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Letter from the Pastor Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church enjoys a distinguished history of gathering to glorify God and going forth into our community and world in Christian mission. We are a community of faith that values inspirational worship, supports Christian education for all ages, seeks to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, and enjoys sharing and extending God’s love and compassion. Our upcoming 150th anniversary in 2023 invites us to remember and give thanks for that little group of 16 founding members who gathered in a small greenstone chapel, and those who later had the faith to build a Sanctuary that would hold twice as many people as the church had members. Because of the faith, vision and generosity of those saints who came before us, today we enjoy the vitality of being a congregation built on a firm foundation. As we begin to prepare for the sesquicentennial anniversary, several initiatives are underway that will help us look back and celebrate this congregation’s distinguished history and look forward to see how we can participate in strengthening our congregation for its future life and witness. First, through the diligent work of a small group of volunteers, our archives, once scattered in many places, are being collected and organized. Conversations have begun to develop and publish a comprehensive pictorial history of our church. Secondly, for the last three years key leaders of this congregation have been studying how our church campus best serves the vision, mission and programs of our congregation. We have prioritized some areas for capital preservation and renovation that will better serve our current and future ministries. In the coming months you will be hearing more about how you can join in our very exciting plans to prepare for the 150th anniversary through a revitalization of our campus, and special opportunities for significant mission initiatives. By our shared commitment to the vitality of this historic congregation this is an opportune time to think about, pray about and imagine where God is calling BMPC into future mission and ministry.
Grace and Peace,
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Hunger: In our Backyard! By The Hunger Committee
We all are aware of the well-documented and tragic hunger issue the city of Philadelphia faces. Philadelphia recently was noted as one of the hungriest cities in America, and the Hunger Committee has focused all its resources to help alleviate this crisis. Thanks to your help, both through your volunteerism and through contributions in our white envelopes located in the pews, the committee has been able to financially support 22 local food cupboards and agencies and provide more than 1,600 nutritious casseroles to the hungry. The other face of hunger is how pervasive it has become for our neighbors right here on the Main Line. An example is the number of students in Lower Merion School District who qualify for free or subsidized school lunches; that number now totals more than 1,000 students! The Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick is involved in rallying the community and local governmental and school officials to support these children during the summer when school lunches are not available. In addition, the Hunger Committee is now financially supporting a local organization, Boxed Lunch and a Book through Zion Baptist Church in Ardmore, that directly aims to help the hungry children in Lower
Merion School District. The committee also supports Eldernet, located in Bryn Mawr, and the Ardmore Food Cupboard. Both agencies provide food assistance to the neediest in our own neighborhoods. This summer we will once again be collecting items for weekend grocery bags for Lower Merion families, in partnership with Main Line Reform Temple. Donations include: instant oatmeal packs, macaroni and cheese, tuna pouches, granola bars, fruit cups and cereal. The Hunger Committee is grateful for the congregation’s help in our fight against hunger, both in Philadelphia and now in our own backyard!
Welcome to Our New Members
Galeina Giombetti Ardmore
Michael & Berkley Hunter Wynnewood
Robert Romano & Roselyn Hsueh-Romano Wynnewood
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, June 10, contact JaneWilber@bmpc.org.
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Member Spotlight: Youth Leadership By the Rev. David B. Smith
Every program year two Elders and two Deacons are nominated from within the youth ministry to serve a one-year term as ordained officers of our church. We celebrate this year’s youth officers as they conclude their terms of faithful service and prepare for the new things God has in store for them.
Cara Guernsey: Elder
Despite the long drive from her home in Chester Springs, Cara takes every opportunity to dive into the possibilities for fellowship and service that our youth ministry program offers. In addition to thoughtfully representing the needs and concerns of our church’s youth at monthly Session meetings, she is most well-known for her leadership in the Youth Band. She is also a staple at Camp Kirkwood and an active member of StudentServe, our youth leadership team. Cara is always willing to push beyond her comfort zone and embrace the challenges placed before her with confidence and grace. We are excited to see what she will accomplish as she makes her way to college at the Rochester Institute of Technology next year!
Kate Lautenbach: Deacon
One of Kate’s favorite things about serving as a youth deacon at BMPC is the opportunity to meet church members of all ages. In addition to regularly serving communion in worship, her duties as a Deacon have included participating in StudentServe, supporting members who come to church on the Rosemont Presbyterian Village bus and visiting parishioners who are homebound. She has also served as a mentor on our church’s Upward Basketball team and at Vacation Bible Camp. When asked about the youth ministry she will leave behind for her younger brothers after she goes to college, she said, “I’m excited to see what the future holds for our youth ministry; we’re growing in the right direction. It just keeps getting better and better!”
Cameron McKendrick: Elder
The energy and laughter that Cameron brings to everything he does ensures that there is never a dull moment in youth ministry! In addition to serving on Session, he makes regular appearances as a worship leader, a member of StudentServe and a leader on mission trips and service projects. His non-judgmental presence and unabashed authenticity have repeatedly pushed our ministry area toward a deeper realization of who God has called us to be. The challenge Cameron offered in his Youth Sunday Sermon earlier this year captures the understanding of discipleship that fuels his commitment to our church: “God promises that we are never alone. When times get rough, it is crucial that we affirm one another, as the people of God, to continue and go forward to do the amazing things God has called us to do.”
Kirk Robinson: Deacon
Whether he is leading prayer in StudentServe or providing thoughtful insight in Connection Groups, Kirk brings a quiet depth to every conversation we have about life and faith. This is not to say he doesn’t bring his share of energy to our ministry area, especially when he’s bolting across the Kirkwood field in borrowed overalls to beat other youth to the Gaga pit. Kirk has the heart of a servant leader and is full of team spirit, whether it’s his soccer team or his group of friends at church. The younger youth members of our congregation recognize him as a role model and strive to emulate his passion for the Gospel and grace under pressure.
Vacation Bible Camp: In the Beginning…
God created a good and wonderful world! During Vacation Bible Camp, June 18-22, students will explore God’s good creation and our task to help care for it. Every year more than 100 volunteers come together to transform our church into an environment especially designed to help our youngest members draw closer to God and grow in their faith. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities before and during camp. For more information or to register a participant or volunteer, visit www.bmpc.org. 4 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2018
The Pentecost Offering Helps
Our Youth Begin Life With A Strong Start Each year on Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit remains with us always, connecting us with the church of the past, continuing to inspire the church of today, and pointing us to the church of the future. Each year, this celebration is marked by receiving the Pentecost Offering which nurtures the faith of those who are “the church to come” — children, youth, and young adults. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Tutoring Program Forty percent of the Pentecost Offering remains with our congregation to support the work of our weekly Tutoring Program here at BMPC. Every Tuesday evening youth and adult volunteers work with children from the William Dick Elementary School in North Philadelphia on their reading and other study skills. Donations to the Pentecost Office and the Tutoring Program help to support the costs of transportation and dinner for the students who participate in the program.
Serving Communities (Young Adult Volunteers) Twenty-five percent of the Pentecost Offering goes to the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program. Your gifts to the Offering have helped this ministry area to: • Train volunteers to engage in mission at more than 20 sites in the United States and around the world. • Reduce barriers to serve by providing assistance with student loan debt, medical insurance, and a simple living stipend. • Provide additional funding to ensure all young adults have the opportunity to participate. • Provide funds for retreats, orientation events, and counseling to help YAVs discern God’s call. Guiding Youth (Youth Ministries) Twenty-five percent of the Pentecost Offering supports ministries around the country with youth (ages 12-18), and those called to accompany them. Your gifts to the Offering helped this ministry area to: • Fund the design of a new Christian Formation endeavor called The Senior Project. This project offers a path and plan for graduating seniors to explore their next steps in faith, community, and vocation. • Provide a grant to the Presbyterian Youth Workers’ Association, a professional association for paid and volunteer adult youth leaders seeking to serve God in their work with young people. • Enable the Office of Ministries with Youth to serve the denomination by providing free, low cost/no cost, digital resources, consultation and connection. • Support Faith in 3D 2017, an event held over the MLK Observance weekend in January 2017 that brought together more than 2,000 youth to explore faith, discipleship and justice. Child Advocacy Ten percent of the Offering supports the “Educate a Child, Transform the World” national initiative which was affirmed at the 221st General Assembly (2014). The goal of this initiative is to motivate and inspire Presbyterians to better the lives of 1 million children by 2020. The Pentecost Offering is collected on Sundays, May 13 and 20. Envelopes can be found in the pew racks on those mornings. Donations may also be made directly at http://specialofferings.pcusa.org/pentecost.html. You will be given the opportunity to indicate BMPC as the recipient of 40 percent of your gift. 5 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2018
Richard Shaull Grant for Mission
Each year the Worldwide Ministries Council has the opportunity to grant the Richard Shaull Mission Grant to a partner organization (sometimes a longtime partner and sometimes a brand-new partner) that is embarking on a new mission venture that witnesses to the work of justice to which we have all been called and that represents the possibility of transformation in individuals, communities and the world. The Richard Shaull Mission grant was established in 2004 as a celebration of the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Richard Shaull. He lived a life of service to the global church as an educator, theologian, mission worker and author. Shaull had a deep belief in the possibility of radical change on both social and personal levels and spent his life working with others toward the realization of this dream. This year the Worldwide Ministries Council recommends the awarding of the Shaull Funds to two organizations:
The Association for a More Just Society In 2013 the UN’s Global Homicide survey ranked Honduras as having the highest homicide rate in the world. The conditions that led to and perpetuate violent crimes are complex and interrelated with other issues of poverty, making solutions complicated and dangerous. Over the past 15 years the Association for a More Just Society (AJS) has diligently worked to bring together community members, faith-based organizations and government institutions to facilitate peace in Honduran communities. AJS's mission is to complete transformation in families, communities, state systems, and in the country as a whole. The association is currently unable to fully achieve its mission due to limited space for programs. The Shaull Grant will help to complete a building that will not only support AJS programs, but also grow a community of allies and collaborators who are inspired by the organization’s work and its commitment to partnering for justice.
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In AJS’s work in reducing community violence, it has acted as a bridge of trust between community members and police officers. As a result, the association has seen violence drop by as much as 75 percent in target communities, achieving a 95 percent conviction rate — 24 times the national average. Regarding security issues on a national level, AJS worked with the Honduran government to eliminate over 4,000 corrupt police officers, replacing them with more than 6,000 newly trained officers. In addition, the association advocated the passage of new laws to ensure that transparency remains a priority in the police force. We encourage you to be in prayer for these mission partners doing remarkable work to help transform their particular corner of the world, that we might be inspired to give of ourselves as well to those in need in our communities.
Chasefu Theological Seminary in Zambia The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP)/ Synod of Zambia has grown from 16 congregations when it was established in 1984 to 91 congregations in 2017. In 2004 a shortage of pastors catapulted CCAP Zambia into initiating the Chasefu Theological Seminary (CTS). Approximately 60 percent of the population of Zambia lives below the poverty line, and in the extensive rural areas of Zambia, Zambians eke out a living as subsistence farmers. In 2014 the Synod approved a revision of the curriculum at Chasefu Theological Seminary to include a Community Development Program with the goal of training leaders in community transformation. This Community Development Program includes 1) agriculture 2) community health evangelism and 3) Village Savings and Loan Association, a low-end microfinance mechanism which empowers association members to save loan capital from their own small resources. The completion of the CTS classroom building through the Shaull Grant funding will dramatically transform the Chasefu environment and the way it is perceived as an institution. Students and faculty will learn and work in an appropriate setting, as opposed to meeting in a borrowed primary school classroom. As CTS works toward accreditation, the faculty will benefit from that effort.
CTS faculty members are voluntary lecturers, serving congregations within Lundazi District. CTS principal David Chiboboka states, “Faculty stipends will supplement lecturers’ income from their rural congregations, transforming lecturers’ morale and improving faculty performance.” CTS recently added courses in sustainable agriculture, with classroom studies and practical field work at Chasefu Model Farm and Chasefu Agricultural Income Generating Activity. Emphasis is placed on using appropriate technology. Funds to purchase locally available agricultural equipment will increase students’ understanding of how such technology can improve results, creating transformation in the lives of individuals and community, as food security and nutrition are improved. The creation of Hands on Centers by Community Health Evangelism/Village Savings and Loan will aid members of those communities and improve the perceptions and knowledge of students, as they learn to deepen discipleship, apply economic empowerment and participatory development approaches, and mobilize local resources in their future congregations and communities. Being named this year’s grant recipient will allow CTS to increase its efforts to transform lives at multiple levels as it seeks to glorify God. 7 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2018
BMPC Responds to
Gun Violence in Our Communities
The Peacemaking Committee at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church invites the congregation to participate in two moments as a response to the issue of gun violence. In partnership with Heeding God’s Call and several Main Line communities of faith from a wide variety of traditions, we will host a Memorial to the Lost, focusing specifically on gun deaths here in Montgomery County. On Sunday, May 6, members from these faith communities will gather at Bethel AME Church in Bryn Mawr (50 South Merion Ave.) for a time of prayer and conversation at 4:00 p.m. followed by a walk through downtown Bryn Mawr to our campus where a T-shirt memorial will be set up, representing those who have died as a result of gun violence in Montgomery County. After we arrive at BMPC, we again will have a time of prayer. We will hear from a mother who lost her son to gun violence and then gather in Congregational Hall for fellowship and a chance to learn more about advocacy and opportunities to speak out against gun violence.
Sunday, May 6, 4:00 p.m. Main Line Gun Violence Awareness Day
Event Program 4:00 p.m. - Bethel AME Church, 50 South Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr Educational forum and call to action. 4:30 p.m. - Witness Walk through Bryn Mawr to Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Ave. 5:00 p.m. - Remembrance service at Memorial to the Lost T-shirt display on front lawn. 5:30 p.m. - View Souls Shot art exhibit honoring those lost to gun violence and engage in advocacy activities. Refreshments provided. 8 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2018
During May BMPC also will host an art exhibit created in 2017 in partnership with Heeding God’s Call, to bring awareness to the lives impacted by gun violence. Souls Shot: Portraits of Victims of Gun Violence is a poignant exhibition that brings simultaneous smiles and tears. Twenty-two artists have created interpretations of individual victims of gun violence and given all who see them a glimpse into the lives they lived and enjoyed. The variety of styles and media used by the artists effectively highlights the unique qualities of these precious souls. The art project began in the early days of 2017 when a call went out to artists and families of victims of gun violence inviting them to participate in this exhibition. The goal for Laura Madeleine, an artist and participant, was to bring some joy and peace to the grieving families and friends and to call viewers to action; to elevate the issue of the toll of gun violence to a personal level, and inspire compassion. Laura will be at BMPC on May 6 to share more about the project and its impact.
March for Our Lives! By the Rev. David B. Smith
Fifty-four youth and families of the Bryn Mawr and Overbrook Presbyterian Churches joined young people and their allies from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the March for Our Lives on March 24. The predawn air was crisp and the excitement was palpable as we boarded a bus bound for the nation’s capital. After gathering at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, we raised our signs and joined the hundreds of thousands of people assembled for the peaceful protest on Pennsylvania Avenue. Young people from across the country are calling for an end to the epidemic of gun violence that plagues our nation. Many of our youth members have joined their voices with this cry for sensible reform. May we continue to heed God’s call by providing opportunities for youth to engage in social action within the context of their Christian faith. May we carve out space in our common life for youth to explore diverse perspectives on the challenges before us, and may God give us ears to hear the voices crying, “Not one more!”
Summer Adult Education
Navigating the News:
Is There a Christian Response to Current Events? Sundays, June 17 and 24, July 1 and 8, 11:15 a.m., Witherspoon Parlor
Spend four weeks this summer in conversation and study with BMPC pastors as we wrestle with some of the most divisive topics facing us as Christians in the world today. Do or should Christians speak with one voice on issues such as immigration, gun violence, and the treatment of women? What are the tools we have, not just as Christians but as Presbyterians, to face the ongoing barrage of difficult news we face every day? Presbyterian writer and theologian Jack Rogers wrote in his book, Reading the Bible and the Confessions: The Presbyterian Way, “Presbyterians are not do-it-yourselfers. We make decisions as a community. Those decisions are based on our traditional sources of authority and guidance (scripture and our confessional traditions) and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.” We begin our series on Sunday, June 17 with guidance on how Presbyterians use the tools of scripture, tradition and community discernment to find common wisdom on topics, both with ancient roots and modern complications beyond anything the church has ever had to wrestle with before. Then we will spend the next three weeks in conversation together on some of the issues that seem to be pulling our larger communities apart and look for ways that we can come together around shared values and hopes for the future. 9 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2018
Discover our Presbyterian Heritage on a Trip to Scotland! By the Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet
April 30 - May 8, 2019 Last fall’s sermon series on the theological tenets of the Reformation piqued the interest of many BMPC members to learn more about the history of our denomination. In response, I have partnered with the Rev. James Wallace to offer this experience to travel and learn together. As pastor in the Church of Scotland, who also served Setauket Presbyterian Church on Long Island, N.Y., Jim is uniquely qualified to lead PCUSA church groups on tours of his native land. We will begin in Edinburgh, enjoy worship in the Celtic tradition at Glasgow Cathedral, and take the scenic route past the “bonnie banks” of Loch Lomond, on our way to Iona where St. Columba first established the Christian faith in Scotland in 563 CE. By way of the Highlands, including Loch Ness, Inverness, and the Cairngorm Mountains, we will journey toward Perth, where John Knox preached the sermon that ignited the Scottish Reformation in 1559. In St. Andrews, we will walk the campus of Scotland’s oldest university before returning to Edinburgh to stroll the medieval streets of Old Town which inspired the Harry Potter book series, visit St. Giles Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament. I invite you to join Larry and me as we explore some of the spiritual roots of our theological tradition by discovering Scotland’s sacred heritage, enjoying extraordinary scenery and cities, and deepening friendships with fellow church friends. Brochures are available in the Ministries Center, and a link to the brochure will be posted under the Announcement section on the BMPC homepage. Rates are based on “land only” so that people can book their own flights and add additional travel days if desired. Early bird registration by May 27, 2018, saves $200.
BMPC Anti-Harassment Policy
While there is much public conversation currently about harassment in the workplace, please remember that BMPC has a strong Anti-Harassment Policy that the Session adopted in 2016. Along with our Child and Youth Protection Policy, the Anti-Harassment Policy affirms we are a church “committed to maintaining a safe environment.” All staff and elected leaders are required to read and sign the policy, and we are ready to respond to complaints involving staff, volunteers and all church members. The policy can be found at: www.bmpc.org/member-resources-2
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Visual Arts Exhibits
By Bonnie Atwood and Jean Wolf
In addition to news on the final art exhibits for the church year, we are pleased to share photographs of the opening reception of our first dedicated February Black History Month exhibit. Historical and contemporary information and photographs described Lower Merion Township’s six black churches, founded between 1878 and 1906, plus a new one in 1984. We interviewed pastors and congregants and learned about past BMPC collaborations. An invitation to a meaningful and spirited Founders’ Day service and luncheon at Bethel AME Church in Ardmore further enriched our experiences. We look forward to future interactions through BMPC with the Pastor Carolyn C. Cavaness, Louise R. Course, and Verona Vance pastors and congregations of these smaller dedicated of Bethel AME Church Ardmore neighborhood worship centers that continue to serve our diversified community. Mark your calendars for the last two Visual Arts shows of the year. Church member Valerie Craig’s solo show runs from Sunday, April 8 to Sunday, May 13. Valerie is an accomplished and popular painter from St. David’s whose impressionistic art will fill our exhibit spaces with colorful rural and urban landscapes and figure and still life paintings. Her works are for sale. Attend the opening reception for her show as well as Edward Landin’s organ recital on Sunday, April 8 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ministries Center. BMPC’s summer congregational multi-media show opens on Sunday, May 20. An artists’ reception will be held in the exhibit spaces on Sunday, June 3 from Black History Month Exhibit on Black Churches of Lower Merion Township 11:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with a light luncheon served. This year we encourage church members, friends of members, or artists allied with the church to select a hymn and capture its meaning, spirit, or beauty through a visual representation, painting, photograph, drawing, collage, poster, ceramic, sculpture, woodwork, fabric design, etc. Artists also may submit up to five non-hymn related works to exhibit. The show continues through September 3, and works ay be listed for sale. See guidelines at www.bmpc.org or pick up a printed sheet outside the Conference Room. Advance registration required by April 15; label submission, May 7; deliver art, Monday, May 14. Please submit a work to this exhibit or attend the opening reception and light lunch on Sunday, June 3. For questions, contact jeankwolf@gmail.com. Facing East by Valerie Craig 11 MESSENGER | Post 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 #3, 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
Summer Sunday Schedule • • • •
Worship at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Childcare for infants – age 3, 7:45-11:15 a.m. Sunday School for age 4 – rising 3rd graders, 10:15 a.m. (beginning June 10 after the Children’s Moment in worship) Grades 4-12 worship with their families Adult Education classes with our pastors, Sundays, June 17 - July 8, 11:15 a.m.
Calling All Singers Come to our choir loft at 9:00 a.m. on any summer Sunday from June 17 through Labor Day for a short rehearsal, and then sing for the 10:00 a.m. service. Summer choir is simple (one anthem and hymns), and informal (no robes). Questions? StephanieSpeakman@ bmpc.org, ext. 8836.
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