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Lent/Easter
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Letter from the Pastor Over the last few months I have been following the CaringBridge updates of a recently retired pastor who is being treated for a complicated cancer diagnosis. If you are unfamiliar with CaringBridge, it is a website that allows one person to post updates on the health condition of a family member which a large circle of people can then access, thereby freeing the family from the need to make countless phone calls. As an example, in just the last few months, my pastor friend’s site has been visited 21,000 times by friends wanting to know what’s going on with his condition and to offer prayers and support. Updates posted on CaringBridge usually include facts about a person’s diagnosis and treatment, but they also often testify in profound ways to a person’s faith. A recent entry of this particular friend read, “Over the years, we have had the privilege of walking the challenging roads of life with so many of you. Your faith in those times has taught us, inspired us, and strengthened us; and now it’s time for us to live out our faith in this journey. As the Letter to the Hebrews says, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ So we will hold on to the faith that God will give us the strength and wisdom for this journey.” Our spiritual journey through life is such a journey. We walk down challenging roads together. We are taught, inspired and strengthened by the faith of others, and sometimes our own faith becomes a source of strength for another who is struggling. In the seasons of Lent and Eastertide we are particularly mindful of how God joins us in our journey through the person of Jesus Christ. In his humanity Jesus enters our life’s journey which certainly includes lofty moments of sheer joy, but also the “valley of the shadow of death,” seasons of illness and grief that accompany and challenge everyone’s life. As this season unfolds at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian, I hope that you will find companionship on your journey of faith and life through your church family. The Lenten Devotional guide invites us to take reflections of members and mission partners home with us. Special worship services are offered to affirm God’s companionship beside us. Seasonal classes and discussions bring us together over shared study and conversation. Mission opportunities are ever before us inviting us to accompany one another in the footsteps of Jesus. As we move into Lent and Eastertide, my prayer echoes the testimony of my friend on CaringBridge that together “we will hold onto the faith that God will give us the strength and wisdom for this journey.” Grace and Peace,
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Helping Families Through Difficult Times By Elena Perri
Serving those who experienced the loss of a loved one provided Marilyn Stringer with many fulfilling years as the coordinator of memorial receptions at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Marilyn, a BMPC member for almost 48 years, enjoyed helping families plan receptions that were held after memorial services at the church. She served as head of the committee for 16 years before retiring from that role last spring. “People used to have receptions in their home,” Marilyn explained. “People would go calling on them, and they'd have to be ready with food. The church kind of took on that job for the family and made it easier for them to have a reception with their family and friends.” She noted that the Rev. Dr. Eugene Bay initiated the idea of hosting memorial receptions at the church. A committee was formed in the early 1990s, and more than 30 volunteers helped with buying supplies, serving food and beverages, and recommending caterers.
“I know how much people appreciated it because we were always thanked,” Marilyn said. “We knew how much they appreciated it because some of the people who died had hundreds of friends, and their home would never have accommodated anything like that.” Helping families during difficult times was especially gratifying to Marilyn. “This job became very personal and meant a great deal to me to be able to serve in this capacity,” she said. Marilyn’s husband Walter passed away in 1998, and she shared that many widows “go through a period of trying to find themselves after losing their husbands, and it can last three to five years.” “It was at the end of three years when I got the call from Joan Woodcock, and I thought this is what I'm going to do now for my church,” she said. “It just came at a very good point in my life.” In addition to helping others, Marilyn especially enjoyed the friendships she formed with the
Marilyn Stringer
women she worked with on the committee. “They were a wonderful committee that served so faithfully, and I couldn't have done this job without them,” she said. “I want to give credit to all those who served on the committee for many years.” Marilyn said being an active member of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church has had a positive influence on her life. “It’s been a warm, wonderful experience getting to know people and being able to serve my Lord,” she said. “It’s meant a great deal to me to be a member and to be able to serve.”
Welcome to Our New Members
Christopher Cobb Conshohocken
Natalie Hoepp Radnor
Robert Krueger Philadelphia
Karen Scott Haverford
Thomas Whitford Paoli
Want to know more about BMPC? We invite you to get to know our community better by becoming a part of one of our Discover BMPC classes. Childcare is available for this opportunity to meet our pastors and learn about our denomination, our Reformed tradition, and our sense of Christian ministry. For more information, to register, or to inquire about joining our church on our next New Member Sunday, March 18, contact JaneWilber@bmpc.org.
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Environmental Justice Film Series
Join the Environmental Justice Committee on Wednesdays in April at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute at 7:00 p.m. for three films that look at our world from a perspective often different than our own, and consider the impact humans have on creation. Following each movie, a local expert will lead talk-back discussions on movie content, questions and observations.
How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can't Change Wednesday, April 11 Oscar-nominated director Josh Fox (GASLAND) continues in his deeply personal style, investigating climate change – the greatest threat our world has ever known. Traveling to 12 countries on six continents, the film maker acknowledges that it may be too late to stop some of the worst consequences and asks: what is it that climate change can’t destroy? What is so deep within us that no calamity can take it away?
The Island and the Whales Wednesday, April 18
The whale hunters of the Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local professor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, environmental changes threaten their way of life forever. The Faroese are among the first to feel the effects of our ever more polluted oceans. They have discovered that their beloved whales are toxic, contaminated by the outside world. What once secured their survival now endangers their children and the Faroe Islanders must make a choice between health and tradition.
Look and See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry Wednesday, April 25
In 1965, Wendell Berry returned home to Henry County, Kentucky, where he bought a small farmhouse and began a life of farming, writing and teaching. In the span of a generation, the agrarian virtues of simplicity, land stewardship, sustainable farming, local economies and rootedness to place have been replaced by a capital-intensive model of industrial agriculture characterized by machine labor, chemical fertilizers, soil erosion and debt — all of which have frayed the fabric of rural communities. Berry has watched this struggle unfold, and has become one of its most passionate and eloquent voices in defense of agrarian life.
Rise Against Hunger
Saturday, March 24, 8:30 a.m., Gymnasium During this family-friendly event, sponsored by the Hunger Committee and Outreach Council, we pack over 20,000 nutritious meals for people in need. Activities will be completed by noon. To sign up, visit www.bmpc.org > Calendar > Open Registrations or in person after the 10:00 a.m. worship services in March. CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org
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Hunger Committee Partner Fights Hunger at Emergency Shelter By the BMPC Hunger Committee
The following is an interview with Rhena McClain, Manager of Resident Services, Episcopal Community Services, St. Barnabas Mission Emergency Shelter. Please describe St. Barnabas and its mission. St. Barnabas, run by Episcopal Community Services, is an emergency shelter for homeless women and their children in West Philadelphia. Our mission is to reduce intergenerational poverty and increase our clients’ ability to improve their lives, get into longterm or permanent housing, and achieve economic independence. The critical first step is to provide a safe place where they can overcome the trauma of homelessness. We provide residents with physical and mental health screening as well as developmental screening for children. Our case managers work with moms to set goals and work toward becoming self-sufficient. We provide support for GED and vocational education, parenting and budgeting classes, resume and job-seeking skills, and locating affordable housing. We also offer childcare, after-school enrichment and family activities. Who does St. Barnabas Shelter serve? St. Barnabas can house up to 135 people, generally 40 to 45 families. Many of our clients have been homeless for months or years; others are fleeing abuse. We used to serve mostly younger women with children. Now we are seeing more grandmothers with grandchildren. Our children range from newborns to 18-year-old girls and 10-year-old boys. Depending on their needs, families usually stay six to 12 months, but there is no time limit. What does St. Barnabas do to address food insecurity? We emphasize “health stability,” including nutrition education. Our kitchen serves three healthy meals daily with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, low-sodium, low-sugar and low-fat menus. We want our residents to know about nutrition and good health before they leave. Food insecurity is a big problem in this area. There has been a sharp increase in people seeking emergency food aid since 2008. St. Barnabas opens its Food Cupboard three mornings a week and serves 30 to 40 people weekly. We get packaged and canned food donations from churches and other organizations.
Sometimes we also have bread and fresh fruit and vegetables. St. Barnabas holds Community Dinners and a monthly “Cook-off” to prepare and deliver more than 200 frozen dinners to residents in two local seniorliving buildings. How can the Hunger Committee help you fight hunger? Ninety-five percent of our clients get food benefits from the Child and Adult Care Food Program, but these only cover 60 to 70 percent of the cost of meals and doesn’t include infant formula and baby food, which are very expensive. While some of our moms qualify for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, there are always shortages. We really rely on you and other donors to fill these gaps, both financially and with food donations. Shelf-stable foods, infant formula and baby food are extraordinarily helpful. Also, your annual Liaison Brunch is a great way to meet others fighting food insecurity. It’s a chance to make connections and learn about resources that provide additional help. It reinforces the fact that we are not alone in the battle against hunger. 5 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
Walking a Labyrinth:
A Faith Practice and Journey By Anne Montgomery Schmid Being born on my dad’s birthday, we shared a precious bond from the very beginning. Walking was a vital part of our time together. When I was little, he would carry me, and when he grew older and struggled, I would hold him up for short walks and carry him. It was during his final month that the labyrinth found me. I was in Bible study, grief obvious on my face, when a dear friend suggested I walk the labyrinth the following Tuesday. I had absolutely no idea what a labyrinth was, but my faith and trust led me to the sacred path where I met my friend and asked her, “What do I do?” She simply replied, “You just walk.” And so I did. I felt the way I do when I walk alongside the ocean. It was peaceful, liberating and fascinating. Since then, I have walked many labyrinths across the country. Each labyrinth is unique, as is every walk. Walking as a faith practice has strengthened me during times of loss, guided me through decision-making days, and encouraged me on a growth path. It is my designated time to let go of all the outside noise and focus on God and prayer, empowering me to listen to that still small voice deep within. 6 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
To give walkers access to this ancient pathway of prayer and modern-day ministry, I have been fortunate to study, train and become a certified labyrinth facilitator. Preparing the materials offered at each walk has broadened my knowledge of Christian scripture and expanded my understanding of faith traditions of other cultures. Offering this ministry through the Middleton Center to BMPC members and the local community has allowed me to serve others in a unique way. This circuitous path with only one way in, a center, and one way out is a journey that is offered in various ways at BMPC. During Lent, the small labyrinth is available in the Chapel, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays after worship. The large labyrinth may be walked on Tues., March 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Congregational Hall and in the gym on Maundy Thursday, March 29 and Good Friday, March 30. When walking the labyrinth, sometimes we walk alone, and sometimes we walk alone, together. My dad continues to walk with me. Now I carry him in my heart.
Vacation Bible Camp "In the Beginning"
Monday, June 18 - Friday, June 22
Kick-off is Sunday, June 17
To register online, go to www.bmpc.org and click "calendar" to view open registrations.
For more details, search “Vacation Bible Camp” at www.bmpc.org or contact Mary Richards at MaryRichards@bmpc.org or 610-525-2821.
Advent Gift Market Recap
The Advent Gift Market Committee thanks everyone for the tremendous outpouring of support and charitable gift giving during the 2017 AGM. This year, $25,405 has been donated to our many worthy projects, which reflects an increase of more than $3,000 from last year. In addition, the number of donors increased by 18 percent. Through charitable gift-giving made in honor of those you care about, your support enables BMPC to continue to aid our brothers and sisters locally, nationally, and throughout the world, and truly makes a difference in the lives of those in need. Below are the amounts donated to each organization and a reminder of how long we have partnered with them. Beacon Presbyterian Church $905.00 6 years of partnership
Middleton Counseling Center $450.00 18 years of partnership
Beyond Borders $600.00 17 years of partnership
Mothers in Charge $585.00 10 years of partnership
BMPC Hunger Ministries $3,230.00 42 years of partnership
National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon 2 years of partnership $2,920.00
BMPC Tutoring Program $1,945.00 52 years of partnership
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
BMPC Youth Urban Mosaic Project 3 years of partnership
$762.00
Broad Street Ministry $1,630.00 12 years of partnership Common Ground $300.00 5 years of partnership Heeding God’s Call $620.00 8 years of partnership Main Line Adult Day Center $828.00 19 years of partnership
$1,350.00
Refugee Support Ministries $1,495.00 2 years of partnership Singing City Children’s Choir $940.00 14 years of partnership theVillage $2,710.00 57 years of partnership Turning Points for Children $555.00 17 years of partnership Urban Tree Connection 7 years of partnership
$1,290.00
West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) 14 years of partnership $2,290.00 7 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
The Season of Lent
The Season of Lent embodies different things for different people of faith. Historically Lent was used as a time of preparation for new believers, that they might culminate their Lenten study and devotion through the Sacrament of Baptism on Easter. While for some Lent is a season of coming to faith for the first time, Lent is also about being renewed in our faith, or reclaiming a faith that has waned. For others, Lent is a time to affirm a strong faith and focus on feeding one’s soul through acts of devotion and study. No matter where you are on your journey of faith, Lent is a time to encounter Jesus in his ministry, compassion and teachings, and to reflect not just on our need for God’s grace, but on the abundance of grace that has been offered to us through Christ’s sacrifice. On Ash Wednesday we gather as a community to initiate ourselves for the season and these words are spoken: We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance, and for the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and marks the penitence of this community. We are invited therefore, in the name of Christ, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by reading and meditating on the Word of God. We hope that through the classes, devotional, worship and prayers offered at BMPC this season that we might together observe a holy Lent.
2018 Lenten Devotional In the Gospel of Matthew, we read of Jesus setting his face toward Jerusalem as he continues the last weeks of his ministry that inevitably will lead to his final week in that city, his last meal with friends, his betrayal and arrest, his trial and death. We too as Christians set our faces toward Jerusalem each Lent, preparing ourselves through examination and prayer, the study of scripture and self-discipline. Often that means studying the stories of teachings of Jesus Christ in our Lenten disciplines. Th is year, through our 2018 BMPC Lenten Devotional, you are invited to walk a parallel journey with Christ, focusing on passages from some of the most significant stories of covenant from the breadth of the Old Testament. Th rough this year’s devotional you will be able to hear how members, staff, and mission partners of
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Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church experience both the struggles and the reassurances of faith. Th rough the story of Noah and the covenant offered after the flood we remember the ways that God has promised not to abandon us. Through the story of Abraham and Sarah and the covenant offered to them - promising to make of them a great nation - we remember that just as God promises great things, we are called to take great risks through our faith. Through the covenant made with Moses through the Ten Commandments, we remember there are boundaries on our relationship with God, and as people of faith we are called to respect and honor them. Through the covenant made with David, we remember that the story and the relationship we have with God isn’t just about us in this day or this moment, but for generations who have come before us and generations
2018 Lenten Devotional Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
who will follow. And through the prophet Jeremiah we are called to remember that God’s promises are not just written down in ancient books and scrolls, but written within us on our own hearts. You are invited to pick up your 2018 Lenten Devotional in early February, and be reminded this Lenten season of all of God’s promises made and kept with His people.
Adult Education Opportunities A Lenten Study of Handel's Messiah
Sundays, February 25 - March 18, 11:15 a.m., Congregational Hall The Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick and Jeffrey Brillhart, Director of Music and Fine Arts Through careful reading of the scripture and a reflection on Handel’s musical interpretation of the biblical text, we will walk through the season of Lent together. As we examine the pieces that make up what are considered the Easter portions of the Messiah, we also will be joined by our Chancel Choir section leaders who will sing each solo piece for us as well.
"Digging Deeper" Bible Study Sundays, February 4, 11, 25 & March 4, 11 & 18 8:45 a.m., Education Building, Room 201 The Rev. Franklyn Pottorff Combining both the study of scripture and our own personal experiences of faith and the Bible, this group seeks to apply scripture to our daily lives as parents, grandparents and active members of the community. During Lent the group will read and discuss Rob Bell’s What is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters and Stories can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything. The Rev. Franklyn Pottorff will guide the conversation. Books will be available in class as well as from CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org.
Walk the Labyrinth
Throughout Lent, the small labyrinth is open in the Chapel, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays after worship. The March monthly walk on the large labyrinth is on Tuesday, March 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Congregational Hall. During Holy Week, the large labyrinth may be walked in the gym on Thursday, March 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, March 30 from 8:00 a.m. to noon with the option to walk the Stations of the Cross.
Wednesday Evening Vespers Services 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel
Join us for four Wednesday evenings of simple contemplative worship. Together we will observe the Lenten journey of meditation on scripture and prayer as we prepare to walk together with Christ through the days of Holy Week and Easter. Our scriptural focus for the season of Lent will especially help us think about the ways that we are connected in covenant relationship with Christ and with one another. Worship will draw upon the musical traditions of the ecumenical monastic committee of Taize, characterized by periods of simple sung prayers. The services will also include opportunities for silence, candlelit prayers and pastoral reflection.
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Missa Gaia: Mass for the Earth By Jeffrey Brillhart
Sounds of the Season
The season of Lent and beyond will be a busy one for the Music and Fine Arts program. On Sunday, March 18 at 4:00 p.m., we have the pleasure of hosting the Bach Choir of Bethlehem for its spring concert, “A Celebration of the Choral Art.” Details and ticket information for this concert can be found at www.bach.org or by calling 610-866-4382. BMPC’s observance of Holy Week will include a Good Friday evening worship service at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 30 which features the Sanctuary Choir performing Dale Wood’s Service of Darkness. On Sunday, April 8 at 2:00 p.m., our Assistant Director of Music, Edward Landin, will perform an organ recital in the Sanctuary featuring works by a number of contemporary composers, including a few pieces written specifically for him. Two world premieres will take place: Bryn Mawr Voluntary by Carson Cooman and Sonatine by Kathleen Scheide. As a unique aspect of this program, it showcases several compositions by female composers. Edward has always been passionate about programming works by female composers, and you will not want to miss this exciting program on our spectacular Rieger organ! Suggested offering: $10.00. 10 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
On Sunday, April 22 at 4:00 p.m., Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church presents a major event for all age groups that expresses gratitude to God for his gift of the earth. Whale and wolf song, the call of loons, birdcalls, organ and saxophone improvisation, high-tech videos, jazz, samba, bossa nova, gospel, folk music ... all these musical and art forms and more will resonate in our Sanctuary this April! Earth... known to the ancient Greeks as Gaia... is the inspiration for jazz great Paul Winter’s brilliant Missa Gaia. Composed in 1980 following an inspiring visit to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Winter created a joyous, celebratory mass that integrates World music with sounds made in the wild to celebrate the whole earth as a sacred space. This performance features the Sanctuary Choir, Singing for Life, Youth Chorale, and Children’s Choir, along with jazz musicians, a haunting audio soundtrack of animal-song superimposed over the singing of the choir, and a dazzling video projected above the choir. This video, the brainchild of church members Tim Starn and Carolyn Gerrish, includes dozens of images captured by members of the Sanctuary Choir during several of its mission tours abroad. We warmly invite you to attend this unique concert experience. Tickets are $20 for adults; $5 for students. To purchase in advance, visit our website, www.bmpc.org.
Invitation to Travel
Tel Aviv, Israel
with the Choir to Israel and Jordan By Jeffrey Brillhart
Twenty-eight years ago, the Sanctuary Choir embarked on its first choir tour. The tour, to Austria and communist Czechoslovakia, was to set the tone for virtually every tour that followed. Singing as we did, behind the Iron Curtain, gave us the thirst to travel to destinations that might not be considered usual choir tour fare. Over nearly three decades we have traveled to places as diverse as South Africa, Cuba, and Brazil, along with Northern Ireland during The Troubles and Russia during the chaotic rule of Boris Yeltsin. We have performed in glittering concert halls and splendid Baroque churches, but were just as thrilled to perform in the slums of Brazil or the townships of South Africa. Some tours have focused more on learning of our roots. Our tours through the American South, and several years later through Luther’s Germany, whetted that appetite and gave us a context for who we are in this particular time in history. With countless adventures behind us, we look to the future. We are excited to announce that the next choir tour will be to Israel and Jordan in the summer of 2020.
Not the usual choir tour fare, for sure. And it’s a tour that most certainly will give us a context for our lives and our faith. Concerts in places as divergent as ancient churches and refugee camps will give us the opportunity to spread a peaceful, unifying message. Imagine walking in Christ’s footsteps, visiting the site of the Wedding at Cana, riding a boat on the Sea of Galilee, sitting quietly in the Garden of Gethsemene and trying to imagine Christ in that setting over 2,000 years ago. After a week in Israel we will journey to Jordan, staying overnight along the Dead Sea, and then venturing on to visit the splendors of Petra. From Jordan, we return to the United States, likely filled with as many questions as answers, but unquestionably enriched by the experience. One of the highlights for the choir has been the addition of “friends of the choir” on its journeys. Typically, 20 to 30 travelers join us in our adventures. You and your friends in the church and community are “officially” invited to join us on this tour. Information is available online at: https://www.bmpc.org/ChoirTour. You may also contact JeffreyBrillhart@bmpc.org. 11 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
Creativity Through Autism Art from the Timothy School, Berwyn Sunday, March 4 to Sunday, April 1 By Jean Wolf and Bonnie Atwood In the tradition of offering art that expresses the emotions, sensibilities, or perceptions of humanity at any age and regardless of abilities, we bring you art by children of the Timothy School from March 4 to April 1. The school was founded in the Education Building on the BMPC campus in 1966 for children with special needs, and it was an immediate success. In 1998, an increased student body with specific focus on children with autism warranted larger facilities and a relocation to Berwyn. Its motto after celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016 is “Teaching Children with Autism to be Children.” Individualized instruction, appreciation of achievement, and making learning fun and rewarding are just some of the school’s goals. For most children, art offers them the freedom of expression unencumbered by perfection or rules. Expect a highly varied group of colorful expressive art works by children of all abilities. The opening reception on Sunday, March 18 follows a 4:00 p.m. concert by the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.
Community Forum Series Tony and Bart Campolo
In today’s national climate, it isn’t easy to discuss conflicting ideas about religion or politics while maintaining relationships. And yet a prominent father and son have done just that. The Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo and his son Bart will be the guest speakers on Monday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary for the Community Forum Distinguished Speakers Series. They co-authored the book, Why I Left/Why I Stayed: Conversations on Christianity Between an Evangelical Father and His Humanist Son. Over a Thanksgiving dinner, 50-year-old Bart Campolo announced to his Evangelical pastor father, Tony, that after a lifetime immersed in the Christian faith, he no longer believed in God. The revelation shook the Campolo family dynamic and forced father and son to each reconsider his own personal journey of faith—dual spiritual investigations into theology, faith, and Humanism that eventually led Bart and Tony back to each other. In their April 9 talk at BMPC, Tony and Bart will debate their spiritual differences and explore commonalities around their faith, belief, and hope. This presentation offers the opportunity to both observe the process of constructive disagreement about religion and to re-examine one’s own beliefs. Continued on next page...
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Tony Campolo is an American sociologist, pastor, author, public speaker and former spiritual advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton and is a professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University. Bart has served as humanist chaplain at the University of Southern California and is now a community builder, counselor, and humanist chaplain at the University of Cincinnati where he inspires and supports people who are banding together to actively pursue goodness in a secular way. He has a podcast, Humanize Me, which can be accessed through iTunes.
"Rarely are questions of faith and belief genuinely debated with the kind of sincerity, insight and compassion presented in Tony and Bart Campolo’s thoughtful new book. Most people are born into their faith traditions, and too many of us don’t ask the hard questions that are thoughtfully presented in this intriguing read. Christians and Humanists both have much to learn by reading these pages, which is why we can all be grateful this isn’t just a family discussion." - Bryan Stevenson, Author
One Book One Church
Debby Irving’s Waking Up White:
And Finding Myself in the Story of Race You are invited to join us in an all-church book discussion based on Debby Irving’s book, Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race. As a congregation, we will explore Debby’s honest telling of her own story to understand how to be an advocate when it comes to difficult issues of race in our culture today. “For twenty-five years, Debby Irving sensed inexplicable racial tensions in her personal and professional relationships. As a colleague and neighbor, she worried about offending people she dearly wanted to befriend. As an arts administrator, she didn't understand why her diversity efforts lacked traction. As a teacher, she found her best efforts to reach out to students and families of color left her wondering what she was missing. Then, in 2009, one "aha!" moment launched an adventure of discovery and insight that drastically shifted her worldview and upended her life plan. In Waking Up White, Irving tells her often cringeworthy story with such openness that readers will turn every page rooting for her - and ultimately for all of us.” The current Moderators of the PC(USA) General Assembly, the Revs. Jan Edminston and Denise Anderson, have challenged the national church to read Debby’s book and to engage in real conversations about how each of our own congregations can be working against the sin of racism in our churches, communities and national life.
Presentation and Workshop with Debby Irving Sunday, April 29, 11:15 a.m., Congregational Hall
Join us for a light brunch and presentation by Debby on how we all have a part in the story of race in America. At 1:00 p.m., Debby will then lead us in an interactive workshop on how we name power and interrupt patterns of privilege in our communities. Books are available in the BMPC Book Center for $5.00 each. 13 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
Casting a Vision for Youth Ministry By the Rev. David B. Smith
In June of 2017, the BMPC Youth Ministry partnered with Ministry Architects, a well-known church consulting firm, to reflect on the strengths and growing edges of our program. Guided by our lead consultants, the parents, youth volunteers, Session members and staff of our church met to discuss how we might build upon the work God is already doing in our thriving ministry area. Listening sessions, interviews and strategic planning meetings lead to the development and publication of an extensive report, which revealed new possibilities for growth. When the 2017-2018 program year came around, our team hit the ground running with the implementation of an expansive plan to overhaul our ministry area. Over the last several months we have been working diligently to meet our goals. We have sought to magnify our strengths, and address our “pressure points,” those aspects of our ministry that need to be pruned so they can grow. One only needs to spend a few moments in Youth Gathering or at one of our many Youth events to recognize that our youth are "fired up" about their faith! Yet, energy alone is not enough. If we are to find our way into the next chapter of our life together, we need to articulate a convincing vision for the future of our ministry area. We need new tools if we are to complete our renovation project. Mission and values statements are nothing more or less than tools; they help us set standards by which we can discern the best path forward. They also tell an organization’s story; each carefully selected word or phrase explains some aspect of who we are to the world. Therefore, it is my joy to present the new mission statement and core values for the BMPC Youth Ministry. May they guide us as we strive forward into the future God has for us!
Mission BMPC’s youth ministry is an inclusive faith community that connects, engages, and equips youth to discover and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Values BMPC’s youth ministry embodies the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the acronym: I DREAM Inclusion: Guided by God’s Spirit, we welcome all youth, thankful for their unique identities and gifts, as we seek to provide an experience of belonging for each individual. Discipleship: We cultivate an inquisitive community who journey together as youth grow, explore, and are transformed by the Love of God revealed in Jesus. Responsibility: We build meaningful relationships that promote accountability so that through us, God can create a community that is greater than any of us by ourselves. Engagement: We foster friendship, fellowship, and fun to create joy-filled, relevant and transformative experiences. Affirmation: We approach everyone, including ourselves, with gentleness and grace so that all will know they are celebrated, loved and valued as Children of God. Mission: We empower youth to share their gifts as they work for justice, freedom and peace in the in the community around them and the world at large. 14 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
One Great Hour of Sharing: Hunger - Disaster - Development
Around the world, millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education and opportunity. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) include Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which works alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters, and support for refugees; the Presbyterian Hunger Program, which strives to alleviate hunger, care for creation, and stem the systemic causes of poverty so all may be fed; and SelfDevelopment of People, which invests in communities responding to their experience of oppression, poverty and injustice, and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these issues. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance and hope. Envelopes for giving to OGHS will be available in the pews on Sundays, March 25 and April 1. Donations also may be made online. http://specialofferings.pcusa.org/oghs.
Hope Amidst Grief Symposium Saturday, March 3 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Registration begins at 8:30) Congregational Hall
The documentary film, Voices of Grief, Honoring the Sacred Journey, shares a fresh perspective on the many ways we navigate successfully through grief or accompany others along their journey. We will view the film and engage in a discussion afterward. Resource information also will be available to participants. For more information, contact the Rev. Mary Steege at MarySteege@bmpc.org, or 610-525-2821.
AMIDST GRIEF Sat., March 3 | 9:00 a.m. – noon. Registration begins at 8:30 Have you ever wondered…. • How do I talk to the kids? • How long will I feel this way? • How can I move forward when I never got to say goodbye? • How can our family support each other when we all are grieving? • Where is God in all of this? Join us for a program on grief featuring the award-winning brief documentary: Voices of Grief, followed by discussion, Q&A, and access to community resources.
Caring Ministries at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue | Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 RSVP’s preferred: KikiMcKendrick@bmpc.org | 610-525-0766
15 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2018
The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821 The Messenger (USPS #341840) Volume #121, Issue #2, is published quarterly by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Periodical postage paid at Southeastern, Pennsylvania and additional offices. Postmaster: Send Address Changes To The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Holy Week Worship Schedule
Palm Sunday, March 25
• 8:00 a.m. Worship with Communion, Chapel. • 10:00 a.m. Worship and Children’s Palm Procession, Sanctuary. • 11:00 a.m. Churchwide Brunch, Congregational Hall; Egg Hunt, Playground.
Maundy Thursday, March 29
• 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Labyrinth Walk, Gymnasium. • 5:30 p.m. Family Service with Communion, Chapel. • 6:00 p.m. Simple Supper, Congregational Hall. Free-will offering. • 7:30 p.m. Worship with Communion, Sanctuary.
Good Friday, March 30
• 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Labyrinth Walk, Gymnasium. • 12:00 noon. Service led by BMPC Youth, Sanctuary. • 7:30 p.m. In observance of Good Friday, the Sanctuary Choir will present Dale Wood’s “Service of Darkness,” Sanctuary
Easter Sunday, April 1
• 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service, Front Lawn. • 7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast, Ed. Bldg. Lobby. • 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. Worship with Choir and Easter Brass in the Sanctuary. The Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet will preach.
Wednesday Night Dinners All ages are invited to come enjoy fellowship and fresh, homemade meals by Chef Ruth Johnson every Wednesday night from 5:30-6:45 p.m. in Congregational Hall. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for students and children. Take-out is also available. View upcoming menus under the "Announcements" section on our website homepage, www.bmpc.org.
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