2014 Annual Report
Bryn Mawr
Presbyterian Church
Worship Serve Grow
TOGETHER
BMPC ... Together
What a joy it is to worship, serve, and grow - together - as a church family. Whether we come from across the street or miles away, we are drawn here to be a part of an inviting, supportive community of faith. This is a place where we join together to nurture our relationship with God, enjoy fellowship, share life’s ups and downs, and find ways to care for neighbors near and far. Together, we work toward the wholeness promised by Jesus. Together, we search for and discover God’s presence in our lives and the meaning that brings. Together, we listen as the Spirit calls us and empowers us to live as faithful disciples. We worship to glorify God…with thoughtful services in the Chapel and Sanctuary; the beautiful music of our choirs and organ; the messages of our Children’s Moment and Sunday School programs; the celebration of communion and baptism; the joyful sounds of our Sunday Youth Gathering in the gym; the spiritual nurturing of members who are sick or homebound. We serve both spiritual and physical needs…directing cars in our parking lot; knitting prayer shawls; answering the church phone; delivering flowers; preparing communion; making meals; offering a ride; sending care packages to students; singing in a choir; serving on a committee; washing dishes; lending a hand. We work with partners around the world to feed the hungry and care for the sick; we welcome students through our tutoring program; we send volunteers throughout Philadelphia. We grow in faith and understanding… attending classes; asking questions; hearing sermons; participating in Bible study; listening to guest speakers; reading books from our library; discussing our beliefs with others; making new friends at Wednesday night dinners; giving of ourselves in ways that can make a difference. Together we are the church of Jesus Christ, formed by the Spirit and called to live in the hope of God’s promises and according to God’s purposes - in our everyday lives, in our homes, in our greater communities, and in our wider world.
In 2014...
We welcomed the Rev. Rachel Pedersen as Associate Pastor for Children and Family Ministry and the Rev. Richard Wohlschlaeger as part-time Interim Associate Pastor for Senior Adults and Pastoral Care, and we said goodbye to to the Rev. Jacqui Van Vliet and the Rev. Dr. R. Charles Grant.
Our Session:
• Convened a Property Vision Team of lay leaders to develop a strategic plan for how to use our campus to better support our congregation's mission and priorities • Through the Personnel Committee of Session, worked on new documents with the Middleton Center and the Weekday School to define our relationship with these important ministries of our church • Approved the retirement of a frozen pension plan, freeing up future monies to support benevolences and programs of the church Page 1
2014 Official Boards Session Steve Udicious, Clerk Elder Class of 2015 Bill Black Karen Dunkman Laura Getty+ David Heaton+ Eli Bravo(Y) Graham Small(Y) Suzanne VanderVeer+ Krista Vaughan Janet White Elder Class of 2016 Brad Baturka Jen Bowers + Susan Bravo + Bob Guthrie + Amy Hughart Susan Joseph + Eric Swanson
(Y) Indicates a youth serving a one-year term as Elder or Deacon.
Elder Class of 2017 Bill Adelhelm John Frazier+ Janet Haas Morris Kay Mary Beth Pratt+ Steve Udicious (Clerk)+ Susie Valerio Deacon Class of 2015 Tim Callahan(Y) Linda Callans Dave Hastings Jen Huth Debbie Kay Donna Richards-Bank+ Elaine Robertson+ Julia Udicious(Y) Kathy Wynn+ Flo Zeller
+ Indicates a person is serving his/her second three-year term.
Deacon Class of 2016 Emily Cieri Bryan Hauptfuhrer Craig Johnson Laurie Koziol Chris Libson + Jane Mackie Bill Matthai + Diana Rossi + Janney Ryan + Holly Stafford Gretchen Steck + Deacon Class of 2017 Tim Bickhart Darryl Brown+ Anne Chamberlin Mary Beth Cheloha Marian Chitester Kirstin Engelman+ Linda Griska+ Tod Guernsey Mary Hodgkinson+ Julia Koeppe Kay Miller+ Didi Rieger Cindy Stewart+
Trustee Class of 2015 Martin Bond Keith Brinks+ Fred Fletcher+ Kevin Roller+ Brian Walsh Nancy Wolcott+ Trustee Class of 2016 Mark Dawejko Tom Gadsden + Peggy Hermann Meg Holdsworth + Kevin Nicholson Nancy Page Trustee Class of 2017 Bill Bosch+ Judy Ehrman Jean Hunt Jonathan Liggett Carol Pyle+ Rick Ware+ (President)
Membership Report Membership as of 12/31/13........................................................2,621 Received by Certificate of Transfer................................................. 15 Received, 17 & under.......................................................................24 Received, 18 & over........................................................................ 26 Deaths..............................................................................................31 Removed from Active Roll............................................................. 28 Transferred to Other Churches.........................................................9 Active Membership as of 12/31/14.............................................2,618 Adult Baptisms.................................................................................. 1 Infant Baptisms.............................................................................. 26 Marriages...........................................................................................6
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Installation of Our New Spire
Our Sanctuary tower’s stone, masonry and carpentry work was completed and the scaffolding removed by Christmas 2013, but our spire was still absent when 2014 began. Our new spire with its aluminum and steel frame covered by lead-coated copper was soon completed, and its arrival was an exciting day in the life of our church. The new spire matches the 35-foot profile and patina of the former 1930s spire which had deteriorated to the point of requiring replacement. Installation day for the replica was set for March 28 and a large crane lifted the spire into position on top of the tower. Despite dreary weather conditions, a crowd gathered to witness this “once a century” occasion and to touch the spire’s tip before it rose to the top of the Bryn Mawr skyline. On the following Sunday, March 30, we celebrated the installation of our new spire and re-dedicated our carillon. Other work made possible by the Forward in Faith Capital Campaign that was completed in 2014: • The Radnor Street parking lot was closed while scaffolding was in place from July - Nov. for roof replacement and stone/ flashing repairs on the Ministries Center and Converse House. • The roof over the main doors of the Sanctuary was replaced, the stone surveyed around the Sanctuary perimeter, and exterior repairs to the Education Building were completed.
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Worship
TOGETHER
Not long ago I was on an airplane, and I slowly began to realize that the music that was playing as we boarded was familiar. Completely out of context, it took me a minute to realize it was the tune to Marty Haugen’s hymn, “All Are Welcome,” which is in our new Presbyterian hymnal: The Rev. Dr. Agnes Norfleet, Pastor/Head of Staff, served her second year here.
Let us build a house where love can dwell And all can safely live, A place where saints and children tell How hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and divisions, Rock of faith and vault of grace; Here the love of Christ shall end divisions; (These and the following verses are followed by this refrain:) All are welcome, all are welcome, All are welcome in this place. Our hope is that anyone who enters worship at BMPC will find welcome: welcome among our church members, welcome into the outstretched arms of a loving God. Children are welcome with their wide-eyed wonder. Youth are welcome with their bold questions. Saints and sinners together are welcome. The curious, the doubtful, the seekers and all newcomers are welcome.
“Children’s Moments” were offered weekly at the 10:00 a.m. service.
By our worship we acknowledge that everything of value comes from God: life and abundant blessings, the beauty of creation, the gifts of human diversity, and genuine intergenerational community of being the church of Christ together. The experience of God’s grace sends us into the many and varied places of home and work, school and community, as if humming a familiar hymn of God’s love and faithfulness. By worshipping together, we are equipped and energized to live the faith wherever we go from this place. Let us build a house where love is found In water, wine and wheat: A banquet hall on holy ground, Where peace and justice meet. Here the love of God, through Jesus, Is revealed in time and space; As we share in Christ that feast that frees us: All are welcome, all are welcome, All are welcome in this place.
The Rev. Jacqui Van Vliet led Ash Wednesday worship in the Chapel.
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The Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet
In 2014, music enhanced these special events: • Evensong worship with our Bryn Mawr Choir School • Good Friday worship with the Bryn Mawr Chamber Singers • Singing the Whole Story, a hymn festival led by our Sanctuary Choir (10:00 a.m. worship) • The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass with our Sanctuary Choir (10:00 a.m. worship) • Rutter’s Requiem with our Bryn Mawr Choir School for All Saints Sunday (10:00 a.m. worship) • Advent Lessons and Carols with all BMPC choirs Concerts were presented by organists Olivier Latry, Shin-Young Lee, Thierry Escaich, and our own Jeffrey Brillhart and Edward Landin, and the treble choristers of the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys also performed.
Our combined choirs presented Advent Lessons and Carols.
We worshiped at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. each Sunday. The Rev. Charles Grant led our “Blessing of the Animals.”
Our youth band enhanced our Sunday gathering for grades 6 - 12.
The Rev. Rachel Pedersen held one of 26 children who were baptized.
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Serve
TOGETHER
BMPC has Congregation-Wide Days of Service three times a year and casserole blitzes monthly, as well as a variety of other service opportunities. Highlights of 2014 included two collections of gently-used household items for Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and a “Stop Hunger Now” event at which 90 of our members—ages 4 to 84—had a blast packing up meals to be sent around the world. Our choir travelled to Germany for a mission tour.
We’re also involved with the The Interfaith Hospitality Network, which houses families as they transition to permanent housing. Our church contributes financially and also welcomes IHN guests several times during the year, providing them with sleeping quarters and meals made by volunteers. Our Tutoring Program is now 50 years old! We welcome 50 children from William Dick Elementary School in North Philadelphia on each of two nights a week for most of the school year. Each student is paired with a local high school student as their tutor, and the pair develops a relationship across cultural and economic barriers over the year, as the elementary school students receive reading help and educational enrichment.
Volunteers of all ages helped make 1,600+ casseroles to feed the hungry.
Our goal this year has been to deepen our relationships with each of our grant recipients, so that in each case the partnership extends well beyond the grant itself. Several of these organizations have worked with us in hosting our members for our Days of Service; we have invited representatives to speak to a council meeting or to lead a Sunday morning class; and we had participation from most of these organizations at our first annual Mission Summit in May.
Our tutoring program celebrated its 50th year.
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The Rev. Dr. Nicole Duran
Our first “Stop Hunger Now” event provided 10,000 packaged meals.
In addition to hands-on help, we offered financial support...
Gently-used items were collected for “ReStore.”
Outreach Grants: • Broad Street Ministries • Camp Kirkwood • West Kensington Ministries • Central Presbyterian Church of Norristown • Arch Street Pre-school • Interfaith Center of Philadelphia • Habitat Philadelphia • United Community Clinic • WePAC • Build-it-Bus • Urban Tree Connection Eugene C. Bay Fund Grants: • ArtWell – Funding for EcoArts, ArtWell’s new ecological awareness and gardening curriculum offered in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club in Chester • The Mission Lab at Beacon – A project of the Beacon Arts and Community Program to help area churches design community outreach and building partnerships and relationships with their neighbors • The Common Place – An outreach initiative of Wayne Presbyterian Church for after-school programs and alternative worship for the community near Cornerstone Academy • The Center for Returning Citizens – a program for summer and after-school services for children of incarcerated parents, returning citizens and other at-risk youth
The Advent Gift Market raised $19,601 in donations given as “gifts.”
Worldwide Ministries Grants: Schaull Awards: • Medical Benevolence Foundation, supporting a dialysis machine in Kenya • Fortaleza, a project of ConeXion Mosaico, doing community development in the slums of Mexico City BMPC Grants: • Presbyterian World Mission, Peru • Faith in Practice, Guatemala • SEGA Girls School, Tanzania • Emmanuel Hospital, India • Beyond Borders, Haiti • Borderlinks, US/Mexico • Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, Israel • Friends of Forman College, Pakistan • Hands Along the Nile, Egypt
Our high school youth went on a mission trip to Belize.
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Grow
TOGETHER
The Weekday School Christmas Pageant was held in our Sanctuary.
It’s the joyful noise as we gather for a week of Vacation Bible Camp. It’s the energy you feel as students move from the pews, to the chancel, to the Education Building on Sunday morning. It’s the insight that comes from classrooms and the love shared by dedicated teachers each and every week. It’s 100 people gathered for family fun on a Friday night. It’s 37 storybook Bibles, 28 third grade Bibles, and another 25 hymnals given to help students learn. It’s the laughter on our playground, continuing a great tradition of learning at the Weekday School. It’s the grace extended as children are marked as Christ’s own in the sacrament of Baptism. Each and every day, we grow together in grace and in faith. It’s a van full of students heading to Washington D.C. for a week of service. It’s the important conversations shared over meals after a hard day’s work in Belize. It’s the Spirit moving as we gather for worship and the opportunity to share our faith on Youth Sunday. It’s a jam-packed week at Camp Kirkwood. It’s the relationships developed over a year of Confirmation, surrounded by teachers and mentors. It’s the energy at an “Upward” basketball game while we cheer and coach. It’s the leadership we share on Student Serve. It’s the faith formed and nurtured that accompanies our seniors when they graduate. Each and every day we grow together in the Spirit and in life.
A family enjoyed intergenerational fellowship.
It’s welcoming world-renowned theologians and community leaders to our congregation. It’s creating space for important conversations. It’s digging deep into scripture and finding answers to complex questions. It’s reaching out with Community Forums that challenge and inspire. It’s reading a book, watching a movie, dissecting the news in light of our beliefs. It’s discovering what it means to be fed and to feed others with our study of a common theme. It’s placing our faith in conversation with our daily lives. It’s equipping one another to speak our faith in a changing world. Each and every day we grow together in the Word and in community. No matter our age, our background, our biblical expertise, we grow together in our common faith.
The Rev. Rachel Pedersen
Our third graders received their Bibles on September 24.
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The Rev. Dick Wohlschlaegar (left) joined our staff in November.
Theologian-in-Residence John Dominic Crossan was our guest in June.
On Sunday mornings, Jon Pahl taught two series and other guest speakers included Hal Taussig, Klaus Volpert, and our Theologian in Residence, John Dominic Crossan. We partnered with Merion Friends Meeting for a lunch time series about prison realities, the early morning Couples’ Bible Study doubled in size, and we began a new class for busy women, “Filling the Well.” The Sunday morning hour between 8:45-9:45 a.m., which includes Rev. Paul MacMurray’s ongoing class, became the most popular time for adult education, but Wednesday evenings also provided enrichment, including “Financial Peace” and “Bible Basics.” We enjoyed hearing from Concertmaster David Kim, the Rev. Pattie Kitchen, the Rev. Dr. Paul Watermulder and Judy Wicks in programs sponsored by Senior Adults Council, and our Middleton Center provided opportunities to explore, question and grow through counseling services, support groups, labyrinth walks, spiritual direction, and special programs such as one designed for clergy of all faiths and another for the “Sandwich Generation.” The Rev. Nicole Duran
The Rev. Paul MacMurray taught on most Sunday mornings.
If there’s one word that describes BMPC’s Youth Ministry, it is together. We seek to grow together in all that we do, whether at our weekly Youth Gathering and Grade Groups, our monthly special events, or our yearly mission trips and summer camp. Growing together may include serving with our Upward Basketball Ministry, learning about Jesus in Confirmation, or being a member of the high school leadership team. As we build relationships and deepen faith, we grow by “sharing Christ’s love together.” The Rev. Kellen Smith The Rev. Kellen Smith provided inspiration at Youth Gatherings.
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By the Numbers
2014 BUDGET
REVENUES
PLEDGES AND CONTRIBUTIONS Congregational Giving & Plate Cash Current Year Pledges Prior Year Pledges Total Pledges and Contributions SPECIAL INCOME Special Donations & Grants Charitable Trust Donation Foundation Income Allocation Total Special Income OTHER INCOME Total REVENUES
EXPENDITURES
PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE Presbytery Allocation Mortgage Interest and Principal Other Administrative Expenses Total Administrative Expense OFFICE AND TECH EXPENSE PROPERTY EXPENSE Maintenance & Utilities Deferred Maintenance Total Property Expense BENEVOLENCE Worldwide Ministries Outreach Council Senior Adult Benevolence Total Benevolence COUNCILS Adult Education Children & Family Ministry Congregational Life Deacons - Congregational Care Fine Arts Program Membership Senior Adult Council Session Stewardship Worship Committee Youth Ministry Total Councils Total EXPENDITURES NET CASH from Operating Budget Pension Termination Deferred Maintenance Sr. Pastor Discretionary NET CASH
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2014 ACTUAL
2013 ACTUAL
136,000 2,180,500 25,000 2,341,500
206,492 2,209,147 22,626 2,438,535
157,138 2,149,551 69,655 2,376,343
25,000 250,000 1,181,914 1,456,914 4,000 3,802,414
131,994 250,000 1,185,534 1,567,529 10,326 4,016,390
66,387 250,000 1,122,880 1,439,266 4,031 $3,819,641
2,116,287
2,021,162
1,923,407
65,500 57,000 96,400 218,900 205,000
65,114 56,910 96,249 218,273 204,510
62,943 56,910 91,144 210,997 184,440
545,750 125,000 670,750
571,055 125,000 696,055
518,218 125,000 643,218
100,000 208,000 32,000 340,000
97,000 213,980 28,936 339,916
100,291 184,895 27,533 312,718
7,000 60,000 14,000 3,500 100,000 15,000 4,000 9,000 5,000 1,800 25,000 244,300 3,795,237 7,177
7,981 41,722 10,367 1,336 96,690 15,504 2,933 9,150 1,984 3,335 24,588 215,591 3,695,507 320,883 -414,784
9,155 42,170 13,033 6,097 75,237 13,210 3,077 6,139 2,185 1,728 24,061 196,092 $3,470,872 $348,769
7,177
-93,901
70,000 24,000 254,769
* The financial statements have been audited by Baker Tilly LLC, and are available to any member of the church upon request.
ASSETS
Total Cash and Equivalents Total Fixed Assets Other Assets Investments Notes Receivable Pooled Income Fund/Market Value Total Other Assets TOTAL ASSETS
DEC. 31, 2014
DEC. 31, 2013
903,884 29,210,803
1,144,855 27,730,897
623,475 67,754 107,614 798,843 30,913,530
455,144 72,600 231,538 759,282 29,635,034
13,880 25,570 -1,603,291 388,119 909,212 454,595 104,861 292,947
15,248 21,774 -709,257 419,039 977,198 338,171 157,187 1,219,360
1,665,000 2,914 19,325 1,687,239 1,980,186
790,000 3,278 105,976 899,254 2,118,615
27,778,703 1,217,623 -62,981 28,933,345 30,913,530
26,298,797 933,863 283,759 27,516,420 29,635,034
LIABILITIES & EQUITY Current Liabilities Accrued Expenses Custodial Accounts Forward in Faith Reserve Note to Foundation Temporarily Restricted Unrestricted Reserves Weekday School Reserves Total Current Liabilities Long Term Liabilities Line of Credit - BMT Amortization Pooled Income/Future Liability Total Long-Term Liabilities Total Liabilities Equity Plant Unrestricted Net Assets/Undesignated Net Income Total Equity TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Stewardship Report - Looking Ahead By the end of 2014, our 2015 Stewardship Campaign “From Gratitude to Generosity” results were as follows: • 738 pledges totaling $2,321,059 to support the operating budget of BMPC • An increase of 6.5% or $142,301 over the 2014 Stewardship Campaign • A pledging goal that was not only met but exceeded by $59,059 or 2.6%
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BMPC Foundation Balance Sheet Balance Sheet (December 31, 2014)
FUND BALANCES
Undesignated: Unrestricted Endowment Permanent Endowment
7,658,074 1,330,305
Memorials: Catherine C. Miller Debbie Craig Foerderer Memorial Isabel Sherrerd Memorial Miller Memorial
8,251 160,407 8,637,407 18,207 252,205
Mission : Christian Mission Outreach Elsie and Blair Daniels Eugene C. Bay Fund Richard Shaull Fund Skip Hollingshead Fund Catastrophic Relief Fund Ruth Anchors Estate Otto Haas Charitable Trust Tutoring Fund
128,272 297,345 2,269,949 1,359,409 31,248 15,226 385,009 226,827 118,471
Building: Ada Howard Donaghy Building Endowment Building Preservation Shepherd & Sheep Statuary Repair & Maintenance
ASSETS (MARKET VALUE) Income and Principal Cash Fixed Income Securities Intermediate Term Notes - Market Rate Notes - Below Market Rate Total Fixed Income Equities U.S. All Cap U.S. Equity International Equity Fund Total Equities Pledged for Line of Credit Cash Equivalents (Money Market) Treasury Inflation Protected GNMA Fund Admiral Shares Intermediate Term Total Pledged TOTAL ASSETS
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208,253 5,325,935 388,119 655,122 6,369,175 16,370,317 1,987,624 7,722,887 26,080,828 3,474 1,890,102 1,198,673 1,153,046 4,245,295 36,903,552
Fine Arts: Chapel Organ Fund Sherrerd/Fine Arts for Children Richard W. Ledwith McFarland Music Phoebe Haas Organ Fund Silver Anniversary Fund William Dick Music Fine Arts for Children and Youth Haas Charitable Trust for Senior Choir Youth: Lola M. Tryon Memorial Joseph and Ethel VanderVeer Family Ministries: Middleton Church School Fund Other: Middleton Pastoral Care & Counseling Theologian in Residence Peacemaking Camp Scholarship Fund Community Forums Care of the Congregation J. Mahlon Buck, Jr. & Elia D. Buck Fund Judith Ehrman Fund TOTAL FUND BALANCES
1,842,600 320,688 756,403 4,927
41,337 34,170 123,809 404,416 79,180 102,749 834,801 282,698 1,829,364 29,008 36,141 71,873 2,300,592 67,090 12,606 32,684 241,477 199,864 4,068,934 289,448 36,903,552
Special Gifts In 2014, our church was blessed by numerous generous donations, and we are grateful for each gift received. Most of these applied to our annual Stewardship Campaign and some went outside of those parameters – allocated to more specific uses. These “Special Gifts” are highlighted below.
Special Gifts to Ministries of the Church: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Gifts in Honor of Jacqui VanVliet’s ministry, for Children & Family Ministries Gifts in Honor of Don Smith, for Adult Education Gifts in Honor of Jeffrey Brillhart, for Worldwide Ministries Gifts in Honor of Dolores Kephart, for the restoration of the stained glass Gifts in Honor of Agnes Norfleet, for the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund Gifts in Honor of Christina Haas & Jesse Ordonio’s marriage, for Outreach Gifts in Memory of Terry Carrigan, to the Hunger Fund Gifts in Memory of Joyce Kempf Hackman, to the Hunger Fund Gifts in Memory of Robert Hauptfuhrer, to the Forward in Faith Capital Campaign Gifts in Memory of Linda Waltman, to the Nurse & Care Manager Fund Gifts in Memory of James Weese, to the Middleton Center PA Lumberman’s Mutual Matching Gift, to the Operating Budget George & Grace Andressohn Fund, to the Operating Budget The Philadelphia Foundation, to the Operating Budget Katharine Hoyler Charitable Trust, to the Operating Budget The Moyer Annuity of the Presbyterian Foundation, to the Operating Budget Otto Haas Charitable Trust, to the Forward in Faith Capital Campaign Martha Greene Lewis Charitable trust, to the Forward in Faith Capital Campaign
Special Gifts to the BMPC Foundation: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Estate of Joan Bolton Estate of Margaret Stevenson Gifts in Memory of William Buchanan Gifts in Memory of Barbara Eckman Gifts in Memory of Charlotte Harris Gifts in Memory of Marietta Homeier Gifts in Memory of Richard Knecht Gifts in Memory of J. Thomas Ligget Gifts in Memory of Frances Middleton Gifts in Memory of Shirley Moyer Gifts in Memory of Elvin J. Stoltzfus Gifts in Memory of Sara Vogel Gifts in Memory of Mr. & Mrs. James R. Affleck and Mr. & Mrs. Walter B. Bastow Gifts in Honor of Herbert Evert’s 80th birthday, to the Building Preservation Fund
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Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church | 625 Montgomery Avenue | Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 | 610.525.2821