God invites us into His house, for within these walls, we will find peace, rest, and forgiveness in the grace of Jesus Christ. Many find reassurance in a worship experience that continues to connect them with their childhood memories, reminding them of what church was like "back in the day." Others crave refuge from the frenetic pace of modern living, seeking a worship service that provides them structure and formality through the observance of traditional customs and rituals.
Our traditional worship service remains centered on those familiar methods and practices you would expect: robed acolytes still light and extinguish the worship candles; the pastor and liturgist still process from the doors of the church to the altar to signify the start of the worship hour; the hymns and sacred music continue to resound from our tremendous pipe organ and Chancel Choir; the children still have a moment in the service reserved just for them to learn of God's love for them and all of us; and while we continue to provide a printed bulletin each week, we have also integrated just a bit of technology to enhance the worship experience.
It is Christ who bids us welcome and asks us to walk with Him. Wherever you may be on your personal faith journey, we invite you to experience the traditional worship service at Sewickley United Methodist Church.
Russel Shuluga
- Pastor
Pastor Russel is a second career pastor, experiencing the call to ministry
after working at the Carbon Limestone Company for ten years. With a Bachelor of Science in
Education from Slippery Rock University, and a Master of Divinity from the Methodist
Theological School in Ohio, he was ordained a Full Member in 1991 by Bishop Bashore. Russel
has been at SUMC since 2006, fulfilling his mission to create an inclusive atmosphere where
the Good News of God's unconditional love can be celebrated by all of God's children.
Cody Soska
- Minister of Music
Cody Soska was born and raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and attended Carnegie
Mellon University for Preparatory School, Pre-College and his College degree, where he studies music
composition, pipe organ, and advertising. His studies have taken him to Montserrat and Valencia, Spain
with his teacher, Maestro Leonardo Balada. He studies organ with the legendary Donald Wilkins of Pittsburgh
and the Paris Conservatoire. He also plays the saxophone and has played with the Pittsburgh Jazz Society and
other big bands.
