the
LENT/EASTER 2017
MESSENGER BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
VOLUME 119 | ISSUE 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Member Spotlight (page 3) Lenten Centerspread (pages 8-9) Adult Education (page 12) Morning Out Program (page 13)
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Letter from the Pastor Recently I had a conversation with a very active church member who shared that she didn’t remember the Presbyterian church of her childhood observing the season of Lent. That is probably true of many of us who are longtime Presbyterians. We remember Ash Wednesday as being something our Catholic or Episcopal friends observed when they arrived at school with a blurred cross of dust on their foreheads. Some of us, however, did grow up in Presbyterian churches or in churches of other denominations which emphasized the changing liturgical seasons and therefore have a special affinity for this season of preparation for Easter.
"Mindful that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness preparing for his public ministry, we are invited to observe Lent as a time of preparation through prayer and turning from the ways of sin toward a deepened understanding of faithfulness as we seek to follow Jesus Christ."
A little liturgical history helps us understand how BMPC has come to observe Lent. The earliest churches celebrated Easter weekly, and even today every Sunday is always a celebration of the resurrection. Even the Sundays in Lent, for instance, are not counted in the season’s 40 days. The season of Lent came to be observed only after Easter was decided upon as an annual celebration in the year 325 by the Council of Nicea which tied the date to Passover. Linked to the Jewish tradition of following the lunar calendar, Easter was established as the first Sunday occurring after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Lent became a season of preparation for baptism on Easter morning.
Mindful that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness preparing for his public ministry, we are invited to observe Lent as a time of preparation through prayer and turning from the ways of sin toward a deepened understanding of faithfulness as we seek to follow Jesus Christ. We offer a number of avenues for members of this congregation to observe a holy Lent. Our Worship Committee has coordinated the publication of a devotional book, written and illustrated by BMPC members, pastors and mission partners to assist you in your daily devotions at home. Beginning with Ash Wednesday we will have special worship services in the Chapel on Wednesday evenings in a more contemplative style of worship through scripture, silence and song. During Sunday worship we will attend to significant encounters between Jesus and individuals in the Gospel of John. In addition to our regular programs and mission opportunities, we hope this church’s observance of Lent will be an inward and outward journey of faith as we prepare for the joyous celebration of Easter’s dawn.
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Grace and Peace,
Member Spotlight: The Peetros Family Vicki and her children, Alex, 16, and Emily, 14 Vicki Peetros joined BMPC in 1996 with her fiancé as they prepared to be married. Baptized at BMPC and having attended our Weekday School, Vicki did not have the opportunity to grow up in our church, due to her mother’s death when she was a young child. Vicki very much wanted her children to grow up in a faith community. However, as a single parent who divorced when her children were very young, she struggled with being consistently involved in the life of our church. Daughter Emily led the way to a deeper commitment at age four, when - as a student at the Weekday School - she insisted on joining our choir so she could be a mouse in the production of “Noyes Fludde.” Unsure if Alex could ever participate because of the complex needs associated with his autism diagnosis, Vicki and Alex were encouraged by Kiki McKendrick, warmly welcomed, and wholly included by Jeff Brillhart. “It was a positive experience in so many ways,” Vicki said. “I felt very
Night Dinners, where he is thriving and gaining skills for his future. Vicki is now honored to serve our church as a deacon and a member of the Youth Ministry and Music and Fine Arts councils. Alex, who was confirmed two years ago, is a 10th grader at the Vanguard School, and Emily, an eighth grader at Welsh Valley Middle School, is in her confirmation year. included and a part of the church, and now 10 years later, we can’t imagine not being a part of choir.” As the years went by with Vicki serving as a choir parent and helping to shepherd Alex through Sunday School in the Education Building, she worried whether he would be able to actively participate in BMPC’s Youth program. Vicki’s prayers for strength and guidance were answered when the Rev. Kellen Smith and his wife Sarah were called to serve BMPC. Vicki found not only that Pastor Kellen would inspire the youth with his enthusiasm, but Sarah was a special needs teacher with a focus on teaching children with autism. A deep and lasting friendship and partnership grew between Sarah and the Peetros’ as they worked together on the Upward Basketball Ministry, where Alex and hundreds of special needs children have played and grown together in spirit for the last five years.
Both continue to sing with our Youth Chorale and look forward to Youth Gatherings on Sunday mornings. Alex also enjoys playing the piano, running in 5K races and going to Camp Kirkwood each summer. Emily plays the French horn in both band and orchestra, sings in an a cappella group and is a competitive archer. She volunteers with our “Wednesdays Together” children’s choir program, and she looks forward to being a leader at Vacation Bible School each summer. Vicki, Alex and Emily agree that “BMPC is a place where we can both give and receive so many blessings.”
Recently, Sarah has supported coaching Alex in his first real job as dishwasher at our Wednesday 3 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
New Anti-Harassment Policy Protects All BMPC Members
Complements Child and Youth Protection Policy by John Frazier and Mary Beth Pratt
The Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church is committed to maintaining a safe environment in which all persons can join together for worship, fellowship, service and education in the name of Jesus Christ, and where people of all ages can be accepted and loved. Within the past two years, the BMPC Session approved a revised Child and Youth Protection Policy, which seeks to ensure that those under age 18 in our church community are free to participate in church-sponsored programs, services and activities without intimidation, coercion or abuse. In 2016, the BMPC Session approved the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Anti-Harassment Policy that prohibits all forms of harassment directed to persons age 18 and above. The Policy prohibits all forms of harassment as follows: Harassment, including any form of sexual misconduct, is not acceptable in the eyes of God. Accordingly, it is the policy of BMPC that it is never permissible or acceptable for anyone to engage in any form of harassment, including any form of sexual misconduct. In addition, our policy includes a detailed description of the types of conduct that constitute harassment, describes the process for reporting an alleged violation and outlines the steps to be taken in response to such a report. The Anti-Harassment Policy also provides for an ongoing program of education and training. This new policy complements our Child and Youth Protection Policy, and taken together, the two policies are intended to protect all members, volunteers and staff of our church as required by the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Copies of our policies may be found on the church website (www.bmpc.org). If you have questions about the Anti-Harassment Policy, please contact Steve Udicious, Clerk of Session, or John Frazier, chair of the Personnel Committee.
Support the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering this Easter With your gift to this PC(USA) Special Offering you... …loose the bonds of injustice through the work of Self-Development of People (SDOP). You partner in projects like Jobs Not Jails, which has already assisted more than 7,000 people with access to jobs and education as they establish new lives after prison, thus reducing the probability of repeat offenses. SDOP works with grassroots groups to change structures that keep people living in poverty, oppression, and injustice. …share your bread with the hungry through the work of the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP). You engage in sustainable agriculture and water projects as well as initiate and support programs like Joining Hands, Peru, and Earth Care Congregations that creatively work to address long-term care of the earth to end hunger and poverty for the most 4 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
vulnerable. PHP is committed to alleviating hunger and eliminating its causes with long-term solutions including environmental stewardship, education, and outreach. …bring the homeless poor into your house through the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). You provide food, shelter, and education to refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria and helped the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon rebuild 40 homes in Homs, Syria, for those who wish to restore the Syria they love. PDA responds to disasters around the world by providing immediate relief like food, water, and shelter, while helping to rebuild and address long-term recovery. Envelopes to donate to One Great Hour of Sharing will be in the pews on Sundays, April 9 and 16. Give online: http://specialofferings.pcusa.org/oghs.html
Stop Hunger Now Brings Together Multiple Generations and Priorities Saturday, April 1, 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. BMPC’s Hunger Committee will hold its fourth annual Stop Hunger Now meal-packing event on Saturday, April 1. In an effort to bring our congregation together, our Senior Adult Council will co-sponsor the event for the first time. Previously, the Outreach and Worldwide Ministries Councils have sponsored this annual service activity. Hunger is not an isolated issue. Those who struggle with food insecurity find hunger issues affect many parts of their lives. This story from Stop Hunger Now highlights the connection between hunger and education, two of our congregation’s most valued mission priorities: Yesenia Tatiana Ortiz, 6, lives in an adobe clay home in the mountainous town of Sonsonate, El Salvador, with her parents and two-year-old brother. In Sonsonate, unemployment is widespread, and many lack access to adequate nutrition and sanitation. While Yesenia’s family struggles to meet their basic needs, she is a happy and energetic child who loves going to school. At Yesenia’s Child Development Center, she receives Stop Hunger Now meals distributed by partner organization Convoy of Hope. As a result, Yesenia’s health has greatly improved. Yesenia’s teacher Cristina Gomez, said, “Yesenia’s family does not have access to all their basic needs, but despite this, Yesenia is very happy with her family. She likes this school. The entire family is very thankful, because thanks to the food we receive, they are fed and have good health, and both her mother and the father express that it is truly a blessing to receive this help.” School meals attract children to education programs and prevent dropouts, especially among girls while simultaneously alleviating short-term hunger and enabling children to learn and to break the cycle of poverty. Stop Hunger Now packing events not only create connections across mission priorities, but across generations as well. With volunteers from ages 8 to 80, we are working side by side to help stop hunger. If you have helped pack meals in the past, we hope you invite friends to join us for the first time. If you have never volunteered before, make this the year you make a difference in the lives of those who receive one of the 10,000 meals we pack on April 1.
The replacement of the flagstone in front of the Sanctuary will begin after the July 4th holiday, and the project will be completed before Rally Day. Periodic updates on this project will be provided in the bulletin and weekly eNews.
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Community Forum Presents
Jennifer Finney Boylan
Professor Jennifer Finney Boylan, the Anna Quindlen Writer in Residence at Barnard College of Columbia University and nationally known advocate for transgender and other civil rights, will present BMPC’s Community Forum talk on Wednesday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Her talk will focus on her life experiences as a trans woman and her activism. Boylan grew up on the Main Line and graduated from The Haverford School in 1976. Her 2003 memoir, She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders was the first best-selling work by a transgender American. The memoir and her willingness to speak publicly about her experience propelled Boylan to prominence as a speaker and activist. Boylan serves as the national co-chair of the board of directors of GLAAD, the media advocacy group for LGBTQ people worldwide. She was a cast member on the E! Network’s I Am Cait, the docu-series about Caitlin Jenner, and she served as a consultant to the Amazon series, Transparent. She has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, Larry King Live, and NPR. She is also a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. Boylan lives in New York City and Belgrade Lakes, Maine, with her wife, Deedie, whom she married in 1988, and their two sons, Zach and Sean.
Advent Gift Market Helps Many Charities By Marian Chitester
The Advent Gift Market Committee thanks everyone for the tremendous outpouring of support and charitable giving during this year’s successful Advent Gift Market. A total of $22,250 has been donated to many worthy projects. Through alternative gift giving and making donations in honor of those we care about, our church continues to aid our brothers and sisters in need locally, nationally, and internationally. Heartfelt thanks are also extended to the BMPC staff members, councils, committees, and numerous volunteers who were involved with coordinating the AGM this year. Without your devotion, AGM would not be possible.
Vacation Bible Camp
at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
Explore the Parables through Art Monday, June 19 - Friday, June 23
Kick-off is Sunday, June 18
To register online, go to www.bmpc.org and click on the calendar tab to view open registrations. For more details, search “Vacation Bible Camp” at www.bmpc.org or contact Mary Richards at MaryRichards@bmpc.org or 610-525-2821, ext. 8811. 6 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
Make a Lasting Impact Through
the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Foundation
A member, manifesting his deep love for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, recently made a generous gift to the BMPC Foundation to ensure the longevity of our church. A portion of the gift supports specific ministries of the church for which the donor has particular passions. The remainder of the gift is unrestricted and will be directed where needs are greatest. The donor has promised subsequent gifts to the Foundation through his estate. Why did the donor choose to make this type of gift? His explanation gives insight into one person’s motivation. “Although I was raised in a very conservative church, I had wandered away from organized religion for many years and had even given up on desiring to be a member of a church community. Then somehow, perhaps by the Holy Spirit, I was led to BMPC. I had the experience of feeling like the prodigal son, at last returning ‘home.’ I was at first drawn in by the glorious music of organ and choir, but then I became mesmerized by the provocative words spoken from the pulpit. “In contrast to my childhood experience of church, I was particularly gratified to find that my questions and doubts were not only welcomed, but encouraged and addressed in this community of faith. As I continued in my attendance and involvement, I was captivated by the inclusiveness of the congregation and its commitment to mission. In response, I wanted to make a gift to the Foundation during my lifetime so that I might enjoy how the funds were benefiting this community I so love.”
"I wanted to make a gift to the Foundation during my lifetime so that I might enjoy how the funds were benefiting this community I so love."
The Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Foundation is an endowment. It supports the work of our church, both now and in perpetuity through the development and prudent stewardship of its financial assets. Proceeds from the Foundation support a portion of the church’s annual operating budget, care of the congregation, fine arts programs and underserved communities in Philadelphia. It also provides financial assistance to seminarians and students attending our youth camps.
For information about planned giving opportunities, contact Sarah Miciek at SarahMiciek@bmpc.org
The Rev. Dr. David Watermulder, a pastor emeritus of BMPC, was instrumental in establishing the Foundation more than 40 years ago. “I believe in the long-range future of the great church,” he said. "One of the reasons it is so great today is because earlier generations provided so well for us. Just as they thought of us, we may think of those who come after us. Thus may this church, regardless of the circumstances, continue its vital witness of Jesus Christ.”
Supporters of the Timothy School gathered to celebrate its 50th anniversary at a gala on Nov. 16 at Overbrook Country Club. Pictured from left to right are Josh Yoder and the Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick, Bruce Dunkman, the Rev. Rachel Pedersen, Rich and Suzanne Allman, Ruth Watermulder, Larry Arney and the Rev. Dr. Agnes Norfleet, Karen Dunkman, and Kim and Bill Black. The school, which began in 1966 as an outreach project at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church serving nine students with autism, is now an Approved Private School. It is located in Berwyn and serves more than 65 children from ages 5 to 21 from 27 school districts. 7 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
The Season of Lent The Season of Lent embodies different things for different people of faith. Historically Lent was used as a time of preparation for new believers that they might culminate their Lenten study and devotion through the Sacrament of Baptism on Easter. For some of us, Lent is about being renewed in our faith. For others, Lent is a time to affirm a strong faith and focus on feeding that faith through acts of devotion and study. Ultimately, Lent is a time to encounter Jesus through his teachings, miracles and simple conversations once again. This Lent at Bryn Mawr
Presbyterian Church we pay special attention to four iconic stories from the Gospel of John which highlight Jesus’ encounters with friends and strangers, with his supporters and his detractors, with men and women. These stories include Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus at night to ask some of the most essential questions of salvation; Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman in the bright light of day at the community well where Jesus has the longest conversation with any individual in the entire New Testament; Jesus healing a man born blind from birth and dealing with the controversy that
Ash Wednesday Lent Begins March 1
5:30 p.m. Family-friendly Service in the chapel with Imposition of Ashes. 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner served in Congregational Hall; $8 for adults, $5 for students and children. All are welcome. 7:30 p.m. Service in the Chapel with Imposition of Ashes.
stirs among the community; and finally Jesus’ complicated and rich interactions with Mary and Martha at the death of their brother Lazarus and Jesus’ miraculous resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. Each of these stories is overflowing in their richness and fodder for study and conversation. We will have the opportunity to study them with David Smith during March in the Fullerton Bible Study. We will meditate on them each day as a community through the reflections of members and mission partners found this year’s Lenten Devotional. We will listen to Pastor Agnes’ interpretation of these stories as they apply to our community of faith. Finally, we will have the opportunity to sit in prayer and silence around these passages each Wednesday evening in simple worship services in the Chapel. We invite you to deepen your faith this Lenten season in preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Giving up Chocolate for Lent? By Anna May Charrington
From the time we were children, our first question for Lent was often, “What are you giving up?” Giving up something for these 40+ days is a custom that, when we were younger, helped us enter into the season with a greater awareness and sense of purpose. As adults, we might want to consider looking at Lent differently. While it can be tempting to say, “I am giving up chocolate,” or even all sweets and wine, giving up something might be where we begin - and end - our observation of Lent. Instead, we could ask the deeper question: “What is God inviting me to do in this 8 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
Lenten season?” The focus would then move from the outer to the inner life. Sometimes people ask, “What extra thing can I add to my Lenten observance?” This time, in addition to (or instead of) giving up something, maybe I will set aside time to focus on my relationship with God. One option is to use our church’s Lenten Devotional Booklet in which, for each day beginning on March 1, there are Biblical verses, accompanied by a reflection written by a member of our BMPC congregation. There are also illustrations created by artistic members of our church. I think using this “tool” created by fellow seekers can be one way to structure my spiritual quest and to draw me closer to God... and that’s what Lent is all about.
Wednesday Evening Vesper Services 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel Join us for four Wednesday evenings of simple contemplative worship. Together we will walk the Lenten journey of meditation on scripture and prayer as we prepare to walk together with Christ through the days of Holy Week and Easter. Our scriptural focus for the season of Lent will especially help us think about our own encounters
of Christ in our daily living. Worship will draw upon the musical traditions of the ecumenical monastic committee of Taize, characterized by periods of simple sung prayers. The services will also include opportunities for silence, candlelit prayers and pastoral reflection.
Good Friday Evening: “Stations of the Cross” Friday, April 14, 7:30 p.m. By Jeffrey Brillhart
"The first sketch of The Stations of the Cross was conceived and realized in the form of an improvisation, at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, on 13th February 1931. During the concert the fourteen poems of Le Chemin de la Croix by the great French poet Paul Claudel were read, and after each I improvised a musical commentary. Many in the audience having expressed their regret that nothing should remain of this spontaneous music, I decided to write the work down, trying to evoke the same atmosphere. Its composition took me an entire year, and I gave the first performance on the organ of the Trocadéro in Paris on 18th March 1932. Le Chemin de la Croix is a vast symphonic poem in which several leading themes recur, but each station has its own musical conception..." – Marcel Dupré I first performed Marcel Dupré’s monumental Le
Chemin de la Croix (The Stations of the Cross) during Holy Week 1984, with the Rev. Dr. David B. Watermulder reciting the poetry. I still recall how overwhelmed both David and I were after the performance, emotionally drained by the power of words and music combined. That performance paralleled the installation of actual Stations of the Cross in the Chapel. Those remarkable bas reliefs by sculptor Anthony Visco led us to eventually commission him to create the bas reliefs now located in the base of the beautiful wooden reredos in the front of our chapel. I have always enjoyed re-visiting major works. Preparing for this performance is no exception. It is awe-inspiring to prepare Dupré’s music on our Rieger organ, influenced as it was by Dupré's organ at St. Sulpice Church, located in the Latin Quarter of Paris. It is humbling to think that Dupré’s vast musical score had its origins in an improvisation. Reading Paul Claudel’s poems anew brings fresh insights into the dizzying final hours of Christ’s life on earth. Agnes and I pray that Claudel’s poetry and Dupré’s musical depiction of The Stations of the Cross will enrich your own path toward the Cross.
American Guild of Organists Sponsor Midday Organ Recitals
Join us on Tuesdays during Lent at 12:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary for our annual organ series. Free admission. March 7 – Parker Kitterman March 28 – Andrew Senn March 14 – Lucas Brown April 4 – Edward Landin March 21 – Bryan Holten April 11 – Kathleen Scheide 9 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
Former Organ Scholar Nathan Laube Returns to BMPC Sunday, March 5, 2:00 p.m., Sanctuary By Jeffrey Brillhart One of life’s great pleasures is encountering young people of great talent. I’ve had the good fortune of meeting many gifted people throughout my more than three decades of service to BMPC. In 2006 Nathan Laube joined the staff as our first “Organ Scholar.” He was 18 at the time and, since age 15, was a student at the Curtis Institute of Music. The minute he arrived, a yearlong love affair began between the Sanctuary Choir and Nathan. Rehearsal after rehearsal, we marveled at his technical abilities, his poignant way of making a musical phrase soar, and his devilish teenager’s sense of humor. His accompanying of the anthems in services, his leadership of the congregation in his creative approach to hymn playing, and dazzling preludes and postludes left most of us in awe. Nathan’s year culminated in the Sanctuary Choir’s 2007 tour to South Africa, during which he turned 19. We bid farewell, knowing that great things were certainly going to come his way. Now, 10 years later, Nathan is on the organ faculty of the Eastman School of Music and one of the most sought after concert organists in the world. We are pleased that he will return to Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. to offer a program of music based on Gregorian Chant. You’ll hear works by Rameau, Roger-Ducasse, Tournemire, Alain, and Olivier Latry (another BMPC favorite organist who composed the work you will hear while recovering from a broken shoulder). Finally, in case you have any doubt about Nathan’s success, here are a few newspaper headlines that describe his playing: “Organist delivers Liszt with Charisma,” “Exotisch und Cool,” “Baroque and Romanticism Meet in Young Organist’s Imaginative Program,” and “Young Organist Dazzles Audience!”
Photo Exhibition Focuses on Stained Glass Windows in Pew Memorial Chapel By Bonnie Atwood and Jean Wolf
When the Mary Catharine Pew Memorial Chapel was dedicated on September 21, 1941, not everything in the just-constructed chapel was new. Four treasured memorial windows, which date back to 1910, were removed from the old brownstone church and its Sunday school addition and then rebuilt into the Pew Chapel on the same site. Rescued were four magnificent opalescent glass windows by Tiffany Studios of New York, all created with their unique methods for producing and manipulating colored glass. The four windows depict a vibrant sunset over a mountain valley, St. John the Divine in an orange cape receiving the Book of Revelations, St. Agnes standing Saint Agnes in memory of in a lush garden reading a book with a lamb at her side, and Jesus depicted Elizabeth Perkins Thompson as the Good Shepherd in an iridescent robe with his staff and a flock of sheep. Converse, wife of John H. These windows are 107 years old now, but they sparkle anew after cleaning and Converse. Tiffany Studios, 1910 the installation of new exterior protective glazing in 2016. (continued on next page)
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Photo Exhibition...
From March 5 to April 23, the Visual Arts Committee will exhibit these beautiful windows in photographic format with biographies of the people they memorialize and details of how the windows were fabricated. Also included will be photos and interpretation of the chapel’s newly restored rose window plus others designed by Philadelphia’s Willet Studios for the Pew Chapel. The opening reception will be Sunday, March 5 after Nathan Laube’s 2:00 p.m. organ recital. Appreciation goes to the John K. and Elizabeth W. Knorr Charitable Foundation for a generous grant to support this exhibit.
One Book-One Church Acts of Faith by Eboo Patel
Our 2017 One Book-One Church selection is Eboo Patel’s Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. In this memoir, Patel tells the story of growing up Muslim in America and his eventual calling to be a national leader in youth and adult interfaith dialogue. As we read this book together, we will have the opportunity to reflect on our own call to engage with our local interfaith partners. Books are available in the Court of the Ministries Center for the reduced price of $5. On the evening of Tuesday, March 7, in conjunction with our work with the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia, we will be hosting Eboo Patel for a public lecture in the Sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. At that event the Interfaith Center will be honoring Patel with their Dare to Understand Award for achievement in the field of interfaith dialogue. On Sunday morning, April 2, we will gather together for a shared conversation about the book and its impact on our understanding of interfaith conversations and relationships. These conversations are part of a yearlong focus of the Adult Education Council to help the congregation learn more about the theology, practices and experiences of our interfaith neighbors. Throughout the year we will study together, welcome community leaders and local experts, and engage in interfaith conversations.
Pastors’ Book Group – Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis Wednesday, May 3, 7:00 p.m., Witherspoon Parlor
Join the Rev. Dr. Gene Bay for a conversation on J.D. Vance’s 2016 bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy recounting his experiences growing up in the Appalachian regions of southern Ohio and West Virginia. From the publisher: Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis that of poor, white Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for over 40 years, has been reported with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. In Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hanging around your neck. Copies of Hillbilly Elegy are available in the BMPC Book Center for $17. 11 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
Environmental Justice Committee Hosts Film Series at Film Institute
Join the Environmental Justice Committee on Wednesdays in April at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute at 7 p.m. for three films that look at our world from a perspective often different than our own and consider the impact humans have on creation. Following each movie, a local expert will lead talk-back discussions on movie content, questions and observations. Seed: The Untold Story - Wednesday, April 12 Few things on earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn of humankind, these subtle flecks of life are the source of all existence. They feed us, clothe us and provide raw materials for our everyday life. Yet in our modern world, these gifts of nature are in danger. Seasons - Wednesday, April 19 From the directors of Winged Migration, we learn that even with our climatecontrolled environments and our avoidance of the great outdoors, our longshared history binds us to nature, and nature to human kind. The awe-inspiring footage captures the poetry, humor and drama of wildlife, and asks us to consider the cause of our more recent weather disruptions. This Changes Everything - Wednesday, April 26 Inspired by Naomi Klein’s book of the same name, this movie was filmed over 211 shoot days in nine countries on five continents over four years. This Changes Everything is an epic attempt to re-imagine the vast challenge of climate change through the lens of seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines of our changing planet.
Peacemaking Committee Offers
Classes on Justice System, Prisoners "I was in prison and you visited me..." Matthew 25:36 While “innocent until proven guilty” is a cornerstone of the American justice system, developments in the use of DNA in criminal cases have revealed that it can also sometimes be “guilty until proven innocent.” And how the justice system treats the 90 percent of incarcerated prisoners who are eventually released will affect how they are integrated back into our community. These issues will be highlighted at the Peacemaking Committee’s programs on Sundays, March 5 and 12. The Pennsylvania Kate Germond 12 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
Prison Society, founded in 1787 to fight the harsh corporal punishments of the day, has continued to work against mistreatment and warehousing of prisoners. On March 5, Ann Schwartzman, executive director of the Society, will discuss how they help prisoners through rehabilitation so that they may reconnect in healthy ways with their communities, repair the harm they have done, and not return to prison. It is difficult to imagine what it would be like to be wrongfully convicted and to spend years in prison fighting for justice. Centurion Ministries is a program that works with men and women who are serving life or death sentences for crimes they did not commit. Founded in 1983 by Princeton Theological Seminary graduate Jim McCloskey, it has freed 54 innocent people so far. On March 12, Executive Director and Investigator Kate Germond, who has worked with the program for 30 years, will tell the story of Centurion and the innocent lives it has rescued.
Tuesday And Friday Morning Out Program
Provides Early Education for Children By Torie Miele At 9:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, the nursery in the Education Building is buzzing with excitement as our youngest community members arrive for school. They shed their layers, scan the play space, and dive into activities involving blocks, dinosaurs, and dramatic play. You wouldn’t know it, but these little minds are hard at work, developing a variety of skills including communication, problem solving and compromise as they learn how the world around them works. The Tuesday and Friday Morning Out program started more than a year ago to provide children ages birth to age 3 with opportunities to socialize, explore, and learn through play. Originally one day a week, the program expanded to meet the growing need for early education and socialization opportunities, and a little break for mom and dad. In the class of 14 children, there are different developmental stages and ages, so the children are learning from staff members and from one another. During class, the children attend music with the older students from the Weekday School. We sing songs like “Jesus Loves Me” and “It’s a Small World.” For some
Morning Out children, the exposure to the teachers, students, and routine helps with their subsequent transition to the Weekday School. After music, we move back to the nursery for a craft or a sensory bin, a large tub that is filled with beans, snow or other tactile materials to explore. The Morning Out program gives children the ability to choose what activity they want to do. Activities are offered, never forced on the children. We break for snack and then spend the rest of the morning playing! “We have loved the morning out program for our twoyear-old son Jack,” said Jeannie Bickhart, a BMPC member. “We originally enrolled him for some early socialization and play (and some time to get errands done), but the program has given us so much more. Jack has enjoyed circle time and singing with the Weekday school art projects, and holiday festivities. “He has grown in his self-confidence and comfort at BMPC. We are so grateful for the morning out program, and for the lovely caregivers who provide such amazing and individual care for our children. We cannot wait for Jack to join the Weekday School, but still hope to keep the morning out program on our calendar.” The staff of the Tuesday and Friday Morning Out program are passionate about the education and growth of our little ones, and we are excited to watch them grow from a baby to a big kid who is able to take on the world and make it a better place. 13 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
Reflections on Serving the Youth of BMPC David Smith, Seminary Intern
When I joined the BMPC staff as the Seminary Intern in September 2015, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. A few weeks earlier, I had completed my summer seminary internship at The Center in Baltimore, Md. The center partners with churches and organizations from around the country to engage in grassroots community organizing and development throughout the city of Baltimore. I spent most of my time “herding” youth and young adults from one service project to the next, while trying to make sure the needs of our constituents were met. It was in this imaginative chaos that I realized, “I actually enjoy working with youth!” I knew I had to think creatively about my academic year internship, and was pleased when I found a thriving youth ministry within driving distance of Princeton Seminary. I interviewed with Pastor Kellen Smith, and I immediately knew I was called to BMPC. I arrived early for Youth Band practice on my first Sunday. I was ready to learn, grow and grapple with an aspect of my calling that I had yet to explore. I had a feeling the following months would provide many opportunities to build relationships, meet new challenges, and envision new possibilities. I was not disappointed. Throughout my time here, I have been both challenged and invigorated by my role as facilitator of the studentlead Youth Band. This ministry provides young people with opportunities to lead their peers in worship during Youth Gathering on Sunday mornings. I’ve also had the privilege of expanding my understanding of preaching in diverse settings; whether I’m asked to bring a word extemporaneously in Youth Gathering, or in the traditional environments provided in other services. Building relationships with people of all ages has been a cornerstone of my experience here. I’ve gotten to know the wonderful people of our church through my roles in the ninth and 10th Grade Groups, Student Serve Gathering, Confirmation Mentor program, and many other aspects of our life together. From our weekly activities to service projects, snow retreats, bowling outings, laser tag, and conference trips, there is always something going on with the BMPC Youth Ministry. Yet, it is not these "activities" that make the work of our church unique. Any organization can provide programs for young people. Our primary goal is to make God's presence visible in the lives of the children and teens who call this church home by "sharing Christ's love together." Like everything else the church does, youth ministry can be differentiated from other forms of community work because it is ministry. When we worship in the gym on Sunday we do so as part of the church; we celebrate the same gospel that is proclaimed in the Sanctuary every week. We worship, learn, serve and grow together as disciples, even as we are called out into the world to work for justice, peace and love. I was overjoyed when I was asked to extend my internship through the 2016-2017 academic year. God is doing amazing things through the lives of the young people in our community. If you're searching for reassurance about the future of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, you need only look so far as the children and teens who worship with you every week. In the words of J. Herbert Nelson, the Stated Clerk of our denomination, they are a reminder that “we are not dying; we are reforming.” The BMPC youth ministry is a testament to God’s work in our midst, and a means to the fulfillment of God’s dreams for our common life. I am honored to be part of it, and I look forward to what is next. 14 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
Celebrating the Legacy of Presbyterian Women By the Rev. Rachel Pedersen
Over the past century, Presbyterian Women (also called PW) has helped to serve at every level of the church. Building community, serving together, and growing through study; PW has a rich history and a proud legacy. In our shared story, we have experimented with new models of study and formed a variety of small groups. We have helped neighbors in need through gifts of time, money and goods. In the past three years alone, your generosity has allowed us to pack and deliver more than 250 backpacks to help children from theVillage. In 2017, we are looking forward to celebrating that legacy and building new opportunities for women at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. One way you can help us with that process is by completing a short survey about your experiences here and at other churches. The survey will be sent out electronically, but paper copies will also be available. We also need your help with telling this story of PW at our church. We invite you to join us for a History Celebration later this spring! We’ll be sharing pictures, memories and memorabilia that celebrate PW’s history at BMPC. Look for more information in the bulletin and in the PW Enews. Lastly, we are in the early stages of planning a special women’s spiritual retreat this fall, and we invite you to participate in creating a space and time of renewal for the women of our congregation. If you are interested in helping to plan the retreat, please contact Rev. Rachel Pedersen at RachelPedersen@bmpc.org.
Skills That Can Help Save a Life:
CPR and Automated Defibrillator Training By Jennifer Rocheleau, RN, MSN, CRNP, Parish Nurse
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating, resulting in no blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year, and fewer than 10 percent of those victims survive. However, if people are trained and able to help, they could increase the person’s chance of survival. It may take emergency personnel precious minutes to arrive on the scene. For every minute without defibrillation, a sudden cardiac arrest victim’s chance of surviving drops. The American Red Cross recommends that at least one person in every household and place of business receive training in CPR and proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). This training gives them the knowledge and confidence to respond during an emergency situation with skills that can help save a life. There are two AEDs on our campus, in the Ministry Center and Education Building. BMPC staff members and ushers will be making a difference in February, which is Heart Health Month, by undergoing training and certification in CPR and AED use. This opportunity will assist our staff and ushers in feeling prepared to identify the warning signs of cardiac arrest and respond with emergency treatment. If you have questions or would like to learn more about preparing yourself or family members to identify and respond in a cardiac arrest situation, contact Jennifer Rocheleau, MSN, CRNP, Parish Nurse, at 610-520-8832 or JenniferRocheleau@bmpc.org. 15 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2017
The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821 The Messenger (USPS #341840) Volume #119, Issue #2 is published quarterly by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Periodical postage paid at Southeastern, Pennsylvania and additional offices. Postmaster: Send Address Changes To The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Holy Week Worship Schedule Palm Sunday, April 9 • •
8:00 a.m. Worship with Communion, Chapel. 10:00 a.m. Worship and Children’s Palm Procession, Sanctuary.
• 11:00 a.m. Churchwide Brunch, Congregational Hall, Egg Hunt, Playground. Maundy Thursday, April 13 • • • •
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Labyrinth Walk, Gymnasium. 5:30 p.m. Family Service with Communion, Chapel. 6:00 p.m. Simple Supper, Congregational Hall. Free-will offering. 7:30 p.m. Worship with Communion, Sanctuary.
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Good Friday, April 14 • 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Labyrinth Walk, Gymnasium. • 12:00 noon. Service led by BMPC Youth, Sanctuary. • 7:30 p.m. Jeffrey Brillhart performs Marcel Dupre’s The Stations of the Cross with poetry by Paul Claudel read by the Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet, Sanctuary. Easter Sunday, April 16 • • •
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service, Front Lawn. 7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast, Ed. Bldg. Lobby. 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. Worship with Choir and Easter Brass in the Sanctuary. The Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet will preach.
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