the
LENT/EASTER 2014
MESSENGER BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
VOLUME 116 | ISSUE 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Rising of our New Spire (page 2) Lent and Holy Week (pages 3-4) APNC for Children and Family Ministry Update (page 5) Summer Preview for Children and Youth (page 14) Cover photo by Dianne Heard, Easter 2013
Letter from the Pastor Dear Friends, One of my go-to books for both my pastoral care involvement with church members and my administrative work as head of staff is William Bridges’ The Way of Transition. Bridges was an English professor who made a vocational shift from teaching into organizational management. He grew to specialize in helping individuals and organizations navigate various kinds of transition. Many of the transitions we celebrate in life, and certainly in the church, come with great joy, such as confirmation, graduations, the birth of children, weddings, a promotion at work. Others are obviously more difficult: seasons of declining health, divorce, the death of a loved one, a move from independent living into the need for assisted care, and unexpected interruption or an unwanted vocational adjustment. Bridges’ posits that if we understand the fundamental nature of all transitions we can become more adept at welcoming the changes they bring. Each transition consists of three phases: letting go of the past, an in between time when the past is gone but the new isn’t yet fully present, and making the new beginning. The middle phase, the in between time, can be confusing and stressful, but if navigated well it can be creative, productive, and lay a good foundation for the new beginning that awaits. While the publication of this Messenger coincides with my one year anniversary of becoming your pastor, I realize that we are still very much in a season of transition. I continue to learn about the history and culture of this wonderfully faithful congregation: the vision, commitment, generosity, challenges and traditions we have inherited. We are also moving toward a new beginning: discerning how God is calling us into a future of Christian witness, looking for new associate pastors, welcoming new members and opportunities for Christian discipleship, growing in engagement and stewardship. Where we are going as a congregation is not yet altogether clear, but I welcome this “in between time” of our transition together. What I have learned from William Bridges is that the in between time can be, not only creative and productive, but also invaluable if it is met with prayer, patience and openness to future possibility. This season of the church year, Lent into Easter, is a sacred transition that illumines our corporate church transition. We are called to observe Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by reading and meditating on the Word of God. In so doing, we exercise patience and openness to the sacrificial love of God in Jesus Christ as we prepare to celebrate Easter and recommit ourselves anew to live as resurrected believers. In the dual season of transition, the holy season of Lent and Easter, and the continuing transition of our congregation, I invite you to join me in daily prayer for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, that we may be guided by God into a wonderfully faithful future of new beginnings. Grace and Peace,
Agnes Norfleet 1 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
The Rising of our New Spire By Maureen Murphy and Pete DiRocco
While the stone, masonry, and carpentry work on our Sanctuary tower itself has been completed, we are still eagerly awaiting the reinstallation of our beautiful and iconic 35-foot spire. Careful and artistic fabrication of the new spire is currently underway, and we are looking at a delivery and installation date of Friday, March 28, when a crane and lift will hoist it into position on top of the tower. A very special rededication ceremony and celebration of our carillon and spire will be held the following Sunday, March 30, immediately after the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Watch for further details to come.
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Over the coming summer months, our renovation efforts will continue as we work on the exteriors of the Ministries Center, Converse House, Sanctuary and Education Buildings. Thank you to all of the members of this congregation who have made donations for this work. It’s such an exciting time in the life of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and we are blessed to have everyone be a part of it!
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Save the Date!
Sun., March 30 • 11:00 a.m. Rededication Ceremony and Celebration of our Carillon and Spire
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A crane was used to install scaffolding in April and to remove the old spire in July.
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Scaffolding surrounded the bell tower to facilitate masonry repairs, carillon louver replacement, and stained glass work.
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The original 1930s spire, with its unstable wood frame and lead sheet metal sheathing, had deteriorated to the point of requiring replacement. A new structural base plate awaits the installation of our new 35-foot spire (photograph by Bill Kemmerer).
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Carillonneurs Dianne Heard and Bob Holmes were glad to be back at the keyboard after the tower reopened in early December.
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Our carillon, given by an anonymous donor, was installed in 2005 and expanded to 49 bells in 2006. It was silent while protected during the tower restoration work from April-December.
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Our new spire in fabrication in Kentucky. Lead-coated copper will cover its aluminum and steel frame to match the profile and patina of the former spire.
2 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
A Season of Spiritual
Preparation Lent: Letting Go & Reaching Out By the Rev. Dr. Nicole Duran
Although it leads us toward the resurrection, the season of Lent is not known for its bright colors. Instead, it is a time set aside for facing the more difficult truths of our faith. As we follow Jesus through temptations, fasting, and suffering, we are, like the disciples, called to leave some things behind. Lent is a time of emptying out. When my boys were toddlers, one of them went through a phase of wandering through the house with a small toy train gripped in each hand. He was perfectly happy to have both hands full of train, until he came upon a third toy or, say, an appealing dish of goldfish crackers. Then he would stand still, weighing the alternatives—let go of a train and pick up something else? Or not? Never an easy choice. Lent calls all of us to stop and weigh the alternatives—let go and reach forward, or cling to what is already in our hands? There are all sorts of things that we would be better off releasing from our grip: the double latte, the daily Facebook time, the random ESPN event (curling?). Or we might let go of an enduring resentment, a disappointment, or a failed hope. The Special K slogan, What will you gain when you lose?, works because we know that there is excess in our lives; things we would benefit from losing. Lent is the time to let go of that clutter, to drop distractions and gain spiritual focus. In Lent, we release our grip on the excess in order to reach out for the new thing God is doing among us.
Lent Begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5 • 5:30 p.m. Family Service in the Chapel with Imposition of Ashes. Led by the Rev. Jacqui Van Vliet. • 6:00-7:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner served in Congregational Hall. Cost: $8/adults, $5/students and children. All welcome. • 7:30 p.m. Service in the Chapel with Imposition of Ashes. Led by the Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet.
2014 Lenten Devotional Our 2014 Lenten Devotional book offers daily Scripture readings and enriching, contemplative devotions to guide your journey through the 40 days of Lent. Written by our pastoral staff and members of the BMPC congregation for the days between Ash Wednesday (March 5) and Easter, copies will be available in the Ministries Center and Sanctuary beginning Ash Wednesday, or you may access each day’s reflection on the BMPC website: www.bmpc.org. The Worship Committee sincerely thanks those who wrote entries or provided art for this publication. 3 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
The Practice of Lent: Adult Enrichment Opportunities By the Rev. Dr. Nicole Duran
Our faith offers us a procession of sacred seasons and a way to measure our days that focuses us on the practice of Christianity. The season of Lent calls us to consider the more difficult truths of our faith, encouraged by the promise of the resurrection. As we measure out these 40 days together, we will be meeting in a variety of places and times to study both our world and God’s word, and we hope you will find a place and time to dig a little deeper in this season of spiritual enrichment. On Wednesday evenings in Lent, a Bible Basics class on Genesis will be offered by the Rev. Drs. Agnes W. Norfleet and Nicole Duran both before and after our Wednesday Night Dinners. You’ll have the option of coming to the class at 5:00 p.m. and staying after class for dinner, or coming to dinner and then staying for the very same class at 7:00 p.m. Either way, we’ll be beginning at Day One to experience the riches of the sacred story together. Sundays in Lent will be a world of opportunities for spiritual development. At 8:45 a.m., we’ll study Crucifixion and Sacrifice in the New Testament, looking at the variety of New Testament perspectives on what Jesus’ death means, and considering what it means to us. After worship, a lunchtime series will move into our own world with a study on Prison Realities (see pg. 6). Finally, there will continue to be a variety of offerings at 11:15 a.m., including some sessions related to health and spirituality, and some on Women in the Bible, picking up on an exhibit of quilts presented by the Fine Arts department that feature those same women. We meet together in this season to grow in spirit and intellect and relationship, and to ready ourselves for the miracle of Easter. For more information on any of the classes listed above, please see our Sunday bulletins or visit www.bmpc.org.
One Great Hour of Sharing Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through “One Great Hour of Sharing” to share God’s love with those in need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our sisters and brothers around the world find hope for a brighter future. Envelopes for this special offering will be in the pews throughout Lent. For more information, visit www.onegreathourofsharing.org.
Holy Week Services Join us for worship as we walk through Jesus’ final days on Earth and celebrate the Good News of Easter. Palm Sunday, April 13 • 8:00 a.m. Worship with Communion by Intinction in the Chapel. • 8:30-9:45 a.m. Breakfast in Congregational Hall. • 10:00 a.m. Worship and children’s palm procession in the Sanctuary. Maundy Thursday, April 17 • 6:00 p.m. Simple supper in Congregational Hall. Free will offering. • 7:30 p.m. Worship with Communion by Intinction in the Sanctuary. Led by the Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet. Good Friday, April 18 • 12:00 noon Service commemorating Good Friday in the Sanctuary. Led by BMPC Youth. • 7:30 p.m. Musical worship experience led by the Bryn Mawr Chamber Singers. Easter Sunday, April 20 • 6:30 a.m. Sunrise service on the front lawn. Continental breakfast follows. • 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. Worship with Sanctuary Choir and Easter Brass in the Sanctuary. The Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet will preach. 4 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
The Search for our New Associate Pastor for Children and Family Ministry By Peggy Gregg, APNC Co-Chair
The Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC) for Children and Family Ministry is making steady and exciting progress! After posting our Ministry Information Form (MIF) in mid-November, we reviewed more than 60 Personal Information Forms (PIF), which have either been matched to BMPC by the Presbyterian Church Leadership Connection in Louisville, KY, or self-submitted by the candidates themselves. We have also reached out to a wide network of referral sources. Seminary presidents and professors of Christian education, as well as pastors and associate pastors of churches comparable in size and complexity to BMPC, have offered their recommendations, and we have made contact with them.
The APNC held open forums to hear hopes and dreams for our Children and Family Ministry.
By the first week in February, we will have engaged in several introductory telephone conversations with promising candidates. These will help us further narrow the field, leading to more in-depth conversations. We’re encouraged by the quality of our pool and are on track to make a recommendation for a call by early spring. We’re grateful for your continued prayers as we seek to discern God’s will through the power of the Holy Spirit. For more information about the progress of the APNC, use search term “APNC” on our website, www.bmpc.org.
The BMPC Foundation in Action By Maureen Murphy
The Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Foundation contributes to the mission and ministry of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. The money in the Foundation supports many wonderful programs, including: • Arch Street Presbyterian Church Preschool: giving children a joyful and open Christian learning community where gifts are celebrated through diversity, discovery, and play. • Broad Street Ministries: offering a broad-minded, Christian community for worship that cherishes creativity, fosters and nurtures artistic expression, extends hospitality and works for a more just world through civic engagement. • Presbyterian Children’s Village: providing a comprehensive range of prevention, child welfare, therapeutic, and educational services and programs to heal the spirits of children, families, and communities in crisis.
Camp Kirkwood Scholarships are one of the many programs supported by The BMPC Foundation.
• Camp Kirkwood Scholarships: opening opportunities for more BMPC youth to enjoy this Christian adventure camping experience in the heart of the Poconos each summer. Camp Kirkwood was established by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1960 and since then, thousands of children have been blessed by the ministry of this “church in the woods.” • Storybook Bibles: gifting these to the children in our Children and Family Ministry; often the first Bible a child owns. • The Children’s Music Fund: sharing the joy of music by providing the handbells and supplies used by our Children’s Handbell Choir, which help to make our worship services so special. All gifts to the BMPC Foundation are greatly appreciated and can support any one of these areas (as well as many others). For more information on the Foundation, contact MaureenMurphy@bmpc.org, ext. 8807.
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Save the Date: Spring Adult Enrichment Prison Realities: Class, Race, and Systemic Violence in Our Prison System By the Rev. Dr. Nicole Duran
One in three African American boys born today will spend some portion of their lives in prison. The United States keeps a higher percentage of its population in prison than any other country in the world. How did Eastern State Penitentiary we arrive at these realities? What can or should be done about them? In partnership with our neighbors at Merion Friends Meeting, we will meet during Lent for a series on Prison Realities. On four Sundays in March from 12:30-2:00 p.m., we will gather in Congregational Hall for a light lunch and a discussion of topics such as solitary confinement, the re-entry of former prisoners into society, prison privatization, and what happens to children of incarcerated parents. Informed by the book The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, the series will be led by local experts and supplemented by a showing of the film Broken on All Sides at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute on March 17 and by a field trip to Eastern State Penitentiary, a landmark in the historical development of prison philosophy.
A Portrait of Germany By Ellen Anderson and Klaus Volpert
Klaus Volpert, Ph.D., professor at Villanova University and longtime member of BMPC and its Sanctuary Choir, will give two lectures on his native Germany. On Sunday, May 25, at 11:15 a.m. and again on Sunday, June 1, he will present snap shots of the geography, history, and art of Germany as well as current political events. Special consideration will be given to the history of the Reformation and to locations that our Sanctuary Choir will visit on tour this summer. All are welcome to attend.
Looking for a Good Book? We’re happy to share book recommendations! Lists are currently available in the Narthex and Ministries Center, and we’ll be producing a new list soon. Here are just a couple of new recommendations to get you started: • The Last Crossing by Guy Vanderhaeghe (recommended by the Rev. Dr. Nicole Duran): The story of a group of easterners who make the journey west: some in search of a missionary younger brother, others looking for a rapist and killer. There is love, racism, syphilis, and smallpox, genders bending, and cultures clashing. It’s beautiful and intelligent and compassionate in a way that westerns usually fail to be; I’ve read it more than once and still love it. • Even Silence Has an End by Ingrid Betancourt (recommended by Valerie Craig): While campaigning as a candidate in the Colombian presidential elections, Ingrid Betancourt was abducted by the FARC. She would spend the next 6½ years in the depths of the jungle as a prisoner. Chained day and night for most of her captivity, she never stopped dreaming of escape. Her deeply personal and moving account is a meditation on the essence of life, fear and freedom, and hope and what inspires it. Have a recommendation of your own? Send the title, author, and a brief description of your favorite book to CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org. 6 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
Faith and Fellowship for Senior Adults This spring, our Senior Adults Ministry has offerings that are fun, informative, and inspirational. For more information about any of these programs, contact AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821.
Senior Adult Lunch with Robert Wittman: A “Priceless” Speaking Engagement Wednesday, March 12, 12:00 noon, Congregational Hall
Robert Wittman founded the FBI’s National Art Crime Team and served for 20 years as the FBI’s investigative expert in this field. He is responsible for recovering more than $300 million in stolen art and cultural property around the world. Since retiring from the FBI in 2008, he wrote the New York Times Best Seller, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures, and speaks about his FBI career by leading audiences through notorious art heists and daring undercover recoveries. Hear the true stories behind the headlines of the FBI’s real Indiana Jones. Tickets: $10 (includes lunch). RSVP by March 7 online (www.bmpc.org > Calendar > Open Registrations) or by contacting AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821.
Robert Wittman
A Morning of Music and Inspiration with Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Violinist David Kim Friday, April 4, 9:00-11:45 a.m., Congregational Hall & Sanctuary
David Kim
David Kim will visit our church to share both his beautiful music and his inspiring and personal Christian journey. Join us for refreshments in Congregational Hall at 9:00 a.m. before we gather in the Sanctuary for his program. Our time together will include a devotional by the Rev. Dr. R. Charles Grant and the voices of BMPC’s Singing for Life Choir. All ages are welcome to attend this event sponsored by BMPC’s Senior Adults Council and the Older Adult Ministry Committee of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. Tickets: $10. To purchase, contact AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821.
Brunch with the Rev. Pattie Kitchen Sunday, April 6, 11:15 a.m., Congregational Hall
Former Associate Pastor Pattie Kitchen returns to BMPC as the featured speaker at a brunch hosted by our Senior Adults Council. Pattie served BMPC from 19992004, then served First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, LA, and Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver. Pattie and her husband, Dr. James Kitchen, retired to the Poconos in 2012.
Jim and Pattie Kitchen
Pattie is the second speaker in our Living Legacy series, which brings back former pastors and church leaders to share their reflections and life-long learnings. All ages welcome! Tickets: $10; purchase online (www.bmpc.org > Calendar > Open Registrations) or from AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8809. 7 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
Caring for our Congregation BMPC’s Parish Nurse and Care Manager
The Parish Nurse Program at BMPC started in 1996 and has been an active Congregational Health Ministry program for more than 18 years. Ann Fossum, RN/Faith Community Nurse, is available to discuss health and wellness issues integrating physical, emotional and spiritual needs. This can be done at church, at a home visit, by email or over the phone. Services offered include discussing new diagnoses, chronic illness, medications, hospice care, recovering from an injury, preparing for surgery, support needed after surgery, and healthy lifestyles/ preventative measures. Lorie Benovic, M.A., serves as our Care Manager (social worker) Left: Lorie Benovic, Care Manager and, along with Ann, supports the office of the Associate Pastor Right: Ann Fossum, Parish Nurse for Senior Adults and Pastoral Care. Our team—pastor, nurse and social worker—is able to help when members have questions that arise from health or aging concerns. Lorie has been at BMPC since 2003 listening, assessing needs, suggesting options and recommending solutions to members in times of transition, health crises, social/psychological distress, or just everyday concerns. By request or referral, our Care Manager can offer information and referral, visits to the home or facilities, telephone consultations, psychosocial assessments, care plan development, arrangements for in-home care, recommendations for alternative living arrangements, assistance with insurance questions, referrals for reliable home repair, etc. In addition, both Lorie and Ann can assist you with the following services: medical equipment from our loan closet, prayer shawl ministry, delivery of meals, transportation needs, Sunday and holiday flower delivery, wellness classes, community resources and support groups, member care/friendly visitors, and sermons sent to homebound members. Both are in their Converse House office three days per week and can reached at AnnFossum@bmpc.org, ext. 8832, or LorieBenvoic@bmpc.org, ext. 8833, respectively.
Setting Aside Time for Contemplative Prayer By David Heaton
We struggle to find time to slow down, be quiet and turn within. But there’s a time and a place to do this each Tuesday morning from 8:00-8:45 a.m. in our serene Chapel, where a small group gathers to listen to God in contemplative prayer. In her book, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Cynthia Bourgeault describes contemplative prayer as a wordless, trusting, opening of self to the divine presence that leads to an inner awakening and has a transformative effect in our lives and community. We invite you to join us in trying to find this in our common life. Our class meets early enough and is brief enough that the work of the day can wait while we attend to this important beginning to our day. For more information, contact Patricia Danzon, patriciadanzon@gmail.com. 8 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
Organist Olivier Latry Returns to BMPC By Jeffrey Brillhart
On Sunday, March 9, at 4:00 p.m., we are honored to present a concert by French organist Olivier Latry, one of the most distinguished concert organists in the world today. One of three titular organists at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, Latry is also Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory of Music and Organist Emeritus with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in Canada. He maintains a full schedule of concert performances, appearing regularly as a soloist at prestigious venues and festivals and with leading orchestras around the world. In recognition of his distinguished work in the field of organ performance and teaching, Mr. Latry has received many prestigious awards and honorary degrees, including the Prix de la Fondation Cino et Simone Del Duca (Institut de France—Académie des Beaux-Arts) in 2000, and “Honoris Causa” Fellowships from the North and Midlands School of Music (UK) in 2006 and from the Royal College of Organists (UK) in 2007. He was also presented the International Performer of the Year award by the New York City chapter of the American Guild of Organists in April 2009. Mr. Latry has a special connection to Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, as he designed and then dedicated our Sanctuary’s Rieger organ in a concert on October 23, 2005. For his upcoming performance at BMPC, Mr. Latry will be joined by Korean virtuoso organist Shin-Young Lee in a concert that includes their four-hands, four-feet transcription of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and students with ID. Purchase in advance online at www.bmpc.org.
Olivier Latry
Young-in-Arts Program Concludes By Jeffrey Brillhart
After more than two decades of music and art classes for children, ages 0-5, Young-in-Arts (YIA) has closed due to decreasing enrollment. At its peak, more than 200 children were enrolled. Over the last five years, enrollment has steadily declined, leaving us with no choice but to close the doors. We do this with heavy hearts, but with joyous memories of the countless children who have been nurtured here. YIA was founded more than 20 years ago by Sandy Martin and a dedicated group of volunteers from the Fine Arts Council. At that time, Kerri Williams with Young-in-Arts students YIA was the pioneering early childhood music and art program in the area. In those early years, the program attracted the attention of educational visionaries such as Edwin E. Gordon, founder of the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. At the local level, Temple University’s nationally acclaimed Beth Bolton was involved both as a teacher and curriculum advisor. Over the past decade, the Main Line has seen an explosion of early childhood music education franchises. Over time, we found that we simply could not compete with these well-funded programs. Three years ago we established a task force to do a comprehensive review of our program and explore the competition. Even with enhancements like a dedicated website, fine arts administrative support, and competitive tuition, YIA enrollment continued to decline. We would like to thank the hundreds of parents and children who have experienced the music, art, and movement classes at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. We are awed and grateful for the talented teachers who have been a part of this program, and especially grateful for Kerri Williams’ leadership over these past two and a half years. Kerri and her team of musicians have done a wonderful job of nurturing young children and their families and deserve countless accolades!
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Member Spotlight:
Mickey Cooper & BMPC’s Visual Arts Program By Jeffrey Brillhart
The Visual Arts program of BMPC, founded more than 40 years ago by Lois Moon, presents art exhibits and special projects through much of the year. Over these four decades, works by hundreds of artists working in all mediums have been exhibited in our BMPC spaces. For nearly half that period, Mickey Cooper has guided this sacred ministry. Twenty years ago, Mickey managed her first art exhibition. Over the years that have followed, this vivacious and tireless lady has been the driving force for countless art shows and several residencies. Thanks to Mickey’s vision and organizational powers, BMPC members and friends in the community have enjoyed exhibitions that have ranged from displays of sacred writings expressed in calligraphy, to reproductions of the first illuminated manuscripts of the Gospel of John, to a photo show of the Mickey Cooper faces of the homeless in Philadelphia, to an artist-in-residency program that created a Wall of Prayers using the written prayers of hundreds of members. Many of the shows made a connection with mission and outreach. One example was the remarkable 2008 exhibit, “Pictures of Paradise,” that showcased works by women from Pamplona Alta, Peru. The income from the sale of works in that exhibit helped build a children’s playground in Peru! When I asked Mickey to speak about why BMPC has a visual arts program, she lit up and responded with, “We try to educate members, but it’s also important to give exposure to artists. We want to bring Philadelphia into BMPC, to show the diverse faces of the people to our members.” Mickey, an expert gardener, has a particular love of nature that shines forth in the selection of many of the artists. She loves “to experience the beauty that surrounds us through the unique perspective of talented artists. Artists give us a glimpse of God’s handiwork that is both transforming and spiritual.” Even after 20 years “on the job” Mickey continues to be filled with ideas for the future. After speaking about the why of visual arts, she raced on to share her dreams for what might be possible in visual arts here at BMPC. “Art classes would be great, wouldn’t they, Jeff!” We invite your participation in the Visual Arts ministry of the church. Whether you are an artist or an art lover, we can find a way to engage your abilities! For more information, contact JeffreyBrillhart@bmpc.org, ext. 8834.
Save the Date for Upcoming Fine Arts Programs Sun., Feb. 23, 4:00 p.m. The Bryn Mawr Choir School leads
Evensong worship in the Chapel. Free-will offering to benefit our Fine Arts Program.
Sun., Mar. 23, 10:00 a.m. The BMPC Sanctuary Choir presents Carol Barnett’s The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass as part of the 10:00 worship service. Free will offering to benefit BMPC.
Sun., Apr. 27, 10:00 a.m. The BMPC Sanctuary Choir presents Bryn Mawr Choir School singers
Singing the Whole Story, a hymn festival, as part of the 10:00 worship service. Free will offering to benefit BMPC. 10 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
BMPC Volunteers Support Homeless Philadelphians at Broad Street Ministry By Pam Haynes-Walsh
“It’s a place to get something to eat and get away from the abject humiliation in the street.” ... “Mail service helps me get benefits and stay in contact with family members.” ... “[They] give me socks…most important for someone who is homeless.” ... “When I come here, I have my dignity; they treat us like people and not something less than human.” This is what some of nearly 3,500 individuals served in 2013 say about Broad Street Ministry (BSM) and its volunteers. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church volunteers echo this sentiment—that serving BSM guests is a rewarding and dignified way to help our hungry and homeless neighbors. BSM was formed more than eight years ago at the Chambers Wylie Presbyterian Church, across Broad Street from the Kimmel Center, by Convening Minister, the Rev. Bill Golderer. It is a broad-minded church community of people with diverse backgrounds and beliefs that also embraces “those on the margins of society.” BSM’s vibrant non-traditional Sunday worship is at 4:00 p.m., but its doors are open seven days a week extending hospitality, mail and support services to some of Philadelphia’s neediest men and women. Bill Golderer recalls, “When we first started at Broad Street…it was basically soup served family style” to about 25 people. Now BSM has a full kitchen headed by a professional chef and serves more than 1,100 nutritious lunches and dinners weekly. Meals are served in the music-filled sanctuary at cloth-covered tables by volunteers from churches, local businesses, schools and civic groups. Guests always are treated with dignity and respect. BSM continues to expand its mission. It now provides a mailing address for more than 1,500 people; it offers socks, underwear, winter coats, other clothing and personal care items to guests; it provides access to health care, mental health, veterans’ and other social services with partner organizations. BMPC is a founding supporter and one of several organizations that send volunteers, financial support, and other donations to BSM. Our gracious volunteers help prepare and serve Saturday lunches, donate and distribute clothing and personal care items, sort mail for BSM’s guests, and serve on its board of directors. There is much need and many more opportunities for our youth and adults to help serve the growing number of guests at Broad Street Ministry. For more information on how you can help, contact CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org, ext. 8819.
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It’s a Small World After All By Caroline Pierce
Five years ago, I visited a rural town by the name of Morogoro in central Tanzania. My honest recollection of the place is hiking across beautiful hills above the town, butterflies fluttered over the fields, and drumbeats sounded in the distance... it was a magical place. There was something touching about Morogoro that lingered in my memory for years after I left Tanzania—and as fate would have it, this tiny town came back into my life this past fall. Through the BMPC grapevine, I learned about the Sega Girls School and the supporting non-profit organization, Nurturing Minds; together these organizations provide education for severely underprivileged girls in Morogoro. Considering that less than 25% of girls continue past grade 7 to secondary school and fewer still (less than 2%) attend college, the opportunity for an education and a safe space to learn is very rare indeed. With grants from BMPC and other generous donors, the Sega School teaches both basic education and entrepreneurial skills. For example, students are responsible for running the school’s chicken cooperative and convenience store. The profits from these ventures help sustain the school, and the skills the girls learn from these opportunities help them build their own businesses after graduation.
Sega Girls School: In the classroom.
Having seen the need for accessible education in Morogoro, as well as having experienced the potential magic of the place, it does not surprise me that Sega and Nurturing Minds founded their organization in this town. The profound opportunities that these organizations are providing makes me hopeful that they can touch as many young women’s lives as possible. For more information about Sega and Nurturing Minds, visit www.nurturingmindsinafrica.org.
Bring your Cheerios ® to Church! By the BMPC Hunger Committee
On a recent Sunday morning, a BMPC Hunger Committee member was walking up to church to attend worship with a box of Cheerios® in her arms. Another church member jokingly asked her whether she was bringing her breakfast to the service. No, the Hunger Committee member replied, this cereal is a contribution to the Hunger Committee’s food supplies which are used to support local food cupboards in the Philadelphia region. On November 1, 2013, food-stamp benefits were cut throughout America for the first time in history. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer: “...nearly three million people in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will have their benefits cut by around $29 per month for families of three, and $36 for families of four, according to data from the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. That translates into 21 lost meals per month for families of four. In Pennsylvania, one in seven residents gets food stamps, now called SNAP benefits (for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Coalition figures show. Of those, 766,000 are children, while nearly 500,000 are seniors or people with disabilities. Although the monthly loss may seem small, it’s huge for alreadystretched low-income families watching every penny, anti-hunger advocates say.” The loss of these benefits is catastrophic for many families, and the burden of making up these losses falls on local churches and other non-profits who work to feed the hungry in our region. So please bring your Cheerios® and other non-perishable food items (i.e. tuna, beans, peanut butter, etc.) to church each Sunday to help those in need in our region. These contributions may be placed in the baskets at the church entrance (Narthex). You may also aid the mission of the Hunger Committee by contributing funds in the white envelopes located in the pews. For more information, contact Dave Hastings, dhast99@yahoo.com. 12 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
Outdoor Learning Center Teaches Growing and Sharing By Kim Black
Not only did our Weekday School students recently learn about planting vegetables, caring for them, and harvesting their crop in their new Outdoor Learning Center, but they also learned about sharing with those in need. After producing a bumper crop of lettuce, the students donated some to Presbyterian Children’s Village, where the residents are learning about healthy eating, and to Arch Street Preschool, where the students could enjoy making and eating salad. For more information about The Weekday School’s Outdoor Learning Center, contact Kim Black, Weekday School Director, at weekdayschool@bmpc.org, 610-520-8840.
Students water their seedlings.
Welcome to Our Newest Members Stephen R. Treat
Larry Arney Bryn Mawr
Steven Bilski Wayne
Bob & Katie Eaddy Gladwyne
Tom & Susan Powell Villanova
Richard F. Address
Rob & Colleen Bertrand Merion Station
Barbara Evans Paoli
Mark Blair Newtown Square
David & Leah Jones Bryn Mawr
Lisa Napolitano & Jennifer Schilpp Jennica Stevens Newtown Square Bryn Mawr
Genevieve DiCamillo King of Prussia
Matt McGuirl Havertown
David & Jean Yost Bryn Mawr
Not a member here? We invite you to join our community of faith! Learn more about us at our next membership orientation on Sunday, March 30. For more information or to register, contact DonnaBarrickman@bmpc.org, ext. 8809.
13 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
Summer Fun: Just Ahead! Transforming Experiences for Youth By the Rev. Kellen Smith
“This experience changed my life!” I overheard this joyous comment as one of our high school students met her parents in the baggage claim at Philadelphia International Airport. We had just returned from our mission trip to Costa Rica and we indeed had a truly life changing experience. This summer, inspired by last year’s mission trip, we are returning to Central America. From July 5-11, rising 9th to graduated 12th graders are invited on our Belize Mission Trip for high schoolers. While it’s become known as an exotic tropical destination, especially for diving, you might not know that one third of the population in Belize lives in poverty. Young people in Belize are even more vulnerable, with 40% of children under age 17 living in poverty. As we partner with a local church, we will be building a home for a family that lives in impoverished conditions. The family we help will then be able to provide a safer home and secure future for their children. “I never knew that helping others could be so much fun.” One student told me this as we finished painting a fence with Habitat for Humanity in West Philadelphia. Helping others and having fun are the two things that make up the Urban Plunge, our summer mission trip for middle schoolers. This year, from July 20-25, we are taking the Urban Plunge to Washington D.C., where our rising 6th to rising 8th graders will spend their days serving with organizations that reach out to the more than 7,000 homeless within our nation’s capital, including thousands of families with children. We’ll seek to be the hands and feet of Christ and find joy in responding to one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most memorable statements: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” “This is the best week of my summer,” shouted a first-year camper who had just emerged from mud sliding in the rain. This has become a tradition on the final day of Camp Kirkwood, our week-long summer camp in the Poconos. 2014 promises to be another unforgettable year of camp, and August 3-9 can’t get here fast enough! When the days of our campers (rising 6th to rising 12th graders) are filled with swimming in the lake, making a new creation in wood shop, and singing songs around the campfire, it’s understandable why this week stands out from the rest. Getting away to the mountains always provides an opportunity to deepen relationships, make new friends, and grow closer to God. For more information on any of these trips or to register, contact AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821.
When School Ends... Vacation Bible Camp Begins! By the Rev. Jacqui Van Vliet
What do you call the sounds of more than 100 children, youth and adults building community together as they learn about God through stories, crafts, projects, games and songs? You call it Vacation Bible Camp! Every June after school ends, Vacation Bible Camp (VBC) is an exciting week full of fun, growing, sharing and caring in faith as children along with youth and adult leaders come together on our church campus for the joy of learning about God. Each year we use a different theme to discover and explore the many ways God works in our lives and in our world. Last year, the children discovered the meaning of the theme Serving Jesus in Our Own Backyard as they potted plants to give to the residents of a nearby senior care facility, created crafts and notes of thanks for their families, and made casseroles and sandwiches for BMPC’s outreach to local hunger relief. Don’t miss out on the fun this year either as a camper or as a teen or adult volunteer. Mark your calendars for VBC 2014: June 23-27. For more information or to register, contact JaneWilber@bmpc.org, ext. 8813. 14 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2014
The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821 The Messenger (USPS #341840) Volume #116, Issue #2 is published quarterly by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Periodical postage paid at Wayne, Pennsylvania and additional offices. Postmaster: Send Address Changes To The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Help BMPC “Go Green”! Instead of receiving a mailed copy of The Messenger, you may now “opt-in” to receive it electronically. Simply enter your email address and name in the form found at www.bmpc.org/news-media/publications/the-messenger and hit the “submit” button, and we’ll be sure to change your preferences for receiving this publication. Thank you in advance for helping us to “go green” by using less paper!
Have You Tried our Wednesday Night Dinners? All ages are invited to come enjoy fellowship and fresh, homemade meals by Chef Ruth Johnson every Wednesday night from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in Congregational Hall. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for students and children. Take-out is also available. Reservations are not necessary; see the “Announcements” section on our website home page, www.bmpc.org, for menus.