haul, to keep praying and serving without needing a quick win to validate yourself. An Invitation Worth Accepting The invitation of Scripture is not to try harder or to build better sandcastles. It is to stop building sandcastles altogether. It is to look back at the faithfulness of a God who called one barren couple and made them into a nation, who sent his Son to die and rise again, who builds his church against which death itself cannot stand. Where in your life are you acting out of defensive, stubborn pride right now? Is there an argument you are clinging to win? A relationship where vulnerability feels too costly? A person you have given up on because your heart grew tired of rejection? Let go of the sandcastle. Anchor your heart on the rock. Your security is in Christ, and not in anything you can build or defend on your own. That is a foundation the tide will never touch.

Rev. Erik Germesin

Rector

August 27, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Fall Kick Off & Small Group Fair
"When we moved to Pittsburgh from Colorado, we didn’t have any friends or family here. Joining a small group helped us build real relationships where we could have good conversations without feeling overwhelmed or judged. It made us feel like we weren't alone anymore." We believe that faith is built in community. Whether you are new to Mosaic, a lifelong introvert, or simply looking to deepen your walk with God, there is a place for you here. Fall Kick-Off & Small Group Fair When: Sunday, September 13th (Immediately following the service) Where: Sanctuary & Lobby What to Expect: Free snacks and drinks, a chance to meet small group leaders, and an easy way to sign up for Fall groups. Your Next Step: Mark your calendar for September 13th!

Rev. Erik Germesin

Rector

August 16, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Bulletin - August 16th, 2026
Welcome to the weekly roundup 👋 This is your one-stop spot for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, August 16th 10:00am Worship Gatherings - Join us for Sunday service in person or online. Thursday, August 20th Crop and Kettle Gala - 6:00pm-8:00pm: YMCA Commons 2232 3rd Ave New Brighton, PA 15066 Upcoming Events Level-UP Student Ministry Kickoff - Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30pm. Night of Worship - Friday, September 11th at 6:30pm. Fall Kick-off Service and Small Group Fair - Sunday, September 13th at 10:00am SafeChurch Training - Sunday, September 20th at 11:30am Prayer Soaking Service - Tuesday, September 29th at 7:00pmNew here? We'd love to connect. This Week's Message "All and Not Some" Pastor Erik Germesin | Isaiah 56:1–8 & Matthew 15:21–28 In Week 3 of our Stubborn series, we are looking at the collision between human exclusivity and God’s divine tenacity to gather the outcast. Our stubborn pride builds walls to keep people out, but God’s stubborn grace breaks down doors to bring people in. Watch last week’s sermon 👇 Community Prayer We carry each other through the spiritual practice of prayer. Here's what our community is lifting up this week: 🙏 Rev. Canon Godfrey & Priscilla Baye – Pray for their ministry as the mentor and disciple young adults and youth. Submit your own prayer request here. Giving Your generosity makes our work in this city possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Here Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with us here. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM 140 Imperial Plaza Drive, Imperial, PA 15126 Next Week: "The Tension Between Patience and Pride" – Isaiah 51:1-6 & Matthew 16:13-20 See you soon ☀️

Rev. Erik Germesin

Rector

August 13, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
🎮 Level-Up Youth Kickoff: Sept 2nd @ 6:30 PM!
Ready to level up? We’re kicking off an exciting new season of Mosaic Youth Ministry on Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 PM right here at Mosaic! All students in 6th–12th grade are invited for an awesome evening filled with high-energy fun, community, and encouragement to start the school year strong. Parents, help your middle and high schoolers jump in—bring your youth and encourage them to invite a friend! Quick Details: What: Youth Ministry "Level-Up" Kickoff Who: 6th–12th Grade Students When: Wednesday, September 2nd @ 6:30 PM Where: Mosaic We can't wait to see your students there!

Rev. Erik Germesin

Rector

August 13, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
September Night of Worship
Saint Augustine said that a song is a prayer prayed twice. We were made to worship God in spirit and in truth and with beautiful melodies. Each fall we have the opportunity to lift up our voices together and sing out our love for the One, True Living God. Join us Friday, September 11 for a night of worship around the fire pit. We’ll meet in the Guiliani’s yard at 86 Forest Glen Dr. from 6:30 to 8:30pm. We will provide the music and the lyric sheets. Please bring a folding chair if you have one and a blanket if you tend to get chilly.

Rev. Erik Germesin

Rector