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MESSENGER MAY | JUNE 2012
BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Prime Time Spring Event (page 3) Congregation-Wide Day of Service (page 7) Vacation Bible Camp 2012 (page 8) Sunday Summer Schedule for Children and Youth (back cover)
[ WELCOME ]
Letter from the Pastor When I was young, I remember visiting my grandmother’s house in Clearwater, FL, for Easter. Although I was a child, I remember that my grandmother seemed to always have things in order. The rooms we stayed in were ready, our meals were complete, and there were even colorful Easter baskets on Sunday morning. What I have realized about my grandmother is that she did not assume each of these things would somehow fall into place; she intentionally prepared them. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes in Romans, chapter 12, about love in action. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” For Paul, extending hospitality was a crucial part of practicing the Christian faith. We can understand hospitality as putting love into action in an intentional way. Part of hospitality is keeping your house in order, much like my grandmother did. As we prepare for the arrival of a new Senior Pastor, we are working to strengthen the organization and ministries of the church. The Session, Deacons, Trustees and other church leaders are hard at work seeking to till the soil of the church so that it might be healthy and receptive to our incoming leadership. We are praying that this new chapter will bring about growth and new life. Another facet of hospitality is welcoming the visitor or stranger in our midst. Paul explicitly exhorts us to not only support the saints of the church but also the “strangers” we encounter. One of the ways we are seeking to show intentional hospitality in a relevant way is with the launch of a new website. This site will not only feature what members look for, but will also be visitor-friendly, for we know that websites have become the new front doors of churches. As we again welcome summer at the end of June and take a break from our usual church programming, our hospitality does not stop. Thinking about our ministry now and in the months ahead, here are a few ways we can practice intentional hospitality together: 1) Invite a friend or acquaintance to worship; 2) Introduce yourself to another person during Café in the Court; 3) Share a gift or talent you have with someone. Having been here at BMPC for nearly a year, my wife Sarah and I have experienced the gracious hospitality and welcome of this church first hand. In extending hospitality, we bear witness to God’s love and become ambassadors of that love, whether at church or in our neighborhoods. May you be blessed in showing intentional hospitality to others.
Kellen Smith Associate Pastor for Youth, Their Families and College Ministries 1 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
ENRICHMENT
[ SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT ]
For Adults This Spring
Building Bridges of Understanding & Peace Saturday, May 5, 1:00-4:00 p.m., The Foundation for Islamic Education, 1860 Montgomery Ave., Villanova. Our Muslim neighbors invite us for prayer, learning, tours, a taste of cultural foods, and Q & A sessions. Contact: info@fiesite.org or 610-520-9624, ext. 234. The Ministry of Van Gogh in Religion and Art Sunday, May 6, 11:15 a.m., Witherspoon Parlor. Led by Dr. Ken Vaux, Professor of Theology at Garrett Evangelical Seminary. This class is presented as a complement to the Van Gogh exhibit that is open until May 6 at The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Dr. Vaux will discuss Van Gogh’s work as an expression of spirituality and theology. Mission Partner Presentation: Camp Kirkwood Sunday, May 13, 11:15 a.m., Witherspoon Parlor. Camp Kirkwood near the Pocono Mountains is owned and operated by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. A BMPC mission partner, it will be the site of BMPC’s youth camp this summer. Learn about the camp and its 286 acres.
Continuing Classes: The Wisdom Jesus Book Discussion. Sundays through June 10, 8:30 a.m., Conference Room. Led by the Rev. Dr. Paul MacMurray. Book available in The Book Center; newcomers welcome. Preachers Brown Bag Bible Study. Tuesdays through May 22, 12:00 noon, Conference Room. Bring lunch and discuss the sermon text with the preaching pastor for the following Sunday. Torah Study. Thursdays, 11:00 a.m., Main Line Reform Temple, 410 Montgomery Ave., Wynnewood. Rabbi Ethan Franzel leads a study of Amos. BMPC contact: Phoebe Sheftel, pasheftel@comcast.net
To Israel and Back...
Women of the Arab Spring Sunday, May 20, 11:15 a.m., Witherspoon Parlor. Ni’mah Isma’il Nawwab is an internationally published writer, lecturer, and activist. She will speak about the intertwining of the Arab Spring with religious freedom and Sufism and read poems from her new book, Canvas of the Soul: Mystic Poems from the Heartland of Arabia. Her book will be available for purchase in The Book Center.
From May 7-17, members of BMPC and Main Line Reform Temple will travel together to the Middle East, sharing traditions and learning from one another. They will visit holy sites, meet with representatives from both Palestinian and Israeli communities and discuss contemporary issues. Included will be a visit to one of BMPC’s mission partners, the Interfaith Coordinating Council of Israel, which brings together Christians, Muslims and Jews for interreligious dialogue.
The Christian New Testament from a Jewish Perspective Sunday, June 3, 11:15 a.m., Witherspoon Parlor. Rabbi Ethan Franzel from Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood will discuss The Jewish Annotated New Testament and explore Christian Biblical texts from a Jewish perspective.
Please keep these travelers in your prayers and join them on Sunday, September 9 at 11:15 a.m. to see pictures and hear stories from the trip.
2 MESSENGER | March/April 2012
[CONGREGATIONAL LIFE ]
FORWARD IN FAITH:
What’s in a Building? By David Hastings, Deacon-elect and Chair of the Hunger Committee
Our lives are marked by many things, but in our most reflective moments there are always a few precious times and events that are truly significant. These are the experiences that matter the most and make up who we are. When we think about those events, we are amazed at how much takes place here at BMPC: the baptism of a child, a child’s confirmation, a wedding and, yes, a celebration of a life lived. These milestones transcend time and span generations, creating lasting legacies of heritage and tradition. BMPC, our place of refuge, may also touch us in simpler ways— when the sun appears through our stained glass windows on a Sunday morning or when we raise our candles on Christmas Eve. These traditions—so vital to our faith, our lives, and our families—become embedded in our souls and create the memories of a lifetime. While other institutions might fail us over time, we know that BMPC is the bedrock upon which we can rely. This place where we worship and mark the events of our lives now needs attention from us. The Forward in Faith Campaign is underway, guided by the principle that preservation is about far more than just bricks and mortar. It is about the security of knowing that future generations will come to know BMPC as we do. We ask that you consider supporting this important campaign as we move Forward in Faith together, empowering our church to mark future lives in the tradition and faith we hold dear.
Prime Time Spring Event Join Prime Time, BMPC’s fellowship group for adults age 55+, on Saturday, May 19, for lunch at the Black Lab Bistro in Phoenixville followed by a private tour of the Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern.
The Wharton Esherick Museum
Working primarily in wood at a time when hand craftsmanship was largely ignored in favor of painting, metal sculpture, photography and machine-finished furniture, Wharton Esherick (1887-1970) was a sculptor who used his skills in crafting unique pieces of furniture, utensils, interiors and building elements. His motto, “if it isn’t fun, it isn’t worth doing,” is evident in the joyful expression of his work, inviting the eye and the hand. A National Historic Landmark for Architecture, his hilltop studio/residence, with more than 200 of his works on exhibition, has been preserved much as it was when the artist lived and worked there.
To attend, RSVP with a check for $30 (made out to BMPC), attention Amy Bauer, by Thursday, May 10. Directions to the Bistro and museum will be mailed to you. 3 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
BMPC WELCOMES
[CHURCH NEWS]
Maureen Murphy Maureen Murphy recently joined the BMPC staff as the church’s first Director of Stewardship and Development (DSD). Holding a master’s degree in non-profit management, Maureen comes with broad fundraising experience, most recently having worked for the American Red Cross as Director of Donor Relations. As DSD, she will provide staff leadership to the lay committees that are responsible for our annual stewardship campaign, the development of our BMPC Foundation, and capital campaigns such as our current Forward in Faith Campaign.
Maureen Murphy
To effectively meet these responsibilities, Maureen will work closely with pastors and lay leadership to strengthen relationships and the involvement of members in the many ministries of BMPC. Recognizing that stewardship includes time, talent, and resources, she also will work with Sue Gibbons, our Shared Ministries Coordinator, and Donna Barrickman, Director of Communications and Membership. Her enjoyment of building relationships, educating people, and deepening understanding will serve her well in this new role.
Fun, Fit & Healthy By Ann Fossum, RN, BSN, Parish Nurse
Let’s get fit and keep fit by joining one of our BMPC fitness sessions! We offer classes weekly in Yoga, Tai Chi, DanceFit and Walking. You will feel better, look better and meet new friends. Review the schedule below and pick one that’s right for you. Summer hours may vary, so call the church office at 610-525-2821 to confirm time and location. We hope that you will consider trying one of these activities... you will be glad you did! DanceFit: Offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Gym, $35 for 12 classes. This is a high energy dance-based class choreographed for non-dancers. Designed for all fitness levels, it includes muscle toning and aerobics. BMPC member Carol Haldy has been teaching this class with enthusiasm and dedication for more than 25 years. Repose Yoga: Offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the Gym, suggested donation of $40 per month goes to the BMPC food cupboard. This repose yoga class focuses on stretching, flexibility, and breathing and is appropriate for all levels. BMPC member and certified Kripalu instructor Karen
Gagnier teaches this class and offers encouraging individual help. Tai Chi: Offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon in the Gym, first class is free, then $20 per class or $150 for 10 weeks (20 classes). Described as moving meditation, this is a great complement to all styles of exercise. Other benefits include arthritis management, stress reduction and enhanced balance. Rich McKenzie is the experienced instructor of this class. Walking: Offered every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., no cost. Walking is a surprisingly effective strategy for lifelong health. We walk a two-mile loop around the BMPC neighborhood, starting in the church’s back parking lot. This will get your blood pumping, strengthen major muscle groups, and get fresh air into your lungs. Ann Fossum and Lorie Benovic lead this welcoming group. 4 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
[ SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT]
WALKING TOWARD THE CENTER:
A Week with Gernot Candolini Sponsored by the Middleton Center
5 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
Building Our Own Lawn
[ SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT ]
LABYRINTH By the Rev. Kellen A. Smith
On March 25, nearly 100 youth and parents gathered on the front lawn of the church to map out a labyrinth. We were led by Gernot Candolini from Austria, a guest of the Middleton Center who is known worldwide as a designer of labyrinths. A labyrinth is a pattern or structure that contains a one-way circular path, mirroring our journey of life and faith and a widely used symbol in many religions. While the weekend had been cloudy and rain predicted, shortly before beginning the labyrinth, the clouds parted and sunshine appeared. The path of the labyrinth was laid out with rope and flags, then the grass was mowed to mark the labyrinth’s paths. Once that had been completed, our group walked the labyrinth for the first time, hand-in hand – a beautiful image of community along a sacred and ancient path. The group celebrated the completion of the labyrinth with a delightful dinner in Congregational Hall that had been prepared by some of the parents. God’s Spirit was truly present during our time of creative fellowship!
BMPC Youth Camp: An Invaluable Experience By Casey Michaelis
Church camp is an experience that made a significant impact in my life. It has always been one of the most emotional and eye-opening weeks. It is a week of opening up and sharing your life experiences from the past year with people your own age. Last summer, camp became a place where I could have no responsibilities, avoid all distractions and thoughts about finding a college that was the right fit for me, and regain perspective on what’s really important. It allowed me time to evaluate myself and figure out things about my life. It reminded me I was going to be just fine next year when I arrive on my college campus. I learned that I will be able to make friends, connect with people, join their groups, and be accepted. I won’t forget the lessons I learned during this one very special week the summer before my high school senior year.
2012 Summer Trips There is still space to sign up for camp, as well as our summer mission trips: • High School Mission Trip—July 1-6, Adirondack Mountains • Middle School Urban Plunge—July 19-22, Philadelphia • Camp—August 5-11, Kirkwood Camp, Poconos Contact AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821 to register. 6 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
[ LOCAL AND WORLDWIDE OUTREACH ]
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Congregation-Wide Day of Service
Connections and Relationships: that’s what Congregation-Wide Days of Service are all about. Can you afford three mornings a year to develop connections and relationships? Can you afford not to? Each year, BMPC plans three mornings of service at various work sites, both at BMPC and off-campus. This spring, our Day of Service will be held on Saturday, June 2. After gathering in the Ministries Center for a short devotion, we will head out to our work sites. The Other Carpenter, Presbyterian Children’s Village, and Urban Tree Connection will be part of the day, and all skill levels are welcome. Bring your children (over the age of 5); they will have a great time!
SAVE THE DATE!
vice Congregation-Wide Day of Ser p.m. Sat., June 2 • 9:20 a.m.–1:00 Join us and make a difference!
Ways to support three of our BMPC mission partners on June 2: • Carpool to West Philadelphia and help The Other Carpenter provide home repairs for low income families • Prepare mailings at BMPC for Presbyterian Children’s Village, which offers programs to help heal the spirits of children, families, and communities in crisis in greater Philadelphia • Carpool to the Haddington section of West Philadelphia to work in an Urban Tree Connection community garden
Watch the worship bulletin, BMPC eNews and our website for more details and other opportunities as we get closer to the date. We hope you’ll join us for this rewarding day!
HUNGER: Think Global, Act Local The expression “Think Global, Act Local” is one that carries a lot of meaning. Many of society’s problems are so large in scale and complexity that in seeking a solution, we become paralyzed in thought and action. This inertia further compounds the issue we are trying to solve. One of the problems that confronts us is hunger. Everyone has at least some awareness of the brutal statistics of hunger: globally, 925 million people do not have enough to eat; nationally, 49 million people in the United States live in foodinsecure households and locally, 50% of households with children in Philadelphia’s first congressional district live in hunger. These statistics are staggering and seemingly insurmountable. 7 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
But this is where “thinking global but acting local” can help us take that all-important first step. The sole mission of BMPC’s Hunger Committee is to facilitate that first step through our efforts to feed the local hungry. We start with a group of dedicated members who focus on key activities such as providing 1,600 nutritious casseroles to local cupboards and food kitchens, coordinating canned food drives such as Souper Bowl Sunday, and providing direct financial support to 24 local food agencies. Of course none of this is possible without your support. Your contributions in the white envelopes located in the pews are vital to our cause. In addition, your time volunteering at our events provides an important component of our mission.
Even more important, though, would be your participation on our committee. We ask that you strongly consider joining us every third Thursday of the month, September through May, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ministries Center as we undertake our mission to “think global but act local” in the fight against hunger.
[ SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT ]
Vacation Bible Camp 2012 WANTED: YOU! Strap on your sandals and get ready to see what life was like when Daniel and his friends were held captive in ancient Babylon! Moms, dads, teens, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and volunteers of all ages are needed to make our Vacation Bible Camp—“Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity”—a success. Do you love children and like to have fun? Share your talents by joining us in ancient Babylon. If you like playing on the floor with little ones, join our Little Shepherds class (for children of volunteers who were two by 9/1/11). If you are a friendly helper who encourages children, you’d be perfect as a Family Tribe Leader with preschool or elementary children. Do you have a heart for mission and love hands-on projects? Be a Team Leader with our 3rd-5th graders who will help care for the larger community. If you long to cuddle and play with the youngest of our precious children, volunteer for fun with our infants and toddlers. To volunteer, register online at www.bmpc.org/FamilyMinistries.htm. You make this wonderful program successful each year!
Vacation Bible Camp 2012: Journey to Babylon
Vacation Bible Camp Wish List:
For Preschoolers (age 3 by 9/1/2011)-Grade 5 Sunday, June 24 – Thursday, June 28 at BMPC Sunday: 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon (possible extended hours for 3rd-5th graders depending on leadership)
To register online as a volunteer or camper, visit www.bmpc.org/FamilyMinistries.htm. NEW this year: make your payment online! Questions? Contact Marcy DelOrefice, VBC Director, at marcydelorefice@aol.com or 484-318-8232.
We’re looking for the following items to be loaned or donated to help us make Babylon look real: • • • • • •
Stuffed animals—all kinds Bright colored paper plates 10 Canopies/Tents (free standing) Hand warmers Jingle bells Large and small marshmallows
• • • • • •
Grass seed and potting soil Tennis balls Tube socks Large jump ropes Wooden blocks Old wash cloths/ scraps of cloth/rags
If you can lend or donate any of these items, contact Marcy DelOrefice, VBC Director, at marcydelorefice@ aol.com or 484-318-8232, or bring labeled items to the Education Building Office on Sunday mornings.
8 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
[ LOCAL AND WORLDWIDE OUTREACH ]
LOOKING BACK:
33 Years of Fine Arts Council Outreach By DeAnn Clancy
Music is a healing art and so also, it may be said, are the literary and visual arts. For 33 years, BMPC has had a volunteer program of Fine Arts Outreach to area retirement and nursing homes, providing programs of music, prose, poetry readings and travel slide presentations to residents of these senior communities. Fine Arts Council Outreach was conceived in 1979 by then Music and Fine Arts Director Robert Plimpton. For two years, church member Jane Wright asked volunteers to give monthly programs at the four or five homes on her list. Later, the program was reorganized and expanded by DeAnn Clancy, who has served as its director from 1981 to the present. At its height, the outreach effort visited 16 area retirement and nursing homes each year from October through May, offering more than 80 presentations of music, poetry and slide programs by about 40 individuals. More recently, 12 locations have been on
the roster, receiving 56 programs a year. This year, due to a shrinking volunteer force, the program is visiting six homes with 32 presentations given by fewer than 20 volunteers. The communities include Broomall, Rosemont and Spring Mill Presbyterian Villages, Beaumont Health Center, Waverly HeightsMuirfield and the Main Line Adult Daycare Center. Fine Arts Outreach would not exist at all were it not for dozens of committed volunteers who have participated in this wonderful ministry over many years. They are special individuals who unselfishly give their time and talent to cheer those who often lead lonely and confined lives or who no longer can go to concerts, read or travel. Music volunteers are the largest group of program-givers, while prose and poetry readers and travel slide presenters together comprise about one third of the total. In addition, BMPC childrens’ choirs, youth chorale and handbell groups have
DeAnn Clancy
performed, directed by Fine Arts staff members. Unfortunately, space will not allow listing individual volunteer names, however these dedicated volunteers have been enthusiastically received and appreciated by all the places they visit. The program offers a wonderful opportunity to serve both the community and the church; it also is a witness for the Lord, as blessings abound for volunteers and residents alike. If you’d like to participate in this ministry, please contact DeAnn Clancy, deannclancy@hotmail.com, 610-525-8347.
Glorifying God through Fine Arts Keenan Boswell Organ Recital
Sunday, May 6, 4:00 p.m., Sanctuary; $10 for adults; $5 for children 18 and under BMPC Organ Scholar Keenan Boswell makes his solo recital debut at BMPC. Keenan is a graduate of The Juilliard School and a current graduate student at Westminster Choir College. Details at www.bmpcfinearts.org.
Summer Carillon Concerts
Bring a lawn chair; picnic baskets welcome. Free -will offering. Details at www.bmpcfinearts.org. Guest Carillonneurs include: Thursday, June 21, 7:00 p.m. - Nick Huang // Thursday, June 28, 7:00 p.m. - Wylie Crawford Thursday, July 5, 7:00 p.m. - Jeff Davis // Thursday, July 12, 7:00 p.m. - Dick van Dijk 9 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
[ SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT ]
Fostering Community in Carol Choir BMPC’s Carol Choir includes children from ages three to eight: preschoolers, kindergartners, and first graders from many local schools. After a discussion about the definition of “community” and how our church choirs could contribute to the greater BMPC whole, members of Carol Choir wrote the following collaborative statement in November 2011. They later expanded this statement to include our classroom rules for behavior and respect. Now, at the end of our year, Carol Choir is a thriving group of almost 30 caring friends and talented singers. Even though we all come from different schools and towns, we all join together for choir. Every Wednesday, we share a room at BMPC and sing together for God and the church. So, we are a community. Even though we don’t all know each other well, we take care of each other and keep everyone safe by:
Have the courage to speak up if something is wrong. Share with other people, and remember that we are singing for God. Respect yourself, and respect others. Be honest, and stand up for people. Be a good audience when other people are singing or playing music.
Being nice, Being kind, and Being respectful. Don’t let anybody get hurt; if they do, try to make them feel better. Treat everyone like friends or family.
For more information about Carol Choir or our other choirs for children, contact Ketti Muschler, Director of BMPC Choir School, KettiMuschler@bmpc.org, ext. 8835.
The Gift of Y-Group By Whitney Hoffman
and would develop a strong bond with the fellow members as well as the church. How right she was!
Y-Group is a Presbyterian Women Interest Group, principally for women with children of elementary age and younger, with a focus on family and faith. I began my journey with Y-Group when I was starting the membership process at BMPC. I was fortunate to have a friend who was very active in the group who assured me that I would love participating
I began by attending the Book Group and monthly Tuesday meetings. I thought I might meet a few women with whom I could exchange childrearing stories but soon found that we were bonding over much more: our faith, our family struggles, the joys of new babies and the loss of parents. I was soon tapped to co-chair Y-Group social events and I am now completing my second year as overall Y-group chair. This year, we have continued our mission work of making Christmas
stockings and Mother’s Day baskets for Presbyterian Children’s Village, and casseroles for the Hunger Task Force. We have helped encourage mothers with a pilates class, an enlightening discussion on being “Real Women Today,” and a workshop to organize our homes and family activities. I look back at my first five years as a BMPC member and cannot imagine life without the love and support of the women of Y-Group. If you’d like to experience Y-Group for yourself, consider attending the End-ofYear Brunch on Tuesday, May 8, 9:15 a.m., in Congregational Hall. For more information, contact WhitneyHoffman@yahoo.com. 10 MESSENGER | May/June 2012
The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821 The Messenger is published bi-monthly by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Periodical postage paid at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and additional entry. Postmaster: Send Address Changes To The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Sunday Summer Schedule For Children and Youth Sundays from June 3 through September 2: • • •
Infant and Toddler Childcare in the Ed. Bldg., Room 102, 7:45–11:15 a.m. Combined Preschool Class in the Ed. Bldg., Room 106, 10:00–11:00 a.m. Children and Youth (Kindergarten-Grade 12) worship each week in the Sanctuary with their families.
Report from the Session Priorities Committee By Bob Holmes
An earlier article from The Messenger described the purpose of the Session Priorities Committee (SPC): to set Session’s program and ministry priorities for the 2013 program year. The Joint Budget Management Committee will use that information in preparing the 2013 operating budget. The SPC has conducted in-depth interviews with Session members, staff and key lay leaders. It has also done extensive research on current BMPC programs and explored what other “tall steeple” churches nationally are doing. Based upon that information, a report was prepared for presentation to a special meeting of Session on April 2. The report presented recommendations in six major areas: Worship and Evangelism, Pastors and Staff, Facilities, Financial Health, Programs and Councils, and Communication. As The Messenger goes to print in mid-April, the Session continues to review and deliberate on the report’s recommendations. The Committee is meeting with staff for its input, and formal action will be recommended to Session at its May meeting.